As I prepared for my last week in Washington, I

Vol. 4 Issue 4 Simi Covenant Church – 4680 Alamo Street – Simi Valley, CA 93063 – Phone: 805-526-8855 Pastor’s Update . . . Chad McDaniel, Sr. Pasto...
Author: Samantha Hunt
6 downloads 2 Views 2MB Size
Vol. 4

Issue 4 Simi Covenant Church – 4680 Alamo Street – Simi Valley, CA 93063 – Phone: 805-526-8855

Pastor’s Update . . . Chad McDaniel, Sr. Pastor

Women’s Ministry . . . By: Brenda Cartwright

The Women's Ministry Tea is Saturday, April

As I prepared for my last week in Washington, I came to the realization: there are going to be a lot of “lasts” this week. My last trip to Starbucks before church – the Starbucks where the baristas know me by name. My last night teaching Confirmation and the realization that I wouldn’t see these kids complete the class and stand proudly in front of church. My last sermon and last time picking my kids up from the Bethany Preschool. A lot of lasts. And I know you can all relate. But here’s what I also realized – this is the good news – there are a lot of “firsts” coming! I am so looking forward to all the “firsts” we get to experience together. First Easter, first Communion Sunday, first baptisms, just to name a few. Scripture tells us that “weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning” (Ps 30:5). Many times, “lasts" bring weeping, but I pray the “firsts" we will experience and create together will bring great rejoicing!

23rd from 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM. The women's ministry has been very busy planning for the tea. Veronica Joy, a local woman, will be our guest speaker this year. She is the creator of Joy Filled Ministries (http://www.joyfilledministries.com/ ) and is sought out for her inspirational and encouraging messages. Tickets are now being sold on the patio. If you are interested in helping with the tea, or have any other questions please stop by and let us know. We are currently researching and looking into new local and international missions. We are excited to see who we will support in the future which is an important part of our women's outreach and ministry.

Church Library News . . . By: Pearl Davids, Librarian

FEATURED BOOK IN THE LIBRARY

A classic book in our library is A Shepherd Looks at the 23rd Psalm written by Pastor Phillip W. Keller. Keller grew up in East Africa and spent eight years as a sheep rancher, so he is very familiar with what it takes to successfully raise sheep. His book enlarges our understanding of Psalm 23, which is probably the favorite psalm of most people. Psalm 23 was written by King David, who grew up tending sheep and knew the needs of sheep. Sheep need good pastures free of weeds and need to be led through the valleys to higher ground at times for fresh pastures; they need

COVENANT MESSENGER * Simi Covenant Church * Vol. 4, Issue 4 * March/April 2016 calm waters to drink from; they need a shepherd to check them for pests and sores; they need to be free from fear and anxiety in order to thrive, and they need a shepherd to protect them from predators. A good shepherd is willing to risk his life for his sheep. Jesus spoke of being the good shepherd, and we realize that we are the sheep of which he spoke. We know that we have a shepherd who is gentle, kind, caring, and selfless. As a good shepherd, Jesus was willing to lay down his life for the sheep, which is exactly what he did on Good Friday. Reading Keller’s book during the Lenten season may help us reflect on what Jesus did for us. Find this book shelved under 226.5/Kel.

discarded, lawns were mowed, bushes were trimmed, and other repair work performed. Overall, we volunteer our time, talent, and treasure while loving our neighbors and meeting practical community needs. Ross Browning, who took his two Sons to help, said, “He (Jesus) said GO, so Ross Browning with Teegan and Jace we’re going! I think that’s been something that’s been missing for a while, so it’s good to get out to where the people are, meet them where they’re at, and if we can be helpful, I think it obeys His command to GO.” Mark your calendar for Saturday, May 14, 2016, probably starting around 7:30 a.m. and running to noon. Then, look for a sign-up table in the patio and volunteer to be “The Hands and Feet of Jesus!” Not only will those you help be blessed, but so will YOU! For more information on ACTION Foundation, go to www.actionvc.org, or call me (Steve Abarta) at (805) 584-6523.

By: Steve Abarta

Simi Valley Serve Day 2016 is coming! – May 14, 2016

Simi Covenant Church is again partnering with Simi Covenant Preschool News . . .

