Hearing from God--going deeper

Do you remember when God spoke to Moses through the burning bush? Read Exodus 3! God required that Moses take off his shoes (sandals actually) because it was holy ground. This symbolism of taking one's shoes off is beautiful. Think of how amazing it is for our bare feet to touch the ground. It was simplicity and holiness all in one as Moses' feet and the ground made contact AND God came into contact with Moses in that way and heard the very voice of God.

God still desires for us to come to him and hear his voice. He wants us to hear him and not be distracted by the trappings of the world. Sometimes those distractions can actually be are own footwear and most times are much more and deeper. We must be willing to shed our fears, hindrances, and wrong perceptions of God so that we can truly hear him. What is hindering you right now from hearing him? Your busyness, pain, lack of boundaries, vocational/educational pursuits, material possessions, or sinful choices?

That's why we have set apart some time to worship and hear from God at the Deep. This sacred space happens this Saturday January 13th at 8pm in the Gapastione home.
If you want to come, please email for the address at tonyg@peninsulacovenant.com.
Hope to see you!

PS-

And funny enough..this Saturday if you are coming to the Deep at the Gapastione home, we ask you to take off your shoes just so we keep our carpets clean! --and hopefully, you too will hear from God like Moses.



FOR SUNDAY

Do you want to learn more about serving the homeless in our area? Then
come to Street Church FREE LUNCH meeting.
12:30-2 in the Fireside room.


after Sunday at 6 for the next season we will head out to dinner at
the new ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK PIZZA (right next to Century 20
theaters). And this week since some people Monday off for the late
great Martin Luther King, you have the option to catch a movie, too.
Here are some options.

Dreamgirls 8:35
Pursuit of Happyness 9:05
Night at the Museum 9:30
Blood Diamond 9:30
Children of Men 9:40

Young Adults' Winter Retreat 07

This past weekend we had another great retreat up in Twain Harte. Thanks to all who came,served, played, and enjoyed community in the snow! Huge thanks again to Frankie for your cabin coordination and leadership. Thanks also to Frankie, Ben, and David for leading us musically in worship.



This is a juicy video!

Events for 2007

GROW PRAY SERVE CELEBRATE

and this is how we will do it:


This weekend is our PCC young adults Winter retreat! We plan to do some praying, and celebrating with each other that's for sure which I hope will result in lots of celebration. We travel up to Twaine Hart for Snowboarding and bonding. Please pray for the safety of people driving up to the cabins and cruising down the mountains. Pray for us to experience God while loving him and each other.

1/13 Saturday night The Deep at the Gapastione Home 8pm. A time to grow and pray in intimate worship through prayer, Bible Teaching, music, communion, and community.

1/14 Sunday Street Church lunch for servers and leaders: 12:30pm-2pm on Sunday Jan 14th. Come hear more about this ministry and get involved in serving the poor and needy in our community.

2/1 Thursday night Shane & Shane Concert! meet at PCC at 6:30pm $12-to RSVP your spot please email kirstend@peninsulacovenant.com. Hear there music at
www.myspace.com/shaneandshane
They have been called modern day hymn writers and their songs are amazing. You will be encouraged in your prayer life and be encouraged to undestand God's love more.

2/3 Saturday Lunch & Bocce Ball (space is limited) $20 Los Gatos www.campodibocce.com -To reserve your spot on this Saturday afternoon event that is fun for all with great Italian food: email tonyg@peninsulacovenant.com

2/17 The Deep Saturday 8pm at the Gapastione Home

DON'T FORGET:
Every Sunday night hang out for Dinner after Sunday at 6 (Starting Jan 14th New York Pizza next to Century 20 downtown RWC).

Every Tuesday and Thursday night Street Church meets in Menlo Park 9pm.
Are you serving anywhere? We need people with compassion and service gifts.

AND NEW:
Actor's Group at PCC. Third Sundays January-March 12:30-3pm 1/21, 2/18, 3/18
Room TBA

Starting the New Year

Our first day of 2007 was spent cleaning and organizing. We have a new person moving in with us and our stuff is getting in the way. We have to make room for Baby Gap. What was once our office is now becoming our nursery. It's an awesome and overwhelming experience that is also causing us to be a little frustrated with ourselves, too. We have too much stuff(or really I should say Junk). Why is it in our nature to accumulate? We try to horde things with some underlying belief that we need those things to live, but we don't. Ah, but we did have some laughter at what we uncovered. We found very old photos, memorabilia, letters and art from junior high school days, and useless items that make us question what we were thinking when we chose to cherish it as a keepsake in the first place. The fun continues as prepare for our little one and the growth continues as God does his own house-cleaning in our hearts. I hope you,too, can do some house/heart cleaning as you start out your new year.

