THE COMMUNITY CHURCHMAN

THE COMMUNITY CHURCHMAN JULY 2 0 1 8 A NOTE FROM THE PASTOR... IN THIS ISSUE Dear Christian Friends, How valuable is the Kingdom of God? How precious is our own local expression of the Kingdom here at Lakewood Village Community Church? Jesus said, Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it." Matthew 13:44-46 It seems Jesus is saying the Kingdom of Heaven is worth everything, all that we have, to obtain it. So what is it? What could be worth that much? Heaven is a realm of love, joy and peace, of infinite beauty, of fellowship, of healing and wholeness, of abundance and safety, and is of high value to people. Is that only for later, or is it possible to some degree here and now? Every Sunday we pray together, and many more times on our own, "Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven!" Sometimes we have a lot of help in bringing the Kingdom of Heaven to Earth, and the costs and hard work are more evenly distributed among many of God's people. Sometimes our numbers are reduced, and fewer of us are bearing the burden. And in some cases, we have had to go it alone (yet with God's help)! (Continued pg. 2) 1 A Note from the Pastor...1-2 Prayer in the.....2 Associate Pastor...3 Inside LVCC.3-5 Growth & Community.....6 LVCC Calendar...7 STAY IN TOUCH COME SEE US 4515 SUNFIELD AVE. LONG BEACH, CA 90808 CALL US (562) 425-7411 VISIT US www.thelvcc.org

A N O T E F R O M T H E P A S T O R No matter the current dynamics, the value and necessity of the Kingdom remain the same. How many individuals, marriages, families, circles of friends and organizations have been blessed through the manifestation of the Kingdom of Heaven in our own distinctive style at Lakewood Village Community Church over the years? And whether the burden, work and cost were heavy or light, faithful servants of God have put their shoulders under it to make sure that it happened, because it was worth it. God bless them!!! What is the Kingdom worth? Times and conditions may change, the value of the Kingdom does not! How precious is our own expression of the Kingdom of Heaven! It is like a treasure, the most beautiful pearl, and for joy we do whatever is necessary to obtain and possess it! Have a blessed July, Pastor Steve Email - pastorsteve@thelvcc.org P R A Y E R I N T H E C H A P E L As I look back and think about my granny s house, there were few decorations hanging on her walls. When you live in a coal mining camp your life is pretty basic, no room for frills. However, there were two pictures displayed on her wall in the dining room. You probably have seen the first one, which is two children going across a dangerous bridge and an angel is watching over them. I have that very same picture in my house today. It is 74 years old and it means the world to me. It is one of those things I would definitely grab if my house were on fire. The other picture was a saying, Only one life will soon be passed. Only what s done for Christ will last. Granny taught me by the way she lived to be kind because you never knew when that stranger might be an angel, according to Hebrews 13:2. She taught me to share food with whoever might be hungry. That s probably why I love to cook and share my food or give away food I have grown in my garden. She was always feeding the neighborhood kids and other families who lived near us. I just finished reading a book called Kingdom Woman. At the very end of the book the author emphasizes the thought that as Christians it is our responsibility to impact our family, church, community and world. 2 I may accomplish many things in my life, but what I have done for God and to advance His kingdom is what matters most. A quote by Mother Theresa says, Not all of us can do great things. But we can all do small things with great love. What would that look like for me in our church? It could be taking on a responsibility, reaching out to someone through a phone call or a card, inviting a friend to a special event at church, going beyond my shyness and shaking hands with a stranger who is visiting for the first time, or just giving a hug to someone who looks like they need one. What would it look like for you? When the angel told Mary she was going to give birth to Jesus, her answer was, I am the Lord s servant. May it be to me as you have said. When I read that verse I had an aha moment. What would my day look like if I said that prayer each day? One day at a time I am saying that verse out loud and asking God to give me the strength to live that day as He has directed. As the picture on Granny s wall said, only what s done for Christ will last. When you have a need, Pastor Steve and the prayer warriors are always available in the chapel to pray with you every Sunday. Sandra Saldano

