Sept 2010 The Latest Word

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

The Pathfinders Are Coming!

by Pastor Mitch

A

fter many years of praying, God is leading us to start a Pathfinder club at the Downey Church.

Edwin Morales has stepped forward to lead the Downey Pathfinder club and there are many other leaders willing to assist.

Registration begins this month—look for announcements in your September bulletins. If your boy or girl is in the fifth grade or 10 years old, they’re ready for Pathfinders.

Pathfinders are a world-

wide organization of young people sponsored by the Seventh-day Adventist Church. All children are invited to be Pathfinders.

You’re welcome to join the Downey Pathfinder Club even if you’re not a member of the Downey Adventist Church.

Pathfinders offer a wide range of activities including, but not limited to: • Camping.

• Grade appropriate leadership training.

• Activities promoting community pride & involvement through outreach activities such as community efforts to feed the hungry, collecting food for the disadvantaged, taking part in community clean-up days, visiting and encouraging the elderly, and many more.

• Interactive training in a variety of recreational, artistic, nature, conservation, vocational, and outreach areas, with awards (honors) given for successcontinued on page 2

Becoming a Contagious Christian Our Small Groups will be meeting for our new series starting in October called Becoming a Contagious Christian. This 6 week series by Lee Strobel & Bill Hybels will help us understand how to share our faith a style that works for you. The emphasis is on natural approaches that work over time to bring family members, friends, coworkers and neighbors to the point of trusting in Christ.

If you are not currently in a small group, please sign up in the foyer at church. This series with it’s book and video vignettes will help us all learn how to communicate better. You won’t want to miss out on this.

If you’d like to host a small group, please talk to Bill and let him know.

Thanks. =

A Prayer Eternal God! Grant us gratitude enough to look backward and be thankful; courage enough to look forward and be hopeful; faith enough to look upward and be humble; kindness enough to look outward and be helpful.

—Prayer for the Jewish New Year

INSIDE Under Construction on page 3 Love is... Not Envious on page 4 Ginny’s Kitchen on page 5 What’s happening? see pages 6 & 9 Don’t Be Sorry - Save! is on page 7 Our Church Family page 10 Kid’s Page on page 11

THE LATEST WORD Pathfinders are Coming (cont. from page 1) California Conference. He and I attended La Sierra College together, which was a campus of Loma

Ginny and I have had the opportunity to worship with the congregations • All activities are led by where our friends serve caring staff members. as pastor. In July, we attended the You’re invited Sabbath service at to contact Edwin Usually it’s pretty easy Rolling Hills where Morales for more to tell if something is yours our friend, Elder information. or mine... Sometimes things Jeff Rosenthal, is Ginny and I have get complicated... and who the pastor. Our only many experiences disappointment was owns what can be a to share with you his wife, Emmelyn when we return from difficult question and daughter Hanna, our Sabbatical in were away that October. Until then, Linda University at the Sabbath visiting famlet me introduce the speak- time, where he was one ily members. However, ers for September and their year ahead of me. Prayer I’m certain they’ll be topics. is a significant part of Dr. with Pastor Jeff on the Kiemeney’s ministry for day he comes to speak at On September 4, he has firsthand experience Downey. Pastor Jeff’s Dr. Gerard Kiemeney of healing prayer in his message will bring insight will bring a message of life.

Bring a friend to hear into God’s word with a faith and courage. Dr. his message. message of hope.

Kiemeney is the Region Director of the LA Metro During our Sabbatical, Usually it’s pretty easy region in the Southern to tell if something is

“

”

yours or mine. We have a whole set of laws and rules to determine ownership.

But ownership and possession is not the same thing.

And sometimes things get complicated. Like when a couple gets divorced, who owns what can become a difficult question. The same is true with God. What is yours and what is his? On September 18, Bill Aumack will cover this topic with a sermon titled, “Yours or Mine?”

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On September 25, we’ve invited Elder Myriam Salcedo-Gonzales to be our guest speaker.

She is the pastor of the All Nations Church in

Monrovia. Before entering into ministry, Pastor Myriam spent many years in the Adventist educational system as a teacher and principal. She has a love for students and desires all of them to succeed. The most important achievement, however, is to surrender their lives to Jesus and serve him. Hosting Pastor Myriam at our church is a special blessing. Tell your friends to come and hear this woman of God’s message of love.

