Sunday, January 31st from 4 to 6 P.M. Here We Go Again. Taste of Health Cooking and Health Seminar INSIDE. Seeking the Best

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1 For the members, family and friends of the Downey Adventist Church Here We Go Again by Cary Fisher new year has come A again, and it is the time that many will make resolutions with the hope that they will become a better person. During this time of year, many are going to make claims to lose weight, to exercise more, to give up some habit, to be more involved in church, etc. However, after years of making these same claims and failing, a person might doubt the possibility of ever changing. I think a lot of us have given up trying to improve ourselves thinking that we are just prisoners of our biological make-up or so programmed by the way we are brought up that we can never truly change. Jesus was once asked why His disciples do not fast when the Pharisees do. I bring up this biblical reference because a New Year s resolution is basically a type of fasting. It is saying that I am going to stop doing what is natural for me even if it keeps me from God or being the best person I can be, and as I fast from this natural behavior, I hope that I will change. The Pharisees were making a resolution to not eat in order to be closer to God. However, Jesus responds to that question by saying, no one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse (Matthew 9:16). Then Jesus continues to say, neither do people pour new wine into old continued on page 2 Seeking the Best I believe that appreciation is a holy thing that when we look for what s best in a person we happen to be with at the moment, we re doing what God does all the time. So in loving and appreciating our neighbor, we re participating in something sacred. Fred Rogers Taste of Health Cooking and Health Seminar Sunday, January 31st from 4 to 6 P.M. we will host the Taste of Health Cooking and Health Seminar in the fellowship hall. There will be a hands on cooking demonstration and a health seminar on the benefits of vegetarianism. Dinner is also included. There is a $6 fee for the wonderful event. Invite a few friends and join us for this informative and fun event. Watch for more details at church in January. = INSIDE Pathfinder Induction Pics page 3 Hate vs Love page 4 Taste & Inspiration on page 5 What s happening? see pages 6 & 9 Our Church Family page 7 Agape Communion page 8 Kid s Page on page 9

2 THE LATEST WORD Here We Go Again (cont. from page 1) 2 wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved (Matthew 9:17). Jesus is giving us an incredible insight. The Pharisees cannot change anything about themselves or their relationship with God if they are going to try to add the Holy Spirit which is something new to edify themselves which is something old. However, it is not impossible to change so don t give up. Paul wrote, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here (2 Corinthians 5:17.) Actually, we do need to give up. We need to stop trying to change ourselves, and allow God it is not impossible to change so don t give up to do the changing. Many of us are doing just as the Pharisees were doing, trying to change our behavior by our will power, when it is impossible to do. We can fool ourselves and others for awhile that we have changed, but eventually, we will go back to being the same old person that we have always been. What we need is to metaphorically pour new wine which is the Holy Spirit into something new which is Christ turning us into a new creation. This means we need to spend less time trying to change our behavior and more time trying to let Christ change our heart, and He will make the changes that need to be made. Sermons for January The message on Jan. 2nd is How Much Do You Need? Bill Aumack will share a message having access to God s power. Is that a constant? Or does it vary? Duet. 33:25 says as thy days, so shall thy strength be. What does that mean for us? On January 9th the message is Changing It Up #1. The Bible calls for us to be a new creation as Paul wrote, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! (II Corinthians 5:17). As the New Year has come, we are reminded of changes that we need to make. In reality, it is only when Christ is in our lives that real change can ever occur. January 16th is Changing it Up #2. This Sabbath s message will be a follow up from last week. To make a real change in our lives, it is often said that we need to have will power. What we really need is less of our will, and that happens when we learn to surrender everyday and allow Jesus to be the one that is directing our path. Bill Aumack will speak on January 23rd. The message is When Should I Pray? There are times when it is easy to pray, and some other times when it s not so easy. James gives us some great WE DID IT continued on page 3 The Latest Word V 28 N 01 BILL AUMACK responsible for this LINDA AUMACK copy editor ALEX AUMACK paper distribution CARY FISHER pastor address mail to: Downey Seventh-day Adventist Church 9820 Lakewood Blvd. Downey, CA office: downeychurch@gmail.com distributed monthly issue date: Jan copyright

3 January 2016 Here We Go Again advice of what to pray for and when to pray. On the last Sabbath, January 30th, the message is The Owner s Manuel. God has given us instruction to live a better and healthier life. As we prepare for our Taste of Health Cooking and Health Seminar, we are going to have a message that remind us about the spiritual values of healthy living. See you when the church gathers. = Pathfinder Induction Pictures Edwin transfers the leadership to Tomas Our new inductees to the club The Pathfinder song Worship Schedule Jan. 2 Bill Aumack How Much Do You Need? Jan. 16 Cary Fisher Changing It Up #2 Jan. 9 Cary Fisher Changing it Up #1 Jan. 23 Bill Aumack When Should I Pray? 3

