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How Would Jesus Vote?
California recently made history and
voted to recall one governor and elect a new one. And the new year brings more elections
starting with the primaries that lead into the general election in November. Death, taxes
and the ballot box are permanent features of American life! It seems every time we turn
around, we are voting, deciding, and electing. In the end, it seems only to make a little
difference in our everyday lives.
But there is an election that will make a
BIG difference in your everyday life, and is one you are a BIG part of! God has held an
election, and you have already been chosen! The Bible often calls believers the “elect.”
God loves us, and cares for us so much that He elected us to be part of His kingdom. He
chose us to experience all that life has to offer. While we pick our candidates from many,
God has made it known that he wants all of us to win.
There are times a person declines the
opportunity to be a candidate. “If nominated I will not run, if elected, I will not serve!”
We can do the same thing with God. We can decline his choice and refuse to be elected.
Many people aren’t aware that God does love them, and has chosen them for greater things
in life!
You, however, can be among those who
know your special place in God’s kingdom, and choose to love and serve Him whether at home,
at church, at work, or elsewhere in our world.
Congratulations on your elections!
Pastor L. S. Emery
Annual Meeting Set for Jan. 18
By Frank Robinson
Just imagine a nice warm fire, a room full
of friends and neighbors, and a lively discussion featuring a short jog down memory lane.
Not enough to entice you to join us for the annual meeting? OK, then how about a nice meal
to go with the gathering, featuring some of the best dishes in town that require a second
trip through the line?
Now that we have your attention, take
a pen and mark Jan. 18 as a “must go to church” day to find out about all the inner
workings of the church, and talk with seasoned players who’ve helped keep the church a
special place in the community. They’ve been busy this year! Find out what’s new, what’s
changed, what’s in the works, and who’s on third...er, make that, who’s in the batting
box ready to take on another season. That brings us to the next point... WE NEED MORE
PLAYERS!!! Has God been nudging you to give of your gifts and talents to his purpose?
Now is a great time to join the team! Come on down to the meeting and find your position
on God’s team! He’s a great coach—and generally takes it easy on new players. It’s a good
time to find out how we’re doing, where we’re going, and maybe even offer suggestions for
improvement. We look forward to seeing YOU at the meeting! Don’t forget your appetite.
Batter up!
Election and Ordination of New Officers:
Sunday, Jan. 18, Morning Worship
Prayer Chain
If you would like to be on our prayer
chain, please contact the church at 776-1106, or wgcpc@hotmail.com and we’ll add
you to our growing group of prayer buddies. Please pray for: (1)Our deployed military
personnel and (2)Continued healing for Laurie Shonerd , Dorcys Burchell, and Paul White.
The church to be what God wants it to be in our community
The Ten Commandments for the modern world
Sunday, Sept 21 at 9:30 a.m.!
We’ve learned about the Ten Commandments
in Sunday School, heard about them on the news, and even seen the movie. But how do they
apply to our everyday relationship with God, with others, and some of the great moral
issues of our time? Come and join us for a 12-week journey through the Ten Commandments¬—
no, not a type-o! You’ll have to come find out what the two extra weeks are about!
Discover the basic framework for life—as it was meant to be—beginning on January 18th.
Ministry for "Shut-ins"
"Shut-ins" is an old term for people
limited to home or hospital and unable to attend church services. Pastor Emery, the
deacons, and the elders of our church regularly visit and administer communion to three
shut-ins.Do you know of others in the community who would appreciate visits and/or
communion? Please let us know by contacting the church office at 776 - 1106. Thanks!!
Dorcys and Jack Burchell, and Linda van
Loben Sels send their heartfelt thanks for your prayers, and help with meals after
Dorcys’ knee injury that resulted in surgery. God bless you!
Thursday Night Bible Study/ Prayer
By Debbie Phulps, Chior Director
“Practicing His Presence: Knowing Christ
Better in Daily Life” is the new theme for Bible Study in January. Christ can, at times,
seem like a very real presence in our lives. At other times, He seems distant and unreal.
How can we become closer to Jesus Christ in everyday life? Join us as we discuss prayer,
meditation, Bible reading, worship, solitude, simplicity, service and other means of
coming to know the continuing presence of Christ. We will begin this series with a pot
luck at 6 p.m. followed by our discussion at 7 on Jan. 15.
The Mystery of Mount Sinai
On February 5, we will study “The Mystery
of Mount Sinai.” Believed to be one of the holiest places on earth, Mount Sinai is where
God appeared to Moses in the burning bush and gave him the Ten Commandments. Are these
just legends? Are there natural explanations for events that happened on the mountain?
Where was Mt. Sinai located? Come and explore these questions and the actual location
of Mt. Sinai and the symbolic meaning it has for us today in an audio-visual presentation
by Pastor Emery. Potluck: 6 p.m., presentation, 7 p.m. Jesus, Jerusalem and Jihad:
Christians and Jews in the Koran and Islam. Sunday mornings, Feb. 15, 22, 29.
The news is filled with reports of conflict
between Islam and non-Muslims in the Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. What is the source
of this conflict and what is the Islamic perspective regarding Christians and Jews? Do all
Muslims believe the same thing? In three discussion-oriented sessions beginning in February,
we will look at: Jesus and Christians in Islam; Jews and Jerusalem in Islam; and Jihad in
Islam. Join us for these lively discussions on Sunday mornings following the service. See
YOU there!
