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

On All Saints’ Sunday, Nov. 2, our 9:30 morning service will include the sacrament of communion and memorial prayers for those who have died since last year at this time.  A white card will be included in your worship bulletin to list them.  Ellie Choate will play the harp prelude and accompany the Chancel Choir. Robert York is organist.

At 5:00 p.m., we are offering an All Saints’ Vesper service in Gabrielson Chapel.  This quiet time of evening worship will enable us to sing some evening hymns.  You will be able to light a candle to remember anyone who has died at any time.  Megan O’Toole will sing a solo, and Robert York will play the piano.

The Long Beach Area CROP Hunger Walk began and ended at Bay Shore Church last Sunday with nearly 200 walkers from area churches.  Pledges were $13,600:  75% goes to Church World Service, and 25% is for Long Beach area hunger programs.  Walking from BSC were Silvia Barger, Andy Cohn, Diane Elledge, Charlie Ensley, and Marilee Stefenhagen.  Those interested in still pledging, make checks payable to CWS/CROP, then turn them in to Charlie Ensley, CROP Walk treasurer.

What a great start for Project Love!  Seventy-eight of our 93 children now have sponsors, thanks to you!  We have only 9 girls and 6 boys left.  If you would you like to provide a $15-20 Christmas gift for a child from the Hotevilla-Bacavi School, please visit the table in the Concert Hall to select a child and return your gift by November 9.  Donations for scholarships are welcome too.  Make your check out to the church and mark Project Love in the corner.  If you have any questions, please call Debby Griffin.

A Life Decisions forum will be sponsored by our Shepherd’s Staff committee after worship this Sunday, October 26.

Charlie Ensley will speak on issues families have to deal with when a death seems imminent.  Chaplain Sharon Yagerlener from Memorial Medical Center will speak about the Five Wishes form and how it has been helpful in hospital situations.  Blake Rea will speak on financial issues around time of death.  These and other helpful issues, including how to plan ahead for a memorial service, will be discussed at Sunday’s forum, 11 a.m.-12:15 in Gabrielson Chapel.

Attendance October 19  was 179:
158 adults and 21 children.

Upcoming Fellowship Hour Hosts:
10/26:  Andy & Virginia Cohn
11/2:    Kent & Lisa Davis
11/9:    Dick Landes & Diane Donaldson

Bay Shore 2010 will meet Sunday, November 2 at 11:00 a.m.
If you did not receive a letter with the pledge card for 2009 support of the church, they are available on the narthex table or by calling the office.

To add concerns for our Prayer Chain, call Joyce Scott or drop a note in the Prayer Box in the narthex.

• Sat., Oct. 25  – Valla Lecture at First Congregational Church.  Dr. Amir Hussain, associate professor of Theological Studies at Loyola Marymount will speak on contemporary Muslim societies in North America.  9 a.m.-Noon, $10 includes breakfast.
• Sun., Nov. 2 – South Coast Interfaith Council Benefit Concert, Temple Beth El, San Pedro, 3:00 p.m.  Freewill offering.
• Sun., Nov. 9 – South Coast Interfaith Council Unity Awards Dinner & Silent Auction, Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, LB, 5-7 p.m., $60.
• Sat., Nov. 15 – Christian Outreach in Action Dinner & Silent Auction, First Baptist Church, Lakewood, 5 p.m., $60.  See article on insert for more info.

Our community outreach project provides hand-made items for the Christmas families, Woman to Woman shelter, and homeless of Long Beach.  We have several blankets completed, ranging from baby to adult size, and we need more!  There is no set type – each of us chooses our own pattern, yarn, and size.  Some are also making booties and caps for babies and children.  We work on our own and gather at Church the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month 10:00 a.m. – Noon.  We bring our own lunch and share our progress, help each other, and get new ideas!  Some are Church members, some are friends in the community, and some cannot join us on Wednesday but work on their own at home.

Please join us in our “Blessings from Bay Shore” project to bring warmth and caring to those who need it most in our very own community.  Riding in a car, boat, or watching TV are great times to knit or crochet, so get those needles out and start stitching!  Bring your completed blankets on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday or to the church office.  Call Linda Landes with any questions.  Deadline for projects is Sunday, Nov. 30.

COA will have its annual Fundraising Dinner and Silent Auction, called the Fall Festival of Grace, on Saturday, November 15, at 5:00 p.m. at the First Baptist Church of Lakewood.  Dinner will feature Santa Maria style beef tri-tip and skewered shrimp grilled over red oak.

COA will sell tickets during Fellowship Hour in the Concert Hall at 10:45 a.m. on Sunday, October 26.  Tickets cost $60 each, and a table of 8 costs $450, which is a $30 savings from the individual ticket price.  Proceeds benefit their Hot Meals Program, the distribution of groceries to homeless and low income families, and their Men’s and Women’s Transitional Housing Programs.  For additional information, or to make reservations or donations, please call COA.

Sunday School
What our youth will be learning on Sunday, October 26 :
Bible Story: People build a tower at Babel (Genesis 11:1-9).
Key Verse: Love the Lord your God with all your heart (Deuteronomy 6:5).
Bible Point: We all need God.

“Pumpkin Prayer” to Celebrate the Fall Season
Traci Reitz will be sharing this “hands-on” prayer in Children’s Time this Sunday:

Dear God, As I carve my pumpkin, help me say this prayer: Open my mind so I can learn about You (Cut the top of the pumpkin.).
Take away all my sin and forgive me for the wrong things I do (Clean out the inside.).
Open my eyes so Your Love I will see (Cut eyes shaped like hearts).
I’m sorry for turning up my nose to all You’ve given me (Cut a nose in the shape of the cross.).
Open my ears so Your Word I will hear (Cut ears shaped like the Bible).
Open my mouth so I can tell others You’re near (Cut mouth in the shape of a fish).
Let Your Light shine in all I say and do!  Amen.  (Place a candle and light.)

(Poem submitted from postings on Internet.  Author not listed.)

Middle School Youth Group – 6-2-8 Thursday Night
Are you in 6th, 7th, or 8th  grade?  If you are, please join us on Thursday nights from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the Youth Center for Fun, Food and Fellowship.

Costume party Thursday, October 30th!!

Entertainment Books Benefit Christian Education
We are again selling Long Beach and Orange County Entertainment Books, and all profits support our Christian Education programs.  Books are available after church.  A few visits to the movies with $6 coupons, and one or two restaurant dinners, and the book pays for itself!  Questions?  Call Kathy Walczak.

We hope you will join us in the Concert Hall after worship on Sunday, November 2.  You will be able to purchase a token gift of a chicken, some rabbits, a colony of bees, and many other items, such as blankets, school, health, and sewing kits.  Please see the green insert in this Carillon for the complete list of items for sale and their prices.  All of these items are great gifts for family and friends that already “have everything,”  while you benefit worthy charities. Christmas gift cards will be given to you.  Your recipient’s name will be written in beautiful calligraphy for you.

Margaret Leake,
Missions Commission