Psalm 100

1 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
2 Worship the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
3 Know that the LORD is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.

This Psalm encouraged me to start my year with the knowledge that I belong to God. It is this truth that will effect how I live my life. Make some time to talk with God about what it means to belong to him. He has some thoughts on living life as one that belongs to God. It's life changing. We are not meant to belong to the world. We were not created to live on this earth and with it's "things" forever. We are only here for a limited engagement. I like that. We need to live like that.

Coming up for Young Adults at PCC

January
5-7 Friday-Sunday: Winter Retreat, Snowboarding
13 Saturday: The Deep at the Gapastione Home
14 Sunday: Street Church Lunch and Young Adults Visioning and Prayer

February
1 Thursday: Shana & Shane Concert in Berkeley
17 Saturday: The Deep

Goodbye 2006, Hello 2007

Christmas has passed and now we are hours away from finishing our year! I am grateful for an amazing Christmas celebration and VACATION time I was able to share with my wife and family. I had some great time to rest, too. I am also grateful for all that God has done this year and grateful simply for being able to see another year of God's Grace.

I have been in 1 Corinthians 9 recently where Paul talks about running the race as one who is determined to win the prize. I sense this passage will take me through January and in preparation for the next season of life God has for me and our family. For all the Young Adults reading this blog, next week is our Winter Retreat, and we will talk through what it means to live our lives in God's ways. This includes knowing your passions, gifts, and abilities. I am currently reading a new book called "Living a Life on Loan. According to the authors, it is important to live your life and they made an acronym.
Loves-Live your passions and dreams.
Intersections-Be aware of where your life intersects with others.
Fortune-Steward your resources for God.
Eternity-Remember you are made to live beyond earth. Store up your treasures in Heaven.
I plan to share some of these concepts at our Retreat. If you plan on going and have not yet registered please call 650-364-6304 asap or email kirstend@peninsulacovenant.com

We have three more months of waiting for Baby Gap and it has been an amazing time of preparation. Today, we even were able to buy our crib and baby dresser/changing table with the generous gifts of our family. God is providing.



Mark your calendar for THE DEEP January 12, happening at our home.

Celebrating Christmas on the Street

We had an awesome night Tuesday December 19th.

(Video Below)
We had prepared specific gifts for all our friends on the street with the generous donations of Project Christmas Tree and the faithful giving of our Street Church teams. A group gathered to bake cookies and wrap presents at PCC, and Andrea and Jodi shopped all day long to complete our needs. With a larger team than normal we showed up at on the street at 9pm and served dinner. We had a meaningful time of Christmas caroling, praying, and reading from the Bible and then presented everyone with a personalized gift just for them. The best part of our time was our Bible Study and prayer. In Luke 2:8-20, the Angel gave the good news of Jesus' birth to the shepherds, who just like our friends on the street, were outside in the cold at night. The shepherds were not highly esteemed or rich by any means. Many in society at that time would have looked down on these meek laborers who hung around with smelly sheep. Because of this you might think that they would be the last to hear the news of God's son being born, but God chose them to be the first to hear. God's choice says something. The news didn't come to kings in fancy palaces or the the priests in the temples. God went to the humble and simple out in the fields. That's why we go out to the streets because God cares for the poor and loves them. Watch the video and see God's work (below)!

Choosing to be at his feet

I got home from the gym and it was 7:30pm. Usually Monday nights Wendy and I both work out, have dinner, and relax the night away. Wendy was already in bed because she was feeling sick and wanted to get her rest so I unexpectedly had the night to myself. I immediately conjured up my to do list. I wanted to shower, eat, finish laundry, start packing for our Christmas trip, organize my bills, watch some of my TIVO shows that I haven't watched in weeks, email some friends, empty the dishwasher, and write this blog. I decided to shower first because I was sweaty and it would give me more time to think through my agenda a little more. It was almost within minutes that the course of my night changed. I turned the water on and it was as if these words were spoken. "Mary has chosen what is best." I had my eyes closed as the hot water was beating down on my head. It felt so refreshing and then again, "Mary has chosen what is best (Luke 10:38-42)." That's it. Those words in just that one line fluttered through my mind. I stood there thinking. How did that get in my mind. Did I just think it or did something trigger that? It was a simple sentence actually spoken from the mouth of Jesus to his friend Martha about her sister Mary. Just as quick as the words came, an image came to my mind. The picture was Martha standing in front of Jesus with her agenda in hand. In my mind I could see her holding a to do list in one hand and a kitchen pot in the other.


