Time Change

This week begins the busy push to the end of the year so let me encourage you to enjoy the holidays and all that goes with them and please, be safe.

The next few weeks are going to be quite busy here at Venice so let me encourage you to continue to make time for your church family. Come and enjoy our Sunday Worship Services. Enjoy your small group. Take satisfaction in serving in your ministry.

There are many opportunities over the next few weeks so let me give you some announcements.

Men’s Ministry – Saturday @ 10:00 AM.

Daylight Savings Time Ends – Saturday. Set your clocks back one hour on Saturday night.

Shockwave Student Ministry Parent’s Night – Sunday evening at 6:00.

Parents are invited to discover our new and improved teen ministry.

Recovery Ministry – Thursday November 8th @ 7:00 PM.

Feeding the Homeless – Saturday November 10th.

Women’s Ministry – Saturday November 17th.

Thanksgiving Testimonies – Sunday November 25th in both services.

We are still looking for two women and one other man to share their testimony of thanks to God. If I don’t get any volunteers I am going to start recruiting!! Please, let me hear from you.

Fire

The fires of this week have been startling and heart wrenching. So many people who are living the American dream and more specifically California dreamin’ were asked, then ordered, and then forced to leave their homes. Some of them return to find their world spared and virtually unscathed. Some, when they are allowed to return, will find that their home and their world is literally…gone.

It is impossible to watch this type of devastation without turning immediately to God. We may come at God with questions. God…why? Why this neighborhood? Why did this home burn and the neighbor’s did not? Why now? God…are you trying to get our attention? Is there something that You want us to learn?

Ultimately we are left with truth. God created this place. God is the Sustainer of this place. God is God and therefore may do whatever it is that pleases Him. We may not understand it all, but we can accept it. Accepting that God is in control does not mean that it does not hurt. Knowing that God has our best interest at heart may provide some perspective but it cannot erase the sense of loss. In the end God is good. He will provide.

Our job as Christ followers during a time like this is to pray. Pray for the people who have been most profoundly affected. Pray that God’s will is done and that He would be known and glorified. We can pray and then we can love and give when and where it is necessary. As the great preacher S.M. Lockridge would say, “Put some feet to our prayers.”

At the end of the day and at the end of a week like this there are two things that I know for sure.
God’s people will step and represent Jesus Christ well.
God will do His thing…because He is God.
This passage says it all.
Psalm 46:1-11
God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. [2] So we will not fear, even if earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. [3] Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!
[4] A river brings joy to the city of our God, the sacred home of the Most High. [5] God himself lives in that city; it cannot be destroyed. God will protect it at the break of day. [6] The nations are in an uproar, and kingdoms crumble! God thunders, and the earth melts! [7] The Lord Almighty is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress.
[8] Come, see the glorious works of the Lord: See how he brings destruction upon the world [9] and causes wars to end throughout the earth. He breaks the bow and snaps the spear in two; he burns the shields with fire. [10] "Be silent, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world." [11] The Lord Almighty is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress.

Service

Over the last couple of weeks, you have heard me say a bit about taking your next step and today I would like to be a bit more specific. Our desire is to have everybody attend a service on Sunday morning, participate in a small group during the week, and serve others through one of our ministries. These three elements make up the process that will produce a life that is lived for God’s purposes and His glory.

All three elements are very important in our development as Christ followers and as a church; however the missing element for many is the element of service. It just may be that the service element will put our church over the hump where growth is concerned.

So, if you are not serving in a ministry, let me encourage you to consider that next step. You may be wondering…where can I serve? What are my options? Where is there a need?

Here are some ideas. There is room for you to serve on Sunday mornings in our nursery. Contact Amy Henson for more information. You can serve in our Rockstars Childrens Ministry. Contact Jennifer Villaryo for more information. We need singers and musicians in our worship music ministry. We are looking for singers, guitar players, and drummers. Contact me if you would like to use your musical talent for God. (You can find our contact information at venicechurch.com)
You could serve in our coffee bar. Drop in and see Lynn for more information. We take food to the needy once a month. They can always use another set of hands. See Adam for more information about that ministry.

Those are just a few. There are many more opportunities. If you have any questions, please contact me.

Are You Ready?

Are you ready??
Are you ready to take your next step with God?
That is what we want you to do over the next 40 days. Just take your next step with God. For some that will mean to take Christ as their personal Savior and Lord. For some it will be to be baptized. For some the next step will be to get in a small group. For some it will be to begin serving in ministry. Over the next 40 days we want you to prepare yourself to take your next step.

In the days that follow the campaign we are going to give you an opportunity to get into action. We are going to roll out some new opportunities for you to live out God’s five purposes for your life. We have set a goal to see the attendance of Venice Church double in the next 12-15 months. It can happen with God’s help. It can happen as we get busy living out His purposes.

So…if you are ready…pray with me this week that God would do something great, even miraculous in our church and in our lives. He is worthy of our devotion, praise, and service. Are you ready? Let’s get ready. Right now!

Let's Do This!

I am excited about the coming days and weeks. I believe that God is going to do something great in our midst. In recent days and weeks I have talked with many of you and I sense your excitement and desire to be used of God for His Kingdom and glory.

God uses people. That is what this is all about. People. The church is about people. When God’s people in His church get excited about what God can do He begins to work among them. As God works in the lives of His people we see more people come to Christ and grow in Christ and serve Christ and others. And we see God’s people meet together in loving fellowship and most of all God is worshipped more fervently.

It has not been our best year here at Venice, yet I sense that the Holy Spirit is stirring among us. I believe that God is calling us to a greater vision, passion, enthusiasm, and determination in seeing His will done through this church. I believe that God wants Venice to be a church that is making a difference and Kingdom impact in this community. I believe that you want to be a part of it! Let’s do this. Let’s go with God.

We have an opportunity to get revved up during our 40 Days of Purpose Campaign that begins on October 14th. Engage. Participate. Pray. Anticipate. Love. Serve. Worship. Fellowship. Grow. Share.

This is it! This why we are here. Let’s do this. Let’s do it together.


News of Note…

* Don’t forget about the small group meet and greet on Sunday between services in the breezeway. If you are not in a small group you will have an opportunity to meet the leaders and ask questions.

* If you haven’t noticed…we need a drummer. If you are interested in serving God in our music ministry and you can play drums or acoustic guitar we would love for you to audition. Please contact me if you are interested.

* And…this is big news…Alex & Christy Sears are the proud parents of Colton Alexander Sears!! He was born at 12:30 this morning by c-section. He is 8 pounds and 14 ounces and 20 ½ inches long. Mom and baby are doing well. Congratulations Alex & Christy!!