Missionary in China Stephen Oliver update:
Little Gary was baptized by Reverend Carl Hanson on October 25 during our Reformation Missionary Worship at Concordia Middle School in Chiayi. God is wonderful in the way He works, in that the Holy Spirit gives faith to such little ones through baptism! (1 Peter 3:21, Ephesians 2:8) Praise Him!
Praise God for giving little Gary birth into the New Life in Jesus through baptism, and pray for his continued growth in faith.
Photos: LITTLE GARY
Gary Oliver is being baptized by Missionary Carl Hanson. Little Gary is such a delight lately as he often smiles with joy: “Thank you Mommy and Daddy and ‘Uncle’ Carl for my baptism into New and Eternal Life with God.”
I know…. I can’t help the hyperbole. You have got to KNOW it even if you don’t FEEL it! God is using Concordia to accomplish the BIG things he wants to see happen in the lives of people in Chula Vista and around the world!
The Foundations of a Growing Church is the current sermon series. Here is the graphic used on Sunday. I forgot my glasses on Sunday and couldn’t appreciate it fully. I am posting the interesting graphic here for us all to enjoy. If you want to listen to Pastor Schmidt’s excellent message based on Ephesians 3 go here.
For the Living Nativity (December 12, 2009 at 6pm) We still need lots of old sheets, linens, pillowcases, fabric on browns and other “interesting” fabric for the overrobes for the shepherds.
We need helpers! Are you willing to learn how to sew a straight (approximate straight) line on a sewing machine. We will train you…..NO prior experience necessary! Would you be willing to sew at your home or cut out costumes? ANY HELP would be so appreciated!
We will be up at church Nov 17, 18, 19, 20 , 23, and 24th from 9am to 2pm in the fellowship hall at Concordia Oxford. Maybe you are willing to take work home to sew, cut, hand hem, etc? Contact Karin Smith at karinshouse@cox.net to lend your willing hands to the task.
Check out these wonderful workers from Saturday.
Have you see the Living Nativity banner at the Windingwalk site? The website has been update with the Living Nativity graphic. Please pray for the preparations and for those who will hear a children’s perspective and expression of the timeless story of Jesus and His love.
Concordia cast members from the Living Nativity will make a special appearance on Saturday, November 21st at 6pm at the Otay Ranch Town Center’s Holiday Parade. The team will be passing out flyers for the Living Nativity that evening. If you attend, look for the citizens of “Old Bethlehem!”
For your daily devotions, study Ephesians 4 which will be the topic of next Sunday’s message from the Series on “The Foundations of a Growing Church.”
Mary thanks everyone for their prayers on her behalf. She wrote an update on her health on her blog and what the Lord has been showing her during this time of challenge. Visit it HERE (Did you know Mary, Pastor and Melissa have blogs? They are found at www.concordiachurch.com?)
–Melissa Salomon, Community Life Coordinator
Last week we covered Ephesians 2. If you want to review the message you can listen to the podcast HERE
This week come prepared by reading Ephesians 3 and remember to bring your Bible!
There is a all congregation meeting after church in the fellowship hall. Please make plans to stay.
Please bring old sheets, linens, even draperies you want to donate for the sewing of costumes for the Living Nativity! Give them to Karin Smith. Also, if you would like to come to cut, assemble or sew on Saturday beginning at 8:30am. No experience necessary! Let Karin know on if you are able to stay to assemble/cut/sew costumes on Sunday afternoon.
We have begun a new message series on Sunday: “The Foundations of a Growing Church”
- For your devotion this week re read Ephesians chapter 1
- Prepare for next week’s message by reading Ephesians Chapter 2, verses 1 through 10.
- BRING YOUR OWN BIBLE NEXT SUNDAY!
A growing church knows why its here. Its about or identity. We are special because of Jesus. Because of this identity we belong. We take our direction from Jesus (He has all authority). We honor God by how we love and live. Our identity marks us as one of God’s own and assures us of His working and care. Our task? See things the way God does. Our prayer? Open the eyes of our heart, Lord.
Listen to the whole message by clicking on the podcast link.
Thank you for your prayers! We pushed through all the challenges of the week and the FAM JAM, the worship experience for all ages in one place at one time, was a success!
Pray as we prepare for the next preview in four short weeks!
Below is a note I wrote to the Prayer Partners about our Sunday Preview. Also, you may want to participate in sending a note of encouragement to Disa Zaiser. As many of you know, her mother died suddenly and unexpectedly on Friday night. The funeral is on Friday and Disa will fly back on Monday. Would you send her a note of encouragement/or a card so that she receives them on Monday or Tuesday?
This is an act of love, mercy or random act of kindness if you do not know Disa.
Send the card to : Disa Z. 2521 Coyote Ridge Terrace, Chula Vista, CA 91915
Disa and her hubby.
