DECEMBER 2015 Happy Christmas! We invite you to come celebrate Jesus s birth! Special Candle light Christmas Eve Services December 24 th 4pm & 6pm 1
Family & Children Ministries Thank you to all of you who donated gift filled boxes for Operation Christmas Child! We as a Meadowlark Church family collected and delivered 88 boxes that will be sent to children all over the world with the Gospel opportunity that may deliver many children the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ! Christmas Caroling Saturday, Dec 5th 3:00-5:30pm Come join us for Christmas caroling at local Senior Communities. It is a wonderful time and always brings joy and smiles to these very special people! Sign up in the Ministry Center or fill out a connection envelope if you would like to join us! Song books will be provided. Christmas Musical December 13th 9am & 10:30am Children and youth will be singing on Sunday, Dec. 13th at beginning of both services. Please have children and youth arrive by 8:30 in the Chapel for check in and sound check, dressed in festive Christmas-best attire. Dress shirts (white, red, or green) and black or tan pants for boys (ties or bow ties optional but would be really cute). Fancy Christmas dresses or skirts w/ blouses for girls. Red, green, gold, black or white are good colors to wear! Breakfast goodies will be available for early birds!! We are practicing the songs every Sunday during kids worship. They won t want to miss it! Song sheets to take home and practice are available. I encourage you to come every week so they get to practice and be part of the fun! Final Rehearsal will be Sat. Dec 12th @ 10-11am in the Chapel. Blessings, Cathrine Osthimer Director of Children s Ministry *Our Sunday School program always needs a few more teachers as well as teacher aides and Nursery help. If you are interested in applying to volunteer on a one month on, one month off rotation, please contact me. You will be blessed by these precious children. 2
CONNECTION GROUPS Monday Open Tuesday Continuing Pastor Dave s Study 1pm the Ministry Center and 7pm at the Shaw s 1827 Redwing St. San Marcos CA 92078 Women s Study at Paula Molta s Tuesday nights at 7pm 7037 Crane Ct., Carlsbad, CA 92009 Wednesday Reign Men (Men s Group) 2 nd and 4 th Tuesdays. 8:30am in the Ministry Center. Pastor Jake s Study 3pm in the Ministry Center. Starting 1 Corinthians Sermon Based Study at David and Paula Molta s Wednesday nights 7pm 7037 Crane Ct. Carlsbad, VS 92009 By His Grace Homeless Outreach INC In the Name of Christ By Bill Baker, Founder & Chair wtbaker@roadrunner.com 760-438-2482. By His Grace BHG is also a founder and member of ARS Alliance for Regional Solutions with the 35 other Charities and 9 Cities of North San Diego County Developing a Program to Provide Shelter for all the Homeless in the Nine Cities of North County with all the San Diego County Services and Community Services and Faith Centers in North County. There are 250+ homeless in Oceanside Escondido region that are opportunities to serve. We have a history of getting 10-12 into recovery programs such as Interfaith where I serve on the Board. I lead Bible Study in the Winter Shelters from December through March. Emphasis is focused on Physical Health, Financial Career, Mental & Education, Family & Home. Please contact me for more information at wtbaker@roadrunner.com 760-438-2482. Youth Group Salt & Light Night meets Wednesday nights in the Ministry Center. For Youth 7 12 grades from 7-8:30pm Thursday Daniel & Revelation Bible Study 1pm in the Ministry Center Saturday Ironmen Men join us every Saturday 8am in the Ministry Center 3
Meadowlark Women Christmas Social Monday, December 14, 2015 5:00 7:00 pm Ministry Center $15.00 plus a dozen cookies We are stocking the freezer with cookies for fellowship between Sunday services The evening will include: Dinner Make-n-take Christmas gift Gift wrapping Gifts for North County Community Services Preschool Devotion Evelyn Norris Christmas Carols Nita Shaw Invite a friend or neighbor! Please sign up in the Ministry Center If you have any questions please contact Diana Nau @760-744-3529 or Kirsten van Pletsen @760-505-2036 4
Our Most Blessed Christmas My husband Jay and I longed to have a baby for more than 9 years, and had tried several methods to bring about a pregnancy to no avail. Every Christmas we thought about how wonderful it would be to see this special holiday through a child s eyes. In 1988, as I volunteered for a pregnancy service here in Oceanside, my boss asked me if I wanted to put an application on file for an adoption. At that point I didn t know that would be possible because I was already in my forties, but she told me to ask my husband about giving her our application. A few days later we did just that and to our surprise within a month or so we were called to Los Angeles to meet with a birth mother who could not keep her unborn child. After anxiously waiting for an answer from the birth mother named Bobbie, we