Always know we love you and our hearts are one with yours when the church gathers for worship. =

The Latest Word V 22 N 09 BILL AUMACK

WE DID IT

ful completion of the interactive training modules

responsible for this

LINDA AUMACK proof reading

LETTY DURAN

paper distribution

MITCH WILLIAMS 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: Sept. 2010 copyright 1992-2010

September 2010 God, Webster & You

by Linda Bewley

W

ebster says “patient” means “bearing pains or trials calmly or without complaint . . . manifesting forbearance under provocation or strain. . . not hasty or impetuous . . . steadfast despite opposition, difficulty or adversity” (Webster’s Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary).

G

od says “We continue to shout our praise even when we’re hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next.

In alert expectancy such as this, we’re never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can’t round up enough contain-

Under Construction ers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!” (Romans 5:3-5, The Message).

Approximately two months ago, the City of Long Beach started doing some road construction in Naples, the section of the city where I work. The construction has caused some road closures and extremely long traffic delays. To complicate matters, Naples is an island, so there are not a lot of alternatives for driving to or from the area. The frustrations of getting to and from work or running errands has grown with each passing day.

Impatient and/or downright angry drivers can be heard honking their horns

Worship Schedule September 4 Gerard Kiemeny

September 11 Jeff Rosenthal

September 18 Bill Aumack Yours or Mine?

September 25 Myriam SalcedoGonzales

or worse. At one point I saw two cars merging into one lane, and I could tell neither of them intended to give in to the other. It looked to me that the vehicles were going to merge into each other! But since I was already late for work due to the traffic, I couldn’t stay outside to see the outcome.

When speaking to clients who are planning a visit to the office, my advice has been for them to “pack a lot of patience,” because, seriously, it’s been ugly.

A few days ago, as I was doing my best to be patient in this mess, I wondered to myself why it was so necessary for that work to be done. Why did the City pick the middle of summer to tear up all the roads in a beach town when traffic is already at its height due to tourists and out-of-school children? And, more than that, why did they choose to do the work at all? The roads looked perfectly fine to me. I don’t recall seeing any potholes or other things in need of repair.

I suppose that someone somewhere knows the answers to those questions.

You know, I think there are times when we find our lives in similar situations. We are cruising along and seemingly able to handle life’s many issues–some good, some not-sogood, and then all of a sudden, out of the blue, something comes along to turn everything upside down. Something we don’t understand and for which there seems no necessity. We might even succumb to the temptation of saying, “Why, Lord?

Did my life really need to be turned upside down like that? Weren’t things okay the way they were?!”

I’m guessing we know the answer before we ask.

Apparently God, for some reason, sees the need.

Whether that need is to cause us to do some soul searching or to cause us to seek a closer relationship with him, only he knows.

As I consider the circumstance which has caused me to write this, I have to admit it has stepped up my prayer life. And God is so faithful! He brought a well known verse to mind this morning during my quiet time. “Consider it pure

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THE LATEST WORD Before the Father

by Linda Fernandez

“A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.”

Proverbs 14:30

I noticed that the lady doing the registering was wearing a lovely pink shiny cape.

Immediately I wanted a cape like that….

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Love is ... Not Envious What a great adventure we had at Vacation Bible School this year! Our theme was sort of twofold: God as our H-ER-O and being heroes for God. In class we learned about several little known Bible characters who were actually heroes for God because of their faith. Not just because of their faith, however, but also because of their courage to act because of their faith.

For me, VBS is always fun. This year was particularly exciting because for a small church we had lots of kids, lots of adult participation (which is crucial for success) and many fun activities. Because of a generous donation of colorful metallic fabric, almost every child and adult had a super hero cape. The kids loved them and several parents said they had difficulty getting their children to take the capes off for bath and bedtime.

The first or second night as I was signing in, I noticed that the lady doing the registering was wearing a lovely pink shiny cape. Immediately I wanted a cape like that…. did I have cape envy? But why? Where did that come from?! My friends and I had a good laugh about

that but God didn’t let me off so easily.

All during VBS week, that feeling haunted me. It seemed such an innocent feeling at the time, enough to even laugh about with friends, but was it? How was it that this feeling was able to jump into my mind and

heart so quickly? As a Christian, wasn’t I beyond that by now?

