the

PAST AND PRESENT COPIES OF THE FELLOWSHIP NEWS MAY BE VIEWED AT www.scribd.com
2015 - ISSUE 02

JANUARY 20, 2015

Bixby Knolls Christian Church, (Disciples of Christ) (562) 426-0428

Building Bridges, Breaking Down Barriers

event was to start.) I got my-

Sunday, King was outspoken on issues of ra-

self ready and arrived at the

cism, militarism, and economic inequality. In his

church right at the sched-

pel, boldly speaking truth with great love for all,

Dear Church,

consistently building bridges and breaking

So Im sitting here

down barriers.

under this tree (yes, this

An organization that Im becoming

very tree; this is my photo)

more and more familiar with the California

on Martin Luther King, Jr.

Conference for Equality and Justice (CCEJ) is

Day, reflecting on the man,

likewise committed to building bridges and

his legacy, and the many

breaking down barriers. On February 19, I will

events taking place in his

again attend the

honor.
Last week, I provided
leadership at our regional
MLK Celebration in Downey,
helping out at the youth
event, then attending the
wonderful worship that followed. Then I spent a week
preparing

our

day he was a controversial preacher of the gos-

own

MLK

worship and my sermon inspired by his life and teachings.

Sunday afternoon was the
South Coast Interfaith Council MLK event, and I was
thinking about not going;
after worship, a board meeting, and Kidical Mass, I was
feeling the need for some
quiet time. But then I found
out that a 7 year-old friend
of mine was reciting a poem
during the service. (His mom
told me this at Kidical Mass
just 45 minutes before the

uled start time, thinking I

could probably sneak in
quietly and grab a seat in a
back pew.
However, preachers
are rarely able to sneak
into a church service. Upon
entering the church, I was
immediately

directed

to

the already-forming clergy

procession, and a moment
later we entered the sanctuary together as everyone
sang Lift Every Voice.
Nevertheless, Im glad I
attended.

Martin

Luther

King Jr. is certainly an inspiration to me, and there

is so much more to his life
and teachings than the watered-down story that is
often told today. As I mentioned in my sermon last

annual CCEJ Interfaith/

Intercultural breakfast, co-chaired by Robert

Garcia and Nancy Foster. This year Im especially excited that Ethan has been asked to be
one of several young people who will lead the
invocation at that event.
All that being said, my greatest inspiration for building bridges and breaking down
barriers is you the people of Bixby Knolls
Christian Church. We are one of the most diverse small congregations in the country, and
for 69 years, the hospitality and welcome extended by this congregation to all is truly remarkable. What a blessing it is to be your pastor. You inspire me, teach me, and motivate me
to be the best pastor/preacher I can be.
Blessings,
Pastor Danny

Valentines Day will be here soon.

Remember our Veterans with a card. Cards
can be placed in the box on the narthex table
until Feb. 8. Cards will then be taken to the VA
Hospital where they will be distributed.
Thank you..

Free E-Waste &

Shred Event

Sarah Stolze
Phil OLaughlin
Sumbal Sardar
Keri Clark (daughter of M. Lanz)
Hattie Johnson

This event will support the Eagle Project of Will

Whitney, a Troop 29 scout
Saturday, January 24
Location: Longfellow Elementary School playground
(3846 California Ave.)
e-waste: 9:00-2:00
shredding: 9:00-noon
Bring old electronics to donate/recycle, and any
documents that need to be shredded. This free
event will help raise money for Will's project, which
is to install multiple rain barrels at Hughes Middle
School. (Donations toward this project can also be
made at the event.)

Grace Kobel
Porter Family, Ruthie Atkin (friends of B. Smith)
Nargis & family in Pakistan (family of Sumbal Sardar)
Keri France (family of A. Hillig)
Venus (friend of A. Hillig)

Just a January Note!

Happy New Year! And with the new year new things
with the BKCC choir. We are starting a once a month
Choir Trial event. Starting this Sunday January 25th
the choir is encouraging new members to sing with us.
We will rehearse an easy anthem on both Wednesday
evening and /or Sunday morning at 9:15am. Anyone is
welcome to join us if you come to either of these rehearsal times.
There is no long term commitment, no pressure, just
come and have fun! This week we will be rehearsing
Delight Yourself in the Lord. Please come and join us!

SAVE THE DATE

FEBRUARY 19

Summer Camp 2015 (mark your calendars):

June 28 - July 4 - CYF II (grades 11, 12, & 2015 grads)
July 5 - July 11 - Chi Rho (grades 7, 8)
July 12 - July 18 - CYF I (grades 9, 10)
July 19 - July 22 Mini (grades 2, 3)
July 23 - July 25 Wee (parent/child
July 26 - August 1 Junior (grades 4, 5, 6)

ASH WEDNESDAY
for the
THIRD ANNUAL
PANCAKE SUPPER
FUNDRAISER

for the music dept!

Blessings
Barb

Help cook food for Christian

Outreach in Action (COA).
Every 2nd Thursday at 8:00 a.m.
in our church kitchen.

Check us out on Facebook

www.facebook.com/bixbyknollschurch
website:
www.bixbyknollschurch.blogspot.com

Our prayer circle meets every

2nd and 4th Tuesday at 10:00
a.m. in room 115. Join this
dedicated group in praying
for our church, community, &
world.

The Fellowship News

A publication of
Bixby Knolls Christian Church of
Long Beach (a Disciples of Christ
Church)
1240 E. Carson Street
Long Beach, CA 90807
www.bixbyknollschurch.org

Litter pickup: We meet at the

front gate every 4th Sunday
at 11:45, to pick up litter in
Somerset Park and along our
neighborhood sidewalks &
gutters.

Editor:
Monica Lanz
562-426-0428
bkcchurch@aol.com
fax 562-426-0429
Pastor:
Daniel Bradfield
The Fellowship News is published
twice monthly.

Submit your articles for

the next newsletter by

Wednesday Night Dinners: join

us every Wednesday at 6:00 p.m.
for this pay-what-you-can
meal.

February 1

Bixby Knolls Vision Statement

To know what the Lord requires of us;
to do justice, and love kindness,
and walk humbly with our God. (Micah 6:8)
BIXBY KNOLLS
CHRISTIAN CHURCH

(Disciples of Christ)

SUNDAY SCHEDULE:
9:00 a.m. Sunday School for Adults
10:15 a.m. Morning Worship and Childrens Church
OFFICE HOURS:
Monday - Thursday 7:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Friday closed

CHURCH STAFF:

BOARD OFFICERS:
Leo Dittemore
Pastor Daniel Bradfield
-Board President
-Minister
Scheri Dubon
Monica Lanz
-Vice President
-Church Secretary
Pat Cohen
Barbara Neal-Peebles
-Secretary
-Music Director/Organist Angela Hillig
Suzie Romero
- Treasurer
- Custodian
Chrysan Naw
- Financial Secretary
-Church Clerk