MidWeek E-Newsletter |
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Issue: # 215
| January 31, 2013
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After our investigation of Rahab's faith in the one she called "the Lord of all the earth," we see that God at work in Joshua chapters 3-4.
For years prior to this moment, the Israelites had been carrying in their midst the "Ark of the Covenant." This "Ark" was essentially a box, which represented God's presence and carried some special items from their spiritual history. God and the Ark was present with them in the desert as they wandered for those 40 years.
Now as Joshua and the nation of Israel are poised to go into the Promised Land, they will follow God into it. (Incidentally, whether in the Old Testament or New Testament, we are always instructed that our lives are about following God.)
See, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth will go into the Jordan ahead of you. (Joshua 3:11 NIV)
The ark is on the shoulders of a delegation of spiritual leaders and when they step into the river the amazing happens: 20 miles up river, the water stands up, and the riverbed empties as the water rushes by to the Dead Sea. Then the people of Israel walk over this wide swath of dry ground where moments ago a river ran 10 feet deep!
God was first in, and He went into the place of the most danger. As pictured by the Ark, He's first, He's in the middle, and He's the last out. He leads and has us covered...always!
As the Ark remained in the middle after all the people had crossed, Joshua was instructed to have a representative from each tribe grab a stone from the riverbed to make a memorial. These 12 stones were piled together to make sure that the people remembered what God had done. As people, we need to have reminders and often we really need to remember a "place" where God broke into our lives.
What are the stories in your life where God invaded your life?
How have you set up a memorial so you can remember His work? Tell the stories of God's work -- again and again and again!
"When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, 'What are these stones?' then you shall inform your children, saying, 'Israel crossed this Jordan on dry ground.' For the Lord YOUR God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed, just as the Lord your God had done to the Red Sea, which He dried up before us until we had crossed; that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty, so that you may fear the Lord your God forever." (Joshua 4:21-24 emphasis mine)
Listen to this message online or on iTunes
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 Current Series on Joshua:
Introduction to Joshua
Entering God's Rest - Joshua 1
Rahab & Real Faith - Joshua 2
Crossing the Jordan - Joshua 3-4
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HIGH SCHOOL MINISTRY CALENDAR & CAMP 
In addition to our normal 9am Sunday and 7pm Wednesday times together, we have this coming up:
Thursday Jan 31st: Last Day to Sign Up For 'Sprinter' Camp at the $100 rate! 'SPRINTER' CAMP 2013!! We're doing a combined Winter Camp/ Spring Adventure in Palm Springs! - For a taste of winter... we'll go up the aerial tramway to cold weather and (hopefully) snow.
- For a taste of spring... we'll lounge, eat, and swim at Desert Hot Springs.
The Cost?? Only $100 if you sign-up in January and it goes up to $120 in February. Contact Erin Gobble with questions and to sign up! egobble@LAGBC.org Groundwork Schedule through April Online |
 WOMEN'S SPRING RETREAT SCHOLARSHIPS NEEDED!
We have 30+ ladies going from the TLC Ministry and many of them need some extra financial help to get there. If you can help contribute to this transformational weekend, you can donate online now or contribute by check ("women's retreat scholarship" on the memo line).
From our main session speaker Carol Hopson: Are you tired of being worried or stressed over people, finances, or what others think? At the "Living Free" Conference, we'll unlock the keys to totally free living. I'll be sharing the most important "freedom truths" God has taught me in my spiritual journey...they are powerful, real, and available!
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 KINDERGARTEN INFORMATION DAY
February 12, 2013
9:00am and 7:30pm
Parents may attend either session. The evening session is for working parents.
Information will include:
- School philosophy
- Curriculum
- What a typical day includes
- Safety
- Class size
- Staff
- Steps to enrollment and age requirement
- Tuition
- Q. and A. time
We invite everyone who is looking for a loving kindergarten atmosphere to attend this important meeting.
Call us at 562-430-6983 and let us know you will be coming.
