pastor’s update . . . chad mcdaniel women’s...

Vol. 4 Issue 4

Simi Covenant Church – 4680 Alamo Street – Simi Valley, CA 93063 – Phone: 805-526-8855

Pastor’s Update . . . Chad McDaniel, Sr. Pastor

As I prepared for my last week in Washington, I

came to the realization: there are going to be a

lot of “lasts” this week. My last trip to Starbucks

before church – the Starbucks where the baristas

know me by name. My last night teaching

Confirmation and the realization that I wouldn’t

see these kids complete the class and stand

proudly in front of church. My last sermon and

last time picking my kids up from the Bethany

Preschool. A lot of lasts. And I know you can all

relate.

But here’s what I also realized – this is the

good news – there are a lot of “firsts” coming! I

am so looking forward to all the “firsts” we get

to experience together. First Easter, first

Communion Sunday, first baptisms, just to name

a few.

Scripture tells us that “weeping may stay for

the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning”

(Ps 30:5). Many times, “lasts" bring weeping, but

I pray the “firsts" we will experience and create

together will bring great rejoicing!

Women’s Ministry . . . By: Brenda Cartwright

The Women's Ministry Tea is Saturday, April

23rd from 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM.

The women's ministry has been very busy

planning for the tea. Veronica Joy, a local

woman, will be our guest speaker this year. She

is the creator of Joy Filled Ministries

(http://www.joyfilledministries.com/ ) and is

sought out for her inspirational and encouraging

messages.

Tickets are now being sold on the patio.

If you are interested in helping with the tea,

or have any other questions please stop by and

let us know.

We are currently researching and looking into

new local and international missions. We are

excited to see who we will support in the future

which is an important part of our women's

outreach and ministry.

Church Library News . . . By: Pearl Davids, Librarian

FEATURED BOOK IN THE LIBRARY

A classic book in our library is A Shepherd Looks

at the 23rd Psalm written by Pastor Phillip W.

Keller. Keller grew up in East Africa and spent

eight years as a sheep rancher, so he is very

familiar with what it takes to successfully raise

sheep.

His book enlarges our understanding of Psalm

23, which is probably the favorite psalm of most

people. Psalm 23 was written by King David,

who grew up tending sheep and knew the needs

of sheep.

Sheep need good pastures free of weeds and

need to be led through the valleys to higher

ground at times for fresh pastures; they need

COVENANT MESSENGER * Simi Covenant Church * Vol. 4, Issue 4 * March/April 2016

calm waters to drink from; they need a shepherd

to check them for pests and sores; they need to

be free from fear and anxiety in order to thrive,

and they need a shepherd to protect them from

predators. A good shepherd is willing to risk his

life for his sheep.

Jesus spoke of being the good shepherd, and

we realize that we are the sheep of which he

spoke. We know that we have a shepherd who

is gentle, kind, caring, and selfless. As a good

shepherd, Jesus was willing to lay down his life

for the sheep, which is exactly what he did on

Good Friday. Reading Keller’s book during the

Lenten season may help us reflect on what Jesus

did for us. Find this book shelved under

226.5/Kel.

By: Steve Abarta

Simi Valley Serve Day 2016 is coming! –

May 14, 2016

Simi Covenant Church is again partnering with

ACTION Foundation and up to 80 Ventura County

churches for the 2016 Serve Day. These 80

churches, along with numerous agencies and

many firms in the business community support

this non-profit [501(c)3] organization which

engages thousands of volunteers throughout the

County to serve on hundreds of projects as

followers of Christ. The focus is primarily on

seniors, disabled residents, under resourced

families, the homeless population and at risk

youth. Last year, approximately 20 Simi

Covenant workers participated, both at Apollo

High School and Tradewinds Mobile Home Park.

We’re hoping to have many more this year!

What did we do last year? One woman

needed some plumbing in her mobile home

kitchen. Many windows were washed, trash was

discarded, lawns were mowed, bushes were

trimmed, and other repair work performed.

Overall, we volunteer our time, talent, and

treasure while loving our neighbors and meeting

practical community needs.

Ross

Browning,

who took

his two

Sons to

help, said,

“He (Jesus)

said GO, so

we’re

going! I

think that’s been something that’s been missing

for a while, so it’s good to get out to where the

people are, meet them where they’re at, and if

we can be helpful, I think it obeys His command

to GO.”

Mark your calendar for Saturday, May 14,

2016, probably starting around 7:30 a.m. and

running to noon. Then, look for a sign-up table

in the patio and volunteer to be “The Hands and

Feet of Jesus!” Not only will those you help be

blessed, but so will YOU!