A S S O C I A T E P A S T O R The Upper Room Summer is a time many folks look forward to. There are family vacations, conversations around the grill, outdoor activities, and beautiful weather. This summer, the ministry teams of the contemporary service held in the Upper Room are looking forward this summer too! We are researching and developing plans for folks to make meaningful relationships, grow in their faith, and use their talents and gifts to make an impact for the Kingdom of God. In other words, we are looking to the future and asking, How can we help people Share Life and Share Jesus? Soon you will be able to see some of what we are working on through social media and our website. These are exciting times for LVCC as we develop this new ministry, so please continue to pray for our success and our leaders! If you haven t had a chance to check us out yet, we d love to have you drop by some Sunday morning! Pastor Phillip Davis I N S I D E L V C C Sunday School Also Known As Sunday Summer Fun To most kids, summer means that school is out, the weather is warm, and it s time for family and friends to come together for relaxation and fun outside. Does that mean that we don t learn in the summer months? Not so! Summers are also known for the family vacations to new locations that can teach us about new cultures, languages, and ecosystems. It s a time of exploration and sometimes it s a review of the traditions and old locations that we remember from our younger years. Whether summer is spent as a staycation for relaxation or a trip to other countries, it all comes down to making memories. No doubt, as adults, we will remember our summers fondly with treasured memories. Sunday School is no different! During the months of July and August, I like to call it Sunday Summer Fun. It s a time of fellowship and a time to use what we ve learned during the last year to create fun, hands on activities that bring all the same results of a staycation right here at church. This summer, the Sunday Summer Fun Crew looks forward to playing games outside, creating new crafts, bringing Bible stories alive, which at times may include water play (well, even Noah and the animals of the Ark had to endure 40 days and 40 nights of, most likely, cold rain). We will have Sundays celebrating D.O.G. (Depend On God), O.W.L. (Our Wise Lord), and F.R.O.G. (Fully Rely On God) days which include games, activities, and food centered around that animal which will help us to remember those important rules. As you can see, fun and learning is a year-round event at LVCC. This is a great time to bring our friends to church to show them how summer memories are made at LVCC. Keep an eye out for the calendar of events in upcoming Sunday bulletins. If you have any questions, please call Elaine Bishop, Sunday School Coordinator, at (310) 985-3310. WOMEN S PRAYER WARRIORS The women s prayer group will not meet in July and August. We will be starting up again the first week in September. This would be a great time for you to join this group of powerful prayer warriors. If you have any questions please contact me at any time. Sandra Saldano 3

I N S I D E L V C C Vacation Bible School After thoughtful evaluation, the Christian Education Committee and the Board of Directors made the difficult decision to cancel this year s Vacation Bible School. There were a number of challenges this year that individually, we could address, but collectively are too much. Additionally, VBS attendance has dropped significantly over the past few years as more and more activities (sports, music, drama, etc.) are available for families. The Christian Education Committee is developing alternative family programs to respond more directly to the needs of the families in 2018. We hope to offer one of these new programs in December and one in February/March. If you have any questions or would like to volunteer to help with Sunday School, Youth Group or other Christian Education program, please email or call me at thekirchhoffs@gmail.com or (562) 889-9119. In Christ, K a t h y K i r c h h o f f Director of Christian Education C O M M I T E D T O S E R V E O u r L. V. C. C. community is committed to serving our congregation and their needs. Do you or someone you know need a ride, a meal made with love, or need a visit from someone who cares? Please call and let us know how we can serve! Volunteers needed! For information contact: M a r i o ( 5 6 2 ) 4 2 9-1379 M a r g o ( 5 6 2 ) 9 0 0-1 1 5 1 S u p p l i e s N e e d e d BACK TO SCHOOL DRIVE LVCC is able to provide backpacks filled with school supplies for students each year because of our congregation s generous giving. Let s keep it up! Every little bit helps and every bit will be used by thankful and deserving children! A collection box will be placed in the sanctuary foyer for donations in the month s of July & August. Thank you! w h i t e g l u e g l u e s t i c k s c r a y o n s c o l o r e d p e n c i l s i nk pens ( all colors) m a r k e r s ( wide & fine line ) s c i s s o r s r u l e r s p e n c i l s e r a s e r t o p p e r s h i g h l i g h t e r s p e n c i l s h a r p e n e r s zipper supply pouches 1/2 3-ring binders b o x e s o f t i s s u e s s p i r a l n o t e b o o k s single packs antibacterial wipes for hands beveled erasers (pink or white) c o m p o s i t i o n b o o k s filler paper (all wide ruled) M i s s i o n s C o m m i t t e e 4

