jeremiahtan963404

Announcements – 9-7-2022

Announcements:

Wednesday Food Bank Distribution: Food Bank Distribution takes place today and every Wednesday at 5:00 p.m. in our church parking lot. It is primarily a drive-through service. If you or someone you know would benefit from a heaping box of free food, don’t hesitate to come receive. We are utterly appreciative of our volunteers who give of their time and energy to bless the community.

Mid-week Prayer/book discussion group will be meeting at its regular time each week, Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. Meetings going forward will be on zoom only: (meeting ID#: 7053955673, with password 172569). We also continue to discuss book, “Patriarchs and Prophets”, written by Ellen White. This week we will discuss chapter 21 “Joseph and his Brothers”. Join with us to get a mid-week Spiritual recharge, and connection with fellow church members.

Spanish Prayer Group Re-Starting: For the first time since the pandemic shutdown, our Spanish group is restarting its weekly prayer group on Wednesday evenings @ 7:00 in the fellowship hall. If you are bilingual, you can come receive a blessing with fellow believers.

Sabbath Morning Church Worship: We continue to meet in the sanctuary. Folks are still recommended to wear facemasks while worshipping, especially those who are not fully vaccinated.

Current Sabbath Worship/Activities schedule:

9:00 a.m. Spanish Sabbath School service (Fellowship Hall)

9:20 a.m. Kids’ song service (all ages) in Youth Room

9:45 a.m. Kids’ Sabbath Schools in their age/grade-based classrooms

10:00 a.m. Spanish Devotional Service – Fellowship Hall

Young Adult Sabbath School – room 304

English Adult Sabbath School – Sanctuary

11:00 a.m. All ages/languages church service in sanctuary

5:30 p.m. “Sociedad de Jovenes” bilingual closing of the Sabbath program in the Fellowship Hall

Online Worship Options: If you are ever traveling, sick, or still prefer to worship from home, we have online worship options, live Sabbath mornings from 10:00-12:00 on Zoom (mtg ID# is 7053955673, with password 172569), or services being posted after-the-fact on our Anaheim Sunkist SDA Youtube Page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfZrh44kEB7LJUy2c37XrFA

Memorial Service for Ermelinda Patarroyo We grieve with sister Martha Patarroyo for the recent passing of her mother. Though Ermelinda had lived outside the country for the past several years, she was a member of our Spanish group for many years when she was here. We will be having a memorial service for her Sabbath afternoon, September 17^th, at 5:00 p.m.. All who fondly remember Ermelinda are welcome to come and support the Patarroyo family during this time of loss.

Up-coming Zoom Week of Prayer with Orange Church: Our sister district church across the river is scheduling an online week of prayer from September 18th – 24th, with several of its elders providing the nightly devotional thoughts. Please consider joining in, we’ll be providing zoom info as things get closer.

Pastor Mark’s Limited Availability: As announced last month at church, Pastor Mark has been offered and has accepted a new job at the Southeastern California Conference of SDAs in Riverside, and is now serving as the Assistant to the President there. From now on, his weekday time will be spent there, though he continues to be available via phone/text/e-mail during the week, and will continue to preach and be available Fridays & Sabbaths to the Anaheim/Orange SDA Church district until a new Senior Pastor is found. Please pray for the up-coming transition time, and for discernment in God’s will for the future of our church district. Pastor Nathaniel will be continuing as associate pastor through this time of transition and onward.

Online Giving: Please remember the church’s local funding needs in your giving plans. Your tithes (10% of your increase) and offerings are most appreciated during this time. Adventist giving has both a phone app and a website you can donate through: adventistgiving.org. Any donations made here are applied directly, with no percentage skimmed off, and your donations will come in your year-end receipt, seamlessly integrated with donations made in the church. May God bless us as we partner with him in faith through our finances.

Pastor's Updates

Mid-week Pastor’s Update 9-7-2022

Anaheim SDA Church

Mid-week Pastor’s Update

September 7th, 2022

“Sorrow may last for a night, but joy comes with the morning” Psalm 30:5

We’ve been having an exciting time in our household lately, as in the last two weeks, my two children have combinedly lost a total of 3 teeth! Toward the beginning, there is the fun and excitement of wiggling the loose tooth, yet the dread of the added pain on the horizon. I remember having that conflicting combination of emotions as a child well. They crescendo as the weeks pass!

