TIDAL WAVE A Publication of First Christian Church of the Beaches (Disciples of Christ) ISSUE JUNE 2016 Footsteps THIS ISSUE: FOOTSTEPS Happy Father s Day ELDER S CORNER Friendships can provide the most fertile soil for Evangelism STEWARDSHIP John Campbell shares how you can never out-give our loving and wonderful God. Walk a little slower Daddy said a child so small, I m following in your footsteps, and I don t want to fall. Sometimes your steps are very fast, sometimes they re hard to see, So walk a little slower, Daddy, for you are leading me. Someday when I am all grown up, you re what I want to be, Then I will have a little child who will want to follow me. And I would want to lead just right, and know that I was true, So walk a little slower, Daddy, for I must follow you. LESSON S FROM A 5-YEAR OLD Read Pastor Nathan s latest blog 2017 HOLY LAND TOUR Interested in touring the Holy Land? Now s your chance! THE WAVERIDER Please see the Waverider section for Youth and Children s events Happy Father s Day
Elder s Corner FRIENDSHIPS CAN PROVIDE THE MOST FERTILE SOIL FOR EVANGELISM By Don Peters I found this in the John MacArthur book, Drawing Near and it fits perfectly with Pastor Nathan s current sermon series. Philip was probably a fisherman and acquainted with Peter, Andrew, James, John, Nathanael, and Thomas prior to their all becoming disciples. We first meet him in John 1:43-46, which says, "The next day [after Jesus encountered Peter and Andrew], He purposed to go forth into Galilee, and He found Philip, and Jesus said to him, 'Follow Me.' Now Philip was from Bethsaida, of the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, 'We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph Come and see. Those brief verses reveal two things about Philip. First, he had a seeking heart. Apparently he and Nathanael had studied the Scriptures in anticipation of the Messiah's coming. When Jesus said, "Follow Me," Philip was ready. Jeremiah 29:13 describes such a person: "You will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart." Second, he had the heart of an evangelist. The first thing he did after his own conversion was to lead Nathanael to Christ. Imagine his joy as he told his friend about the One for whom they had searched so long! Friendships usually provide the best context for evangelism because you're introducing Christ into an already established relationship of love, trust, and mutual respect. After all, it's only natural to share the joy of your salvation with someone you love. Pray that your joy overflows to those around you and that they are drawn to Christ because of your testimony. Do you have unsaved friends? If so, be faithful in praying for their salvation and asking the Lord to use you as an instrument of His grace. If not, ask the Lord to bring unsaved people into your life so you can tell them about Christ. From Drawing Near by John MacArthur Copyright 1993. Used by permission of Crossway Books, a division of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187
Notes from Nancy by Nancy Barrett The Choir is scheduled to sing SHINE ON US, I WILL SING TO THE LORD FOREVER, and ORDER MY STEPS during the month of June. However, we are a very flexible group. If we have a song we know that will carry the message Pastor Nathan or Pastor Chris has on Sunday, we often try to use it. You have probably noticed we have moved from the choir loft at times, and worn robes or not, and even changed the order of our service now and then. It is our tradition to enhance the worship service, all to the glory of God. Senior Adult Ministry by Pat Hernandez The S.A.M. aka (Senior Adult Ministry), met May 5, with 17 members present. We have so many professional members in our church; we are so blessed. During our meeting, Linda and David White shared their experiences and life with the Ringling Brothers and Barnum Bailey Circus. I couldn't believe his father, who was the Men's Wardrobe Director, was only 5'2". He walked very tall by making, repairing and maintaining all the men's costumes. "Circus life" had to be very strict. They didn't want any of the performers dating the other performers. That would break up the act. Some of them were not able to get their citizenship because they never were in one place long enough. The animals had the priority when traveling because without them, many acts would be over. With all the pictures, movies, and talks, David and Linda gave us, it was so thrilling and very entertaining. I would like to tell you more, but there isn't space enough to give you all the information. Agnes Calugar gave us the latest about Scott Phillips, in charge of the DAO ministries in Indonesia. They finally have been able to have the Bibles printed and flown over and dropped by helicopter. Chuck & Phyllis, Agnes, Betty C, Madeline, Wendy, and Brenda, are still going to the "Seniors on a Mission." You don't have to be a member of S.A.M. to participate. Anyone interested in helping them, please let one of them know. Our meeting will be June 2, at the Cypress Village Dock at 10:30 a.m. Chuck and Phyllis will be Hosts and the Program will be Church Governance. Pastor Nathan Loewen will be our Guest Speaker. We are planning on having hamburgers, hot dogs, so bring something that will compliment. We need baked beans, cold slaw, salads, drinks and desserts. You might want to check with them or let them know what you will bring. This will be our last meeting until we resume September 1, 2016. Blessings, Pat Hernandez Library News by Linda White CHRIST/JESUS shelf - Jesus Then and Now by David Watson CHRISTIAN LIVING shelf - The Explicit Gospel by Matt Chandler DEATH/GRIEF shelf - The Heaven Answer Book by Billy Graham DEVOTIONS shelf - When God Winks at You by Squire Rushnell Have a blessed read, Linda White
