| Additional Study Quick Links |
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Attention all Albertsons Shoppers |
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The Free Methodist Church is able to earn funding through the Albertsons Community Partners Program at no cost to you. If you have a Preferred Savings Card you are able to link it to the Santa Barbara Free Methodist Church ID# 49000113903. Even if you have done so in the past in order for us to continue earning funds please link or re-link you card to the above ID# for our church. If you do not have a Preferred Savings Card you can get one at Albertsons or on-line and it will save you money on advertised grocery items as well as helping the church raise funds at no charge. The church can earn up to 4% of your shopping dollars. For those of you whom already have a card please go on-line to www.albertsonscp.com
You must relink or link you card to the church ID# prior to February 28, 2009 in order to keep earning funds for the church. All you need to do is enter your preferred savings card number which is on the back of your card and follow the very few prompts. If you cannot find your card call 877-932-7948. Thank you so much for participating. |
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Al-Anon Group Beginning early January 2009, Al-Anon will be meeting in the upper room on Friday mornings from 8:30-9:30am. Al-Anon is a 12 step program for anyone who has been affected by someone else's addiction. Members give and receive comfort and understanding through a mutual exchange of experiences, strength and hope. Look for more information in up coming weekly newsletters or contact Martha Becker at 966-4458.
PRISM classes will start again with an Introductory class on Thursday January 8th at 7pm. Meeting in the Upper room. The next 6 week session will begin on Thursday January 15th with the other classes on the 22nd, 29th, Feb. 5th, Feb. 12th and 19th. Classes start at 7pm sharp and end at 8:30pm. Call Mary Ellen Brown at 895-8743 or email at browninsb@cox.net There is a cost for the program.
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| Unclaimed Dishes |
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Did you bring a dish to the Thanksgiving Feast and go home without it? We have several dishes in the church office.
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A TFal Pot with lid
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A large glass bowl
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A large wooden bowl
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Several casserole dishes
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A few glass platters
If you would like to claim any of these items, please contact the church office at 965-1338 or stop by. Items left unclaimed will be donated to the goodwill.
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| Winter Camp |
Attention all 4th-6th Graders! Winter Camp at Oak Glen is coming January 23-25th. Be challenged to experience God. Be challenged to make friends and have a blast in a mountain setting. Tons of stuff to do....Hiking...A Climbing
Wall....Basketball....Great Food....Challenging Speakers. Cost is $125 if registered before December 31st and $140 if registered after December 31st. Completed registration forms must be postmarked or received online either on or before the discount date for the discount to apply and must include at least a $25 deposit. For more information contact Nelda Nutter at 965-1338x226
Attention all 6th-12th Graders! BIG BEAR CAMP for 6th - 12th graders, February 13-16, 2009. It is not too early to put this on your calendar and not too early to save. Cost: $200(appr.). Save a little each week and you're there!!! More details coming soon. Questions? Contact Doug Ranck, 965-1228 x224 or dranck@fmcsb.org | |
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Commentary For This Sunday's Study
On this Sunday we are starting the historical account of Jesus' public ministry. The focal point of that beginning is John the Baptist. Consider these words from a biblical scholar:
"There are so many evocative symbols surrounding John the Baptist in the four Gospels. Each gospel emphasizes a different point of view about John the Baptist. Mark and Matthew emphasize the prophetic nature of John, noting that he is out in the wilderness eating locusts and wild honey. They link John the Baptist's message to Isaiah 40:1-11, that emphasizes him as the prophet preparing the way for Jesus, through making the highway straight in every heart. Luke emphasizes the concern for the poor and the ethical demands for justice. In Luke we hear John the Baptist's preaching, urging people to share their cloaks and food with the needy, demanding that tax collectors not line their pockets by taking more than is required from people and challenging soldiers to not use their force to extort and threaten people.
There are so many evocative symbols surrounding John the Baptist in the four Gospels. Each gospel emphasizes a different point of view about John the Baptist. Mark and Matthew emphasize the prophetic nature of John, noting that he is out in the wilderness eating locusts and wild honey. They link John the Baptist's message to Isaiah 40:1-11, that emphasizes him as the prophet preparing the way for Jesus, through making the highway straight in every heart. Luke emphasizes the concern for the poor and the ethical demands for justice. In Luke we hear John the Baptist's preaching, urging people to share their cloaks and food with the needy, demanding that tax collectors not line their pockets by taking more than is required from people and challenging soldiers to not use their force to extort and threaten people.
Here in John's Gospel we get a more philosophical treatise on John the Baptist. The first chapter of the Gospel is a wonderful poetic description of what it means to call Jesus the Christ. He is the light coming into the darkness, the logos, the Word of God made flesh. The author has eloquently expressed the meaning of the messiah in ways to which the Greek philosophical mind can relate. Jesus is Plato's true logos and the Gnostics true light. The Christ is not just another wandering Sophist, but the fulfillment of what Greek philosophy was striving to understand. Paul often did the same thing, such as his sermon in Athens that started with an inscription to an Unknown God he had seen. (See Acts 17:22) Paul's eloquent words that in God we live and move and have our being were not original, but a quote of a Greek philosopher. (Acts 17:28) John is firmly within the tradition of contextualizing the gospel message to gain a hearing. Here in the first chapter he has done this well and also has been clear to show that John the Baptist points the way, though he was not the light himself."
