the

Water Water flows through the Scriptures: the flood, the Red Sea crossing, water springing from a rock to nourish Israelites in the wilderness, the healing of Naamans leprosy when he washed in the Jordan River, Johns baptism of Jesus and, chiefly, our baptism into Christ. The water of baptism symbolizes cleansing from sin, the quenching of our spiritual thirst and God raising us from death (drowning in sin) to life everlasting. Just as we cant live without physical water, neither can we truly live without the living water that Jesus gives (see John 4:13-14).
NUMBER 2011-12 JULY 10, 2012

Bixby Knolls Christian Church, (Disciples of Christ) (562) 426-0428

IN THIS ISSUE ~ NEWS & NOTES ~VBS ~ HELP LESLIE HELP OTHERS and so much more.....

Dear church, Sunday night, the ABC Television show Secret Millionaire featured three Long Beach organizations committed to helping people in our community: SHOESTRING CITY RANCH provides free and low cost rural experiences to city kids while teaching teamwork, respect, and leadership skills in an ecologically friendly green-space working with rescued animals. NEW HOPE GRIEF SUPPORT helps grieving people find hope and healing. New Hope offers a variety of rewarding opportunities for generous and compassionate people who would like to make a difference in the lives of grieving children, teens, and adults. LOVE IN THE MIRROR is a charitable organization that strives to inspire young people to make a difference through their volunteer commitment of providing needy and homeless youth basic necessities such as food, clothing and learning materials. It was founded by Jonas Corona when he was 6 years old! (Hes now 9.) Watching this episode (the only one of the series Ive seen), I was impressed by the people in these organizations, who have committed their lives to do something to bring healing and wholeness to the world. And I couldnt help but think: This is what church should be like. When Jesus gathered with his disciples at the Last Supper, the verb was do. Jesus didnt say, Believe this or Say this or Think this He said do this in remembrance of me. The world doesnt need more Christians (or people of any religion) telling them what to think or believe. The world needs people who will do something that brings healing and wholeness. This month, at Bixby Knolls Christian Church, we are doing a number of things. We are collecting shoes for the Kim Foot & Ankle Shoe Drive, which has a goal of no shoeless person in the world. We are welcoming neighborhood children to our annual Vacation Bible School. We are preparing to blanket the world with love through our Blankets+ offering. We are sending youth to camp at Loch Leven. If you have the chance, watch The Secret Millionaire (Season 2, Episode 4) online (its available at abc.com or hulu.com). Then, whether you are able to watch it or not, ask yourself: What can I do to bring healing and wholeness to the world? Blessings, Pastor Danny

A prayer for Bixby Knolls Christian Church

Use me to bring wholeness to my neighbor. Use my church to bring wholeness to our community. Show us how your kingdom of shalom can be made real on earth through us.

Ready for the adventure of a lifetime?

At Sky, our Vacation Bible School for 2012, kids discover that everything is possible with God! Sky is filled with incredible Bible-learning experiences kids see, hear, touch, and even taste! Sciency-Fun Gizmos, team-building games, cool Bible songs, and tasty treats are just a few of the Sky activities that help faith flow into real life. (Since everything is hands-on, kids might get a little messy. Be sure to send them in play clothes and safe shoes.) Plus, well help kids discover how to see evidence of God in everyday lifesomething we call God Sightings. Get ready to hear that phrase a lot! Sky takes place July 16-20 (9am to noon) at Bixby Knolls Christian Church, and is for kids in kindergarten through 6th grade. In addition, teens and adults join in the fun by serving as volunteer guides & station leaders. Due to the generosity of BKCC members & friends who have made special gifts in support of Vacation Bible School, we are able to offer this program at no cost to those who attend! Please pray for the success of this event, and please invite friends & neighbors to attend.

Bixby Knolls Christian Church is a drop-off location for the Kim Foot & Ankle Shoe Drive. We are collecting new and used shoes which will be given to people who need them here in Los Angeles County as well as in Mexico & Japan. Our goal: No shoeless person in the world! The donation box is located in the narthex. Bring your shoes with you to worship, Wednesday Night Dinner, or drop them off during office hours. Friday, July 27 will be the last day to drop off your shoes.

News from Loch Leven

This summer, 7 youth and 3 adults from Bixby Knolls Christian Church will be attending camp at Loch Leven. (One of those youth and one of those adults is actually the same person; ask Robbie to explain.) The theme of this years camp is Deeper Roots, Higher Reach. Please keep the campers & staff of this summers camps in your prayers. And if you want to know more, be sure to attend a special Rekindle worship service on August 19, which will include thoughts and reflections from camp.