For more information on ACTION Foundation,

go to www.actionvc.org, or call me (Steve

Abarta) at (805) 584-6523.

Simi Covenant Preschool

News . . . By: Sue & Martha, Co-Directors

http://www.simicovenantpreschool.com/

The preschool has had some very fun and

exciting things happen over the last month.

We celebrated the Chinese New Year with the

children putting on a parade in the play yard.

They constructed a dragon with the children

decorating boxes. Parents came and then stayed

for a picnic on the lawn.

Ross Browning with Teegan and Jace


We had a successful Science Fair on a

Saturday morning with over 190 attending.

Several family members and friends came for the

event. The teachers worked very hard preparing

the rooms. Each room had a specific theme with

many hands-on interacting displays.

March will be another busy month. Picture

day is this month as well as an Easter egg hunt,

Easter Chapel and Easter break.

Our first Dinner in the Park is Friday, March

18th from 5:00PM to 8:00PM. Everyone is

welcome! Bring dinner and a blanket to join us

on the grass in the play yard.

The NAEYC assessor was here Wednesday

(02/17) for our accreditation renewal. This takes

place every five (5) years with many, many,

hours going into the preparation process. We

are supposed to be notified of the results within

three (3) months. Thanks to all for their hard

work upgrading classrooms, locks, plumbing and

the play yard.

We are in full swing and have begun our early

registration enrollment for fall 2016.

The preschool would like to thank everyone

again for your generous financial support and

classroom supply donations.

Simi Cov Youth Ministries

. . . By: Melody Johnson, (transitional youth director)

God is at work!

Winter camp has come and gone and we had

25 students attend Alpine this winter! God

definitely was working in these student’s lives. At

junior high camp we had several students make

first time commitment to Christ. One student

that has attended Super Tuesday and now Youth

Group asked if she could have some extra Bibles

to give out to her brother and friends! At camp

and on mission trips students hear God’s voice in

ways that just doesn’t happen at home with all

the noise and distractions of “regular” life.

We are already gearing up to head to Hume

San Diego for camp this summer, with 15

students signed up and only a few available

spots left. We are also taking high school

students to Stockton Covenant Church this

summer to help with their VBS program.

Camps and mission trips can’t happen without

your financial support. Money is the number one

reason that students don’t go to camp – it’s

expensive. Without funds from the congregation

to reduce the cost and to provide scholarships,

many students cannot attend.


During the month of March, you will find

many colorful envelopes taped up in the foyer of

the Worship Center. These envelopes have dollar

amounts on them from $1 - $125. If you would

prayerfully take one (or more) of these

envelopes fill it with the amount on the envelope

and return at church (there will be a box on the

patio) or to the office, those funds will be used

to make sure every student can go to camp or on

a mission trip. This is our big fundraiser for the

year and your financial support of our youth is

greatly needed and appreciated!

Also, please be praying for our youth!

Students are bombarded with all sorts of

pressures and they can use all the prayers they

can get!

P.A.D.S. . . . (Public Action to Deliver Shelter)

By: Keven Stroud – 805-432-4006

We are into the fifth month of the winter,

overnight, shelter program for the homeless in

Simi Valley. Thanks to over 20 Simi Covenant

volunteers, we have been able to help homeless

people have safe, warm overnight shelter, snacks

and breakfast. Seven churches in Simi

participate in the program, so that the homeless

have shelter seven nights a week during the

winter months of November through March.

Our church volunteers every other Friday

night at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church

(on Cochran just west of Tapo Street).

Volunteers serve in three different ways:

1. Overnight monitors. Three volunteers

stay overnight from 8:00PM until

7:00AM. They help guests get situated,

show a movie, and interact with the

guests.

2. Snack providers. A volunteer brings

evening snacks for the guests. This can

be chips, trail bars, fruit, cookies,

beverages, etc.

3. Breakfast providers. These volunteers

bring and prepare breakfast for the

guests. The breakfast may be prepared

at home, or at the church which has a full

commercial kitchen.

Our church will reimburse any money spent

on snacks or breakfast from our Benevolence

Fund, to which many of you contribute

generously.

If you would like further information, or

would consider volunteering, please call Kevin

Stroud at 432-4006 or Dolores Miller at the

church office 526-8855.

From The Editor . . . Jim Lowry 805-527-6370 - [email protected]

It’s my pleasure to take my editorial space this

issue to introduce the members of our worship

band that make our Sunday mornings so very

special and alive. I hope you enjoy learning

about these truly professional musicians. I know

I was blown away when I learned the bio’s of

these guys.

Don’t hesitate to go up to them and say hi,

they’re all very proud to be involved with our

church and love our congregation. They won’t

bite, I promise!

