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

2012 - ISSUE NO. 21 OCTOBER 30, 2012

IN THIS ISSUE ~ NEWS & NOTES ~

and so much more.....

A few weeks ago, our regional assembly was held at Mill Creek Christian Church in Bakersfield. On a previous visit to Bakersfield, I had noticed that the church is right across the street from the Bakersfield Amtrak station. So, in preparing to attend the regional assembly, I thought it would be convenient and easy to take the Amtrak bus to Bakersfield instead of driving. I had it all worked out in my head: take the Blue Line from Long Beach to Los Angeles, and then take the Amtrak bus to Bakersfield. Well, it turns out there is a state law that will not allow a person to book a trip on Amtrak if no train is involved. I could not take the Amtrak bus without taking at least part of the trip on an Amtrak train, even though there is no Amtrak train that goes from Los Angeles or Burbank to Bakersfield. So, I had to get creative: after considering several options, I booked a trip that had me taking a bus from L.A. to Bakersfield, then a train from Bakersfield to Wasco except that I didnt plan to actually use the Bakersfield to Wasco part of my ticket. (I did call Amtrak to see if this is okay, and was told that people do it all the time.) But then I had another dilemma. On my return trip, the Amtrak bus was scheduled to arrive in downtown L.A. at 10:00 p.m. Ive taken many trips on the Blue Line, but travelling on the Blue Line late at night can be to borrow a word from my son Tristan sketchy. So, once again, I got creative: I switched the location from Los Angeles to Burbank. The Burbank Amtrak station is just a few blocks from my fathers house. I would drive to Burbank and leave my car there. Yes, I was hoping to avoid having to drive altogether, but leaving from Burbank had two advantages: it took a few dollars off my Amtrak fare, and it allowed me to go out to breakfast with my father before leaving for Bakersfield. It was the best possible solution. Yes, it took me a couple of tries to reach that solution, but eventually I got there. Now, in case you havent noticed, the way I made my travel arrangements is not too different from the way I do ministry. We are in the midst of a great transformation in culture and in the church. Very little of how things were done in the past will be how they are done in the future. Times like these call for trying lots of new things, figuring out what works (and what doesnt), until we find the best possible solution. In this new world in which we live, its the only way the church will ever get to where we need to be. I invite you to try new forms of ministry. Together, lets do things weve never done before, and find out what works and what doesnt work. tion. Together, lets do this, because the future of the church is at stake.
Blessings, Pastor Danny

A prayer for Bixby Knolls Christian Church

Use me to bring wholeness to my neighbor. Use my church to bring wholeness to our community.

We can make adjustments and

changes as we go, until we arrive at the best possible solu-

Show us how your kingdom of shalom can be made real on earth through us.

Please join us for communion on Tuesday, November 6, 2012, 6:30pm. Make a choice to remember. Lets meet at the Lords Table, and remember together.

On November 6, 2012, Election Day, we will exercise our right to choose. Some of us will choose to vote for Barack Obama. Some of us will choose to vote for Mitt Romney. Some of us will choose to vote for another candidate. Some of us will choose not to vote. During the day of November 6, 2012, we will make different choices for different reasons, hoping for different results. But that evening while our nation turns its attention to the outcome of the presidential election, lets again choose differently. But this time, lets do it together. Lets meet at the same table, with the same host, to remember the same things. Well remember that real power in this world the power to save, to transform, to change ultimately rests not in political parties or presidents or protests but in the life, the death, and the resurrection of Jesus. Well remember that, through the Holy Spirit, this power dwells within otherwise ordinary people who as one body continue the mission of Jesus: preaching good news to the poor, freeing the captives, giving sight to the blind, releasing the oppressed, and proclaiming the year of the Lords favor (Luke 4:16-21). Well remember that freedom true freedom is given by God and is indeed not free. It comes with a cost and it looks like a cross. Well remember our sin and our need to repent. Well remember that the only Christian nation in this world is the Church, a holy nation that crosses all human-made boundaries and borders. And well re-member the body of Christ as the body of Christ, confessing the ways in which partisan politics has separated us from one another and from God.

The Chalice-o-lantern is coming to BKCC! Oct. 31, 5:30 p.m.

