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2013 - ISSUE 4

FEBRUARY 19 2013

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

Hello Thoughts & Emotions

Dear Church, When I was a teenager growing up, one of the chores to which I was assigned was trimming hedges and raking leaves. Like any teenager, I grumbled when assigned these tasks. I much preferred to find some more exciting distraction to engage my mind, like watching television. However, once I got outside, away from the television, and started working where the only sounds were the birds chirping, the breeze rustling the leaves, and the meditations of my mind, I found it quite peaceful. Away from the distractions, I discovered my own thoughts. Unfortunately, I still seek out distractions far too often. I dont watch much television, but I do listen to the radio, or spend far too much time online. But then a moment comes when the house is silent, or Im driving and the radio is off, and I get reacquainted with my own thoughts and feelings. Some people are afraid of their own thoughts and feelings. They have too much anger, pain, or fear. Their search for distractions that will help them ignore these things is intense. Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh says that it is helpful to treat these negative emotions the

way you would treat your baby. When your baby is in the other room, crying, you go in to your baby, you hold him or her, and say, Im here for you. Ill care for you. We should do the same with our negative emotions. Instead of ignoring them or seeking distractions to take our minds off them, we should imagine ourselves holding these emotions. We should give them our attention, and say to them, Im here for you. Ill care for you. The season of Lent is a time to get rid of distractions. Its a time to focus on the present, and to listen to our own feelings and emotions. Doing that helps us find peace. Doing that helps us find God. Blessings, Pastor Danny

On March 3 following worship service, our CWF groups invite you to their annual Bake Sale fundraiser. Come and enjoy some delicious goodies to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Prayer Concerns:
Ester Troxel Sumbal Sardar Shirley & Bob Dickison Keri Brindle-Clark Ed Bremel Elizabeth Edwards May family Nargis & family in Pakistan Betty Rollos granddaughter, Kathryn OConnell Marcia Solan

The BKCC library is open. There are many books to choose from for all ages biographies, bible references, church history, devotionals and great Christian fiction. We also have a selection of DVDs and tapes.

THANKS FOR THE STICKY SYRUP AND MELTING BUTTER!

What a great response from one and all on the Pancake supper fundraiser for the music department. The generosity of those attending and those choir members who donated butter, syrup, mix, sausages, drinks and their flipping expertise helped to make this our most successful fundraiser for music in the last 11 years or as long as Ive been here! We need around $850.00 per year to continue our programs that currently exist (choir, youth, cantatas etc.) The church budget is $100 and we raised another $500 with our many donations. So we are over 70% of the way towards a fully funded budget needs. Thank you for your wonderful gifts of generosity and hopefully you will enjoy the beautiful music for months to come! Blessings, Barb Peebles

Our annual Potato Bake fundraiser will be held Sunday, March 17 following worship service. Come support Christian Education!!

The VA Long Beach Health Care System thanks the members of BKCC for remembering our Veterans with Christmas cards. Your support, interest and concern in the welfare of the hospitalized Veterans is sincerely appreciated.

All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesnt hurt.
-Charles M. Schulz

MUSICAL BREAKDOWN!
No, the piano and organ are not broken! This has to do with funds. Someone asked me the breakdown of funds needed for music and since I cant carry the poster board around everywhere I thought I would break it down here for you to read. Chancel choir 1 piece of music $2.00 15 pieces $30.00 (1 Sunday) 5 Sundays x $30.00 $150.00 Cantata (Easter Christmas) 1 book $ 9.50 20 books $190.00 1 cd track $85.00 2 cantatas per year Youth/Children/ extra instrumental music 1 piece x $2.00 2times per year 20 pieces x $2.00 Praise music 12 times per year** x $9.00 Church budgeted amount Fundraiser proceeds Still needed

($275.00) $550.00

$ 40.00

$108.00 TOTAL $848.00 ($100.00) ($503.00) $245.00

**Praise team now works 24 Sundays per year and have been receiving donated music for the last year, and the choir recycles music annually to keep our costs down!

PLEASE realize that this years fundraiser and budget is the most monies we have had to work with for at least 8 years and I THANK YOU for all your GENEROSITY and hard work! Zillions of thanks to one and all!

Laurel Henrickson has passed away. Her commitment to BKCC was long and deep, and she will be missed. Please remember her family in prayer. A memorial service will be held Sat., March 2, 10 a.m. here in the sanctuary.

