And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.

Transcription

1 Connecting People to Jesus Christ Lutheran Church and School is a 21 st Century mission outpost where people are supported, equipped, and launched into ministry, acting locally and impacting globally. Acts 4:33 Memory Verse Sunday, April 8, 2018 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. A Congregation of The Lutheran Church ~ Missouri Synod 760 Victoria Street, Costa Mesa, California Church ~ School ~ Fax ~

2 CHRIST WELCOMES YOU! We are delighted that you have chosen to worship with us at Christ Lutheran! Please check us out at for more information on all our ministries, missions and small groups. Need additional attention or direction? Give us a call in the church office and let us know how we can serve you! Small Groups and Bible Studies We offer many Bible studies and small group meetings throughout the week at various times. Contact the church office at , or if you would like more information please Pastor Mike at pastor.gibson@christcm.org. Children, Junior High, & High School Ministry Children's Ministry Today we will explore the story of Pentecost when God sent the Holy Spirit to His people! All children age 3 (and potty-trained) through 5th grade are invited to Sunday School (9:20-10:20) in room 103 and Kids Church (during 10:30 service) in rooms 102 and 103. If you have questions about Children's Ministry, please contact Emily Eltiste at miss.eltiste@christcm.org. Club 56 All 5th and 6th grade youth are invited to join us for Club 56 on Monday, April 16, from 6-8pm. We ll gather to learn the story of Jesus apostles and the beginning of the Church. Contact Emily Eltiste at miss.eltiste@christcm.org for more information about Club 56. Jr. High Youth Seventh and Eighth graders are invited to Jr. High Youth Group this Wednesday from 6-8pm. We ll learn about the work of the apostles and the early Church. We will also be joined by representatives from Crean Lutheran High School. If you have questions about Jr. High Youth, please contact Emily Eltiste at miss.eltiste@christcm.org. High School Youth Join us tonight for youth group from 6-8pm here at Christ Lutheran! Join us for a fun new game and to learn about the Story of how the Church first started after Jesus rose from the grave! Hope to see you there. Contact miss.burkey@christcm.org for more information. Confirmation Class this morning is from 9:20-10:20am in the youth room. Following the 10:30 service, confirmation students and parents will join together to assemble banners in the gym. Contact miss.burkey@christcm.org for more information. If you are new to youth groups please register online by completing our medical release and information form at forms.htm. Update & Prayer Requests Enrollment for Rooted April 2018 is now open! Want to enroll? Contact ms.florio@christcm.org or pastor.glenn@christcm.org. Rooted begins April 15th at 4pm. CONTRIBUTION REPORT ~ CHURCH BUDGET ~ 4/1/18 Weekly Worship Weekly Offering Weekly Offering Offering Attendance Received Budget Variance 3/29 $ 2,158 3/30 $ 1,357 4/1 $ 30,933 $ 27,187 $ + 7,261 Budgeted YTD $1,087,480 Offerings YTD $ 1,074,732 $ - 12,748 4 Those 2 Come Phase 2 Capital Campaign 4/1 Pledged $3,789,526 Rec d To Date $3,765,947 Bal. $ 23,579 Give Now: by scanning the QR code to the right with your wireless device, or through PayPal on our webpage:

