by The Jesus commanded it to His

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2 Volume 29 T Number 7 SEPTEMBER 2015 he theme of this month s The Second and Third statements, give us newsletter is Evangelism or what our orders clearly entail, to Go, to the fulfillment of the Great move, to not be passive about it but rather Commission as to be active, to have initiative and to be by The Jesus commanded it to His intentional, purposeful, to desire the task at Disciples after His resurrection in Mat- hand, to be ready and willing to reach out thew s Gospel 28: Our Lord s Com- to those who need to hear of our Lord. We mission is this: All authority has been giv- are to Go and to leave where we currently en to Me in heaven and on earth. Go are and to go toward those who need to therefore and make disciples of all the become disciples/believers/followers of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the the nations. The task is this make discifather and of the Son and of the Holy ples, that is followers, individuals who fall Spirit, teaching them to observe all things in love with Jesus and whose hearts are by The Rev. Jose Poch that I have commanded you; and lo, I am captured by His ministry, by His sacrifice with you always, even to the end of the and by His Lordship. To call others to willage. Amen. The first thing you and I need to realize is that this is ingly sit at His feet and learn from Him and become like Him in not the Great Suggestion, but rather the Great Commission. A every way. To baptize them in the Name of the Father and of the Commission according to the Merriam Webster Dictionary is a Son and of the Holy Spirit. This is a reference to water baptism, formal spoken or written warrant granting the power to perform the initiatory sign of belonging to Him and of participating with various acts or duties, an authorization or command to act in a Him. They are to be baptized in the Name of the Holy Trinity, ac- prescribed manner or to perform prescribed acts, charge, authority cepting the Lordship of the Triune God and receiving the grace of to act for, in behalf of, or in place of another. A Commission becoming sons and daughters. But in a way it is also a reference to therefore involves the idea of a command, a charge, orders given baptism in and by the Holy Spirit. To teach them to observe all from one who is superior to us in some way and whose Commis- things that I [Jesus] have commanded you. Whatever we have sion is expected to be obeyed, sometimes even without questions. been taught, we are to teach others, individually, in groups or in In this regard, Jesus Great Commission requires of us faithfulness, mass. We are to spend time with the new disciples teaching them, obedience, submission, respect and worship. guiding them, sharing with them and equipping them for ministry. We might want to divide Jesus Great Commission in four very And the Fourth statement gives us the assurance that we will not important sets of statements. The First is that the One who is be alone at any time in this process of Disciples-making which will commissioning us has all the authority in heaven and on earth to involve Going, Making Disciples, Baptizing them and do so, All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on teaching them. Jesus is with you always, even to the end of the earth. Jesus authority to command us, as our Lord, is given to age. He is the ultimate Disciples-Maker, in this process we our- Him from God, His and our Father, and it is not just relevant to selves will be discipled and made to look more and more like Him things in heaven, where angels and archangels obey Him and do every day. In all the difficulties this process might bring, and I His biddings, but also on earth, where we His disciples/followers know that for some of us it will be more difficult than for others and the recipients of His salvific act on the cross, must pay Him all and that some will be sent next door to family, friends, neighbors homage and worship through our submission and obedience. Je- and coworkers, while others will be sent further away to other are- sus has the divine authority in Himself, as the Son of God, to com- as and even to other nations, we will never Go alone, Jesus will mand us to act. He has All authority and not one little bit of au- be with us always, to the end of the earth and beyond, into eterni- thority is missing, He has it All so we cannot accept His Great ty. Commission as a suggestion but as an order to be followed and obeyed. 2 So, Go, Make Disciples...

