Happy Memorial Day

I hope that you are having a wonderful Memorial Day! It is good and right to remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. Thank you to all who have served us in our armed forces. The families of those who have lost loved ones are in our prayers today.

Attention Rockstars Parents: There is a change to the Sunday morning schedule. Take One has been suspended immediately and the children will no longer be worshipping with us on Sunday mornings. Please check your child into their Studio before you come to the Worship Center. Studios will be open no later than 9:45 AM each Sunday morning.

FYI…Amy and I are going to Palm Springs for a few days this week. The church office will be closed Wednesday – Friday.


Upcoming Events:
June 6th – Seek & Surf
June 7th – EPIC Youth Ministry Camp Fund Raiser
June 13th – CLASS 101
June 14th – Baptism
June 19th – 24th – EPIC Camp & Ski Trip
June 21st – Father’s Day (Sports Jersey Day & Dodger Tickets)
June 27th – Women’s Ministry Meeting

Summer Is On the Way

The end of the school year is quickly approaching and summer is just around the corner. As you can see by the calendar of events, this summer is jam packed here at Venice Church. Please mark your calendars and make your plans to be a part of all that is happening.

Please make note of these special announcements. These events are approaching quickly.

We have many unique ministries here at Venice Church. One of them is our Seek & Surf ministry. It cranks up every summer and it gets started on Saturday June 6th. It is for surfers and those learning to surf. It is a time for those seeking God and interested in surfing to get together and hang out and study the Bible and…well…surf. For more information, get in touch with Marc Bagasao. cram777@ca.rr.com

If you have not joined our church by completing CLASS 101: Connecting With God’s Family and would like to, then make your plans to attend the class on Saturday June 13th @ 9:00 AM. The class is designed to answer your questions about Venice Church. You can enroll in the class by marking the box on the back of your response card on Sunday morning or by responding to this email.
If you have not been baptized and would like to be baptized then Sunday June 14th is for you. We will baptize right before the service at about 9:45 AM. You can sign up to be baptized on the back of your response card on Sunday or by responding to this email.

Just a reminder…you can read each week’s touching base on my blog at http://venicetouchingbase.blogspot.com/. You can also link to the blog from our church website venicechurch.com.

Upcoming Events:
June 6th – Seek & Surf
June 7th – EPIC Youth Ministry Camp Fund Raiser
June 13th – CLASS 101
June 14th – Baptism
June 19th – 24th – EPIC Camp & Ski Trip
June 21st – Father’s Day (Sports Jersey Day & Dodger Tickets)
June 27th – Women’s Ministry Meeting

Seek & Surf

I am seriously praising God for His wonderful work here at Venice Church. This past Sunday we had our best attendance in years (excluding Christmas & Easter) with 175 in attendance! God is truly good and it is great to be a part of what He is doing in our neighborhood.

That being said, we need your help. I know this is a lot to ask, but I must ask so that we may all fit in the worship center. As you make your way into the worship center, please try to fill up the section on the east side of the building and…sit toward the middle and the front. Late arrivers typically head down the outside aisles looking for a seat. Many times these late arrivers are visitors or guests. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.

Our desire is to fill up this one service on a regular basis. If we do, we will definitely set the wheels in motion for a second service. We are praying for that day. God is good…all of the time.

We have many unique ministries here at Venice Church. One of them is our Seek & Surf ministry. It cranks up every summer and it gets started on Saturday June 6th. It is for surfers and those learning to surf. It is a time for those seeking God and interested in surfing to get together and hang out and study the Bible and…well…surf. For more information, get in touch with Marc Bagasao. cram777@ca.rr.com If you are not familiar with the name…Marc is the sax and keyboard guy in the band.

If you have not joined our church by completing CLASS 101: Connecting With God’s Family and would like to, then make your plans to attend the class on Saturday June 13th @ 9:00 AM. The class is designed to answer your questions about Venice Church. You can enroll in the class by marking the box on the back of your response card on Sunday morning or by responding to this email.

If you have not been baptized and would like to be baptized then Sunday June 14th is for you. We will baptize right before the service at about 9:45 AM. You can sign up to be baptized on the back of your response card on Sunday or by responding to this email.

