West Hills Church

Last month I attended a mission advocate training meeting in Glendale. Present were those of us who have been mission advocates for our church for some time and new advocates. We were treated to videos from Pieter & Nora Kalkman (whom we support), Tim Long (missionary to Mexico), and the Lowrys (who serve in the Congo). Their stories of how God is moving around the world was most encouraging. The highlight of the meeting for me was meeting a young man from Brazil with a passion for street evangelism. I am hoping that we can have this young man come share with us his zeal as well as his methods for outreach.

On March 25 we will participate in the America for Christ offering. The funds raised for this offering go to ministries within our own local area, such as Faith in Christ. Please pray and ask the Lord what amount to give.

It is my privilege to serve with you as we seek to serve our Lord in obedience to His great commission.

Jean Noah

Crafting and Needle Crafting

Mitch Hammer — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 02:04:55 +0000

Crafting and Needle Crafting

We had a good sized group in February. We discussed what sold at the Boutique last year and introduced possible new items to make for this year. In the first half we worked on making more refrigerator magnets out of tiles, shells, small terra cotta pots, flowers, and glass stones. We also worked on decorating small Christmas tree wreaths. The second half we worked on knitting. Some of us are just learning how to knit and others of us are learning how to read knitting patterns, thanks to Tamara Mowbray. I, for one, am very excited to learn how to make something other than just long, straight scarves with the only two stitches I know.

It is not too late to come and fellowship and create. If you consider yourself artistically challenged, please don’t worry as we have our group crafting projects designed so that anyone can produce and feel good about what they have made. We have knitters from beginners to more advance. Thankfully Tamara is very patient and encouraging. Also, don’t forget that you can come for one or both sessions, but if you come for both please bring a lunch. We take a break to eat and just have fun and talk.

If you cannot come to the meetings, you can also make projects at home. If anyone is interested in doing this, but needs ideas, please let me know as I have a lot of books with projects. I am sure you would find something that you would like to do.

We are also looking for people who have sewing machines that would like to sew some things. We are making doll and teddy bear clothing and have patterns for sewing, crochet, or knitting. If you have an old bowling ball you can donate, we are decorating these for yard ornaments. We are also looking for empty face cream jars. We need ones that are small and pretty where the label can be removed and decorations can be glued on the lids. Keep an eye out for other things that could be recycled and used for a project.

Our meetings are at Tamara’s house and are usually held on the third Saturday of the month. March’s date is the 17^th. Crafting goes from 11:30 to 1:30, lunch is from 1:30 to 2:00 and the needle crafting goes from 2:00 until 4:00. Please contact Tamara or myself for further information.

Hope to see you in March!

Heidi Hammer (818)-486-6004

Heart-To-Heart 3/12

Mitch Hammer — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 01:28:58 +0000

HEART TO HEART

We are off and running this year with our SPAGHETTI DINNER/MOVIE NIGHT coming up soon, on Saturday March 10. The movie this year is “SOUL SURFER” which is a fine Christian movie and a true story. Dinner starts at 5:30 pm. The movie starts immediately after we eat. We will also need help with the set-up, food, and clean up. Any questions see Jo Ann or call at 818-341-6090. Please come and join in on the fun and this terrific movie.

YARD SALE is scheduled for April 14. Please start gathering your unwanted treasures for this event and plan to bring them to the church the eve of April 13. If you require pick-up of these treasurers, call Jo Ann.

LADIES LUNCH will be on Wednesday, March 7, at CO-CO’S on Sherman Way at 11:30 a.m. We invite all ladies to join us in food and fellowship.

Our next meeting will be on Thursday, March 8, at 7 p.m. in Holland Hall. GWEN BROWN from FAITH IN CHRIST Ministries will be our guest. She will tell us about their ministry and how we can be of help to them. We invite all ladies to join us at this time. Cindy will be our host.

We continue to recycle. Please bring your recyclables to church for pick up. If you need pick-up from your home, please let us know.

Jo Ann
(818) 341-6090

Pastor’s Pen 3/12

Mitch Hammer — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 01:21:47 +0000

PASTOR’S PEN

I recently received a letter sent to a few of Max Lucado’s closest friends. Well, maybe not just “closest” friends and I guess not exactly a “few.” But the message he shared was an encouraging one and I thought I would share it with you this month. It contains a truth we need to be constantly reminded of in these difficult days in which we live. So enjoy!

“Dear Friends,

There are so many things we do not know. We do not know if the economy will dip or if our team will win. We do not know what our spouse is thinking or how our kids will turn out. We don’t even know ‘what we ought to pray’ (Rom. 8:26). But according to the apostle Paul, we can be absolutely certain about one thing. We know…

‘…that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose’ (Rom. 8:28).

Your life, with its peaks and valleys, is a crafted narrative written by a good God, who is working toward your supreme good.

