the

My Beloved . . .
I just had to write and tell you how much I love and care about you. I saw you yesterday as you were walking with your friends, and I longed to talk with you. I waited all
day hoping you would want to talk with Me too. As evening drew near, I gave you a
sunset to close your day and a cool breeze to refresh you. And I waited. But you
never had any time for Me. It grieved Me, but I still love you and always will.
I watched over you as you slept last night. And I expressed the warmth of My love by
spilling moonbeams on your pillow and letting them fall gently across your face. It
was late when you got up the next morning so you rushed off into your day, still not
having any time to spend with Me. My tears of sadness were expressed in the rain.
When I see you looking sad, and feeling all alone I want to gather you in My arms and
comfort you. It makes my heart ache when you are hurting. I want you to know that I
understand what it is like when friends disappoint you. Many times, My friends have
let Me down and hurt Me. I just wish that you understood that I love you and I will
never leave you nor forsake you. For I love you as no one else ever can.
I try to tell you of my never-ending love through the brilliance of the blue sky and the
splendor of the green grass. I whisper it in the rustling leaves of the trees and I shout
it out in the glorious multi-colors of the flowers. I bathe you in warm sunshine and
perfume the air with the scents of the seasons. My love for you is so much wider and
deeper and higher than you can even measure. And it is bigger than any want or need
you can ever have in your life.
I enjoy the sound of your voice and treasure the times you are willing to spend with
Me. There is so much I want to share with you and so little time in which to do it. But I
will never demand my own way - for love should never demand its own way. But I will
stand at the door of your life patiently knocking, with an everlasting hope that you will
invite me in to stay - for love never gives up.

Love Always . . . Christ the Lord

(author unknown)
Taken from the internet

PAST AND PRESENT COPIES OF THE FELLOWSHIP NEWS MAY BE VIEWED AT

www.scribd.com/2468bixby
Bixby Knolls Christian Church, (Disciples of Christ) (562) 426-0428
ISSUE 19

SEPTEMBER 20, 2016

Dear Church,
Last week, I posted the following question on our church facebook page:
If someone asked you what Bixby Knolls Christian Church is all about, what
would you say?
On Sunday, I asked our elders the same question. Here are the answers I received online and from our
elders:
Bixby Knolls Christian Church is all about
Unity
Acceptance
A spirit of free discussion
Making Gods word understandable
Family
Giving (shoes, clothes, food, resources, etc.)
Seeking justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly with the Lord
Love (multiple people said this)
I found these answers helpful and informative. I also found it helpful and informative to note what was not
mentioned.
No one said that BKCC was about the building. No one said it was the sanctuary, or the stained glass windows, or the sound system. No one even mentioned the fellowship hall with its new paint and flooring.
Our building does help us carry out our mission. At least, thats how it is supposed to be. But for many
congregations, the building ends up pulling attention and resources away from mission.
In other words, the building detracts from what the congregation is all about.
In the coming weeks, under the leadership of our elders, we will engage in conversation and decisionmaking about the future of Bixby Knolls Christian Church. In this, we have already received positive encouragement from our regional ministers, who have commended us for asking how we can more effectively be a
church in todays world.
As we prepare to make financial commitments for the coming year, I want you to be aware of these
things. This is an exciting time to be a part of the church, and your financial support is more important than
ever. Together, let us with Gods help create a new future for Bixby Knolls Christian Church. Let us create a
future in which we show the world what Bixby Knolls Christian Church is all about.
Blessings,
Danny

Stewardship Campaign
Our stewardship campaign is underway! By now you should have received in the mail a letter with important information about the campaign. If you did not, extra copies will be available at church this coming
Sunday.
The Stewardship Campaign is your opportunity to commit to supporting the financial needs of the
church in the coming year. It is an exciting time as we consider Gods call on our lives and the life of the
church in 2017.
We will celebrate our commitment to our shared ministry on October 2, when we bring our pledge
cards to worship. Then, after worship, we will enjoy a wonderful potluck lunch.

Bixby Knolls Christian Church is connected to over 100 congregations that make up the Pacific Southwest Region of
the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). These connections allow us to
work with other congregations to offer programs and events to enrich the
spiritual lives of all who participate. Some upcoming regional events are
REGIONAL ASSEMBLY
The Regional Assembly is the gathering of all congregations for fellowship,
education, worship, and business. It takes place October 14-15 in Fullerton.
(Both Pastor Danny & Tristan Bradfield are helping lead workshops at Regional Assembly!)
DISCIPLES WOMEN SPIRITUAL GROWTH RETREAT
This retreat takes place Sept. 30-Oct. 2 at Loch Leven. It offers the opportunity to connect the spiritual practices offered in Barbara Brown Taylors
book An Altar in the World to our lives. (This is a book Pastor Danny has
read and recommends!) Participants will be encouraged to take time to
build their own altarsany place where we can stop and worship God

YOUNG ADULT RETREAT

October 21-23 at Loch Leven
OLDER ADULTS RETREAT
November 1-2 at the Mary and Joseph Retreat Center in
Rancho Palos Verdes.
For more info on any of these regional events, visit
www.disciplespswr.org.