3 We extend our condolences, along with our love and prayers, to: Ashley Trim whose grandfather Lawrence Arthur Overland passed away in August. He was born in Manchester England in 1916 and immigrated to Canada as a young boy. He married Ashley s grandmother, Victoria Mary in 1938 and they had been married almost 65 years when she passed away in They are survived by 6 children, 11 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and all the in-laws that go along with the mix. In the weeks before he died, her grandfather told them that he had never had so much confidence in the goodness and faithfulness of God as he did in the last year of his life. Wendy LeRoy, a former member of St. David s, whose husband Bill LeRoy passed away on August 13 at the age of 88. Bill and Wendy were active in numerous ministries and faithful in attending our 8:00 service for a number of years until Bill s health prevented him from coming to church. Please pray for Wendy and the entire LeRoy family. H ave you been looking for a place Where you can volunteer your time, your gifts and your heart and that is effective, and meaningful and of great significance? Why not consider Open Arms Pregnancy Clinic serving the Valley. There are many volunteer opportunities, such as Peer Counseling, Male Mentor, Special Events, Mailing Assembly, Reception, Mommy and Me Closet and you can even volunteer to be a liaison between St. David s and the ministry of Open Arms, keeping all of us informed of needs, events, etc. Open Arms is located in Northridge. What we are looking for are a couple of men and/or women willing to serve as liaison between this very worthy ministry that defends the rights of the unborn and helps parents-to-be struggling with the decision to give life or take it away, and St. David s. The job of the liaison would be to communicate on our behalf with Open Arms and to communicate the needs of Open Arms with all of us at St. David s making us aware of existing needs where we can be involved. Please if any of you is willing to serve as liaison between St. David s and Open Arms, speak to Fr. Jose at your earliest convenience. Thank you! Gold Line Church Seeking Volunteers A s you may be aware Deacons Jon and Janna Ziegler are in the midst of launching a church plant in Highland Park. Their latest plan is to do a soft launch from October to December that will have four preview services and one big party in the park. Their grand opening date is projected to be January 10. They would love to have help on Saturday, October 17 for their Party in the Park (at Sycamore Grove Park). They are looking for volunteers from St. David s, as well as from congregations in the Diocese of Western Anglicans L.A. Deanery, to help with this outreach to the community. They would also like to borrow a 2 or 3 people from each congregation to help them on Sunday, October 4. They ll need help with various teams including, greeters, children church, hospitality, ushers, etc. If you d like to volunteer for either one of these events, or both, please speak with Fr. Jose at your earliest convenience. 3

4 Tweens Ministry Dear parents, 4 The school year has begun for our tweens! I will be praying for them this school year, praying God s presence in and around them as they study, learn, and play. We have begun a series on famous people in the Bible, beginning with Genesis and ending in Paul s letters. Please pray for our group s growth, and thank you for your constant support. Blessings, Faith Schierholt Fr. Jose and the Burbank Police Department F r. Jose has taken a bold step with a desire to serve the Burbank Police Department and the community of Burbank, he has volunteered to serve as a Police Chaplain. Currently, as we understand it, there are only four Chaplains serving in Burbank. With his gifts of over 30 years in pastoral care, a heart for service and ministry and the ability to speak both Spanish and English fluently, he has applied to the Burbank PD and will have an interview in early September. We will let you know the outcome of this. Please pray for our pastor and take a page from his book, volunteer and serve in Jesus name. by The Rev. Jose Poch Self-Evangelism I n the process of making Disciples of others, let us never forget to make Disciples of ourselves. I define a Christian Disciple as a student who learns from Jesus, a follower who obeys Jesus, an imitator who becomes like Jesus, talks like Jesus and behaves like Jesus, one who makes his or her aim to grow into the image of Jesus Christ. Many can say that they follow Jesus but are they His disciples by this definition? Jesus often was surrounded my multitudes of the curious, or those in need, of those caught into the emotional frenzy of His Messiahship and even at times of spies who wished Him harm. And then there were the Twelve Disciples who followed Him everywhere, who listened to His every sermon and teaching, who watched His every move and who served His every request. These would eventually become models/copies/reflections of what they had observed in Jesus (although not all of them). How intentional are you in becoming like Jesus? How is the process of your own discipleship going? Becoming a true disciple of Jesus requires intentionality, truth seeking about ourselves, the desire to be transformed, made anew, and reshaped inside and out until what is observable in us is the image of our Lord. We may not be able to walk with Jesus like the Twelve Disciples did and yet the Bible and in particular the New Testament does afford us the opportunity to do so but we must be avid students of God s Holy Word. We must read it daily, study it with care and intentionally apply it to our lives, allowing Jesus words and teachings to take flesh in us. Accountability is another aspect of discipleship, the Twelve followed Jesus everywhere and He held them (Continued on page 5)

