The Southern California District Church of the Nazarene in Temecula, California, United States with Rodney Kilgore for Sunday, 3 December 2017 "SoCal District Newsletter: December"
A Very Matrix Christmas
The 1999 dystopian film, "The Matrix," begins with Neo, a computer programmer by day and hacker by night, digitally encountering two curious individuals: "Trinity" and "Morpheus." They seem to know things about him and his life which defy explanation, and, can interact with him in near-supernatural ways. After having been apprehended and interrogated for his hacking crimes, Neo agrees to meet Morpheus and discuss what Morpheus wants to show him. "You are a slave, Neo," says Morpheus, sitting opposite in a wingback chair. "Like everyone else you were born into bondage, born into a prison that you cannot smell or taste or touch." The conversation culminates in the now famous choice between taking the blue pill or the red pill - the blue pill will send Neo back to his bed believing whatever he wants to believe, while the red pill allows Morpheus to show Neo "how deep the rabbit hole goes." Neo takes the red pill and discovers the truth: that humanity has been reduced to the role of a battery - harnessed to a power grid by the millions, forced to live in a virtual reality while their bodies power the world of the machines. However, in doing so, he becomes useless to the machines and is "unplugged" from his battery pod, and begins life as a real human being.
In Romans 12:1-2, the Apostle Paul calls the Church at Rome to a similar, though perhaps less cinematically dramatic, "unplugging" from the world. In light of the mercies of God, Paul urges the believers to offer their bodies as living sacrifices, living, holy, pleasing to God. After setting up how believers, both Jew and gentile, have fallen short in their search for God and have, subsequently, been saved by grace through the faithfulness of Jesus and their trust in that faithfulness, Paul lays out a binary option: conformity or transformation. "Do not be conformed to this world, but, be transformed by the renewing of your mind." This renewal of the mind both reflects the previous declaration that our sacrifice is a "reasonable" act of service and stands in opposition to the typical sacrifice of an unthinking animal within the Jewish sacrificial system. Our sacrifice is to be both body and mind - the whole person - living, holy, and pleasing to God. And, it has a purpose: to be able to discern the will of God. The sacrifice of our body and mind follows in the same pattern, though indeed only a shadow, of Christ's sacrifice - fully effective toward accomplishing the will of God.
In our final week before the Lenten season, we look to bring our body and mind into alignment with the will of God. Test and see if there is anything in your life which is not befitting a living, holy, and acceptable sacrifice. If so, allow the consuming fire of the Holy Spirit to purify it from you that you may be transformed - knowing and doing the will of God.
Your District Administration
WOMEN'S RETREAT REGISTRATION
Early Bird Registration is almost over! Today (November 30th) is the last day to register before prices go up $20, so click HERE today to finalize and save.
Remember, Women's Retreat is on March 16 to 18, 2018 at the Town & Country Resort in San Deigo. Our guest speaker this year will be Tara Beth Leach, lead pastor at Pasadena First Church of the Nazarene.
NAZARENE FOUNDATION GIVING
As we approach the end of the year, the Foundation staff works alongside our churches and generous individuals to process sizable year-end gifts of stocks, non-cash gifts, and planned gifts. As our generous Nazarenes begin to review their tax scenario, they often consider a special gift to their church to help mitigate their taxes.
We've prepared an attached flyer which provides information on converting a Required Minimum Distribution from an IRA into a tax-free distribution directly to the church, often saving significant taxes and paperwork. Feel free to download and distribute as needed before the end of the year.
