the

PAST AND PRESENT COPIES OF THE FELLOWSHIP NEWS MAY BE VIEWED AT www.scribd.com
2015 - ISSUE 07

MARCH 31, 2015

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

Dear Church,
Last week, Indiana governor
Michael Pence signed a bill
that allows businesses to
discriminate on the basis of
sexual orientation. Its called
the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA). Our
denomination the Christian Church (Disciples of
Christ) is headquartered in Indianapolis, and
plans to have its 2017 General Assembly in Indianapolis.
The day before Governor Pence signed the
bill, our denominational leaders sent him this letter:
Dear Governor Pence,
We write with respect to the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA). We urge you to veto
the bill.
The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) has
been headquartered in Indianapolis for nearly 100
years. Although Butler University is no longer affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ),
its founder, Ovid Butler, was a Disciple and a noted
abolitionist. The college, in keeping with our values, admitted women in a time when that was rare.
We are the church that founded Christian Theological Seminary. Our offices are located on North
Meridian. Our Indiana regional offices are located
in Indianapolis as well.
Every two years our general assembly, a gathering of over 6000 people from across the United
States and Canada, is held in a US city. In 2017 it is
scheduled to be in Indianapolis as it was in 2009
and 1989. Like so many other host cities, we find
Indianapolis to be a hospitable and enjoyable location for our people. Many of our leaders are citizens of this city, and we take particular pride when
our selection process makes it possible to bring
the assembly to our home town.
However, the recent passage in the state legislature of the RFRA bill is distressing to us. It is
causing us to reconsider our decision to hold our
2017 gathering in Indianapolis.
Purportedly a matter of religious freedom, we
find RFRA contrary to the values of our faith as
well as to our national and Hoosier values. Our nation and state are strong when we welcome people
of many backgrounds and points of view. The free

are ONE people serving the ONE who welcomes us

all.
I am proud of our church and its leaders. As
weve discovered during the Sundays of Lent, Jesus
welcomed everyone to the banquet table. As we
now prepare to move from the season of Lent into
the season of Easter, how fitting it is that we continue to work to end discrimination in all forms, so
that all people may be free to experience the new
life of Easter in all its forms.
Blessings,
Pastor Danny

Bixby Knolls Christian Church

Maundy Thursday
Dinner
April 2, 2015 6:30 p.m.
Please RSVP today!
562.426.0428 bkcchurch@aol.com

Enjoy some time of quiet prayer and reflection

this Friday at noon. The sanctuary will be open
for those who would like a quiet place to meditate. Suggested scripture readings will be provided.

There will be a Easter Special Offering collected this week

through the Disciples Mission Fund. The Easter Offering supports
the General Ministries of the church, which serve across the U.S.
and Canada and around the world.
General Ministries are partners in ministry serving through farreaching and unique organizations, including:
Central Pastoral Office for Hispanic Ministries
Council on Christian Unity
Disciples Church Extension Fund / Hope Partnership for Missional Transformation
Disciples of Christ Historical Society
Disciples Home Missions
Disciples Women
Division of Overseas Ministries/Global Ministries
Higher Education and Leadership Ministries
National Benevolent Association
National Convocation
North American Pacific/Asian Disciples
Please consider supporting the Special Offering this Easter. Offerings also can be made online
at www.disciplesmissionfund.org/special-offerings.

Easter Offering
March 29 and April 5

Easter! Easter! Easter!

Bells are ringing, people singing, and there will be general rejoicing on EASTER!

He is Risen, He is Risen Indeed!

If you only bring someone to church once a year this is
the Sunday to do it! We will be rejoicing with wonderful
gospel praise music. We have singers, soloists and a
few special surprises you dont want to miss!
If your friends or neighbors say..well I dont want to go
hear a long sermon on Easter then this is the place to
come! Pastor Danny has promised it will be shorter
than 4 minutes!!!! Easter is the perfect time to rejoice
and bring someone who youve been meaning to mention this to for ages!!
Besides the reception in fellowship hall, immediately
afterward is being handled by the wonderful Gretchen
Rugh our super Second Soprano!! (she is also a marvelous cook and baker..just ask her boys!)

THERE WILL BE NO SCRIP SALES ON

EASTER SUNDAY.

Come and rejoice with AMENS!, HALLELUJAHS!, PRAISE

THE LORDS!, and feel free to be movin and groovin to
the music!
Easter Blessings
Barb Peebles

April 5 - Easter Sunday

April 12 - John 20:19-31

Disciples Women Leadership Presents

Womens Bible Extravaganza!

April 25 ~ 9:00 noon

Women from around the region are invited to gather for three hours of study and fellowship at one of six locations. The
two locations closest to BKCC are:
Lynwood Christian Church
First Christian Church, Orange
Questions? Contact regional co-minister Susan Gonzales Dewey at sgdewey@disciplespswr.org

Sarah Stolze
Phil OLaughlin
Sumbal Sardar
Keri Clark (daughter of M. Lanz)
Hattie Johnson
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)
2nd Annual Sr. Adults Retreat of the PSW Regional
Church
Tuesday, May 19 and Wednesday, May 20 at Loch Leven

July 13-17

This event is sponsored and planned by the Older Adult

Ministry Committee of the PSW Region. The speaker,
Doug Edwards, an ordained minister in the Presbyterian
Church, will make two presentations during this event.
The theme is The Third Half of Life. It will begin at 1p.m.
on May 19 with check-in and will conclude by 1:30 p.m.
on Wednesday, May 20. The first session will begin at 2
p.m. in the refurbished Campbell Lodge. Sleeping accommodations will be provided at both the Campbell
Lodge and Cole Unit. All sessions, including three meals
will be provided. In case youre wondering, both Campbell Lodge and the Cole Unit are fully accessible for persons with mobility issues.
Registration forms can be obtained by contacting Sandy
Jeglum.

July 18-22, 2015 Columbus, OH

www.disciples.org/ga

Activity Page

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
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

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.

Wednesday Night Dinners: join

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

the next newsletter by

April 12

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