Bixby Knolls Christian Church

(a Disciples of Christ Church)

(562) 426-0428
the Fellowship News
NUMBER 04 FEBRUARY 23, 2010

come, and rediscover the joy of life in the be-

loved community, the kingdom of God.
Shalom,

If someone asked you to summarize the mes-

sage of Jesus in one sentence, what would you
say? Would you tell that person, “Love one an-
Pray and Play Day at BKCC
other”? Or, “Help the poor, the least of these”?
Or would you answer with one word: “Believe”? The Disciples Women Commission of the Pacific
Southwest Region is bringing the Pray & Play
All of these are good answers. And all of
Day program to Bixby Knolls Christian Church
these are encapsulated in the phrase that scrip-
on Saturday, March 6 from 9 am to noon. The
ture says is the gospel in a nutshell: “Repent –
Pray and Play Day is based upon this year’s
the kingdom of God is at hand.”
Women’s New Day Magazine: “I called. God an-
I recently read Lois Lowry’s book The Giver, swered. I am changed.”
along with my son who is reading it at school. In
the book, twelve year-old Jonas learns that there Pray and Play Day will use the New Day Maga-
is more to life than what he has known. He dis- zine as a springboard for introducing three ways
covers that there is a life that is more real, more of prayer and exploring the New Day Magazine
alive, more true than the “world” he lives in. Jonas as a resource for individual spiritual formation
decides that someone – Jonas himself, in fact – and group experiences.
needs to show everyone the way to this new
world, show them that there is, in fact, more to life. The Christian Women’s Fellowship will be the
Jesus shows us the way to life in the kingdom hosts of this event for all Disciple Women. If
of God. Jesus calls upon us to turn (repent) from you are interested in participating in this fun,
the world we have created for ourselves, and to thought provoking, spirit-filled day, please con-
live in God’s new world. The kingdom of God is tact, Sandy Jeglum or the church office. Reg-
the name Jesus uses for this new world. Life lived istration is $25 and includes the New Day Maga-
in God’s kingdom is referred to as the “life of the zine. Child care will be provided with 2 weeks
ages,” a phrase which is often translated as notice.
“eternal life.” It is, as Martin Luther King, Jr., put
it, life lived in the “beloved community.”
Life in the kingdom of God is life in a world of
justice, peace, love, and righteousness. It is life in IN THIS ISSUE
a world of harmony, where even lions and lambs
dwell together. It is life in a world where everyone ~ FROM THE PASTOR
has what they need – no one is hungry or poor, ~ PRAY AND PLAY - MARCH 6
because the earth’s resources are shared. It is ~ POTATO BAKE - MARCH 21
life that is available to us both now and in the fu-
~ NEWSLETTER INFO
ture.
The ancient spiritual practices – worship, fast-
ing, Bible study, prayer, service, Sabbath, tithing, and so much more!
and observance of the liturgical year – are meant
to help followers of Jesus live in the kingdom of
God. We continue to explore these practices
each Sunday during the season of Lent. If you
haven’t been to worship in awhile, I invite you to

