Drive Them Out!

Not long ago we declared war!  No, it wasn’t WWIII, nor did it have to do with Russia, Iran or North Korea.  We, the Butterys, declared war on stinkbugs that found access to our humble dwelling when we lived in Pennsylvania.  During the summer, when there was an unusual influx of the vermin to the area, our home was mercilessly invaded by these pesky little creatures. 

 While it’s true there are a few benefits to having stinkbugs around, it’s hard to remember the pluses when you’re chasing them through the house or one just got squashed accidentally and the horrid smell lingers making all residents’ stomachs queasy.  But they were occupying our quarters and they needed to go, and go immediately...

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CENTRAL HAPPENINGS & NEWS

This Week (March 16-22):

Tuesday @ 7:00 PM  Prayer Meeting with JeAnn Davis – The Meek & Hungry

Sabbath @ 9:00 AM  Morning Manna - TBD

Sabbath @ 9:30 AM  Central Study Hour with Pastor Doug & Children/Youth Sabbath School Classes

Sabbath @ 10:50 AM  Worship Service with Pastor Mike

Welcome!  We’re thrilled to introduce you to Richard Anger, Seymour Morgan, Cyndi Looc, Ray Rengifo and Robert Aguilar members of the newly formed Discipleship Committee of Central Church.  The goal of the committee is to: “Recruit members with a burden to educate and nourish new believers, and create events that would help integrate new believers with church family members.” 

The committee has gotten off to a terrific start with the formation of a New Believer’s/Members Class (utilizing the New Member Sabbath School Quarterly), the initiation of Genesis to Revelation (a 14-week baptismal class), a new believer focus at Discipleship University on the third Sabbath of each month (corresponding with the New Believer Potluck), the introduction of a spring and fall New Member Orientation, and the scheduling of this year’s Ministry Fair in May.  Please keep this important team in your prayers.

Only Jesus: Join us at Central this coming Sabbath @ 4 PM for a sacred concert by pianist Erwin Nanasi.  He will be joined by his talented sister Esther Nanasi on the violin and vocalist Christian Eschamilla.

Calling All Pathfinders! A wonderful opportunity to partner with Adventist Medical Evangelism Network's (AMEN) missions clinic in San Francisco will take place this Sunday (March 23). This outreach will take place at the Ella Hills Hutch Community Center.  For more details, call Stacey @ (916) 955-4323.

Adventurer Fun Day!  Will take placeSunday, March 23 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM.  The theme is NEWSTART for Kids! Our children will have the opportunity to learn about health under God's plan with lunch provided by the club, crafts, and games!  For more details, call Amapola @ (916) 741-2665.

Hiking Trip: The Social Committee invites you to join us for a Sunday hike to Bolinas-Olema, weather permitting.  Meet at the church at 8 AM. Hike is about 8.5 miles round trip to a lovely 40ft waterfall pouring onto the beach below. Lakes are also plentiful along this Pt. Reyes National Seashore trail.  Bring hiking shoes, layered clothing, lunch, and water.  Please call and RSVP to Larry Salvo @ (916) 224-1683.

Hell & Mr. Fudge: Mark your calendars and plan to join us in the Camellia Room for a special viewing of the acclaimed film Hell & Mr. Fudge, Saturday, March 29 @ 7 PM. This is an event open to the public so please bring a friend or family member. Following the film one of the producers will be hosting a Q&A session.  Childcare and light refreshments provided.

Covered & Kept Ministries: Join author and speaker Karen Johnson, whose story of a life-shattering tragedy that God turned into a triumph has helped thousands, as she presents The Gift: The Restarting Of A Life on Sunday, March 30 @ 2:00 PM right here at Central Church.  For more information visit www.CoveredandKept.com

Spring Youth & Family Restoration Weekend!  Central’s Family Life Ministries presents Restoring God’s Image In Us: Empowering Youth, Singles, Couples, & Parents With Tools to Live a Christ-like Life, April 11 to 13 @ Leoni Meadows Christian Retreat Center, 6100 Leoni Rd, Grizzly Flats, CA.  Age-appropriate activities will be provided for children and youth.  To register, please call the Central church office @ (916) 457-6511 or Central Family Life Ministry Leader, Tyra Taylor @ (916) 230-3938.  Hurry, as places will fill up quickly!

Communion will be held during church service on Sabbath, April 19.

Work Bee!  Mark your calendars for our annual spring work bee on Sunday, April 20.  Indoor and outdoor work needing to be done.  Look for more details to follow.

New happenings will be featured each week.

