Pastor Brad's Blog
Saturday, December 26, 2009 | On the day after, may I continue to wish you a Merry Christmas! If you were away or just engaged with your own family gatherings on the 24th, you missed Steve Maher's thespian monologue during our Christmas Eve Observance at Castlewood. If you would like to see it, you can find it from our homepage by pressing the "Watch" button. | |
Tuesday, December 22, 2009 | Christmas
Sunday worship was a warm experience in many ways. Thank you for being
in your place. I do like this idea of Christmas being about when God
"showed up." On Thursday we will gather for our annual Christmas Eve Worship and Candle Lighting Service. If you are going to be away, be well and be safe. Otherwise, come and join your Christian family for this special observance. See you there. | |
Monday, December 14, 2009 | How
you have blessed me with your response to my desire to provide
gifts for teens exiting the Foster Care system. Your generous giving
has provided 41 - $20 ($820) retail gift cards for the Christmas party
they are
having for this often forgotten group. The representative of the sponsoring agency was clearly moved as she told me prior to my call that they were about $300 short of being able to balance out gifts among the 150 expected foster teens. Thank you for being Jesus' hands to them. | |
Monday, December 7, 2009 | We've begun our December stroll toward Christmas. Yesterday I shared some less talked about "Signs of Christmas" - the pervasiveness of sin, the surrender of the souls to that sin and the Father's satisfaction that the time had arrived to do something about it.
All these signs were a clear indication that "it is a trustworthy
statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the
world to save sinners..." Next Sunday we will consider "The Songs Of Christmas." Certainly the Christmas Season is an important time for believers to come and worship the Lord. I look forward to seeing you for Bible Study, Worship and then again at 3 p.m. for our 2009 Christmas Musical Presentation, Eyes of Christmas Through the Ages. | |
Tuesday, December 1, 2009 | Brittany's Baptism and Pastor Ron here with us to preach were high moments in Sunday's worship. God continues to graciously visit us. Take a look at the "calendar" link to stay on top of all our Christmas activities. Won't you invite a friend to our musical celebration of Christmas on December 13th, 3 pm as together we enjoy "Eyes of Christmas through the Ages?" I feel like I blinked and 2009 slipped by in just moments. But that is what life is, a whole lot of moments strung together. Aren't you thankful that because of Jesus we have the Scarlet Thread of Redemption to meaningfully connect our lives together? | |
Monday, November 23, 2009 | What a moving moment in worship to see Brittany Schreiner
come and profess her faith in Jesus! Here is another one of our young
adults who Christ has touched in the midst of her own family's rich
heritage of faith in the Lord. She wanted to be baptized soon, so look
forward to that celebration this coming Sunday morning worship. How you continue to rise to a challenge to do something good in the name of the Lord! Our part in the Operation Christmas Child Shoe Box gift ministry has ended for 2009, so here is a concluding report. There were 54 boxes delivered to the distribution center, and an additional amount of about $400 cash given. Those at the center informed us that our boxes are destined for China, Mongolia, Indonesia, Peru and the Philippines. Thank you to Mary DeCola for your leadership in another successful effort. And not to miss the need to help neighbors who are hungry, you gave over $6,400.00 to our 2009 Local Hunger Offering. I have known you to be a giving people and you continue to surprise and bless me. | |
Monday, November 16, 2009 | Sunday morning's sermon video on tithing and giving is now available at the "watch" link on the home page. The toddler room looks great so far...just waiting on the new carpet and baseboards to be installed. Thank you one and all for a worthy effort. If you are wanting to know more about Alpha Pregnancy Resource Center which recently opened in Vallejo and I referenced on Sunday morning, you can get more information here... | |
Tuesday, November 10, 2009 | The
work renovating the Toddler's Room has begun. Men began removing
fixtures, repairing minor wall dings and repainting last night. Some
have also begun assembling the new color coordinated cabinets, cubbies
and other fixtures. Like our nursery renovation
completed recently, this, too, will be a quality project that will
last many years.
Thank you, Jerry Lancaster for leading a group of good men to make this happen! | |
Wednesday, November 4, 2009 |
John Armstrong tells me He is planning to begin work on an additional
section of our website specifically focused on the youth ministry, so
be watching for that in the near future. Operation Christmas Child reminder: Sunday, November 15 is the last day to bring your shoe boxes for needy children to the Church for distribution by Samaritan's Purse. |