ACTION Foundation and up to 80 Ventura County churches for the 2016 Serve Day. These 80 churches, along with numerous agencies and many firms in the business community support this non-profit [501(c)3] organization which engages thousands of volunteers throughout the County to serve on hundreds of projects as followers of Christ. The focus is primarily on seniors, disabled residents, under resourced families, the homeless population and at risk youth. Last year, approximately 20 Simi Covenant workers participated, both at Apollo High School and Tradewinds Mobile Home Park. We’re hoping to have many more this year! What did we do last year? One woman needed some plumbing in her mobile home kitchen. Many windows were washed, trash was

By: Sue & Martha, Co-Directors

http://www.simicovenantpreschool.com/

The preschool has had some very fun and exciting things happen over the last month. We celebrated the Chinese New Year with the children putting on a parade in the play yard. They constructed a dragon with the children decorating boxes. Parents came and then stayed for a picnic on the lawn.

Page 2

COVENANT MESSENGER * Simi Covenant Church * Vol. 4, Issue 4 * March/April 2016

Simi Cov Youth Ministries ... By: Melody Johnson, (transitional youth director)

God is at work!

Winter camp has come and gone and we had

We had a successful Science Fair on a Saturday morning with over 190 attending. Several family members and friends came for the event. The teachers worked very hard preparing the rooms. Each room had a specific theme with many hands-on interacting displays. March will be another busy month. Picture day is this month as well as an Easter egg hunt, Easter Chapel and Easter break.

25 students attend Alpine this winter! God definitely was working in these student’s lives. At junior high camp we had several students make first time commitment to Christ. One student that has attended Super Tuesday and now Youth Group asked if she could have some extra Bibles to give out to her brother and friends! At camp and on mission trips students hear God’s voice in ways that just doesn’t happen at home with all the noise and distractions of “regular” life.

Our first Dinner in the Park is Friday, March 18 from 5:00PM to 8:00PM. Everyone is welcome! Bring dinner and a blanket to join us on the grass in the play yard. The NAEYC assessor was here Wednesday (02/17) for our accreditation renewal. This takes place every five (5) years with many, many, hours going into the preparation process. We are supposed to be notified of the results within three (3) months. Thanks to all for their hard work upgrading classrooms, locks, plumbing and the play yard. We are in full swing and have begun our early registration enrollment for fall 2016. The preschool would like to thank everyone again for your generous financial support and classroom supply donations. th

We are already gearing up to head to Hume San Diego for camp this summer, with 15 students signed up and only a few available spots left. We are also taking high school students to Stockton Covenant Church this summer to help with their VBS program. Camps and mission trips can’t happen without your financial support. Money is the number one reason that students don’t go to camp – it’s expensive. Without funds from the congregation to reduce the cost and to provide scholarships, many students cannot attend. Page 3

COVENANT MESSENGER * Simi Covenant Church * Vol. 4, Issue 4 * March/April 2016 During the month of March, you will find many colorful envelopes taped up in the foyer of the Worship Center. These envelopes have dollar amounts on them from $1 - $125. If you would prayerfully take one (or more) of these envelopes fill it with the amount on the envelope and return at church (there will be a box on the patio) or to the office, those funds will be used to make sure every student can go to camp or on a mission trip. This is our big fundraiser for the year and your financial support of our youth is greatly needed and appreciated! Also, please be praying for our youth! Students are bombarded with all sorts of pressures and they can use all the prayers they can get!

Volunteers serve in three different ways: 1. Overnight monitors. Three volunteers stay overnight from 8:00PM until 7:00AM. They help guests get situated, show a movie, and interact with the guests. 2. Snack providers. A volunteer brings evening snacks for the guests. This can be chips, trail bars, fruit, cookies, beverages, etc. 3. Breakfast providers. These volunteers bring and prepare breakfast for the guests. The breakfast may be prepared at home, or at the church which has a full commercial kitchen. Our church will reimburse any money spent on snacks or breakfast from our Benevolence Fund, to which many of you contribute generously. If you would like further information, or would consider volunteering, please call Kevin Stroud at 432-4006 or Dolores Miller at the church office 526-8855.

From The Editor . . . Jim Lowry 805-527-6370 - [email protected]

It’s my pleasure to take my editorial space this issue to introduce the members of our worship band that make our Sunday mornings so very special and alive. I hope you enjoy learning about these truly professional musicians. I know I was blown away when I learned the bio’s of these guys. Don’t hesitate to go up to them and say hi, they’re all very proud to be involved with our church and love our congregation. They won’t bite, I promise! Now, sit back and immerse yourself in worship knowing everyone in the house is on the same page. We are so blessed to have this group of professional, experienced and loving folks present on Sunday for our benefit.

P.A.D.S. . . . (Public Action to Deliver Shelter) By: Keven Stroud – 805-432-4006

We are into the fifth month of the winter, overnight, shelter program for the homeless in Simi Valley. Thanks to over 20 Simi Covenant volunteers, we have been able to help homeless people have safe, warm overnight shelter, snacks and breakfast. Seven churches in Simi participate in the program, so that the homeless have shelter seven nights a week during the winter months of November through March. Our church volunteers every other Friday night at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church (on Cochran just west of Tapo Street).