CHILDREN'S CAMP BLACK FRIDAY SALE
Camp site rates have increased but SoCal Naz Kids Camp will be running a BLACK FRIDAY SALE Thanksgiving to Dec. 31 at 2017 prices. Go to socalnazkidscamp.com to download registration forms. Submit forms (or complete online registration) and send check to the following address, postmarked by Dec. 31, 2017, and your child’s space will be reserved at the current rate* of $275.00(the 2018 price will be $300 as of Jan. 1):
Camp Director Karisa May
3580 Guava Way
Oceanside Califoria 92058, United States
RENEWAL CONFERENCE
December 9th, Murrieta Gateway Church of the Nazarene will be hosting a day-long (8:30AM - 2PM) conference concerning church planting, evangelism, and church renewal. The conference is open to all, whether clergy or laity, and will feature Mark Bane, Director of Church Planting, Evangelism, and Church Renewal for the Nazarene Church; Bill Wiesman, USA World Zone Leader for Dynamic Church Planting International; and Kevin McDonald, senior pastor at Gateway Nazarene. There is no cost for the conference and lunch will be provided.
For more information please contact Kevin McDonald at kmcdonald@gatewwaynaz.org
CPL CHRISTMAS DINNER FOR PASTORAL STAFF
A final reminder for the PLNU Center for Pastoral Leadership Christmas dinner. Please join us for our annual Christmas dinner this December 4th (Monday, Dec. 4 @ 6PM). It will be held at the San Diego First Church of the Nazarene Ellipse Chapel (3901 Lomaland Dr., San Diego, CA 92106)
The cost is $7 a person if paid beforehand, $10 a person at the door. Click HERE to register (https://tinyurl.com/PLNUCPLChristmas)
PLNU LOVEWORKS
PLNU LoveWorks Short-Term Missions is beginning its 30th year of sending student Work & Witness teams all around the world. Teams are led by co-leader pairs. If you live in San Diego County, you could commit to attending weekly training at PLNU from February to May and 3 weeks away in May or July, and you have a heart to disciple young people on a challenging mission as a team co-leader, then LoveWorks is looking for you! Please go to www.pointloma.edu/missions for more information or e-mail Brian Becker at BrianBecker@pointloma.edu
(Brian Becker, PLNU Director of International Ministries, is scheduling another shipment of Crisis Care Kits to Sacramento in November. He asks if you would like to have them transport your CCKs -- please contact him at PLNU [BrianBecker@pointloma.edu]. They will stockpile them on campus until delivery day. CCKs continue to be greatly needed.)
SOCAL DISTRICT COMPASS INITIATIVE
Pastors, are you a part of the COMPASS financial program? The COMPASS Initiative is a Nazarene initiative to address our U.S. ministers’ most pressing financial difficulties. The COMPASS Initiative utilizes a financial literacy, management, and well-being program to equip ministers in personal and church financial matters. Additionally, COMPASS has programs for the local church and a retreat to learn how to better manage financial matters dealing with the local church. For more information, visit COMPASS Initiative and stay tuned for SoCal district specific information.
YOUTH WORKER TRAINING EVENT
We are hosting a youth worker training event at PLNU on March 16 (Cost is $15 per person). Brad Griffin will be training on the new "Growing Young" research that Fuller Institute has been conducting. Some of our own Nazarene ministers are a part of this initiative, including Marcos Canales and Keegan Lenker. Click on the link for more information: fulleryouthinstitute.org
Stay tuned for registration information.
FRESH START: MARK THE DATE
Feb. 24, 2018 at The Bridge Church, international speakers Gary and Cherisse Zelesky will be joining us as keynote speakers for our annual Fresh Start conference. The couple has a powerful story of restoration and Gary speaks regularly on the area of passion. Make plans now to join us this upcoming February. Registration is coming soon.SOCAL ROUNDUP
SoCal RoundUp is coming May 18-20, 2018. This family-centered event is an opportunity for groups to camp together in tents or structures, take part in numerous activities (swimming, crafts, obstacle course, derby racing, etc.). Times of praise and worship round out our time together offering an opportunity to get know both each other and our Lord better. The cost is very affordable and the fun starts Friday night and ends Sunday morning after our morning worship time together. Contact Janet Crow at janetloma@cox.net for more information or to arrange a tour of the campground. If you want to look at the campground information online, you can do so at http://www.indianhillscamp.com.WORK AND WITNESS UPDATE & INVITATION
We have just a few open spots available for this January's Work and Witness trip to Bolivia, during which we will be looking to complete a security wall and other construction projects in a recently purchased property adjacent to the university. In addition to the balance left over from the "Maverick #34 team" last July, $14,570 has been forwarded to move the project forward. (This will buy a lot of steel rebar, bags of cement, sand, and gravel to complete the project). Once the security wall is completed we can finish the back fill to facilitate natural drainage and then begin work on the multi-purpose pavilion to house the congregation and the student center.