Thank you prayer partners for praying for our first “preview” worship service. The week leading up to Sunday had some big challenges. We were making changes up until the last minute. Pastor was on a ladder minutes before church adjusting wiring above a ceiling tile. The machines (copiers, printers, etc) were either not working or ink was unavailable. . Several key team members—two the day before– became very ill, one staff member went into the hospital, even tragedy visited us when a volunteer leader’s mother died suddenly and without warning of a heart attack on Friday night.
The week of challenges drove us even more intentionally and intently to Christ in prayer all week and we were grateful we had prayer partners also standing in the gap for us. The apprehension on Sunday morning was palpable (at least for me) but as we came together to pray it melted into trust and surrender. What a gift! Here are a few photos of the morning early in the service before things got too busy.
Once worship began things went relatively smoothly….we were so grateful. We have received alot of feedback data and this will help us tremendously as we prepare for the next preview which will be on November 8. Please pray for that service. There is so much to look at and think through again…..tweek after the testing…..improve and focus.
We had 105 in attendance for the service! Considering we are only able to set up 150 chairs in this provisional space (two future preschool rooms revamped for worship space), the room looked comfortable full! People came who had seen a promotional piece, seen the sign and banners outside the preschool and lived nearby, had been invited by the preschool teachers and were families from the preschool or were invited by others connected with the church or school.
We have collected alot of valuable feedback through a survey people either complete that day or online. People were thoughtful and gave good and honest feedback. This will help us see where the “hits” and “misses” were.
Thank you again for your prayers. Please pray us through the next four short weeks as we prepare for preview number two! Your partnership in prayer is so important to this mission launch…..and we are so grateful.
Blessings,
Melissa Salomon
Community Life Coordinator
Concordia Lutheran Church and School
melissa@concordiachurch.com
Yes, THIS Sunday, October 11. I can’t believe after so much planning, it is finally almost here……and still, it seems it has snuck up on us (yeah, there have been a thousand other things to tend to as well.) October is here already!?
We are so excited to invite people to our creative testing ground……experimenting with interesting ways in which families can experience faith together…. interacting as part of the experience on Sunday morning….. and carrying on the conversation as a family throughout the week. A big challenge…..making those lessons sticky!
Throughout this four month process, it will especially be important that we get some honest feedback and see if we are hitting the mark so that we can refine during these monthly previews until the launch on February 14, 2010.
We will be testing, trying, tweaking and asking God to lead us to those things that in keeping with Concordia’s unique DNA, we will either table or treasure!
If you live in the Chula Vista, Otay Ranch, Windingwalk….or any part of the greater San Diego area……please join us and be a part of this experience. You will be blessed and you will be a blessing too as we figure out together how to help people journey to learn about God and His amazing love and grace.
Details: Sunday, October 11, 2009 at 10:45 a.m. at Concordia Church and School, 1695 Discovery Falls Drive, Chula Vista, CA 91915. Map HERE.
Melissa Salomon – Community Life Coordinator
Concordia Church and School
mgsalomon@gmail.com
www.concordiachurch.com
We had a great music festival. It was so much fun enjoying the musical talent of children from our own community. They showed their stuff alright!
Today we had the privilege of dedicating the new worship center at Concordia-Windingwalk. We began at Oxford (podcast of today includes only the portion of the sermon message at Concordia Oxford) and continued at Windingwalk finishing with a wonderful fellowship event al fresco under the accolades!
The highlight was a video documenting the Concordia journey. Here is the link. You can share this link with your friends and family by copying the link into your email messge. http://www.youtube.com/concordiachurch
PRAYERWALKING begins Tuesday on both the Oxford and the Windingwalk site. Tuesday and Wednesday are scheduled at Oxford at 9am and 6pm or any time at your convenience. You may also choose to prayerwalk at the Windingwalk site if you are taking advantage of the Chili’s Give Back Event. On Thursday and Friday, there are prayerwalks scheduled at 9am and 6pm at Windingwalk. Not all times have a leader scheduled. The Sunday bulletin has information for leading you through your prayerwalking experience.
CHILI’s GIVE BACK DAY. Take the family, take your friends for lunch or dinner at Otay Ranch Chili’s. A percentage of your bill will be donated back to Concordia Preschool. You need to take in a special flyer prepared for us. You can pick up a flyer at the Concordia Preschool before 6pm. Call 619 656-8100
SUNDAY’S ACTION TEAM: COMMUNITY MUSIC FESTIVAL. If you want to participate in the Community Music Festival and assist in making this event a success, join Kurt and Disa Zaiser after church on Sunday in the fellowship hall. The Welcome Center team will join the Community Event Team for this Sunday’s planning.
