They asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?" - Luke 24:32
Burning Hearts... that is really what it is all about for us as a community centered on Jesus Christ. We have a story to tell! The grave is empty and Jesus is alive and is in the business of repairing broken lives and relationships for all eternity, implanting burning hearts inside of people. Unlike other times of the year, these coming weeks, months really, provide our community with a unique opportunity to bring Jesus to people we're in relationship with as well as people on the margins. It is in the spring that we engage in a catalytic serving experience we call Beautiful Day. Every second Wednesday, we gather as the church at Hawes Elementary School and worship Jesus by serving the poor (you can read more about this in my Gary's Corner article), and of course every spring we gather to celebrate history's most significant event, the resurrection of Jesus. This year, as in years past, Easter will kick off an apologetics series. We are moving away from our Urban Legends title and naming our series God Answers. We are attempting not only to provide answers, but to generate discussions around relevant questions our unchurched friends may have. Here is the series breakdown: ˇ Easter Sunday: I'm a Good Person... How Good Is Good Enough? ˇ 4/11 -- Why would God Allow So Much Injustice? ˇ 4/18 -- Why believe in God? ˇ 4/25 -- What is God's Purpose for Sex? In addition to the Sunday experiences, we will also launch a website: God-Answers.com to direct people to where people can submit questions, read articles and interact more fully around these questions. Pray for these efforts, and join me in extending The Burning Hearts Club around the Peninsula and beyond.
Happy Spring PCC,
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 On The Right Path
Preschool by Debbie Bravo
Gazing through the preschool windows each morning with my 3-year-old son Jonathan, I was always in awe of the teachers happily preparing for the day. They seemed to carry a sense of peace and joy as they glorified God in their ministries. Two years quickly passed as Jonathan readied his move to kindergarten. Exploring my feelings, I felt a deep sadness and longing in anticipation of our departure. I realized it was much more than my child growing up, but rather my desire to stay connected to the school, to continue to be a part of a place that provided me with comfort, safety and His presence. To my utter surprise, I suddenly felt drawn by God to become a teacher myself. I embarked on a return to school to pursue a future in Early Childhood Education. While raising a young family, attending school and learning the job at the preschool, feeling tired and overwhelmed at times, I asked God if I was on the right path. He swiftly assured me through my love of teaching, the joy I found with the preschoolers, confidence instilled in me by directors Terry and Karen, and true friendships with them and the teachers. These are relationships I had longed for my entire life. I have found a deep and profound sense of purpose here that I treasure every day.
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God Loves Me
College Age and Young Adults
 I believed my dad was in prison because I wasn't a good enough Christian. He couldn't be there for us. I was lost, numb, and in a bad relationship with my mom. I felt I needed to be the adult. We would go days without talking, and I'd find any reason to leave the house. I stopped caring and shut off all emotion. My mom was falling apart and I tried everything I could to help, but nothing worked. I started blaming myself. I broke down and prayed one last time, and for the first time, in a long time, I felt! I felt HIS warmth, a LITERAL embrace. I could barely breathe, but it felt so good! I felt TRUE love for the first time. I fought so hard to keep going and took on the responsibilities of keeping my family safe and myself in school, but the one thing that made me prosper and gave me happiness was letting God take care of me, and everyone around me.
Through PCC I learned that God loves me for who I am; even when I sin, He loves me. I was very thirsty for a deeper relationship with Jesus when I entered PCC! My thirst is quenched. I'm challenged to be more disciplined and to evaluate myself, not blame God. This community values each other, respects each other, and is always looking out for one another. I'm growing by staying in the Scripture. When rough times come, I read, pray, and listen to God. I take delight in my new identity as a child of God, not as a child of a messy situation and big mistakes. So many people have helped me through my trust issues, people I know I can depend on. It makes me happy to know that I am axpart of the body of Christ with PCC, and things have changed with my family. My mom is alive, has a job, and cares about life once again. My dad is a Christian worshiping God behind bars. It's amazing.I know God is protecting him. Although it has taken eight years, my family is healing, and God is growing us to His own liking.
