2014 - ISSUE 20 October 7, 2014

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PAST AND PRESENT COPIES OF THE FELLOWSHIP NEWS MAY BE VIEWED AT www.scribd.com

Bixby Knolls Christian Church, (Disciples of Christ)
(562) 426-0428


Dear Church,
People often go to
church on Sunday morning
expecting a deep and
powerful spiritual experi-
ence all wrapped up in a
neat 60-minute package.
They come expecting an
epiphany, a revelation, an
awakening.
Occasionally that does
happen in worship. How-
ever, its more likely that
those who come expecting
such a holy encounter
leave disappointed.
This is often my own
experience. What Ive
learned, though, is that the
fault does not lie in the
worship experience. The
fault lies in my own expec-
tations. Ive been expect-
ing something from wor-
ship that worship is not
designed for.
Often, it is outside of
the worship service that I
encounter God. A moment
of peace while sipping tea.
A walk in nature. A deep
conversation with a friend.
An act of kindness.
I recognize that there
is something special in
Our September 28 Litter Pickup was our biggest
one yet! Join us for our next litter pickup on Oct
26 at 11:45.
I n the next 2
months we have
3 holidays that we
share cards with
our veterans at
the VA hospital.
Sunday, Nov 2
nd

is the deadline for
Veterans Day
thank you cards. This is a special time to thank
our veterans. Now, many stores carry cards spe-
cifically for Veterans Day or you can use a thank
you note thanking a vet for his service.
Sunday, Nov 23
rd
is the deadline for Thanks-
giving cards and Dec 14th is the deadline for
Christmas cards. A box will be in the narthex for
the cards.
Sign your first name, name of our church. You
can include a personal greeting if you want. Re-
memberdo not seal the envelope.
Our cards are very much appreciated. Most
of our veterans in the hospital have no visitors.
Just a simple card can brighten their day and let
them know others do care about them.
such moments. I sense
something sacred in that
moment. But what?
Then there comes to
mind something I remem-
ber hearing in worship: the
line of a hymn, a prayer, a
verse of scripture, or a ser-
mon illustration. I put the
pieces together, and begin
to understand the signifi-
cance of such moments.
These memories help me
recognize how God is pre-
sent in that moment.
For me, thats how
worship works. I may not
always experience God in
worship, but without wor-
ship, it would be difficult
to experience God in the
world.
Blessings,
Pastor Danny
New Floors are coming
soon and wouldn't it be
nice to also have a fresh
coat of paint in the fellow-
ship hall and maybe even
in the hallway. So, get
your brushes, rollers,
drop-cloths, and rags
ready for a painting
party. I am still working
on the day and time but
plan on it happening this
month. Let me know if
you are able and willing to
help out.
Gretchen


CHANGES

Some of you may remember the sermon I gave this last summer spoke of changes. Well, this Advent Season we
will be experiencing some changes. There will be a change of venue for the youth pageant and changes to the
Alternative Christmas and to the Christmas Craft Workshop by way of separating them and having them on dif-
ferent dates. I will be looking for help with the Alternative Christmas and the Christmas Craft Workshop.
The Alternative Christmas will be on Sunday November 16th in the morning. For this I am looking for people to
donate their homemade items to sell again. So for all you crafty people, artists, bakers, and food makers let me
know if you have some goodies for our tables.
On November 30th, (the first Sunday in Advent) we will have our Christmas Craft Workshop. This year I am want-
ing to rev things up and have some nicer items that people can make to keep or even give as gifts. If you have
any ideas, are available to man a table, or be willing to help in some other way please let me know.
Finally, lets try to use this Advent season as a way to really reach out to our community. I would love to see
these as activities that can bring people to us and help us to connect to them. This past summer Vacation Bible
School may not have had many of our own children and families attending but we were blessed to have many
other families with us. There is no reason why we can't have Advent be the same. So please invite people. If
they are uncomfortable or not able to attend our service invite them to come to the activities. Just have them
come to the Fellowship Hall at 11:15. The point is to see these activities as opportunities share, have fun and con-
nect with those beyond our doors.

