The Lord gave specific instructions

For the members, family and friends of the Downey Adventist Church Start the New Year with Prayer by Pastor Mitch The Lord gave specific instructions to build a Tabernacle where he would meet with his people. The Tabernacle or Tent of Meeting was designed to be portable and was carried wherever God led. The centerpiece of the Tabernacle was a structure with two compartments designated as the Holy and the Most Holy places. The Ark of God was only one item in the Most Holy place. The Holy place was furnished with a table for bread, a seven branch candelabra and a golden altar where incense was kept burning day and night. The only separation between the two compartments was a lovely curtain. The Bible says, Moses placed the gold altar in the Tent of Meeting in front of the There s a big change coming to The Latest Word. After 20 years of publication, January 2009 will be our last full print issue. But we are not going away! In last month s issue we let you know this was something that was coming. We thought we had a bit more time before rolling this change out. But the cost of printing, mailing 220 12-page newsletters each month is more than curtain and burned fragrant incense on it, as the LORD commanded him (Exodus 40:26-27, NIV). The first Sabbath of 2009, January 3, is The Day of Prayer. We ll focus on the furnishings in the Holy place and how they point to Christ s ministry for his people. The table overlaid with gold called the golden altar held the fragrant incense rising up in delicate smoke representing God s intercession for his people through their prayers. In addition, the fact that the incense was kept burning 24/7 reminds us that our God welcomes prayers any time. The Bible says, Another angel, who had a continued on page 2 Big Change to The Latest Word our budget can currently withstand. We also need to consider effect of that ink and wasted paper has on the environment. However, we are committed to having everyone who wants the newsletter to be able to get it. So we are rolling out some new ways you can get the newsletter. We must hear from you on how you want to get the newsletter or you will not receive the February issue! On Beginning the New Year Lord of heaven and earth, prosper thou us this year even as our soul prospereth. Let thy presence go with us. Be thou the Companion of our way. In our home, grant that we may cheerfully welcome thee as our daily Guest. In our relationships with others, teach us to practice the Golden Rule. In all our seeking, grant that we seek first thy kingdom and righteousness. 17th-century prayer There will be three ways to get the newsletter: 1) Electronic notification that the newsletter is available for reading/printing on the website. 2) Printed version that is picked up at church. (saves postage cost) This option is only for people who don t have computers. 3) Printed version that is mailed out continued on page 7

THE LATEST WORD Start the New Year... (cont. from page 1) 2 golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne. The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, went up before God from the angel s hand (Rev 8:3-4). The seven branch candelabra was made of gold and provided light to all those who entered the Holy place. This points to Jesus who John said, In him was life, and that life was the light of men (John 1:4). Jesus is the light of our lives. The table placed on the right side of the Holy place held 12 loaves of unleavened bread. Bread is essential for life but there is a more important meaning in the symbol of bread. Anyone who desires a full What God expects of us is revealed in the message and when applied will definitely build healthy relationships life, a complete life will find that life only in a personal relationship with Jesus. Jesus declared, I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty (John 6:35). Bring a friend to the Day of Prayer on January 3 to experience the love of our Lord Jesus and how life can be full and complete in him. The message on January 10 is titled How to Build Healthy Relationships? The reply to that question is found in answering what the Bible implies when it suggests to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God (Rom 12:1b)? A sacrificial offering brought to the Temple was examined by the priests to ensure it was without blemish. But, the Bible says, All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags.... (Isaiah 64:6). What God expects of us is revealed in the message and when applied will definitely build healthy relationships. On January 17 we ve invited Bill Aumack, Gustavo Ortega and Edwin Morales to shares How Leaders Read Their Bibles and Pray. Our theme this New Year is living God s continued on page 4 WE DID IT The Latest Word V 21 N 01 BILL AUMACK el jefe BILL AUMACK design LINDA AUMACK proof reading Celene distribution MITCH WILLIAMS pastor address mail to: (we like letters!) Downey-Florence Seventh-day Adventist Church 9820 Lakewood Blvd. Downey, CA 90240 office: 562.869.6013 fax: 562.622.1691 downeychurch@gmail.com http://www.downeychurch.com distributed monthly issue date: Dec 2009 copyright 1992-2008