God, in other words, isn’t making up a plan as He goes along. Nor did He wind up the clock and walk away. ‘The Most High God rules the kingdom of mankind and sets over it whom He will’ (Dan. 5:21 ESV). He ‘executes judgment, putting down one and lifting up another’ (Ps. 75:7 ESV). ‘The LORD will not turn back until He has executed and accomplished the intentions of His mind’ (Jer. 30:24 ESV). Look at those verbs: God rules, sets, executes, accomplishes. These terms confirm the existence of heavenly blueprints and plans. Those plans also include you. ‘In Him we were also chosen…according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will’ (Eph. 1:11).

I saw an example of this process in our kitchen. My intent was to chat with my wife, Denalyn. She was stirring up a delicacy for someone’s birthday. She assured me she could talk and bake at the same time. So I talked. She baked. But as she baked, I stopped talking.

Denalyn bussed about the kitchen like the queen of the hive. She snatched boxes off the shelves, pulled bowls out of the pantry. She grabbed the carton of eggs with one hand and butter with the other, never pausing to look.

She positioned the ingredients and utensils on the table as a surgeon would her tools. Once everything was in place, off she went. Eggs cracking, yokes dropping. Shake this, stir that. Pour the milk. Measure the sugar. Sift, mix and beat. She was a blur of hands and elbows, a conductor of the kitchen, the Cleopatra of cuisine, the Da Vinci of da kitchen.

She popped the pan into the oven, turned the knob to 350 degrees, wiped her hands with a towel, turned to me, and said the words I longed to hear, ‘Want to lick the bowl?’ I fell at her feet and called her blessed. Well, maybe not. But I did lick the bowl, spatula, and beaters. And I did wonder if Denalyn’s work in the kitchen is a picture of God’s work in us.

All the transfers, layoffs, breakdowns, breakups, and breakouts. Difficulties. Opportunities. Sifted and stirred and popped into the oven. Heaven knows, we’ve felt the heat. We’ve wondered if God’s choice of ingredients will result in anything worth serving.

When you wonder, remember this: in a moment before moments, your Maker looked into the future and foresaw the needs and demands of your generation. He instilled, and is instilling, within you everything you need to fulfill his plan in this era. ‘God made us to do good works, which God planned in advance for us to live our lives doing’ (Eph. 2:10).

If that doesn’t take the cake, I don’t know what does.

Max Lucado”

It helps to remember regularly that our lives are governed by the sovereign hand of the almighty God of the universe. So in whatever trial you are experiencing, you can rejoice.

Pastor Dave

Enjoy The Coffee

Mitch Hammer — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 22:03:03 +0000

Enjoy the Coffee

A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life. Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups – porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite – telling them to help themselves to the coffee.

When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said: “if you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is but normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress.”

“Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee in most cases, just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups…and then began eyeing each other’s cups. Now consider this: Life is the coffee, and the jobs, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain life, and the type of cup we have does not define, nor change the quality of life we live. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee God has provided us.”

God brews the coffee,
not the cups….enjoy your coffee.

Mark Your Calendar

Mitch Hammer — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 03:49:21 +0000

May 2 – Ladies Lunch at Coco’s (Sherman Way) 11:30-1:00

May 3 – National Day of Prayer (24 Hr. Observance) Contact church office to schedule a time to pray in the sanctuary

May 5 – Yard Sale in the front lawn. Contribute your items and come and help.

May 12 – Kid Jam. We need your help to make this happen.Contact Heidi Hammer.

May 19 – Needle crafters (off site)

Boutique Pictures

Mitch Hammer — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 01:28:30 +0000

Scheduling Events

Dave Drummond — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 21:06:55 +0000

SCHEDULING EVENTS AT WHC

Just a reminder!!! If you wish to chair an event or meeting at our church, you need to call the scheduling secretary (“D” Darnell) to see when and where on the campus it can be scheduled. If it is a new event or idea, you must first have approval from Pastor Dave.

We have four (4) congregations which meet regularly at the WHC Campus, and it is very important to schedule everything that is going on to avoid conflict. For availability, a copy of the facility calendar is posted in the church office; however, it isn’t always exact. Please be aware that the church secretary (Mari) also does not always have the latest information as it is constantly changing.

The only way to schedule an event is to contact “D” Darnell to find out whether your choice of date/time is feasible. “D” can be reached via email (doloreslefevre@yahoo.com) or at (818) 718-7146. If she can fit you in, you will be asked to complete a FUA (Facility Usage Agreement) with the details of your event so we can accommodate your needs. A copy of the FUA form can be obtained from “D” via email or fax, or you can pick one up at the church office.

Please follow this procedure as it is designed for us to have a “one stop shopping place.” Remember, EVERYTHING NEEDS TO BE SCHEDULED including private parties (i.e., weddings, showers, memorials, funerals, milestone birthdays, or select groups). By following this procedure, we hope to accommodate as many requests as possible, especially during our church renovation which is coming up soon.

Thanks for your help!

In God’s service,

Dolores Lefevre-Darnell (“D”)

Scheduling Secretary, West Hills Church Campus