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Team Ascent Serve the Peninsula by John Luff
I want to give you a brief update on the program we started at Sequoia High School and some feedback I received from Bonnie Hansen, Sequoia Principal.
For Bonnie, one of the freshman boys had to come to her office this week for disciplinary action for something he had done prior to our program starting. This young freshman boy, accepted responsibility for his action and asked for forgiveness. He had tears in his eyes and acknowledged it was wrong. Bonnie told me that he would have never had a contrite attitude in the past and frankly didn't know who she was talking to. Bonnie told me they are seeing a similar change in many of the boys. The two lead teachers of the program, Sid Newcomb and Carlos DeVitis, deserve the credit. Sid's team works with the boys in tennis and Carlos' team works with the boys in the classroom setting.
Michael Kuliga, Sequoia High School Administrative Vice Principal, and I met with Jan Christensen, Redwood City Elementary Superintendent, about meeting with her middle school principals. Michael and I hope to get a heads up on the incoming Team Ascent candidates. I also want to explore how we can expand our RWC PE program for 2nd - 6th grade students to include the 8th grade Team Ascent candidates. I believe the earlier we can start exposing the "at risk" students to this program the greater the chance of mitigating the "at risk."
Our goal for Team Ascent is to let these young people know they are important, that their lives do matter, and to provide a basis of hope for them to believe in. This is a tremendous program that needs the community's support.
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A Mother's First Mission Trip
Missions by Sharon King
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Ever wonder how a person decides to go on a mission trip? I asked a "first timer" about her experience. Suzie Simpson who is married to Jon, has two boys, and they live in Georgia. Jon serves with Operation Mobilization, and he travels a lot while Suzie is a very busy mother; holding down the home front.
Suzie heard a speaker at their church about four years ago give a heart grabbing talk about her experience in Malawi. Suzie told Jon, "One day I would like to do something like that." Every year the opportunity crossed Suzie's path, but every year she made excuses. Last year, when Suzie heard that there was still a huge need for teachers to teach VBS, she felt the Lord saying "I want YOU to go." The trip was for ten days, Suzie's church sent four people who then met up with twelve others from Florida. Their final destination was Mitchells Plain near Cape Town, South Africa. The kids in her group ranged in ages 5-9. Over 500 kids attended camp that week! The highlight for Suzie was on the very last day. She asked a boy from her group what he enjoyed the most at camp; He said, "The Bible stories because nobody ever told me about Jesus before." Suzie's heart response was this:
"Praise God for the privilege of being able to share with these precious children. I will definetely do this again."
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A Few Short Months!
Middle School by Lauren Majewski
It is hard to believe that in just a few short months our 8th graders will become full-fledged high school students. I have had the privilege of spending quality time with many of our 8th graders through Ocho. Ocho is a leadership/discipleship group only for 8th graders. It has been truly amazing and humbling to see such initiative and creativity generated from this group.
Kate Boudreau and Caroline Lempert completely blew me away the last time Ocho met after Sunday mEpic. As part of a call to leadership, I decided it might be interesting to let Ocho plan an entire Wednesday night Epic in May. They would plan it from start to finish, including topic, speakers, games, and other surprises. Kate Boudreau and Caroline Lempert didn't just run with the idea, they sprinted. They brainstormed ideas such as, an 8th grade panel, skits, student-led worship music, and a scavenger hunt. The girls even requested that this would not be Ocho-exclusive but any 8th grader could contribute.
Their enthusiasm and creativity inspired the whole group! The one thing that sticks in my mind most from that meeting was what Caroline said. I asked, "So why do you want to have an 8th grade question and answer panel?" Caroline's responded, "We really want to pass down what we know to the younger grades."
I love that our 8th grade students want to leave a legacy and wisdom to the younger grades. We have an amazing 8th grade class heading up to high school next year who know they serve a great God!
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The Imapct of Upward!
Community Center by Dan Cornelius
 Every Saturday over eight weeks in January and February 300 kids from our community have come together to play Upward Basketball at the Community Center. Enter the gym on game day, and you felt the energy and support of parents cheering on a player who just made their first basket. You would see team huddles, high fives, parents coaching and lots of smiles.