BETTY PACHECO’S GREEN ENCHILADA CASSEROLE RECIPE. The big hit of the fellowship meal today was Betty’s Pacheco’s Casserole. Several people have asked for the recipe so here it is! This is the exact recipe Betty created for the large party size recipe:
Ingredients: Corn tortillas (thick ones like the Porkyland tortillas purchased at Costco) – 1 package, 2 rotisserie chickens from Costco hand shredded, 1 large and 1 small cans of Black Beans, drained and rinsed, 2 large cans of Green Enchilada Sauce (Betty used Las Palmas brand), approximately 3 cups of shredded monterrey jack cheese. No salt added and nothing fried! For garnish: 2 bunches of green onions and sour creme.
Betty used cold tortillas and layered 3 on the bottom of her casserole crock pot. Layer chicken, black beans, sauce and cheese. Continue layering in the same fashion. Betty used approximately 5 layers. Cook for 1 1.2 hours or until bubbly. To serve garnish with slices green onions and a large dollop of sour creme. Serve and enjoy!
Listen to the entire message from Sunday by clicking on the podcast link on the right bar.
In our series of “What does Jesus want the church to be?” we talked last week about Jesus wants the church to be built on the rock. “….and that ROCK was CHRIST.” 1 Corinthians 10:4
The point? Build the church on JESUS.
This week based on Matthew 16:21, we talked about: Jesus wants the church to be CROSS EYED!
“Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.” (Matthew 16:21)
When the church is crosseyed what does it keep us from and what does it keep us focused on?
Consider these verses and what impact this teaching from Scripture has on your life this week?
Heb 12:2, Gal 2:20, Gal 5:24, Luke 14:27, Matthew 5:10
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DEDICATION OF WORSHIP SPACE next Sunday! You won’t want to miss this special occasion where we consider the journey the Lord has given Concordia over it’s 45 plus year history and as we launch this new mission. A special video has been prepared for this occasion too!
We begin at Concordia Oxford at 8:30am (NOTE the hour). We will celebrate Holy Communion and then we will travel or carpool from the Oxford site to the Windingwalk site for the second half of the worship service there. Afterward we will have a picnic type pot luck. Please note to bring your pot luck dish in a cooler if it needs refrigeration. It will be a great day.
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Prayer Walking will happen again next week beginning on Tuesday, September 8. Both Tuesday and Wed (at both the morning and after work times) will focus on prayer walking at the Oxford site. On Thursday and Friday (both morning and after work times) we will focus on prayer at the Windingwalk site. If you have any questions, contact Nancy as n5gage@mac.com You can sign up on Sunday for a time and day that is convenient for you.
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MyHometown magazine features a Concordia family — Aaron and Melissa Partch. Our September Music Festival is also featured and promoted in the September issue!
Our missionary Rev. Stephen Oliver from China sends this note and a photo of his two sons.
About 700 lives were lost in the Typhoon and floods beginning August 8, with which Taiwan has been struggling these last three weeks. Now, the threat of H1N1 (swine) flu is taking over the headlines. Thank you so much for all your prayers, support and concern! We are safe and sound and continuing in prayer for the many in the south part of Taiwan who have suffered severe loss.
Pray for those who have suffered loss in Taiwan, especially that they may know Christ’s Grace and the loss He suffered for them on the cross.
Photo: GARY & ISAAC
We praise God for every moment of protection He provides for our children as we were very touched to hear on the news about a Grandpa who rescued his two small grandchildren (close to the ages of Isaac and Gary) by digging them out of the mud with his hands.
Pastor and Mary Mason have started their blogs! Peek into the world of a busy mission planting pastor and the director of a fast growing preschool! Go to www.concordiachurch.com and go to the “blog” section.
Don’t forget to subscribe to the blogs (see the sidebar in each of the blogs for a “Subscribe” link) That way any new posts will be automatically sent to your email inbox!
Sunday is the last Sunday at the 9:30am worship schedule. Beginning in September we will begin the worship service at 8:30am with a heritage worship format. On September 6 we will begin worship at the Concordia Oxford campus at 8:30am and finish the worship service at the Concordia Windingwalk campus. A pot luck will follow there at Windingwalk. Don’t miss the opportunity to mark this moment and consider the journey Concordia has been on from 1963 to the present!
If you haven’t heard about the Prayer Vigil and would like to join members and prayer partners of Concordia, choose a half hour slot anywhere from Saturday, August 29 at 9:30am ending on Sunday, August 30 at 9:30am. For a list of prayer vigil prompts, email mgsalomon@gmail.com
News from the Mission Field. The community center in Tijuana was launched this week with a VBS program. Youth participating in Proyecto JOEL win trophies in their first competition. This JOEL outreach is the first and only Christian Martial Arts program in Tijuana! Go to www.cptlnmexico.wordpress.com for more details.
Photos from Saturday’s Community Sports Day