She stood there realizing her well thought out busy plan really wasn't the best for her at that moment. I only saw the picture in my mind... but I knew how she felt. She felt a little awkward, singled out, and a little ashamed that she elevated house hold chores above time spent worshiping Jesus. That was exactly how I felt. And why shouldn't I? I had been truly longing today for some time to just read and journal. I had made my plans, but God ordered my steps. I actually felt relieved, even though I felt humbled. How could I have missed what was best? I finished my shower, warmed up some leftovers, and made myself comfortable with my journal and Bible. It was such a sweet time of reading, praying, and reaffirming my trust in God in this day and this moment.It was the best use of my time. (And the great thing was that I ended up being able to complete everything else I wanted/needed to do, as well (Hence, this Blog is written). See Proverbs 16:9. And I had more awesome revelation through Psalm 127, that I'll blog about later.

This Tuesday 12/19 we will meet at PCC's Fireside room to wrap gifts for the homeless, bake some goods, and go out to Christmas carol on the street.

Choosing Humility and Simplicity

(In theatres now THE NATIVITY! See it with your whole family, invite others and discuss.)

I wore my red, cashmere, Gap socks this week. (The socks I won from our Christmas party last weekend). I really like them. If you weren’t there have someone tell you about the “White Elephant” game we played. There was quite a bunch of socks to choose from and steal. I “coveted” the socks of others. Yes, it’s true, I must admit I had a little camouflage and argyle envy from Drew, Steve, and Ben. But I also experienced some interesting thoughts and conviction during this game, too. This season of going through the book of James at PCC and my own devotional reading in Luke 1 & 2 has caused me a lot of reflection. I have been spiritually stirred these two ways: #1 with my own lack of humility and #2 with my abundance of things. First, as I am reading about the birth of Jesus in Luke and reflecting on God’s humble beginnings I am amazed. With our own little baby on the way I am even more sensitive to the God’s choices to become a baby. I have been feeling the movements of our little one over the past weeks and marveling at how that must have felt for Mary to feel God move in her womb. And how about the other elements of this radical story? You know like the peasant girl factor (Mary, who needed savior herself read Luke 1:47), the donkey, the musty manger, the announcement to not so highly esteemed shepherds, etc. Just think about the fact that God chose to come at a time in the world when medical technology was at a bare minimum. He could have come and been born in a hospital in the year 2006, with the comforts and luxury of America, but no! He was born in third world circumstances in Israel. He was God, just think about the choices he made. Amazing. Then think about his life: what he owned and where he lived. How much money did Jesus store up in the bank? Nothing. And did he worry and fear God wouldn’t provide food and clothes for him? No. He lived simply day-by-day and trusted God. So, just looking at all those socks piled up on the table the other night reminded me at how much I/we truly have in this country. We have access to anything and everything we want and in most cases we get (or buy) all of our needs (and almost all of our wants) met. So what should my/our response be if we truly want to be like Jesus Christ? I leave that question with you and pray that your Christmas season involves some time to reflect on this topic. It’s a messy journey that requires humility and simplicity. I am right there with you.

Tony


12/17 This Sunday: After Sunday at 6 in the Fireside room is CHRISTMAS CAROLING, APPETIZERS AND DESSERTS WITH THE 50PLUS MINISTRY! Come join us for an intergenerational night of celebration.

12/19 Tuesday 7pm
Meet at PCC to make Christmas cookies and gifts for our homeless friends. Then come down to Menlo Park for Christmas Caroling. Fireside room 7pm. Email jodi210@hotmail.com

12/22 Friday Night GINGERBREAD HOUSE MAKING at Frankie Markovich's House email frankiemarkovich@yahoo.com to RSVP. Bring $5 for stuff.

12/29 Friday MEN'S NIGHT OUT 8pm Pizza @ BJ's in Foster City and Broomball 9:30-11:30pm
more info tba.

12/31 NEW YEAR'S EVE EVENT AFTER SUNDAY AT 6. Karaoke, comedy, food, etc.

January 5-7
Winter Retreat in Twain Harte. Brochures will be available this week. See the literature rack in PCC’s worship center. Sign up now for $65 before the price goes up.

Young Adults Christmas Party recap

Thanks to all who came, served, hosted, and participated in our Young Adults' Christmas Party! It was this last Saturday night December 9th. The rain didn't stop our travels since it was a "progressive dinner event." For more pictures scroll all they way down to the end of the blog or see the slide show on www.myspace.com/yapcc

We started at Christina's House (pictured here with her cousins below).

