February 2016 Vol. 35, No. 2
Worship: Sunday mornings at 10:30 amwww.arcadia.church
Pastor Jim Conner Family Ministry Sam Knottnerus Youth Ministry
Andrew Ritiau Children’s Ministry Melissa DeSurra Preschool
Ministry Amanda Ritiau Operations Manager Sonja Woosley
Receptionist Erin Cruz Bookkeeper Cherri King Preschool Director
Billie Turner Preschool Admin. Assistant Joanna Rodriguez Music
Conservatory Christina Liu Music Andrew Ritiau Graphic Arts Melissa
DeSurra Audio Engineer Tony Tawfik Custodian Shane Jones
Arcadia Community Church(626)445-7470 Fax (626)445-6071
www.arcadia.church
FEBRUARY 2016
WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO… We are excited about raising up the next
generation to become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ. God
has blessed us with a growing demographic of young families on our
campus. This year we intentionally started new ministries to
encourage the faith of the next generation. We all have to make
choices on how we’ll spend our time. It is our hope that in
understanding the “why” behind our ministries, as families you will
see the value in choosing to spend your time within these
spaces.
Fun Friday is our marriage enrichment & parent support
piece. A good marriage requires communication, and communication
takes time. We give the gift of 3 hours of time to parents five
times a year to grow their marriage or just catch up on life.
We
feed their kids with pizza and spiritual food and many of the
younger children cry when it’s time to leave.
We have found that parents want to help teach their children
about God but sometimes need a little help. Family Faith Night is a
community-based, whole family discipleship experience where parents
can take spiritual truth home in the form of conversation. What we
talk about with our children matters and at the end of the day,
what is remembered is not so much what we teach as what we
emphasize. We do this by starting with a shared meal and move to
some fun games and crafts that can be a launching pad for a simple
discussion with our children based on a lesson from the Bible. We
hope to model how spiritual learning can take place in an
Pastor’s CornerClerk’s Corner
Stewardship SnapshotHOM & Mission MomentsCross Culture
Current
December 2015 FinancialsArcadia Pres. PreschoolUpcoming
Events
(Continued inside in Pastor’s Corner)
IN THIS ISSUE:
PASTOR’S CORNER
UPCOMING EVENTS
RECURRING EVENTS
SAVE THE DATE
February 3 MOPS – Masterpiece Moms 9:30 am B101February 5 Family
Faith Night 6:00 pm Room 18/19February 9 Sparks 6:30 pm
LoungeFebruary 10 Ash Wednesday Service 7:00 pm SanctuaryFebruary
12 Fun Friday 5:00 pm Gated Grassy AreaFebruary 15 Presidents’ Day
- Office ClosedFebruary 16 Trustees Meeting 7:00 pm Conference
RoomFebruary 17 MOPS – Masterpiece Moms 9:30 am B101February 19
Showing of “War Room” 6:30 pm Fellowship HallFebruary 21 Women!
Rejoice! 12:00 pm LoungeFebruary 23 Session Meeting 7:00 pm
Adoration ChapelFebruary 24 Wandering Foot Quilt Guild 6:30 pm
Fellowship HallFebruary 28 LOL Village 12:00 pm Lounge
1ST & 3RD WEDNESDAYS9:30 - 11:30am
MomsMASTERPIECE
LOL Village - “Parenting for a More Peaceful Nest”Sunday,
February 28th at Noon in the LoungeDoes your family sometimes get
stuck in procrastination, tantrums, arguments, struggles over
“screen time” and chores? At this gathering, we will learn coping
skills to manage difficult interactions or intense emotions, ways
to make sense of confusing emotional behaviors in your children,
and acceptance of difficult moments. Lunch and childcare are
provided. The suggested donation is
$10/person or $15/couple. RSVP to Evie [email protected] by
February 24th.
MOPS - Masterpiece Moms 1st & 3rd Wednesdays from 9:30am -
11:30amMasterpiece Moms is a sacred space for Moms with children
aged kindergarten and below to: come together and glean from one
another, experience refreshment in their walk of faith, grow deeper
in friendship, and embrace their belovedness as God’s unique
masterpieces. Childcare is provided for the children. If you’d like
to join us on this journey, please contact Evie Knottnerus by
calling or texting (626) 656-3843.