I also remember, and I see it in my kids too, putting off the dreaded climax of pain, by eating foods in strange positions, trying to avoid use of the increasingly wobbly tooth. Imagine, for example, trying to eat a sandwich without using your front teeth! My kids did this for weeks as I thought (and occasionally said) “Let’s pull it out and get this done with already!” “No daddy! Nooo!!” they’d wail. “Alright…”

But then, inevitably, the crucial moment comes. Intense shrieks of pain and tears soon give way to shrieks of joy and giggles, as the kids show-off their tooth, now in their hand, and the resultant gap in their smile. :-b The fun continues in telling friends, as this is no doubt “big news” in elementary-grade classrooms. And there’s the promise for a bit of money to boot!*

In light of all this excitement – increasing pain and turmoil leading up to a crisis moment that ends-up resulting in joy, I got to reflecting on the life lessons it brings. We all know that pain and suffering are inevitable in life, yet after the valley of anguish, there is often relief and resultant gratitude that comes (see the Psalms verse quoted above). Children experiencing this pattern in a small, non-life- threatening way is an excellent way to teach this difficult yet necessary truth in life, and I found myself thankful to God that this is the process by which we grow up. Could this have been His intention in making our bodies to work like this? By doing this I’m not minimizing the ‘crisis’ in the kids’ minds, but I think our grown-up crises can look very similar to God. They are urgent and critical to us, but in His view, all is under control. Yet it can be a learning lesson.

I remember hearing a similar thought once regarding animals: after some years of bonding, the childhood experience of the loss of pets is bitter, but in reality is a gentle, helpful way for them to learn about the pain of death. It is certainly no small crisis in their minds, but they learn that, even after the loss, the sun shines again another day. Having lost a couple of pets in my childhood, I remember passing through those experiences with tears, yet the experience was a stepping stone for having to endure much larger loss, much more acute pain, later in life. Again, I wonder if dogs’ and cats’ short lifespans in relation to our own might have been made with the intention to facilitate life lessons for children.

So, I just find myself thankful to God that we have these “mini-experiences” that help us lead up to the big, truly daunting experiences we must go through in life. The harsh realities of this Great Controversy are oft devastating, but I find myself thankful that God has set up mini versions of these crises to prepare us, in the “kiddie pool” of childhood, when there are adults around us to support us, hug us, and assure us that everything is going to be okay.

Whenever we do suffer losses, small or large, let’s try to ask ourselves (and God) what future cause this could be preparing us for. Perhaps we can bring comfort to others in the future, going through a similar issue in their lives.

I pray peace and God’s blessings to you and your family members the remainder of this week and beyond.

Sincerely,

Pr. Mark Tatum

*Though we don’t promote the idea of the “tooth fairy” with our kids at home, we do put a few dollars under their pillows as they sleep. While we were in Argentina a little over a month ago, we got to discussing children’s tooth-loss with Jime’s family down there, and I was laughingly surprised to find out that in Argentina, rather than a tale of a “tooth fairy”, the myth is of “Raton Perez” who comes and takes the tooth and leaves money – a rat! Lol!

Announcements

Announcements – 8-31-2022

Announcements:

Mid-week Prayer/book discussion group will be meeting at its regular time each week, Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. Meetings going forward will be on zoom only: (meeting ID#: 7053955673, with password 172569). We also continue to discuss book, “Patriarchs and Prophets”, written by Ellen White. This week we will discuss chapter 20 “Joseph in Egypt”. Join with us to get a mid-week Spiritual recharge, and connection with fellow church members.

Sabbath Morning Church Worship: We continue to meet in the sanctuary. Folks are still recommended to wear facemasks while worshipping, especially those who are not fully vaccinated.