We had appetizers, mingled around, and had the fun activity of creating Christmas card pictures with a box full of Christmas costumes.

The Wong Family jumped in the fun, too, with Prince Owen Alibaba.






After a time of ice skating in Foster City and eating BJ's Pizza we ended up the Jen and Glenn's House for Dessert and Hot Cider. The Christmas gift exchange game took on a new twist with socks and secret hiding elves with upgraded prizes. Everyone brought and wrapped up socks that we traded White Elephant style.



My shirt says: Re gift Responsibly.

Christmas Choices continued

This week at PCC Gary Gaddini, our lead pastor, challenged us in such a perfect way.
How will you spend your time and will you dedicate it to God? Do you have a Godly perspective with your faith and how you live it out?
If you weren't able to hear the message check it out! REAL FAITH HAS PERSPECTIVE 12/3

So taking this challenge, and trying to dedicate our time to God, Wendy and I had a family meeting. I live for things like this. I am not fully sure why, but I love planners, palm pilots, calendars, etc. I love knowing what is going on today and what to expect (as much as I can) for tomorrow. Honestly, this can be bad, because I love having stuff to do all the time, so planning in such a way helps me see where I need to back down and relax. So we both plotted out the remaining days of December (less than three weeks until Christmas. We made sure we knew what parties (we have four) and other events we're going to this month and made sure to carve out together time, rest time, work out time, and Christmas shopping time. It was such a welcomed and refreshing decision to make choices regarding our time for communication purposes, but also so that we can enjoy the season and not feel overwhelmed. We have one friday where we made sure to do nothing. We both but a big NOTHING over that date! We want to be home to rest and pack for our Christmas travels.

When you can spend some time receiving the gift of God's peace. Make sure above all else, that you make time for that. Even as I type I am convicted of how easily I don't allow God to lead me beside quiet waters! Psalm 23 has been such an encouragement and gift to my soul! I hope you know how much God loves you!

I hope you who read this are able to enjoy this season because even in this blog I am going to list a BUNCH of options of things going on this month. I hope you can be a great manager of your time and not feel pressure to do it all! Three important things for this weekend.

12/9 Main Street Cafe 10:30am 150 Elm St. come for breakfast! and
CHRISTMAS PARTY Saturday 5:30PM (RSVP on Evite)Starts at Christina Stenstrom's and ends at Glenn and Jenn Wong's house.
12/10 Sunday at 6 in the Fellowship Hall and
PCC CHRISTMAS CONCERT SUNDAY 7:30PM After Sunday at 6 (NO young adult dinner).
12/17 CHRISTMAS CAROLING WITH 50 PLUS MINISTRY Fireside Room 8pm.
12/19 TUESDAY NIGHT CHRISTMAS CAROLING AND GIFT MAKING FOR THE HOMELESS: Email Jodi210@hotmail.com to get involved. Starts 7pm PCC.
12/22 Friday Night GINGERBREAD HOUSE MAKING at Frankie Markovich's House email frankiemarkovich@yahoo.com to RSVP. Bring $5 for stuff.
12/29 MEN'S NIGHT OUT 8pm Pizza @ BJ's in Foster City and Broomball 9:30-11:30pm
more info tba.
12/31 NEW YEAR'S EVE EVENT AFTER SUNDAY AT 6.
1/5-7 Winter Retreat and Snowboarding Twain Harte/Dodge Ridge

Young Adults Christmas Party

Host: PCC YOUNG ADULTS
Location: Christina's House
When: Saturday, December 9, 5:30pm
Phone: 650-364-6304 X252
PCC'S YOUNG ADULTS' CHRISTMAS PARTY!
SATURDAY DECEMBER 9TH!

FUNKY SOCKS REQUIRED!

As a Christmas theme we are asking two things:

#1-WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO WEAR COLORFUL AND FESTIVE CHRISTMAS SOCKS TO THE EVENT SO YOU CAN SHOW OFF TO EVERYONE AND #2-EVERYONE MUST BRING 2 PAIRS OF BRAND NEW WEARABLE SOCKS WRAPPED UP FOR OUR GRAB BAG GAME! (ONE PAIR OF MEN'S SOCKS & ONE PAIR OF WOMEN'S SOCKS WRAPPED UP TOGETHER--MORE DETAILS AT THE PARTY)

This party ALSO requires that you do a little moving. We will be going to at least 2 locations BUT WE MAY HAVE A THIRD LOCATION STILL TBA. WE want everyone to carpool so we can bond in the cars and take up less space for parking at our locations.