Ten Things I Think

1. I think that of all of the Hallmark holidays, Mother’s Day may be the most worthy.
2. I think that my mom is going to have a big old mansion in heaven for putting up with my father, brother, and me.
3. I think that we think that our moms are brilliant from birth to age 12 and then we think that they get incredibly ignorant until we are about age 25 and then suddenly they are brilliant again.
4. I think that my mom is great, but not as great as my kid’s mom.
5. I think the saying, “A face only a mother could love,” is true and there are many other features and factors that you could put in place of “face”.
6. I think that Father’s Day takes a backseat to Mother’s Day and it should.
7. I think that men over 40 should not wear sports jerseys…except on Father’s Day at Venice Church.
8. I think that this Men’s Ministry season was a huge success. Thanks to Brad and his entire team for a great year.
9. I think that our Easter outreach program was a huge success. With the exception of this last Sunday our attendance has jumped about 15 each week. It is great to see first time visitors every week.
10. I think…okay I know… that the NFL season is only 128 days away. Football, you bet!!

Men's Ministry This Sunday

Last week it was the Women’s Ministry in the spotlight and this week Men’s Ministry comes to the fore.

This Sunday, May 3rd, we have our end of season BBQ at Bob Tripp’s house immediately following the worship service. It will be a great time. We always have outstanding food. Richie Henson will wrap up our season-long prayer curriculum and you will get all of the 411 on the upcoming Men’s Ministry Road Trip and season. I will look forward to seeing you all there. As always you can find Men’s Ministry info at there blog at http://www.venicemensministry.blogspot.com/.

The following Sunday, May 10th, is Mother’s Day. Don’t forget to honor your mom, wife, and mother of your children on that special day. We will be honoring all of the moms in our worship service.

And finally…on Father’s Day, June 24th, we are encouraging everybody (men, women, boys & girls) to wear their favorite sports jersey or shirt to the service. We are giving away a family four pack of Dodger tickets in the all-you-can-eat pavilion (plus parking) to one lucky dad in attendance that day.

Upcoming Events:
May 3rd – Men’s Ministry
May 10th – Mother’s Day
June 13th – CLASS 101
June 14th – Baptism
June 19th – 24th – EPIC Camp & Ski Trip
June 21st – Father’s Day
June 27th – Women’s Ministry Meeting

For Women Only

Hey! How are you doing?


This Saturday at 10:00 AM is our Women’s Ministry Career Building Seminar. Our speakers will share these topics: prayer, leadership, goal setting, & discipline. Our speakers will share these topics in the context of home, work, and church.


If you have not signed up and you are planning to attend, please respond to this email. We are preparing a light breakfast and gift for each lady in attendance. The cost is $5.00 per person.


If you are an amazing woman and have all of these areas of your life together already…just come and enjoy the fellowship with the other ladies of Venice that are struggling.


With Love,

Amy



Upcoming Events:

April 25th – Women’s Ministry Career Seminar

May 3rd – Men’s Ministry

May 10th – Mother’s Day

June 13th – CLASS 101

June 14th – Baptism

June 19th – 24th – EPIC Camp & Ski Trip

June 21st – Father’s Day

June 27th – Women’s Ministry Meeting

Rejoice!

I am rejoicing over the wonderful blessings of this past weekend! We had a total attendance of 360 in our three services and we handed out over 50 gift bags to first time visitors. Some of our visitors have already expressed a desire to come back again. We praise God for His wonderful works. We continue to pray that God would call many into His family and into our church family.

Special thanks to our Communication Team for their smarts and hard work in promoting our Easter services. We are truly blessed to have so many talented people using their talent for God.

Over the last couple of days our Panama Missions Team has returned home safely. We can look forward to hearing their stories and testimonies over the coming weeks.
There is so much exciting stuff going on that it is difficult to contain myself. It is a joy to share in all of it with you. I look forward to all that God has planned for us here at Venice Church.

This Sunday we begin a new series called Leaving a Lasting Legacy. I look forward to seeing you then.

Upcoming Events:
April 25th – Women’s Ministry Career Seminar
May 3rd – Men’s Ministry
May 10th – Mother’s Day
June 13th – CLASS 101
June 14th – Baptism
June 19th – 24th – EPIC Camp & Ski Trip
June 21st – Father’s Day
June 27th – Women’s Ministry Meeting

Doorhangers!

It is Easter week. Many of you probably already know this because you got an Easter Service invite on your front door! (The attached picture is from the Cope's home.) Please continue to pray over the next few days as 25,000 households are invited to our services this weekend. Pray that many will attend and that God will call some to faith in Christ and into His family.

If you did not get a door hanger…here is this week’s lineup. There will be a Good Friday Service @ 7:00 PM. Studio Green (nursery) and Studio Blue will be open on Friday night. We will have two services on Easter Sunday at 9:00 & 10:45 AM. Rockstars will run during both services.

