In Preparation for Sunday

 

This Sunday we continue the discussion of Jesus with the Samaritan woman at the well.  The revelations that Jesus makes to this woman are amazing.

 

One author explains one of those revelations when he says:  "One of the first and most basic truths about God is that he is spirit; he is not material. Isaiah 31:3 states, "The Egyptians are man, and not God, and their horses are flesh, and not spirit." He is spirit, not flesh; creator, not creature; divine, not human."

 

What that means and why it is important in our understanding of both God and ourselves is part of what we will explore together.

 

Pastor Denny

Easter Choir Sign-up

 

On Monday, March 16 at 6:30pm in the sanctuary our Easter Choir will begin rehearsals for performances on Good Friday, April 10 @ 7:30pm and Easter Sunday during the 8, 9:30 and 11am services. In order for this to happen in the most excellent way a sign up will be posted in the church lobby. IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT WE HAVE AT LEAST FOUR PEOPLE FOR EACH SINGING PART (soprano, alto, tenor and bass). No previous experience is required. 

Church Finances

 

In this time of financial struggle, please remember your church family:

Offerings Needed YTD:  $126,993.55
Offerings Receive YTD:  $111,329.38  (87.7%)
Still Needed YTD:          $15,664.17  
 

 

Short-term Missions/Teaching Opportunity

 

Tom Hardeman, one of the missionaries that SB Community Church supports will be in Santa Barbara recruiting teachers for Faith Academy.  There will be a meeting on Monday, March 23rd, for anyone interested in hearing about serving on a short term mission in the Philippines for one to two years teaching.  This is a great opportunity to be involved in a different culture and minister to missionary kids.  Please call Ione Larinan at 964-3886 if you are interested in attending or come to the meeting.  The meeting will be at 7:00 pm.  The meeting will be in the Christian Ed. building in the Living Room. 

D.E.P.T.H

 

God has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end (Eccl. 3:11)

 

Thursday April 16th @ 7pm. Dr. Robert Mann will be discussing "Time & Eternity". The concept of time is foundational in both science and Christian faith.  We use it to measure change and to reflect upon our own existence.  But what is time?  And what is eternity?  This public lecture will present our modern scientific understanding of time -- its origin, direction, measurement, perspectives and destiny -- and what the implications of this might be for theology.  Topics in cosmology, quantum physics, and relativity will be explored to highlight  both the advancements and limitations in our knowledge of time. Several questions for theological reflection and scientific inquiry will be raised.  
   
This D.E.P.T.H seminar will be held in the upper room from 7-8:30pm on Thursday April 16th. Coffee, tea & dessert will be served.  

Memory Verse

 

John 3:16 & 17
16"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." 

John 1:1-18
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.  

Holy Week Events

 

Palm Sunday April 5th: Special worship service beginning Holy Week 8:00, 9:30 & 11:00am

 

Palm Sunday April 5th: We will be showing the "Passion of the Christ" at 5pm in the sanctuary. Childcare will be provided. Due tot he nature of the film, we recommend the minimum age to view the film as 17.

 

Thursday April 9th: Seder Messianic Passover Dinner at 6pm. Reservations are required and the cost is $10 per person.

 

Friday April 10th: Tenebrae Service of Darkness at 7:30pm. Remembering the Passion of Christ and His last seven words.

 

Saturday April 11th: Easter Egg Hunt at Mesa Park at 10:00am. Bring eggs to hide, the church will provide the candy.

 

Sunday April 12th: Easter Sonrise Service at Leadbetter Beach at 6am. Invite family and friends to join you for this special worship service. Refreshments will be provided at the beach.

ABF - Adult Bible Fellowship

 

"The Passion Music of J.S. Bach and Others"
Presented by Dr. Warren Rogers
March 8, 15, 22, 29
9:30 am in the SHIFCO Recreation Room
 
Prepare your heart for Easter, Christendom's highest celebration of the year, by joining us for a four-week series about music that celebrates Christ's passion.  These classes will explore the compositions of J.S. Bach as well as Palestrina, Maurice Durufle, Olivier Messaien and Arvo Part.  The two main centerpieces of the study will be Bach's "Passion According to St. John" and his "Passion According to St. Matthew."  
 
Beginning with a brief history of the passion genre, the first and second classes will examine the St. John Passion with samplings from other composers.  In weeks three and four, the focus will be on the St. Matthew Passion as well as Bach's "Mass in B Minor." 
 
Throughout these four weeks you will not only learn how the passion of Christ is depicted in profound and moving ways through the art of music, but also appreciate the vision of these deeply committed Christian musicians in preserving the gospel message for generations to come. 
 
Warren Rogers is the interim academic dean at Westmont College.  He began teaching in the physics department in 1994 and is the department chairperson.  Warren enjoys playing the piano and has taught a previous class on sacred music.