5:30pm Meet at Christina Stenstrom's House
(Appetizers will be served)

7:15pm-Foster City Location TBA Bring $20 for possible activity and to donate for food at the end of the night

8:30pm Meet at Jenn & Glenn Wong's House
(Dessert & Drinks will be served)

Christmas Events for Young Adults

THIS WEEK and BEYOND
12/1 THE DEEP TONIGHT FRIDAY 8PM Basement of PCC
12/9 CHRISTMAS PARTY Saturday 5:30PM (Evite available now)Starts at Christina Stenstrom's and ends at Glenn and Jenn Wong's house.
12/10 PCC CHRISTMAS CONCERT SUNDAY 7:30PM After Sunday at 6 (NO young adult dinner)
12/17 CHRISTMAS CAROLING WITH 50 PLUS MINISTRY Fireside Room 8pm
12/19 TUESDAY NIGHT CHRISTMAS CAROLING AND GIFT MAKING FOR THE HOMELESS: Email Jodi210@hotmail.com to get involved. Starts 7pm PCC
12/22 Friday Night GINGERBREAD HOUSE MAKING at Frankie Markovich's House email frankiemarkovich@yahoo.com
12/31 NEW YEAR'S EVE EVENT AFTER SUNDAY AT 6

1/5-7 Winter Retreat and Snowboarding Twain Harte/Dodge Ridge

Remember to check out our myspace.com/yapcc

Update for our Street Church

Hello all. In Jeremiah 22:16, God fondly remembers the reign of King Josiah because he took care of the poor and needy. God says, “Isn’t that what it means to know me?” I love this because God says that to know him means to know his heart and his heart is for the poor and needy! That’s what we are about on Tuesday and Thursday nights. Much thanks to all of you who served on Thanksgiving, too. Those that went were raving about the food!

In this edition:
1-Great news: another church partnership, music, and resumes
2-Storage, donations, and Christmas gifts
3-Tuesday cooker schedule
4-Still looking for Thursday servers and leaders
5-Next lunch meeting January 12
*********************************

1-It is getting very cold out on the street, but that won’t stop the church from gathering. We had a fantastic night last night where lots of coats and scarves were given out. Our serving team is growing with all ages of people showing love and hospitality out there. And we are very excited to have music now! Colin, a gifted musician from Central Peninsula Church, has joined us and wants to use his music to bless our friends. They loved it last night We also have Andrea who works at the Maple Street Shelter in RWC who has joined us and offering to help write resumes for those looking for jobs! I have also met with the new young adults pastor at CPC and he is praying about how we can partner together to be externally focused!

2-Gloria Ambrosini has been generously giving a storage for all the sock and coat donations and we finally have a liaison who has stepped up to help coordinate what’s in the storage to the street. Welcome Jodi Brison to our team! Contact her at jodi210@hotmail.com if you want to help/donate or be involved with our special Christmas gift give-out on Dec 19th! (See below #3)

3-This month: December Tuesdays cooking/picking up

5-Eileen Clark/Nikki Forshee
12-Mary Hanlon/Kim Learned
19-Mary Sleeper/Nikki Forshee—this is our special night we’ll be caroling and giving out gift bags, too! Email jodi210@hotmail.com for info, to donate, or get involved. Or just come make cookies and sing with us at 9pm!
26-Esther Strathdee/Kim learned

Thursdays Ruby Jacques has the list if you need more info!

We are looking into the New Year, and if you know anyone who can cook or give of their time, please let me know. Cooks, if you plan on continuing in the New Year, let me know!

4-Please pray for our Thursday team. Our leaders, The Jacques need to retire from their weekly duties (they have served for over 2 years) and would like to train up a team of people to serve and facilitate Thursday nights starting the first of the year. If you or anyone you know can help, please let us know.

5-Next team lunch meeting is January 12th. 12:30pm-2 in the fireside room! Hope to see you all there for lunch, prayer, training, and connecting new people to our ministry. Invite your friends, neighbors, and care group members.



God bless you all as you celebrate Jesus this season!

Grateful for all of you,

Tony

A poem by Maya Angelou

CHRISTIANS


BY MAYA ANGELOU

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not shouting "I'm clean livin.'"
I'm whispering "I was lost,
Now I'm found and forgiven."

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I don't speak of this with pride.
I'm confessing that I stumble
and need Christ to be my guide.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not trying to be strong.
I'm professing that I'm weak
And need His strength to carry on.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not bragging of success.
I'm admitting I have failed
And need God to clean my mess.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not claiming to be perfect,
My flaws are far too visible.
But, God believes I am worth it.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I still feel the sting of pain.
I have my share of heartaches.
So I call upon His name.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not holier than thou,
I'm just a simple sinner,
who received God's good grace, somehow.

