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NUMBER 2011-01 JANUARY 9, 2012

IN THIS ISSUE ~ NEWS & NOTES ~ CHOIR FUNDRAISER ~ SUMMER CAMP DATES and so much more. Dear friends, During my post-Christmas vacation, I finished reading Walter Isaacsons biography of Steve Jobs. Different chapters focus on Jobs personal life, his love/hate relationship with Apples board of directors, and his personality flaws, but what I found most fascinating were the chapters that focused on how important important design was to Jobs. Ive never been much of an Apple person. Actually, Ive always been more of a take whatever you can get person. Which is why my cell phone has more buttons than Ill ever use or need. Im convinced that the only reason some of those buttons are there is to keep me permanently befuddled. For this reason, I find a new cell phone to be intimidating to me. Steve Jobs insisted that all Apples products be as easy to use as possible, with as few buttons as necessary. This would make them friendly and nonintimidating. Jobs said that figuring out how to use one of Apples products should be intuitive. When an Apple board member visited an African village and showed his iPad to a child, the child picked it up and immediately figured out how to use it, even though he was illiterate and had never seen one before. When designing Apple stores, Jobs insisted that the layout be simple, inviting, and open, so that a customer walking in would immediately perceive the layout and be reassured that this is a friendly, non-intimidating place to be. Reading this made me think of Disneyland. When Walt Disney designed his magic kingdom, he wanted guests to feel that same reassurance. Thus the buildings are almost, but not quite, full scale. There is only one entrance, and only one way to go after you do enter: toward a charming (not intimidating) castle you see in the not-too-far distance. Attending a worship service can be an intimidating experience for someone whos never been or who has been away from the church for some time. One of the things I turn my attention to every now and then is the design of our church, especially the Sunday morning worship experience. From the moment visitors step out of their car, do they experience a sense of welcome? Is it immediately clear which way to go? Does the layout of our building provide a sense of reassurance? Does the bulletin give a clear indication of what is about to happen in a simple, easy-to-read format? Of course, the absolute best way for a person to feel welcome and reassured is to be accompanied by a friend who has invited them to worship. Helping people feel at home when they come to worship is one way we can be a movement for wholeness in our community. Blessings,

Pastor Danny

Three things you can do to help Bixby Knolls Christian Church live out its identity & purpose in 2012: 1. Be present! 2. Pray for your church daily! 3. Invite friends & neighbors to worship!

Dear God, 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. Amen.

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

We Are So Blessed What a lovely way to start Christmas Day. Beautiful music and good fellowship followed by a reception filled with tremendously tempting treats....love that chocolate. Thanks to Pastor Danny, the Worship Committee...aka Gretchen, Barbara and the Choir, Ken Brown, the bell choir and last but not least the Mens Fellowship for planning the service and reception. You are all a blessing to our church family. I also want to thank Gretchen and Betsy for the New Years Day Service. We are so blessed to have you both. Betty Jo

Just a Note January 2012

Happy New Year to one and all! Our musicians here at BKCC are planning for a wonderful year. Next week starts our praise services and we will be starting to rehearse for the YOUTH PRAISE BAND! To all Youth:If you are interested or are asked by Barb please come and play fun worship music with us so that we can lead in worship later this year! You get to pick the music too. All suggestions can be given to me anytime but make sure its written down! Chancel choir is back after a brief week off and working on new music to bring to services. Come on and sing with us on Wednesday evenings. We try to finish by 8pm so that moms and dads can get kids home to bed!! Lots of fun music and more to come. We will be hosting a Shrove Tuesday on Ash Wednesday pancake supper at 5:30pm before our Ash Wednesday Service. More details to follow soon!

Holiday greetings were sent to our church family via the CWF Christmas card tree from Bradfield Family Chrysan & Thunder Pat Cohen Bob & Shirley Dickison Alice Flaig Ken & Sandy Jeglum Ruth Settle Tom & Lydia Sykes Helen Tedesco Dorothy Volker Betty Jo Williamson 1 unsigned The donations of $231.00 given in place of sending cards will be given to BKCCs Feed the Homeless project.

CHOIR FUNDRAISER! Save the date! February 22 ASH WEDNESDAY!

A NEW YEARS THOUGHT

IN THESE TRYING ECONOMIC TIMES: LIVING ON EARTH IS EXPENSIVE, BUT IT DOES INCLUDE A FREE TRIP AROUND THE SUN EACH YEAR.