Current Sabbath Worship/Activities schedule:

9:00 a.m. Spanish Sabbath School service (Fellowship Hall)

9:20 a.m. Kids’ song service (all ages) in Youth Room

9:45 a.m. Kids’ Sabbath Schools in their age/grade-based classrooms

10:00 a.m. Spanish Devotional Service – Fellowship Hall

Young Adult Sabbath School – room 304

English Adult Sabbath School – Sanctuary

11:00 a.m. All ages/languages church service in sanctuary

afternoon – Memorial Service for Ermelinda Patarroyo (see announcement below)

Memorial Service for Ermelinda Patarroyo this Sabbath afternoon: We grieve with sister Martha Patarroyo for the recent passing of her mother. Though Ermelinda had lived outside the country for the past several years, she was a member of our Spanish group for many years when she was here. We will be having a memorial service for her this Sabbath afternoon. All who fondly remember Ermelinda are welcome to come and support the Patarroyo family during this time of loss.

Request for transportation help to Riverside or staying with an elderly church member briefly 3 mornings per week: A family within our church community is requesting help from either someone who commutes to Riverside for work, or someone who has time on Monday, Wednesday, & Friday mornings to stay with an elderly church member for about 90 mins – 2 hours. The family, Located in Orange, is trying to continue sending their child to La Sierra Academy SDA school, and would be greatly helped by either transportation for the student, or staying with this elderly family member while transportation takes place. The duration of this help should be for about 1 semester. If you or someone you know might be able to help with either of these aspects, do not hesitate to contact Pastor Mark by phone/text at (714) 650-1245, or via e-mail at prmarktatum@gmail.com.

Church Members searching for Rooms to Rent: In the past couple of weeks, the church has received 3 requests from people/families searching for a room to rent. All 3 sets are members of the Adventist church, and are willing to pay. They can of course search through secular means, but how much better to be with a person of our faith? If you or someone you know has a room/rooms available to rent, please let Pr. Mark or the church office know, and you will be put in touch. Thanks for your consideration.

Up-coming Zoom Week of Prayer with Orange Church: Our sister district church across the river is scheduling an online week of prayer from September 18^th – 24^th, with several of its elders providing the nightly devotional thoughts. Please consider joining in, we’ll be providing zoom info as things get closer.

Pastor Mark’s Limited Availability: As announced several Sabbaths ago at church, Pastor Mark has been offered and has accepted a new job at the Southeastern California Conference of SDAs in Riverside, and is now serving as the Assistant to the President there. From now on, his weekday time will be spent there, though he continues to be available via phone/text/e-mail during the week, and will continue to preach and be available Fridays & Sabbaths to the Anaheim/Orange SDA Church district until a new Senior Pastor is found. Please pray for the up-coming transition time, and for discernment in God’s will for the future of our church district. Pastor Nathaniel will be continuing as associate pastor through this time of transition and onward.

Pastor's Updates

Mid-week Pastor’s Update 8-31-2022

Anaheim SDA Church

Mid-week Pastor’s Update

August 31st, 2022

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son…” John 3:16

Over the years, I have really been convicted that, in the later part of life, God continues deepening our understanding of him, and drawing us into deeper appreciation of him, by sharing with us experiences that represent his relation and perspective to us.

This is shown in a couple places in scripture by examples of God telling his servants to do strange or seemingly terrible things: First, he commands Abraham to offer-up his son Isaac as a sacrifice (Genesis 22:2), and, generations later, he tells Hosea to marry a prostitute, and then to pay money to bring her back into his house from her continued prostitution (Hosea 1:2, 3:1). While the emotions these prophets went through were no doubt shocking to the point of agonizing (and God could be considered cruel for asking this of them), it shares with us the intensity of emotion of what God must go through with us.

A while back I experienced a similar ‘lesson’ of God’s perspective that hit me to my core. It was many years ago, but I still remember it vividly. Perhaps the new school year, and seeing kids and (some new) teachers heading towards their classrooms have brought that lesson back to memory just now.

I was doing my student-teaching program at Mesa Grande Academy, and had been observing my master teacher teach his Bible class for about a week. In all honesty, I didn’t think he was that great, and that I could do better. My first opportunity to teach a class was approaching, and I was looking forward to it! I was going to revolutionize Bible Teaching!

As I planned my up-coming lesson, I was imagining a dynamic discussion, in which the kids would be on the front of their seats, raising their hands, eager to contribute to the conversation… their eyes would glisten as they perceived the profound truths presented! As I looked at the lesson in the textbook that was to be covered, I thought “oh yeah, this is going to be so great! So sweet!” and, really, the culmination of years of imagining myself as a Bible teacher was coming up fast. This was so exciting for me, and I was prayerfully excited as I developed my lesson plan.

