SJCCC English Congregation

One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer — at three in the afternoon. Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.

Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.

When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

~~   Acts 3 : 1 ~ 10   ~~

The economic tempest and the H1N1 disease has affected our lives recently. Perhaps you are worried about where you can get a job or how you will prevent your company from going bankrupt. Much fear and worries find themselves into our lives. A lot of times we are just like a crippled beggar, expecting to get receive some money or compensation for all the difficult times. Perhaps we just wish to have whatever we want. However, do what Peter and John did for the crippled beggar in the bible passage. Both gave him the most important thing, the real savior. Jesus Christ is the only one who can really save us from any bad situation and the only one who can really bring us the blessings that are important for us. We can pray directly to Him and call for His help at any time and for any thing. For this crippled beggar, his life was changed because he received the most precious gift from our Lord and he knew that Jesus Christ was his real source of support that he could rely on. May we be like this crippled beggar who was changed, so much so that we can also walk and jump with praising God during our lives.

Don’t miss our return to Sunset Beach for beach fun including volleyball, bonfire, and dinner on the beach.  We’ll carpool from church at 12:30pm (no lunch provided).  Please sign up with Pastor Jay.  Cost is $10/person.  A release form for 2009 will be required for participants under age 18.

We’re teaming up with our very own Cat Chen and the New Hope Covenant Church in Oakland for an Urban Experience event.  Schedule as follows:

• Fri, July 24 - leave late afternoon, eat dinner on the way, orientation activities
• Sat, July 25 - help host an inner city block party, further activities
• Sun, July 26 - church and lunch at New Hope, debrief, arrive home mid-afternoon

Cost will be $45.  Bring additional money for dinner on Fri.  We will also take up a special offering in our services on Sun, July 19 in order to bless our host church, the New Hope Covenant Church.  Please sign up with Pastor Jay ASAP; and submit release form and pay event fees by Sun, July 19.  Note that there will be no regular English services or activities at SJCCC the weekend of this event.

Our all-church retreat this year will be held in Fresno, with a run up to Sequoia National Park.  Sessions will focus on the inner life of a leader.  A base fee of $40/person covers housing and meals.  Submit fee to Windy (make checks payable to SJCCC).  The activity fee for our Sequoia run (including transportation) will be $15/person, payable at the retreat.  There will be no regular services or events at SJCCC.

Summer VBS (Vacation Bible School) 2009 is coming soon.  Our theme this year will be On the Move, from Abingdon Press.  The action–games, crafts, music, Bible lessons, and lunch–will take place each day, Mon-Fri, June 15-19, from 9:00am-12:30pm.  Cost for the week is $40 for registered children, grades K-5.

Registration form (pdf) and fee may be submitted ahead of time to reserve your child’s space.

Celebrate Memorial Day Sunday with us at the Sanborn County Park on Sun, May 24.  Separate English and Taiwanese services will begin at 10:30am, followed by picnic lunch and recreational fun.  Parking is $6 per vehicle, so carpooling is recommended.  The park is located at 16055 Sanborn Rd, Saratoga, CA 95070.

Church festivities include:

• Combined service at 10am, led by our English Congregation.  Pastor Jay will share a message titled, True Love, from 1 John 4:7-21.  Communion will be served.
• Talent show following our service.  Show love to your mother by demonstrating the talents she helped you nurture.  Please rsvp your act with Windy at least one week prior to the event.
• Potluck lunch and ice cream.

Please note there will also be a seminar on financial issues from 1:30-2:30pm in the Sanctuary (Taiwanese only).

It’s time again for our annual 30 Hour Famine.  In partnership with World Vision, we will…

• fast for 30 Hours to identify with the hungry
• sleep outside to identify with the homeless
• do service projects to serve our community

and most importantly, we will…

• help raise money and awareness for global poverty and hunger, particularly for children.

Fasting will run from 1:30pm Fri, Apr 24 to 7:30pm Sat, Apr 25.  Meet at church after 9pm on Fri, Apr 24 (with sleeping gear) if you are able to participate in our famine activities.

Special activities for the entire church will include

1. Coin Drive - pick up a bread-shaped coin box in the church foyer and return it with coins or other donations by Sun, May 3
2. All-church Cleanup - from 3-6pm on Sat, Apr 25
3. Canaan Cafe - bring at least $20 to support our fundraising dinner event at 6:30pm on Sat, Apr 25
4. Opportunities to Sponsor a Child through World Vision - check out child profiles in the church foyer on Sun, Apr 26

Please see one of our active youth members or leaders for further details on how you can get involved!

“Bethel”==”House of God”

Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Haran. When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. There above it stood the Lord, and he said: “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendands the land on which you are lying. Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, …

When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.”

Early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had placed under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on top of it. He called that place Bethel, …

~~~ Genesis 28: 10~19 ~~~

Jacob named the place Bethel, which means “house of God.” It should be remembered that it was given first to a wild and unexpected place. God often meets us in unexpected places: In the kindness of a stranger, the peaceful smile of someone terminally ill, the solitude of a lonely motel room, or the sudden deep conviction of some sin. God is faithful but unpredictable. Watch for “Bethels” on your way through life, especially in the unexpected places.

You are invited to join us this Easter Sunday, Apr 12 for our Easter services and festivities, from 8:00am - 2:30pm (**note that times have been adjusted).  Don’t miss our celebration of the greatest Sunday of the year!

This jam-packed day will begin with a sunrise service at 8am, followed by light breakfast, combined service at 10am featuring our Taiwanese choir, and potluck lunch, with games and festivities to follow.  There will be an Easter egg hunt for the kids immediately following our service; and after lunch, from 1:30-2:30pm, there will be games and activities for our children and youth, plus a special presentation for our Taiwanese congregation.