At this time BKCC is looking for ways to make re-
sponsible choices as far as how we treat our finan-
cial resources as well as the resources of our
planet. One of the ways that we will be making a
change to help with some of the expenses here is to
provide different venues to receive the Church
Newsletter.
As of this mailing, this will be the final newsletter
mailing to the congregation. All future newsletters
will be available in the sanctuary narthex and also
via e-mail. If there are congregation members that
are homebound, the elders have stepped forward
to personally deliver them to those members. If
you are currently not receiving the newsletter via
e-mail and would like to be placed on that mailing
list, please forward that information to the church
office secretary, Monica. It has also been sug-
gested that if congregation members would like to
contribute funding to purchase postage and sup-
plies to continue the mailings then those donations
would be accepted gladly.
Thank you and God Bless,
David Rugh
Board President
Sunday, March 21st - mark your calendar & plan to
attend the annual Christian Education sponsored,
"Potato Bake" Camp Fundraiser. Lots of yummy top-
pings for the biggest baked potatoes in Long Beach,
salad, beverage, & dessert included! Wow, and all for
only $4.50, plus an opportunity to win some delicious
Girl Scout Cookies in a raffle! You can't beat that,
AND you'll be helping to support the Youth who will
be going to summer camp. It's always a fun time of
fellowship, so we sure hope to see you there!
As always, Christian Education appreciates your gen-
erous donations throughout the year that enables our
children to attend camp at Loch Leven.
Thank you! Scheri DuBon
SCIC 57th Annual Assembly
March 8, 2010
Keynote Speaker: Rev. Dr. Jeff Utter
Reservation Deadline: March 1, 2010
It's time once again for the 57th SCIC Annual Assem-
bly on Monday, March 8, 2010 from 6 - 9 p.m. The eve-
ning will include a community dinner and elections for
the new SCIC Board of Directors. The 2009 SCIC An-
nual Report and 2010 SCIC Budget will also be pre-
sented to the interfaith community.
In addition, five different individuals will be recognized
for their outstanding contributions to the community at
large, especially in the realm of interfaith. They will be
given to a clergy person/ religious leader, layman, lay-
woman, senior citizen and youth.
Rev. Dr. Jeff Utter, Interim Pastor of First Christian
Church of Garden Grove, will be the keynote speaker of
the evening. He will speak about his experience in Mel-
bourne, Australia during the 2009 Parliament of the
World's Religions and draw parallels between the Parlia-
ment and the work of the SCIC.
We look forward to seeing you on March, 8, 2010!
Deadline to make reservations ($25) for the SCIC
Annual Assembly is March 1, 2010. To make your res-
ervation today, please mail your check to 759 Linden
Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90813 or contact SCIC at 562-
983-1665 or scic@charterinternet.com.
Enhance your Lenten journey.
Many books for Lent are on display
and available in the church library
for you to check out.
No Worship and Wonder on March 7
Because we have no back up teachers
for either of our Sunday School classes,
from time to time the classes may be
cancelled. March 7, Worship and Won-
der will be cancelled.
Older Adults Assistance Fund Pro Reconciliation Anti-
Workshop Racism Training
BRIDGING THE GAP:
Pro Reconciliation - Anti Racism Training Workshop
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR $ENIORS
April 9-10, 2010 - Need to register?, Contact PSWR
A half-day workshop for
all ages,
Westminster Gardens
Focusing on how PSWR
1420 Santo Domingo Avenue
congregations
Duarte, CA 91010
Can help seniors (ages
62+) meet their chal-
Early Registration: $45.00
lenges & financial needs.
Door: $50.00
(Includes 5 excellent meals)
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Workshop Leaders:
Fullerton First Christian Church
109 E. Wilshire Ave. ~Chris Hobgood, Pastor & Former Acting General Minis-
Fullerton, CA ter & President, National Anti-Racism Trainer
Need a registration form?, Contact PSWR
~Sandhya Jha, Pastor FCC Oakland, CA & Minister of
Transformation & Reconciliation - Christian Church North-
ern
California and Northern Nevada, Co-Moderator National
Reconciliation Commission.
Celebration with Dr. Sharon (Overnight accommodations nearby)
Watkins
VISION FOR THE FUTURE

General Minister, President (Disciples of Christ)

Where: First Christian Church, Orange Miracle Week

1130 E. Walnut Ave MIRACLE WEEK 2010
Orange, CA 92867
Phone: 714 538-9681 If you loved Miracle Days, you will be thrilled with
MIRACLE WEEK!

When: Sunday, MARCH The Pacific Southwest Region is going to Hawaii August
14, 2010 at 3:00pm 16-20 to do extreme make-overs of two, possibly three, of
the Disciple congregations on Oahu.
Mark your calendar folks!
This is one event you don't We will be doing work projects on all sites. We will also
want to miss! be doing a variety of community connections, a community
music concert, some evangelism work, as well as opportu-
nities to see the island and take in some of the sites!

Now, does that sound exciting? August 15 and 21 are des-

ignated as travel days, and participants are asked to provide
their own hotel/housing and transportation arrangements to
the island.

If you are interested in going, contact Miracle Week

secretary Kathy Vail, kivail@sbcglobal.net or Registrar
Michel Johnson, jamjohnson@verizon.net.

And please let BKCC know you are going.

Spring Fling YLT: Youth Leadership Team
The Youth Leadership Team of the Christian Church YLT: The Youth Leadership Team would like to invite
(Disciples of Christ) of the YOU to consider applying for a
Pacific Southwest Region position on YLT. You may have
Presents... been to camp for years, or this
year may be your first experience.
"All Nine All the Time"
Galatians 5:22-23 The Fruit of It doesn't matter. YLT is a fantas-
the Spirit tic opportunity to participate in the
life of our church through leadership. We help to plan re-
April 9-11, 2010 gional camps (such as those mentioned above) and commu-
A leadership training and spiri- nicate with our region and the general church on a variety of
tual retreat for youth in 9th - matters. YLT is a major time commitment and involves at-
12th grade at Loch Leven tending all camps, regional events, and a minimum of three
Camp & Conference Center meetings per year.