5 (Continued from page 4) accountable and on many occasions corrected them. Today we can be accountable to each other if we dare meet together, to study and pray together, to share our lives with each other, to be vulnerable with one another and to seek each other s help. There is no such thing as a lone Christian. Alone, we can easily be defeated by the enemy of all believers, by the world around us and by our own passions and needs within us. We need one another. Alone, the chances of transformation are nearly impossible and very difficult. We must walk with each other this journey of becoming Christ-like. How are you doing in these two areas of Self-Discipleship, Study and Being Accountable to others? Of course we can also speak of Prayer, Worship, etc. but the two aspects of Self-Discipleship I have mentioned in this article are the crucial ones if you want to truly be like Jesus. Make the decision today that you will begin a closer walk with Jesus by reading and studying the Bible and that you will begin to walk beside other mature believers with whom you will share your life and they their life with you. Be alert to the possibility that in Self- Discipleship you will also be called to Disciple others who will seek you to mentor and disciple them. Do not ignore your Self-Evangelism! Let the Gospel (evangelism) take a good hold of you. An Opportunity to Share the Gospel M OPS stands for Mothers of Preschoolers. We are about to see so many of our children head back to school, but what about those mothers and children not of age to go to school quite yet. MOPS is a ministry to these mothers and these children. A MOPS group is a dynamic, inviting environment where women can come-just as they are-to build friendships, be encouraged and gain practical parenting strategies. All while their children are lovingly cared for in the MOPPETS program. It is based on a lifestyle evangelism model. MOPS believes that through meeting the needs of women, we demonstrate the love of Jesus for them by teaching and encouraging women about issues that are relevant to their stage of life, by sharing faith through actions and lifestyle and by taking the opportunity to present the Gospel at least twice a year. MOPS has contacted us at St. David s because they have received over 400 requests in our area of ministry for a MOPS program and they have asked us to consider starting a MOPS ministry in Burbank. This is a terrific evangelistic opportunity to the community around our church. What we need is several women of St. David s, perhaps even with preschoolers at home themselves or perhaps women whose children are already in school or are empty-nesters and they just simply want to serve in this ministry. The minimum we need is a desire to serve our community through this ministry and the willingness to meet with MOPS to find out how we can run a MOPS ministry at St. David s. If you are willing to serve as a MOPS volunteer, please speak to Fr. Jose at your earliest convenience. This is a Christian ministry. 5