With summer camp at Loch Leven just around the corner camp, scholarships from the Region are available. The Scholarship application along with letters of recommendation must be submitted by April 30. Typically the scholarship amount granted will be half the cost of the camp fee of the Early-bird deadline. Pick up an application from Monica in the church office.

Bob Dickisons recent installation of a pacemaker was a success and is doing well.

Shirley Dickison is now home and is happy to be there.

IN CASE YOU ARE INTERESTED ,I DONATED A HANDICAP TOILET SEAT FOR THE WOMEN'S BATHROOM MAKES IT EASIER TO SIT ON THE THRONE. GRACE KOBEL
This months schedule: Feb. 20 no dinner at church; instead, Aura Thai restaurant at the corner of Carson & Atlantic will host a special fundraiser for BKCCs Week of Compassion offering. Feb. 27 dinners return to their normal time, 6:00pm

Jeff Maddy youngest son of former members, Bill & Evelyn Maddy passed away unexpectedly last Tuesday, Feb. 5. Your continued prayers for the Maddy family are requested.

Five BKCC youth attended last weekends FebCamp at Pilgrim Pines: Trent Anderson, Ethan Bradfield, Kirsti Hillig, T.J. Hillig, and Angela Sar.

Vacation Bible School

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.

Its our biggest Christian Education event of the year! Please mark your calendars for July 22-26, 2013, for Kingdom Rock. Be sure to let your neighbors know! We need your help: please spread the word and invite kids you know. Lets make this our most successful VBS in years.

March Birthdays & Anniversary Happy Anniversary to David & Gretchen Rugh married 22 years on March 2. Happy Birthday to: Pat Cohen - March 1 Rajal Sardar - March 9 Timothy Pheng - March 12 Kirsti Hillig - March 15 Tom Sykes - March 18
A monthly gathering of praise prayer conversation and table fellowship where every persons faith story and questions are honored. The next Rekindle is March 17, 6:12pm.

UPCOMING SCRIPTURE Feb 24 - Matthew 18:21-35 Mar 3 - Isaiah 55:1-9

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

What Are You Doing Next Summer?

The dates for 2013 summer camps at Loch Leven have been announced. Registration materials are now available and can be picked up in the church office. 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 Spring Fling Thing (April 12-14) is a special leadership weekend camp for high school youth at Loch Leven. All high school youth are welcome to attend. More info coming soon.

GOT FRUIT?
SoCal Harvest is a not-for-profit, all-volunteer organization, based in Long Beach, established to allow home gardeners in sharing excess produce with local families in need. Food banks mainly offer packaged food because of their easy storage and distribution. However, SoCal Harvest, working with the Long Beach community, collects fresh produce from home gardens and backyard fruit trees to donate a healthy alternative to food bank clients.
Call, Contact, Connect, (323) 678-6036 Email: socalharvest@earthlink.net and make an appointment Taken from www.socalhavest.com

It is time to consider how many Easter Lilies you wish to purchase. The cost is still $6.05 and order forms are in the narthex. You may place your order form and payment in the offering tray. Please note on your check the money is for Easter lilies.

FELLOWSHIP NEWS

a bible quiz 1. What king, famous for his building projects, also planted vineyards, gardens, and orchards? Ecclesiates 2:4-5
The Fellowship News

2. What woman saved her city by negotiating peacefully with Joab? 2 Samuel 20:16-22 3. This elderly woman recognized the infant Jesus as being the Messiah. Luke 2:36-38 4. What king of Judah purified the temple and rededicated it to God? 2 Chronicles 29

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:

5.What was Esthers Hebrew name? Daniel Bradfield Esther 2:7 The Fellowship News is published twice monthly. 6. What elderly cousin of Mary became the mother of John the Baptist? Luke 1 7. After Eve, who is the first woman mentioned in the Bible? Genesis 4:19 8. Who had Jesus as a guest at a meal with many tax Check us out on Facebook collectors? www.facebook.com/bixbyknollschurch Luke 5:29 and how many did you get right? website: www.bixbyknollschurch.org

BIXBY KNOLLS CHRISTIAN CHURCH

CHURCH STAFF:

(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

BOARD OFFICERS: Ken Brown Pastor Daniel Bradfield -Board President -Minister Leo Dittemore Monica Lanz -Vice President -Church Secretary Pat Cohen Barbara Neal-Peebles -Secretary -Music Director/Organist Angela Hillig Christine Perkinson - Treasurer - Church Child Care Chrysan Naw Suzie Romero - Financial Secretary - Custodian -Church Clerk