Regional Assembly
October 19-20, 2012 Mill Creek Christian Church, Bakersfield, CA The Regional Assembly is the biennial gathering of the congregations of the Pacific Southwest Region. The theme of this years assembly was Tending the Garden. Pastor Danny attended this years assembly, delivering several hygiene kits that were assembled and donated by Monica Sar. These were combined with hundreds of other kits and given to the Bakersfield homeless community. Among the business items was a resolution encouraging congregations to provide paid parental leave for new parents. The diversity of the region was on display during worship services, with a variety of musical styles and languages present. The many ministries of our region were lifted up, including our camping ministry at Loch Leven, All Peoples Christian Center, Eastmont Community Center, and Chapman University.

NEWS & NOTES

Sunday, Nov 4.
Before you get your beauty sleep Sat. night, set your clocks back one hour. You dont want to miss church!

Prayers for Grace Kobel who has been hospitalized but is now at home.

What Are You Doing Next Summer?

Thank you John Solan for installing the new hot water tank.

Former BKCC member LaWahna Eldred was hospitalized for ten days for heart procedures. We pray that LaWahna is doing much better.

The dates for 2013 summer camps at Loch Leven have been announced. Registration materials will be available later, but please mark these dates on your calendar: Mini (entering grades 2 & 3): July 7 10 Junior (entering grades 4, 5 & 6): June 23 29 Chi-Rho (entering grades 7 & 8): June 30 July 6 CYF 1 (entering grades 9 & 10): July 21 July 27 CYF 2 (entering grades 11 & 12, and 13 grads): July 28 August 3 Special Needs Camp: July 7 10

To have your news, joys, or concerns included in next months newsletter, send a note to Pastor Danny at dannybradfield@gmail.com, or call the church office.

Look forward and be hopeful, Look backward and be thankful Look down and be helpful, Look up and be humble
-Unknown Taken from the Newsletter Newsletter

The General Assembly is the biennial gathering of Disciples from across North America. For five days, children, youth and adults will gather in Orlando for worship, mission, business, workshops, and more. Info at www.disciples.org/ga

Vacation Bible School

Bixby Knolls Christian Church July 22-26, 2013

Were online! Visit us at: www.bixbyknollschurch.org www.facebook.com/bixbyknollschurch

Kings, Rings, and Sings!! The Christmas King is our exciting new multi-generational Christmas pageant. Children of all ages and abilities are invited to be a part of the festive and fun mini-pageant. We won't perform until December 16th so we have lots of time to get ready. Spearheaded by our own IMPROV FOR GOD group there are parts spoken or sung, big and small, some rap, some are silent and ALL are IMPORTANT. There are parts for the youngest children and the "more mature" (read adult to 95!) children! It will be as much fun putting it together as performing it. So just say YES when Barb, Betsy, or one of the youth ask you to participate. What a blessing this will be! Ringers have taken a 2 week break after their GREAT performance of Be Thou My Vision. They will ring with the choir for a November performance and are starting to work on Christmas so come on and RING in ADVENT with us. Mondays at 7pm Room 115. read music to ring!!! Chancel Choir and Improv for God have been working on lots of new music and have already started on Christmas! Soloist tryouts will be in November so practice all those La La La's! One of our Chancel Choir members, Betsy Hillig, sings in a semi professional group and recently invited me to their concert of Contemporary music and Mozart's Requiem. What a spiritually transporting experience it was to listen to 80 singers with chamber orchestra. Betsy's daughter Mandy, and several of my neighbors also sing with the group. If you have a chance try to get to their Christmas concert........it is sure to be a blessing. Betsy has all the details and I guarantee you to have the musical experience of your year! Blessings Barb You do not need to

Halloween Pizza Dinner

5:30-6:30
On Halloween night (Oct. 31), we invite you and your family to join us for dinner. Stop by and feed those ghouls and goblins before heading out for trick-or-treating! Cost: $1/slice. Everyone in costume is free!

The South Coast Interfaith Council presents two very special upcoming events: Festival of Music Sunday, Nov. 4, 3:00 p.m. Trinity Lutheran Church (759 Linden Avenue, Long Beach) Free will offering Unity Awards Dinner Sunday, Nov. 18, 7:00 p.m. American Martyrs Catholic Church (624 15th St., Manhattan Beach) $60 per person Efforts to promote interfaith peace and understanding are more important than ever, and these events help SCIC do just that. For more info or to make reservations for the dinner, contact SCIC: 759 Linden Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90813 562.983.1665 www.scinterfaith.org