6 I f you have been attending St. David s for at least three months and feel you have found for yourself and your family a spiritual home and family, then, it is time to step up to Membership. Why become a member when you already may enjoy all of the benefits of belonging to St. David s family? Well, you probably are correct, at least in part of the question. Everyone who attends St. David s is welcome and can certainly participate in all of the services and programs we offer. Our pastoral staff and other lay leaders serve everyone through prayer, worship, counseling, the sacraments, and any personal need they could meet. However, a member is someone who wants to belong as much more than someone who receives ministry. They are someone who says to us, I want to be part of who you are and what you do. I want St. David s to be my spiritual home and St. David s pastors to be my Pastors, with all of the benefits and responsibilities of a member. One of the benefits of membership is that of participating in the leadership of the church, as members of the Vestry (Board) or taking their proper leadership seat at times when votes in the affairs of the church become necessary, such as the Annual Meeting or other very important meetings that affect the well-being and future of St. David s. This place of leadership is reserved only for those who have made the responsible and adult decision to become a Member. If you want to have voice and vote at next year s Annual Meeting, make plans to attend the Membership Class. If you re unsure of your membership status, please contact the office. We encourage everyone to become an official member. Our next Membership Class will be held on Friday, September 11 (6:30 to 9:00 p.m.) and Saturday, September 12 (9:00 a.m. to Noon). It s important that you attend both days so that you don t miss any of the material. It doesn t matter how long you have been attending St. David s, if you are ready to step up to membership at our church, you are encouraged to speak to Fr. Jose or call the church office at at your earliest convenience to register for the next Membership Class. Newcomers Lunch With Fr. Jose Sunday, September 6 at 1:00pm A ll those who have recently begun attending our church and worship with us at any of our three services are invited to attend a special lunch with Fr. Jose, our senior pastor, on Sunday, September 6 after the 10:30 a.m. service. by Luisa S. Johnson Fr. Jose will be hosting you in the Community Room of the church. The purpose of this special occasion is to welcome you to St. David s and to get to know you and your spiritual journey, as well as introduce you to our church and to our pastor and his family. Please join us. Call our church office at to confirm that you will be joining him or if you have any question about the lunch. We look forward to our continued relationship. 6

7 by Tom Leney T he 17:17 St. David s Men s Ministry will not be meeting in September. We have a number of men that will be attending and working the Cursillo weekend so there will be no breakfast meeting this month. However we will be meeting on Saturday, October 17 at 8:00am at Fr. Jose s house. Please mark your calendars and plan on attending. We will be discussing our plans for 2016 and would like everyone s input. If you have any questions or would like additional information regarding the Men s Ministry, please see Tom Leney ( or Leneythomas@yahoo.com). M ark your calendars today! On Friday, September 11 (7:00 10:00pm) and Saturday, September 12 (9:00am 5:00pm) the Women of Faith 2015 Tour event is coming to the Honda Center of Anaheim, 2695 E. K atella Ave. Anaheim, CA with numerous and amazing speakers that will bless all of our women. For more information and to register, please visit or call It would be great to have a number of women attend this event. Please speak to one of our Women s Ministry leaders, Deborah Chase, Jennifer Schierholt, Joann Gregory or Nikki Freeman and begin the process of gathering some of your sisters together to attend this event. Fr. Jose is encouraging attendance to this event. Cost is $99 per person. Register today! T his month, our SAGES will meet on Sunday, September 13 at 12:45 pm in the Community Room. Bring your lunch plate from the Fellow ship Hall and bring your ideas and thoughts on what we can do to serve our church and community. What are SAGES about? SAGES are all about: Spiritual Enrichment What is God telling us or asking of us as SAGES? Learning Opportunities Special websites for new Knowledge; Field Trips Socialization Get to know your fellow SAGES! Service Opportunities Where can we bring Christ to others. Providing SAGES Needed Services from prayer to helping each other when they need us. Are you a SAGE yet? If not, don t worry, your time will come! What do by Spencer Johnson SAGES get each m onth besides the above list? A special SAGES new sletter delivered by or snail mail right to your door! How can you turn that down! Sign up now and make sure you get your SAGES s! We invite you to attend our 1 hour meeting in September all of the above in an hour! Grab a plate and we ll see you there! For more information on how to join the SAGES for all of the above, see Spencer Johnson or him at spenjohn@yahoo.com Happy Grandparents Month from the SAGES! 7

