Connections Bulletin 2013-01-27


WELCOME TO CONNECTIONS

 

Today is Pastor John's last Sunday and his message is called "Last Words."During the service, there will be a time for questions from anyone in the congregation.We will end with a prayer by the Senior Pastor.

 

OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN AND SHARE

 

CONNECTIONS' FAMILY FELLOWSHIP GROUP:"CHICKEN SOUP"

We will continue our study in 1 Thesssalonians under the title of "A Spiritual Road Map in A mixed up world.Please come and join us this Friday night at 8:00 p.m. in classroom E-10.

 

CONNECTIONS' LIFE GROUPS

Paul and Virginia Cheng are hosting a Life Group at 1:30 p.m. in their home each Sunday afternoon.Those interested should see Paul or Virginia today. The next focus will be "Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ" by John Piper.

YOUTH

2013 Winter Retreat: On February 15-18, 2013 at Arrowhead Ranch, Lake Arrowhead. Deadline is TODAY!

Cost is $ 165 and the check is made payable to FECSGV with memo 2013 CIA Retreat. Scholarships are available upon request.

SENA February edition: You can pick up a copy of SENA devotional book at Pastor Ben's office after the service.

AGAPE CARING CENTER

ACCFeb-Mar Activity Announcement:

a. Elderly eye care prevention seminar: will be held on Friday 2/8 from 7:30-9 p.m. at Senior Home in El Monte.Speaker will be Dr. Grace Liu.(Free Admission)

b.Parents with autism children meeting:"How to maintain a happy marriage" will be held in Grace Hall on Saturday 2/16 from 9:30-11:30 a.m.Speaker is Director Sam Ng.(Free Admission).

c. Community Health Checkup day:will be held on Saturday 2/23 from 11a.m.-3 p.m. at church.(Free of Charge).

d.Red Cross "Disaster Response" seminar: will be held in the main sanctuary on Friday 3/1 from 7:30-9 p.m.(Free Admission).

e."End-of-Life Care" seminar:will be held in the Youth Center on Saturday 3/2 from 10-12 p.m.Speaker is Director Sam Ng.(Free Admission).

f."Celebrate Recovery" Support Group & "Supporting Group" gathering: will be held in Chapel 2 on Saturday 3/23 from 10-12 p.m.

All Church

Personnel Announcement: The Personnel Committee would like to announce that, Pastor John Crandall, Congregational Pastor of the Connections, will retire from our church effective January 31, 2013. We express our appreciation for Pastor John's ministry at our church from July 2009 to January 2013. May God continue to lead and bless Pastor John, his wife Linda, and his family in years ahead!

Rev. Stephen Tong L.A. Evangelistic Rally will be held on 2/1-3 at the First Nazarene Church of Pasadena.Please invite non-believers to this Rally (see insert). Our church, FECSGV, will help with Ushering, Traffic Control, and Child Care Assistance on 2/3 (Sun) afternoon, 3:00-7:00 p.m. We would encourage you to participate in these outreach ministries. Please contact Brother Frank Jao in the Mandarin Congregation at 626-688-6662jaofrank@msn.com for posters and invitation cards.

2012 All Church Offering Details asfollows:

§"Renovation Project Offering": Praise the Lord! We have collected a total of offering $99,472.45(including $7,000 from Chinese School), very close to the target of $100,000. Thank God for His providence and all brothers and sisters' participation in building for God's glory.

§Special Thanksgiving Offering (11/25-12/31): Gratefulness to our Lord that brothers and sisters had given offerings in the amount of $34,459.50, in which 50% will be allocated to the Local Mission Fund and 50% will be allocated to the Renovation Project.

§General fund: offering income was $1,093,222.34, there is 1.63% of increase compared to the income from 2011 ($1,075,720.87). There remained a shortfall of $75,241.58 due to the expense of $1,168,463.92.

Alpine's Winter Camp: Please pray for travel mercy and good weather for our group that's going up to Alpine's Winter Camp Fri - Sun, Feb 1-3, as well as the parents that volunteer to drop off and pick up.May the Lord grant them a great meeting time with God there! (17 children, 2 youth counselors, and 3 adults).