Our Panama Missions Team will be in Panama until Sunday. Please pray for their safety and that God will continue to work through them. We look forward to a wonderful report upon their return.

It is an exciting week. I am thrilled to be sharing it with you.


Upcoming Events:

April 2nd – April 12th – Panama Missions Trip

April 10th – Good Friday Service @ 7:00 PM.

April 12th – Easter: Two Services @ 9:00 & 10:45 AM.

April 25th – Women’s Ministry Potluck

May 3rd – Men’s Ministry

May 10th – Mother’s Day

Touching Base

Next week is Easter week. I hope that you are planning to worship with us and have invited somebody to attend with you. We have three opportunities for you. There will be a Good Friday Service on April 10th @ 7:00 PM. We will have two services on Easter Sunday at 9:00 & 10:45 AM.

Our Panama Missions Team is just a couple of days from departing to Panama. Please pray for their safety and that God will accomplish His will through them. We look forward to a wonderful report upon their return. They will return April 12th.



Upcoming Events:

April 2nd – April 12th – Panama Missions Trip

April 10th – Good Friday Service @ 7:00 PM.

April 12th – Easter: Two Services @ 9:00 & 10:45 AM.

April 25th – Women’s Ministry Potluck

May 3rd – Men’s Ministry

May 10th – Mother’s Day

There are some wonderful opportunities for ministry this week and in the coming weeks.
Please take advantage of these opportunities.

Our Prayer Ministry Team is planning a very special prayer meeting this Friday night March 27th. It will be an “all-night” meeting beginning at 7:30 and continuing until midnight. Make your plans to come and pray some time during the evening. Of course you are invited to pray with them every Sunday morning at 9:00.

This Sunday during the service we will have a special time of prayer over our Panama Missions Team. We will gather around them and pray for them. They leave for Panama next Thursday.

Men, your next Men’s Ministry meeting will be this Sunday right after the service. For more information, check out the Men’s Ministry blog. You can link to it from our website venicechurch.com.

Easter is just a couple of weeks away. Please begin making your plans to celebrate with us. We have three services planned. There will be a Good Friday Service on April 10th @ 7:00 PM. We will have two services on Easter Sunday at 9:00 & 10:45 AM. And…it is a great time to invite somebody to come to church with you. It just might change their life now and for eternity.


Upcoming Events:
Every Sunday @ 9:15: Take One for Rockstars
March 27th – “All-Night” Prayer Meeting
March 29th – Men’s Ministry after the morning service.
April 2nd – April 12th – Panama Missions Trip
April 10th – Good Friday Service @ 7:00 PM.
April 12th – Easter: Two Services @ 9:00 & 10:45 AM.
April 25th – Women’s Ministry Potluck

God is good!

God is so good! You all did good too! Because of the faithfulness and goodness of God and because of your faithfulness to God we were able to raise $3,333.00 for our Panama team this past Sunday. I want all of the credit to go where it is due. You are to be commended for your generosity. Good people of Venice Church, thank you for caring for the lost and needy of Panama. All praise to God for His wonderful blessings. Without the blessings and generosity of God you would not have had an offering to give. God is so good! We praise Him wonderful name.

And now…a few quick reminders.

Our Prayer Ministry Team is planning a very special prayer meeting for Friday night March 27th. It will be an “all-night” meeting beginning at 7:00 and continuing until midnight. Make your plans to come and pray some time during the evening. Of course you are invited to pray with them every Sunday morning at 9:00.

Men, your next Men’s Ministry meeting will be Sunday March 29th right after the service. For more information, check out the Men’s Ministry blog. You can link to it from our website venicechurch.com.

Easter is less than one month away. Please begin making your plans to celebrate with us. We have three services planned. There will be a Good Friday Service on April 10th @ 7:00 PM. We will have two services on Easter Sunday at 9:00 & 10:45 AM. And…it is a great time to invite somebody to come to church with you. It just might change their life now and for eternity.


Upcoming Events:
Every Sunday @ 9:15: Take One for Rockstars
March 27th – “All-Night” Prayer Meeting
March 29th – Men’s Ministry after the morning service.
April 2nd – April 12th – Panama Missions Trip
April 10th – Good Friday Service @ 7:00 PM.
April 12th – Easter: Two Services @ 9:00 & 10:45 AM.

Make Your Plans

Please continue to pray and make plans to participate in our Panama Missions Offering. The offering will be received this Sunday March 15th. We need to raise $3,000.00 for construction supplies, Vacation Bible School supplies, and other supplies. We are excited about our team going to the mission field. You can have a part in what God will do in Panama by giving to this offering.