January Family Faith Night
Family Faith NightFriday, February 5th at 6pm in 18/19Build
faith in your family with our church family. Share a meal, do some
fun crafts and games, and learn a life changing lesson you can talk
about when you go home! For parents and grandparents with children
up to 5th grade. Older kids can join with the youth group which
meets at the same time.
Presbyterian WomenPresbyterian Women want to have you save these
dates for the upcoming events to your calendar. Saturday, March 19
at 11:00am – Birthday Party Speaker: Phillys CorlissSatuday, April
16 at 3:00pm – Organ Concert with choir – Traditional Hymns
Performing: Tabitha Henken and Bill Hatcher
Saturday, May 28 at 11:00 am – Balance in Your Life at Any Age
Speakers: Glenda Beukelman
SparksTuesday, February 9th at 6:30pm At our meeting on February
9, Steve Jackson will present a program entitled “Laying the
Foundation” about the Declaration of Independence. For dinner
information and reservations, call Betty Bjerrum (626)
445-3656.
Showing of “War Room”Friday, February 19th at 6:30pm We are very
excited to have the privilege of showing this inspiring movie “War
Room” at our church. We will be showing the movie in the Fellowship
Hall on Friday, February 19th at 6:30pm. We will have snacks for
purchase and free childcare will be available upon request. Please
call the church office, (626) 445-7470, to receive a ticket to
reserve your seat. This is a great movie that you will not want to
miss!
COMMUNITY CHURCHarcadia
NEWSLETTER
Celebrate RecoveryThursdays from 6:30pm - 8:30pm in the
LoungeCELEBRATE RECOVERY (CR) is a safe place to encourage others
to fellowship and celebrate God’s healing power in our lives by
sharing our experiences, strengths and hopes with one another. By
working steps and applying Biblical principles, we see spiritual
growth and healing from our hurts, habits and hang-ups. This
freedom creates joy, peace, a stronger personal relationship with
others and our loving and forgiving higher power, Jesus Christ.
Childcare provided.
Fun Friday | Valentine’s Day EditionFriday, February 12th from 5
- 8:30pmWe are having another Fun Friday! This event is for
children Infants - 5th grade. We have a fun night planned for your
kids! Kids can have lots of fun with friends their age while
parents get an evening child-free! Cost is $10 per child or $25 per
family 3 or more. Visit our website to sign up!
Women! Rejoice!Sunday, February 21st at Noon in the
LoungeLadies, you are all welcome to come to the lounge following
the service today for complimentary lunch and great conversation.
Connect with old friends and make some new ones. What a great use
of your time!
Ash Wednesday Service February 10th at 7:00pmWe will be holding
a special Ash Wednesday Service February 10th at 7:00pm in the
Sanctuary. This is a service designed to help you start off the
Season of Lent. Please join us.
THE BOOK OF ROMANSOn Friday nights from 6-8:30pm, we continue
our riveting study of the Book of Romans. We’ll also enjoy the
usual games, worship, and small group discussion times.
ASH WEDNESDAYOn Wednesday, February 10, we’ll be joining with
the rest of the church in our annual Ash Wednesday service. It’ll
be the start to the Lenten season where we fast and spend the days
leading up to Easter to rely on God and remind ourselves of how
much He’s given and continues to give to us. Service begins at
7pm.
FUN FRIDAY On Valentine’s Day weekend, Friday, February 12,
we’ll be giving the moms and dads of the community a night to
themselves while we hang out with the kiddos. We’ll entertain them
with games, activities, music, a Bible lesson, dinner, and a movie!
Youth are to report to the church at 4pm.
That’s all for February. As always, thank you all for your
continued prayer and support!
Andrew Ritiau
engaging environment in the regular rhythms of our lives.
LOL Village has been focused on providing parenting skills. Five
times per year we offer seminars led by a Marriage and Family
Therapist who does interactive seminars that tackle parents’
biggest questions. This piece helps parents turn good intentions
into healthy practices.