I N S I D E L V C C CONTRIBUTION WORLD SERVICE & UPDATE MISSIONS May 2018 D o n a t i o n s Re c e ive d ; $22,714 B u d g e t e d : $23,506 Social Concerns Deacons Board C A L L I N G A L L R E T I R E D P E R S O N S No-Bake Summer Recipe Jell-O O Cheesecake Ingredients 1 3oz lemon jello 1 C boiling water 1 8oz pkg cream cheese ½ C sugar 1 t vanilla 2 small pints whipping cream 1 lb. vanilla wafers or graham crackers, crumbed ½ C butter Combine rolled crumbs and butter. Use ¾ of it to line bottom and sides of pan, reserving the other 1/4 to sprinkle on top. Chill while preparing other ingredients. Dissolve jello in boiling water with sugar. Add small amount of jello mixture to cream cheese (which should be at room temperature) until the two are well mixed. Whip the cream and vanilla until it stands in peaks. Add jello and cheese mixture and stir until well mixed. Pour into crust and sprinkle remaining crumbs on top. Refrigerate 1 hour. If you are retired, have time on your hands, and wish to serve the church, please give us a call! L.V.C.C. is seeking retired professionals who have a heart to serve people and wouldn t mind driving others to appointments and church functions. We as well would love to have more visitor sign-ups to our Homebound church members so we can deliver hot cooked meals to them once or twice a month. Got spring fever? The church is always in need of some handy dandy mopping and cleaning that is not in the scope of our hired crew. Retired or not, if you have a desire to serve and the availability we would love to hear from you! Thank you all! We need you! Contact us with your availability whether it s weekdays, weeknights or Sundays, all volunteers wanted! Call Margo / Social Concerns: C ( 5 6 2 ) 9 0 0-1 1 5 1 H ( 5 6 2 ) 4 2 0-3 9 6 1 Please leave a message on the voicemail. 5

G R O W T H & C O M M U N I T Y We e k l y S c h e d u l e MONDAY CC L L Morning - Men s Ministry Discipleship: Learning to Walk TUESDAY CR Bible Study: 1 Corinthians M o n d a y s 9 A M L i b r a r y Contact: Wayne (562) 522-1293 WEDNESDAY 6:30 AM - GR TUR Men s Breakfast: Hof s Hut Adult C.E. Series: Hebrews Youth Group Ministry THURSDAY L Men s Prayer Group FRIDAY GR Exploring Tourist Attractions SATURDAY SUNDAY S S CE TUR Traditional Worship Service Traditional Worship Service Nursery & Children's Ministry Contemporary Service We d n e s d a y s 6:30AM 8:30AM The Village Café: 4148 N. Viking Way, Long Beach No R.S.V.P. Required! FH S Table Top Ministry for Young Adults 18+ Worship Service S = Sanctuary GR = CR = FH = Fellowship Hall CC = Clark L = Ch. R = Choir Room TUR = The Upper Room (Upstairs Fellowship Hall) FA I T H T H E AT E R E N C O R E P R E S E N T A T I O N & M O V I E M A R A T H O N! J U LY 2 1 F r i d a y s 7 P M 9 P M G a r d e n R o o m Contact: Amir (646) 301-3061 Want to know the history about your scheduled vacation this summer? This small group explores exotic destinations throughout the world every Friday night in the L.V.C.C.. It s movie marathon at Faith Theater! There will be a special encore presentation of I Can Only Imagine followed by a light dinner and the LVCC premier of Gods Not Dead 2. We d love to see you there. All are welcome. Invite a friend! 2 : 0 0 P M I Can Only Imagine Sanctuar y 4 P M L i g h t D i n n e r G a r d e n R o o m 4 : 4 5 P M G o d s N o t D e a d 2 Sanct uary Ju l y 2 8 9 A M H o f s H u t 2 1 4 7 N. B e l l f l o w e r B l v d All men are invited for food and fellowship with the Men s Breakfast Club. We meet on the 4th Saturday of each month at Hof s Hut. N o R S V P R e q u i r e d M E A L R S V P : Joe F. (562) 230-6364 Betty F. (562) 230-6365 6

