the

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

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Bixby Knolls Christian Church, (Disciples of Christ) (562) 426-0428
ISSUE 17

AUGUST 23, 2016

Dear Church,
Starting something new, making a big change, or doing something different, is
scary. Did you know I almost didnt go to Brazil because of my fear? Id never
flown so far, Id never had to navigate customs by myself, Id never arrived by
myself in a land where I didnt speak the language, Id never been apart from my family for so long Thats
just a few of the new, scary things that Id be doing for the first time! I really thought that, maybe, I should just
stay home and do what was familiar and safe: just relax at my dining room table and drink tea for 16 days.
That way, I wouldnt have to face the fear and anxiety of doing something new and different.
Fortunately I had bought my plane ticket six months in advance, and I wasnt going to waste that $700. So
I went. My fear and anxiety couldnt stop me. I had to pack extra deodorant in my carry-on, but I went.
And of course, I ended up having one of the most amazing experiences of my life!
Life is full of potential changes: Starting a new job. Moving to a new city. Creating a new living arrangement. Developing new eating habits & exercise routines for our health. Finding new ways to do church.
What positive change do you need to make? What new activity or behavior do you need to start? What
idea has been lurking in the back of your mind, hidden away by your desire to stick with whats safe and familiar?
How can you work through that fear and anxiety, and make the change?
Blessings,
Pastor Danny

Summer Music Note

Thanks to all the members of the praise team for all their dedicated work in bringing us new contemporary
music this summer. Ken, Madison, Samantha and T.J. have spent many hours researching and rehearsing ,
mostly in the heat, to bring us the special music. They will continue to play 2 times per month through November.
Chancel Choir starts 2 weeks from Wednesday on September 7th so save the date and come and sing with
us.

This Sunday, August 28

Alice Hoffman
Sumbal Sardar
Keri Clark (daughter of M. Lanz)
Hattie Johnson
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)

Im always blessed by VBS!

Thats what I said to Lisa Tunstall last
Sunday when we were talking about how
much fun we had during VBS week. Lisa
told me to put those words on a T-shirt,
they were catchy. If I made myself a
personal T-shirt, Im always blessed by
VBS!, that would definitely say something about who I am and one of the
many things I love about our church. My
collection of VBS pictures over the
years bring back many fond memories I
enjoy remembering again and again. Our
group photo captures the heart of VBS: young and older, those barely learning to stand &
walk, and those who have been walking for decades spending time together learning about
Jesus. What a joy, thank you, Lord! One more huge thanks to our Fearless Leaders & Awesome Assistants, and I pray the remembrance of Bible Buddy scriptures and Gods promises
will equip the children and families with hope, courage, direction, love, and the power of Jesus
in the coming school year.

What would you want your personal T-shirt to say?

Blessings, Scheri Dubon

Back to school
Early one morning, a mother woke her son, who whined about having to go to school.
Give me two reasons why you dont want to go, she said.
Well, he complained, the kids dont like me, and neither do the teachers!
Nonsense, she said. Come get ready.
Give me two reasons why I should go, the son protested.
Well, for one, youre 52, she said. For another, youre the principal!

Join us for an

incredible ice cream buffet

September 11. Ice cream will be provided, but you are

encouraged to bring a favorite topping or two to share
with others.
What if I dont have a grandparent or grandchild
to bring? Thats quite alright. We have enough family
love to go around, so you wont feel left out or excluded.
The ice cream is for everyone! (Feel free, however, to invite someone even if they arent your grandparent or
grandchild!)

Feeding the Homeless

For almost 15 years, BKCC has been preparing
and delivering dinner once a month (the 2nd
Thurs) to Christian Outreach in Action. We are
able to provide 125 hot meals that evening.
The program was originally funded by donations
in memory of Diane Dickison and now depends
on donations from our members. The average
cost of serving dinner is $200 a month. If you
can help us continue this program, your donation can be placed in the offering tray or mailed
to the church.

Please designate Feed the

Homeless. No donation is too small.

Alzheimers Caregiver Support Group

Faith Presbyterian Church
500 E. San Antonio Drive
Long Beach, CA 90807

help prepare the meal. We meet at 10 am, and

with enough help can be finished by 11:00.

