April 2016 The Latest Word

For the members, family and friends of the Downey Adventist Church

Find Rest

Always with Us

by Cary Fisher

H

ave you ever been in a room and no one approaches you, it as if you are not even there?

The Psalmist wrote. “The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth” (Psalm 145:18). God, as in the Holy Spirit, is with us at every moment in time, and all we have to do is acknowledge Him, but He is often ignored as we neglect the fact that His presence is right here. The tragedy is that the Holy

Spirit is our helper, our guide and gives us strength when we are weak. The Holy Spirit brings us a supernatural power to assist us in all circumstances, but that power is underutilized by most.

The Bible writes, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:6). Not only is God with us all the time. He wants to be

included in every aspect of our lives. No matter how small or how big your problems, situations, or ideas are, they matter to God. Isn’t it a wonderful thought to live your life in constant prayer? The truth is that we all can. When I was a colporteur director, I learned a valuable lesson about prayer. My job was to drop off my students, as they would go and knock on the doors to whatever neighborhoods they were

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—St. Augustine

continued on page 2

San Gabriel Academy Chorale he San Gabriel Academy Chorale will be at Downey Adventist Church on April 16th to lead the worship service with their music and God-stories. As these young people share their music, we are given a glimpse of what it must be like in heaven when the heavenly chorus sings praises to God.

I have read in Plato and Cicero sayings that are wise and very beautiful; but I have never read in either of them: Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden.

Everyone is invited to join us for this special worship service. If you know some high schoolers who are interested in music or may be interested in attending SGA, this would be a great opportunity for them.

Make sure this is on your calendar! =

INSIDE Talent Show Pics page 3 Avoiding Temptation page 4 Taste & Inspiration on page 5 What’s happening? see pages 6 & 9 Our Church Family page 7 Kid’s Page on page 9

THE LATEST WORD Always with Us ... (cont. from page 1)

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April 23 - With Your Eyes Open. We have a powerful God that is with us at all times, and therefore, we can pray to Him at all times. The Bible says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:6). Our message will encourage us to live a life in continuous prayer.

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April 30 - God’s Rest for His People. Paul of the New Testament wrote, “for somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: “On the seventh day God rested from all his works” (Hebrews 4:4). The Sabbath is certainly not just for the people of Israel as it was something for Christians to experience as well.

This Sabbath, we will be reminded of the blessings that God has for us as we rest in Him. See you when the church gathers. =

The Latest Word V 28 N 04 BILL AUMACK

WE DID IT

in. Then, I would scout that as in seeking the Lord the Lord’s Supper. This is the area for new streets to at all times. Let us remem- a time to contemplate the work on, and also pick up ber that we are never immense love that God has the students as they were apart from Him as God is for us, and rededicate our finished with their routes. always waiting and willing lives to Jesus.

While I was driving, I to be there for us. Let us April 9 - Looking Up. felt the need to pray, but I learn to pray with our eyes After Jesus resurrected thought I needed to close open. out of the tomb, he spent my eyes, but to do that 40 days with his and drive was a bit disciples, and then, dangerous to say the ascended to Heaven. least. So, I learned No matter how small or For this Sabbath, to pray with my eyes how big your problems, the message will open. If can pray follow the accounts with my eyes open situations, or ideas are, that led to Jesus’s during this ministry, they matter to God. ascension and what what is stopping me that means to us from praying this today. way in all circumstances.

April 16 - San Gabriel Sermons for Academy Chorale. For As we listen to this Sabbath, we will be April the words found in 1 blessed to have our worChronicles 16:11, “Look to April 2 - Communion ship service led out by the the Lord and his strength; Sabbath. The Communion talented Choir group from seek his face always,” let Service is always a special SGA. It is always wonderus be people that do just Sabbath as we partake in ful to have them come and inspire us with their beautiful voices and their youthful energy.

responsible for this

LINDA AUMACK copy editor

ALEX AUMACK paper distribution

CARY FISHER pastor

address mail to: Downey Seventh-day Adventist Church 9820 Lakewood Blvd.

