Eye for an Eye

Many of us were taught it and asked to recite it when we were younger, yet I’m curious to know how truly meaningful the Lord’s Prayer is to us.  While we might mean it when we ask, “give us this day our daily bread,” especially when we’re in a financial tight spot, but when put to the test how well do we do when we entreat, “Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors”?  Ameneh Bahrami provides an excellent example...

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CENTRAL HAPPENINGS & NEWS

This Week (Sept. 1 to 6): Tuesday @ 7:00 PM – Prayer Meeting with Pastor Mike – Strive To Enter; Sabbath @ 9:00 AM Morning Manna – JeAnn Davis; @ 9:30 AM - Central Study Hour with Pastor Mike Thompson + Children/Youth/Adult Sabbath School; @ 10:45 AM - Worship Service with Pastor Chris Buttery – Kingdom Always First

We are excited to let you know that Receiving the Word, timely Bible messages presented by Central pastors, will soon be airing on Sac Faith TV. Schedule and times will be announced shortly.

Central Study Hour, Central’s weekly sanctuary Sabbath School class, will continue to be live streamed and filmed for television production starting September 13. The program format won’t change much; however we do plan to involve our local and online members more by giving them a chance to ask questions and make comments. Due to the nature of filming there will be certain restrictions, but we are looking forward to seeing these changes brought to the Sabbath School. Pastors Chris and Mike will be the main presenters with an occasional guest sharing their insights.

Invest in Eternity! Beginning September 13 we will be launching our very own media ministry that will continue to develop high-quality, Christ-centered programming (including Central Study Hour and Receiving the Word) for all.

Good news; our camera’s have arrived and we are one-third of the way toward reaching our goal of $75,000. We still have a way to go, but we are thankful for the dedication and sacrifice made by our members who are making this dream a reality. To financially support this endeavor please mark your tithe envelope “Media Ministry” or click here to give online. Don’t forget to keep our Evangelism budget funded for program production and television broadcast costs as well. Thank you for your continued support!

Welcome Michael Butler, our new Youth-Young Adult Pastor! We want to welcome Michael Butler to our team of pastors here at Central. He is originally from the state of Washington and is engaged to Kristine Gemora; daughter of Pastor Willie and Betsy Gemora of the All Nations Seventh-day Adventist Church in Elk Grove, CA.  Michael is a recent graduate of Southern Adventist University, a 2007 AFCOE graduate, artist, and has good experience working with young people. Michael’s primary pastoral attention will be given to our youth and young adults. Please give him that welcome that only Central knows how to give.

Annual Church Picnic: Plan now to attend Central’s annual picnic on Sunday, September 21 at Howe Avenue Park. Time and details coming soon!

Fall Work Bee: Calling all members! Mark your calendars and plan to come out as we seek to do some tidying up of the church gardens and property. There’s much to do so don’t be shy. Look forward to seeing you there!

Church Choir: Our new church choir director, Walter Aldrich, is ready to get busy! Weekly Sabbath rehearsals begin shortly and will go year-round (excluding summers). Auditions (low-key) to join the choir begin this Sabbath, September 6 @ 2 PM in the sanctuary.  For more information please call Walter @ (530) 388-8494 or email music@saccentral.org.

Visit Your Neighbor Thrift Store (YNTS): Your Neighbor Thrift Store has partnered with the local Adventist Book Center to provide various vegetarian food options for everyone, including frozen items.  The food is available now. YNTS is open Monday through Thursday from 10 AM to 7 PM, Friday 10 AM to 4 PM, and Sunday 11 AM to 6 PM. You’ll be impressed with their selections.

Also, the thrift store is looking for dedicated helpers to assist them on a regular basis.  If you have a good work ethic, can volunteer consistently, enjoy people, and want to share the love of Jesus, please contact the Central church office or Buddy Harper directly @ (916) 676-6632. If you can’t donate your time you are welcome to donate your resources. Please mark your tithe envelope accordingly.

Central’s Food Closet: Over the past couple of months our Food Closet Ministry has been re-tooling for a re-launch early September (new date to be announced).  This is a vital ministry to our community and we need your donations and qualified individuals to assist Buddy Harper and Andre Hope to both physically and spiritually feed those in need.  To apply to join this ministry please contact Buddy @ (916) 676-6632 or Andre @ (719) 580-2206 ASAP.