At the moment we have five "gringos" with tickets plus funding for another 5 Bolivian PROXIES to stand in for those unable to make the trip at this time. (Last July we ended up with 15 Bolivian Proxies who really impacted the team's work and ministry.) Last week "Holiness Today" confirmed that they will run a Maverick announcement in the Nov-Dec issue and a Maverick-Proxy article in the Jan-Feb issue, so spots may go quickly.
If you or anyone you know of would like to participate, please share this news with them and contact Larry Webb [larryjudywebb@gmail.com].
LOCAL CHURCH TREASURERS
You can find the link to the district online payment site for paying district allocations HERE. Please familiarize yourself with this webpage and the process for making regular payments. Thank you
SOCAL CHILDREN'S QUIZZING
SoCal Children’s Quizzing kicked off its 2017-18 season with thirteen teams. On behalf of SoCal quzzing, we extend a hearty welcome to Hemet, Horizon Prep, and Grace and Peace, all new this year. We are also pleased to welcome back Mission, Las Flores, Parkway Hills, Escondido, Gateway, El Cajon, and, San Bernardino! Thank you to our gracious opening day hosts at Escondido First and congratulations to Mission Church on their win!
It’s not too late to join this adventure and study. Contact Quiz Master Mary Mitchell at mmitchell@horizonprep.org or Children’s Director Karisa May at socalnazkids@gmail.com for more information. Below is the schedule for the children's quizzing through next year's regional quiz in May. Please update your calendars accordingly.
Invitational Quiz #2: December 2, 2016 Host: Gateway
Invitational Quiz #3: January 20, 2018 Host: El Cajon
Invitational Quiz #4: March 10th, 2018 Host: Parkway
District Quiz: April 14, 2018 Host: Mission
Regional Quiz at PLNU: May 12, 2018 (for those who qualify)
A PLAIN ACCOUNT: WESLEYAN RESOURCES
Check out the "Wesleyan-perspectived" commentary based on the Revised Common Lectionary. If you are a pastor or a lay-person interested in following lectionary readings throughout the year, we recommend visiting aplainaccount.com for more information. Nazarene ministers and scholars from all over the globe are participating in this project. We would love to have you be a part of this work, supporting it in any way you can.
NEW DISTRICT ADMINISTRATOR
Shanae Brown was installed as the new district administrator on November 13, 2017. She has prior experience engaging with ministerial leadership in management and support roles. She holds a B.A. in Organizational Management from PLNU and has been employed by the Wesley Center there, as well as having worked as youth director and program director for a homeless outreach. We're excited to have her on-board and look forward to her interaction with our district family.
CHURCH REPORTING
No jokes. No puns. No snarky remarks. In the Christmas spirit, just a plea to bring your reporting HERE
Upcoming Events
- CPL Pastors and Spouse Christmas Dinner: December 4
- Renewal Conference: December 9
- Fresh Start: February 24, 2018
- Youth Worker's Training Event: March 16, 2018
- Women's Retreat: March 16-18, 2018
- SoCal RoundUp: May 18-20, 2018
- Men's Retreat: September 14-16, 2018
For a more detailed record of these and other upcoming district events please visit the district calendar, or www.socalnaz.org/events/calendar
For a printable version of this newsletter (abbreviated) for use as a bulletin insert or wall posting, please click HERE. (https://docs.google.com/document/d/105XRH7mXTV2kXxuS5bYC0wJix-zw8-IRdd64Z-zhclk/edit?usp=sharing)
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