Lessons from a 5-year Old by Nathan Loewen PASTOR's BLOG In our lives we have many teachers, those who have taught us formally in school settings, teachers in church settings, those who have taught us wisdom along our journeys, and for me add one quick-witted 5-year-old daughter. Avenlee is a strong independent, smart, beautiful little girl. She is always right on top of the conversation and knows how to direct it to speak about things she knows or things she wants to learn. Avenlee loves church, she loves Jesus, and she LOVES to read the Bible. (Thank you Mrs. Leslie Young and the other kids in Dynamic Disciples.) The other day after school we arrived home and I did what any other young parent in the 21 century would do, I checked my phone, my Facebook, and eventually began playing a game. Avenlee did not miss a beat when she said to me, Daddy reading the Bible is more important than your phone. Wow. My own 5-year-old called me out, and she was right. So we sat there in the play room filled with toys, reading scripture and finding new ones to learn. She is a new reader and young in her understanding of Jesus, so most of the scripture is brand new for her. We read the Lord s Prayer in Matthew 6. Then on to Psalm 23. Then to Psalm 46 because she has a bookmark with the scripture on it. Then she randomly turned to Psalm 119 verse 105, Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. What an important reminder about the importance of the Word. So Avenlee now carries her Bible in the car with her. She reads it on the way to school and afterschool. She finds it to be filled with life and love. She also reminds each of us what we already know deep in our own being, reading the Bible is more important than our phones, or our TVs, or our computers. As summer kicks off and most of the Bible studies throughout the week have gone on break until the fall, I encourage each of you to pick up the Bible each day and read it. There you will find God. It is a book filled with a collection of stories that reveal God and His nature to us. We say as the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), No Book but the Bible. It is time for us to claim our heritage. I know that if we dive into reading the scripture we will find light and life. So as we wait for the summer to end and fall to begin anew, hear the words of the Psalmist in Psalm 119:10-11, With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. Peace and Towels, Rev. Nathan Loewen
Stewardship Moment by John Campbell I recently ran across a very inspiring Stewardship story that was shared by the late Entertainer -Danny Thomas. Danny had lost his life savings of $600 at a time when he was out of work. He and his wife, Rosie, had a baby on the way, and they needed money. Danny worked at part-time jobs so Rosie could buy groceries. He also borrowed money from friends. It was a tough time in his life. A week before the baby was born, Danny had the grand total of seven dollars and eighty-five cents to his name. What would he do? On Sunday morning Danny went to church. When the offering plate was passed he put in his "usual one dollar." But something unexpected happened that day. A special missions offering was taken. The priest explained where the mission offering would go, and Danny felt he had to give something. "I got carried away," Danny said, "and ended up giving my seven dollars." He had given away all his money that Sunday. What in the world had he done? He got on his knees and prayed aloud. "Look, I ve given my last seven bucks," he prayed. "I need it back tenfold because I ve got a kid on the way, and I have to pay the hospital bill." He went home with a mere eighty-five cents in his pocket--all the money he had in the world. "You won t believe this," Danny Thomas later wrote, "but the next morning the phone rang in the rooming house hall." It was a job offer. He was offered a part in a commercial. The job wasn t much but the pay was good--seventy-five dollars. Danny then remembered what he had prayed at church the day before. "The seventy-five-dollar fee," he said, "unheard of for me at that time was almost exactly ten times the amount of money I had donated to the church." Just as Danny Thomas had given God all of his money, Jesus Christ gave His all for us on the cross at Calvary. It really is true: you can never out-give our loving and wonderful God.
