Quote: Lesslie Newbigin

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 The Church is not an organization of spiritual giants. It is broken men and women who can lead others to the Cross. – Lesslie Newbigin

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Fall Classes & Workshops

Sundays, September 22 - December 15, 9:00-9:45 am Sunday morning classes and workshops for all ages begin on Sunday, September 22nd. Classes will be from 9:00-9:45 am.

This fall we will be offering two adult classes, both six weeks long:

  1. The Kingdom Significance of Your Everyday: The biblical vision of work and everything else
  2. Worship: Forming and Expressing What We Love

The classes will run simultaneously during two sessions:

  • Session 1: Sept 15-Oct 27
  • Session 2: Nov 10-Dec 15

 

Please sign up and let us know which class you would like to attend during the first session.

See the Classes & Workshops webpage for details on these classes and our classes for children and youth.

Sermon Preview - Portraits from the Prophets: Micah

Sunday, September 22, 10:00 am worship "Let your religion be less of a theory and more of a love affair." - G. K. Chesterton

I knew what I should say. I knew what I should do. I knew what I should feel. But I had to fake it. I wanted to get what I wanted, so I had to do what needed to be done, but my heart was not in it. Do you know the feeling? If we are honest we can all tell stories about doing things on the outside that seem good and right, all the while our motives are a mess.

This Sunday we will listen to the prophet Micah. He looks into the eyes of Israel and Judah, and us, and calls us out. He helps us get honest with ourselves and calls us to remember again the portrait of God as our great Shepherd-King. Micah calls us to examine what we really want. Is God a means to an end, or is Jesus the prize that nothing else compares with?

Micah does not want to crush us with the guilt of our messy motives, but free us to love, with our whole heart, the only one loving and faithful enough to entrust ourselves to.

With fire in his eyes, tears streaming down his face, and compassion in his voice, Micah proclaims, "Put your silly, ineffectual religion aside. Embrace the promises of God from the heart and live like they are true."

I cannot wait to listen to Micah together.

Pastor David

Women's Fellowship Gathering

Monday, September 16, 7:30 pm Ladies are invited to our first monthly gathering for the fall on Monday, September 16th. We will gather at the home of Alexis Pringle in Anaheim. Come for a casual evening of fellowship, appetizers and dessert. Also, Beckie White will be sharing some highlights from her recent mission trip to South Africa. We hope you can join us and bring a friend too!

Quote: Timothy Keller

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The gospel is news of what God has done to reach us, not advice about what we must do to reach God. – Timothy Keller

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Sermon Preview - Portraits from the Prophets: Hosea (Hosea 1-3)

Sunday, September 15, 10:00 am worship

 ***Parents, please read the warning below***

We all know the sound of these words whispered in the darkest parts of our minds, "I don't belong, I am not good enough, I have failed so badly this time I will never be able to recover." What do you do to cope? Can you remember the moment, the first time, when you came face to face with that person you had failed or had wronged so badly? Your heart racing. Your stomach churning. Your mouth dry. Your words escaping you. What would they say? What would they do? You have nowhere to hide and you are in their hands.

This Sunday we begin our fall preaching series, Portraits from the Prophets, where we will look at each book of the minor prophets in the Hebrew scriptures. These often neglected books of the bible contain stirring and important pictures of God that will deepen our love for him, and our understanding of such a wonderful Father and King.

We begin with Hosea. A prophet called by God to marry a woman who would find other men more attractive and cheat on him. A woman who would have children by other men and pass them off as Hosea's. A woman who would leave him. God meant this to be a picture of his relationship with his people. What would God say? What would God do when he caught up with his adulterous spouse? What is he going to do with us who have rejected him in favor of others so many times?

God has given us the book of Hosea because we need to know and experience the redeeming love of God that outstrips our capacity to comprehend. God loves you more than you can imagine.

I can't wait to worship together.

Pastor David P.S. We have updated our worship bulletin. The new Order of Worship is designed to aid you in your worship, and especially help people unfamiliar with our liturgy feel comfortable and learn the reasons behind why we do what we do. Click here (link to: url for 9/15/13 order of worship) to see the updated design.

 ***Parental Warning***

The main theme of the book of Hosea revolves around adultery. The sermon will not be sexually explicit, but will include references to sex, adultery, and prostitution. If you would like help in how to explain and talk about these themes to your children don't hesitate to contact me.

Sermon Preview - Kingdom Love: Making the Invisible Visible (Matthew 5:38-42)

Sunday, September 8, 10:00 am worship I have so missed Redeemer and I am glad to be back this Sunday! Sometimes you don't know what you have until it gets taken away. Worshiping with the Redeemer community is more precious, more powerful, than I realized.

You have served my family well over these hard last weeks, bringing us meals, watching our kids, sending cards and flowers; you are a gracious and compassionate people. Thank you. You have been the comfort of Jesus to us.

Dr. Julius Kim, Dean of Students and Associate Professor of Practical Theology at Westminster Seminary, will be with us this week preaching from Matthew 5. Dr. Kim is a gifted preacher and a good friend to Redeemer. You will not want to miss hearing God speak to you through the preaching of Dr. Kim.

