Author Archive
Posted on January 28, 2010 - by genes
Just For You
Several new things are starting at AFCC – Some are Just For You!
Blood Drive: Can You Spare a Drop? AFCC will be hosting its 2nd City of Hope Blood Drive, February 15, noon to 6PM. Reserve a time slot by contacting Heather or emailing register@anaheim1st.org.
Couples: The Love Dare Bible Study for couples is starting February at 6PM. This is open to any community or church couple looking for a study to enrich their marriage. Jim and Tammy will lead this 8 week study at the church building. Childcare is available at the church with a reservation of $5 per child, per session. Registrations can be made at register@anaheim1st.org.
Men: The Just for Men Ministry Team will be hosting a prayer breakfast at Pastor Gene’s house, February 20, 8-9:30. He’ll be serving ham, eggs, sausage and gravy, biscuits, H.O.T. jam, juice, tea and coffee – all for $3. There will be some serious eating, beginning at 8 AM sharp, followed by some serious praying; with a little clean up that will be all done by 9:30. If you can attend, please RSVP by Wednesday, Feb. 17, to Mat Barnett or call the church office at (714) 635-9330.
Divorce Support Group Begins: Find out about Life After Divorce, using study, prayer and directed discussion. Lead and hosted by Susan Madrigal, this group meets on the first and third Monday nights of the month. Childcare is available. To register or ask questions about this group, contact Susan, or call the church office at (714) 635-9330. Sponsored by the Just for Women Ministry Team.
Posted on January 26, 2010 - by genes
AFCC Provides Lifeline to Haiti
Thank You!
AFCC’s special offering to help with relief efforts in Haiti has raised $4,345, all of which has gone to Lifeline Christian Mission.
Our gifts will be used by them to provide various types of relief for the many homeless and hurt Haitian Christians associated with their churches, orphanages, schools and workshops. Lifeline Christian Mission is a well-respected ministry with whom I have had personal, on-site experience.
To stay informed with the challenges that our Haitian brothers and sisters are facing, use the Lifeline link printed here.
GRS
Posted on January 19, 2010 - by genes
AFCC Provides Haitian Relief
Like most of the world, AFCC is concerned about providing help for those impacted by the recent earthquake in Haiti. To me, this tragedy is somewhat personal since I have spent time working in Haiti with Christian churches, orphanages, workshops and schools associated with Lifeline Christian Mission. 
As you can see with this photo, one of the schools I worked at will not be using this class room any time soon.
Of course, the more pressing need is that of providing essential food, shelter and medical supplies to the hundreds of thousands who are displaced by this event. Since speaking about this on Sunday, I have learned that, in addition to many homes of the Haitian Christians associated with Lifeline, schools, churches and other community buildings have also been destroyed. People I worked with are hurt, homeless, seperated from their families and missing.
The donations that AFCC collects will go immediately to Lifeline Christian Mission, the organization with whom I worked while in Haiti. This is a well respected organization that will wisely use every gift they receive for disaster relief. To donate through AFCC, just mark your check or offering with Haiti and we will make sure it gets to the right place.
If you would like to keep up with reports on the conditions of our Christian family in Haiti , as well as Lifeline’s relief effort and special needs, just use the following link:
Posted on January 5, 2010 - by genes
Bible Reading in 2010
Although I always provide a Bible reading book mark each month for those who are looking for a systematized approach to their daily devotions, I have not placed a big emphasis on that program for the last couple of years. However, 2010’s planned reading is one that I would highly recommend you follow. While this year’s plan will not have you read every book in the Bible, it will take the reader through all of Old Testament history, as well as through every New Testament book. Additionally, for the most part, every book is read in chronological order, which helps the reader better understand the sweep of Biblical history and thought. Consequently, it is an easier read for most people, helping them stay faithful to a daily reading schedule. I can think of few things that will be more beneficial to you in the New Year than spending time each day in God’s word.
In case you need help in taking on this daily Bible read, here are a couple of suggestions that might make it easier for you.
1. Did you know that the daily reading section is available on the church website? If you can access the website by computer or cell
phone, the daily text will be waiting right there for you any time you want it.
2. Just for something different, have you ever considered listening to the Bible instead of reading it? Sometimes it is rather refreshing to listen to an entire book as a professional reads it on tape. (Particularly those sections with hard to pronounce names!) I have 3
different versions of the Bible on tape and enjoy augmenting, from time to time, my reading schedule with one or all of them. There are a host of versions available as discs or downloads. This year, I am listening to some of the books as presented by “The Word of Promise” edition, in NKJV. Given the large cast of award winning actors and musicians that worked on that production, it is a particularly fine listening experience that helps me visualize the Bible message in new ways.
I don’t care how you surround yourself with God’s word as long as you
do just that in 2010.