3 Today During Equipping Hour: 9:20-10:20am Sunday School - In Room 103. The Gospel of Luke - Led by Pastor Joseph Strubbe in the Library. Loving God with Your Mind - Led by Larry Vescera in Room 114. Sermon-based Bible Study - Led by Chris Bellew/Matt Williams in Room 112. What s Happening? Volunteers Needed for Altar Care - The Altar Guild team needs volunteers as we have several slots to be filled. Serve once every 8 weeks, 1 hour on Saturday morning to prepare communion for service and 30 minutes on Sunday to clean up communion supplies after service. Instructions are provided for 1 st time volunteers. Interested? Contact Dianne Lohan (714) or diannelohan@sbcglobal.net. Prayer Shawls for China We gave a beautiful start on the 60 prayer shawls for China. Please stop by the patio table between services to turn in shawls you have made, see what others have done and pick up yarn if you need it. Any questions contact Bonnie Mika at bonnie@ucla.edu or call (940) Next Sunday, April 15 th, at 12:30pm will be another information meeting for anyone going or interested in going with the Honduras Mission Team. Also that morning, please stop by our table and pick up a FREE CHURRO and get a prayer card with team members' names on it. Thanks for everyone's support in this international mission! Sit with Pastor Mike and Kathy Gibson at the Christ Lutheran School Gala - If you are attending the CLS Gala on April 21, please consider joining the Gibsons at their table. Contact Pastoral Assistant, April Florio in the church office. Space is limited. Confirmation Weekend - May 5th and 6th Student Faith Statement Testimonies will be shared on Saturday, May 5th, 6PM in the Sanctuary.The Rite of Confirmation will take place on Sunday, May 6th following the 10:30 AM worship service. Christ Lutheran School and Preschool Open Enrollment is underway. If you are interested in learning more, please call the school office ( ), and check out the website@ christcm.com Summer Camp registration begins Monday, April 9th Shipwrecked SOS Super Outrageous Summer 2018! For more information please call (949) and visit our website at christcm.com Local Mission Costa Mesa Serve Day Saturday, April 28th, 8:00am Trellis is hosting a Love Costa Mesa City-Wide Serve Day. 8am gathering, Newport Mesa Church Parking Lot, on the corner of Newport Blvd & Fair Dr. There will be various serve opportunities available. Sign up for or host a volunteer opportunity at lovecostamesa.org. Interested in becoming a member? - Pastor Glenn will be facilitating the two- Sunday New Membership class on April 8th & 15th, 9:20-10:20am in Conference Room 2. Please contact April Florio with any questions ms.florio@christcm.org. Congratulations to Christ Lutheran's own, Rachel Klitzing for having been selected by The Lutheran Education Association s Board of Directors to receive the organization s top honor, the Christus Magister award. Since 1965, this most prestigious award has been presented to Lutheran educators who have made significant contributions to Lutheran education. Rachel serves as Executive Director of School Ministries for the Pacific Southwest District of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. We are proud of you, Rachel! Donate Your Gently Worn, Used and New Shoes - Help raise funds for Christ Lutheran Women's Ministries here locally and help create micro-enter-prises (small businesses) globally for individuals in some of the most underdeveloped economies in the world. It is a true win-win fundraiser. And don't forget to ask friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers to donate too! Even one pair of shoes will get us closer to our goal. Questions? Kim Detken luvmyhairkim@gmail.com or

4 The Power of a United Church Today I want to show you how Easter changed everything and shaped the first Christian community. 1. The Resurrection focused the message: with great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection. 2. The Resurrection changed how they looked and did everything in their lives. Acts 4:32-35 This radical sharing was a result of: 1. A unity revealed through a passionate commitment to the mission John 20:21; Acts 4:33 Much grace was upon them (Acts 4:33) This kind of unity is not based on common feelings but on a cause bigger than themselves 2. A Deep unity one of heart and mind (32a); Phil. 2:2; Ephesians 4:3; Romans 15:5-6; Galatians 5:13 The Community Life of Christians is never an end in itself A healthy Christian church is a community in To advance this mission, the church of one another Some are made (v ) This is not legislated done was of the group is not the issue the focus of

5 Sermon-Based Bible Study Share 1. In your opinion, what are the defining characteristics of a community? 2. Describe the time when you felt you experienced the greatest sense of community. What made it different from all the others? 3. What difference does a common faith in Jesus make in forming and experiencing this kind of community? 4. How can being part of a small group help create and sustain this kind of a faith experience? Study Read Acts 4:32-37 (also, Acts 2:42-47) 1. The members of the early Church were unified in heart and mind. What do you think it means to be unified in heart? In mind? 2. What are these verses saying about our attitudes towards our possessions? 3. Talk about how these verses are not a mandate for communal living but rather a willingness to sacrifice to meet the needs of those less fortunate than ourselves? To give in such a way that the proclamation of the Gospel is advanced (Acts 4:33)? 4. Why is it hard to sacrifice our own needs for the needs of others? How does our me-first attitude get in the way? 5. Think of a time when you have sacrificed something time, money, and possessions to help someone. How did you feel when you did that? Did it provide encouragement for the recipient? Stronger faith for you? 6. What would our congregation be like if we really took the attitude of the New Testament Church to heart and lived it out? How might those who are watching how the church lives and behaves respond if they saw us functioning this way? 7. Read Acts 4:33 again. What do you think it means that great grace was upon them all? How do you think living in that grace affected the way they lived? 8. Take a look through the Acts 2:42-47 passage. What additional things were done by the first Christian Church and resulted in a proclaiming and caring community? 9. How do these practices ensure that we stay focused on what really matters? 10. How is the Christian Church today staying focused on the main thing? How about our congregation? 11. This week we are celebrating the conclusion of the three-year-givingphase of 4 Those 2 Come our most recent capital campaign. How does a capital campaign reflect the narrative of our text focusing especially on giving generously to advance the testimony of the resurrection our hope in Christ? Support 1. What is the most important thing you learned from this week s sermon and/or Bible Study? What is that discovery calling you to do? 2. How can your group pray for you to see this action happen and the new truth applied to your life?

