Bay Shore Church - Sermons and News from Bay Shore Community Congregational Church in Belmont Shore, California.

All of us are very much aware of the current economic situation – the wide swings in the stock market, the mortgage lending crisis, the failure of financial giants. As Bay Shore’s Treasurer I want to alert you that our annual stewardship campaign will begin in the next few weeks. Your past generosity speaks volumes about your faith and your commitment to our church and the many mission projects it supports.

On October 1, the Search Committee received the first batch of resumés from minis-ters who might be interested in the open position here at Bay Shore. It is unlikely that a new Associate Minister will be installed before Easter of 2009, but we do need to make salary provisions in the 2009 budget.

A Budget Review session will be held after worship on November 9, at which time the proposed budget will be presented; you are invited and encouraged to attend this meeting. The final vote on the budget by the congregation will occur at the Harvest Home meeting on November 16.  Unfortunately I will not be able to attend either of those meetings; but I have no doubt that Robert Wingfield, Chair of the Business Affairs Commission, can present the proposed budget and answer any of your questions.

Allen Cagle, Treasurer

Have you chosen someone to make life-care decisions for you if you are incapacitated? Have you filled out a Five Wishes form or a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care decisions? Do you have a will or trust? How do you wish your funeral or memorial service to be conducted?  Did you write it down, or does anyone know? These and other helpful issues will be discussed at a Life Decisions forum sponsored by our Shepherd’s Staff committee after worship on Sunday, October 26.

Aubrey Smith, Courtney Stanley, Ted & Billie Anderson, Terry Pynchon, thanks to God for answered prayers, God’s Grace, infinite love, & the promise of each new day, our country, world, & financial crisis we are facing, peace, Scout, Kelsey, Tracey Condon, Brian Edmonds, Bernie Bricketto, Greg & Vicki Key, Wayne & Lilian Crawford, Rich Elliott, all caregivers, thanks to God for 34 wonderful years with Cynthia, Jay, Dior, Patricia Ahlquist, homeless lady often at 2nd St. & Bay Shore, Lyle Holm, Dr. Marc Sonne, Linda Hoff, Susan Quinn, Marcia Frisella, Don MacGregor, Alden Malokowski, Ken Makinster, Marissa Hill, Sameera, Tyler Noessen, Martine Korach, Phyllis Johnson, John Armstrong, healing for bitterness growing in my heart, Annie Baily, Myrna Metheny, ;Leslie Herbst, Helen Varner,  Betty Outten, Laurie Turley, Karen Johnson, Teri Z., Wes Rollo, all travelers, John Hordenski, Katherine Knerr, healing, Se, contentment in Jesus; souls of Charley Knerr, Chris Knerr, Rick Carr, Joe Galvao, Helen Parkin, John Hauser, Marilyn Gough & Marguerite Collins.

The prelude will be a piano arrangement of the hymn “Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us” (Chalice Hymnal No. 558) originally written for children and published in 1836. The composer, William Bradbury (1816-1868), was a prolific hymn writer and passionate about tunes that were melodious, lighter in spirit and easily sung. Prior to Bradbury’s writings, hymns were heavy, noble, and stately. Bradbury led the way for the introduction of gospel music. His tunes, although inspired to encourage children to sing hymns, adults across the country lift their voices to sing such favorites as: “He Leadeth Me,” “The Solid Rock,” “Just As I Am,” “Jesus Loves Me,” “ Sweet Hour of Prayer” and of course, “Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us.” May our worship together bring us to a closer relationship with God and each other.

Alicia Adams

9:30a.m. Worship – Sunday School – Nursery

The Rev. Charles Ensley’s Sermon:
“WE ARE THE WORLD”
Sermon request:  “How must God feel that we, his children, have abused this wonderful planet He/She has given us?” On a Sunday when we symbolically break bread with Christians throughout the world, what is our outlook on the current state of planet Earth?

Scripture Lesson: Matthew 21:33-46
Lay Reader: Susie Laubacher

The Bay Shore Bells: Holy Is the Lord
Quartet: Go Not Far From Me, O God
Chancel Choir Communion anthem: Here at the Table of Love

WORLD COMMUNION SUNDAY
Served early in worship so children may participate.

