Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

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Started: 3 Dec 2013 Finished: 6 Dec 2013 I know, I know. I shouldn’t have. But I felt oddly compelled when I found it in the library. Like I needed to find out what all the fuss was about. And surprisingly I rather enjoyed it. It was difficult to put down and I’m intrigued enough to check out the rest of the series. Not sure about the movies though; we’ll have to see. 😉 The only frustrating thing was that while reading it I couldn’t get out of my head the way someone else had described the book to me: that it was like reading about two kids not having sex. :-p Anyways: on to the bits from the book that I enjoyed, made me think, and (in one case) frustrated me. Throughout the vast shadowy world of ghosts and demons there is no figure so terrible, no figure so … Continue reading →

The Rock Covenant Church

The Rock Church Worship Service

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Paul 15th of December is the kids big show Christmas Eve we’re doing something a little different Doing a joint service with Peninsula Community Church (the other church I lead worship at) There will be a 5pm and a 7pm, I recommend the latter as the former is usually packed First Sunday of Advent Christmas isn’t something that sneaks up on us, we wait for it and anticipate it Chris Isaiah 2:1-5 Paul with O Come, O Come Emmanuel riff at the end Jon … Jesus entered a house. A crowd gathered again so that it was impossible for him and his followers even to eat. When his family heard what was happening, they came to take control of him. They were saying, “He’s out of his mind!” His mother and brothers arrived. They stood outside and sent word to him, calling for him. A crowd was seated around him, … Continue reading →

The Rock Covenant Church

The Rock Church Worship Service

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Paul Maria Advent Conspiracy Worship fully Spend less Give more Love all … Advent is about celebrating the coming of God into our world … What helps us celebrate God, Christ, Emmanuel (God with us) … Regina … My mom gave me this stuffed Christmas tree with stuffed Nativity ornaments and we hang new items to match the theme of the week 30% of Manhattan Beach is Jewish, so we celebrate Chanukah I think it’s a bridge for the boys to some of the other kids in their school Celebrate the day of Epiphany El Molina sells king bread with plastic babies inside it … Maria Can draw ideas from each other but also the church calendar, I hadn’t even thought about celebrating epiphany If you want to share let us know You can also write on a paper ornament and hang it on the tree and see what other … Continue reading →

The Rock Covenant Church

The Rock Church Worship Service

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Paul Maria There’s a lot going on tonight After service is potluck, Thanksgiving tradition Renee is here tonight and she is going to talk about adoption and foster cares Advent conspiracy is about reexamining how we celebrate Christmas in our community That’s why the tree is upside down, we’re flipping the traditional celebration omit s head Katie came up with a great idea where we take our ideas for this and write them on little ornament papers and pin them on the tree True confessions: ever go to church hungry and get to communion and you’re wondering “how large a chunk can I pull off?” The early church didn’t have that problem because communion for them was about coming together for a meal This is from Acts, right after the Pentecost Devoted to their shared meals They shared food with gladness and simplicity Renee is up next, but first a … Continue reading →

The Rock Covenant Church

The Rock Church Worship Service

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Paul Maria Experimenting with Christmas this year using Advent Conspiracy as a template We may not be the largest church community but we have great stories popping up everywhere Latest update from our team who recently travelled to Uganda to help out with Mercy’s Village Joy Life here goes really fast, but it’s quieter and I was able to soak up the experience when I was there Broke it down to simple lessons 1) felt like a millionaire Felt like I had so much more to be thankful for It’s kind of overwhelming to visit a country with poverty It slowly sucked into me It’s awesome that Jeami has this school You just start working on one person’s life and you can make a practical difference 2) you need to be mindful of how you help I did a lot of talking and a lot of listening When the rebels … Continue reading →

The Rock Covenant Church

The Rock Church Worship Service

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Paul Jon Mark 2:13-17 This is the fifth disciple that Jesus calls Get comfortable with Mark Look at the dimensions of Jesus’ ministry team Looking at reconciliation and forgiveness Feel like I need to clarify Forgiveness is NOT forgetting There are things we have done and that have been done against us And I don’t think it’s good to try to forget them When we talk about reconciliation, we always hope that it will be possible We want to turn towards it, but it always take two to reconcile Some relationships in terms of relationships and healthy boundaries I’m not looking for reconciliation and now we’re BFFs Knowing some of the stories and backgrounds I’ve heard, I’m no advising you re-engage old relationships There are certain boundaries that need to be established Reconciliation is going to happen either now of after, so we want to always turn to it, to … Continue reading →

The Rock Covenant Church

The Rock Church Worship Service

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Josh ??? Take Heart We Exalt Thee (?) Jon Update on Beth’s twisted intestine: she’s headed in the right direction Still in pain, but thank you for your prayers (past and future) Tonight Mark 1:40-45 A man with a skin disease approached Jesus, fell to his knees, and begged, “If you want, you can make me clean.” Incensed, Jesus reached out his hand, touched him, and said, “I do want to. Be clean.” Instantly, the skin disease left him, and he was clean. Sternly, Jesus sent him away, saying, “Don’t say anything to anyone. Instead, go and show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifice for your cleansing that Moses commanded. This will be a testimony to them.” Instead, he went out and started talking freely and spreading the news so that Jesus wasn’t able to enter a town openly. He remained outside in deserted places, but people came … Continue reading →

The Rock Covenant Church

The Rock Church Worship Service

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Paul Maria Corn booth is coming up Sign up and help raise money for kids and youth ministry Uganda trip could use more suitcases and supplies, medicine, etc Jon Mark 1 Journey covenant Pastor Jim’s wife has a twisted intestine She’s in ICU, it’s not looking good The next 48 hours a crucial I’d like us to be I agreement to pray in solidarity for God’s intervention For God to be present Corporate prayer If I hear anything, I’ll keep you up to date via email Going to fill in there next Sunday Early in the morning, well before sunrise, Jesus rose and went to a deserted place where he could be alone in prayer. Simon and those with him tracked him down. When they found him, they told him, “Everyone’s looking for you!” He replied, “Let’s head in the other direction, to the nearby villages, so that I can … Continue reading →

The Rock Covenant Church

The Rock Church Worship Service

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Jon Corporate prayer for Paul (worship leader) Men’s Fraternity starting up next Saturday How do you see yourself? I often ask myself this question and wonder who has an an answer for themselves One person answered “I am the son of the living God” How many people actually see themselves first and foremost After John was arrested, Jesus went to Galilee and told the good news that comes from God. He said, “The time has come! God’s kingdom will soon be here. Turn back to God and believe the good news!” As Jesus was walking along the shore of Lake Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew. They were fishermen and were casting their nets into the lake. Jesus said to them, “Follow me! I will teach you how to bring in people instead of fish.” Right then the two brothers dropped their nets and went with him. Jesus … Continue reading →

I’m a Jim Dale Fan

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I loved Pete’s Dragon growing up, then come to find that Doc Terminus also portrayed Barnum in Cy Coleman’s musical biography of Phineas Taylor was almost too much. And then he goes and narrates Pushing Daisies (one of my favorite cancelled shows of all time)! And he’s the audio book reader for the Harry Potter books? Get out. Just get out! So when I stumbled across Scott Kurtz’ tribute to Pete’s Dragon, I couldn’t help but squeal. 🙂 Every Little Piece – PVPOnline by Scott Kurtz For further enjoyment, here’s the original song that Scott is referencing.