LET’S MAKE THIS A HOLIDAY!

By Pastor Richard Todd

for the week of November 1-8, 2009

I love being given extra time like we did last night. LET’S MAKE THIS A HOLIDAY and celebrate giving ourselves an extra hour at least once a month.

This Thanksgiving day we are hosting family and friends at our house. We will pray before the meal and this year we will use a prayer card that we will place at each table setting. When it is time to pray I am going to call on everyone to pray together those words. I have prepared a supply of those cards of you to consider using at your gatherings. They are at the Information Table in the lobby. Take whatever you can use.

The Whittier Pregnancy Care Clinic is having its’ annual banquet on Thursday evening, November 12th. I know that some of you volunteer and donate to the clinic. If you are interested in attending the banquet speak with my wife, Claudia, for reservations.

We are making plans for a baptism service. Speak with me if you would like to be baptized.

Our friend Frank Lopez has been in our local Kaiser Hospital this past week. I’ve put a get well card at the Information Table in the lobby for you to sign today.

Today is the Day of Generosity that we are observing and celebrating.

Today is also SEES CANDY SUNDAY that is sponsored by our youth group. Now don’t get your insulin out of your pockets just yet. This isn’t where we hand out samples but we give you an opportunity to order Sees Candy for holiday delivery. All the profits will go to an outreach projects.

People often ask what a pastor’s personal ministry goals are for his church.  Well, here are mine. You may find that they are shared by other pastors as well.  I have three ministry goals: FIRST, to see believers actually live out their faith; SECOND, to see people of faith lay aside their minor differences, and genuinely encourage and care for one another; and THIRDLY, to see Christians penetrate their own personal world and reach the unchurched.  There you have it.  By the way, what are your goals?

God’s best to you,

Pastor Richard

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

I CALL IT DOING CHURCH IN A BOX

Take a look at all the sound and video equipment we use each Sunday. And poke your head in and watch the kids play with the nursery toys. After church concludes follow the guys that start out the back door with those boxes of items because it is all stored for next Sunday while we are in our temporary worship place. I overheard one of you say this in explanation recently.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

RIDE A CAMEL IN EGYPT WITH ED LEWIS

My wife read this to me while we were driving on the freeway a few days ago and I almost crashed the car (LOL). This is a real ad for an upcoming tour of Israel and the Middle East that our friend, Ed, is heading up in 2010. I just might sign up for the trip just for the camel ride. NOTE: All kidding aside, the team of Holy Land scholars that Ed has assembled who are heading this up are outstanding.

My writings or whatever you want to call them are regularly emailed to missionaries and others wanting to keep in touch with the Community Grace Brethren family.  You can find my writings and view our church photo album and other material by going to whittierbrethren.net and follow the links.

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