Then the class period itself came. Particularly as it was the first period after lunch, the kids were not enthusiastic to be there. Many of them came wandering in late & distracted, and chatting with friends, even as I tried to call the class to order. After prayer, I enthusiastically dove into the discussion topic, but was surprised to not get proportionate zeal in response from them: they were dozing, passing notes, looking at the clock and sighing, playing with the hair of their neighboring student, etc, and I think someone even threw a crumpled-up piece of paper. Frustrated and perturbed, I soldiered on, doing the best not to let my disappointment show.

When I handed out activity sheets, it was to rolled-eyes. And when a kid did raise their hand, it was for "Can I go to the bathroom?" Talk about pricking a pin into a balloon!

A few minutes before the period ended, my master teacher left to go make some photocopies in the office or something. So when the bell rang and the kids left, I was left alone to reflect on the class period.

After a few minutes of stewing in my frustration and disappointment at them, I was overcome with a thought that pierced right into my soul, and sent me into racks of sobs. When my master teacher returned from the office, he found me hunched-over, red-faced, mucus-covered, tears streaming down; utterly inconsolable in my devastation.

“Whoa, whoa! Take it easy on yourself! It wasn’t that bad!" He said. "These guys are just teenagers, that’s how they often are no matter how well you do”. “No, it’s not that!” I responded, pained. My intense grief was in a whole nother arena than my master teacher thought I was upset about.

What I’d realized (and it still makes me tear-up to think it), is that the way those unappreciative students had appeared to me, is just how we, humanity, must appear to God! And my feelings toward them must have been similar to how he often feels toward us. Here He has prepared things in high hopes! He’s prepared the most marvelous environment for us, has revealed His perfect nature to us, has opened himself up to be known by us. And when we threw it in his face in rejecting him, he sent His Son to us to teach us, and assure us of his love. And what did we do? We despised and rejected him, tortured and mocked him, and put him on a cross to kill him. “Ungrateful wretches!” must’ve been the thought frequently going through Jesus’ and God the Father’s mind.

And it continues today! So many of us who know the Gospel shrug our shoulders at it, and metaphorically ‘fall asleep in church’. We’d rather share the latest gossip with a friend, or mess with our appearance in front of a mirror. We’d rather follow “influencers” on social media. We’d rather pedestalize sports and music stars, and make idols out of money, success, and fame. We’d rather pursue power. We’d rather get into political back-biting and conspiracy theories. We’d rather roll in the mud than come to Him and be clean.

I feel God shared his perspective with me on that frustrating-turned-devastating afternoon. Here He’s prepared so much for us: messages through His prophets: promises of love, protection, and future glory. Jesus is literally preparing a place for us in heavenly places!(John 14:2), and how do we respond as individuals, as a church, as a broader society?!

I can’t help but think we look like sniveling, unappreciative dunces to heavenly intelligences. I would not blame him in the least for slamming the book closed and angrily saying that class is dismissed. But the profound thing is that God keeps the instruction going! Keeps the invitation open! Keeps the arm extended, the hand outstretched, the invitational look in his eyes! Not unlike Hosea returning to his prostitute of a wife, God keeps wooing us to himself persistently (Hosea 2:14-20), and I just can’t fathom why.

Jesus says not to “cast our pearls before swine” (Matthew 7:6), but that is not too far a description from what he really does to us! His love and persistence are really incomprehensible to the place of dismay.

So I just resolved that day, that I am never again going to be in the place of a dozing, distracted, or defiant student before Him (I had my share of those too, over the years). I am going dedicate myself to be astute, involved, appreciative, enamored! It’s of course something I’ve briefly lost sight of at times (we’re all fallible, after all), but when I’m reminded, I repent and come back to that place of humility before God and eagerness to learn.

I pray this story has some value for you as well. I pray it makes you perceive a bit, and somewhat understand God’s point of view, and hopefully love him more for putting up with it. I promise, I don’t mean to instill guilt in sharing this story, but I rather hope for us to soberly consider our position before and attitude toward God, who has been so over-the-moon, so bend-over-backwardsly gracious to us. He really is far-and-beyond a better God than we could’ve deserved or even hoped for.

