may 15, 2012 fellowship news

7/31/2019 May 15, 2012 Fellowship News

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NUMBER 2011-11 MAY 15, 2012

Bixby Knolls Christian Church, (a Disciples of Christ Church) (562) 426-0428

Dear family,

A number of years ago, I was startled to discover that the happiest, most stress-

free times in my life were several summers that I spent living out of a duffel

bag, in a small cabin with a canvas roof, counseling camps in remote wilder-

nesses. I was startled, because until I made that discovery, I had thought that

more money and more possessions would have led to more happiness; but the reality, it turned out,

was just the opposite.

Since then, I have come to learn that the pursuit of happiness was a major philosophical topic in

ancient Greece, a topic that modern philosophy has rediscovered in recent centuries. Today, most

philosophers and social scientists agree that enough wealth to meet one’s basic needs (food, shelter,health care, etc.) is important when it comes to achieving happiness, but additional wealth beyond

that does not usually bring additional happiness; in fact, it can lead to a decrease in happiness. Some

of the wealthiest people in the world ended their lives miserable, seeking to escape the lives they had

created for themselves. Frequent news stories about celebrities who died by suicide or overdose at-

test to this.

The Greeks were not the only ancient ones who studied the pursuit of happiness. Jesus, also,

taught people how to be happy. We don’t often understand Jesus’ teachings this way, because we

are so used to thinking that more wealth equals more happiness, and Jesus said the opposite: less

wealth equals happiness; less wealth equals life in the kingdom of God.

Jesus also said that happiness comes from loving and serving others. This is why I am so excited

about this Saturday’s Bike Rodeo. What a wonderful opportunity this is for us to serve and showlove to our neighbors! There really isn’t a whole lot of work for us to do, since the event is being put

on by an organization called Safe Moves. However, having a group of BKCC members present to

serve as “greeters,” extending hospitality and sharing smiles would go a long way in reaching out to

our neighbors… and I have no doubt that those who volunteer for this task will leave filled with hap-

piness.

Interested? Call me!

Pastor Danny

t h e

IN THIS ISSUE -

~ NEWS & NOTES ~ WEAR RED ~ CHURCH PICNIC and so much more.....

A prayer for

Bixby Knolls Christian Church

Use me to bring wholeness to my neighbor.

Use my church to bring wholeness to our

community.

Show us how your kingdom of shalom can

be made real on earth through us.

May 27 isPentecostwear red or your red

BKCC t-shirt. This isperfect for the annual

picnic that follows.



No Junior Church and Worship &Wonder on May 27th, Memorial

Day weekend.

Bicycle Rodeo It’s free, fun, and for the entire family!Join us at this educational event for children and parents. Bring your bike or borrow one of ours to ride on the traffic safety obstacle course

and learn how to walk, ride, and roll safely.

Saturday, May 19 • 10:00-1:00Bixby Knolls Christian Church

Sponsored by the City of Long Beach • Part of the Safe Routes to School Program

This Saturday, May 19 at 3:40 p.m. you can come and cheer on

your Bixby Softball Team at its first league game and victory

(that’s faith) at San Martin Park, Lakewood. Come watch and

cheer and have some fun.

Thank you, Men’s Fellowship for the wonderful refreshments on Mother’s Day.

The table setting was lovely and the food delicious. We appreciate all the work that went into mak-

ing it all so special. Thank you, Jim, Chuck, Ken B, Leo, and, Phil. and all of the Men’s Group.

Christian Women’s Fellowship meeting Thursday, May 17

At 11:00 in the Fellowship Hall. Salad PotluckBetsy Hillig will be presenting a program on the Women’ Quadrennial that took place last summer.Everyone is welcome.

Rekindle: a new generation of worship.

Lively. Informal. Creative.

Sunday, May 20, 6:12pm



Wednesday Night Dinner

Join us every Wednesday for our pay-what-you-can community supper. What’s on the

menu? Come and find out! 6:00pm

Sunday, May 27 after worship service, meet down the street at Somerset Park for our

annual church picnic. Bring your lawn chair and/or blanket and your favorite picnic

dish to share. There will be probably be lots of food like last year so bring a hearty

appetite. Last year Pastor Danny tested our church knowledge so be ready for any-

thing this year.

Miracle on 43rd

Street is a

unique service

project focuses

on bringing the

best of our

gifts, resources

and talents as an expression of God’s love and em-

powerment to a welcoming community. This “handson” work is a visible witness to what it means to be

one church!

It takes place June 27-July 1 at United Christian Church

in Los Angeles, a historically African-American congre-

gation in a mostly Spanish-speaking neighborhood

where 72% of the residents have never finished high

school. It is one of the most densely crowded

neighborhoods in southern California. The need for a

Christian witness of healing and wholeness is great.

Help is needed to: paint the sanctuary; install new

flooring in the sanctuary; remove the pews; clean and

polish the pews; re-install the pews; repair and paint

drywall; replace light fixtures; replace lamps; paint the

dining hall; clean and paint the cupboards in the

kitchen; mend and paint the wrought iron fencing;

install irrigation and landscaping; re-stripe parking lots

and as with every church facility, there’s always win-

dow washing, general cleaning and closets to be or-

ganized.

In addition, there will be a Youth Experience held inconjunction with Miracle Week; high school youth

from throughout the United States will be coming to

participate in mission projects at United Christian

Church (in conjunction with Miracle Week) as well as

at other locations in Los Angeles. Evenings will include

worship & a special music concert. Pastor Danny is on

the planning team for the youth event, so interested

youth should talk with him.

For more information regarding Miracle Week, or to

register, visit www.pswdw.com/events.

On Sunday, June 10, we will recognize our graduates at the morning worship ser-

vice. Please call the church office if you will be graduating from high school,

grade school, middle school, college or any other advanced education.