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

Page 4

COVENANT MESSENGER * Simi Covenant Church * Vol. 4, Issue 4 * March/April 2016 Mr. Chris Smith, Keyboard & Composer

Originally from Connecticut, Craig Pilo graduated from the University of North Texas in 1995 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music. In the fall of 1996 he moved to Los Angeles where he resides today. In 1997 Craig did the fall tour with famed trumpeter Maynard Ferguson to promote his One More Trip to Birdland CD. From 2012 through the present, Craig has become more in demand, and busier than ever. He's performed throughout Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the UK, and most of the US with Frankie Valli. @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

Chris Smith is currently a member of JEFFERSON STARSHIP. He has toured with THE SUPREMES, THE TEMPTATIONS, THE GAP BAND, ROGER MILLER, THE MARYJANE GIRLS, and PEACHES AND HERB. He has recorded with such acts as WAR, BLOODSTONE, RARE EARTH, THE ASSOCIATION, and ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER. He writes original music (with Craig Pilo) that has been featured on such television shows as THE ACADEMY AWARDS, CATFISH, GIRL CODE, KEEPING UP WITH THE KARDASHIANS, MOB WIVES, SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE, and DOG THE BOUNTY HUNTER.

Mr. Bart Samolis, Bass & Composer

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

Bart Samolis is a session and touring artist

Mr. Craig Pilo, Drummer & Composer

having performed and recorded with various jazz and contemporary acts including Arturo Sandoval, Free Flight, Eric Marienthal, Peter Gabriel, Rod Stewart, Michael Bolton, and many others. Playing fretted, fretless, upright and orchestra basses, he can be seen and heard world-wide in all media as well as in live performances. As a studio musician, his movie credits are many, recently including Ice Age, Ride Along, Alvin and the Chipmunks, Ted 2, Big Hero 6, White House Down, The Wolverine, A Good Day to Die Hard, Jack Reacher, Superman Returns, X-Men, The Fantastic Four, and many others. A well rounded composer, Bart is Page 5

COVENANT MESSENGER * Simi Covenant Church * Vol. 4, Issue 4 * March/April 2016 currently writing music for film and TV and producing music from his home studio.

Mr. Jim Henken, Musician, Sound Engineer, and Photographer

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ Mr. Curtis Brengle, Classical Pianist

Curtis Brengle started playing classical piano at the age of nine. He studied privately through elementary, junior high, high school and college, as well as playing in the jazz and concert bands, singing in the choirs, and participating in competitions. Curtis graduated cum laude from the Cornish Institute in the Seattle area with a B.F.A. in piano performance. At Cornish, he studied with Gary Peacock, Julian Priester, Art Lande and James Knapp among others. While in Seattle, Curtis arranged music for the Muzak Corp., played many club dates and recorded many local commercials.

Jim Henken is a multi-talented individual with a long list of accomplishments. Jim is one of those musicians that make films, T/V shows, commercial jingles and even live performances just sound great by his manipulation of the input and output so you, the audience, don’t even know it’s happening. If you saw the list of T/V and films he’s been involved with it would blow you away. Shows like Oprah Winfrey, Merv Griffin, the Tonight Show, Rags to Riches, etc. You’ve heard the jingles for Kawasaki and Honda, well Jim was behind those. Yes he’s even done ‘um for McDonalds, Burger King and Budweiser. Jim has performed live with such acts as Melissa Manchester, Rich Little, Tammy Wynette, Ray Anthony, Bette Midler and even Tony Bennett. On Sunday’s he’s the electric guitarist that rocks the house and blends the whole group together for our worship pleasure.

Curtis relocated to the Los Angeles area in 1989 and since played with and/or recorded with many artists including Sheena Easton, Englebert Humperdinck (musical director), Ray Charles, Pointer Sisters, Tom Scott, Denice Williams, Chaka Khan, Rick Braun, and Jeff Golub to name a few. Other credits include many recordings for the Yamaha Corp., Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO), Freaky Friday (Disney), Espn Football (Jeff Koz), and a host of other national and local commercials. Curtis is currently teaching private piano lessons and playing concerts all over the United States, as well as student outreach programs and clinics.