Upward Basketball has provided a platform for PCC to connect with the community and build relationships with families in our community. In addition to developing basketball skills, the goal of Upward is to develop character through teaching biblical principles. Players are introduced to the Bible with practice time devotions. On game day families have the opportunity to hear a half-time devotion and see their player share a memory verse on game day.
Dan Cornelius at: danc@peninsulacovenant.com | 650-364-6272
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Interns are Coming!
Summer Ministry Project Internship
by Tony Gapastione
I approach my 13th summer with lots of hopes and huge question marks. We have changed our summer internship this year in big ways. Traditionally we've had only one option for applicants. This summer there are four options in which a young adult (20+ year old student with 2+ years college experience) can choose to serve. Learn more about those options at www.peninsulacovenant.com. I'll be honest: the summer is one of the most trying, tiring, challenging times of the year for me. It seems like one full year's worth in ten weeks. It's just ten weeks, but it is worth it. Lives are changed and that's one of the great rewards. I love being connected with many interns from the past decade that are serving in full-time ministry, missions, and following Christ with passion, citing their summer with PCC as a defining and growing time. Would you like to host an intern this summer? Are you able to serve by mentoring/praying for college students interning with PCC, cook a meal, host an event? Do you have questions or ideas about how you can partner with young adults from all around the country interning in PCC ministries?
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Making A Difference
Children and Families
by Meg Roundy and Mary Rice Hopkins
Followers of Christ who are Sunday leaders, teachers, sports coaches, God's Girls leaders, Scout troop leaders, babysitters, tutors, etc: You know who you are if you love shepherding and loving children. You share God's love and plan of redemption no matter where you are.
You have made a difference in the life of a little person. There is no earthly way to thank you or for us to truly know the impact of your service, your time, or the fruit of the many seeds planted. Know that you are appreciated, and that each moment you minister to children is a gift whether it is on Sunday, Wednesday night, Monday-Friday in a classroom, on the field, after school, or anywhere you invest in our future generations.
Way To Go Children's Ministry happens only because of volunteer leaders who come each week and invest in the kingdom. They are saints among us here at PCC! Check out our personal thank you to all our Sunday leaders on YouTube (see link at the end of this article). Each deserves thanks for their amazing gift to our church body!
These lyrics are for you:
Hugs are Free
By: Mary Rice Hopkins
You pull yourself out of bed to get to church on time
'Cause you're a teacher and little Bobbie's waiting there in line
He's there for Sunday School but it's hard to believe
The highlight for this little boy is when you say, "Hugs are free"
So thank you for teaching them
And showing them the way
Thank you for bringing them the gospel every day
But most of all I thank you for the love behind your smile
For you have made a difference in the life of a child
Life at home for Bobbie is never quite the same
He hides his hurt inside, 'neath the heartache and the shame
But when he hears the story of how Jesus died for him
His eyes well up with tears and he asks the Savior in
So years go by and life has changed
Now he's a married man
Through all his heartache he's reminded of God's plan
So he returns to Sunday School and says, "Remember me?"
"I've come back to thank you
'Cause I know your hugs are free"
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Proverbs 22:6 says, "Train a child in the way he should go,
and when he is old he will not turn from it.
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Power of Encouragement
Covenant Psychological Services
by Royce Garvin
One of my prayers for a number of years has been, "Lord, help me to get it." Often, I'll repeat this many times a day, almost like a mantra. This repetition is born out of my tendency to see only the narrow band of reality in front of me, while missing the bigger picture. My prayer is for the ability to see beyond my own limited view of reality and to see God's perspective on the events of my life. Scripture speaks constantly about people's tendency to get wrapped up in the moment or to become absorbed with things that don't last - material things, power and influence, sensual pleasures. God's perspective concentrates on eternal values - love, truth, obedience, trust.
I've been fortunate in my life to be encouraged by many people to seek God's perspective. Prominent among them was my late uncle, Royce Hart, whom I was named after. My Uncle Royce was one of my true-life heroes. A Marine captain in World War II and one of the gentlest men I've ever known, Royce served four years in the Pacific. He used to say that he had a "worm's eye view" of the world during his tour of duty, as he crawled on his belly through Attu, Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands, Leyte in the Philippines, Okinawa, and a number of lesser-known battlefields. Royce was missing in action for months, surrounded by death, but my mother spotted him among a group of GI's in a picture in Life
magazine - she had never given up hope that he was alive.
