Caring for the neighborhood and beyond
Pick up a book and join us!
The Circle of Friends meets the second Tuesday of each month at 2pm at Starbucks in Gold River. All interested are invited to attend.
Alliance Response to Haiti Earthquake
The Alliance family has quickly responded to the crisis in Haiti after a 7.0 earthquake rocked the capital city of Port-au-Prince on January 12. CAMA, the Alliance relief and development arm, is providing immediate assistance—including clean water, emergency shelter, medical aid, and other necessities—as well as long-term help in rebuilding efforts, integrating Jesus’ message of redemption with practical acts of compassion. The generosity of Alliance people continues to pour in, with more than $135,000 contributed to relief efforts less than a week after the quake hit. Praise God for His provision, and may He abundantly bless those who give.
From the Haitian District
The following quotes are from Rev. Jean R. Jean, president of the Haitian South Association and formerly from the Port-au-Prince area, and Rev. Rev. Emmanuel Seide, president of the Haitian North Association.
Rev. Jean: The U.S. government has provided a way for families in Haiti to make one phone call to a relative in the United States to let them know that they are safe. In the call from one relative, I learned that my family members are well; however, one sister-in-law has a broken leg. All of the Alliance-connected churches that my Florida church family works with in Haiti have fallen down as a result of the earthquake. I hope to provide aid to these hurting Haitian churches through the efforts of our CAMA Services and the funds donated by Alliance constituents.
Rev. Seide: On behalf of the Haitian Association, I want to thank you (the Metropolitan District) and the Alliance family for your help and attention given to the catastrophe that happened in Haiti. I had a chance to receive information on Pastor Frenel Cevedieu, an official worker of the C&MA who lives in Carrefour Port-au-Prince. He is okay. He started a service, and 30 people gave their lives to Jesus. With the little he has he feeds 300 people.
I contacted all of our pastors in the northern U.S. to learn if the believers had received news of their loved ones. At Peniel Church, Sister Imartha Bruno had five family members die, including her sister, who accepted Christ in the crusade last year when I was in Haiti. She also lost four nieces and their houses were destroyed. Several members of the Peniel Church have immediate family members whose houses were destroyed. Also, several families in the Ebenezer Church lost loved ones in the tragedy. Several Horeb Church members also had loved ones who died or had houses destroyed.
Learn more about how you can partner with Alliance relief efforts: http://www.camaservices.org/
The Alliance Responds to Haitian Disaster
CAMA is gearing up to assist survivors of the 7.0 earthquake that destroyed Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital, on January 12. According to a CNN report, the death toll may top 100,000. The hospitals are gone, and medical supplies are desperately needed. About 3 million people—one-third of Haiti’s population—were impacted by the quake.
In partnership with sister organizations already on the ground, CAMA will provide immediate assistance—including clean water, emergency shelter, medical aid, and other necessities—as well as long-term help in rebuilding efforts, integrating Jesus’ message of redemption with practical acts of compassion.
A compassionate response during a disaster tangibly expresses Christ’s love and opens doors for other ministries, says Phil Skellie, CAMA’s president.
Give to CAMA http://www.cmalliance.org/give/relief/
By Christy Rovenstine
Andy and I have attended or volunteered at the Weekend to Remember Conference six times. Each time God worked in our lives in amazing ways. The speakers were passionate, encouraging and often humorous. The conference provided well balanced breaks that allowed us to talk through the material and spend undistracted time together. I always come away with a greater understanding of God’s design for marriage and practical ways for us to continue growing in the Lord as a couple.
This year’s Sacramento conference is scheduled for November 20-22 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. The conference runs from Friday night through Sunday afternoon. At the conference you will:
From engaged couples to empty nesters, it’s never too early or too late to make your marriage flourish. Please prayerfully consider making this valuable investment in your relationship this fall. Family Life even offers a money back guarantee.
When you register by Wednesday, November 18 you can receive the discounted group rate of $158 per a couple. Use group name “Rovenstine” to register. The registration fee includes conference materials. Food, optional lodging, and parking are additional costs. If you are interested in getting out of town, there will also be conferences in Monterey and San Diego this fall. You can register online at FamilyLife.com/Weekend or phone 1-800-358-6329.
Look for our display in the narthex on Sunday for more information or call us at 967-6031.
By Pastor Jeff Davies
Back when I was in high school, we had a youth staff member named Johnny. Johnny had been hugely successful in the dog-eat-dog, corporate world. After finding faith in Christ he turned his back on that life. Johnny grew out his dark black hair, sporting a pony-tail that reached the middle of his back. He often rode a Harley to church, but could also be seen driving the old limousine he used to chauffeur around his giant St. Bernard dogs. Johnny was regularly heard laughing out loud and also had a deeply spiritual side. He took particular pleasure in conveying deep truths of life to youth in a way that made their heads spin as they grappled with these untapped mysteries.
