|
|
Sharing About The Norcal-Nevada Teen Unity Weekend Event In Sacramento!Hey everyone, Trinity here.
The Teen Event was incredible, and I learned a lot about what it means to be a light to the world and a light to God and I'm happy to share it with you all.
What does that mean? Well, it sounds self explanatory, but there's always a deeper meaning when it comes to God.
God wants us (especially as teens) to be a light to the world, however we can do it in a way that will please him, and help us in our journey with him. From small things like treating others respectfully at school, home, or even strangers we meet, to deeper things like the way we interact with each other on a fundamental level, how we relate to others in terms of who we are and where we come from is important to bringing a light to other people and to the world for God.
When we do these things, we stand out. Sometimes it can seem like it's in a negative way to others, but what matters is that God sees us in his own way of light. For me, I feel like I am able to shine in my own way to God and to everyone around me. I've got my own special traits that make me who I am and that push me to be a light to everyone. My stunning humor, for example.
It may be a struggle to be able to do that, when sometimes you might not feel bright enough, or there are some days where you don't feel as if you don't have enough light to the world. You may feel less brighter than others, and so do I. There are plenty of ways we can pick ourselves up, and one of the ways I do so, is focusing on the bigger pictures, and helping myself envision who I want to be for the world. It takes steps, but trust me, it's worth it.
Don't forget how much of a light you can be to the world and to God, and keep in mind your strengths and traits that bring you to be able to do so!
Yours Truly,
Trinity
Something that I took away from the weekend was a deepening of my friendships with peers from Fresno and Sacramento. The following question stood out to me from Dimitri’s preaching was, what is standing in our way of bringing our friends to church? I think a lot of us have this peer pressure of judgement or not seeing the same way as someone else, but I see that as an earthly value that God doesn’t really see it that way. We have to come out of our comfort zone and have a great time being on a deeper level with people. I pray for us all to have a great connection with God and that we can go out into the world and make a difference in this dark world that surrounds us all.
- Weston
|
|
My Experience At The 2023 North American International Churches Of Christ (ICOC) Teachers ConferenceOn Sept 22-23, I had the privilege of attending the North American International Churches Of Christ (ICOC) Church-Building Teachers Conference in Secaucus, NJ. It was a chance to connect with ICOC teachers from our larger family of churches and hear how they are building a teaching ministry within their local fellowship. At its most basic level, a teaching ministry strives to emulate the model of Ephesians 4:11-13. Paul presents a distribution of roles that all seek to help develop the members of the Body and equip them "for the work of ministry, for the building up of the Body of Christ." Practically speaking, this means teaching and training all of us to understand our Bibles better and to mature in our faith as we work out our relationship with God. Each church or fellowship must wrestle with how to build this kind of ministry. It was inspiring to hear about so many ministry staff who have returned to school to get more educated in Theology or other related fields. For decades, this was not encouraged, resulting in poorly trained ministers and uninspired members. Now, as many men and women are receiving advanced training and education, Bible depth and maturity are growing. My hope and vision for the SF Bay Fellowship is that we will continue to strive to be "people of the text." People who do their best to understand what the Bible says to a particular group of people in a different time, space, language, and culture and then work to apply it to our lives in this present age. I want us to be able to train ourselves how to study the Bible and teach it to others in a way that inspires them to want to know God more. My desire is for all of us to embrace the Scriptures in a devotional, worshipful sense and, at the same time, to understand the need to do good Bible exegesis. - Jay, Palo Alto Fellowship Group |
|
Dia De Los Muertos Run/Walk On Oct 28Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a Mexican tradition and holiday that celebrates and honors deceased loved ones. As Latinex Heritage Month comes to a close, here is a little background on what Dia de los Muertos represents for the Mexican culture and information on a race/walk that some disciples are participating in on Oct 28. You are invited to join in on the fun! Dia de los Muertos is a communal celebration where families and communities come together to remember their loved ones. Families honor their ancestors by creating "ofrenda" tables with photos, mementos, and favorite foods of their deceased loved ones. This practice mirrors the biblical principle of honoring and remembering those who have passed, like in the Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11. Dia de los Muertos is a cultural expression of love, remembrance, and hope that aligns with many biblical values. While the specific practices may differ, the underlying theme of honoring and cherishing the memory of the departed is an act of love and devotion. It can also be seen as an expression of hope in the resurrection and reconnection with deceased family members. Dia de los Muertos represents the merging of indigenous traditions with Christian beliefs. This blending of regional cultures, traditions, and customs is not uncommon in the history of Christianity, and Dia de los Muertos reflects a similar connection that allows people to express their faith and culture simultaneously. In San Jose, on October 28, at 8:00 am there is a Dia De Los Muertos Race/Walk in San Jose. The event will feature a family-friendly 5k and 10k run-walk route, music, entertainment, and a health resource fair. REGISTRATION IS $85 FOR 10K or $75 FOR 5K ($45 FOR KIDS) AND INCLUDES
(money from registration will help children and families – who can't afford medical insurance – get free care) PACKET/BIB PICK-UP
WHAT TO WEAR Participants can wear the race shirt given at packet pick-up, and some will dress in their Día de los Muertos make-up/costumes. LA OFRENDA Participants are encouraged to bring a copy of a photo of a deceased loved one, flowers, etc., to put on a giant ofrenda on display (no glass or open flames).
Please use the link below to register if you would like to join us! Our team is called "SF Bay Disciples," so if you sign up, please join our team during the registration process. All members of team SF Bay Disciples will get an email as we get closer to the race with the exact location where we will meet the morning of the event. We plan to take a group photo before the run/walk begins at 7:30 am. We hope to see you there! |
|
Thank You for Your Financial Contributions to Our FellowshipWe wanted to thank all of you who generously gave to our fellowship to help us advance the gospel in the Bay Area. In September our average weekly donation was $5858. We continue to pray that God will move tremendously and use these funds to help many have a relationship with God. If you want to donate or tithe to our fellowship, click the button below. We appreciate any and all donations and hope God converts them into souls who have decided to follow Jesus. 2 Cor 9:10-11 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
|
|
Join Us At One Of Our Upcoming Events!The location and times are on our website for most of our upcoming events, but some gatherings which are for specific fellowship groups are not posted on our website. If you are interested in a specific region, please send an email to the region that you are inquiring about for more information. You can find all of our Fellowship Groups emails on our website on the Find Your People webpages or by clicking HERE. Our Midweek Bible Study Class on being Thoroughly Equipped: Overcoming Race, Racism and Racial Bigotry in America continues this Tuesday at 7:30p on Zoom. Our Midweek Bible Study Class on Hebrews continues this week on Wednesday at 7:30p on Zoom. On our website we have a couple of different marriage retreat opportunities that we have been invited to by our sister churches and we have our All Fellowship Church Service coming up on Oct 29 in the East Bay. We hope we get to see you at one of our upcoming events and hope you have a great week! James 1:16-17 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. |