After the war, Royce determined that he was "too edgy" to re-enter his job as a high school teacher in Mississippi (today, we would call this Post Traumatic Stress). He tried several businesses, which were unsuccessful. For a time, Royce became despondent and discouraged, until an encounter with an elderly crippled man wearing tattered clothing at a railroad crossing in 1946. That brief encounter dramatically changed my Uncle Royce, and reminded him for the rest of his life to try to see life from God's perspective - everyday.
Encouragement is just one of the vehicles used in Scripture to help us capture and maintain a godly perspective on our lives. Though all people are inclined to lose perspective, encouragement is something we can each do for someone else.
Encouraging another person may involve very little time - like my Uncle Royce's encounter at the railroad crossing. But that encouragement may alter someone's experience for a day, or even for a lifetime.
...Encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that
none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.
Hebrews 3:13
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From Time to Time
Care Ministry by Gae Reck
 Whether it's through a community group, friend or family, small group, or a caring member of PCC, everyone needs a little help and encouragement from time to time. Needs can range from meals during illness, transportation, running errands, visits, serving communion and prayer for special needs. To this end the PCC Care Ministry Team strives to be the hands and feet of Jesus, showing compassion and encouraging others through practical service, fulfilling the commission to "serve wholeheartedly" as commanded in Ephesians 6:7.
With a team of eight, we serve people through prayer, cards, notes of encouragement, arranging meals (over 150 in 2009), visits, rides, errands and providing memorial receptions. The team has blessed families in need through four memorial receptions already in 2010.
Over 80 people were blessed last year through the card ministry alone. One of the regular recipients wrote to us: "Thank you for your cards and words. We appreciated all the cards you continued to send to us through the past year or so. They kept reminding us that God is with us and we can access His blessings - and we did."
There are approximately 30 women who participate in preparing meals for others in the body. One of the dozen families blessed last year by the meal ministry said:
"What a blessing to know we are loved and cared for through the gift of meals for us during this time. It not only provided practical help, but reminded us of how God uses people to bless us. When I'm back on my feet I'd like to join the meal ministry team."
One of the goals of the Care Team is to work with the Life Stage Pastors to establish a care model within their ministries and coordinate the various ministries. Additionally we will be working with the community groups to identify potential volunteers and develop a structure for identifying and meeting needs.
If the Holy Spirit is nudging you to be one of those who serves our body in one of these practical ways, please contact Gae Reck or Todd Gumbrecht.
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Building the Kingdom
Skatechurch by Chris Davidson
Skatechurch has been able to further the preaching of the gospel to skateboarders and "at-risk" youth through building skateparks for other churches. Already we have been a part of the founding and building skate ministries at Calvary Chapel San Jose and Generations Church in San Carlos. Since May at least 13 skaters have prayed to receive Christ at Generations. This ministry has also been a place for students from Skatechurch to go on days when Skatechurch is not in operation.
In the Spring Skatechurch will be building skateparks for two other ministries. The first skatepark will be built on March 6th for Glad Tidings Lutheran Church in Sacramento. This skate ministry will be run by my brother, John Davidson, who has been trained in skate ministry both as a volunteer and summer intern here at PCC.
The second skatepark will be built during Easter break in San Luis Mexico. The ministry will be run by Hiram Duarte, a young man who accepted Christ at our first Skatechurch Mexico outreach in 2004. He is very excited and motivated to reach his peers for Christ. We are blessed to be able to provide a skatepark that they could not otherwise afford.
www.peninsulacovenant.com > Youth > Skatechurch |
Winter Camp Returns
High School by Carlos DeVitis
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In February PCC High School Ministry (HOUSE) took 42 students into the Sierra Nevadas after a four- year hiatus for Winter Camp. The outcome was incredible! Amidst the many snowball fights, worship nights, chapels, and fireside talks, four students made the decision to begin their journey with Christ. Read through some of the student thoughts below. May it bless and inspire you as it does me.
