My oh my…how the first month of the year flies past – and the scary part is – it only gets busier! This time of year is especially busy for my (Pastor David’s) own family as we have some special events that can make life a bit more hectic. My wife’s birthday is in late January and mine is at the end of the this short month of February. Sandwiched in the middle there is our dating anniversary which is a small yet fun celebration of our years together and of course the 14th which traditionally carries its own set of festivities. And there’s only 28 days to do it all! Then before you know it, people will be talking less about Valentine’s day and more about the end of winter, the beginning of spring, and Easter time will be upon us in full swing.
However in all of this craziness and the exciting times ahead, it’s good for us to pause and take a moment to remember that God is still at work and in our midst even when life seems to be going at warp speed. Paul writes in Philippians 2: “For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good pleasure. Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine as lights in the world as you hold forth the word of life, in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.”
Enjoy the times of celebrations and festivities of love. Celebrate in what God is doing in and through each of our lives. But too also, thank God for the work he is doing that we do not even know about yet. For the ways in which we will be challenged, stretched, and grown. For when life is at its fastest pace – make sure you hold on to something that will keep you safe and secure from your extremely busy calendar of events.
Congregational Meeting Summary:
On January 15th we held our annual Congregational Meeting. It was a time to look back and see all that God has done over the past year as well as provide a road-map of the year to come. This meeting included reports from the Pastor, Lay Delegate, Treasurer, and other church leaders as we planned ahead and asked for God’s wisdom in our future goals for 2017 and beyond. Here’s a brief summary to catch you up on what you may have missed:
- New Board Members: Elections were held for positions on our church board of both new and continuing members of our leadership team. We approved a new Treasurer, new Lay Delegate, and reappointed other critical positions to our church board for 2017. Make sure to encourage these board members as well as talk with them if you have any questions – they’d be more than willing to help however they can!
*AND* Remember that all board meetings are public. That means anyone can come and be a part of the conversation (however only elected board members may vote). - The church body approved the budget for 2017 as well as approved a project for instillation of new carpet in our sanctuary, hallways, nursery, and the steps that lead to our church basement. Thank you God for the wonderful way in which you are using our church facility to reach others! Instillation of this new carpet will take place in mid-late March.
- Coming over the next few weeks, you’ll see some changes to our sanctuary! The church body was informed that beginning in early February the new projector, computer, and sound board would be installed and we’re happy to announce that we are right on schedule. So be sure to come by and see some of the new changes happening!
Events in February:
We’re continuing our sermon series on “Becoming Spiritually Healthy” as well as our WEDNESDAY night Bible Study on Proverbs. Be sure to check them both out and we’d love to see you join us as we dive further into the Word of God! Here’s some other awesome events you’ll want to add to your calendar:
- Yard Sale – We’ve got gadgets and gizmos a-plenty. We’ve got whozits and whatzits galore. You want thingamabobs? We might just have those too! Our annual Yard Sale takes place here at California EC Church on Saturday February 25th beginning at 8:00 AM and going until 1:00 PM. There will be free coffee, tons of things to buy, and so bring your family and tell your neighbors! If you can’t come early – there’s deals even later! Come at 11:00 AM and fill a bag for just $1.00 (that’s a deal you just cannot beat). Lots of great housewares, clothing, boots, shoes, books, movies, holiday decorations, toys, etc… And if you can’t find your treasure on Saturday morning, stop by Sunday morning at 10:15 AM for worship, we’ll help you find Him then (along with a whole bunch of leftover items as well.
- Love Banquet – On Friday February 17th beginning at 7:00 PM, we’ll be hosting our first “Love Banquet”. This event is for everyone: whole families, singles, children, young adults, and is sure to be a lot of fun. Dinner is being provided by the church as well as some volunteer members and there will be even more fun to follow. After dinner, the children will have their own special event with games, activities, and more while parents and other adults get to enjoy themselves to some games and activities as well geared for them. So come dressed up like you’re headed out for a night on the town and let us come together in love for a night of fun, fellowship, and friendly conversation. Invite a couple you know or a family who could use a night off from babysitting and we’ll take care of them.
- Lenten Devotions – Believe it or not, Lent is just around the corner and will be here before you know it. That means something very special here at California Church as we have our own unique tradition. Every year members of our church submit devotions for each day of the season of Lent (Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday) and we create a devotional book for everyone to experience together. It’s a wonderful time hearing from your church family throughout the week in your devotions and brings us closer together as we anticipate the joy of Easter. Devotions are due no later than Sunday February 19th. Contact Pastor David for more information and how to submit your devotions.
Upcoming Events:
[There aren’t too many “major” events happening in March and that’s okay. Not every month needs to be filled with 10 different events and we as a church feel that tension too and want to respect not only your calendar, but ours as well. We want God to be at work not just in the busy times when we’re doing tons of different wonderful events, but also in the calmer times when there is less on our church calendar. So what will be happening? We’ll be gearing up for the Easter season all month long and making sure to use these new facility upgrades (new carpet and audio/video equipment) for God’s intended purpose in the coming year and beyond.]
- Don’t forget to turn those clocks FORWARD on March 12th. We wouldn’t want you to be late for church that morning and we promise to have all the coffee you need to recuperate from that loss of an hour.
- Beginning March 19th, we’ll be starting a NEW SERMON SERIES that will take us all the way through the Lenten season and ending on Easter Sunday April 16th entitled: “Giving It Up”. Be sure to check back for more info as we get closer!
Don’t forget to stay in touch here on our website as well as at our church! Feel free to comment AND SHARE with your friends on social media and we look forward to seeing you at California EC Church this month!
Don’t want to miss out on new posts? Be sure to check back for more Monthly Snapshots (always on the 1st of the month), “The Gospel According to…” reviews, and lots of other great things here on our church blog!
Leave a Reply