Bay Shore Community Congregational Church
5100 The Toledo
Long Beach, California 90803-5539

Rev. Charles E. Ensley, Jr.
Senior Minister
revcee@bayshorechurch.org

Church Office: Tel (562) 433-0401 Fax (562) 433-5078
Bayshorechurch@aol.com
www.bayshorechurch.org

This Sunday’s Activities
8:00 – Bay Shore Bells Rehearsal
8:30 – Chancel Choir Rehearsal
9:30 – Worship with early Communion for children; Neighbors in Need offering, Sunday School & Nursery
10:45 – Fellowship Hour and Third World Hand Arts Sale in Concert Hall
10:45 – Picture make-up session in front of Gabrielson Chapel
11:00 – Sunday Ringers Rehearsal
11:00 – Children’s Choir Rehearsal

Greeters are: Liz Kennedy and Naomi & Greg Suematsu

Flowers on the altar are given by the Otto clan with much love in celebration of Doug’s 60th birthday.

Flowers in the niche are given by Steve and Patti Zieg in celebration of Alex’s 18th birthday.

Lay Reader: Susie Laubacher
Susie has been a Bay Shore Church member for 14 years and has lived in Seal Beach for 27 years. Her favorite church involvements are Worship, participating in the Fellowship Club, and helping with the Christmas families. Susie is married to Bob Laubacher, and they have a 21-year-old daughter named Holly. Susie works as a community volunteer, and she enjoys reading, visiting museums, and watching sports.

A minister never knows how a sermon is going to affect someone. A few weeks ago, in a sermon on forgiveness, I spoke of a sermon on that subject I had given six years previously. It deeply impacted one member of our congregation, who has told me more than once over the ensuing years, “I’ve never forgiven you for that sermon on forgiveness!”

A similar thing happened this week, when someone who had something he had been living with for some years found that my recent sermon on forgiveness was just the impetus he needed to do something about forgiving another person. He had a plan, but wanted to run it by me before walking down the path of forgiveness.

Some Sundays I preach a sermon that I think might be particularly helpful to someone I know who is going through some situation. They say nothing at the door, but one or two others tell me I was preaching right to them! Or, I answer a sermon request that some-one gave me, having no idea who it was, and receive no feedback that whoever made it was even in worship to hear it that day!

At a recent meeting of some thirty ministers, one minister said, “I never preach a sermon that I don’t need to hear myself.” Amen to that, I thought. For I don’t get up there and pontificate on what I think “you people” ought to be doing if I’m not willing to admit it applies to me as well. Sometimes that’s where I get my own illustrations.

I also realize that sermons are “hit and miss”. Some Sundays they ‘hit’ you; they are just what you need to hear. Other Sundays the topic may hold little interest for you, nor apply to you, but they do to someone else.

While I’ve preached 1,387 sermons over 35 years (haven’t I already said everything there is to say?), sometimes sermon themes come right to me on Mondays when I do my next Sunday homework. Other times, I read and study and ponder and find myself standing outside the church on Tuesday morning wondering what a catchy title should be. With a Tuesday Carillon deadline, that day has been my deadline for nearly 22 years. No waiting until Friday!

Charlie Ensley
Senior Minister

Commission chairs attended our reconvened Bay Shore 2010 last Sunday and we had a lot of good brainstorming ideas. Our next committee meeting is Sunday, October 5th at 11:00 a.m. Commission chairs are urged to join us so we can explore together what things each commission can do to contribute to and improve our church.

Leslie Groene
Bay Shore 2010 Convener

In order to have adequate time to prepare and layout the Carillon before it is printed on Tuesday, it would be helpful if those submitting articles could have them in to Jennifer in the office by Noon on Mondays. We will still try to include ‘breaking news’ even on Tuesday mornings.  Occasionally we must edit or hold articles if there is not enough room in a particular issue.

Again this year, the Long Beach Area CROP Hunger Walk will begin and end at Bay Shore Church. This year’s date is Sunday October 19, with the walk starting at 1:30. Those interested in walking may sign out a pledge envelope in the Concert Hall.  Mark off your donors when they pay, either by cash or checks made payable to CWS/CROP. (All checks are sent directly to Church World Service, so please do not make them out to our church.)

We have a make-up date for commission photos on Sunday, October 5th at 10:45 a.m. for those of you that could not make it to the prior photo sessions. Please meet promptly at 10:45 a.m. on the steps in front of Gabrielson Chapel.