Traditionally, that Sunday will begin the summer break for our teachers. Last

summer, we had no volunteers to fill in with children’s church. On June 17th

and the rest of the sum-

mer, the children and youth will remain in church during the morning worship. There will still be child

care for W&W and younger.

In the fall, we need a Worship and Wonder leader and a helper so that the program can continue. If

you are interested, please call Scheri Dubon.



On behalf of an anonymous person to the Men’s Group, “......thank you for making me feelso special.”.

Praise God for the strength and health of Shirley Dickison. Shirley took a fall but is upand getting around. Nothing keeps this woman down.

The Department of Veterans Affairs, VA Long Beach Healthcare System says thank you to all members of BKCC for donating greeting cards to their facility. Your generosity is greatly appreciated.

To have your news, joys, or concerns included in next month’s newsletter, send a note to Pastor Danny at

[email protected] , or call the church office.

Summer Campearly bird deadlines are rapidly approaching. If you have a Mini Camper, all paperwork must be

submitted to the church office no later than May 30 to receive the discounted rate. Registration forms are now available! You can get yours at www.lochleven.org. Addi-tional copies will be available in the church office.

Mini Camp is for those kids who will be in grades 2 & 3 in the fall of 2012. (July 1-4)Junior Camp is for those who will be in grades 4-6 in the fall of 2012. (July 8-14)Chi-Rho Camp is for those who will be in grades 7-8 in the fall of 2012. (July 15-21)

CYF 1 Camp is for those who will be in grades 9-10 in the fall of 2012. (July 22-28)CYF 2 Camp is for those who will be in grades 11-12 in the fall of 2012, as well as thosegraduating in the class of ’12. (July 29-August 4)

All Ages Camp is for kids in grades 4-12. (August 5-11)Young Adult Camp is for those who are at least one year out of high school. (August 17-19)

Vacation Bible SchoolJuly 16-20



a bible quiz

1. What venomous creature bit Paul on the

hand but did not harm him?

Acts 28:3-6

2. What did Jesus use to feed the five thou-

sand?

John 6:9-12

Fellowship Hour

May 20 - In celebration of the life of

Claudia Baustian

May 27 - Sponsor needed

June 3 - Sponsor needed


June 17 - CWF


a request from Rick MacIntosh wanting to share.........

A Mother’s Gifts

God gave mothers extra gifts,the Ones they’d need each dayTo give their families love and careAnd guide them on their way.He gave them gifts of patience,

True persistence, faith to share,He gave them understanding hearts,A sense of what is fair--He gave them the abilityTo always see the good,To give their children confidenceAs only mothers could.God gave mothers extra gifts,He blessed them all at birth,

So they’d reflect His special loveAs angels here on earth

-inspired by Amanda Bradley

Thoughts for Memorial Day

The anthropologist and naturalist, Loren Eise-ley, who died in 1977, wanted this epitaph for his

wife and himself: “We loved the earth, but could notstay.”

No one can stay, of course. We all are mov-ing inexorably toward that final day when “the shad-ows lengthen, and the evening comes, and the busy

world is hushed and the fever of life is over, and our work is done” (Book of Common Prayer).

This Memorial Day we particularly remember the men and women who have perished in war, givingthe ultimate sacrifice to make the world a better place.

They too “loved the earth, but could not stay.” MayGod hasten the day when we can solve our disputes

peacefully.We also remember all our loved ones whose

stay on Earth

is over. Christians believe that death does not end all.We trust that the God who made us will provide for us when our bodies can no longer sustain us.

A memorial stone on the campus of the Col-

lege of Wooster in Ohio, placed there by a class manyyears ago, reads:

United in timeDivided in timeTo be reunited

When time shall be no more.

That is a hope we can have for ourselves, our loved ones and those who sacrificed all.

-Taken on-line from the Newsletter Newsletter

Once again we are collecting new and used shoes

for the needy. Each year Kim Foot and Ankle or-ganizes a campaign. Last year they collected over

15,000 pairs of shoes. Please place your donationsin the specially marked box in the narthex.

Pat Cohen

Your prayers are requested for Marie Archer, Doug Hocanson, Sum-

bal Sardar, Claudia Baustian family,

Rick McIntosh (death of mother),Anita & Eddie Ramirez, Shirley

Dickison



CHURCH STAFF:Pastor Daniel Bradfield

-MinisterMonica Lanz

-Church SecretaryBarbara Neal-Peebles

-Music Director/OrganistChristine Perkinson

- Church Child CareSuzie Romero

- Custodian

BOARD OFFICERS:David Rugh

-Board President

-Vice PresidentPat Cohen

-Secretary Angela Hillig

- TreasurerChrysan Naw

- Financial SecretaryPhil O’Laughlin

-Church Clerk

BIXBY KNOLLSCHRISTIAN CHURCH(Disciples of Christ)

SUNDAY SCHEDULE:9:00 a.m. Sunday School for Adults10:15 a.m. Morning Worship and Children’s Church

OFFICE HOURS:Monday - Thursday 7:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.Friday closed

Newsletter Articles due

Sunday, May 27

The Fellowship News

A publication of

Bixby Knolls Christian Church of LongBeach (a Disciples of Christ Church)

1240 E. Carson StreetLong Beach, CA 90807

www.bixbyknollschurch.org

Editor:

Monica Lanz562-426-0428

[email protected]

fax 562-426-0429

Pastor:Daniel Bradfield

The Fellowship News is published

twice monthly.

UPCOMING SCRIPTURES

May 27 - Acts 2:1-6

Check us out on Facebook

www.facebook.com/bixbyknollschurch

may 15, 2012 fellowship news

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