Now, sit back and immerse yourself in

worship knowing everyone in the house is on the

same page. We are so blessed to have this

group of professional, experienced and loving

folks present on Sunday for our benefit.

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@


Mr. Chris Smith, Keyboard & Composer

Chris Smith is currently a member of

JEFFERSON STARSHIP.

He has toured with THE SUPREMES, THE

TEMPTATIONS, THE GAP BAND, ROGER MILLER,

THE MARYJANE GIRLS, and PEACHES AND HERB.

He has recorded with such acts as WAR,

BLOODSTONE, RARE EARTH, THE ASSOCIATION,

and ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER.

He writes original music (with Craig Pilo) that

has been featured on such television shows as

THE ACADEMY AWARDS, CATFISH, GIRL CODE,

KEEPING UP WITH THE KARDASHIANS, MOB

WIVES, SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE, and

DOG THE BOUNTY HUNTER.

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

Mr. Craig Pilo, Drummer & Composer

Originally from Connecticut, Craig Pilo

graduated from the University of North Texas in

1995 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music. In the

fall of 1996 he moved to Los Angeles where he

resides today. In 1997 Craig did the fall tour with

famed trumpeter Maynard Ferguson to promote

his One More Trip to Birdland CD. From 2012

through the present, Craig has become more in

demand, and busier than ever. He's performed

throughout Asia, Australia, New Zealand,

Canada, the UK, and most of the US with Frankie

Valli.

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

Mr. Bart Samolis, Bass & Composer

Bart Samolis is a session and touring artist

having performed and recorded with various jazz

and contemporary acts including Arturo

Sandoval, Free Flight, Eric Marienthal, Peter

Gabriel, Rod Stewart, Michael Bolton, and many

others. Playing fretted, fretless, upright and

orchestra basses, he can be seen and heard

world-wide in all media as well as in live

performances. As a studio musician, his movie

credits are many, recently including Ice Age, Ride

Along, Alvin and the Chipmunks, Ted 2, Big Hero

6, White House Down, The Wolverine, A Good

Day to Die Hard, Jack Reacher, Superman

Returns, X-Men, The Fantastic Four, and many

others. A well rounded composer, Bart is


currently writing music for film and TV and

producing music from his home studio.

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

Mr. Curtis Brengle, Classical Pianist

Curtis Brengle started playing classical piano at

the age of nine. He studied privately through

elementary, junior high, high school and college,

as well as playing in the jazz and concert bands,

singing in the choirs, and participating in

competitions. Curtis graduated cum laude from

the Cornish Institute in the Seattle area with a

B.F.A. in piano performance. At Cornish, he

studied with Gary Peacock, Julian Priester, Art

Lande and James Knapp among others. While in

Seattle, Curtis arranged music for the Muzak

Corp., played many club dates and recorded

many local commercials.

Curtis relocated to the Los Angeles area in

1989 and since played with and/or recorded with

many artists including Sheena Easton, Englebert

Humperdinck (musical director), Ray Charles,

Pointer Sisters, Tom Scott, Denice Williams,

Chaka Khan, Rick Braun, and Jeff Golub to name

a few. Other credits include many recordings for

the Yamaha Corp., Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO),

Freaky Friday (Disney), Espn Football (Jeff Koz),

and a host of other national and local

commercials. Curtis is currently teaching private

piano lessons and playing concerts all over the

United States, as well as student outreach

programs and clinics.

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

Mr. Jim Henken, Musician, Sound

Engineer, and Photographer

Jim Henken is a multi-talented individual with a

long list of accomplishments. Jim is one of those

musicians that make films, T/V shows,

commercial jingles and even live performances

just sound great by his manipulation of the input

and output so you, the audience, don’t even

know it’s happening. If you saw the list of T/V

and films he’s been involved with it would blow

you away. Shows like Oprah Winfrey, Merv

Griffin, the Tonight Show, Rags to Riches, etc.

You’ve heard the jingles for Kawasaki and Honda,

well Jim was behind those. Yes he’s even done

‘um for McDonalds, Burger King and Budweiser.

Jim has performed live with such acts as

Melissa Manchester, Rich Little, Tammy

Wynette, Ray Anthony, Bette Midler and even

Tony Bennett.

On Sunday’s he’s the electric guitarist that

rocks the house and blends the whole group

together for our worship pleasure.

From the Leadership

Team . . . By: Doug King, Church Chairman

The Leadership Team welcomes church

members and friends to our monthly Leadership

Team meetings. The next two are Sundays,


March 20th and April 17th from 11:00AM-1:30PM

in the Fellowship Hall.