There will be no Worship and Wonder on January 22

Meals on Wheels of Long Beach is looking for volunteers who can donate two hours of your time once a week Monday-Friday to deliver meals to homebound people. You can deliver in the area that you live. For information please call Jenny Fisher (562) 422-2118

Remembering the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Few people in the history of our nation exemplified the teachings of Jesus better than Martin Luther King, Jr. This Sunday afternoon, you have the opportunity to choose from several events honoring his legacy and celebrating the ongoing struggle for peace, justice, and equality. The Pacific Southwest Region Annual MLK Celebration Sunday, January 15, 2012, 4:00pm First Christian Church, Orange (1130 E. Walnut St., Orange, CA) An exciting program has been planned that will include the Shofar Horns of Iglesia del Valle, the Jahanna and Jelani Blunt Drum and Dance Team of All People's Christian Church and the Choir and Praise Team of First Christian Church, Garden Grove. The Speaker for the afternoon will be Rev. Rita Nakashima Brock, PhD author of the award-winning Proverbs of Ashes (with Rebecca Parker). A Disciples theologian, her own life injustices growing up as a JapaneseAmerican in Southern Calif. more than qualify her to guide us in remembering the civil rights leadership of Dr. King. In addition, the Disciple of the Year award will be presented to Dr. T.J. Liggett.

Summer Camp
As four of our middle school youth pack their bags for Jr. High JANboree, its time to start thinking about summer camp at Loch Leven. Registration forms will be available soon, but you can mark these dates on your calendar now: Mini Camp is for those kids who will be in grades 2 & 3 in the fall of 2012. (July 1-4) Junior Camp is for those who will be in grades 4-6 in the fall of 2012. (July 8-14) Chi-Rho Camp is for those who will be in grades 7-8 in the fall of 2012. (July 15-21) CYF 1 Camp is for those who will be in grades 9-10 in the fall of 2012. (July 22-28) CYF 2 Camp is for those who will be in grades 11-12 in the fall of 2012, as well as those graduating in the class of 12. (July 29-August 4) All Ages Camp is for kids in grades 4-12. (August 5-11) Young Adult Camp is for those who are at least one year out of high school. (August 1719)

Four of our middle school youth will be attending Jr. High JANboree, a winter camp at Loch Leven this coming weekend. They are: Tristan Bradfield, T.J. Hillig, Kai Lee, and C.J. Pettis. Please pray that they have a safe trip, and that God touches the lives of all those who attend. Laurel Henrikson is now at home recuperating. 2011 Annual Reports were distributed at the congregational meeting on Jan. 8. If you did not receive one and would like to, pick one up next time you are at church or contact the church office. Our Wednesday Night Dinners ended 2011 with a surplus of just over $100. This will be donated to the congregations scholarship fund. Thank you to all who donated!

The 20th Annual Community Wide Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Interfaith Celebration, sponsored by the South Coast Interfaith Council, Sunday, Jan. 15, 3:00pm Gospel Memorial Church of God in Christ (1480 Atlantic Avenue, Long Beach, CA). This multi-cultural, multi-religious gathering will feature music, speakers, and a reception afterward. For more information, call 562-983-1665.

Thank you from the Smith-Pettis family. Monthly 30-min. Neighborhood Clean-Up

January 14 11:00 a.m.

Youth & adults of all ages are welcome to join us. Those who want can go out to lunch afterward.

LaWahna Eldred, Ester Troxel, Sumbal Sardar, Delores White, Marie Archer, Doug Hocanson (Cathy Smiths husband), Greg Williamson (Betty Jo Williamsons son), Laurel Henrickson, Anita & Eddie Ramirez, Paul & Linda May-Garcia for son, Sean Our Christmas tree in the Fellowship Hall is looking pretty shabby. If you wish to donate any unbreakable ornaments you no longer use, bring them to the church office. Our Fellowship Hall Christmas tree would be proud to wear them!

The healing process is slow and we are mending. We miss Kim everyday. It is hard to believe it has been two months already. We thank you for your continuous prayers, the many beautiful flowers and kind words of encouragements, your compassion, empathy and understanding, the delicious food so generously shared, cards, letters and phone calls. Thank you for caring and sharing. How lucky we are for such wonderful priceless friends and we just want to thank you for being a part of the spiritual celebration of love and thanksgiving for our dear Kim. Bobbie, Marlon, CJ and Sevin

Thanks to all who helped take down the Christmas trees and put away all the Christmas decorations.

Wednesday Night Dinner

Every Wednesday, 6:00-7:00
Join us in the fellowship hall for food & conversation. The dinner is pay-what-you-can. A basket will be provided for donations.

Youth News
Check out the bulletin board in the fellowship hall for a preview of upcoming events. You who are not attending Jr. High JANboree are encouraged to participate in our monthly litter pickup on January 14. (What better way to celebrate MLK weekend than with 30 minutes of community service?) Our next regular youth group meeting will be January 22.

Check us out on Facebook and

us

www.facebook.com/bixbyknollschurch

BIXBY KNOLLS CHRISTIAN CHURCH

(Disciples of Christ)
The Fellowship News

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

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.

Newsletter Article Due Sunday, January 22, 5:00 p.m.

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