Saturday, May 30th
9am-12pm
 
Join us in partnership with other Santa Barbara Churches for this yearly clean-up. This year the clean-up will continue in Santa Barbara's Eastside neighborhood.
 
Join us for:
-Litter & Graffiti Clean-up
-Tree Planting
-Park & Creek Restoration
-E-Waste Collection
-Children's Reading Circle After Clean-up
-Opportunity for students to earn community service credits
 
For more information contact the church office 965-1338 

"Life Lessons:  Continuing to Learn Through Loss and Grace"
 
Presented by Russell Smelley
9:30 am
May 3, 10, 17, and 31 (not 5/24)
 
SHIFCO Recreation Room
418 Santa Fe Place: across Cliff Dr. from the church
 
May 3     "Life and Loss-How do we grieve?"
May 10   "Life and Community-How do we help one another?"
May 17   "Life and Hope-How do we have peace in spite of life's
                 struggles?"
May 31   "Life and Heroes-What do we learn from those who have
                  survived loss?"
 
During these weeks we will discuss and reflect upon the life-lessons learned and the questions that arise from an experience of loss.  How do we face the pain and disappointment in our lives with a contentment that reflects our Christian hope?  This series is intended to bring a sense of hope and encouragement to those who have endured emotional, physical or spiritual loss.  We will discuss biblical truths while seeking an honest approach to following God during times of loss and confusion.
 
Since 1979 Russell Smelley has taught Kinesiology at Westmont College while also coaching the track and cross-country teams.  He and wife, Allison, have faced great personal losses including the death of their daughter, Alyssa, and the destruction of their home during the Tea Fire.  They have been members of the FMC for over 27 years.
 
The presentation on May 24 by Warren Simandle will be an introduction to his series on "The Seven Feasts of the Messiah," continued during the month of June.
 
 

Health experts are bracing for a global epidemic of swine flu, but reassure that it is expected to be less lethal than the avian flu that swept through the world in the past four years (the last victim was reported earlier this week in Egypt). Swine flu victims exhibit similar symptoms to patients infected with the avian flu (or bird flu), and the transmission of the swine flu is wider compared to the avian flu. However, health professionals claim that it results in death in far fewer of cases.
 
Swine flu symptoms include high fever, body aches, headaches, coughing, sore throat, diarrhea, vomiting, fatigue and chills. The disease is transmitted directly between people, and not through animals, making it highly contagious. A single cough of an infected person can transmit the sickness to an entire room full of people.
 
Since the first case of swine flue was detected by Mexican laboratories in March 18, hundreds of thousands of people exposed to the strain have travelled from Mexico to other parts of the world, and it is expected that new cases will be reported at any minute from countries all over the globe.
 
Nevertheless, authorities warn that the swine flu should not create the global panic which has been felt in the past week. This is due to the fact that it is far less dangerous to patients, and also to the fact that simple precautions can protect from the swine flu: simply staying away from people already infected and breathing through a simple filter such as cloth can defend against most chances of infection.
 
In addition, an effective medication already exists to treat victims - experts around the world have already concluded that Tamiflu drug should be used to treat the new strain, and will be an efficient countermeasure. It takes about 24 hours to detect the virus called H1N1.
 
As of today, health authorities in Mexico confirmed that over 150 people died of the swine flu. In Texas and California, where the virus has also been found, the patients were fully recovered. This difference highlights the key factor needed to effectively combat the swine flu - advanced medical services infrastructure. Many specialists claim that the Mexicans are now paying the price of low investment in their public health sector.
 
 
© 2009 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com) 

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.