January 2009 God, Webster & You by Irene Hill with Linda Bewley Webster says that reward means something that is given in return for good... done or received and esp. that is offered or given for some service or attainment.... (Webster s Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary.) God says Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward (Colossians 3:23-24 NIV). When I was a student at Pacific Union College, I became a student missionary and served as an English teacher in Japan. That was 25 years ago. The English school I served at was in Kagoshima, Japan, but the main center of orientation for the schools was in Osaka. I have a couple of photo albums which contain many mementos of my time there including the driver s license I Jan 3 Day of Prayer Jan 10 How to Build Healthy Relationships? Jan 17 How Leaders Read Their Bibles and Pray You Just Never Know obtained as well as pictures of the teachers and students at the school. There are also photos of the weeklong summer and winter camps we attended together with all the SDA English schools. During summer camp, we stayed in cabins, and during the winter camps, we went snow skiing. We had to be careful at winter camp, because the snow monkeys would come into the rooms through the windows and take anything that was left open in our suitcases! We had tons of fun at both camps. I also recall attending a baptism in the ocean at Worship Schedule Jan 24 Two Essential Ingredients to Good Health Jan 31 How to Stress Less? 6 Weeks of God s Way to Health #1 summer camp. I treasure all of the memories I have of living and serving in Japan and often think of those times. Little did I know that God had another special event planned for me related to this experience. In early November this year, I attended a family ministries seminar at Pine Springs Ranch with other Sabbath School leaders from our church. I met a young lady named Naoko during one of the opening exercises. She was quite nice and indicated to me that I looked familiar to her. She could not remember where she had seen me, but she said she knew me from somewhere. We started to compare notes about where we live and what churches we ve attended. We learned, initially, that she has attended the Hacienda Heights SDA church and knows my aunt s husband as well as a friend of mine who attended there in years past. Yet that did not explain how she recognized me. So eventually I inquired as to her nationality, at which point she continued on page 5 3

THE LATEST WORD 6 Weeks of God s Way to Health It s time for our small groups to start up again. The small groups study this winter is called 6 Weeks of God s Way to Health. We will combine the best scientific information with the Bible and prayer for a wholistic approach to wellbeing. Whether your New Year s resolution is to shed a few pounds, get into better physical shape, eat healthier, or learn to live longer - we have a study for you. God s Way to Health covers a multitude of relevant topics like how to handle stress, choosing the best foods to eat, how to live when it hurts, how to have a good night s rest and other significant topics. The Bible says two are better than one (Ecclesiastes 4:9). Part of the small groups process is the opportunity to partner-up with a spiritual friend to encourage accountablity to the goals set for 2009. Week one of the 6 week adventure is January 31. We will wrap up on March 14 with our Celebration Sabbath. Now is the time to invite your friends and neighbors to be part of your small group and join the adventure of following God s Way to Health. = Start the New Year... (cont. from page 2) 4 Way to Health. Good health grows from consistent Bible reading and prayer habits. One of the best ways to establish new habits is to inquire of those who already incorporate the good habits of Bible reading and prayer into their lives. We re blessed with Godly leaders in church and I ve invited three of them to share their devotional lives with us. Oh, yes, I almost forgot, I ll add a word or two that day also. Now that we re several weeks into the New Year, it s time to get back into our 6 weeks of small groups to study a timely topic called God s Way to Health. As an introduction, I want to share a message on January 24 entitled Two Essential Ingredients to Good Health. Before we unveil the two ingredients, we must first untangle some knotty confusion about them. The first knot to untangle is found in the following texts: One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord (Rom 14:5-6). We ve taught over the years that the Sabbath is the day of rest and refreshment and is essential for good health. But the scripture above seems to imply keeping the Sabbath is optional. If you feel the Sabbath is sacred than keep it, if not then don t. The second knot that needs untangling has to do with food: As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean (Rom 14:14). Are there foods God has provided for better health or do we merely choose the most tasty foods since no food is unclean? Is the Sabbath day essential for good health or just another optional day off work? Bring your Bible and pen to take notes for this faith and health building message. We kick off the 6 Weeks of God s Way to Health with a message on January 31 called How to Stress Less? Stress is part of living and working. It is often caused by circumstances that we cannot avoid or control. Worry, however, is a spiritual and emotional response to stress that drains energy and creates a host of problems. When we cast our cares on Jesus, he gives us the strength to persevere through difficult times (Living with Stress, p.2). At core of several positives steps towards managing stress is to commit ourselves to trust God in all circumstances. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose (Rom 8:28). See you when the church gathers. =