Vacation Bible School is all about the kids…or is it? We know of some young people who because of distance or circumstance VBS is their only connection to spiritual things. They continue to come year after year but only for VBS. How does God perform a work in their young hearts in such a short time once a year? Only He knows, but I know that many adults have similar experiences

as they help in the background. I know He did a work in mine this year once more. The final evening, I ran into a little boy who came late and did not have a cape. I offered him mine without a moment’s hesitation or regret. Was I a hero for God just then?

I hope so.

With all the busyness of VBS over, the Lord continues to work in my heart about this issue. How many times throughout my life had I been envious of the position or possessions of others? Not overtly, of course, but deep within my heart. I truly believe when we ask for forgiveness, God casts our sins to “the ocean floor” as the song says, but I also believe that he allows us to be reminded of them at times, not in condemnation but as prods to turn us back to the right road and as tools to remind us to make better decisions as we grown in Him. Heavenly Father: Please fill my heart with your love and kindness so that envy cannot abide there. =

September 2010 From Ginny’s Kitchen The Californian Ingredients:

bagel you like)

Sprouted Grain Bagels – lightly toasted (We LOVE the Alvarado Street Bakery Onion-WheatPoppy bagels, but you can use any sort of

2 large tomatoes Tofutti Cream Cheese (or any vegan cream cheese alternative) Faux vegan bacon (Smart Bacon, Stripples or the like) Avocados Alfalfa sprouts

and crunch make it extra yummy) Schmear the top and bottom of the bagels with your cream cheese Layer the remaining veggies.

Enjoy.=

Method: Slightly toast your bagels (the warmth

Under Construction (from page 3) joy whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4).

I have to admit, I already see that the roads are starting to show improvement and in the end will be better than ever. Perhaps a little heart construction is necessary

sometimes just so God can perfect a little of his character in us, so we can be better than ever. The construction is not in vain but will serve whatever purpose God has intended, because he works all things together for our good. =

source: http://happylittlevegans.com

Only Today There are two days in every week about which we shouldn’t worry.

One is yesterday, with its mistakes and cares, its aches and pains. Yesterday has passed forever beyond our control.

That leaves only one day — today. Anyone can fight the battle of just one day. It is only when we add the burden of those two eternities — yesterday and tomorrow — that contentment will escape us. =

The other day is tomorrow, with its possible adversities and blunders.

Until its sun rises, we have no stake in tomorrow, for it is yet unborn.

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Downey Adventist Church Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

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Friday

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Saturday

3 7:17 pm sunset

4 9:30 AM S.S. 10:50 AM Worship Gerard Kiemeney

7 pm Women’s Prayer Group

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5

7

9

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6:30 pm Band Practice

10 7:08 pm sunset

11 9:30 AM S.S. 10:50 AM Worship Jeff Rosenthal

Office Closed

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7 pm Women’s Prayer Group

6:30 pm Band Practice

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6:58 pm sunset

10 AM C.S. Camp Meeting Book Sale Hope Channel & AdventistBookCenter.com

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7 pm Women’s Prayer Group

6:30 pm Band Practice

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6:49 pm sunset

7 pm Women’s Prayer Group

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9:30 AM S.S. 10:50 AM Worship Bill Aumack Potluck - Mexican food 25 9:30 AM S.S. 10:50 AM Worship Myriam SalcedoGonzales

Autumn begins

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6:30 pm Band Practice

30 Visit www.downeychurch.org C.S. - Community Service S.S. - Sabbath School 7 pm Women’s Prayer Group

September 2010 Stewpot

by Gordon Botting, DrPH, CHES For those caught in betrayal, the new trend is for them to appear on television and, as sincerely as possible, express sorrow for their marital unfaithfulness. Tiger Woods, after the public learned about several of his mistresses, apologized to his golfing fans. Bob McDonnell, Governor of Virginia and Eliot Spitzer, the former Governor of New York, publically expressed to their constituents regret for their indiscretions.

Whether you feel these celebrities or politicians are sincere or not, it is the new fashion to use the power of the media to ask forgiveness of those you may have wronged.

Today, there are a variety of websites specializing in apologies like, thepublicapology.com, perfectapology.com or imsorry.com. Interestingly, the traffic in confessions on these websites has increased over 60 % in recent months.