Junior Camp co-directors Ginger Bradfield & Layne Beamer greet campers on the first day of Junior Camp

Wanted: Containers
Do you have plastic containers with lids you never use? The key word is LID. The clients of Centro Shalom could really use these containers with their lids. Rubbermaid, Tupperware, or any plastic-ware of any brand would be appreciated. Please place your donations in the food box in the narthex. Thank you. Pat Cohen Community Action

Playing with Fire

A 3-day Mission Gathering Ontario, California, September 21-23 Are you interested in transforming the church to help people be more Christ-like? Do you want to share ideas about how to help our movement be more alive? If so, then you might be interested in Playing With Fire, an event sponsored by the western Regions in Ministry of the Disciples of Christ. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/pwfgathering or send an email to sandhya@ccncn.org.

Our Wednesday Night Dinners return this week and will continue throughout the summer. However, we are in need of some volunteer cooks for several upcoming Wednesdays when Pastor Danny will be out of town. This is a good time to volunteer, as summer attendance at our dinners is usually light. Contact Pastor Danny if you are interested.

Regional Assembly
October 19-20, 2012 Mill Creek Christian Church Bakersfield, CA

This year the Vacation Bible School offering will be given to the Blanket Plus Tools project. This is a church World Service project which aides people when disasters strike. Please make your checks payable to BKCC and write blankets on the memo line.

Letter received from the daughter of Ken and Margo Brown

June 3, 2012

Hello Family and Friends, It is time for me to start fundraising again. I have signed up for the Nike Womans Marathon with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Societys Team In Training. I will be running 26.2 miles through the rolling hills of San Francisco on October 14, 2012. I truly enjoy being part of this charity program. Not only do I have the opportunity to keep myself healthy and in good shape, but I am helping to fund cancer research and improving the lives of patients. This past year and a half I have been volunteering as a support staff member of the Long Beach Marathon Team. After I completed the LA Marathon in 2011, I was asked by the coaches and the Campaign Manager to return for the next season as a Mentor. In addition to training for the Disneyland Half Marathon, I was responsible for helping new participants train and fundraise. I must have done well because I was promoted to Captain for the next season. I am returning to the Long Beach Marathon Team as a Fundraising Captain for the upcoming Fall Season. I have committed to raising $2,175 for LLS. 75% of this will go directly to patient services and to fund University research grants. Many of you have donated in the past Thank you. I would like to ask you again for a donation. There are three ways you can donate:

1. Visit my fundraising webpage and make an electronic donation. You can print out a receipt from your
computer to use for your tax return. http://pages.teamintraining.org/los/nikesf12/lbrownau2j

2. You can also send a check made out to LLS. Send checks to my home address: 27 Deer Creek, Irvine,
CA 92604. I will submit these checks to my account. Or you can write a check made out to LLS and give them to my parents Margo and Ken at church any Sunday. I encourage you to pass this letter on to your family and friends. Please let me know if your company does matching gifts. Visit www.matchinggifts.com/lls to find out if your company has a matching gift program already set up. If not, ask your HR department for help. There is a simple form to be filled and your personal donation will be doubled! Thank you in advance for your support and generosity. Sincerely, Leslie

John & Marcia Solan August 16 - 53 yrs. Hazel & Joseph Torres August 18 - 53 yrs. Daniel & Ginger Bradfield August 21 - 19 yrs.

UPCOMING SCRIPTURES July 22 July 29 August 5 August 12 - John 6:35, 41-51

Lauren Dubon - August 2 Ratana Pheng - August 5 Tom Hilling III - August 14 John Solan - August 18 Marcia Solan - August 18 Becky Carroll - August 19 Octavia Cook - August 22 Grace Kobel - August 24 Marlon Bragg - August 28 Chrysan Naw - August 28 Eleanor Smith - August 29 Sarah Stolze - August 29

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.

Congratulations and Blessings to all!

Check us out on Facebook www.facebook.com/bixbyknollschurch

This is the last newsletter for the month of July. The next issue will be August 7. Please submit articles by August 5.

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

CHURCH STAFF: Pastor Daniel Bradfield -Minister Monica Lanz -Church Secretary Barbara Neal-Peebles -Music Director/Organist Christine Perkinson - Church Child Care Suzie Romero - Custodian

BOARD OFFICERS: David Rugh -Board President -Vice President Pat Cohen -Secretary Angela Hillig - Treasurer Chrysan Naw - Financial Secretary Phil OLaughlin -Church Clerk