Announcements Christian Education. Adult Christian Ed is looking for someone to lead an adult class during our In-house Bible School. Dates are July 10-14 in the evening. We have material for you to choose from. We also accept teaching pairs. If you feel God nudging you, please contact Rita Vernon at either 904-386-7888 or ritavern@gmail.com Volunteers needed for Outreach Vacation Bible Camp. If you would love to help us reach out to children in our neighborhood at an outreach Vacation Bible Camp scheduled for June 20-24th, please see Kathy Hopkins. This is our third year holding VBC at Ocean Oaks Apartment community on Seagate Avenue in Neptune Beach and we hope it will be our best summer yet! You will be blessed by it! FCCB Camp will be from July 10th to the 14th 2017 Holy Land Tour. Please contact the Church Office if interested so we can get all of the Information to you about the trip. The dates of the trip are February 3-12, 2017, and the cost is estimated to be $3248 (based on double occupancy).
February 3-12, 2017 The cost of the trip is $3248 (based on double occupancy). Please contact the Church Office if interested so we can get all of the Information to you about the trip. Pastor Nathan is excited for this trip and looks forward to going on a Holy Land Adventure with you! The Florida Region is hosting a tour to the Holy Land February 3-12, 2017, led by Rev. Dr. Betsy Steier Goehrig, accompanied by her husband Kevin. The trip is open not only to Florida Disciples, but to others in the United States and beyond. Betsy is a Disciples Pastor and a Hospice Chaplain, and she has previously served on Florida Regional staff. She has led other group trips, including tours to the Holy Land, Paul s Final Missionary Journey, and the first Disciples Senior Adult Ministries cruise. Betsy and Kevin want to help make it possible for others to go and experience this life-changing spiritual journey. They also seek to help make it possible for other clergy and guests to get to go to the Holy Land and bring their church members with the larger group. The minimum number for the trip is 6 and the maximum would be a bus load (approximately 45). There is something so powerful about walking where Jesus walked. Even though some of the sacred sites are covered with churches or are surrounded by souvenir shops, there s still an amazing transformation that takes place when one is able to see and experience where Jesus was born, lived, ministered, performed miracles, died, and was buried. Even though some of the sites are questionable as to whether it was the actual location or in another place, it still evokes a sense of spiritual presence that brings the scriptures alive. God s Word becomes 3D for us, and reading the Bible takes on a whole new dimension, in which you can picture the context of the story. People have asked Betsy if she s afraid to go to Israel and Palestine, with all that s been going on in the world. She responds, I seek to live my life in faith and not fear. I also am going with an organization, Educational Opportunities, who will do everything in their power to provide for the safety of our group. If you notice in the news, there are rarely tourists in the Holy Land who are attacked, for tourism is the mainstay of their economy. There are groups going over every week without incident. And if there should be a dangerous situation occurring, our guides will redirect us to other sites to avoid the area of danger. Sure, anything could happen anywhere at any time. There are more people killed in car accidents annually than by terror, but I still drive. Faith, not fear, is my guide, while carefully guarding the safety of those in my care. The international flight to Tel Aviv will originate in Orlando. Others around the US may either fly/drive to join us in Orlando or leave from another international airport to join us in Tel Aviv. If you have friends or family in other countries that wish to come, they are welcome to meet us in Tel Aviv. We will have such opportunities as sailing the Sea of Galilee, visiting the synagogue where Jesus taught, going the Mount of Beatitudes where Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount, seeing the Church of the Fish and the Loaves where the 5000 were fed, celebrating baptisms in the Jordan River, and going to such locations as: Cana where Jesus performed his firm miracle at the wedding, Nazareth with Jesus boyhood home, Ceasara, Jericho, Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered, the Mount of Olives, Bethlehem with the Church of the Nativity and the Shepherds Field, the Garden of Gethsemane, Jerusalem, the Upper Room, the Wailing Wall, the Pool of Bethesda, an optional trip to Masada and Dead Sea, and more! Times of scripture readings, prayer, and singing will be held at many of these sacred sites, as well as sharing in the Lord s Supper. We will also be visiting one of our Disciples Mission Partners.