Whether or not the general public believes these are sincere efforts to right wrongs, being remorseful for mistakes and apologizing is part of good citizenship as well as the foundation of Christian forgiveness.

However, in the financial sphere, many a wage earner needs to apologize

Don’t Be Sorry — Save! to their spouses and families when their homes go into foreclosure because they have given away hard earned money on high interest debt that was really needed for food, clothing or college tuition.

They have failed to save for those rainy-day emergencies that challenge us all. Listed below are a number of practical suggestions on how to increase your ability to save.

SAVE THE CHANGE One of my mother’s favorite sayings was, “Look after the pennies and the dollars will look after themselves.”

According to Coinstar, the manufacturer of coin counting products, there are approximately $10 billion in spare change stashed away in children’s piggy banks, cans, jars and car coin holders. In the March issue of the AARP Bulletin there is a great example of just how much is stashed away in our homes and garages. Wesley Lance, a welder in Akron, Ohio,

made it a habit to empty his pockets regularly into a growing collection of cans. When his local credit union waived their coin sorting fees during “Roll Your Change” week, his wife, Linda, decided it was time to haul in, literally in a child’s red wagon, the 20 cans he had filled over the years.

The credit union teller announced the mounting total as she fed the coins into the sorting machine.

Linda later acknowledged, “Everybody stared at me while the teller called out, like a slot machine winner in Las Vegas, $1,000. . . $2,000. . .$3,000. . . until she reached a grand total of $4,120.18.”

PAY CASH Leave your credit and charge cards at home and pay cash for the large and small items you purchase at the local supermarket and mall. Approximately $1,200 - $1,500 of interest and penalties are paid annually by the American household because of the recurrent use of credit cards. When you pay cash, you could then open a continued on page 8

“Every week you should lay by in some secure place five to ten dollars not to be used up unless in case of sickness. With economy you may place something at interest.

With wise management you can save something after paying your debts.”

— Ellen G. White, Selected Messages, Book 2, p. 329.

“The wise saves for the future.”

— Proverbs 21:20 TLB

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THE LATEST WORD Don’t Be Sorry - Save! (cont. from page 7) freedom savings account to save the funds you normally would spend on interest. This account could then be used for your annual Christmas splurge. Also, when you visit a local restaurant and you only have cash, you will most likely buy the appetizer and entrée. But when you use plastic you will purchase a drink and a dessert, which increases your calories and decreases your reserves.

SPEND YOUR WEALTH

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One major reason most individuals fail to save is that they cannot or simply will not want to stop spending. If you find yourself in this spend-aholic category, you can still benefit yourself by changing one aspect of your spending habits. Instead of buying a case of Pepsi or Coca-Cola, buy stock in Pepsi or Coca-Cola. You will reduce your sugar intake and increase your investments. Instead of purchasing a new riding mower, purchase stock in the John Deere Company and receive a health bonus with a push mower. So go ahead and continue to

spend, spend, spend. In fact, spend as much as you like by acquiring items that will grow and retain their value. Don’t STOP SPENDING. Choose how to better spend your hard earned money.

ily of four spends $500 on supermarket items per week, you could save $100 per week or $400 a month by using coupons as a savings tool.

USE COUPONS WISELY

Start thinking of your home as a giant piggy bank. Currently, mortgage interest rates are at an alltime low. With a fifteenyear mortgage at under 4% interest and a thirty-year mortgage at 4 ½ to 5% interest, it pays to refinance your existing home and save a “bunch of money” on interest payments.

One of the best ways to save money, especially when it comes to supermarket supplies, is to cut coupons. It has been our family’s experience that when we clip coupons,

we average approximately $20 dollars of savings for every $100 spent on groceries. But if you spend the coupon amount in addition to the $100 you originally budgeted for food and other necessities, you have saved nothing and spent $120 of your household budget. Yet, if you are smart and save that $20, you will in effect have spent $80 of your planned $100 and put $20 in your savings account.

Since the average fam-

HOME SAVINGS

Another way to save is to add an additional principal payment to each monthly mortgage payment. A $100,000 mortgage over the life of the thirty-year loan will cost the average homeowner $200,000 plus in interest payments. By simply adding $100 as an additional principal payment to your monthly mortgage payment, you will save approximately $90,000 in interest over the life of the loan, enough to send three kids to college debt free.