From the Leadership Team . . . By: Doug King, Church Chairman

The Leadership Team welcomes church members and friends to our monthly Leadership Team meetings. The next two are Sundays,

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ Page 6

COVENANT MESSENGER * Simi Covenant Church * Vol. 4, Issue 4 * March/April 2016

th

purpose and lasting growth through us to our neighborhood and the world beyond. We are commanded in the scriptures to be an outward focused church (See Acts 1:8, Heb 24:25 & Mat 28:19-20). Our Vision calls everyone to be a light on a hill, a savory salt and ministers of God's aliveness to our community and the world beyond. “Ideally, 100% of regular attendees would be serving / volunteering either at the church / on behalf of the church or within the local community in the name of Jesus.“ Vision Team Report, 2011 Today, a homeless person had a place to wake up safely in AND a hot breakfast because of the Samaritan center and PADs program. Someone in need is being prayed for because of a prayer quilt. Our teens have returned from Alpine Camp fueled with excitement and the understanding that God is bigger than they might have imagined because of scholarships made available through Alpine Attic. A village in rural India eagerly awaits their first mouthfuls of life-giving clean water from the well pledged to them through CWR (Covenant World Relief) Project Blue. Our youth fasted for 24 hours for these funds, matching a special challenge grant by the leadership team which was matched again in a special benevolence offering by our congregation. Meanwhile in Africa, four churches have been blessed with construction funds through the Change can Change the World fund to provide sanitation needs, build a prayer house and do much needed renovations. Your loose change given in the collection bucket outside services and at the Alpine Attic counter really counts! How did all these things happen? These things happened because people, God's people, responded to His love by passing it forward through "missions" and "outreach." Would you like to share more in the rewards of exciting missions and outreach in the name of Jesus? Please contact [email protected] to be added to our mailing list and invited to our team.

th

March 20 and April 17 from 11:00AM-1:30PM in the Fellowship Hall. Some highlights from January meetings: 1. Giving is still strong; we are about 2% behind budget. Expenses are under control. 2. The LT reworked the budget to reflect not hiring a Sr. Pastor in October, or a Worship Leader in January. 3. Lawrence Hoppis made a presentation on Missions and Outreach. 4. Pastor Ross reported the state of the church is much better than it was a year ago. 5. An audio expert will be coming soon to run a clinic for the sound technicians. 6. The two pine trees and eucalyptus on the east end of the parking lot are in dangerous condition. They will need to be cut back and thinned. 7. Pastor Chad’s letter of call was approved. 8. A Thank-You dinner for the Search Team was approved (prepared by Pam P. and Terry F.). 9. Fundraisers for the Simi Cov and Nueva Esperanza Youth Groups were approved. It is a privilege to serve you as your Church Chair. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns. You can reach me at [email protected] .

Missions and Outreach Ministry . . . By: Lawrence Hoppis

Would you like (or love) to actively deepen and broaden the meaning in your faith? Do you believe giving a helping hand might be the quickest way and best way? We have been called to bring spiritual life and hope into the heart of Simi Valley. God is in the business of creating meaningful healing, vital Page 7

COVENANT MESSENGER * Simi Covenant Church * Vol. 4, Issue 4 * March/April 2016

Simi Covenant Church 4680 Alamo Street Simi Valley, CA 93063

Welcome Home: Pastor & Mrs. Chad McDaniel And Family

Simi Covenant Church Calendar Tuesday Evenings – 6-7:00pm, Prayer Meeting – Church House Conference Room Tuesday Evening – 7:00 to 10:00 PM – Midweek Youth – Whole Campus Wednesday Evenings – 7:00 to 9:00 PM – Choir Practice – Worship Center

March 2016 • 03/05 – Saturday Work Day – 8:00AM – ‘til Noon • 03/07 – Pastor Chad reports to Simi Covenant as its new Senior Pastor • 03/07 – Facilities Committee meeting – 7:00PM in Church House Conference Room • 03/13 – Daylight Saving Time – Set your clocks AHEAD one hour • 03/13 – Pastor Chad Preaching his first sermon at Simi Cov. • 03/18 – Dinner in the Park – 5:00PM-8:00PM – Preschool play yard. Please join us. • 03/20 – Leadership Team meeting – 11:00AM-1:30PM in the Fellowship Hall • 03/20 – Palm Sunday • 03/25 – Good Friday • 03/26 – Hike to the Cross (Mt. McCoy) – 3:00PM-4:00PM • 03/27 – Easter Sunday April 2016 • 04/04 – Facilities Committee meeting – 7:00PM in Church House Conference Room • 04/17 – Leadership Team meeting – 11:00AM-1:30PM in the Fellowship Hall • 04/17 – Preschool Open House • 04/23 – Women’s Ministry Tea – 10:00AM ‘til 1:00PM - at Simi Cov Page 8

Suggest Documents