6 Prayers of the Congregation Please contact the church office at if you would like someone added to the Prayer List. Kobon Ministry: We thank the Lord that Hibru and Timothy held another training course in accounts and bookkeeping April 4-5 at Dusin especially for Lukson and Sakias, but also for Joel Halmaun, Clara Norum and Roger Rally. This week please pray for the Haruai Living Word School at Lalai, for teacher Joshua Korey, and for all the students. - Reverend John and Maila Davies, Lutheran Bible Translators, Papua New Guinea Pray for Our Country, Our State, Our Leaders, Our Military: Evan Edison, Colin McFerran, Brandon McKnight, Greg Meline, Edward Miettinen, Parker Oest, Clint Sloan, Adam Spies and all members of the Military and their families PERSONAL Angel Donna Barnard Gary Barnard Dakota Becker Brian Janet Brock Julia Brock Capitelli Family Lilian Cardoso Clark Family Shannon Crogan John Davis & Family Josh Freeman Joan Hoffman Kristina Kittle Kailey Martin Raul Reyes Family Robert Parrish Perry Family Sabini Family John Paul Saraga Marilyn Shirley Shirley Smith Vicky Rick Wolfe Mission India Church Planters - Yunis, Yakub, Jaswinder, Earic Adult Literacy Project - Sonia (project manager) - 5 teachers and 150 students Children s Bible Clubs - 11 leaders children And the people of Punjab Kuwaa Mission Please see the report/ prayer letter in the narthex. Our latest projects are listed as Stan Olson recently toured the Kuwaa chiefdom. Thanks for your support & prayers.?'s contact Stelling's ILLNESS Brentt Allen Alix Louie Arguijo Art Rusty Ballard Teri Bauer Ashley Bauer Curtis Becker Willa Becker Nancy Bellinger Amy Bolks Terry Brennan Diana Boyer Barbara Briscoe Kathleen Brembile Casey Family Joel Chantry Kerry Crork Colin Cunningham John Davis Samantha Diaz Marlena Dunn Pat English Barbara Eton Emma Davis Family Dawn Marie Favata Geoff Forgie Daniel Fowlie Patrick Frericks Deborah Garvey Waynella Gonzalez Jim Gorsline Sr. Steve Grace Dan Groyl JoAnn Guetzkow Emily Hiller Robert Hiller Linda Jenkins Rosalie Jensen Michael Latham John & Margret Katie Kallimanis Loretta Kazmar Renee Kiemer Joseph Kocik Scott Kocik Betty Kovach Julie Koonce Ellen LaBonte Wanda Laker Tom Loppnow Tom Ludtke Elizabeth Lauster Courtney Marshall Richard (Rick) Martin Carolyn Moersch Jennifer Marx Carmella Mazella Pam McPhee David Moeschler Catherin Morgan Connor Nemcek Jack Northat Arlene Norcutt Krystal Norcutt Trevor Olson Jan Osborne Elizabeth Piercy Sandy Putman The Christ Lutheran Staff Lead Pastor ~ Associate Pastor ~ School Principal ~ Preschool Director ~ Parish Administrator ~ Director Of Children and Youth Ministry ~ Director of Local Mission/High School Youth ~ Music & Worship ~ Church Exec./Communications ~ Deployed Pastor, Montclair, CA ~ Pastor Emeritus ~ Deployed Missionary ~ Mike Gibson Glenn Shelton Caleb McFerran Kristie Flohra Karen Culp Emily Eltiste Dana Burkey Chris Peterson April Florio Lance Irey Joseph Strubbe John Davies Joe Ranieri Mr. Rico Denise Robb Betsy Ruesler Salvador Judy Schroeder Marty Shubin Chris Smith Karen Smith Ryno Stein Bob Strouse Delores Terry Lucy Valenzuela Vivian Vehrs Marlene Weisheit Gertie Wiechmann Karen Wolitarsky If you wish to add someone to the prayer list please submit a form or April at ms.florio@christcm.org - pastor.gibson@christcm.org - pastor.shelton@christcm.org - mr.mcferran@christcm.org - mrs.flohra@christcm.org - mrs.culp@christcm.org - miss.eltiste@christcm.org - miss.burkey@christcm.org - mr.peterson@christcm.org - ms.florio@christcm.org - pastor.irey@christcm.org - josephstrubbe@yahoo.com - Papua New Guinea Worship Schedule 8:00 AM Traditional Worship 9:20 AM Equipping Hour 10:30 AM Contemporary Worship and Kids Church Altar Flowers The flowers that grace the altar today are given to the glory of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.