Preparing for Christmas

Well, Thanksgiving 2006 is now just a memory and we only have four days of November left. That actually pumps me up. Wendy and I just got back late last night from our vacation. It was extremely relaxing and totally fun. It was a much needed break for us both. As we cruised around in our rented car, every radio station we listened to was playing Christmas music. It was actually quite funny driving around in 85 degree weather while singing along to "I'm dreaming of a White Christmas." But it did spring board us into a jubilant mood! How's that for being festive..Jubilant! It's true. Like little children we'd be singing out loud, catch a glimpse of each other and burst out laughing, practically letting out a little squeal of joy because we were so happy. And yes, we squealed! Well, at least I squealed a couple of times (I'll leave Wendy out of this) because I was happy. Happy #1 that we were on vacation, but #2 that Christmas was coming. I really love Christmas, or maybe I just love parts of it. I love the Starbucks drinks (egg nog chai and peppermint mochas), the lights, the music, the smells, the decorations, and the time to relax and be with family. I definitely don't love the rushing around to five different Christmas parties in one weekend or being busy with decorating, church activities AND normal life responsibilities all in the same month. I definitely don't like shopping in crowded malls with long lines full of impatient people like me. Am I a Grinch? This got me thinking about the importance of perspective. Because with four days left of November we have a lot of choices here. December for some is hard because it means finals, going into debt Christmas shopping, exhaustion trying to get every thing done, and still for others this season is dreaded because it can be sad and lonely with out certain loved ones, or even frustrating WITH certain "loved ones." But in reality we have a choice here. It's all about our perspective. If we truly want to have a perspective that brings us joy (enough joy to squeal) and brings honor to God, it is going to take some thinking and some action. So for this month I hope to blog about choices and how we can choose truth, choose to have a Godly attitude, choose to be peacemakers, and choose to focus on Jesus this Christmas season. (This will take time and being in the word to align your perspective with God).

My first suggestion is start RIGHT NOW by choosing and dedicating this month (of potential craziness) to God no matter what awaits us. We need to think rightly and live in good healthy boundaries so we can enjoy this season and honor our savior. I am going to pray this myself, too. Adapt this to your life, but here is what I will pray.

Abba God, I stop to consider what you want for me. Your word says that whatever I do, all my words and all my actions, should be done to honor you. I want that. I want all that I do to honor you. I want the way I spend my time to honor you. Father, I want the way I treat myself, my wife, my family, my friends, and others around me to bring you honor. I want the way I spend your money to bring you honor. I pray that for this month. Give me your perspective on money this month. I pray that I could think and act like Jesus Christ. I want your joy no matter what. I will choose to be with you and remember your word. I want to make good choices with my time. I want to respond to you in faith and to others with love. I love you and want to love others. Thanks that this season is about you, your son, your plan, and your love. I dedicate it and prepare for what you want! I love you! In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Some truth to align your perspective:

COLOSSIANS 1:19-23
God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in Him (Jesus) and through Him to reconcile himself to all things, whether things on earth or things in heave, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation-if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel.

COLOSSIANS 3:17
Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Beautiful Day Video and this week's happenings

I am so proud of our church and community.

In one day we accomplished so much! Thanks to all of you who made Beautiful day happen! What a way to serve our community and show them what following Jesus is all about. This whole day was an effort to bless people with out strings attached. We didn't pass out any flyers about PCC just served and blessed them by taking care of their needs.

Here's what is coming up the next couple of weeks for young adults!!

11/21 Tuesday Night 9pm Street Outreach Menlo Park

11/23 Thursday Thanksgiving Day 9am Turkey Bowl (Football at Woodside High School)
11:30am-2pm Thanksgiving lunch at PCC Fellowship hall

11/24 Friday The Deep 8pm in the Worship Center basement (Choir room)

11/26 Sunday at 6 resumes but there is no official Young Adults Dinner

NEXT WEEK and BEYOND
12/1 THE DEEP FRIDAY 8PM
12/9 CHRISTMAS PARTY 5:30PM (Evite coming soon)
12/10 PCC CHRISTMAS CONCERT SUNDAY 7:30PM (NO young adult dinner)
12/17 CHRISTMAS CAROLING WITH 50 PLUS MINISTRY
12/19 CHRISTMAS CAROLING AND GIFT MAKING FOR THE HOMELESS
12/31 NEW YEAR'S EVE EVENT AFTER SUNDAY AT 6

Doing God's will

In Jeremiah 22, God talks of King Josiah as one who truly knew him because he was doing what was right, acting justly, and protecting and helping the needy. That stirs me as we talk about faith with out deeds is dead. Compare the requirement of action to be attached to our faith with what kind of action the Bible constantly talks about regarding the poor, orphaned, and widows.