With Love From the Kitchen of Ginny Williams New Year Cranberry Nut Pie January 2009 1 unbaked pie shell 1 bag frozen cranberries (rinse & pour into pie shell). 3/4 cup brown sugar (sprinkle over cranberries) (can substitute Splenda brown sugar). 3/4 cup chopped walnuts (sprinkle over cranberries). In a bowl mix: 1/2 cup sugar 3/4 cup flour 2 eggs 5/8 stick of butter, melted Mix together well. It will become a thick- paste. Using a spatula spread over the top of the cranberries to cover. Bake at 350 degrees for one hour or until golden brown. = You Just Never Know (cont. from page 3) said she was Japanese. Hmm? I asked where she lived in Japan. And what do you think she answered? OSAKA! I explained to Naoko that I was a student missionary in Japan in approximately 1983-84. It was then we realized that we were at summer and winter camps together during the time I was in Japan. Naoko remembered me from my visit to the Osaka SDA school during the holiday. She said I haven t changed a bit. Naoko and I spent our free time on Saturday night at Pine Springs Ranch reminiscing about all the things we did together at these camps. She remembers a number of my student missionary friends by name. It totally blew my mind. I was very touched, because she told me that she was thankful that I had gone to Japan and for the fact that the student missionaries shared their faith, because we made a big difference in her life. Three years after she attended school there, she was baptized into the SDA church. She then came to America to study and is now married with children of her own. One of her children is involved in Pathfinders, and she herself is a teacher in the Kindergarten Sabbath School Division. Most people in Japan are Buddhist, and she is the only Adventist in her family. However, her mother and sister attend church with her when they come to visit the States. She said she is completely happy with her decision to become a Christian and wants to raise her children in the Adventist church. Naoko and I set a date to meet in early December. We kept that commitment and got together this past Sunday. Naoko and I looked through my photo albums together. She even translated the writing on my Japanese driver s license. As we looked through the photos, we discovered that she is in three of the pictures I have. In one of the pictures, we are standing next to each other! In one of the other pictures, she is in one of the skits for which I was a co-leader. I am completely amazed at God s hand in this experience. The fact that God would enable me to meet Naoko after all these years is beyond my wildest imagination. It is also a reminder of the many rewards God has in store for His people. But the experience also reinforces in me a long-standing belief. When you are serving God, you never know whose life you may be influencing. We don t always get to see the tangible results of our service, but we are encouraged by these words - Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up (Galatians 6:9). = 5

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 10 AM C.S. Visit www.downeychurch.org C.S. - Community Service S.S. - Sabbath School New Year s Day Downey Adventist Church 1 2 3 4:55 pm sunset 6:30 pm Band Practice 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 5:00 pm sunset 7pm AGAPE Feast 9:30 AM S.S. 10:50 AM Worship 9:30 AM S.S. 10:50 AM Worship 11 7 pm Women s Prayer Group 6:30 pm Band Practice 12 13 14 15 16 17 5:06 pm sunset 9:30 AM S.S. 10:50 AM Worship 7 pm Women s Prayer Group 6:30 pm Band Practice 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 5:13 pm sunset 9:30 AM S.S. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Inauguration Day 7 pm Church Board 7 pm Women s Prayer Group 6:30 pm Band Practice 4 PM Adventurers 10:50 AM Worship 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 7 pm Women s Prayer Group 5:20 pm sunset 6:30 pm Band Practice 9:30 AM S.S. 10:50 AM Worship 6 Weeks of God s Way to Health #1