MOPS-Masterpiece Moms is a ministry that wholistically wraps
around and supports women who have children aged birth through
kindergarten. Women are provided with opportunities to connect
during and outside of meetings. Meetings intentionally focus on
creating space for Moms to listen and learn from one another, share
their stories, and provide empathy through the delightfully
challenging parenting journey. Because MOPS-Masterpiece Moms is an
outreach venue, teaching aims to invite women to take their own
personal next steps with Jesus and to grapple with truths found in
God’s Word. Moms are encouraged to ask spiritual questions, seek
out prayer, and grow in their understanding of God at a pace that
feels safe and natural.
Save the Date is our newest outreach that is focused on building
community among our 1st – 5th graders. There is a growing number of
elementary children coming and our children’s ministry is putting
together a fun monthly gathering to help our kids get to know each
other and grow in their faith.
So here’s your take away… 1. Thank God for the people He
has been bringing to Arcadia Community Church.
2. Look for someone you don’t know on a Sunday morning and
engage in conversation. You could even apply the E (eat) in the
B.L.E.S.S. strategy by inviting them out for a meal.
3. Come alongside people by asking how you can pray for them and
then check back the following week.
Sam KnottnerusFamily Pastor
Happy El Nino of 2016! Finally we had rain, thank you Lord!
As promised last month, the following will make up the ACC
engagement team to the Presbytery which will negotiate the
separation from the PCUSA: Ruling Elders - Bob Curtis, Joe Purcell,
John Scrivener, past Elder - Phyllis Corliss, and Chair - Bob
Garner.
As always, I will keep you informed about how we will be
progressing, at least as much as I am able to put in print. There
will be some details that are discussed that can’t be shared until
the process is complete.
Regarding our name change, it will take several months to
complete all of the legal requirements for it to become permanent
so, please be sure to continue to make all checks to the church,
including all offerings, to APC not ACC. Please continue to do so
until further notice or we will not be able to deposit them into
our bank account.
I continue to be optimistic regarding the positive, God-given
vision for the future of our beloved Arcadia Community Church, as
we proceed with prayerful direction and dedication to continue to
spread the Good News of our Lord Jesus Christ locally and
throughout the world, as we were commanded in Acts 1:8, “…you will
receive power from the Holy Spirit and will be my witnesses… to the
ends of the earth.”
As always I, and your entire Session, continue to be in need of
and appreciative of your prayers of support and for wisdom in
leadership of our beloved church that continues to be WELCOMING
PEOPLE ON A SPIRITUAL JOURNEY TO BECOME FULLY DEVOTED FOLLOWERS OF
JESUS CHRIST.
Bob GarnerClerk of Session
[email protected]
“SHARING IS CARING”Our new study for the next several weeks is
“Living the Bless Lifestyle”. How do you like the new study guide
being used during church and also in our small groups? This guide
is a new concept in making this subject most interesting and for
all to enjoy.
BLESS gives the outline for this study and as you use this study
guide, you will find a guide to living and pointers to make life
“real” and to enhance relationships.
Pastor Jim has been talking about sitting down and eating a meal
together. By doing this and sharing time together, it can certainly
become a memory maker. The time of sharing life brings to mind how
fun it is to share not only that particular meal, but the time
spent together can become a shared memory and allows God’s love to
be shown in many ways. The end result is that by sharing life you
have become a caring friend.
Just this past week, I was talking with a lady who had recently
moved. She loved her new neighborhood, her new neighbors and found
that life had become much happier. I asked
her “what made the difference?” She replied “her new neighbors
spoke to her and were there for her when she moved in.” Some had
even made cookies for her and her family. This is certainly a great
example of “caring and sharing”.
Think about the caring and sharing that we have in our church
family. This is God directing us to be more open, more loving and
certainly more aware of the needs of others. This is God working
through us and showing His love for all peoples.
Praise God, Praise Arcadia Community Church, and Praise our
staff and leaders that are working for the future. Praise our
teachers in our exciting Preschool. Thank you God for bringing us
Sam, Andrew, Billie, Shane, and our Pastor Jim that leads the
way.
