July2012

Magnolia

"Every person -a place to serve anda place to belong."

Baptist Church

720 S. MagnoliaAnaheim, CA

92804

The MessengerLet’s take a nostalgic step back this month…

Sing along if you remember,

It’s a beau�ful day in this neighborhood, A beau�ful day for a neighbor, Would you be mine? Could you be mine?”

It’s a neighborly day in this beautywood, A neighborly day for a beauty, Would you be mine? Could you be mine?

I have always wanted to have a neighbor just like you, I’ve always wanted to live in a neighborhood with you.

So let’s make the most of this beau�ful day, Since we’re together, we might as well say, Would you be mine? Could you be mine?

Won’t you be my neighbor? Won’t you please, Won’t you please, Please won’t you be my neighbor?

The man with the toothy grin and the crummy sweater crooned the joys of his neighborhood and invited any kid born from the 1970’s un�l the early 1990’s to friendship…television neighbors. Then Mr. Rogers would say, “Hi television neighbor, I’m glad we’re together again.”

Those same genera�ons who tuned in as television neighbors as kids have had such a hard �me transla�ng that to the real world as adults. Genera�ons today find more “community” and “friendship” through virtual worlds. Most psychologists have called the social media phenomenon a case of individual narcissism. But what if the YouTubue, Facebook, Twi�er, Pinterest (you can con�nue adding social media apps as long as you like…there are more, but we’re moving to the point)…what if the social media phenomenon is really a cry to belong. Somebody recognize me. The Zulu tribes would greet each other with this phrase, “sawubona”, it essen�ally means, “I see you.” The reply back would be “sikhona.” This is harder to explain. It carries a meaning of “I am here”, but more specifically, “I am because you are.” The exchange always follows that order. The order is important. Culturally speaking the order conveys a meaning that I have no real existence un�l you see me. I wonder how many of us wrestle with this idea. We come to church. We go to work. We are out shopping. Yet, we feel we really have no significant existence because for the most part, we live life “unseen.” I wonder how many of our friends, neighbors, co-workers or family members wrestle with being “unseen” living very lost and lonely lives.

“I see you” may very well be the key to moving forward in our world for Kingdom causes.

I think of Hagar in Genesis 16. She ran to the wilderness a�er a very abusive encounter with Abram and Sarai. There in the wilderness, the angel of the Lord came to her and essen�ally said…”God sees you.” Hagar then called the Lord, “El Roi”, the God who sees!

God sees us. What encouragement for the “unseen.” We have a missional message that brings great encouragement…”God see you.” We see that message through the le�ers to the seven churches that we’re going through now…”I know your trouble,” Jesus says to each of them.

As Chris�ans we have a challenge in this though…to be “seers.” When we “see” others, we bring hope, life, love, jus�ce, peace, mercy, grace, kindness, purity, truth, forgiveness…we bring the Kingdom into their lives as we “see” them. That’s the Kingdom way. In Mark 12:31, Jesus says, “The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.’”

Linda GawthorneWycliffe Bible TranslatorsColombia, South AmericaLinda_Gawthorne@sil.org

GlobalOutreach

Linda works with the Kogi people in Northern Colombia. She has been serving the Kogi people for 33 years in Bible translation, teaching Kogis to read and write and in preparing them to serve God and their fellow Kogi people. She, along with the Kogi translation team, hopes to fi nish the revision of the complete Kogi New Testament in 2012 so that needed translation committee checks can be done in 2013 before publication. The Kogi translation team will then begin translation of the Old Testament. A current challenge for her as an only child is balancing the needs of her aging and infi rm mother with the pressures of fi nishing the Kogi translation. In July she will be in the US to care for her mother after surgery and to have ear surgery herself. God willing this will restore hearing in her left ear which will aid in the upcoming committee checks. Thank you for your prayers for Linda, her mother, the Kogi people and her translation ministry.

SPECIAL GAME DAY EVENTJULY 18TH

Gather your friends, bring your favorite board game and snacks, and sit down for a homemade soup/salad lunch and an afternoon of fun!

11:30am - 3:00pm $3.00 per person

Six Week Bible Studyfor LAUNCH

Starting Thursday, July 12th7pm at the Gough Home

Plus, we are having two BBQ Mixers, one in July and one in August.

The Sunday Night LAUNCH Time will begin again in the Fall.