8 The goal for this training is to build effective teams that foster the environment for church planting in each deanery and to equip clergy and lay leaders in each Deanery to facilitate the formation and support of new church planters who are planting new congregations. Envision a church planting movement in your Deanery Harvest Area and build momentum for planting more and more congregations to the glory of the Lord. Since each team is in a different stage of development, this training will give us a common understanding of what the arena of church planting entails. Each of the teams will be given time to work on developing and advancing its work, so we will highly prize the time and energy given to practical action that will move us forward in each of our regions. I know you will want to be with them, as they will be looking to you for encouragement and guidance. We will cover 7 church planting systems that need to be operational in every deanery. Prepare your people to be engaged and to go to work on developing these systems. They are: P lease take notice of the following seminar that our diocese is sponsoring for our deanery. If you have an interest in being part of planting viable churches in our deanery, please make plans to attend this seminar. It is important! Deanery Church Planting Team Training Led by The Rev. Canon Dan Alger and The Rev. Canon Alan Hawkins Southern California: Friday/Saturday, September Arizona: Sunday/Monday September Identification and Recruitment of New Church Planting Leaders 2. Assessment of Church Planting Leaders to identify strengths and weaknesses and help to envision Team Leadership to overcome individual weaknesses 3. Training of Church Planting Leaders that gives them counsel and accountability in developing planting skills and a planting plan 4. Coaching of Church Planters, both for new planters and for planters who are developing their congregations 5. Ongoing Support of Church Planters with other church planters, the role of the bishop, the role of the Dean and any other support needed 6. Funding Strategy Development to support our Church Planters in their work over time 7. Strategic Oversight that assists and develops accountability around development, time and financial investment, bishop and deans oversight clarity, Exec Committee s commitment and involvement, etc. Finishing the Task Conference 2015 D id you know there are still 2,000 people groups that have never received the word of God? We at Saddleback Church are co-hosting an extraordinary event with The Finishing the Task Network (FTT) a global outreach ministry. Each year, Christian organizational leaders gather to prioritize the remaining people groups around the world who still have not had one chance to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ. They have no Bible, no Believer and no Body of Christ. When: December 2 4, 2015 Where: Saddleback Church; Lake Forest, California Registration details at 8

9 Sharing the Faith by Serving I t is unquestionable to any Bible-reading person that sharing our faith in Jesus Christ is essential to the Christian walk of discipleship. First, because it was commanded to us by Jesus Himself in what we call the Great Commission, Matthew 28:18-20: All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen. Secondly, because it is an act of love tow ard all our fellow human beings that we introduce them to the Savior of the world, to the only One through whom our sins can be forgiven and the only One by whom we can come to the Father s house (John 14:6). Thirdly, because there is no greater joy in life than to tell others about our Lord, the One who holds us in the palm of His hands, the One whose love fills our hearts and the One in whose communion we find the greatest source of peace and joy, the One who gives reason to our existence. Jesus should be the most exciting topic of conversation for us who believe in Him. A form of sharing our faith that we should never overlook is one in which we use more than words, more than a testimony or a convincing argument. It is the sharing of the faith that is in us through serving others. I heard on the radio once that by Fr. Jose Poch For Jesus, ministry was the person right in front of Him. Think about these words. Every time someone comes across your path, whether at home, at work or at play, is an opportunity for you to show them Jesus, to introduce him or her to Jesus. The love of Jesus for them will come through you, His care, His provision, His prayer, His companionship and His presence. Sometimes this will be more powerful than any words you can speak. I am not suggesting by this that actions alone introduce Jesus, words are also necessary. The Gospel is to be communicated. Jesus sent His disciples into all the world to spread a Good News for all people. But also words alone without actions are not enough. Jesus sent His disciples into the world to incarnate the Gospel, to make it visible and tangible. I want to encourage you to begin with your actions and then share with them the reason for those actions. Illustrate the Gospel by/with your life, serve all who cross your path, greet those you meet in an elevator, help a child, smile and be courteous to all, give someone the right of way on the road or in a line at the grocery store, visit the sick and pray for them, give to the poor, forgive those who hurt you immediately, let the light of Christ s presence in you shine forth and then share with them Jesus with joy, make Him a topic of conversation. Don t do one without the other (James 2:18-26). Be a servant as your Lord who saved you was a servant. Take a page from His book on sharing the faith. Will you do it? 9

10 10 St. David s Anglican Church PO Box 6928 Burbank, CA