the

PAST AND PRESENT COPIES OF THE FELLOWSHIP NEWS MAY BE VIEWED AT

www.scribd.com/2468bixby
Bixby Knolls Christian Church, (Disciples of Christ) (562) 426-0428
ISSUE 22

NOVEMBER 1, 2016

Dear Church
Ang Lee refuses to play it safe.
Thats what the NPR radio host said. Ang Lee, who directed such movies as Brokeback Mountain, Sense and Sensibility, Life of Pi, and The Revenant, wont agree to
direct a film unless there is something about the film that terrifies him.
I feel that way about the sermons I preach. The gospel is a comfort, but it is also a challenge. The gospel
shakes lives. The gospel rocks the boat. There should be at least a bit of nervousness each time I preach the
gospel. If there isnt, then it means Ive probably watered down the message to make it more safe.
During sermon preparation, when I study a scripture, Ill often ask myself, What about this scripture rattles me? What about it makes me uncomfortable? What about it challenges me to look at things in a different
way? God is always challenging us to look at things in a different way. Thats what the kingdom of God is: it
is an alternative to the way the world currently is.
So, to be a follower of Christ means to accept the challenges and the discomfort that comes from constantly being invited to look at things a new way. To be a follower of Christ means taking the narrow road, the
road less travelled, the road which is more adventurous, more daring.
At Bixby Knolls Christian Church, we are continuing to discern just what our future will look like. For many
of us, our first instinct is to find the safest path to the future. But what if God is calling us to something bigger? What if God is calling us to take a risk, to be bold and daring, and to imagine for ourselves a future thats
even bigger than we could possibly have dreamed?
Perhaps my greatest shortcoming as a pastor and leader of a church: the failure to dream big enough.
Maybe thats our churchs greatest shortcoming. Perhaps if we help each other in this, we can create a vision
for Bixby Knolls Christian Church worthy of the God we serve.
Blessings, Danny

Some Timely Comments

Have you noticed the many visitors weve been having lately? This past Sunday we had eight visitors
who were here for their first or second time!
For visitors, first impressions are important. How they are greeted in the first few moments after their
arrival makes a big difference as to whether or not they will return.
Unfortunately, when visitors arrive at Bixby Knolls Christian Church, they are often greeted by an empty
sanctuary. Many of our members have fallen into the habit of arriving 5, 10, or 15 minutes late. Imagine if you
were a visitor, stepping foot in an unfamiliar church, and no one was there!
You can help us provide a friendly, hospitable worship experience for our guests
simply by arriving early to worship each week. Fortunately, arriving early just got easier,
as we change our clocks back one hour this weekend. So if you tend to arrive at worship
late, just wait to change your clocks until after worship November 6, and youll arrive in
plenty of time to greet our guests and visitors!

Sunday, Nov. 6

Michael Cole

is the last day to bring

Lydia Sykes

cards or special note for our Veterans at the VA

Earlene Thomas

hospital. Cards can be placed in the box on the

Ruth Jeglum

narthex table.

Alice Hoffman
Sumbal Sardar
Keri Clark (daughter of M. Lanz)
Grace Kobel
Porter Family, Ruthie Atkin (friends of B. Smith)
Nargis & family in Pakistan (family of Sumbal Sardar)
Keri France (family of A. Hillig)
Venus (friend of A. Hillig)
Chrystal Gay (A. Hilligs sister)

Special Orders for scrip will taken on Nov.

13 and the last order date for gift cards before
Christmas will be Dec. 11. Please consider purchasing gift cards for your holiday shopping and
help us reach our $1000.00 profit goal to present
to BKCCs General Fund.
Nov 6 - Luke 20:27-38
Nov 13 -Luke 21:5-19

On Thursday, Nov 10, the Cross Wood United

Church of Christ, 3908 Woodruff Ave., Long
Beach invites all to come to an Questions & Answers session on Alzheimers Disease.
Bring your questions & concerns; engage others
in conversation; and learn more about this disease. RSVP to (323)930-6219 Petra Niles, M.S. G

Next Tuesday, Nov 8 is

Election Day.
There are Propositions
and Measures to consider
as well as congressional
and senate seats to

VOTE

Check us out on Facebook

www.facebook.com/bixbyknollschurch
website:
www.bixbyknollschurch.blogspot.com

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.

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

CHURCH STAFF:

BOARD OFFICERS:
Leo Dittemore
Pastor Daniel Bradfield
-Board President
-Minister
Scheri Dubon
Monica Lanz
-Vice President
-Church Secretary
Pat Cohen
Barbara Neal-Peebles
-Secretary
-Music Director/Organist Angela Hillig
Suzie Romero
- Treasurer
- Custodian
Sandy Jeglum
- Financial Secretary
-Church Clerk

Every 2nd Sunday is FOOD

SUNDAY at BKCC. Bring
your nonperishable food
items and place them in the
box in the narthex.

Help cook food for Christian

Outreach in Action (COA).
Every 2nd Thursday at 8:00
a.m. in our church kitchen.

Our prayer circle meets every

2nd and 4th Tuesday at 10:00
a.m. in room 115. Join this
dedicated group in praying
for our church, community, &
world.

Our Wednesday Night

Dinners are back! Join us
for a simple, pay-whatyou-can meal every
Wednesday at 6:00.

Bixby Knolls Vision Statement

To know what the Lord requires of us;
to do justice, and love kindness,
and walk humbly with our God.
(Micah 6:8)

Submit your articles for the next

newsletter by

Sunday, November 13