Our daycare is having a fun night for kids Kindergarten - High School

Friday, July 13th, 7pm - Midnight MBC Leuschner Hall

Only $15 for Kindergarten - 6th grade $10 for Junior Highers and $5 for High

Schoolers

Wear your PJ’s, Bring a Pillow and Sleeping bag

There will be plenty of snacks, we will be playing games,

watching movies and having an awesome pillow fi ght!

To sign up or for more information call the church office.

LAUNCHYoung Adult

SeniorAdultsMagnolia Daycare

“Seeing” others is our Mr. Rogers’ invita� on…”I see you, so won’t you be my neighbor.” “Seeing” others is the fi rst step into the second command of Jesus…loving our neighbors.

Take some � me to “see” those around you.

Here’s a couple of prac� cal things you can do to “see” your neighbor:

• Ask the Lord to open your heart to “see” others in your path every day before leaving the house. • Do talk to strangers! Make it a point to say hello or to off er a “have a blessed day” to those you pass you by. • Smile more. Wear a smile to the counter or at the offi ce. Recognize people with a smile toward them. • Shop and eat at the same places. Try to have the same cashier each � me. Take no� ce of employees who are in the store or restaurant where you are and greet them.

Those are simple things, but it’s a start to “seeing” and ul� mately to “loving” our neighbors. Ul� mately these are easy beginnings to living the missionary life Jesus calls all of us to in our world today…loving others and living out the Kingdom.

Seeing you,

Jeremy

Birthdays

Anniversaries

1 Bob Gustavson1 Dawn Rose1 Fae Rice2 Dan Guerrero2 Leila King2 Mike Sawyer2 Holly Thomas3 Aryianna Faircloth4 Ethan Thomas5 Amber Toliver5 Isaac Sawyer5 Norma Sawyer6 Jared Ramm9 Byron LaCounte9 Wendy Hartman9 Joshua Jr. Alejos10 Daryle McGunigale10 Kailynne Atkinson10 Elite Lopez12 Justin Hipp12 Mark Dowell15 Art Dagen18 Karter Hampton20 Allyson Baligad20 Jerry Lacy20 David Borg22 Alicia Burrows23 Julie Spykerman24 Suzy Keleher24 Bran Basler26 Colleen Cooper26 Mick Boomsma29 Lois Farr

6 Dan & Jen Nordell10 Bill & Carol Hatch11 Mick & Joyce Boomsma11 Ken & Vicki Felig12 Stewart & Danna Bone14 Steve & Donna Burrows14 Scott & Christina Gibson18 Dan & Christina Gustavson18 Dave & Denise Mitchell18 Doug & Carol Sundman22 Bert & Paulene Spencer22 Steve & Charlotte Spahr

Birthdays

Anniversaries

for the whole familyFriday, July 20th

7pm Leuschner Hall$3.00 each or

$10.00 for the Family

Tickets on sale TODAY!

Bingo & Ice CreamParty

NEW LADIES BIBLE STUDY starting July 9th. 14 lessons on Genesis II. Learn lessons of faith from the lives of God’s children - Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. You will be challenged to exercise more faith and take risks in order to live a life that is more pleasing to God.

Free childcare available with reservation. Call Barbara Hill to order your studybook. Monday mornings 9:30am - 11:30am (714) 761-4012

If you ordered tickets for the Pageant of the Masters on August 19th, you can pick them up at the table in the courtyard on Sunday.

Youth Beach Daysbegin on Thursday, July 12th

9:00am - 4:00pm

Every Thursday during the summer we will be up to something!

Frontline Student Ministry Women's Ministry

Men's MinistryIRON MEN’S BREAKFAST

Hometown Buffet Saturday July 28th

7:30am

$7.70(new guests; breakfast is on us)

For more information contact:Dan Guerrero

dan@willick.com

Game Night1st Youth Game Nightis on Tuesday, July 3rd

6:30pm - 9:30pmonly $3.00 per person

includes Pizza!

2nd Youth Game Nightis on Thursday, July 26thBring your favorite snack

to share!

Wedding ShowerAnna Lepkowski & Suz Wittmanare hosting a Bridal shower for

Rebecca McGunigaleMonday, July 23rd

6:30pmat the home of Suz Wittman

Please RSVP at: all_ski83@yahoo.com or

714.330.3778

Letters toMy Church:reflections onthe 7 letters ofRevelations

Current Sermon Series. You canlisten to them at magnoliabaptist.org