A few weeks before my wife Jessica and I were married, I ran into Johnny again. Amidst the laughing and catching up, he gave me one of the best pieces of marital advice I think (continued on page 10)
I’ve heard. Johnny shared that if I could learn to hear what God was telling me through my wife, life would
be far better.
The idea wrapped in those words of wisdom has proven true in areas far beyond marriage. All of us are surrounded by people and situations that at times build us up and at other times tear us down. How well are we hearing God in the midst of our lives? Do we see what he wants to show us as we talk with a family member who seems so skilled at irritating us? What is God saying to you when you find your pocketbook has a little more–or a little less–in it? Our Heavenly Father promises to use “all things for good” (Romans 8:28), so what is he saying to you through the struggles and joys you currently face? Let’s listen for his voice, and find the abundant life he has for us.
By Pastor Mike Mitchum
Once in awhile, I read a book that I get excited about. Most often books that excite me are stories about real people who do extraordinary things. Quite unexpectedly, I read such a book recently.
Robin and I went to the mall. She wanted to shop and I wanted to sit. I wandered over to the bookstore and noticed a display in the front window with multiple copies of a book entitled, “Season of Life” by Jeffrey Marx. I sat down in a chair and started to read. One and a half hours later, I was still reading. I had stumbled onto an inspiring story.
The subtitle of the book is: “A football star, a boy, a journey to manhood.” In the pages of “Season of Life,” we learn about Joe Ehrmann. He was a professional football player who now coaches high school football. He is also the pastor of a church.
The following excerpt will reveal that Joe Ehrmann is coaching, not to win football games, but to teach boys how to become men.
“Joe Ehrmann had already seen and heard it all too many times for any of this to affect him a whole lot. He’d seen and heard it as an All-American defensive lineman—big mountain of a man, six-foot-four, 260 well-packed pounds—at Syracuse University. He’d seen and heard it throughout his thirteen years as a professional football player, most of them as a star with the Baltimore Colts, one of the most storied franchises in the history of the National Football League. He’d seen and heard it during five years of coaching at Gilman. At the age of fifty-two, Joe was no longer fazed by the specific circumstances of any single game. No victory or defeat, no matter how glorious or excruciating for his team, would ever eclipse the only reason he was there. What do points on a scoreboard have to do with teaching boys how to be men of substance and impact? Nothing.” [Jeffrey Marx, Sample of Season of Life]
“How to be men of substance and impact?” is a crucial question in our culture. It is answered in a way that will leave the reader anxious to be that kind of man.
By the way, this is not just a book for men. I suspect women will find it though provoking as well. I could tell you more, but I would be spoiling the story.
Silver Bells…and white snowmen and brown gingerbread men!
Children’s Ministry will hold a fundraiser in December and you can help by providing supplies. This fall in Sunday School and Children’s Church, the kids will be assembling, painting, and decorating ornaments to sell at their Christmas Program. Funds raised will be used for Kids’ Camp next summer.
Here are some ideas for ornament kits that are available at Michael’s:
Color a Holiday Mug – $1
Foam Figurine Kit, Angel – $1.99
Decorative Garland, Snowmen – $1.99
Ready to Decorate Ornament Kit – $1.99
3D Foam Kit, Nativity Scene – $7.99
Ornament Melty Beads – $1
Clear Glass Balls – $4 – $6
Folk Art Acrylic Paint – 89¢
Contact Lori Storey with questions or for more details at 363-1188 or lori@cnchurch.org.
Sunday, October 11, we kicked off our 11th year of participation in Operation Christmas Child. We know many are excited to participate again in this worthy opportunity to impact the lives of children around the world. This year’s theme is “The power of a simple gift”. For those of you to whom this project is new, this “simple gift” is a shoe box filled with school supplies, hard candies, toys, toiletries and just plain “fun stuff”. The project is sponsored by Samaritan’s Purse, under the direction of Franklin Graham, Billy Graham’s son. We have some of the custom shoe boxes as well as a supply of regular shoe boxes you are welcome to take and fill. You may prefer to buy a plastic shoe box that the child can use later. Donations of empty shoe box/es for the project are welcome; just leave them under the display table. Boxes may be wrapped or unwrapped. “How To Brochures” are available in the foyer. Enjoy!
Call Kathy Riordan 635-3093 with questions.
The Christmas Child Comittee is Kathy & Dan Riordan and Dona Myers.
Kids at CNC have lots of opportunities to learn about God, make new friends and have fun together.
Nursery – Sunday School – Kids’ Church
Christmas Choir – Summer Sports Camp
Our children’s workers complete an application process that includes background checks and teacher training.