I've learned that I am free from day to day things that consume me, and that living for God will be satisfying more than anything of this world. Disappointment and expectations don't have to hold me back.
I've decided to seek God every day and spend more time absorbing Him. When convinced and assured that God's sacrifice for me will give me strength to do anything, I want to go out and live it in unexpected, unprecedented ways.
I've realized that God can change lives in amazing ways that I could have never foreseen. I am blown away by his work in people on this trip. I will never be the same knowing that God will work and He has a plan, and he forgives so much.
I learned that I need to have more faith in God, and the work
He is doing in my life.
My understanding of God has changed. I'd forgotten that He's
always watching over me.
This weekend I learned that God really does know what I'm
going through and how much it hurts.
A decision I made was to give the areas of my life that I wasn't honoring God
over to Him, so He can help me through them.
I decided to trust God with everything and that I know that
He will take care of our family and our struggles.
I changed by just being reminded how great God is and how He is my Father, Savior, Lover, Comforter, Daddy, God, and so much more.
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The Lost Discipline: Fasting
People Development by Brian Rhen
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It is not easy. If we could take a pill for it so that it would be all over, then I believe some might consider it. In reality, it is about denying oneself of basic needs or wants while connecting with God more, which frankly seems to be a harsh paradox. We would rather do something than deny ourselves of something. Often those who do it seem superior in will and spirit, resulting in the rest of us feeling defeated. Spiritually, the last thing Satan would want is for us to focus, commit and become more dependent on God. Consequently, the confusion swirls within us: why, how, what is the point, I'll try, I give up, and/or not for me. Hence, now we can see why fasting has really become the lost spiritual discipline in the church.
But what if it is possible? And what if the spiritual ramification and health benefits outweigh all the other confusion? And what if partnering with another or others during the season of Lent in preparation for Easter was a gracious window to consider it? These questions and many more were rolling around in my mind as February came near, and I pondered what it would be like for the eleven men in our men's group to attempt to fast during the Lenten season.
Using the Scriptures and guide found below, we oriented ourselves to the why and how of fasting. It was overwhelming, humbling, and inspiring to bear witness to the endless text conveying how God's faithful fasted. The circumstances and reasoning were so diverse, yet the common goal was intimacy with God. The guide truly helped us to understand the proper motivation and all the methods (specific, full, partial, etc.) of fasting. Although we did not watch the video as a group, I have found it to be most helpful in again being reminded of the health benefits of fasting.
As we have debriefed weekly about our ongoing individual fasting experiences, we have learned so much about ourselves regarding our relationship with God, what truly enslaves us, and the need to rely on one another to stay the course. Though now the great gain is personal awareness, in time, we hope greater connectedness with God and true victory will follow.
For the scriptural basis behind and examples of fasting, see the following attached PDF:
 For a personal guide on how and why to fast [read]
For information on the health benefits of fasting [watch] |
PLUS
Truly Inter-Generational by Rod Toews
One of the goals of the 50 PLUS Ministry is to be truly inter-generational. We would like to think that we are interfacing with all five generations participating in ministry at PCC.
Our Spiritual Growth Committee has two very special programs for younger men and women. Apples of Gold, with Barbara Vice as leader, is a mentoring program where younger women have the opportunity to spend six evenings with seasoned women. They practice how to take practical Bible principles and apply them to the home, family and life in general. Nurturing wisdom is combined with a home cooked meal in a casual home atmosphere to make it a memorable experience. The program meets for six Monday evenings from 6:30 - 9:00pm, every other week beginning March 8 through May 17. Utilizing the book, "Apples of Gold" by Betty Huizenga, they will cover a variety of subjects like loving your husband, loving your children, purity, kindness, and hospitality. There is a final session when the ladies from Apples of Gold together with the Men of Distinction celebrate with a very special guest speaker.
The second Spiritual Growth Committee program is a mentoring program for young men. Men of Distinction is directed by Justinian Caire, the chairman for the Spiritual Growth Committee from PLUS ministries. This program consists of older men as mentors, meeting together with 20 - 25 men in the church, twenty-one years of age or older. They meet every two weeks on Thursday evenings from 6:30 - 9:00pm for six sessions. For the final dinner they will join the ladies from Apples of Gold on May 27. The men will be studying Stu Webber's book, "Four Pillars of a Man's Heart." Special emphasis is placed on the importance of applying the courage of a leader and the compassion of a shepherd in the home and in their daily walk.