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Memory Verse of the Week
Our Memory Verses:
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning.
3Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.
6There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. 7He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. 8He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. 9The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.
10He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God- 13children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.
14The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only,[d] who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
15John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' " 16From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. 17For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only,who is at the Father's side, has made him known.
John 1:1-18 |
ABF - Adult Bible Fellowship
"Statistics in the Christian Church"
Presented by Mark Bates
4 Sundays in January
9:30 am in the SHIFCO Recreation Room
This class will explore the many uses of statistics in research and media as they pertain to the Christian church and will examine some ground-breaking surveys and studies.
January 4-"What Do We Believe?"
We will begin this series by discussing how statistics is used in modern culture and examine a number of findings regarding the landscape of American beliefs today. We will also discuss the concept of "faith segments," the meaning of "evangelical," and the variety of belief trends among gender, income level, and location.
January 11-"How Do We Grow?"
In this class, we will examine how to measure church data, and discuss what it means for a church to "grow." We will examine some of the barriers to effective data collection, and debate to what extent numbers can truly tell the story of the health of a church, conference, or denomination.
January 18-"What Do We Tolerate?"
This third class will look at some surveys that focus on a Christian's tolerance of a number of moral issues. We will discuss how those numbers have changed over time, as well as what makes "Christian belief" different from the world's.
January 25-Conclusion
Our last week will be spent discussing issues that have not been addressed and to answer questions upon which statistics has shed light.
Mark Bates is a mathematics professor at Oxnard College where he has taught for the past 10 years. During his last three years of teaching, he has specialized in the field of statistics. He and wife, Colleen Hurley-Bates, have attended our church for 20 years and are the parents of Olivia. Mark has served as a delegate for the Free Methodist General Conference.
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Did You Know?
Direct Contributions From Your IRA
The IRS has recently extended for 2008 and 2009 last year's provision which permits IRA owners who are 70 ½ or older to make contributions directly from their IRA account to one or more charities. Such contributions, count toward your Required Minimum Distribution, are not counted as income and, therefore, are not taxable. However, they cannot be used as a charitable deduction item if you itemize on your tax return. As you would expect, there are some requirements - the gift(s) can not exceed $100,000 per year in total, they must be made to a public 501 (c) (3) charity, they must be made directly from either a traditional IRA or a Roth IRA to the charity (or charities) and the transfer must occur by December 31st. of the year in question. To take advantage of this provision, contact your IRA custodian and ask for an IRA Charity Rollover form.
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Get Your Master of Arts Degree in Theological Formation
Azusa Pacific University
 DO YOU WANT TO BE...More authentically Christian in how you live your life? Are you ready to take the next step in serving the Lord? God is looking for leaders who are willing to tackle challenges. He is calling men and women-in the church and in the workplace-to learn to handle Scripture accurately. If the Spirit of God is nudging you to prepare yourself for something.
WHY THE M.A.T.F.?
The M.A.T.F. is designed for people who do ministry, even if they have another job. It's different from other degree plans in that it focuses on fostering spiritual growth. The goal of the M.A.T.F. is to help you become a genuine disciple-maker, a more discerning leader, and a thinker who can make a significant difference.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
Anyone with a regionally accredited B.A. or B.S. (or equivalent) in any subject is eligible.
WHAT COURSES WILL I TAKE?
· Discovering Holy Priorities: Theology and Everyday Life
· Interpreting Scripture: The Message of the Old Testament
· The Life of Jesus: The Message of the New Testament
· Church History and Leadership
· Spiritual Formation and Decision-Making
· Christianity and Culture
· Repentance and Restoration (a weekend intensive)
· Global Ministry (a weekend intensive)
M.A.T.F. SUMMARYThe program takes two years, attending class just one night a week. It's a 48-unit accredited degree that entails three weekend intensives a year. Students journey together in a cohort model. Classes are held at APU's Orange County Regional Center.
HOW DO I LEARN MORE?
(626) 815-5439
www.apu.edu/theology/graduate/theologicalformation
agilbert@apu.edu
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Read Through the Bible in a Year
One of the best ways to learn more about God, His character and His ways is to read His word, The Bible! We encourage you to take a life-transforming one year journey through the Bible. You can pick up booklets at the church that will take you through this one year journey or you can visit online resources. If you would like an online resource that will send you daily email reminders click HERE or if you would like an more interactive resource that gives you the opportunity to check off readings as you go along click HERE. Below are the URL's you can type into your browser to reach these sites as well.
http://www.bibleinayear.org/Index.asp
http://bible.christianity.com/readingplan/
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