Our Prayer Ministry Team is planning a very special prayer meeting for Friday night March 27th. It will be an “all-night” meeting beginning at 7:00 and continuing until midnight. Make your plans to come and pray some time during the evening. Of course you are invited to pray with them every Sunday morning at 9:00.

Easter is about one month away. Please begin making your plans to celebrate with us. We have three services planned. There will be a Good Friday Service on April 10th @ 7:00 PM. We will have two services on Easter Sunday at 9:00 & 10:45 AM. And…it is a great time to invite somebody to come to church with you. It just might change their life now and for eternity.


Upcoming Events:
Every Sunday @ 9:15: Take One for Rockstars
March 15th – Panama Missions Project Offering
March 29th – “All-Night” Prayer Meeting
April 2nd – April 12th – Panama Missions Trip
April 10th – Good Friday Service @ 7:00 PM.
April 12th – Easter: Two Services @ 9:00 & 10:45 AM.

Spring Forward

Daylight Savings Time begins this Sunday. Don’t forget to set your clock forward one hour before you go to bed Saturday night. I don’t want you to be late for church on Sunday!

Please continue to pray and make plans to participate in our Panama Missions Offering. The offering will be received on Sunday March 15th. We need to raise $3,000.00 for construction supplies, Vacation Bible School supplies, and other supplies. We are excited about our team going to the mission field. You can have a part in what God will do in Panama by giving to this offering.

Easter is just a little over one month away. Please begin making your plans to celebrate with us. We have three services planned. There will be a Good Friday Service on April 10th @ 7:00 PM. We will have two services on Easter Sunday at 9:00 & 10:45 AM. And…it is a great time to invite somebody to come to church with you. It just might change their life now and for eternity.

Upcoming Events:
Every Sunday @ 9:15: Take One for Rockstars
March 7th – Men’s Ministry Service Project
March 15th – Panama Missions Project Offering
April 10th – Good Friday Service @ 7:00 PM.
April 12th – Easter: Two Services @ 9:00 & 10:45 AM.

Panama

In just about one month a team of volunteers from Venice Church will head to Panama to minister to and serve the good people there. With your help they have raised the funds necessary to get them to the field. Now they need us to help them with the supplies that they will need on their missions trip.

On Sunday March 15th we will receive a special missions offering for those supplies. Our team will be helping two churches with construction projects. They will also be hosting a Vacation Bible School for which they will need supplies. The bottom line is that we need to raise $3,000.00 dollars with this offering. Please begin praying about the part that you can play in giving to this offering. Then come prepared to give, over and above your regular tithes and offerings, to this special offering. You may not be going to Panama, but you can have a part in the lives that will be changed!

Upcoming Events:
Every Sunday @ 9:15: Take One for Rockstars
March 1st – Communion
March 7th – Men’s Ministry Service Project
March 15th – Panama Missions Project Offering
April 10th – Good Friday Service @ 7:00 PM.
April 12th – Easter: Two Services @ 9:00 & 10:45 AM.

New Stuff

I want to remind you and encourage you to attend one of our prayer meetings. There is a prayer meeting every Sunday morning at 9:00 AM in the library/conference room. There is a prayer meeting this Friday night at 7:30 on the Worship Center. The prayer meetings are very informal and all are welcome. If you have questions please contact Richard Guerrero at justprayvbc@gmail.com.

There is a new ministry opportunity with our Rockstars Childrens Ministry. It is called Take One and it meets every Sunday morning at 9:15 upstairs in the studio area. Take One is an opportunity for your child to hang out with other kids and play together before the service begins. So come early and let your child have fun while you enjoy a cup of something warm in the coffee bar. For more information contact Jennifer at vjennifer@hotmail.com.

And ladies, don’t forget your potluck on Saturday at noon. You are going to be celebrating all that God has done during Ladies Ministry service month. I know that you will have a great time.

Upcoming Events:
February 24th – Music Auditions
March 1st – Communion
March 7th – Men’s Ministry Service Project

Free Babysitting

Just in case you haven’t noticed, with all of the jewelry, candy, and card ads, it is Valentine’s week. The wonderful women of Venice would love to serve the couples of Venice by offering free babysitting on Valentine’s Day. The sitting service will be provided from 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM at the church.

We will check in your child in the chapel beginning at 5:00 PM.

Men, if you need help planning a date with your Valentine ask her to help you! Tell her that you have the kids taken care of.