Pray for these two ministries that God will be honored and that the relationships formed will make a difference in the lives of the mentors and the protégés.
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Gary's Corner by Gary Gaddini
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"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."
- Matthew 25:40
------------------------------------------------------------ In February I joined in on one of my most memorable worship experiences with PCC, and it didn't take place in our Worship Center. We gathered at Hawes School on a Wednesday afternoon, along with some parents and administrators from the school, as well as with people from two other Peninsula churches. We worshipped Jesus by serving the poor. Along with the Serve the Peninsula Foundation, the Second Harvest Food Bank and Hawes School Principal Josh Griffith, we met in their multipurpose room at 3:00, laid out the thousands of pounds of food and groceries on tables in an orderly fashion, creating a little grocery store atmosphere complete with aisles, and prepared to open the doors for the Hawes Elementary School families who qualified for this program. I was struck initially when I arrived by the line of people waiting for over an hour to get food. I didn't expect to see that sight just two miles from our church! I then was struck by, the joy within as the doors of the multipurpose room as the people serve and interacted with each other! If I could have bottled that joy and sold it, I would be a rich man. It has always been our goal, through our Beautiful Day experiences, to open doors to get face-to-face with parents and students at the schools we serve. That door has been opened for us! For two hours I had the chance (though it passed by so quickly!), along with many others, to greet people, look them in the eye, make small talk, and serve them groceries! I'm told if I continue to come every month that the relationships will only grow. I was walking with a third grader and his mother, helping them load their groceries in their car towards the end of the day, and the mother turned to me and said, "Thanks for doing this; you have no idea how much we need this program." As I was walking back from that encounter I thought, "Thank you Lord, for letting me serve you! You know how much I need this opportunity!" We gather the second and fourth Wednesday of every month at Hawes. You may never recover from the experience. Why not consider joining us for this alternative, intergenerational worship experience?
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Here are some creative
Electronic Funds Transfer:
You can arrange to have funds transferred automatically and confidentially from your bank account to PCC.
Stock Gifts: Stock gifts must be transferred into PCC's brokerage account by December 31.
For more information on any of these options, contact Caren Fior in the Church Office at (650) 365-8094 x235 or carenf@peninsulacovenant.com.
All gifts must be received or postmarked by December 31 to be receipted in 2010.
---------------------------------------- "Bring your full tithe to the Temple treasury so there will be ample provisions in my Temple. Test me
in this and see if I don't open up heaven itself to you and pour out blessings beyond your wildest dreams." Malachi 3:10
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 The Bridge newsletter is produced four times per year by Peninsula Covenant Church. Its mission is to communicate the ministries of the church with the intention of furthering the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Peninsula Covenant Church is part of the Evangelical Covenant Church.
Please let us know if you have a new email address, receive duplicates, would like to be removed from our email mailing list or know someone who would like to be added.
Please contact us at:
publications@peninsulacovenant.com
Gary Gaddini
Lead Pastor
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Ministers
All PCC Members
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Brian Rhen
People Development
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Carlos DeVitis
High School
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Caren Fior
Finance
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Cheryl Lenci
Events
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Chris Davidson
Skatechurch
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Dain Jepson
Families
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Daisy Segal
Church Office
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Dan Cornelius
Community Center
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Dave Enderby
Community Center
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Gerry Skinner
Properties
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Jeff Murphy
Publications
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John Seybert
Operations
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John & Janet Miclean
Students & Families
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Lauren Majewski
Middle School
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Mark Aaron Humphrey
Worship
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Marilyn Lynch
After School Care
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Meg Roundy
Children
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Patsy Owens
Database
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Rod Toews
PLUS
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Royce Garvin
Counseling Center
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Tabatha Mason
Student Ministry
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Todd Gumbrecht
Connection
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Terry Boudreau
Preschool
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Tony Gapastione
Young Adults
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