4 THE LATEST WORD Hate vs. Love Great beauty, great strength and great riches are really and truly of no great use; a right heart exceeds all. Benjamin Franklin Civil-rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. compared hate to an unchecked cancer, saying it corrodes the personality and eats away its vital unity. Unfortunately, the destructive force of hatred is often evident in nations, communities, families and even churches. The obvious though not always easy antidote to hatred is love. As The Message translation of Proverbs 10:12 states, Hatred starts fights, but love pulls a quilt over the bickering. The image of a comfy quilt symbolizes the soothing impact that loving words and actions can have on enemies as well as friends. Plus, it s tough to share the gospel without showing love, which social reformer Elizabeth Cady Stanton called the open sesame to every soul. = He who fritters away the early morning, its opportunity and freshness, in other pursuits than seeking God will make poor headway seeking him the rest of the day. If God is not first in our thoughts and efforts in the morning, he will be in the last place the remainder of the day. E.M. Bounds This is the Day On your new calendar, be sure to mark important dates such as National Drinking Straw Day (January 3), National Artichoke Hearts Day (March 16) and National Crouton Day (May 13). Those pseudo-holidays are now catalogued as part of the National Day Calendar, a venture by a North Dakota businessman. For a fee starting at $1,500, anyone can register a national day or even give one as a gift. Special-interest groups are discovering that national days are great for marketing. Throughout the Bible, God instructs people to set aside special days for rest and remembrance. Yet to him, every day is holy even if it lacks a holiday, pseudo or otherwise. This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it (Psalm 118:24). = 4

5 Taste & Inspiration January 2016 Simple Scalloped Potatoes Ingredients 8 medium potatoes thinly sliced 1 large onions chopped 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 1 to taste salt and pepper to taste 2 cups milk hot 1 cups part-skim cheddar cheese shredded Directions 1. Spray a 13 x9 baking dish with nonstick coating. 2. Arrange 1/3 of the potatoes over the bottom of the dish, sprinkle with 1/2 of the onion and top with 1/2 of the flour. 3. Repeat the layers then arrange the remaining potatoes over the top. 4. Pour the hot milk over everything and sprinkle with the cheese. 5. Bake, uncovered, for 1 hour at 350F or until the potatoes are tender. Enjoy! = Pilar & Phillip Remember to bring your non-perishable food items for Downey PTA Helps. This will help families in need right here in our own community. Thanks! Small Groups will be starting in February for our Agape Small Group Study. Watch for sign ups in the foyer to join a small group. If you would like to host please talk to Pastor or Bill. Thanks! 5

6 Downey Adventist Church Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Visit S.S. Sabbath School 4:54 pm sunset 1 2 9:30 am S.S. 10:50 am Worship Bill Aumack 7 pm Agape Communion No Pathfinders No Pathfinders pm Wed. Fellowship 4:59 pm sunset 7 pm Band Practice :05 pm sunset 9:30 am S.S. 10:50 am Worship Pastor Cary 1 pm Downey Outreach Team 9:30 am S.S. 10:50 am Worship Pastor Cary 7 pm Wed. Fellowship 7 pm Band Practice 2 pm Pathfinders :12 pm sunset 9:30 am S.S. 10:50 am Worship Bill Aumack 12:30 pm Luncheon 7 pm Wed. Fellowship 7 pm Church Board 7 pm Band Practice :19 pm sunset 9:30 am S.S. Taste of Health 4 PM 31 7 pm Wed. Fellowship 7 pm Band Practice 10:50 am Worship Pastor Cary

7 January 2016 Upcoming Events January Birthdays Janeth Cuyuch-Perez 1 Virginia Hinojosa 4 Irela Molina 4 Sergio Garcia 9 Isabel Molina 13 Becky Duran 18 Elissa Luna 19 Esteban Torres 21 Alejandro Zamora 22 Richard Orozco 22 Cary Fisher 27 Lourdes Ortega 30 Sara Rivas 31 If your birthday is left out in the monthly newsletter, please contact the church office so we can put it in. Wednesday - 7 p.m. Wed. Fellowship Friday - 7:00 p.m. Band Practice Jan. 1 - Agape Communion 7pm Jan pm Jan am Jan. 9 - Fellowship 12:30pm Jan pm Jan Church board 7pm Jan Taste of Health Cooking and Health Seminar 4 to 6 pm The Latest Word deadline is the 5th of the month. Be sure to keep up with the latest news by signing up for the Wednesday . You can sign up here or send us an at DowneyChurch at gmail dot com and we ll add you. Coming Soon Feb 6 - Small Groups Begin Feb 27 - Talent Show March 19 - Celebration Sabbath March 26 - Easter Sabbath 7

8 THE LATEST WORD The Latest About Our Church Family Congratulations to Tony and Raquel Luna. They are new grandparents thanks to Brian and Vanessa. Everyone is reportedly doing fine. Congratulations to Lourdes Centeno- Ortega on her retirement. Be sure to wish her well! If you have any Church Family news, please contact the church office so we can get it into the newsletter. = Thank you to everyone who has been saving Box Tops for Education. That is greatly appreciated. For the Box Tops for Education, please save the Box Tops coupon. Please give your labels to Linda Aumack. Thank you for your support! = Agape Communion 8 Join us on Friday, January 1st at 7 pm in the Fellowship Hall for a special Agape Communion Service. This special communion service is a wonderful way to kick off the year. he New Year is a = Ttime for starting over. Sometimes we make resolutions to help us improve various areas of our lives. While we each might have different things to work on in our lives, one thing we have in common is our church family. If you are interested in being involved in ministry please come talk to Pastor or another ministry leader. We are always looking for help. From children s Sabbath School, to Pathfinders, to music ministry, to maintenance around the church, there s no end of opportunities to serve. You may have an idea for a ministry that we haven t even started yet. We believe that God gifts his followers for service. So start using the gifts he has generously given you in Call the office or Pastor Cary today! =

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10 January 2016 Ponder This... = Holiness is not something we do or attain; it is the communication of the divine life, the inbreathing of the divine nature, the power of the divine presence resting on us. Andrew Murray = Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. Martin Luther King Jr. Downey-Florence Seventh-day Adventist Church 9820 Lakewood Blvd., Downey CA DATED MATERIAL Return Service Requested 10