As Wendy and I got away this weekend to celebrate our 2nd anniversary, we kept returning to the desire and the leading we sense from God. The desire and leading to adopt. For me personally, it doesn't take long for me to have an emotional response when I hear stories of orphans or think about God' plan for our family to adopt. There are millions of children around the world with out parents, with out love, and living in discouraging circumstances. Whatever stage of life you are at, married or single, you can care for the orphans of the world.

For this weeks 2 cents, I offer you what voice of the orphan has put out for Christians to respond in faith and action.

www.voiceoftheorphan.org



What You or Your Family Can Do
To care for orphans and waiting children

Pray for Them
Go online to find a waiting-child listing (AdoptUsKids or Rainbow Kids). Print out a picture and description of a waiting child and tape it to your dashboard, refrigerator or bathroom mirror. Every time you find yourself waiting – in traffic, walking through the kitchen, looking in the mirror – pray for this child. Plead with the Father on their behalf.

Want a change of pace for the dinner hour? This simple one-page guide will help your family explore what life must be like for the most vulnerable of our world.

Speak Up For Them
Keep a picture of a waiting child in your wallet or purse. When you are visiting with other believers pull it out and ask if they, or someone they know, would give this child a home. Be their advocate.

Become a Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA).</strong> CASA volunteers are trained citizens appointed by judges to represent the best interests of abused and neglected children. These are people who volunteer their time to get to know a child in foster care and speak to the court on their behalf. Visit National CASA for more details and to find an office near you.

Mentor Vulnerable Children
The ranks of the fatherless and even the motherless continue on an upward spiral as the breakdown of the family continues unabated and births to unwed mothers increases. Mentoring offers an opportunity to help to break this cycle by providing a Godly role model and friend to a foster or otherwise vulnerable child. Learn more about mentoring and how you can make a difference to these children.


Support Those Who Support Them
Mow a foster parents yard, offer to baby sit, or organize a few days worth of meals when a new child is placed in their home. And tell them often that you appreciate what they do.

Throw a shower for a family adopting an older child. Often showers aren’t thought of for adoptive families especially when the adoption involves an older child. This greatly encourages adoptive families.

Sponsor a local child welfare social worker and commit to pray for them, an occasional lunch on you, and sending gifts or notes of encouragement

Make One Phone Call
What do you need? How many times do you think people call up a government office and say that!

Waiting Children exist right in your community. Call up your community’s Child Welfare Services office and ask the simple question … “What can we do to help foster children in our community?”

When youth turn 18 in the U.S. foster-care system, they are often left to fend for themselves. Over 20,000 teenagers a year “age out” of the U.S. foster care system with no place to call home. Call your local foster care office and let them know you have the desire to be a support for a child who is aging out of foster care.

Download a Contact Information file to learn how you can ask this simple question – What can we do to help?”

Give Sacrificially to Them
Support reputable orphan care organizations on an ongoing basis.

Give financially to a family in the process of adoption. See Shaohannah's Hope and Life International for more information about financial assistance for adoptive families.

Sponsor an Orphan or an Entire OrphanageMake a difference in a single child or an entire orphanage full of children through active child sponsorships. Or make it a family project to sponsor a single child or an entire orphanage. Write to them or encourage your children to write notes of encouragement to your sponsored children and hear first hand what its like to be an orphan who is being cared by the love of Jesus Christ.

Look up the following websites for more information about sponsoring orphaned children in a program that provides for on site staff who are proclaiming the Gospel and providing ongoing discipleship:
Children's HopeChest
VisionTrust International
Life International

Build an Orphanage
Did you know that your can be involved in building a home for orphans where the children will grow up in a church environment? It’s not as hard as it sounds. Visit World Orphans to learn how to do this in one of dozens of countries. Consider raising this money as a small group, Sunday school class, or youth ministry.

Take a Short-Term Mission Trip
We don’t care where you go, whether it’s the far reaches of the planet or right in your own backyard. Go where you are already invested, go to new places the Lord sends you, but go and experience the face of God through orphans in our world.