Downey, CA 90240 office: 562.869.6013 fax: 562.622.1691

downeychurch@gmail.com www.downeychurch.com

distributed monthly issue date: Apr. 2016 copyright 1992-2015

April 2016 Talent Show Pictures

Worship Schedule April 2 Cary Fisher Communion

April 16 Cary Fisher SGA Chorale

April 23 Cary Fisher

With Your Eyes Open

April 9 Cary Fisher Looking Up

April 30 Cary Fisher

God’s Rest for His People

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THE LATEST WORD Avoiding Temptation

by Bill Aumack

H What if “Lead me not into temptation” means “God, help me keep myself away from that which tempts me toward poor choices.”

Pray like it depends on God. Work like it depends on you.

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eidi Mann tells the story about how her 10-year-old loves playing on his father’s tablet but may use only the touchscreen because he’s misused the keyboard and stylus. One day, after receiving permission to play, he detached and handed over the forbidden objects. His dad said, “Just leave them there,” but our son replied, “No, I might be tempted to use them.”

Oh, the wisdom of this 10-year-old! To often we keep our temptations too close to us. We say we want to eat healthier, but we still buy goodies at the grocery store. We want to get out of debt, yet we keep those credit cards or we allow ourselves to spend more than we should on shiny new gadgets or the spiffy new car.

We want to get into shape, but not enough commit to an exercise program. We don’t want to gossip, but we spend way too much time at the company water cooler getting the scoop on what is happening. We even want to have a better relationship with Jesus, but it’s too hard to put down the cellphone or turn off the TV. Why is it so hard to do “the right thing” in these situations? We know what we should do, but we don’t it. Sometimes it seems like we act as small

children who just can’t resist touching that forbidden object. It’s silly when you think about it, but it is the way we operate many times.

We often pray the Lord’s prayer and ask God “lead us not into tempation” and “deliver us from evil” but it is like we hope for some kind supernatual miracle to do it. Basically

we expect God to do it for us with no effort on our parts. That’s kind of crazy.

Now, there are times when this approach may be the only way, like in some cases of drug addictions. Often times God needs to take the addiction for the drugs away for the person to be healed. But so many times we expect a miracle when all we need to do is get up and throw away the double stuff ding-dongs.

I think we should be more proactive about removing temptations.

What if “Lead me not into temptation” means “God, help me keep myself away

from that which tempts me toward poor choices.”

We need to exercise our self control. If our self control is so weak that we are afraid to use it, then we need to find someone we trust to help us. Let them hold the credit cards for you. Take them grocery shopping with you so you stay out of the sweets aisle. Whatever it takes.

The Bible mentions cutting off your hand if it causes you to sin.

While I don’t recommend that strategy, it does tell us that we are responsible for removing temptations from our lives.

God isn’t just suggesting this, it’s very forcefully put forward. We have a part to play and shouldn’t expect God to do everything for us.

I like the wisdom found in the saying, “Pray like it depends on God, work like it depends on you.” I suspect an approach like that will have a high chance of success.

What is one temptaton you can work on removing from your life? =

April 2016 Taste & Inspiration Southwestern Quinoa Vegetable Casserole Ingredients

• 1/4 teaspoon pepper

• 14 ounces Rotel Tomatoes

• 1 cup cheddar cheese

• 15 ounces black beans drained • 1/4 cup jalapenos • 1 cup frozen corn • 1/2 cup vegetable broth • 3/4 cup quinoa

• to taste sour cream

Directions

Pilar & Phillip

1. Preheat oven to 400.

2. Combine all ingredients except cheese and sour

cream in a 2 quart casserole.

• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

3. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes.

• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

4. Remove and stir.

• 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander

5. Bake for another 20 minutes or until all liquid has

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

been absorbed and quinoa is tender.

6. Cover with cheese and broil till cheese is melted (usually around 1 or 2 minutes).

7. Serve with sour cream.

Enjoy! =

Abundant Giving Project for April

W

e have some wonderful projects planned for our Abundant Giving in 2016. Hopefully you made it to our Business Meeting and heard about them.

the state requires a lot of bark (6 inches deep to be exact) under the swings and climbing bars. This is a very large expense.

We are starting out the year with a project for Adventist Union School.

As you know, this is the elementary school we support in Bellflower. AUS has a wonderful field and playground for the children. It is one of the biggest in the area. However,

This is where we come in. We are going to help raise money for bark for the

playground. Our goal for the month is $2000. There are 5 weeks in April, so that’s only $400 a week.

If we can raise more than that, that would be awesome. To cover all the needed areas of the playground we would need to raise at least double that amount.