Christian Living by Jan Ross Fresh like fresh tomatoes ripened on the vine? Fresh as in fresh footprints in the snow? Fresh like the fresh smell of a newly painted room? Fresh or like being fresh out of ideas? Nope! Fresh Start! That s what I m talking about. After all, it s a fresh new year! The old year has come and gone and now we have an opportunity to improve on what we messed up last year! And, let me tell you, I need that! Truth be told, we January 2009 Did Someone Say Fresh Start? probably ALL do! Fresh Start Bible Reading Plan... Beginning this new year, let s make a commitment to begin a concerted effort to read through the Bible in an entire year. You don t think you ve got time? Be honest now can you think of a better way to spend 20-30 minutes every day? What could possibly benefit you more? Surely not a fresh cup of coffee in front of the television each morning! Nope! Make a commitment and kick off this new year with a plan not Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Cor 5:17 KJV) last year s plan, but a fresh new plan to read through the Bible in 2009. Fresh Start Prayer Plan... You knew I would say that, didn t you! Well, along with reading our Bibles, prayer is an essential for a healthy Christian life. After all, if you can t talk to God, who can you talk to? Admit it you feel that little prayer wheel turning often but you ignore it. So, make a commitment to heed His call to prayer with a fresh new and improved prayer life. Fresh Start Family First... Huh? Not ministry first? Nope! I dare you! Take a look at how much continued on page 11 7 Big Changes... (cont. from page 1) (only for shut-ins). In January, there will be a table set up at church where you can sign up for how you would like to get the newsletter. Our goal is that everyone sign up for the electronic version (Eversion). It s free. It s fast. It s convenient. And it helps a little with protecting our environment from wasted ink and paper. This option also allows every member of the family to get their own reminder that the newsletter is available. No more trying to find the newsletter after someone else has read it and put it who-knows-where. No more bent pages or missing parts because someone clipped the recipe or games out. Everyone has their own version! Plus, if you have 3 kids, you can print the puzzle page three times so each child can do the puzzle. However, we know that this option is not possible for 100% of the Latest Word readers. People without computers, or email access, can sign up to pick up their newsletters at church. This is not a great solution cost wise, because we still have to print the newsletter (the biggest cost), but we will save postage. We highly encourage people to choose the E-version if at all possible. We will continue to mail The Latest Word to our shut-ins. No action is required on your part - you will automatically continue to get the newsletter. If you are out of the area, you don t have email access and you really want to continue to receive The Latest Word, please contact us and we ll see what we can work out. It is our highest priority that the newsletter come to you in a format that is useful and easy to read. It does no good, if no one reads it. We welcome feedback on how to improve. Please contact Bill if you have any questions or concerns about receiving your copy of The Latest Word. =

8 THE LATEST WORD

January 2009 this month Jan. Birthdays Janeth Perez-1 Virginia Hinojosa-4 Jonathan Beckmann-15 Becky Duran-18 Elissa Luna-19 Richard Orozco-22 Jordan Chavez-22 Zina Beckmann-28 Lourdes Ortega-30 Michael Gilbert-31 If your birthday is left out in the monthly newsletter, please contact the church office so we can put it in. Upcoming Events 1st Sunday - 10 a.m. Community Service Thursdays - 7 p.m. Women s Prayer Group Fridays - 6:30 p.m. Band Practice 3rd Saturday - 4 p.m. Adventurers Jan 1 - New Year s Day Jan 3 - Day of Prayer Jan 9 - Agape Feast - 7 p.m. Jan 31-6 Weeks of God s Way to Health begins 9 The new photo church directory should be out sometime in January. Make sure to pick up your copy! Piano Lessons Chris Martin is available for piano lessons. Call (714) 224-8846 for more information. Coming Soon Feb 21 - Movie Night March 14 - Celebration Sabbath The Latest Word deadline is the 5th of the month.