Registration Information All applicants must attend Spring Fling...Thing in order to

Camper fee: $130 apply. YLT is only for high school aged youth, and anyone
Counselor fee: $75 interested should pick up an application at FEB Camp.
We want you to become a part of our regional youth family.
CONTACT PSWR FOR COMPLETE DETAILS AND Please consider joining our next camp, conference or assem-
INFORMATION bly. We would love to have you!

FOR AN APPLICATION CONTACT PSWR

If you have questions or need further information about

March Birthday Blessings!
Pat Cohen (1), Nicholas Abel, (4), Natalie
Gissel (5), Rajal Sardar (9), Gayleen Bey-
ers (12), Eric Sigman (14), Kirsti Hillig
(15), Susan Peebles (16), Tom Sykes (18)
regional youth ministry, summer camp or the Youth
Leadership Team please feel free to contact one of the
YLT adult advisors below:
Kari Kempf: 714-392-1863
MsYahtzee@aol.com
Molly Wilson: 818-632-3951
mollyewilson@gmail.com

Asa Moore: 909-855-6026

mooreyouwant@gmail.com

March Anniversary Blessings! Darrell McGowan: 714-525-5525

darrellmac@mac.com
David & Gretchen Rugh
Robbie Arevalos: 714-606-9416
- March 2 - 19 years
rob8384@hotmail.com
Sarah & Robert Stolze
- March 9 - 47 years

Thank you to Lillian Hester, Becky Carroll and

Chuck Fowler for taking action to repair the
landscaping that was deliberately vandalized in
front of the church. The old plant was hearty and
replanted in hopes that it can still survive. A new
plant has been purchased to replace it, if neces-
sary, or just to plant. God bless each of you for
your kind response.
 Give a Day, Get a Day"

by Volunteering with Centro Shalom 1. Who did Jesus send fishing in order to get money
for taxes?
Centro Shalom has recently been awarded a grant Matthew 17: 24-27
from the California Community Foundation to reach
out to hard-to-count communities of Long Beach, 2. Where did the prostitute Rahab live?
including the Latino, African-American and Cambo- Joshua 2: 1-6
dian communities. These communities have tradi-
tionally been undercounted in previous Census initia- 3. What smooth-skinned man disguised himself so
tives. well that he passed himself off as his hairy
brother?
Centro's efforts include an extensive awareness Genesis 27: 1-29
campaign followed by block canvassing of the 41
Census identified (RED) hard-to-count tracts. 4. Who slew a thousand men with the jawbone of an
ass?
This can only be accomplished through the recruit- Judges 15:15
ment of much needed volunteers. The reward of vol-
unteering does not end with just the satisfaction of 5. What doting mother lied to procure a blessing for
knowing that our community gets properly counted her favorite son?
and subsequently funded, but also a free ticket Genesis 27
voucher to Disney theme parks! So give a day, get
a day with Centro! 6. Who was the first person to lie to God about a
murder:
Centro's canvassing campaign starts on the week- Genesis 4: 8-9
end of March 6th and 7th and will continue for 7
weekends into late April. Interested volunteers 7. Who was put in prison as a political enemy of the
should call Centro Shalom at 562-591-2214 or 562- Philistines?
218-8400 or email Esther at centrocen- Judges 16:24
suslb@aol.com.
8. According to Jesus, when his followers were
Training will be provided. Register today to volun- dragged into court, they would not need to worry
teer! about their defense, for someone else would
speak through them. Who?
BIXBY KNOLLS Matthew 10: 16-20
CHRISTIAN CHURCH
9. What land did Moses flee to when he left Egypt?
(Disciples of Christ) Exodus 2: 15
SUNDAY SCHEDULE:
9:00 a.m. Sunday School for Adults 10. What was Jesus trying to prove when he told the
10:15 a.m. Morning Worship and Children’s Church lame man to take up his bed and walk?
Matthew 9: 1-8
OFFICE HOURS:
Monday - Thursday 7:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. HOW MANY DID YOU GET RIGHT?
Friday 7:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

CHURCH STAFF: BOARD OFFICERS:

Pastor Daniel Bradfield Bobbie Smith
-Minister -Board President
Monica Lanz David Rugh
-Church Secretary -Vice President
Barbara Neal-Peebles Pat Cohen
The Fellowship News
-Music Director/Organist -Secretary
A publication of Bixby Knolls Christian Church of Long Beach
Christine Perkinson Gayle Charboneau (a Disciples of Christ Church)
- Church Child Care - Treasurer 1240 E. Carson Street
Suzie Romero Chrysan Naw Long Beach, CA 90807
www.webconnections/bkcc.com
- Custodian - Financial Secretary Pastor Danny Bradfield
Phil O’Laughlin Secretary Monica Lanz
-Church Clerk The Fellowship News is published twice monthly.