C
OMMUNITIES OF JOY|
Issue 3 |
March, 1998 |
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* * * CALENDAR * * * |
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Mar 7 - B-B-Q @ Canoga Park |
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WORLD CONFERENCE GLAS DELEGATE MEETING |
On March 8, 1998 there will be a meeting of all delegates for the 1998 World Conference at the Temple City Congregation at 3:00 pm. The meeting is intended to preview the resolutions which will be considered at the conference and prepare the delegate to have a successful experience in Independence.
Although the priority of the meeting is to empower delegates, other interested persons are welcome to sit in on the meeting.
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BAPTISMS |
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Derek Beck |
Covina |
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Julie Ehlers |
Covina |
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Sybelle Escobedo |
Covina |
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Andrew Farquhar |
Torrance |
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Megan Farquhar |
Torrance |
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Nicholas Hamilton |
Torrance |
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Daniel Hiles II |
Covina |
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Julia Hiles |
Covina |
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Crystal Moreno |
Covina |
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Ashley Pike |
Covina |
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GLAS BUSINESS OFFICE RELOCATION |
The immanent completion of the sale of the properties adjacent to the Orange congregation, which includes the Stake business office, has forced GLAS to look for a new home. GLAS will be renting office space at "Boardwalk." The new address & phone:
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550 Park Center Drive Suite 104 Santa Ana, CA 92705-3529 Phone: 714/ 569-3003(The 800 number remains the same.) |
The date for the office move is presently scheduled for the first week of April.
In addition, the move provides a good time to improve the electronic communication capabilities between staff members whose residences are spread around the Stake. There will be extensive use of computers, email, and electronic transfer of information to facilitate communication. Upon completion of the move there will be an Open House for members to visit the new facility.
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GLAS REUNION DATES SET |
The 1998 Greater Los Angeles Stake Reunion has been scheduled for July 11-18 at Camp Buckhorn. Apostle Jac Kirkpatrick will be our guest minister. This year's theme is "Transforming Community with Christ." If it's been a while since you've been to reunion, why not plan now to attend. Contact Lesley at the Stake Office (800) 454-2222 to make your reservation.
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GLAS CHILDREN/YOUTH MINISTRIES TEAM EXPANDS |
We are pleased to announce that Calleen Faherty of the Simi Valley congregation became the newest full time member of the GLAS Children/Youth Ministry Team in February. Calleen, the daughter of Janet and Martin Faherty, will be a staff assistant.
Calleen joins Lynette King, Mike Braby, and Linda Monroe on the team and will assist them in publicity, mailings, correspondance, and leadership at the various children/youth retreats and camps.
We welcome her to this role and anticipate the continued growth in this vital area of the Stake.
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MASTER PLAN FOR TEMPLE CITY MOVING RAPIDLY |
At the November, 1997 GLAS Conference a resolution was approved which transferred responsibility for the facility presently being utilized by the Temple City congregation to the Stake.
A Stake Master Plan Task Force has met several times with the architects Jim and Mike Corcoran to develop a proposal which will be presented at the May 30, 1998 GLAS Conference. The plan will provide improved facilities for children/youth activities, Stake conferences, Stake retreats and workshops, and community organizations.
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BUCKHORN CAMP PREPARES FOR MAJOR IMPROVEMENT PROJECT |
In December, the Buckhorn Camp Board voted to proceed with a major improvement project. The unanimous vote came after a lengthy study with planners and engineers to evaluate the feasibility of the project along with extensive input from the congregational members from Greater Los Angeles Stake, San Diego District, and Mojave District.
On January 24, a Project Management Team was elected by the board which consists of Gary Monroe (chair), Don Pike, Terry Norwood, Ted Mueller, Tom Carlson, Tom Hawthorne, and Jerry Giddens. The Project Management Team is charged with finalizing the master plan, establishing a phasing plan, developing a funding plan, procuring engineering/architectural estimates, interfacing with local community officials, and communicating progress with jurisdictional church members. This is an exciting development, with the completed improvement project offering a substantial enhancement to the many members and friends of the church who utilize the camp grounds. Additional details will be shared as frequently as possible with a full report being presented at the May 30 GLAS conference. This project is an important component of the GLAS response to Transformation 2000.
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WITH OPEN HANDS |
"Prayer is acceptance....The wisdom of the world is the wisdom which says: 'It is best to stand firm, to get a good grip on what's yours here and now, and hold your own against the rest....What are they really trying to do?...What's actually on their minds?'....Suspicion, jealousy, resentment, and greed emerge before you've even given them a name. You become a person only when you are capable of standing open to all the gifts which are prepared for you. Ultimately, gifts become gifts only when they are accepted. When gifts are accepted, they acquire a place in the life of the receiver. Perhaps the challenge of the gospel lies precisely in the invitation to accept a gift for which we can give nothing in return." - excerpts from With Open Hands by Henri Nouwen.
After several years, I recently reread and tried reapplying some of the thoughts contained in the above small book by Henri Nouwen. I think that too many times it is a common human experience that we want to hold on "with clinched fists" to what we consider to be "ours" - perhaps very justifiably. On the other hand, the times which are most meaningful to me have tended to be when I have opened my hands to recognize and receive God's gifts of grace - perhaps conveyed through acceptance, friendship, love, and forgiveness. I think Henri is right when he says "you become a person" only when you allow yourself to accept these gifts, through open hands. I also think that it is this dynamic (or action of God's grace and our action of response) which really drives the church when the church is most like what it is called to be.
We are getting close to the time of year when it is "the Law" to pay our federal income tax. Sometimes I also hear it said that it is the "law" of the church to file a tithing statement and to pay tithing. I am not arguing with this statement (although I don't use that language myself) especially since there is financial need in congregations and the World Church. However, the greatest result in our giving is not so much the impact on the institution of the church, but rather the positive growth or the opening of our personal lives to God. We have been given the gifts of life, love, and hope through Christ - to name but three. If we have fully accepted these gifts it is in gratitude that we want to respond in kind by opening our hands in freely sharing with others. It may be the law to which we respond but the motivation to respond is from the love of God.
Likewise Jesus Christ may have "fulfilled the law" but he did it through openness to God's love, thereby demonstrating Grace. May we more fully be the persons who God has called us to be, by opening our hands to receive of God's love or grace, and by also graciously opening our hands by sharing the love, freely, in our world.
"Stewardship is the Response of my people to the Ministry of my Son."
Stake Presidency
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CULTURAL EXCHANGE PROGRAM |
The International Academic Center Corporation (a Japanese non-profit organization) is looking for host families in Orange, Anaheim, Anaheim Hills, and Tustin areas for Japanese students who wish to learn and experience an American way of life. Duration of stay is one week to three months. Compensation to host family for one (1) month is $650.
Please contact David or Dianne Terauchi at 714/974-7825 for information or to register.
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