This will allow the average family to save eight years of payments of approximately $800. This amount, invested at 4% interest, will net the homeowner a minimum of $65,000.

BOTTOM LINE — WHY SAVE? The most expensive real estate in the world is probably Manhattan Island, which history tells us was purchased from the Native Americans for a few blankets and beads, today feasibly worth about $25. If those same Native Americans had invested their $25 at 7% interest, it would have grown since 1626 to over $6 trillion.

That is truly the magic of compound interest or the real power of saving for tomorrow’s rainy or sunny opportunity.

However, if those same Native Americans had deposited their $24 into the local bank and spent the $1.75 they earned each year instead of letting it compound, they would have earned only $660 in interest over the last 384 years and still only have the original $25 in their savings account.1 Begin today by not singing that heartbreaking pop song, “I’m Sorry,” and begin to make savings a top priority in your personal money management. = References: Ric Edelman, The Truth About Money, Rodale, Inc., 2004, pp. 39-40.

September 2010

THIS MONTH

September Birthdays

Pilar Centeno, Jr. - 5 Pat Novinski - 6 Kean Aispuro – 9 Elora Chavez – 9 Shelby Jackson – 11 David Guerrero – 12 Dolores Gamboa - 13 Amber Macias - 15 Mitch Williams - 19 Daniel Beckmann - 19 Hector Archila - 21 Enoch Aispuro – 22 Patricia Jackson – 23 Eloy Luna – 23 Dennis Navarro - 26

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

If you are looking for a new, fun way to read The Latest Word online, be sure to check out the newest format at http:// issuu.com/downeychurch. Same great content in a richer environment. Be sure to check out all the reading modes. As usual, you can still get read it at our website at www.downeychurch.org.

Upcoming Events 2nd Sunday - 10 a.m. Community Service Thursdays - 7 p.m. Women’s Prayer Group Fridays - 6:30 p.m. Band Practice Sept 6 - Labor Day - Church Office Closed Sept 18 - Potluck, Mexican theme Sept 23 - First Day of Autumn

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

Coming Soon October 2 - Communion October 9 - Small Groups Series “Contagious Christian” Nov 20 - Celebration Sabbath

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THE LATEST WORD The Latest About

Our Church Family Congratulations to Annie Mendez who got a full-time job as a 4th grade teacher. This is a goal she’s been working towards for quite a while now.

Remember to pray for all our students and teachers who are starting a new school year.

Remember Pastor Mitch in your prayers.

He would like us to pray that the medicines will work and the side effects won’t be too strong.

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

Check your local listings on the Hope Channel for viewing times.

You can purchase books in three diffierent ways.

1) Visit your local ABC. 2) Call 1-800-765-6955.

3) Shop at AdventistBookCenter.com =

Pathfinders Our Pathfinder club is getting started. Edwin Morales is the director. Celene Aispuro and Tomas Aispuro are the secretary and deputy director, respectively.

All students who are 10 years old or in the 5th grade are encouraged to sign up.

Watch at church during the month of September for sign ups. Be sure to have your children invite their friends and classmates as well.

If you would be willing to help with the

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On the Campbell Soup labels, all that is really needed is the UPC (the bar code). You don’t have to save the entire label, just the UPC bar code.

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

Camp Meeting Book Sale On Sunday, September 12, the Adventist Book center will hold it’s first-ever book sale on both the Hope Channel and AdventistBookCenter. com. Avoid the crowds and long lines as the ABC brings blessings and bargains to your doorstep. With great deals on 30 new books, you won’t want to miss this event.

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 Campbell Soup Labels for education and Box Tops for Education. That is greatly appreciated.

Pathfinder club, please talk to Edwin. There are lots of opportunities to make a difference. Some full-time, some part-time.

You can make a difference for the youth. =

September 2010

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September 2010

Ponder This... = “He who labors as he prays lifts his heart to God with his hands.”

—St. Bernard of Clairvaux = “Real success is finding your lifework in the work that you love.”

—David McCullough = “The greatness of God rouses fear within us, but his goodness encourages us not to be afraid of him. To fear and not be afraid — that is the paradox of faith.”

—A.W. Tozer

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

DATED MATERIAL Return Service Requested

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