GRS
Posted on January 5, 2010 - by genes
Bible Studies for You at AFCC
The New Year can’t help but get off to a good start for those who make the study of God’s Word a priority in their life. Be sure and take advantage of these great Bible Study resources for Adults:
Sunday Mornings at 9:15 AM
January kicks off a new Bible School study series for adults – The Life of David: Learning How to Study Old Testament Narratives. All adult classes study the same topic. While each is loosely based on a general age grouping, most have a wide variety of ages represented in attendance.
Christian Service CLass – mostly Sr. Saints, taught by John Carter in the CSC room off the foyer.
Christian Builders Class – mostly 50 -70 ish, taught by Steve Edginton in the Fireside room off the main hall.
Ambassadors – mostly 30-40 ish, taught by Gene Shepherd in the Library.
Coffee Class - mostly 40-50ish, taught by Steve Richardson in the chapel.
Young Adult – Twenty something, taught by Tamsen Murray in Room 217.
Wednesday Nights at 7 PM
Steve Richardson, AFCC Elder, as well as Department Chair for the Biblical Studies Program at HIU, began an 8 week overview, in English, of the book of Revelation, 7PM in the Fireside Room. Fernando Soto is teaching a Spanish Bible study in the Library. There is also a full program for children and youth, beginning at 6:30.
At Your Convenience
Daily Bookmark Bible Reading Plan - Pastor Gene has put together a daily reading schedule that will take the reader through all the narrative sections of the Old Testament and the entire New Testament in one year. Monthly bookmarks are available in the foyer or on this site.
Posted on December 29, 2009 - by genes
AFCC Youth Group Ensures Rose Parade Success
The AFCC Youth Group, along with several sponsors, spent all day Monday working on the Anaheim City float for the Rose Parade, to be held on New Year’s Day in Pasadena. City officials felt, no doubt, that it was important to bring in our highly trained group to do the delicate, petal clipping work that would provide the artistic foundation of a successful float to represent our city to the world. Besides feeling a surge of pride as the Anaheim float passes by, the AFCC family can also stand up and cheer for the City of Hope float, which will carry our own Karina Melchoir as a rider! While the Rose Parade is always a thrilling spectacle, it will be particularly exciting this year to know that AFCC is making a contribution to both of these special floats.
Posted on December 25, 2009 - by genes
Congregation Celebrates Christmas
All regular church programing has come to a pause while the congregation concentrates on their own personal celebrations of Christ’s birth. We will be meeting together one more time for worship in 2009, December 27. Bible School will be at 9:15 and worship at 10:30.
Posted on December 25, 2009 - by genes
Merry Christmas
Christmas with the AFCC family is always very enjoyable for me. Given the fact that our congregation comes from so many different places, it means all of us can share a wide variety of traditions that celebrate the birth of Christ.
But, whether our celebrations are simple,
or formal, in English or in Spanish,
it is a wonderful thing to be a part of a caring family that knows the importance of acknowledging God’s special gift of love. Best wishes to all of you for a wonderful Christmas celebration. GRS
Posted on December 22, 2009 - by genes
Out With the Old, In With the New
This is another AFCC tradition – Once the holiday events are over and church programs grind to a halt for family Christmas and New Year’s celebrations, a crew of church elves goes into the kitchen and really cleans house. (You might be surprised to learn what can accumulate in a church refrigerator if aggressive action doesn’t take place every so often!) While that regular clean up did recently take place, this year, it extended past the kitchen and into the pantry.
In fact, using memorial money from the Thelma Goodwin Fund, the church pantry got a complete overhaul. The original, permanent, wooden shelves were replaced with adjustable restaurant versions, the fluorescent green walls were painted with a scrubbable white enamel and several unusable items, that just took up space, were sent on to a better place. Hank demonstrates, in this photo, that it’s actually fairly easy now to find just what you want in this well organized space. Thelma Goodwin, who logged many an hour in the church kitchen, would have been thrilled to see the improvement. Thank You to all who helped make this possible. GRS
Posted on December 20, 2009 - by genes
A Nice Tradition
It started a few years ago when some of our children were standing around after the service on the Sunday before Christmas, looking particularly nice in their Christmas outfits. Someone thought to make a Kodak moment … which was repeated the next year, etc. Now, we have one of those well established, informal, traditions going that has documented, in several installments, the growth of our children. It is always fun to see who gathers on the steps to make a memory. While I do enjoy looking at the children, I can’t help but also notice that some of their parents, just like them, grew up in this church. Others started coming while students in college. Some met at AFCC, others married here and then stayed. A few picked this church after starting their families, because of the value we place on children and our commitment to support them as parents. It is a great thing to be a part of an ever expanding Christian family where all of us, regardless of age, can forge relationships that will be a blessing to us for the rest of our lives. Next year’s photo will be taken December 19, 2010. New children are always welcome as there is plenty of room on the steps! GRS