Look up the following Web sites for more information about short term mission opportunities:
Buckner Orphan Care
Global Aid Network
Warm Blankets Children's HopeChest
VisionTrust International>
trong>Provide Them a Safe Home
Explore what it would take to become a foster parent in your local community. Your county’s child welfare office is looking for safe and loving homes to place children who must be removed from their current home. Do you have an empty bedroom that could be put to great use for a child in need? What are you waiting for! Contact your county’s child welfare office to find out about upcoming information meetings in your area.


Give Them a Forever Family — Adopt a Child
Waiting…There are thousands of children waiting for a forever family. Waiting to experience God’s unfailing love and hear the message of hope found in Jesus Christ. You can make a eternal difference in God’s kingdom. You can give a child a home through foster care, domestic or international adoption. Caring families are especially needed for older youth, sibling groups and special needs children. Do you have a place in your heart, an empty bedroom in your home, and an empty seat in the minivan that could be put to great use for God’s kingdom?


To learn more about the three types of adoption call 1-800-FLTODAY to order a free booklet entitled Welcome Home: Eight Steps to Adoption.

a real living, serving community

This past weekend was a truly awesome weekend! About twenty of us from PCC's Young Adult community retreated up to Twain Harte (an hour from Yosemite) for a time of rest, prayer, adventure, and study of God's word.



To all of you who went, I want to say a sincere and huge THANK YOU to you! Personally, I had a renewing time in my own heart, faith, and vision for the future of our community. Studying God's word together, singing, praying, laughing, talking, and eating together reminded me of the purity, simplicity, and importance of community and being the church. I was flooded with gratefulness and love on Saturday night with the events that took place through the next door fire. I was so proud of all of you. In our worship gatherings, I thoroughly enjoyed listening to everyone wrestle through scripture about being loved by God (redemption), loving God, and loving others. I loved the honesty and authenticity shown by the group.

As we looked to Hebrews 6, 1 John 1-3, Matthew 22, I was so stoked to see and hear people seeking to apply it their lives!
I hope that we continue to grow as God's people and understand his love so that we can then love and serve others, helping them to become the people God intended.

Thank you to Chris and Kirsten for amazing leadership.
Thank you to Marilyn for fantastic food and hospitality to all of us.
Thank you to Frankie for coordination, maintenance, and leadership.
Thanks to all who served and loved each other and our new neighbor friends.

It looks like our next visit to Twain Harte will be January 5-7! A weekend that will include snowboarding or skiing, too! Registrations will be available soon!

I hope you all will plan on blessing Redwood City on November 17-19th for Beautiful Day.

Carpool arrangements for this weekend

Please pray that we have a safe and encouraging retreat this weekend at Twain Harte!

DRIVING ARRANGEMENTS:

1-Tony Gapastione/Driver 12:00pm
2-Paul Phelan/Passenger 12:00pm

3-Marilyn Lynch/ Driver 6:00pm
4-Ben Matthias
5-Agoff, Christina
6-Peake, Steve
7-Markovich, Frankie-
8-Murphy, Jeff
9-Jennifer ? (kristen's Friend)
10-Kristen VanMaanan
11-Allard, Aftan ( coming up late because of soccer game???)


12-Dawn/ Driver 6:00pm
13-Brison, Jodi
14-Chidyausiku, Patricia
15-Vontoussiant, Natalie

16-Driving-David Bromberg 6pm
17-Drew Foster
18-Victor Hernandez

Leaving Seperately GREEN MINI VAN
19-Kirsten Grothe
20-Chris Gothold (with possible supplies/food, too)

21-Josh Beck coming from LA

Coming up!

After our retreat Sunday NOVEMBER 5TH
Feel free to grab some friends and make some plans to hang out, go to Franklin St. Café or wherever you choose after Sunday at 6. There may be some tired people after our weekend retreat who will opt to just go homeand sleep but who knows!.

Saturday November 11th

10:30am Brunch at Main St. Café at 150 Elm St. in Redwood City

Beautiful Day November 17-19
This is a chance to serve our community. Check out www.ourbeautifulday.org


NOVEMBER 24TH & DECEMBER 1ST: The Deep
The Deep"—which is a time of DEEP, intimate worship in prayer, Bible teaching and music. Friday night at 8pm in the Basement of PCC’s Worship Center (aka: the choir room). Rod Toews will speak on 11/24 and Tony Gapastione will speak on 12/1. Expect silence, confession, communion, singing, prayer, Bible teaching from James, and experiential opportunities to worship God. This is a time to grow, pray, and celebrate.

DECEMBER 9TH: Coming soon: Christmas Party! More info TBA please mark your calendar for this festive Saturday event, which will start around 6pm.


Every Tuesday and Thursday night you can serve the poor and homeless with Street Outreach in Menlo Park!