10 Little Christians 10 little Christians came to church all the time, one fell out with the preacher, then there were nine 9 little Christians stayed up late; one overslept on Sunday, then there were eight. 8 little Christians on their way to heaven, one took the low road, then there seven. 7 little Christians, chirping like chicks; one didnt like the singing, then there were six. 6 little Christians seemed very much alive; one took a vacation, then there were five. 5 little Christians pulling for heavens shore; one stopped to rest awhile, then there were four. 4 little Christians each as busy as a bee; one got his feelings hurt, then there were three 3 little Christians couldnt decide what to do; one couldnt have his own way, then there were two 2 little Christians each won one more; now dont you see, two and two make four. 4 little Christians worked early and late, each brought one, now there were eight. 8 little Christians, if they double as before in just seven Sundays wed have one thousand twenty-four. In this little jingle there is a lesson true you belong either to the building or to the wrecking crew! Will you join me in choosing to let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven? Author and Source unknown from the book Living Free in Christ by Neil T. Anderson

Answers to 10/16 Bible Names

1. God is strong - Ezekiel 2. help - Ezra 3. loves embrace - Habakkuk 4. salvation of the Lord - Isaiah 5. messenger - Malachi 6. worshiper of the Lord - Obadiah 7. the Lord has consoled - Nehemiah 8. star - Esther 9. something worth seeing - Ruth 10. asked of God - Samuel 11. exalted of God - Jeremiah 12. Dove - Jonah 13. he that weeps - Job 14. peace - Solomon 15. honored of God - Timothy 16. honorable - Titus 17. God is judge - Daniel 18. the Lord is salvation - Joshua 19. salvation - Hosea 20. one with a burden - Amos 21. gift of the Lord - Matthew 22. light-giving - Luke 23. rock - Peter 24. the Lord remembers - Zechariah 25. the Lord hides - Zephaniah 26. the Lord has been gracious - John 27. praise of the Lord - Jude 28. festive - Haggai 29. who is like the Lord - Micah 30. compassionate - Nahum 31. affectionate - Philemon 32. the Lord is God - Joel 33. polite - Mark 34. supplanter - James
and how many did you get right?

Upcoming November
Margo Morales - Nov 2 LaWahna Eldred - Nov 3 Monica Sar - Nov 3 Marlene Martinez - Nov 6

Ismael Pheng - Nov 6 Samantha Kobel - Nov 6 Joseph Torres - Nov 15

Ken Jeglum - Nov 16

Ginger Bradfield - Nov 19 Chuck Fowler - Nov 28

Newsletter Articles Due

CHURCH STAFF: Pastor Daniel Bradfield -Minister Monica Lanz -Church Secretary Barbara Neal-Peebles -Music Director/Organist Christine Perkinson - Church Child Care Suzie Romero - Custodian BOARD OFFICERS: David Rugh -Board President -Vice President Pat Cohen -Secretary Angela Hillig - Treasurer Chrysan Naw - Financial Secretary Phil OLaughlin -Church Clerk

BIXBY KNOLLS CHRISTIAN CHURCH

(Disciples of Christ)

SUNDAY SCHEDULE: 9:00 a.m. Sunday School for Adults 10:15 a.m. Morning Worship and Childrens Church OFFICE HOURS: Monday - Thursday 7:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Friday closed

a bible quiz
1. What wife of David is mentioned in Matthews genealogy of Jesus? Matthew 1:6 2. What woman, associated with the prophet Elijah, was mentioned by Jesus? Luke 4: 2-26 3. This evil prophetess is referred to in Revelation by the name of an Old Testament queen. Revelation 2: 20 4. What apostle had a sister whose son informed soldiers of a murderous plot? Acts 23: 16 5. What bizarre person saw Jesus from far off and ran to worship him? Mark: 5-6 6. What belligerent man ran to meet his brother and kissed him after a long time of separation? Genesis 34: 4 7. Who was told to name his son Solomon? 1 Chronicles: 22-9 8. What new name did Jesus give to Simon? John 1:42 and how many did you get right?

UPCOMING SCRIPTURES
Nov. 4 -Ruth 1: 1-18 Nov. 11 - Mark 12: 38-44 Nov. 18 - Hebrews 10: 19-25

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The Fellowship News A publication of Bixby Knolls Christian Church of Long Beach (a Disciples of Christ Church) 1240 E. Carson Street Long Beach, CA 90807 www.bixbyknollschurch.org Editor: Monica Lanz 562-426-0428 bkcchurch@aol.com fax 562-426-0429 Pastor: Daniel Bradfield The Fellowship News is published twice monthly.