Gretchen

Just a note about making a life!
Why?
Question: Why does a person who has never played guitar or piano decide to take it up at fifty years of
age? Why study French if you have no intention of going to France?

Answer: Because these people have come to the realization that our time on this planet is not so much
about making a living as it is about life. Every new adventure, every new thing you study or read or learn---
whether you master it or or--is about enriching your life here on Earth. You have one chance in life so every
opportunity you take makes your day to day experience richer and fuller and often the people around you
benefit too!
So keep on pursuing new things like..........join the choir until Christmas.......help with Improv's Christmas
show......do something new and get involved.....the rewards you will personally reap will be more than you
EVER EXPECTED.
FYI:Advent orchestra is coming!
Blessings from Barb P.


Oct 12 -
Psalm 78:1-4
www.disciples.org/ga
Litter pickup: We meet at the
front gate every 4
th
Sunday at
11:45, to pick up litter in Somer-
set Park and along our
neighborhood sidewalks & gut-
ters.
Our prayer circle meets every
2
nd
and 4
th
Tuesday at 10:00 a.m.
in room 115. Join this dedicated
group in praying for our church,
community, & world.
Help cook food for Christian Out-
reach in Action (COA). Every 2
nd

Thursday at 8:00 a.m. in our
church kitchen.

Bixby Knolls Christian
Church celebrates
one year as an
(officially)
Open & Affirming
congregation!
NEXT SCRIP SPECIAL
ORDERING
WILL BE OCT 19

Its that time to be thinking about Christmas
shopping. To save time and benefit BKCC, do
your shopping at the Scrip table. You can give
scrip as gift cards or purchase cards for the
stores you like to shop. Dont forget the restau-
rants you like to eat at when the holidays get to
busy to cook.

An updated list of all the gifts cards is available
at the Scrip table. You can pick up a copy Sun-
day.

We will be ordering Scrip Oct 19 and Nov 16 and
at least 2 Sundays in December as needed.
Have you renewed your Ralphs Community Part-
ners? We received $26.01 from Ralphs grocery
stores this quarter. That is with only 4 house-
holds participating.
If you use a Ralphs/Food for Less Rewards card,
please register it with BKCCs Community Part-
ners program. Its very simple. Pick up the let-
ter at the scrip table and on your next shopping
trip, give it to the clerk to scan the bar code with
your rewards card.
Wednesday Night Dinners: join
us every Wednesday at 6:00 for
this pay-what-you-can meal.



Sumbal Sardar
Keri Clark (daughter of Monica Lanz)
Karla Benheretz
Hattie Johnson
Grace Kobel
Porter Family, Ruthie Atkin (friends of B. Smith)
Nargis & family in Pakistan (family of Sumbal Sardar)
Keri France & family, Ellis Sparks, Jr., Venus (family &
friends of of A. Hillig)
Mike (Suzies (church custodian) husband
Why go to Regional Assembly?
To hear dynamic speakers, like Rev. Julian DeShazier. As a national speaker, advocate, and artist, he has
appeared on ABC, CBS, FOX, and Maya Angelous Oprah and Friends radio
program. He is an award-winning & Grammy nominated musician and an ad-
junct professor at the University of Chicago Divinity School.
To attend awesome workshops such as: PostChristian with Christian Piatt, author
and pastor, who explores the cultural landscape after Christian empire, and
plots a roadmap for the future of faith in the western world.
To participate in inspiring, moving worship services with outstanding preachers and musicians.
To enjoy an evening concert with friends from across the region.
To enjoy a free lunch both Friday and Saturday!
To represent Bixby Knolls Christian Church to the rest of the church, demonstrating to our fellow the
Disciples the joy we have in being one of the most diverse small congregations in the country!

The registration cost for all this is $25. Children and youth are free, and there is extensive children & youth
programming throughout the assembly! Register online at www.disciplespswr.org.
* Bud Dale passed away
on September 28. A me-
morial service will take
place at BKCC on October
11 at 6:00 p.m.

* Pastor Danny at-
tended the Disciples of Christ Clergy
Conference in San Diego last week. Key-
note speaker Brian McLaren brought
words of encouragement and challenge,
telling pastors that they arent ministers
of the church, but ministers from the
church to the community.
* Pastor Clarice Friedline passed away on
Oct. 6.
* Former BKCC member Don Robertson
passed away.