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

News & Announcements

Napa Earthquake & Response: In the early hours of Sunday August 24, a 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck Northern California, with an epicenter in the Napa Valley. Church leaders have urged local members to reach out their local communities to help meet their needs. A webpage has been established by the Adventist Church in Northern California and updates posted on the earthquake's impact on the local church and surrounding communities. Please pray for all the communities impacted by this earthquake. Northern California Conference communication director Stephanie Leal is managing an informational website following the 6.0 earthquake that hit the Napa Valley, California area early Sunday morning August 24. Several Adventist institutions have been effected by the quake and this page provides updates on the status of the churches in the vicinity. Adventist Community Services is also responding. For more information go to http://www.nccsda.com/article/348/about-us/announcements/earthquake-august-2014.

Adventist Church files an amicus brief for workplace religious freedom case at top U.S. court.  To learn more click here.

Elder Ted Wilson urges all Adventists to reaffirm their stance on creation. Read the article here.

Hope Channel has moved to a high-definition satellite on DIRECTV, and as a result of this change, Hope Channel will be available on DIRECTV all across the United States without limitations and without the need of additional antennae as has been the case in the past. While Hope Channel will continue to be available on Channel 368 on DIRECTV, as of July 16, all DIRECTV customers who currently do not have high definition equipment and subscription package will need to upgrade. Please call 1-800-531-5000 for information about upgrading your equipment and subscription package.

Besides DIRECTV, Hope Channel can be watched in the following ways: Online at www.hopetv.org; Hope Channel app, available for Android, iPhone and iPad; Roku box or stick, available at Target or Wal-Mart. This requires a high-speed internet service. However, there are no monthly fees to use Roku; Glorystar satellite is a one-time purchase with no monthly fees either. For more information please call 866-597-0728; Hope Channel is a free-to-air broadcast channel in these major east-coast cities: New York City, Boston, Philadelphia, and Tampa. Other free-to-air and cable channels are available across the country.

Christian Record Services for the Blind to host 2nd annual EYE RUN event: The EYE RUN is an eye health education event hosted by Christian Record Services for the Blind (CRSB). For a second year, CRSB is promoting good health though a fun run event. Participants can choose to walk or run a 5K or 10K around Holmes Lake in Lincoln, Nebraska. The event is also virtual, meaning that participants worldwide can also register and run or walk on event day, which is Sunday, October 5.

In addition to the walk/run event, hands on learning opportunities will be provided by local organizations and businesses that provide eye health services or support services to those who are blind or visually impaired (Lincoln, NE event only). Early bird registration, $25 (shirt guaranteed), is open throughMonday, September 1. Standard registration, $35, beginsSeptember 2 and continues through the day of the event. There will be no onsite registration. Individuals who are blind or visually impaired, along with their sighted guides, may request a comp code for free registration to the Lincoln, Nebraska, or virtual event by calling Jeri Lyn at 402-488-0981 X213. To register, visit www.getmeregistered.com keyword EYERUN or visit http://bit.ly/EYERUN.

Resources

Reflection on the Hermeneutics of Women’s Ordination: This insightful article written by Pastor Stephen Bohr helps the reader sort through the confusion on the new approach to Bible study proposed by the NAD Ordination Study Committee. Click here to read the article.

Facts with Hope are evidence-based health messages that may be used in a church bulletin, newsletter, or during the "Health Minute" as part of the church service to motivate people to choose a full abundant life. They are published monthly in our Health Unlimited Newsletter. For more information on Facts with Hope, visit the website (http://factswithhope.org/) like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter. You can also watch Facts with Hope videos on Youtube (https://www.youtube.com/user/FactsWithHope).

There’s a new Spirit of Prophecy resource available – Ellen G. White Letters & Manuscripts with Annotations, Vol. 1 – published by Review & Herald.  This volume covers every known page of Ellen White’s writing for a 15-year period and puts them in chronological order along with helps to understand who she was writing to and the reasons. You will want to check it out at www.adventistbookcenter.com.