{"id":1911,"date":"2015-02-27T16:40:30","date_gmt":"2015-02-27T16:40:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/balboaunionchurch.org\/wpaccess\/?p=1911"},"modified":"2015-02-27T19:55:18","modified_gmt":"2015-02-27T19:55:18","slug":"weekly-newsletter-february-27th-2015","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/balboaunionchurch.org\/es\/2015\/02\/27\/weekly-newsletter-february-27th-2015\/","title":{"rendered":"WEEKLY NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY 27TH 2015"},"content":{"rendered":"

Disculpa, pero esta entrada est\u00e1 disponible s\u00f3lo en English<\/a>. For the sake of viewer convenience, the content is shown below in the alternative language. You may click the link to switch the active language.<\/p>

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FROM THE PASTOR\u2019S DESK<\/h1>\n

Dear friends and members of our Balboa Union Church
\nModern technology provides us with tools to take pictures of ourselves; \u00bbSelfies\u00ab are now the most common things. \u00a0How many of you have seen a \u00abselfie\u00bb of Jesus?<\/p>\n

As Christians we are celebrating Lent – a moment of fasting. How about focusing on others – no selfies?<\/p>\n

I want to share with you an article which speaks about the disease of our Postmodern Era: narcissism<\/p>\n

Unselfish Interest – by William MacDonald<\/h4>\n

The most natural thing in the world is to show kindness to those who can repay us, to cultivate the friendship of those who can help us, to be interested in those whom we can somehow use in our projects.<\/p>\n

To correct this selfish tendency, Jesus taught,<\/p>\n

\u00abWhen you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous\u00bb (Luke 14:12-14).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

While this refers primarily to hospitality, it flows over into other aspects of Christian life and service. For instance, it is easy to devote hours to discipling that intelligent, good-looking young convert and never give a passing thought to that wrinkled, toothless saint in the convalescent hospital. It is a temptation to concentrate on those who are potential assets to us in our empire-building schemes and neglect the spiritual waifs and orphans see who seem to be perpetual basket-cases.<\/p>\n

Three considerations should bring us up short when we limit our concern to those who can help us or whom we can use.<\/p>\n

The first is this! It\u2019s a good thing that the Lord didn’t act like that. He chose us for what He could give us, not for any thought of personal benefit. There was nothing in us to commend us to His love and interest. We would have been shut out if He had treated us as we often treat others.<\/p>\n

The second consideration is that the Lord Jesus often comes to us in very unexpected ways. He comes dressed like the least of His brothers. He comes in believers who are outwardly unattractive. He comes sometimes with little promise of the blessing He will be to us if we receive Him.<\/p>\n

The third sobering consideration is that when we cultivate friendships on the basis of what they will mean to us, and when those friends reciprocate, we have received our reward, and there won’ t be any more at the resurrection of the righteous. Jesus reminds us that present repayment cuts us off from future reward.<\/p>\n

The moral, then, is that our interests, friendships and kindnesses should be unconditional and impartial.<\/p>\n

Kind Regards
\nRev. Roland<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

GET INVOLVED AND PARTICIPATE!<\/h1>\n

We will be asking for Volunteers to help with the following event that we have:<\/p>\n

Last year we had the first Annual Picnic to celebrate our 100 year anniversary. It is our intention to redo the event and make it an annual event for the community.<\/p>\n

We are looking for volunteers that can help with:<\/p>\n

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  1. Organising the Event<\/li>\n
  2. Helping on the day \u2013 Saturday the 14th of March.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Please speak with Beth Gray for more information.<\/p>\n

    \"Invitation<\/a><\/p>\n

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    THIS SUNDAY AT BALBOA UNION CHURCH<\/h1>\n

    Worship Service at 10 a.m. \u2013 ALL ARE WELCOME!<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Children\u2019s Sunday School Teacher:<\/strong> Betsy Moran<\/p>\n

    SPEAKER<\/strong>: Sue Robbins. Her Sermon title is: WELCOME TO OUR HOME<\/p>\n

    Sue Robbins will take note of Abraham\u2019s covenant with God \u2013 the word is \u201ccovenant\u201d not \u201cpromise\u201d \u2013 and how the implication of the word in the Genesis story is somehow deeper and more profound than any mere \u201cpromise\u201d could be. As we look to the BUC Council\u2019s 2015 emphasis on growth, it seems to be a good time to look at the various covenants, both written and implied, that we have with one another as members of Christ\u2019s church and how we can extend those — and the innate hospitality that is our church\u2019s character — to new folks who come through our doors.<\/p>\n

    Scripture emphasis:<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Psalm 22:23-31
    \nGenesis 17:1-7, 15-16<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
    First TestamentReadings and Psalms<\/td>\nGenesis17:1-7Psalm22:23-31<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Epistle Reading<\/td>\nRomans 4:13-25<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Gospel Reading<\/td>\nMark 8:31-38<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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    Other News<\/h1>\n

    From Our Counci<\/strong>l<\/h3>\n

    Committee Night at BUC join us!<\/h3>\n

    \"com-night\"<\/a><\/p>\n

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    Mar 10, 2015\u00a010:00am<\/strong><\/p>\n

    The members of our BUC church council \u2013 under the leadership of David McIntosh Mahady \u2013 have developed a new initiative that we are calling BUC Committee Night.<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0 Rather than hold committee meetings throughout the month, in 2015, we will hold ALL committees together on one productive (and interesting!) evening each month.\u00a0 CHILD CARE WILL BE PROVIDED!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

    When we all joined the Balboa Union Church, we pledged \u201cto uphold it and each other with our prayers, our presence, our gifts and our service.\u201d\u00a0 An important way we do that is through the work of our committees.\u00a0 ALL MEMBERS AND FRIENDS ARE ENCOURAGED TO CONSIDER MAKING COMMITTEE NIGHT A PART OF YOUR 2015 COMMITMENT OF SERVICE TO OUR CHURCH!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

    The Committee Night<\/strong> schedule will look like this:<\/em><\/p>\n