God Bless us all as we step forward to the future.
Phyllis Corliss Elder
PASTOR’S CORNER (CONT.)
ARCADIA PRESBYTERIAN PRESCHOOL (APP)
STEWARDSHIP SNAPSHOT
CROSS CULTURE CURRENT
CLERK’S CORNER
DECEMBER 2015 FINANCIAL SUMMARY
2015 has come to an end and 2016 is moving quickly. 2016 is a
new year of endless possibilities! Everyone had so many hopes and
dreams for 2015- some came true and some did not. I’m sure there
are just as many hopes and dreams connected to 2016; dreams for
family, wayward children, marriages, jobs, health, financial
situations, etc. I believe God cares about every dream and hope we
have. Psalms 37:4 says: “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and He
shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” Proverbs 3:6 also
says: “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your
paths.” The key to these verses is aligning our desires, hopes, and
dreams with His; with His plans for our lives! We are all given the
same command: “And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and
preach the gospel to every creature’.” Mark 16:15.
God created Arcadia Community Church as a hope to Arcadia and
the surrounding areas! It has been here for over 100 years shining
Christ’s love to this community and to the world! I’m sure that the
precious souls that began this
church could never have dreamed of all the things that would
happen here and all the souls that would be reached around the
world. God has used this church to multiply His Kingdom!
I am so thankful that not only is God using our church, but He’s
using our preschool for His glory! I believe God had a big plan
when this preschool was started. Every single child and family
member that has gone through our preschool has heard God’s Word.
They have all received Christ’s love because the church obeyed
God’s calling to begin a preschool. Countless seeds have been sown
and watered at this school. Thank you for your prayers for our
staff, our families, and our school. We want our preschool to carry
out the mission God has called us to and to see more families come
to know Jesus as their Savior.
Billie TurnerAPP Director
Preschool # (626) 445-9764Email: [email protected]
December 2015
Actual Budget
Income 111,084 109,394
Expenses 97,324 80,566
Net Income (loss) 13,760 28,828
Six Months Ended December 2015
Actual Budget
Income 440,523 450,975
Expenses 442,135 423,882
Net Income (loss) (1,612) 27,093
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HANDS ON MISSIONS Your Deacons are thankful for your support for
our ministries in 2015, especially your donations for the Holiday
Baskets for needy local families. Over 50 needy local families
received food baskets or grocery cards at Easter and Thanksgiving
and grocery cards at Christmas during the new Christmas Pancake
Breakfast held for them. Over 110 children from those struggling
families received school supplies at Easter and Thanksgiving and
over 100 (ages birth through 19) received $15 Christmas gift cards.
Most of the Christmas grocery and gift cards had to be purchased
with Deacon funds, so we are in special need of financial support
at this time. Deacons is not part of the regular church budget, to
help ensure that specifically designated donations are only used
for Deacon compassion-oriented ministries. Our immediate need is
for more people to sign-up to bring an entrée, salad, bag of fruit,
frozen vegetables or paper goods for the 3rd Thursday of each month
for the Door of Hope meal. We are also looking for volunteers who
would like to help us serve our church and communities through our
practical, behind the scenes ministries. Please pray and consider
if God would like
you to participate with us and contact current Deacon Moderator
Suma Seelam or 2016 Moderator Baukien Cady or any of our Deacons at
the Hands on Missions Booth Sundays if you’re interested in helping
us be the heart, hands and feet of Jesus Christ to those who are
going through hard times.
HANDS ON MISSIONSThe Mission Committee extends their sincere
thanks to all who participated in Alternative Christmas - 2015.
Here are the results-ACC-Hisham Kamel - $245Mustard Seed-Hassan
Dicks - $1,160Global Door of Hope - Samaila Doro - $655Uganda
baskets - Juna Amagara - $184Coffee Sales - $240Other donations for
Andrew Junior- $200
TOTAL - $2,683
On Palm Sunday in March, there will be a special collection for
Touching Hearts Changing Lives with proceeds going to Westminster
Gardens.
HANDS ON MISSIONS & MISSION MOMENTS