I pray a blessed remainder of the week for you and your families. I pray love and affirmation in your households. I pray safety, peace, and health, until we can see each other again, hopefully in person at church, if not in some other context.

I conclude in sharing the "priestly blessing" God instructed in Numbers 6:24-26. Hear God speaking it to you now.

“The Lord Bless and Keep You,

the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you;

the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”

That’s my prayer for you. Go in the love and grace of God, today and always.

Sincerely,

Pr. Mark Tatum

Pastor's Updates

Urgent prayers requested for Esther Sellers

Hello dear Anaheim church family,
This is Pastor Mark, writing you again Thursday morning, requesting urgent prayers for Esther Sellers, who, already weakened by various conditions & needing dialysis treatments 3x per week, has now contracted Covid. Her family has been keeping very close watch over her, and she has been to the hospital to receive monoclonal antibody treatment. But please urgently plead for God’s beneficial intervention in her case, as she is an inspiration in steadfast faith despite many sadnesses and difficulties.

I pray that in this, as in all cases, God’s will would be accomplished according to the manner He sees fit. Let’s bind together in faith, always moving forward on our knees.

Sincerely,
Pr. Mark Tatum

Announcements

Announcements – 8-24-2022

Announcements:

Spanish Week of Prayer: Each evening this week at 7:00 p.m., our Spanish group is meeting in the fellowship hall to have week of prayer meetings together. The theme of the week is “Who is the Holy Spirit?”, and various people are preaching throughout the week. It will culminate in a “Santa Cena” communion service on Friday evening.

Mid-week Prayer/book discussion group will be meeting at its regular time each week, Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. Meetings going forward will be on zoom only: (meeting ID#: 7053955673, with password 172569). We also continue to discuss book, “Patriarchs and Prophets”, written by Ellen White. This week we will discuss chapter 19 “The Return to Canaan”. Join with us to get a mid-week Spiritual recharge, and connection with fellow church members.

Sabbath Morning Church Worship: We continue to meet in the sanctuary. Folks are still recommended to wear facemasks while worshipping, especially those who are not fully vaccinated.

Current Sabbath Worship/Activities schedule:

9:00 a.m. Spanish Sabbath School service (Fellowship Hall)

9:20 a.m. Kids’ song service (all ages) in Youth Room

9:45 a.m. Kids’ Sabbath Schools in their age/grade-based classrooms

10:00 a.m. Spanish Devotional Service – Fellowship Hall

Young Adult Sabbath School – room 304

English Adult Sabbath School – Sanctuary

11:00 a.m. All ages/languages church service in sanctuary

5:30 p.m. “Sociedad de Jovenes” bilingual service in Fellowship Hall

Memorial Service for Sergio Alba this Sunday: We are sad that Sergio Alba, former member of our church, lost his health battle about 10 days ago. A funeral service is planned in his memory this Sunday at the OC Grace SDA church in Garden Grove, starting at 10:00 a.m. There are various stages to the events that will be happening, so we encourage you to look at the graphic attached.

Church Members searching for Rooms to Rent: In the past couple weeks, the church has received 3 requests from people/families searching for a room to rent. All 3 sets are members of the Adventist church, and are willing to pay. If you or someone you know has a room/rooms available to rent, please let Pr. Mark or the church office know, and you will be put in touch. Thanks for your consideration.

“Cross-fit” group & Young Adult Camping August 26-28th has unfortunately been postponed until further notice. While we’re disappointed, we look forward to being able to have this trip at a future date. Feel free to ask Lorena Salto, JoAnne Lightford, or Ivette Hernandez if you have any questions, or would like any details about future plans.

Up-coming Zoom Week of Prayer with Orange Church: Our sister district church across the river is scheduling an online week of prayer week from September 18^th – 24^th, with several of its members providing the nightly devotional thoughts. Please consider joining in, we’ll be providing zoom info as things get closer.

Change in Pastor Mark’s Role: As announced a couple of Sabbaths ago at church, Pastor Mark has been offered and has accepted a new job at the Southeastern California Conference of SDAs in Riverside, and is now serving as the assistant to the president there. From now on, his weekday time will be spent there, though he will continue to preach and be available Fridays & Sabbaths to the Anaheim/Orange SDA Church district until a new Senior Pastor is found. Please pray for the up-coming transition time, and for discernment in God’s will for the future of our church district. Pastor Nathaniel will be continuing as associate pastor through this time of transition and onward.