1 Communion J U L Y 2 0 1 8 C A L E N D A R Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Tabletop Ministry (TTM)(18+) for Young Adults, Fellowship Hall 2 Clark Deacon's Meeting 3 4 Independence Day OFFICE CLOSED 5 6 Exploring Tourist Attractions 7 NO SATURDAY NIGHTER S EVENT 8 11:15 AM Board of Director's Mtg., Tabletop Ministry (TTM) (18+) for Young Adults, Fellowship Hall 9 Clark Discipleship Class: Leaning to Walk 10 Stephen Leader Mtg. 6:30 PM Stephen Ministry 11 6:30 AM Men's Breakfast T h e V i l l a g e C a f e Adult C.E. Series: 1 Corinthians Youth Group The Upper Room 12 13 NO EXPLORING TOURIST ATTRACTIONS 14 Ladies' Breakfast Club H o f ' s H u t 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Tabletop Ministry (TTM) (18+) for Young Adults, Fellowship Hall 22 23 Clark Discipleship Class: Leaning to Walk NO HEARTS & HANDS EVENT 24 25 6:30 AM Men's Breakfast T h e V i l l a g e C a f e Adult C.E. Series: 1 Corinthians Youth Group The Upper Room NO EXPLORING TOURIST ATTRACTIONS 26 27 28 2:00 PM & 4:00 PM Faith Theater & Clark Tabletop Ministry (TTM) (18+) for Young Adults, Fellowship Hall 29 30 Clark Discipleship Class: Leaning to Walk Stephen Leader Mtg. 31 6:30 PM Stephen Ministry 6:30 AM Men's Breakfast T h e V i l l a g e C a f e Adult C.E. Series: 1 Corinthians Youth Group The Upper Room Exploring Tourist Attractions Men's Breakfast Club Hof's Hut Clark Tabletop Ministry (TTM) (18+) for Young Adults, Fellowship Hall Discipleship Class: Leaning to Walk 7

4 5 1 5 S u n f i e l d A v e n u e L o n g B e a c h, C A 9 0 8 0 8 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED T e l : 5 6 2-425- 7 4 1 1 F a x : 5 6 2-429- 6 1 2 2 LVCC Nursery School 562-421-4486 T H E C O M M U N I T Y C H U R C H M A N SENIOR PASTOR: Steve Boggan ASSOCIATE PASTOR: Phillip Davis MAIN OFFICE HOURS: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. C O M E W O R S H I P W I T H U S! S U N D AY S : 8 : 3 0 A M & 1 0 : 0 0 A M (TRADITIONAL WORSHIP) 1 0 : 0 0 A M (Contemporary Worship) C h i ldcare and S unday School are a v ailable dur i ng the 10:00 a.m. s ervice time for all children and yo ut h. 8 SUNDAY EVENING: (INFORMAL WORSHIP)