BULLETIN BOARD - An assortment of happenings, announcements, and resources from around the Seventh-day Adventist Church

News & Announcements

Town Hall Meetings: In preparation for the 2014 Northern California Conference (NCC) Constituency Session, a series of town hall meetings will be held around the conference for delegates and interested members. The meeting at Gracepoint Church (in Rocklin) will be on April 3 @ 7 PM

Sacramento Adventist Academy (SAA) Golf Tournament: Join us at this year’s SAA Golf Tournament on Friday, April 11.  We are accepting registrations for golfers and sponsors (at all levels).  Help us raise funds for SAA’s Annual Fund, which provides funds to support SAA top priorities including worthy student funds, academic and technology needs, campus improvement projects and more. For more information, or to sign-up as a golfer or sponsor, go to www.sacaa.org.

SAA Student Week of Prayer: During this week, SAA students will participate in a school-wide Week of Prayer. The speakers for this event will be our very own SAA students. Please pray for our student speakers as they prepare and make their presentations and ask that the Holy Spirit is active on our campus touching the hearts of our students and making this a truly strong week of spiritual impact that will last a lifetime.

Julio Muñoz has accepted the position as the new Associate Director for the Office of Communication as of March 30, as voted by the North American Division (NAD) Executive Committee. He replaces Dan Weber who became the director when George Johnson transitioned to a new position at Oakwood University. Julio will oversee public relations and marketing and assist with media production as a producer, writer and on-camera talent. He recently served as the Manager of Client Care for Adventist Risk Management. From 2007 to 2012 he was the Bureau Chief for Marketing and Development at ADRA.

Add to Your Bucket List — We are facing a new season of tornadoes and hurricanes in many local communities.  Melting heavy snows may also cause homes to be filled with mud and floodwater.  Adventist Community Services (ACS) has allocated $250,000 to purchase empty five-gallon buckets for the specific purpose of distributing cleaning supplies to survivors affected by disasters. You can help fill them with cleaning supplies, either by donating to ACS ($50 will fill a bucket with supplies) or by holding a group effort with your church, youth group, or community, to fill them with needed supplies. 

Put it on your bucket list to complete their bucket list! Get the Bucket List or Donate. Contact your local conference ACS Disaster Response director to get the buckets FREE and to arrange their delivery.

Building Bridges: Big City Evangelism Convention is calling all physicians, dentists, eye specialists, and other medical professionals and lay workers to serve the under-served from April 23 to 27, 2014.  Call (623) 329-0078 or visit www.BigCityEvangelism.com.  This event is sponsored by Adventist Laymen Services & Industries (ASI) Pacific Union.

Upcoming Area Camp Meeting Schedules: Soquel July 17 to 26; Redwood July 24 to August 2; Tahoe July 28 to August 2.

GYC INTERmission Trip For Youth & Young Adults: Join us August 17 to 31, 2014 in Lakeport, CA as we share Christ through health evangelism, canvassing, and Vacation Bible School.  For more information, go to www.gycweb.org/intermission. 

More and new programs will be featured each week.

Resources

Planet In Distress: This week watch It Is Written’s intriguing TV presentation on the environment and the last days.  You’ll be glad you did.  Click here.

Would you like to see and study the Sabbath school lessons from 1888? Sabbath school lessons from 1888 to 2004 have been made available online by the GC Archives and Statistics Department. You may want to bookmark this resource. 

More and new programs will be featured each week.

ABOUT CENTRAL HAPPENINGS

Dear friend,

We would like to warmly welcome you to Central Happenings – a weekly e-newsletter from your pastoral staff to inform, update, and keep in touch.

It was George Bernard Shaw who once quipped, “The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.”  Ask anyone and they will tell you how true this is.  Healthy communication is a prerequisite to healthy relationships, and no less for the church family.

We plan to make Central Happenings a pithy and relevant read with the obvious goal to simply communicate.  You can expect each edition to contain:

Pastor’s Blog - a refreshing Biblical insight from your pastors.

Central News & Happenings – important info on news and events taking place at Central.

Bulletin Board – includes various news, resources, programs, and/or initiatives taking place in the Seventh-day Adventist Church locally and around the world that may impact you.

We trust you’ll find Central Happenings (not to be confused with The Central Connection put together by Central’s Communication Department) another great resource that will allow you to stay in touch with your church family.  As your pastoral staff we look forward to continuing to reach out to you, including through this new way, as we seek to press together for the work at hand and in preparation for the soon return of Jesus.

Your Pastoral Staff