Announcements

Announcements – 8-17-2022

Announcements:

Mid-week Prayer/book discussion group will be meeting at its regular time each week, Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. Meetings going forward will be on zoom only: (meeting ID#: 7053955673, with password 172569). We also continue to discuss book, “Patriarchs and Prophets”, written by Ellen White. This week we will discuss chapter 18 “The Night of Wrestling”. Join with us to get a mid-week Spiritual recharge, and connection with fellow church members.

Sabbath Morning Church Worship: We continue to meet in the sanctuary. Folks are still recommended to wear facemasks while worshipping, especially those who are not fully vaccinated.

Current Sabbath Worship/Activities schedule:

9:00 a.m. Spanish Sabbath School service (Fellowship Hall)

9:20 a.m. Kids’ song service (all ages) in Youth Room

9:45 a.m. Kids’ Sabbath Schools in their age/grade-based classrooms

10:00 a.m. Spanish Devotional Service – Fellowship Hall

Young Adult Sabbath School – room 304

English Adult Sabbath School – Sanctuary

11:00 a.m. All ages/languages church service in sanctuary

5:30 p.m. “Sociedad de Jovenes” bilingual service in Fellowship Hall

Recording of Funeral Service for Millie Wolford: If you missed Millie Wolford’s memorial service on July 30^th, a recording of it is now uploaded to our YouTube site. At the request of the family, the video has been sent to “private”, which means you need to have the following link to be able to access it. Feel free to share this link with others who knew & loved dear Millie: https://youtu.be/1SRpXNYg2fE

“Cross-fit” group & Young Adult Camping August 26-28th In about 10 days, a couple of our ministry groups will be teaming-up to go for a camping/hiking trip to “Big Pines” (up I-395), for a weekend of worship, fellowship, and exercise in the beauty of God’s nature. Speak with Ivette Hernandez, JoAnne Lightford, or Lorena Salto to see if there’s still space at the campsite or if you’d like any other details.

Church Members searching for Rooms to Rent: In the past week, the church has received 3 requests from people/families searching for a room to rent. All 3 sets are members of the Adventist church, and are willing to pay. If you or someone you know has a room/rooms available to rent, please let Pr. Mark or the church office know, and you will be put in touch. Thanks for your consideration.

Announcements

Announcements – 8-10-2022

Announcements:

Mid-week Prayer/book discussion group will be meeting at its regular time each week, Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. Meetings going forward will be on zoom only: (meeting ID#: 7053955673, with password 172569). We also continue to discuss book, “Patriarchs and Prophets”, written by Ellen White. This week we will discuss chapter 17 “Jacob’s Flight and Exile”. Join with us to get a mid-week Spiritual recharge, and connection with fellow church members.

Sabbath Morning Church Worship: We continue to meet in the sanctuary. Folks are still recommended to wear facemasks while worshipping, especially those who are not fully vaccinated.

Current Sabbath Worship/Activities schedule:

9:00 a.m. Spanish Sabbath School service (Fellowship Hall)

9:20 a.m. Kids’ song service (all ages) in Youth Room

9:45 a.m. Kids’ Sabbath Schools in their age/grade-based classrooms

10:00 a.m. Spanish Devotional Service – Fellowship Hall

Young Adult Sabbath School – room 304

English Adult Sabbath School – Sanctuary

11:00 a.m. All ages/languages church service in sanctuary

12:20 p.m. Church potluck in Fellowship Hall (see announcement below)

5:30 p.m. “Sociedad de Jovenes” bilingual service in Fellowship Hall

Special Celebratory Church Potluck This Sabbath: William Hernandez recently got married up in Washington State! After church, we’ll be gathering in our fellowship hall to have a shared lunch in a celebratory potluck meal – so bring a vegetarian dish to share, and come prepared to celebrate with the Hernandez family.

Orangewood Academy – Christian Education resumes soon! Our Christian K-12 school in Garden Grove is starting up again, with classes beginning August 15th! If you are interested in your child(ren) attending, it’s not too late to register. Visit www.orangewoodacademy.com, or call the school office at (714) 534-4694. Please pray and consider donating to our sister educational institution, as we believe educating kids for eternity is a top priority.