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 MISSIONARIES OF THE MONTH-
RAY & CHAR HAUSER Serving our US Marines stationed in Hawaii with Cadence Int'l
Dear Church Family, Thank you for your gracious gift to us to help meet our medical expenses. Your gift is more than money to us, it is the very hand of God's gracious touch on our lives. Our expenses are quite large as you can imagine-- brain cancer and the various (and many) procedures which comes with it. So far, since surgery, I have had over 110 medical appointments and procedures not counting the hospital stay. When we get in our car it automatically heads for a doctor's office somewhere in Honolulu. The sad thing is, that's usually where we are heading (LOL). Your prayers have been felt in our lives through this surreal time. Char, as my caregiver, has been exceptional yet takes a toll. Even so, both of us have experienced a walk and closeness with the Lord we have never known before. God has made Himself vividly...Read the entire letter here If you would like to financially support the ministry of Ray and Char you are welcome to do so through your regular offering, or you can use the Donation button above to do so online!
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 PRESCHOOL SAYS THANKS! Thanks to the preschool parents' efforts, $1394.90 was raised at the rummage sale last Saturday. Their fundraising goal is $3000 for the purchase of new lunch tables. If you would like to help in this project, please write "preschool lunch tables" on your check or envelope. For questions or more info, contact Director Linda Hehn via email at director@losaltospreschool.org
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 KIDS HAPPY VALENTINES DAY PARTY!
February 10, 2013 at 10:15am
For this party, our kids love your cookies.
Please sign up on the church patio or with Cindi Stone (562-596-3358) to bring cookies.
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 NEEDED SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS! The children's ministry needs a 3rd & 4th grade 9:00 AM Sunday school teacher for the first Sunday of every month. We also need a 1st-5th grade junior church teacher for the 4th Sunday of each month. Contact Cindi Stone for info and to volunteer 562-596-3358
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OUR FOOD PANTRY NEEDS SOME FOOD!
 We are low on some items and could use your donations of:
- Canned goods
- Personal hygiene items
- Nonperishable food items
- Household paper goods
- Laundry detergent
- Canned tuna & chicken
- Lunchbox snacks
- Canned spaghetti sauce
- Pasta
- Beans & Rice
Please put items in the Food Pantry basket on the church patio. If you have a need, please contact us in the church office (by email or 562-596-3358)
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LATEST NEWS FROM THE GRIPENTROGS
"As I enter my last two years as OC president,
my commitment is to pass on the mission to my
successor in as healthy and effective condition
as possible. With regard to this overall goal,
four of the primary strategic areas on which
I will be focusing this year (and for which I
would greatly appreciate your partnership
in prayer) are the following...
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PRAYING FOR A SPANISH SPEAKING GRACE BRETHREN CHURCH IN ATLANTA
 | | Praying for a Spanish-speaking Church in Atlanta |
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 WANT TO HOST AN EXCHANGE STUDENT? Nicole Ott was a foreign exchange student that lived with the Coders and met Jesus through the ministry of our church many years ago. Now she is looking for a church family to host an exchange student... From Nicole.... "the exchange student is the daughter of a friend from our local church... it will be with an organization but if they know somebody, they can suggest that family to the organization... it would be for the time from August this year till June next year... she will turn 17 in May... if it was a family from Grace Brethren, I am pretty sure she would come to a good family... she would love to go to a family that has kids as she has like 3 siblings herself, if I remember that right... the poor girl just lost her grandmother and 19 days later her grandfather... thanks for your effort..." Please contact the church office office@lagbc.org if you are interested in pursuing this ministry opportunity. We will connect you with Nicole to discuss the details.
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 INTERNATIONALS OUTREACH WITH THE O'DELLS
Our own missionaries to the Japanese, Cecil & Debbie O'Dell, have been talking with us about bringing back an "Internationals Night" to our church family where we can encourage international students English abilities and build relationships! If you are interested in this, please contact Mike Jentes for more info.
Also the O'Dells have moved their personal ministry website over to http://CecilODell.com You can see much more of their ministry online there.
See their New Year's Email here
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Press on!
Los Altos Grace // Mike Jentes
Los Altos Grace Brethren Church
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