THE LATEST WORD The Latest About Our Church Family Congratulations to Annie Mendez who represented the Downey Library as Raggedy Ann in the Downey Holiday Parade. Congratulations to Celene Aispuro, Ricky Gonzalez and Erik Concha. They recently moved their memberships to Downey Church. Be sure to welcome them to our family. A big thank you to the Kids, and the organizers, who worked so hard on our Community Christmas Program. If you have any Church Family news, please contact the church office so we can get it into the newsletter. = 10 Join us on Friday, January 9, at 7 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall for our annual Agape Feast. The tables will be set with table cloths, candle light and the Bread and the Cup of Communion. Agape Feast Bring the whole family and invite a friend for this memorable service. = Do YOU Know Him? Name: Ricky Gonzalez Birthday: Dec 19 Born: Bellflower, CA Fav Color: Blue Fav Food: Salvadorian Fav Sport: Basketball Occupation: Fire Prevention Other Info: - Warren High Graduate - working towards becoming a fireman - enjoys working out in the gym - just became a Downey Church member

Ways to start off the New Year January 2009 According to historians, the celebration of the New Year is the oldest holiday. Ancient Babylonians first observed it in the spring about 4,000 years ago. In 153 B.C., the Roman Senate declared January 1 as New Year s Day. The early church started to hold religious observances that coincided with pagan celebrations. Some denominations still mark Christ s circumcision on New Year s. The tradition of making resolutions dates back to the Babylonians, who often promised to return borrowed farm equipment. Using a baby to symbolize rebirth and the new year dates back to the ancient Greeks and Egyptians. Modern-day New Year s customs often focus on prosperity. In Spain, people eat 12 grapes at midnight, hoping to have 12 happy months to come. The Dutch eat donuts because another year has come full circle. One of the best ways to start off the New Year is by spending time in prayer. Look back on God s many blessings during the completed year and ask for his guidance in the one to come. Also consider starting the tradition of praying for people around the world on New Year s Day. Be sure to join us on Saturday, January 3, as we start the New Year with our Day of Prayer. = A Fresh Start (cont. from page 7) time you spend in ministry activities and compare it to how much one-onone time you spend with your spouse, your children, and your family. Remember, God gave us the family first and then the church. When our families are strengthened by our ministry to them, the church becomes filled with strong families which make up a strong church. Here s another commitment make a plan to focus on family first even if means saying no to ministry opportunities. Now, that s a fresh idea! Fresh Start Personal Commitments... What s a personal commitment? Think hard it won t take much! But think about those things you know you should do but have resisted doing for so long. Exercise! Diet! Nicotine! Neglecting responsibilities. Being a friend. Obeying traffic laws (you know speed limits are laws, too)! Visitation! Lending a helping hand! Cleaning the garage! Organizing your photographs! Oh! The list could go on and on. Now s the time for a fresh start! Make a plan and KEEP IT! Get out your calendar and pick one day a month for visitation. Perhaps pick one day to visit with your neighbor. Set aside at least one day a month to clean or organize or sew buttons or whatever boring and mundane project needs to be done. One day that s all it would take to make you feel like you ve accomplished something! Make an appointment with your local gym or fitness center and get started on an exercise regime. Start a reasonable diet program one that you can live with. Regardless of what comes to mind those things you ve resisted for so long make a personal commitment to follow through. Remember! Fresh new year means a fresh new start! You can do it! And, now I m fresh out of ideas! But I bet you can come up with plenty of your own. My mission is completed I got you thinking about the word fresh and how it applies to the start of this new year! Fresh Start! Don t miss out on all the opportunities it affords you. We are mortals whose lives are measured in increments of time. Our major divisions of time are broken down into years. With this new year, we have a tremendous opportunity to make a Fresh Start! I m going to. Are you? Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Cor 5:17 KJV) = (c) Jan Ross 2006 Jan Ross, writer, musician and ordained minister. Jan has a burning passion for building and strengthening women through teaching, personal ministry, and speaking both at home and on the mission field. Jan is President of Heart of God International Ministries. http://heartofgodinternational.com Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com 11

January 2009 Ponder This... = The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. Martin Luther King Jr. = The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today. Franklin Roosevelt = All that I am I owe to Jesus Christ, revealed to me in his divine Book. David Livingstone Downey-Florence Seventh-day Adventist Church 9820 Lakewood Blvd., Downey CA 90240 I N S I D E You Just Never Know on page 3 6 Weeks to God s Way of Health on page 4 Ginny s Kitchen on page 5 What s happening? see pages 6 & 9 Did Someone Say Fresh Start? on page 7 Kid s Page on page 8 Our Church Family page 10 DATED MATERIAL Return Service Requested NON-PROFIT ORG U.S. Postage PAID Downey, Calif. Permit no. 439