In Preparation for Sunday

 

The next time Jesus appears to is disciples in also in a locked room.  This time Thomas has returned.  His requirement for proof is an important moment in understanding doubt and faith.  M. Craig Barnes suggests that we should "Doubt your doubts."  He writes:
 
"I first heard that phrase from my friend Dr. Jim Taylor, President of the University of the Cumberlands. He used that phrase while talking to the trustees after his only son, a high school senior, died in a tragic car wreck. "I have learned to doubt my doubts, not my faith," he said. "Why should we believe our doubts and let them control us?" Good advice. A study of this passage must ask why John shows so much interest in Thomas and includes this story at this place in the gospel. The answer is intriguing, I believe. Thomas plays a prominent role in the fourth gospel, much more than the other three. When Jesus informed the disciples he was going to Bethany after Lazarus became ill and died, Thomas knew this would cost Jesus his life. The authorities were already seeking him and would easily find him if he went this close to Jerusalem. Even so, it was Thomas that said to the other disciples, "Let us go die with him" John 11:16. Thomas' loyalty could not be questioned. When Jesus tried to prepare his disciples for his death and comfort them, he said, "I am going to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you may also be where I am. You know the way to the place I am going." Again, it was Thomas who candidly spoke up and said, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" John 14:3-5. Thomas' honesty was not in doubt."
 
Many of us can identify with the excruciating honesty that Thomas exhibited.  This Sunday we'll explore the lessons learned by this important disciple.
 
Denny

Ready-Made Gourmet: A Benefit for Senior Lunch

 

In this busy and hectic life we lead, it is nice to have
some aspects of life handled. One of them is a delicious
dinner when we get home. Too often, though, we don't
have time to put it together. If this sounds like your life,
we have wonderful news for you. Help has arrived!

 

We are excited to announce a great fundraiser for our
Cliff Drive Senior Luncheon. Jenny Yznaga, our talented
chef, will be making delicious meals with a team of cooks
for you to buy and take home. Among the offerings are
chicken pot pie (made by Sandy Rogers), two kinds of
lasagna, vegetable and chicken enchiladas, baby back ribs,
and two varieties of stuffed chicken breasts. In addition to
these savory delights, Michele Molony, an incredible pastry
chef, will be making some mouth-watering desserts for
those who like the sweet things in life.

 

All of these dishes can be put in your freezer until you
are ready to serve them. We will give you detailed
instructions on how to reheat them in your oven so you
and family and friends can enjoy these gourmet meals.
The good news is that all proceeds go to support an
incredible ministry!

 

So, pickup a sign up sheet in the church office or church lobby and place your order today! We will be taking orders through May 10th. If you have questions please call Pastor Colleen at
965-1338, ext. 225.

MAY THE LORD BE BLESSED BY OUR EFFORTS IN HIS NAME!
.

"Fifth Wednesday's" Parenting Seminars

 

Every Fifth Wednesday, Light and Life Goleta will be sponsoring a community wellness event. The events will be held at Christ Lutheran Church located at 6595 Covington Way from 7:00-8:30pm. Refreshments and childcare will be provided.

 

Wednesday April 29th: Tamara Afifi, PhD will be discussing Healthy Communication and Strong Family Bonds.

 

Wednesday July 29th: Cheryl Wayman, MFT will be discussing Boundaries with Kids.

 

Wednesday Sept. 30th: Dr. Denny Wayman will be discussing Maturely Reconciling Differences.

 

Make your calendars and join Light and Life Goleta for these informative seminars!

Church Finances

 

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

Offerings Needed YTD:  $196,840.00
Offerings Receive YTD:  $181,17304  (92.04%)
Still Needed YTD:          $15,666.96  

 

51st Annual Community Prayer Breakfast 

 

Friday, May 8, 2009

7:30am

Free Parker's DoubleTree Resort

 

Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Brian Birdwell is a survivor of the terrorist attack on the Pentagon on September 11, 2001. After American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon, just feel away from his second floor office, Birdwell was thrown to the ground and engulfed in flames. Of the burns that consumed 60 percent of his body, nearly half were third-degree burns. After enduring more than 30 operations and months of hospitalization and multiple skin grafts, Brian has made a miraculous recovery. He was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received on that day.

 

Lieutenant Colonel Birdwell is a native of Fort Worth, Texas. He earned his bachelors degree from Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas and Masters of Public Administration from the University of Missouri, Kansas City.

 

Throughout his twenty year military career, Brian served in many duty assignments including the DMZ (demilitarized zone) in Korea, Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm and provided humanitarian relief to Central America after Hurricane Mitch.

 

Since his retirement, Lieutenant Colonel Birdwell founded Face the Fire Ministries, Inc. The ministry was established to assist burn survivors and wounded servicemen and women and their families.

 

Tickets for a table of ten are $250 each and are available by mailing a check payable to the Community Prayer Breakfast , sent to Marian Groff, P.O. Box 24017, Santa Barbara, CA 93121 or by contacting Marian Groff at 965-8690 

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.