Let’s help us AUS keep the children safe on the playground.

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Downey Adventist Church Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

1 7:13 pm sunset Visit www.downeychurch.org S.S. – Sabbath School

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9:30 am S.S. 10:50 am Worship Pastor Cary Communion

7 pm Band Practice 9 am Pathfinders

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2 pm Pathfinders

8 7:18 pm sunset

9 9:30 am S.S. 10:50 am Worship Pastor Cary

7 pm Wed. Fellowship

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7 pm Band Practice

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15 7:24 pm sunset

16 9:30 am S.S. 10:50 am Worship SGA Chorale

7 pm Band Practice

7 pm Wed. Fellowship

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2 pm Pathfinders

22 7:29 pm sunset

23 9:30 am S.S. 10:50 am Worship Pastor Cary

7 pm Church Board

7 pm Wed. Fellowship

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7 pm Band Practice

29 7:34 pm sunset

9:30 am S.S.

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10:50 am Worship Pastor Cary 7 pm Wed. Fellowship

7 pm Band Practice

April 2016

Upcoming Events April Birthdays Jessica Michel – 6 Gabriel Gomez – 7 Ella Fisher – 8 Jessica Ramirez - 18 Ricardo Gonzalez – 18 Daniel Michel – 19 Judy Joseph – 19 Joshua Perez - 19 Edwin Morales – 20 Erik Concha – 20 Miranda Gomez – 21 Roschelle Fisher – 24 Debra Martinez – 28

Wednesday - 7 p.m. Wed. Fellowship Friday - 7:00 p.m. Band Practice Apr. Apr. Apr. Apr. Apr. Apr.

If your birthday is left out in the monthly newsletter, please contact the church office so we can put it in.

2 - Communion 2 - Pathfinders @ 2pm 3 - Pathfinders @ 9am 16 - SGA Chorale 16 - Pathfinders @ 2pm 27 - Administrative Professionals Day

The Latest Word deadline is the 5th of the month.

Coming Soon Be sure to keep up with the latest news by signing up for the Wednesday email.

You can sign up here www.downeychurch.org/Signups.html or send us an email at DowneyChurch at gmail dot com and we’ll add you.

May 7 - Mother’s Day Sabbath / Breakfast May 21 - La Sierra’s Roots June 18 - Father’s Day Sabbath June 25 - Parking Lot Movie Night July 18-22 - VBS

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THE LATEST WORD The Latest About

Our Church Family Congratulations to Eddie and Sarah Rivas.

They are pregnant with their first child.

The baby is due in Sept.

Congratulations to Alex Aispuro. He was honored for being on the Principal’s Honor Roll. He has also been accepted to

quite a few colleges. Ask him about it.

Congratulations to Ernesto Rojas. He’ll be giving a 20-minute presentation at the National Undergraduate Bioethics Conference,

NUBC. This is regarding his research on the ethics of editing DNA (using the CRISPR/Cas9 system). It will be at Case Western Reserve University April 8-10th.

If you have any Church Family news, please contact the church office so we can get it into the newsletter. =

Thank you to everyone who has been saving Box Tops for Education. That is greatly appreciated.

For the Box Tops for Education, please save the Box Tops coupon.

Please give your labels to Linda Aumack. Thank you for your support! =

A Love Explosion

April 2nd 8

“Mommy, if Jesus comes to live inside my heart, will I explode?”

One of missionary Katie Davis’ adopted daughters surprised her with that question as they headed to the Nile River for some baptisms.

Although Davis immediately replied, “No!” she later realized: “That is exactly what we should

do if Jesus comes to live inside our hearts. We will explode with love, with compassion, with hurt for those who are hurting, and with joy for those who rejoice. We will explode with a desire to be more, to be better, to be close to the One who made us.”

—adapted from Kisses From Katie =

April 2016

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April 2016

Ponder This... = “The greatest gift we can give back to our great God is to let his love make us glad.”

—Ann Voskamp, The Greatest Gift = “The devil knows your name but calls you by your sin.

God knows your sin but calls you by your name.”

—Ricardo Sanchez = “Wisdom is oftentimes nearer when we stoop than when we soar.”

—William Wordsworth

Downey-Florence Seventh-day Adventist Church 9820 Lakewood Blvd., Downey CA 90240

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