Have you ever experienced worship or

communion in another country?
Would you be willing to talk about it in
worship October 2?
If so, contact Pastor Danny

Our awesome Elders and Pastor Danny. (He is awesome too!)

Michael Cole
Lydia Sykes
Earlene Thomas
Alice Hoffman
Sumbal Sardar
Keri Clark (daughter of M. Lanz)
Ruth Jeglum
Grace Kobel
Porter Family, Ruthie Atkin (friends of B. Smith)
Nargis & family in Pakistan (family of Sumbal Sardar)
Keri France (family of A. Hillig)
Venus (friend of A. Hillig)
Chrystal Gay (A. Hilligs sister)

Upcoming EventsSept 30-Oct 2 Spiritual Womens Growth Retreat

Oct 2
World Communion Sunday & Potluck

The first ever regional Don Shelton mini golf tournament took place on Sunday, Sept. 18 in Anaheim.
Ninety youth and adults from across the Pacific
Southwest Region gathered, divided into teams of
four. Out of all the teams that played, the boys
from Bixby Knolls came in 2nd place.

Ralphs
Community Rewards Program
If you shop at Ralphs and use their rewards
card, it is time to renew your connection with
BKCC. It costs you nothing and BKCC receives
3% of your purchases.
Just call 1-800-443-4438. You will have to
give them BKCCs account number 83219
Ralphs no longer accepts bar code letter for
renewing.
Do it now while you are thinking about the
church and what you can do to help our bottom line. All it takes is a phone call.

Nov 6
Nov 20
Nov 24
Nov 26
Nov 27

All Saints Sunday

Alternative Christmas
Thanksgiving Day - office closed
Greening of the Church
First Sunday of Advent - Hope

Dec 4
Dec 11

Second Sunday of Advent - Peace

Third Sunday of Advent - Joy
Special Choir Music
Fourth Sunday of Advent - Love
CWF Advent Coffee Hr.
Christmas Eve Service, 5:30 p.m.
Christmas Day

Dec 18
Dec 18
Dec 24
Dec 25

Peace is Christs distinctive gift - not money, not

worldly ease, not temporal prosperity. These are
at best very questionable possessions. They often
do more harm than good to the soul. They act as
clogs and weights to our spiritual life.
Inward peace of conscience, arising from a sense
of pardoned sin and reconciliation with God, is a
far greater blessing. This peace is the property of
all believers, whether high or low, rich or poor.
-J.C. Ryle

Sept 25 Luke 16-19-31

The day the power of

love overrules the love
of power, the world will
know peace.
-Mahatma Gandhi

October Birthdays
Rahail Sardar - 7th
Betty Jo Williamson - 9th

Birthday Blessings from your

church family

Bixby Knolls Vision Statement

To know what the Lord requires of us;
to do justice, and love kindness,
and walk humbly with our God. (Micah 6:8)

Check us out on Facebook

www.facebook.com/bixbyknollschurch
website:
www.bixbyknollschurch.blogspot.com

The Fellowship News

A publication of
Bixby Knolls Christian Church of
Long Beach (a Disciples of Christ
Church)
1240 E. Carson Street
Long Beach, CA 90807
www.bixbyknollschurch.org
Editor:
Monica Lanz
562-426-0428
bkcchurch@aol.com
fax 562-426-0429
Pastor:
Daniel Bradfield
The Fellowship News is published
twice monthly.

BIXBY KNOLLS
CHRISTIAN CHURCH

(Disciples of Christ)

SUNDAY SCHEDULE:
9:00 a.m. Sunday School for Adults
10:15 a.m. Morning Worship and Childrens Church
OFFICE HOURS:
Monday - Thursday 7:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Friday closed

BOARD OFFICERS:
Leo Dittemore
Pastor Daniel Bradfield
-Board President
-Minister
Scheri Dubon
Monica Lanz
-Vice President
-Church Secretary
Pat Cohen
Barbara Neal-Peebles
-Secretary
-Music Director/Organist Angela Hillig
Suzie Romero
- Treasurer
- Custodian
Sandy Jeglum
- Financial Secretary
-Church Clerk

Every 2nd Sunday is FOOD

SUNDAY at BKCC. Bring
your nonperishable food
items and place them in the
box in the narthex.

Help cook food for Christian

Outreach in Action (COA).
Every 2nd Thursday at 8:00
a.m. in our church kitchen.

Our prayer circle meets every

2nd and 4th Tuesday at 10:00
a.m. in room 115. Join this
dedicated group in praying
for our church, community, &
world.

Join us for our next 30minute litter pickup every

4th Sunday at 11:45 a.m.
(Next litter pickup is Sept.
25)

Wednesday Night Dinners:

join us every Wednesday at
6:00 for this pay-what-youcan meal.

CHURCH STAFF:

Submit your articles for

the next newsletter by

October 2