Change in Pastor Mark’s Role: As announced last Sabbath at church, Pastor Mark has been offered and has accepted a new job at the Southeastern California Conference of SDAs in Riverside, and will be “Assistant to the President” there. From now on, his weekday time will be spent there, though he will continue to preach and be available Fridays & Sabbaths to the Anaheim/Orange SDA Church district until a new Senior Pastor is found. Please pray for the up-coming transition time, and for discernment in God’s will for the future of our church district. Pastor Nathaniel will be continuing as associate pastor through this time of transition and onward.

“Cross-fit” group & Young Adult Camping August 26-28th In a few weeks, a couple of our ministry groups will be teaming-up to go for a camping/hiking trip to “Big Pines” (up I-395), for a weekend of worship, fellowship, and exercise in the beauty of God’s nature. Speak with Ivette Hernandez, JoAnne Lightford, or Lorena Salto to see if there’s still space at the campsite or if you’d like any other details.

Announcements

Announcements – 7-27-2022

Announcements:

Pastors’ schedules: Both pastors Tatum and Sevilla are back from their vacation trips, refreshed, and thankful to be able to spend time with their families who live far away. Pastor Mark will be here the remainder of the week, but departs again on Sunday to go to a conference out-of-town next week (he’ll continue to be available in the evenings via phone/email, and will lead mid-week meetings via zoom).

Wednesday Food Bank Distribution: Food Bank Distribution takes place today and every Wednesday at 5:00 p.m. in our church parking lot. It is primarily a drive-through service. If you or someone you know would benefit from a heaping box of free food, don’t hesitate to come receive. We are utterly appreciative of our volunteers who give of their time and energy to bless the community.

Mid-week Prayer/book discussion group will be meeting at its regular time next week, Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. You can come in-person to room 305/306 or join via Zoom: (meeting ID#: 7053955673, with password 172569). We also continue to discuss book, “Patriarchs and Prophets”, written by Ellen White. This week we will discuss chapter 15 “The Marriage of Isaac”. Come join us to get a mid-week Spiritual recharge, and connection with fellow church members.

Sabbath Morning Church Worship: We continue to meet in the sanctuary. Folks are still recommended to wear facemasks while worshipping, especially those who are not fully vaccinated.

Current Sabbath Worship/Activities schedule:

9:00 a.m. Spanish Sabbath School service (in Sanctuary)

9:20 a.m. Kids’ song service (all ages) in Room 305/306

9:45 a.m. Kids’ Sabbath Schools in their age/grade-based classrooms

(youth SS will be upstairs in the balcony-adjacent room)

10:00 a.m. Spanish Devotional Service – Sanctuary

Young Adult Sabbath School – room 304

English Adult Sabbath School – room 305/306

11:00 a.m. All ages/languages church service in sanctuary

12:20 p.m. Church potluck in Fellowship Hall

2:00 p.m. Memorial service for Millie Wolford

Church Potluck This Sabbath: After church, we’ll be gathering in our fellowship hall to have a shared lunch in our usual last-Sabbath-of-the-month potluck – so bring a vegetarian dish to share, and come prepared to enjoy Christian fellowship in a friendly setting.

Memorial Service for Millie Wolford will be held this Sabbath, July 30th, at 2:00 p.m. in our sanctuary. Come to honor the life and legacy of a dear woman of God. Pastor Ernie Furness is coming down to officiate. A reception will follow in our fellowship hall.

Orangewood Academy – Christian Education resumes soon! Our Christian K-12 school in Garden Grove is starting up again, with classes beginning August 16th! If you are interested in your child(ren) attending, but have concerns about the cost of tuition, we have some tuition aid available from our church, please get an application from the deacons’ table, fill it out, and return it to the church office by August 1st. Please pray and consider donating to our sister educational institution, as we believe educating kids for eternity is a top priority.

Church Board Meeting Monday, August 1st at 7:00 p.m. This meeting will be zoom only. All church elders and ministry leaders, please prioritize attending. If you have any discussion items, please get them to Pastor Mark, so he can get them on the agenda. And all members, please pray for our church leadership, as we seek to discern & implement God’s will.

