MidWeek E-Newsletter |
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Issue: # 216
| February 6, 2013
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JESUS SHOWS UP IN JOSHUA 5!
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Joshua has stepped into being "strong and courageous" as he was exhorted by the Lord and his people. He is full of courage as the Lord parted the Jordan River and his people walked across a dry riverbed striking terror into the hearts of their enemies in the Promised Land.
The Lord asks Joshua to lead the people of Israel in marking themselves out separate unto God through the ancient practice of circumcision. This was a painful process for the warriors, but an important step in showing their obedience to the LORD.
After a time of healing, Joshua is on a reconnaissance walk making plans for the impending battle with Jericho.
"Now it came about when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing opposite him with his sword drawn in his hand, and
Joshua went to him and said to him, "Are you for us or for our adversaries?"
He said, "No; rather I indeed come now as captain of the host of the Lord."
And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and bowed down, and said to him, "What has my lord to say to his servant?"
The captain of the Lord's host said to Joshua, "Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy." And Joshua did so." -- Joshua 5:13-15
Most believe that this "captain" was Jesus appearing to Joshua. Well actually the Son of God, because He didn't become Jesus until He was born as a baby years later!
You can imagine that Joshua was VERY confident about leading the battle against Jericho. God had them shaking in fear, and its likely Joshua was puffing up with pride. In this exchange, Joshua is humbled and brought back to a proper position of servitude and reliance upon the LORD.
When Jesus shows up in our lives, He often has the same message-- don't rely on yourself, rely on me! Jesus is certainly worth our full faith and trust! The Captain of the Heavens is on our team!
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
Jesus Shows Up - Joshua 5
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 HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY PARTY IN OUR CHILDREN'S MINISTRY
This SUNDAY - February 10, 2013 at 10:15am
For this party, our kids love your cookies.
If you signed up to bring cookies, please bring them to the basement by 10am on Sunday!
Questions or more info contact Cindi Stone (562-596-3358)
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 FEBRUARY NEWSLETTER NOW ONLINE!
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 KINDERGARTEN INFORMATION DAY
February 12, 2013
9:00am and 7:00pm
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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 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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 MISSIONARIES OF THE MONTH-
Brad & Lisa L**ger Sowing the Gospel in dark places with Frontiers Mission
Brad & Lisa are continuing a Sabbatical that started last year. They are living in Pasadena and both are taking academic courses to further prepare them for their work. Brad is doing graduate work on-line in Agroforestry, and Lisa is in her second year of training in Spiritual Direction. We hope to take an exploratory trip this summer to visit a few teams and projects, and then be redeployed in the fall.
Here are a few prayer requests:
1. Please pray for our future plans, that we hear clearly from the Lord as to which team we should join.
2. Continue to pray for our studies, that we learn and prepare ourselves for the work He has for us in the future.
3. Pray for a boost in our financial support in order to finish our course work and travel in the summer.
4. Continue to lift up our daughters-- Anna as she looks for a full-time teaching job, and Mary as she studies at Biola.
5. Please pray for those we left behind in West Africa, especially "Lincoln" who is managing the barbed-wire project and sharing his faith in the villages.
If you would like to financially support the ministry of Brad & Lisa 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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 SPIRITUAL GROWTH IDEA:
JOURNAL OF REMEMBRANCE
On Sunday during our gathering, elder Chuck Kirtz presented us with an idea he is implementing for his spiritual growth-- a Journal of Remembrance. It's a place where he is writing down things that God is doing in his life, so he has a place to go to remember it.
This was inspired by our study in Joshua and how the Lord had the Israelites grab 12 stones out of the Jordan riverbed to craft a memorial.
Let this be a sign among you, so that when your children ask later, saying, 'What do these stones mean to you?'then you shall say to them, 'Because the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off.' So these stones shall become a memorial to the sons of Israel forever." Joshua 4:6-7
We need to remember what our God has done! Maybe this idea could be useful to you!
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 PRESCHOOL SAYS THANKS! Thanks to the preschool parents' efforts, $1394.90 was raised at the recent rummage sale. 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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HIGH SCHOOL MINISTRY CALENDAR & CAMP 
In addition to our normal 9am Sunday and 7pm Wednesday times together, we have this coming up:
'SPRINTER' CAMP 2013
March 1-3
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?? $120
Contact Erin Gobble with questions and to sign up! egobble@LAGBC.org
Groundwork Schedule through April Online
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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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 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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