Youth Activities
Twenty children, several parents, and Pastor
Emery ventured out to Weber Point Outdoor Holiday Skating Rink in Stockton for a fun time of
skating and pizza on Wed., Dec. 17. Bob Martin, Editor of the Stockton Chamber of Commerce
newsletter “Port O Call,” was taking pictures that day, and used a picture of our group
forming a skating chain for the cover! Bob will be mailing the photograph with others to
us, and we will put it up in Koinonia for members and friends to see! Special thanks to Judy
Castro, Virginia LaBahn, Debbie Elliot, Raquel Zucha, and Rev. Emery who helped drive, and
Ashley Johnson who helped chaperone. God BLESS YOU!
The Tuesday Children’s Breakfast Group has
enjoyed the help of great cooks! Special thanks to those who’ve helped out in the kitchen!
Chris Hudson will soon begin a new life when he
and his fiancé are married. They may need to relocate, so Chris is looking to find someone to
fill his place in helping Pastor Emery with the Tuesday Morning Breakfast group. If this sounds
like your calling, please call Chris Hudson at 775-1940. Come and join the fun!!
Summer Camp at Westminster Woods
Westminster Woods is a Presbyterian conference
center located in the redwood forest near Occidental Calif. It offers camps for grades 4-12. Young
people from our church have gone to the woods for many years and returned with stories of new and
exciting experiences, new friends, and new growth in their relationship with God. Parents and
children both are invited to attend meetings with representatives of the Woods to find out more
about attending this summer. Join us on Sunday morning, Feb. 8 after worship service, or at the
Tuesday Children’s Breakfast on Jan. 27 for a presentation about the Woods.
Travel plans put on hold for Christmas
service in Walnut Grove
As they passed through town to visit friends and
relatives, a longing for their own church back home brought a Michigan couple to the Walnut Grove
Church morning worship service on Dec. 21. They were pleasantly surprised by the warm fellowship
and friendliness of the congregation that felt like home. They expressed gratitude to many who
welcomed them, and were disappointed that their itinerary would take them away too soon to attend
the Candlelight Service that evening.
But there must have been something in the excitement
in the voices of members discussing Candlelight on Sunday morning, because the Michigan couple
changed their travel plans and returned that evening. They joined many others to hear the Christmas
message of peace delivered by the voices of a 23-member chancel choir, 17-member youth choir,
eloquent readers, and Pastor Emery.
The tears in their eyes and smiles on their faces
told new friends that this Michigan couple no longer felt they’d missed out on Christmas services
in their hometown. They were at home among believers in the Walnut Grove community.
A simple, yet timeless message of peace given by
Pastor Emery encouraged everyone present to come “home” to a lowly town called Bethlehem, and its
significance in finding peace when you make a home for Christ’s birth in your heart. The message
echoed in the voices of the Youth Choir who sang, “Gather all around and hear what we say, as we
sing the music from that night long ago. And for you we wish in all that you do, the promise of
peace and Merry Christmas to you.” Once Upon A Silent Night, (Gruber and Ray, 1985.)
The message was echoed by the Chancel Choir’s
theme song’s refrain: “Though some will not receive You, or know just who You are, I will prepare
a place for You, a home within my heart. I’ll make my heart Your Bethlehem, where You, O Lord,
can enter in. Shine Your light, let Your life in me begin, and make my heart Your Bethlehem.”
My Heart, Your Bethlehem, (Gaines and Schram, 2002.)
Word around town has it that the message of
the Candlelight service was very special to all who came to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas.
“I had a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes,” said Pat Horn.
May the peace of Christ be “at home” with you now
and always, and may you be “at home” wherever your travels take you!
Candles, lights and 45 Poinsettias
The Sanctuary was lit up with brilliant color for
Dec. 21 worship services and Candlelight. Brad Martin facilitated one of our largest poinsettia
orders ever, and called it in to local grower, Phillip J. Perez who commissioned his nephew, Val
Ratola Jr. to deliver the order to the church on Saturday, Dec. 20.
Poinsettias and Easter lilies are purchased by
members and friends to decorate the sanctuary for Christmas and Easter services in honor (or memory)
of loved ones. Thanks to all who helped make the Christmas services so special this year!
Engagement ‘Times Two’ for the Hudson Clan
And you think YOU’RE busy? How about making life
even more interesting and having two of your adult children planning their weddings at the same
time? That’s what Mary Lou Hudson and family are looking forward to in 2004.
Alisha Hudson and Andrew (Andy) Steinheimer met
in UC Hastings Law School in San Francisco around seven years ago. They became "study buddies,"
graduated together in the same ceremony, and even passed the California Bar exam at the same time.
Andy proposed to Alisha by hiding "Will you marry me?" notes in all their favorite board games,
and then one night, when they played the game called "Settlers of Catan," Alisha found Andy’s big
"question."
Chris Hudson proposed to Rebekah (Beka) Ward in
Chico State University’s Whitney Hall Cafeteria where Chris worked, and where he met Beka about
seven years ago. He created an e-mail description about his proposal -- including pictures and a
place to send a reply -- that can be found at:
http://www.orion-online.net/vnews/display.v/ART/2003/12/09/3fd65e25620ca
The Hudson family is now busy making preparations around jobs, relocation, and all the arrangements that go
with new beginnings. Our prayers are with them all during these busy times, and we hope they enjoy much happiness
and blessings in this year of new beginnings.
New bricks to
be added to Anniversary Patio
Twenty-eight new inscribed bricks that were ordered
last fall are ready to join our family of bricks on the beautiful Anniversary Patio. They’ll be
installed by January 18 when we gather for the Annual Meeting and Luncheon. We will offer opportunities
to add to the brick patio at a future date. Prior to that date, we will announce the opportunity in the
newsletter, the Sunday bulletin, and send the word through friends and members. Come and find your
name, the name of a loved one or friend among our family of patio bricks.
Walnut Grove Community Presbyterian Church
Sharing together the love of God
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