Some highlights from January meetings:

1. Giving is still strong; we are about 2%

behind budget. Expenses are under

control.

2. The LT reworked the budget to reflect

not hiring a Sr. Pastor in October, or a

Worship Leader in January.

3. Lawrence Hoppis made a presentation

on Missions and Outreach.

4. Pastor Ross reported the state of the

church is much better than it was a year

ago.

5. An audio expert will be coming soon to

run a clinic for the sound technicians.

6. The two pine trees and eucalyptus on the

east end of the parking lot are in

dangerous condition. They will need to

be cut back and thinned.

7. Pastor Chad’s letter of call was approved.

8. A Thank-You dinner for the Search Team

was approved (prepared by Pam P. and

Terry F.).

9. Fundraisers for the Simi Cov and Nueva

Esperanza Youth Groups were approved.

It is a privilege to serve you as your Church

Chair. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you

have any questions or concerns. You can reach

me at [email protected] .

Missions and Outreach

Ministry . . . By: Lawrence Hoppis

Would you like (or love) to actively deepen

and broaden the meaning in your faith? Do you

believe giving a helping hand might be the

quickest way and best way?

We have been called to bring spiritual life and

hope into the heart of Simi Valley. God is in the

business of creating meaningful healing, vital

purpose and lasting growth through us to our

neighborhood and the world beyond.

We are commanded in the scriptures to be an

outward focused church (See Acts 1:8, Heb 24:25

& Mat 28:19-20). Our Vision calls everyone to be

a light on a hill, a savory salt and ministers of

God's aliveness to our community and the world

beyond.

“Ideally, 100% of regular attendees would be

serving / volunteering either at the church / on

behalf of the church or within the local

community in the name of Jesus.“ Vision Team

Report, 2011

Today, a homeless person had a place to wake

up safely in AND a hot breakfast because of the

Samaritan center and PADs program. Someone

in need is being prayed for because of a prayer

quilt.

Our teens have returned from Alpine Camp

fueled with excitement and the understanding

that God is bigger than they might have

imagined because of scholarships made available

through Alpine Attic.

A village in rural India eagerly awaits their first

mouthfuls of life-giving clean water from the

well pledged to them through CWR (Covenant

World Relief) Project Blue. Our youth fasted for

24 hours for these funds, matching a special

challenge grant by the leadership team which

was matched again in a special benevolence

offering by our congregation.

Meanwhile in Africa, four churches have been

blessed with construction funds through the

Change can Change the World fund to provide

sanitation needs, build a prayer house and do

much needed renovations. Your loose change

given in the collection bucket outside services

and at the Alpine Attic counter really counts!

How did all these things happen? These

things happened because people, God's people,

responded to His love by passing it forward -

through "missions" and "outreach." Would you

like to share more in the rewards of exciting

missions and outreach in the name of Jesus?

Please contact

[email protected] to be

added to our mailing list and invited to our team.


Simi Covenant Church 4680 Alamo Street Simi Valley, CA 93063

Simi Covenant Church Calendar

Tuesday Evenings – 6-7:00pm, Prayer Meeting – Church House Conference Room

Tuesday Evening – 7:00 to 10:00 PM – Midweek Youth – Whole Campus

Wednesday Evenings – 7:00 to 9:00 PM – Choir Practice – Worship Center

March 2016

• 03/05 – Saturday Work Day – 8:00AM – ‘til Noon

• 03/07 – Pastor Chad reports to Simi Covenant as its new Senior Pastor

• 03/07 – Facilities Committee meeting – 7:00PM in Church House Conference Room

• 03/13 – Daylight Saving Time – Set your clocks AHEAD one hour

• 03/13 – Pastor Chad Preaching his first sermon at Simi Cov.

• 03/18 – Dinner in the Park – 5:00PM-8:00PM – Preschool play yard. Please join us.

• 03/20 – Leadership Team meeting – 11:00AM-1:30PM in the Fellowship Hall

• 03/20 – Palm Sunday

• 03/25 – Good Friday

• 03/26 – Hike to the Cross (Mt. McCoy) – 3:00PM-4:00PM

• 03/27 – Easter Sunday

April 2016

• 04/04 – Facilities Committee meeting – 7:00PM in Church House Conference Room

• 04/17 – Leadership Team meeting – 11:00AM-1:30PM in the Fellowship Hall

• 04/17 – Preschool Open House

• 04/23 – Women’s Ministry Tea – 10:00AM ‘til 1:00PM - at Simi Cov

Welcome Home: Pastor & Mrs. Chad McDaniel

And Family

pastor’s update . . . chad mcdaniel women’s...

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