Share & Care December 2017 A Newsletter of the Escondido United Reformed Church

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1 Share & Care December 2017 A Newsletter of the Escondido United Reformed Church

2 Youth of Yesterday will meet for lunch at Meadowbrook Village on Wednesday, December 13. Coffee at 10:30 with lunch to follow. Mr. James Ogle will lead us in a devotional and Faith Expression from Calvin Christian School will sing for us. Cost for the lunch is $8 and if you plan to attend, it is essential that you sign the sheet on the Information Counter in the foyer. The chef at Meadowbrook needs an accurate count for the lunch. New address: The Nursery Committee needs more nursery attendants to help during all services. The nursery is getting more children and needs more ladies and children under the age of 13 to help out. They will be putting out a list of current help to up date their records, but would also like those that are willing to participate as a nursery attendant during a service or Sunday School to write their name down. The list will be coming out in December, so watch the bulletin for details. If you would like to participate, but have not done a background check yet, please contact the church office or Pastor Donovan. Thank you on behalf of the Nursery Committee! The Church Christmas Program will be following evening worship on Sunday, December 17 at 5:00 pm. We will have a time of refreshments and fellowship after the Christmas Program in the Social Hall. A sign up sheet for will be on the Information Counter for you to sign up to bring baked goodies to share. Please remember, we have many church members that have an allergy to all nuts and nut products. Thank you to Elizabeth and Theresa and Food Service Group #4 for helping serve. "The Escondido United Reformed Church occasionally posts photos of people and groups in the Share and Care, on the church web site, Facebook page, and other social media online; If you would prefer to not appear and have your minor children not appear, please notify the church office. "

3 Twelve years ago the Lynden United Reformed Church, desiring to expand the local outreach outside the Lynden community, approved the weekly airings of Sunday sermons on KARI 550 AM out of Blaine, Washington. Airing sermons is a common approach used by many but is difficult to air without appropriate recording equipment. This equipment was purchased in 2007, which greatly reduced the editing hours and enabled Pastor Chris Gordon to record sermons in a more conversational manner. The new format worked well and the listener response was much greater. It was a humble beginning with much to be learned but the Lord has continually blessed this "local" outreach. Twelve years of blessings later, Abounding Grace Radio now airs weekdays in 30 minute segments on KARI AM out of Blaine, Washington, KPRZ AM from San Diego, California, as well as broadcasting into the Central Valley of California on KRDU AM out of Fresno, and the greater Portland, Oregon area on KDPQ AM. In early 2016, AGR began to broadcast via shortwave radio on KVOH out of Zambia to most of the African continent. Abounding Grace Radio now has a population coverage area on the west coast of North America of approximately 14 million souls, and via shortwave to a population base on the African continent of 300 million! The Lord has again provided additional opportunities for Abounding Grace Radio in A few of the board members met with management of KPRZ in San Diego in early summer. We asked about the possibility of a "drive time" slot, and if an opening should become available, AGR would be most interested. Within three weeks we were airing a second weekday time slot at 4:00 p.m.! Those of you familiar with Southern California traffic freeways know what a great opportunity this is, as all roads are packed, greatly expanding the number of possible listeners. Abounding Grace Radio is also very excited to announce that Dr. W. Robert Godfrey has joined Pastor Gordon in co-hosting and will be heard often on AGR programs. Dr. Godfrey recently retired as President of Westminster Theological Seminary in Escondido and is a minister in the United Reformed Churches of North America. Dr. Godfrey has taught church history since 1981 and has spoken at many conferences, including those sponsored by the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization, the Philadelphia Conference on Reformed Theology, and Ligonier Ministries. Most recently he has spoken at numerous locations, enlightening, informing, and helping commemorate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. The Abounding Grace Radio website has also been instrumental in providing access to programs worldwide. The site continues to be accessed from all around the world, giving untold numbers of people access to the good news of salvation and redemption through our Savior and Lord. Given the great popularity of the site, the board has decided to give it a "face lift" which we hope to unveil before years end. The board would like to thank everyone for faithfully supporting this outreach, most importantly and foremost with your prayers. We ask that you continue to be steadfast in prayer for this ministry. We are also very grateful for your generous financial support of Abounding Grace Radio via individual gifts. To God Be the Glory!!

4 Dear church community, I have accepted a call to serve as minister of Word and sacrament in Surrey Covenant Reformed Church. This church is located in Surrey, BC, Canada. We are excited to be moving back to where we re from, and I am excited for the opportunity to serve God s people in this place as well as to contribute to the spread of the gospel in a very busy urban and sub-urban area. Thank you all for your encouragement and support through our seminary journey. As we begin this new chapter in our lives, we are confident in our Lord that he will continue to be faithful and bless us. May God bless you and keep you...jason and Ardis REFORMED MISSION SERVICES

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6 DECEMBER 2017 OFFERING SCHEDULE DATE MORNING SERVICES EVENING SERVICE December 3 General Fund/Building Fund Spanish Church Plant-Ontario URC (Iglesia Reformada Unida de Ontario) December 10 General Fund/Benevolent Fund GEMS (Grand Rapids) December 17 General Fund/CCS Tuition Aid Fund Oceanside URC December 24 General Fund/Building Fund Jersey City Church Plant December 25 Rev. Bill Green-CLIR December 31 General Fund/CCS Tuition Aid Fund Future Building Fund The General Fund offering not only support the ongoing expenses of our local congregation, but also other ministries such as: CLIR-Rev. Bill Green, NKST Sponsorship Program, and OURC (Oceanside). The deacons ask that everyone support the General Fund with 5% of their income and other causes with an additional 5% of their income. BUILDING FUND is used to maintain the facilities and for any new building projects or improvements on the church properties. CALVIN CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS TUITION AID This offering is used for tuition assistance for families from our church who are unable to pay full tuition at Calvin Christian Schools. The Deacons think that it is necessary to maintain at least two tuition aid offerings per month. Keep in mind that our commitment for tuition aid amounts to $76, for the school year. BENEVOLENT FUND This fund is administered by the deacons to those with financial needs in our congregation and in our community. REV. BILL GREEN is a missionary serving churches in the Tepeyac & Guadalupe area of Costa Rica. He also works with the Latin American Fellowship of Reformed Churches (CLIR) in the publication of Reformed literature in Spanish. SPANISH CHURCH PLANT-ONTARIO URC -Spanish language services have been held at Ontario URC for nearly ten years. The group meets for worship in the church s fellowship hall at 10:00 AM, and Rev. Kern teaches a survey of the Three Forms of Unity at 11:30.