Amy

Upcoming Events:
February 21st – Women’s Ministry Potluck
February 24th – Music Auditions
March 1st – Communion
March 7th – Men’s Ministry Service Project

This Is It

I hope that you are doing your life work this week. Don’t forget to make a list of things that you would do if you only had one month to live. Remember, you are going to have to narrow it down. Get your list down to what really matters most. You will learn a lot about how you are and what you are really all about.

I have to tell you that I was both startled and somewhat embarrassed by my first few attempts. Be diligent and really focus on what is really important to you. The good news is…it is between you and God. You don’t have to share your list with anybody.

I look forward to seeing you Sunday when we continue with the series This Is It. Message Two is Deepening Relationships. Have a great week and plan to be involved in some of the upcoming events. You will not be sorry.


Upcoming Events:

February 8th – Men’s Ministry

February 21st – Women’s Ministry

February 24th – Music Auditions

March 1st – Communion

March 7th – Men’s Ministry Service Project

What Matters Most?

Our Annual Business Meeting was well attended on Sunday night. God was extremely good to us in 08 and we are looking forward to a great 09. If you were unable to attend, you may pick up the financial reports at the information center on Sunday.

Let me encourage you again to get involved in our Prayer Ministry. There is a prayer meeting every Sunday morning at 9:00 AM. Beginning on Friday February 6th there will be a prayer meeting on the first and last Friday night of each month at 7:30. If you have any questions about the Prayer Ministry or the prayer meetings you may contact Richard Guerrero at justprayvbc@gmail.com.

God has blessed our church with wonderful musical talent. We are always looking for other people who are musically talented and want to use that talent for God. So…we are holding open auditions for singers and musicians on Tuesday night February 24th @ 8:30 PM. If you would like to audition please make your plans to be with us. If you have any questions, please direct them to me.

This Sunday I am going to begin a new series of messages called This Is It. For the next four Sundays we are going to focus our attention on this question. What if you had just one month to live? What would change? What would take priority? I believe that it will be a thought provoking and life changing series. I will see you on Sunday for Message One: What Matters Most.


Upcoming Events:
February 5th – CLASS 101
February 8th – Men’s Ministry
February 21st – Women’s Ministry
February 24th – Music Auditions

A New Day

Sunday night is our Annual Business Meeting. I hope that all of you will plan to attend. We will look back and see how good God was to us in 2008. We will look forward to 2009. If you are not familiar with these meetings here is the gist of what happens. We will review financial statements from 2008. We will approve a budget and ministry teams for 2009. That is pretty much it. The meeting should not be long. Plan to join us Sunday night at 6:00 in the Worship Center.

One of the new ministries that sprang forth in 2008 was a Prayer Ministry. The ministry consists of a prayer meeting every Sunday morning at 9:00. Beginning in February, in addition to the Sunday prayer meeting, there will be a prayer meeting every first and last Friday in the Worship Center at 7:30 PM. If you have any questions about the Prayer Ministry or the prayer meetings you may contact Richard Guerrero at justprayvbc@gmail.com.

And finally I must say that it is an exciting day in these United States of America. I am praying for our new President. I am praying for wisdom, clarity, and guidance from the Scriptures for him. And I am praying for his safety and the safety of his family. I am praying for our country. I am praying for the unity that is necessary for us to accomplish all that is necessary in these trying and difficult times. I am praying that we would be a nation that is pleasing to God, a nation that honors God, one nation, under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

Upcoming Events:
January 25th – Annual Business Meeting
February 5th – CLASS 101
February 8th – Men’s Ministry
February 21st – Women’s Ministry

Faith to Change

I am praying for your week. Please pray for Amy and me. We are on a little cruise to Ensenada this week. It is an annual conference with other pastors and their wives. We will be out of the office this week.

We are talking about Venice Values on Sunday mornings. This Sunday we are going to talk about The Faith to Change. You may want to read Hebrews chapter 11 in advance of our study.

As I mentioned last week, the Missions Trip to Panama is coming up very quickly. This Sunday we are going to be receiving an offering to raise money for those who are going on the trip. Please pray this week about what God would have you give and then come prepared on Sunday to participate in this special offering. I know that you want to have a part in sending some of our folks to “the ends of the earth”. Any and all questions about the Missions Trip can be directed to Daniel & Kristen Nehrig @ jenkrist@yahoo.com.


Upcoming Events:
January 25th – Annual Business Meeting
February 5th – CLASS 101
February 8th – Men’s Ministry
February 21st – Women’s Ministry