Facilitator: Terri Furlow, MS, RN

Meets the 3rd Thursday of each month
10:30 a.m. - 12 noon
Please Call Terri at (562) 427-8048 for further information
Dates for 2016
August 18

September 15

October 20

November 17

Cooks are always needed the 2nd Thursday to

December 15

Christian Womens Fellowship

CWF begins a new study year in September. The CWF theme for this year is Embracing Our Global Sisterhood, and our Bible study is Biblical Hospitality/The Table and Beyond
The Mary group meets on the first Thursday of the month in room 115 at 9:30 coffee time and bible study at
10:00. The Sept. 8 meeting will be at the home of Sandy Jeglum. The Ruth group meets on the 3rd Tuesday
at 7:00pm at the church. Pat Cohen is the leader and should be contacted for more info on their meeting.
We are still collecting stamps, coupons, labels for education, eye glasses and small prescription and pill bottles. The boxes for donations are on the counter in the Fellowship Hall.
Stamps should be able to be trimmed to a border. These are sent to Sons of Norway. They prepare
them, sell them, and the money is used to purchase orthopedic equipment for children.
Manufacturers coupons can be found in newspapers and magazines or even mailed to you. We send
them to our military commissaries overseas and they are appreciated by our military families who otherwise
would not have access to them.
Eyeglasses and lens are given to our local Lions Club who provides glasses for those who are in need.
Prescription

bottles are sent to missionary hospitals. Without them, the medicines given to patients are

just wrapped in papernot very safe.

Box tops for Education and Labels for Education are used by LB elementary schools to purchase equipment. If you are not already saving these for your child or grandchilds school, please save them for CWF,
and this year they will go to Grant Elementary School in North Long Beach. Check your cereal and other box
goods for the red label BOX TOPS-EDUCATION and Campbell soup, Green Giant and other cans for LABELS
FOR EDUCATION. For Labels we only need the bar code and Label for Education title. Example

SAMPLE ONLY
SAMPLE ONLY

Our taking the effort to recycle any of these items, gives a greater benefit to others.

Church Camp in Puerto Rico!

By Tristan Bradfield

When most people think of Puerto Rico, they might think of the beautiful tourist location San Juan,
and maybe food like mofongo. When I think of Puerto Rico, I remember the amazing experience I had at
Camp Morton, located in Baranquitas, Puerto Rico.
This past July, I traveled there with Youth Immersion Ministry, a cultural outreach team comprised of
regional youth, to experience the Puerto Rican culture, as well as what they believe it means to be a Disciple
of Christ. What I found was, even though there was a huge language barrier, I felt closer to God than I have
ever felt before through the amazing energy that the campers brought not only to worship, but to everyday
activites. I had many firsts, such as trying new foods like mofongo or lechon and I really felt that I experienced the culture in a way that no tourist would ever be able to, and that was through Jesus. The 10 days I
spent in Puerto Rico will certainly be 10 days I won't soon forget.

Unanswered prayer?
One day a little boy asked his pastor-mom why she always bowed her head for a moment before starting to
preach. The mother, delighted that her son was so aware of what went on during worship, answered, I pray
for God to help me deliver a good sermon to the people.
Alas, her delight was short-lived and fizzled at the childs response. So why doesnt God ever answer?

Bixby Knolls Christian Church is connected to over 100 congregations that make up the Pacific Southwest Region of
the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). These connections
allow us to work with other congregations to offer programs and events to enrich the spiritual lives of all who participate. Some upcoming regional events are listed below
REGIONAL ASSEMBLY
The Regional Assembly is the gathering of all congregations for fellowship, education, worship, and business. It
takes place October 14-15 in Fullerton. (Both Pastor Danny
& Tristan Bradfield are helping lead workshops at Regional
Assembly!)
YOUTH MINI-GOLF TOURNAMENT
Sunday Sept. 18, 4-9pm, youth from across the region will
gather for mini-golf, laser tag, bumper boats, arcade
games, go-kart racing, and dinner! The cost is $25, or $75
for a group of four. This event will take place at Camelot
Golfland in Anaheim.
DISCIPLES WOMEN SPIRITUAL GROWTH RETREAT
This retreat takes place Sept. 30-Oct. 2 at Loch Leven. It offers the opportunity to connect the spiritual practices offered in Barbara Brown Taylors book An Altar in the
World to our lives. (This is a book Pastor Danny has read and recommends!) Participants will be encouraged
to take time to build their own altarsany place where we can stop and worship God.
YOUNG ADULT RETREAT
Details about this retreat, which takes place October 21-23 at Loch Leven, will be coming soon.
OLDER ADULTS RETREAT
This retreat takes place November 1-2 at the Mary and Joseph Retreat Center in Rancho Palos Verdes.
For more info on any of these regional events, visit www.disciplespswr.org.

Aug 28 - Jeremiah 2:4-13

Reading the Bible without Fear

Please submit your articles as early as you

can for the Sept 6 issue of the Fellowship
News. The office will be closed on Monday,
Sept 5 for Labor Day.

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)

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.

Litter pickup: We meet at the

front gate every 4th Sunday at
11:45, to pick up litter in Somerset Park and along our
neighborhood sidewalks &
gutters. Join us for our next

30-minute litter pickup on

August 28 at 11:45 a.m.

Wednesday Night Dinners:

join us every Wednesday at
6:00 for this pay-what-youcan meal. Starts Sept. 7

Submit your articles for the next

newsletter by

September 4, 2016