Next week we will begin our fall preaching series, Portraits from the Prophets. It will be so good to preach again. Over the fall we will look at each book of the minor prophets in the Hebrew scriptures. These often neglected books of the bible contain stirring and important pictures of God that will deepen our love for and understanding of our Father and King.

I look forward to worshiping together this Sunday.

Pastor David

Quote: Mark Snavely

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The first lesson in parenting is to remember that your children are children, and you can expect them to behave as such. – Mark Snavely

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Christianity in Turkey: A Visit from Fikret Bocek

Sunday, September 1, 9:00 am class in the library and sermon during worship Historian Bernard Lewis once said, "One may speak of Christian Arabs, but a Christian Turk is an absurdity and contradiction in terms." On September 1st we will welcome a friend of Jon and Jill Nelson, Fikret Bocek, who is from Izmir, Turkey (biblical Smyrna). Fikret graduated from Westminster Seminary in 1998 and has been a Reformed church planter in Turkey since 2001. As a Muslim-background believer, he has amazing insight into reaching the Muslim world with the gospel. Come at 9am to attend a class he will be teaching about his church-planting experiences in Turkey and his own testimony from Islam to Christ. (Nursery childcare and a program for elementary age children will be provided.) We will also hear from Fikret during worship as he will be preaching the sermon on Exodus 17: "A Trial in the Wildnerness." Don't miss this opportunity to hear how our Christian brother in the Middle East is bringing the gospel to the Muslim world.

Sermon Preview - A Trial in the Wilderness (Exodus 17:1-7)

Sunday, September 1, 10:00 am worship This Sunday we have the exciting opportunity to hear about The Muslim World and the Future of the Christian Church, with our guest preacher Fikret Böcek. As a convert to Christianity from Islam and currently a Reformed pastor in the Muslim world, Fikret will be sharing his story and teaching from the Scripture in a way that helps us better understand the Muslim world.

Fikret will be giving a talk at 9 AM in the Temple library, and he will be preaching from Exodus 17 in our 10 AM worship service. Fikret's visit is a great opportunity to invite friends to church over Labor Day weekend. Take advantage of it.

I look forward to worshipping with you!

Adam Feichtmann

Youth Family Taco Night

Friday, August 23, 6:00-8:30 pm, Erskine Home in Costa Mesa Middle/High Schoolers and their families are invited to come enjoy tacos and fellowship on Friday, August 23rd. This is a great opportunity for parents of teens to connect while our youth continue to build relationships with one another. We will gather at the home of Guy and Kem Erskine in Costa Mesa. The pool will be open, so bring your swim wear and towels too if you want to take an evening swim. Please contact Kem by August 21st to RSVP and sign up to bring a side or dessert.

Christianity in Turkey – A Visit from Fikret Bocek

Sunday, September 1, 9:00 am class in the library and sermon during worship Historian Bernard Lewis once said, “One may speak of Christian Arabs, but a Christian Turk is an absurdity and contradiction in terms.” On September 1st we will welcome a friend of Jon and Jill Nelson, Fikret Bocek, who is from Izmir, Turkey (biblical Smyrna). Fikret graduated from Westminster Seminary in 1998 and has been a Reformed church planter in Turkey since 2001. As a Muslim-background believer, he has amazing insight into reaching the Muslim world with the gospel. Come at 9am to attend a class he will be teaching about his church-planting experiences in Turkey and his own testimony from Islam to Christ. (Nursery childcare and a program for elementary age children will be provided.) We will also hear from Fikret during worship as he will be preaching the sermon on Exodus 17: “A Trial in the Wildnerness.” Don’t miss this opportunity to hear how our Christian brother in the Middle East is bringing the gospel to the Muslim world.

Youth Family Taco Night

Friday, August 23, 6:00-8:30 pm, Erskine Home in Costa Mesa Middle/High Schoolers and their families are invited to come enjoy tacos and fellowship on Friday, August 23rd. This is a great opportunity for parents of teens to connect while our youth continue to build relationships with one another. We will gather at the home of Guy and Kem Erskine in Costa Mesa. The pool will be open, so bring your swim wear and towels too if you want to take an evening swim. Please contact Kem by August 21st to RSVP and sign up to bring a side or dessert.

Why Children's Ministry in 2013/14?

Sunday, July 28, 9:00-9:45am, Temple Bat Yahm Library  Attention, Parents and Teachers. Why does our church have a Children's Ministry? What are we really trying to accomplish with our children in our homes and during the formal times of Sunday School and Sermon Time? Please make it a priority to join us for a short meeting, as our Children's Ministry Team and David Juelfs cast a vision to address these questions and discuss upcoming changes for this fall.

Coffee and bagels will be available. Nursery childcare will be provided for children 3 years and under, and there will be a children's program for preschool and elementary children. Please see the invitation you received via email for more details, or contact Adam Feichtmann if you would like more information.

Youth Family BBQ

Sunday, July 28, 4:00-7:00 pm, Glaser Home in Tustin Middle/High Schoolers and their families are invited to come to a barbeque this Sunday. This is a great opportunity for parents of teens to connect while our youth continue to build relationships with one another. We will gather at the home of Vern and DeAna Glaser in Tustin. Please contact DeAna to RSVP and to sign up to bring something for the BBQ.