“Cross-fit” group & Young Adult Camping August 26-28th In about a month, a couple of our ministry groups will be teaming-up to go for a camping/hiking trip to “Big Pines” (up I-395), for a weekend of worship, fellowship, and exercise in the beauty of God’s nature. Speak with Ivette Hernandez, JoAnne Lightford, or Lorena Salto to see if there’s still space at the campsite or if you’d like any other details.

Pastor's Updates

Mid-week Pastor’s Update 8-24-2022

Anaheim SDA Church

Mid-week Pastor’s Update

August 24th, 2022

“…Be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.” James 5:7

We here in southern California are used to having droughts: it seems like about half of my lifetime here we’ve been in drought conditions. Given that we have a similar climate here to Israel, I always found it easy to identify with the periods of drought talked about in the Bible. “Oh yeah, I’m familiar with that”, I would think.

Though I really wasn’t: we of course have means to mitigate the effects of drought very effectively, which people in Bible times couldn’t have dreamed of. We have the aqueduct coming from Northern California, a series of dams and culverts from the Colorado River, and, if all else fails, we have the ability to do desalination, effectively doing mechanically that which evaporation does naturally.

But in recent weeks I’ve been hearing of drought on a whole new scale: significant drought across broad swaths of the world’s northern hemisphere! A couple of weeks ago, my parents were doing a river cruise in Europe, and the company had to change their itinerary because the river was too shallow in places! Since then, I’ve been hearing of low river levels of the Yangtze, the Danube, the Rhine, the Colorado, the Indus, the Yellow, and the Canadian rivers.*

This is surely of major concern (as it also affects hydroelectric output capacity), and of course environmentalists are signaling this as a result of global warming-based climate change, which I don’t doubt that it is. But I can’t help also seeing it as illustrative as to what appears to be happening to our culture Spiritually.

Jesus himself said “because of the lawlessness of those days, the love of most will grow cold” (Matthew 24:12), and I’m afraid I see that happening in our society. From aggression on the freeways, to angry school board debates (sometimes turning into fights) over what should be taught to kids in public school, to political vilification of the other side of the political aisle, I just kind of get a ‘bleh’ feeling in my soul about society going forward. Were it not for my faith, I wouldn’t see much cause for optimism at all!

What we really need, what we really need as individuals, as well as as a church, as well as every sincere believer in the broader society, we need times of refreshing from the Lord (Acts 3:19). While, yes, we need physical rain, we even more need the “latter rain” of the Holy Spirit nourishing us, tenderizing our hearts, and preparing us to give God’s last message of mercy to the world boldly.

Let’s remember that we can only have a hope to effectively help & minister to a parched, frazzled world, if we ourselves are refreshed. Let’s take Jesus’ invitation to drink the water of life! as he discussed with the woman at Jacob’s well in John ch. 4.

The hymn “Showers of blessing” come to my mind as appropriate given this sentiment: sing it in your heart to yourself & to the Lord just now.

“There shall be showers of blessing;”

This is the promise of love;
There shall be seasons refreshing,
Sent from the Savior above…

[Refrain]
Showers of blessing,
Showers of blessing we need!
Mercy drops ‘round us are falling,
But for the showers we plead!

Verse 2:
“There shall be showers of blessing”

Precious reviving again;
Over the hills and the valleys,
Sound of abundance of rain…

Verse 3:
“There shall be showers of blessing;”

Send them upon us, O Lord;
Grant to us now a refreshing;
Come, and now honor Thy word…

Verse 4:
“There shall be showers of blessing;”

O that today they might fall,
Now as to God we’re confessing,
Now as on Jesus we call…

I pray that in our own hearts, in your own households, there would be no shortage of water, physically, nor spiritually. Recall that we can always “go to the well” and drink deeply of the Savior’s love (Rev. 22:17), if we’ll put away the rushed aggression of the world.

May God bless you and your families the remainder of this week and beyond

Sincerely,

Pr. Mark Tatum

* Links to a few articles that have been posted recently about low river levels:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-08-21/northern-hemisphere-drought-germany-italy-france-photos/101341444

https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/20/world/rivers-lakes-drying-up-drought-climate-cmd-intl/index.html

https://a-z-animals.com/blog/10-rivers-that-are-running-dry-in-2022/