were chosen to adopt her unborn baby. We had prayed and God had answered our prayers as he led me to that pregnancy center to volunteer and used the director there to give me the push I needed. Our child Kyle was born on September 21, 1988 and three days later we brought him home. On Christmas Day, we dedicated him to the Lord at our church service. What a blessed gift a total stranger had given us that Christmas-the unselfish act of giving up her firstborn child. She will never know how much her gift of life has meant to Jay and me and Kyle, but I know that God has blessed her richly for her sacrifice. Christmas is a time of giving and of sharing God s love with others, even strangers sometimes! House of Children Missions Inc. House of Children Missions wants to express its heartfelt gratitude to Meadowlark Church, all who volunteer their time, give contributions and pray for guidance and protection that make our Mission possible. Question; What is our mission? Give hope to God s children who struggle in poor regions of Baja Mexico.Work with pastors and outreach programs to create a sustainable environment and solid foundation in Christ. Form relationships in a diverse culture for the common good. (see Ref; 1corinthians 12) As volunteers we are blessed to represent our community and our spiritual beliefs both in Baja Mexico and at home by supporting its goals and vision. As another year slips onto the pages of our history books we are reminded how broken a world we live in, That our Savior was born of a virgin, died on the cross for all sin, conquered death and ascended to heaven leaving behind a counselor and promise of His return.[ I am with you always, even to the end of age (Matthew 28:20) NASB.] [ I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. (John 14:3)NKJV] House of Children Missions wish you & yours a Very Merry Christmas and Joy filled New Year That we may know Him, House of Children Missions Inc. Dave Zorger Bonnie Standard 5
San Diego Blood Bank Meadowlark Member Group MLCC There is always a demand for units of all blood types but it seems that around the holiday season that it increases dramatically. If you are called to donate and are able to do so it is a great opportunity to reach out and serve our community. I know that several members of our congregation have been called and have gone in and given THE GIFT OF LIFE recently. You can donate at any San Diego Blood Bank location. Walk-ins are welcome and the whole process will only take about an hour of your time and not only will it make you feel good but it has the potential to save three lives for each unit that is donated. Remember to reference Meadowlark Church s MLCC account when you donate. Our next two blood drives at Meadowlark are on Sunday, May 1, 2016 and on Sunday, September 25, 2016. Both drives are from 8 AM until 1 PM. Remember to leave yourself eight weeks between donations for whole blood and sixteen weeks if you are a double red donor. I thank you all for your efforts to help not only our church family but the surrounding communities by giving of yourselves so generously. Have a very Merry and Blessed Christmas. Take care and God Bless. Bill Troop Christmas Is... Poet: Julie Hebert, 2011 A time of blessings and happiness. A time of caroling and songs. A time for giving thanks. A time for presents for all. A time of good cheer and friendship. A time of love for all. A time for helping others. But most of all Christmas is a time to stop and thank God for all that we have. May the true Spirit of Christmas be with us now and throughout the year. THE GOOD NEWS CORNER With Pastor Jake I HAVE GOOD NEWS FOR YOU!! UNTO US A CHILD WAS BORN IN BETHLEHEM, WHO IS CHRIST THE LORD, THE SON OF GOD, EMMANUEL (GOD WITH US), OUR SAVIOR!!! HE NOW BY HIS SPIRIT LIVES IN US AND WILL NEVER LET US GO. WHAT A WONDERFUL PRESENT! HE IS THE REASON FOR THIS SEASON. HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS, AND GOD BLESS YOU ALL REAL GOOD. 6
December Ushers First Service Contemporary Service December Greeters 2 nd Service Ushers and greeters Bob & Judy Wigand David and Paula Molta Communion Bob & Judy Wigand 12/6 Lyle Birkley Steve Allen Marty McDougall Janice Birkley 12/13 Larry Hale Gordon Olson Joan Anderson Wade Thompson 10:30 Service Traditional Service Dec 6th Dec. 13th Dec. 20th Dec. 27th Norma Stewert Kathy Martin Shirley Lovitt Bill Troop Ross Swanson Sami Swanson Kay Gervais Al Zimmerman A BIG Happy Birthday to these people celebrating their December Birthdays! 12/20 Ken Kreutz Noni Kreutz Don Lovitt Bill Troop 12/27 Ruben Escovedo Ed Griffith Audrey Hillier Daisy McKennet Please arrive ½ hour before the service when you serve. Jake Duran Dec 1 Minnie Maloof Dec 2 Dorothy Mark Dec 4 Olivia Huntley Dec 6 Velma Spikes Dec 10 Jan Compton Dec 11 Marilyn Arnold Dec 13 Judy Wigand Dec 15 Mary Berry Dec 16 Hans Klahr Dec 18 Trish Blalock Dec 20 Linda Hanna Dec 22 John Osthimer Dec 23 Gladys Evans Dec 24 Noni Kreutz Dec 26 Larry Nau Dec 30 7