Scout News by Barre Barrett JUNE The Boy Scout Troop 40 and the Cub Pack 40 both enjoyed a great campout at Oleno State Park and Ichetucknee Springs May 20-22. On Saturday June 4 the Boy Scouts are doing a Lock in with the Jacksonville Sharks at the Arena. That same day 12 noon to 2 pm Cub Pack 40 will be having Cub Scout Graduation as each rank Tiger, Wolf, Bear, and Webelos 1 all move up one rank. The Boy Scout Troop and the Cub Scout Pack will be conducting a flag retirement ceremony with the Beaches VFW. Any church members who has old or damaged flags that need to be retired can bring them to fellowship hall and put them in the bin. Watch for the exact date in mid-june. Boy Scout troop 40 is preparing for their annual week long summer camp. This year they will be at BSA camp Ho Non Wah in South Carolina July 10-17. Together, let us pray for the needs of our brothers and sisters. Please remember these intentions in your daily prayers. Amanda Beal, Baby Ava, Barry Stevenson, Bill & Trish Hunt, Bill Rouse, Billy Womble, Bob Banks, Bob Wendt, Dan Hall, Deborah Zarandi, Don Jordan, Eula Wood, George & Gen Gallie, George Huff, Hazel Twitty, Iglesia Evangelica Bethel, Jay & Laura Kirkley, Jeff Waldrop, Jim & Joan Chandler, Jim & Marilyn Cunningham, Joe Bracewell, Josh Kerschner, Joy, Dan & Dan Jr. Casino, Karen Mangine, Kenyon Miller, Laurie Jones, Leia Morgan, Luther & Blanche Coggin, Making Conference, Marti Miller, Mary Kessler, Mary Morrison, Mike Cobb, Military & their Families, Mopsy O Brien, Olive Calhoun, Pastor Elizabeth Martell, Pastor Jose Manuel Martell, Paul Stiehl, Peggy Humphrey, Presidential Candidates, Ray Weber, Ron Soder, School Teachers & Students, Scott & Jenny Phillips, Terry Worth, The Christian Church DOC, The Dudley Family, The Ginslinger Family, The Harman Family, The Miles Family, The Radical Disciples, The Terrell Family, Wimpy Sutton, Yvonne Byars
MARK YOUR CALENDAR for JUNE 02 10:30AM SAM Meeting 04 9:00AM Spring Cleaning 12:00PM Cub Scout Graduation 05 7:30AM CMF Breakfast 12:30PM Kids Sunday Fun-day & Lunch 5:00PM Body of Elders Meeting 11 2:00PM Baby Shower for Ashlee Loewen 17 6:30PM Full Dinner & a Movie 19 FATHER S DAY 11:00AM MOTY Presentation 20 Meals on Wheels thru the 24 th Outreach Vacation Bible Camp thru the 24 th 26 12:30PM Kids Movie & Lunch 28 10:00AM CWF MONTH of JUNE SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 8am 9am 11am JUN 17 SERVING SCHEDULE for JUNE ELDERS Lydia Porter John Jolly Pam Mangine Ruth Stiehl Jim Vernon Rita Vernon DEACONS Daniel Hall and Mary Baily Dick & Maurine Choate Barry & Diane Stevenson Pat Schaaf and Mayan Skenes Kristie Reeves and Bama Israel DINNER MENU FOR JUNE Meatloaf, Mashed Potatoes & Gravy, Green Beans, Rolls, Salad Bar, and Apple Pie Happy Anniversary June 7 th Don & Barbara Lynn JUNE 2016 Faith Hughs Mary Morrison Connor Peters Preston Robertson June 8 th June 9 th June 11 th June 12 th June 15 th June 21 st June 25 th June 30 th Don Lynn Kathy Hopkins Shawn Ludlam Taylor Gann Dona Gibson Lana Suarez Joyce Cowan Mike Sarles Thom Gibson If you require a visit from the Pastor, please call the Church at (904) 246-2010