Sunday Lunch: Praise to the Lord! We have collected a total of Sunday Lunch Offering of $17,763.95, there is a 58% of increase compared to 2011 $11,232.53. Deacon Board suggests that you may pay it in advance at the beginning of the year for your family and yourself. Please make check payable to: FECSGV with a note of "Sunday Lunch". Suggested amount $96/person (Feb-Dec). Please also understand that the church will not issue tax credit receipts according to IRS regulation. This year, let us put an effort in the practice of being a true disciple by not only paying for our own Sunday lunch but also to give extra for the needy.

Scrip Sale Current Status:From January to December 2012 scrip sales total income was $5,439.86.Thank you for your support.

First Evangelical Church Association1/27/2013

A joint and integrative ministry of spirituality, mission and social concern

Rev. Stephen Tong Gospel Rally

Rev. Stephen Tong and his team are returning to the LA area on 2/1-3 where he will hold a three-day gospel evangelistic rally at the First Nazarene Church of Pasadena, 3700 East Sierra Madre Boulevard, Pasadena, CA 91107. Sermon will be in Mandarin with English Translation.
Theme: The Dignity, Fall, and Redemption of Man

2/1 (Friday): Gospel Rally at 7:30 pm

2/2 (Saturday): 10:00 am - Seminar "The Error and Rebuilding of ContemporaryCulture", 6:00 pm Q & A and 7:30 pm Gospel Rally

2/3 (Sunday): Gospel Rally at 3:00 pm

Missouri Short Term Mission

FECA Campus Ministry is planning a short term mission trip to Warsaw, Missouri for their "Spring Gospel Camp" held by the Christian Witness Center on 3/15-18. The ministry will involve seminars, personal evangelization, Gospel counseling, kitchen help, babysitting, etc. Team members should have the desire to share the Gospel & serve, and be well equipped born-again Christians. Registration is from 1/20 to 2/3. Please contact Rev. Paul Zhao at 626-202-6885 or paul.zhao@feca.org for registration and details.

2013 A One-Year Walk… and Short-term Service OpportunitiesBooklet

This 2013 combined booklet is ready for you to pick up. The One-Year Walk prayer guide gives you updated prayer items from our focused missions ministries, sent field workers, and supported missionaries and organizations. Please partner with them in prayers daily throughout the year. The Short-term Service Opportunities information encourages you to spend your vacation on the field for meaningful involvement in missions. Please review prayerfully and consider participating in 2013.

Charis' Cross-cultural Leadership Development Program

We are once again planning a Charis Cross-cultural Leadership Development Program. This is an intensive leadership training program in a cross-cultural context (rural China). Program dates will be 7/19/2013 - 8/6/2013 (not including travel time). Maximum number of participants: 16; Age: 14 and above; Cost: $1,350 per participant (not including airfare). More information and applications will be available through our U.S. team coordinator Ryan Hsu (FECC youth director, ryan.hsu5@gmail.com or 562-290-2629), or you may send inquiries to tleung@feca.org. Application deadline will be May 31, 2013.

Vision Choir's Retreat

Praise GodSomeone volunteered their home for Vision's retreat on 2/8-9.Please continue to pray for their retreat and Christine Gaw, their guest speaker.

Last Sunday's Worship Attendance and Offering

Glendale

SGV

FECC

Diamond Bar

Arcadia

Epicentre

Cerritos

Fullerton

Mandarin

135

312

105 (am), 159

92

62

41

Pasadena

Lincoln

Heights

Cantonese

35

238

90

--

145

110

English

223

71

75

53

60

50

95 (1st)

67

Youth

50 (LS), 56

57

66

--

w/English

28

171 (2nd)

--

Conval. & Ret. Homes: 73

Kairos: 48

Total: 2,767

Total: 2,

Glendale

SGV

FECC

Diamond Bar

Arcadia

Epicentre

General Fund

21,787.33

14,955.65

19,881.80

9,961.09

8,606.59

5,389.00

Mission Fund

1,673.00

315.00

660.00

240.00

1,170.00

--

--

Church Planting

--

--

9,065.00

--

--

--

--

Others

1,602.00

1,038.45

990.99

1,700.00

150.00

5,295.00

12/12 Sur./Def.

129,217

40,026

56,618

--

42,744

100,214

1-12/12 Sur./Def.

125

(75,242)

8,033

--

1,406

(6004)