Today is day 372 of the 10,952 days Ricky must serve for a crime he did not commit. He was wrongly
accused, unjustly incarcerated, and because of the color of his skin, received a mandatory-minimum prison
sentence. As Ricky stood gazing out the narrow window of his prison cell, Ricky remembered the words of
Mrs. Jackson, his third grade teacher. Ricky, you are a good student and a nice young man. Keep up the
good work and maybe you wont become a statistic. The statistic she referred to was the Bureau of Justice
data that indicates one in three African American men can expect to go to prison in their lifetime. Despite
his best efforts, including graduating high school with honors, he found himself exchanging his polo shirt
and kakis as well as his college housing for a prison cell and an or-
ange jumpsuit at the age of 21.
This years theme, #Reconciliation Generation: School Yards
Not Prison Yards, is undergirded by Psalm 78 which reminds us of
Gods steadfast blessings in our past and present, and Gods faithful-
ness toward restorative justice. Gods unfathomable grace toward
each of us informs our courage to impact future generations for
Christs shalom. As the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ,) we are
committed to addressing racism as a sin and restoring all of Gods
children to the fullness of their humanity. In doing so we acknowl-
edge the beauty, delight, and triumph that have accompanied our
struggle to become the reconciled community of God.
There is tragedy and triumph in Rickys story. Although Rickys
conviction was never overturned, after determining he was wrongly
convicted, he was released on the basis of good behavior, having
served ten years of his 30-year prison sentence. For Ricky and for
many others justice is not always swift, nor is it fair. For all of our children we must raise our voices to de-
mand impartiality on their behalf. As well, we must commit to tell our children about the evil nature of
racism, sexism, classism, heterosexism, and any difference that is perceived as deficient. Then and only
then, may we and our children become the Reconciliation Generation that builds School Yards not Prison
Yards.
written by Tamika Montgomery, Reconciliation Ministry Intern 2013-2014
As one of the most diverse small congregations in the country,
Bixby Knolls Christian Church has an important role to play in our
churchs efforts to confront discrimination and system racism, which
mute our witness to a loving and just God. On October 12, we will col-
lect a special offering for the work of the Reconciliation Ministry of the
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)


ROCK
LOCH
THE






CHURCH STAFF:

Pastor Daniel Bradfield
-Minister
Monica Lanz
-Church Secretary
Barbara Neal-Peebles
-Music Director/Organist
Christine Perkinson
- Church Child Care
Suzie Romero
- Custodian

BOARD OFFICERS:
Ken Brown
-Board President
Leo Dittemore
-Vice President
Pat Cohen
-Secretary
Angela Hillig
- Treasurer
Chrysan Naw
- Financial Secretary

-Church Clerk
BIXBY KNOLLS
CHRISTIAN CHURCH
(Disciples of Christ)

SUNDAY SCHEDULE:
9:00 a.m. Sunday School for Adults
10:15 a.m. Morning Worship and Childrens Church

OFFICE HOURS:
Monday - Thursday 7:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Friday closed
The Fellowship News

A publication of
Bixby Knolls Christian Church of
Long Beach (a Disciples of Christ
Church)
1240 E. Carson Street
Long Beach, CA 90807
www.bixbyknollschurch.org

Editor:
Monica Lanz
562-426-0428
bkcchurch@aol.com
fax 562-426-0429

Pastor:
Daniel Bradfield

The Fellowship News is published
twice monthly.
Check us out on Facebook

www.facebook.com/bixbyknollschurch
website:
www.bixbyknollschurch.blogspot.com
Bixby Knolls Vision Statement
To know what the Lord requires of us;
to do justice, and love kindness,
and walk humbly with our God. (Micah 6:8)
Submit your articles for
the next newsletter by
October 19
Get to know Jesus well because
the more you know him,
the more youll love him.
And the more you love him,
the more youll want to follow him.
And the more you follow him,
the more youll become like him.
And the more you become like him,
the more you become yourself.
Ned Erickson