It’s been awhile since our last pictorial directory was published. Since then, families have changed with kids growing up, new singles, couples getting married, and new babies being born. Many new members have joined the family as well. It’s time we updated our family album and we want everyone included.

To make your appointment online: Click Here!

As Easter approaches we ask that you prayerfully consider giving to our Easter offering. The 2010 recipients are:

• Grace International School, Chiang Mai, Thailand
• Rancho Santa Marta, Mexico
• Nepal ProjectsAnand Niketan School, Lamtaput, India
• Powerhouse Ministries, Folsom
• Russia Youth Center
  

Welcome to December (brrr! isn't this California?) and the 2nd week of Advent! Keep up the ho-ho-ho! (i.e., Christmas joy). Only 20 shopping days until Christmas. Guys, let's save ourselves a whole lot of stress and not wait until Christmas Eve to get that certain something for that certain somebody. She'll feel better about it and so will you.

Spring 2010 Nation-wide Event

February 17 - March 28

40 Days for Life is a cause for everyone who is pro-life to rejoice in. Americans in hundreds of cities and towns, including Sacramento, will resolve to pray earnestly and urge God to anoint their labors to stop abortion in our land. Please unite with other churches in prayer and fasting, peaceful, prayerful vigil and community outreach to save lives and change hearts. This exciting pro-life event will inflame hearts, minds and souls for Christ and proclaim the truth about the sanctity of human life. Please sign up today at www.40daysforlife.com

For more information, please call Amy Scherschligt, FOPC member at (916) 952-8222.

Are you interested in hearing about the latest births at FOPC? Would you like to learn about those in our congregation who have experienced the loss of a loved one? Please check this space. We're interested in bringing you the latest and most up to date news, so please let us know if you have some additions or updates to make.

Births:
Hunter Samuel Ramseier
Parents: Matt and Katie Ramseier; Grandparents: Martin and Jerri Meier & Del and Bobbie Ramseier

The Church Extends its Sympathy to:
The families of Susanne Howell, Audrey Huseman, Michael Sturgeon, and Lucile Parton during their time of loss. May the peace of Christ be with you all especially in these days.

Memorial Services:

• • Ernie Ford Thursday, March 11, 11 AM, in the Worship Center

• Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so! (Ps 107:1-2)
• Thank God for his Son - a gift too wonderful for words! (2Corinthians 9:15)
• In everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. (1Thessalonians 5:18)

Off to Omaha. Today Cliff and I and four of our elders (Chris Larsen, Bruce McCormick, Kevin Balbi, and Lynda Gantenbein) are flying to Omaha for the Presbytery of the West meeting (of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church). Fair Oaks Pres has applied to transfer from the New Wineskins Presbytery to the Presbytery of the West (POTW). New Wineskins is a temporary transitional presbytery for churches exiting the PCUSA; POTW will be a more permanent home. In mid-September the POTW examined our Session-was everybody a Christian and was their theology solid? And our whole Session passed "with flying colors." (Our Presbygelicalism class was designed as a crash course on Presbyterian beliefs.) Cliff and I were examined separately as pastors and recommended for membership. On Saturday the POTW will vote; we'll be back on Sunday to share the results.

It's Friday morning and I'm suffering from a Shakespeare hangover. 30 years ago when I was a grad student, I dreamed of being a literature professor. I am especially addicted to all things Shakespeare. So I flew down yesterday afternoon to San Diego and took my dad, who turns 90 this week, to Twelfth Night at the Old Globe. What a fantastic show! But we got home late and then I flew home this morning and I'm feeling hungover from the sleep deprivation and break in routine.

Looking for a great place to meet friends, have delicious coffee,
enjoy a snack, even read the Sunday paper?

Caffé Presse is our church's newest outreach-friendly addition! Everyone is invited to enjoy the coffee, community and conversation that happens from 10:00 AM TO 12:30PM, every Sunday on our campus. There is even a live video feed of the SML/10:39 worship service from the Worship Center. Arrange to meet your friends at Caffe Presse this Sunday morning!

The Big News this week is the Prayer Walk on Sunday. There's huge excitement as we get ready to walk the church grounds and contend for the property and the privilege of continuing to worship here and do the mission and ministry of Jesus Christ. (Regular worship times - 9:00 and 10:39 - we start in the Sanctuary.)

To learn more about team trips and members: Click Here! 

To read the lastest news for our teams: Click Here!

Laila and I had a long drive through South Carolina farm fields to catch a flight home, we are passing a lot of churches with funny names - the Christian Fortress, Great Present Church, Bibleway Temple, Upon This Rock Church, New Millennium Apostolic Church, Mount Zero Missionary Church, Home Branch Church of God Prophecy. Presbyterian doesn't sound so bad now.

This Sunday Dr. David Githii, the former moderator of the four-million-member Presbyterian Church of East Africa, will be preaching. David heard we were preaching through the Lord's Prayer and asked if he could speak about how prayer has been key to the growth and vitality of the Kenyan church. Sure! His text is 2Chronicles 20, which happens to be one of our readings next week as we work our way through the Bible. David will also be teaching a prayer seminar Monday evening for anyone interested in serving in our prayer ministry.

Hi everyone!

This is me being silly. Which is what a lot of Summer Blast was about. Being silly for Jesus. With our kids. [I played Olympic-champion Scooter Schwarzengruber in the Game Show Spectacular skits.]

What a terrific job Wendy Roberts-Campbell (our children's director) did putting the whole week together-including the adult classes that attracted 200+ grownups as well as all the kids. The list of volunteers that made all the Bible teaching, singing, drama, food, and games possible is almost as long as the church directory. Way to go, Team Church! During the "in between" times when we were enjoying the food and refreshments, I ran into dozens of community folks who came because they heard about Summer Blast from a friend or saw a flier. Summer Blast is an easy way to do evangelism-getting people to venture onto our church campus for something "non-threatening" (like to hear Assemblyman Roger Niello or attend a seminar on barbecuing led by Chef Jacques) and then discovering a friendly group of people who are fun and happen to love God. People everywhere are hungry for a community of friends like that.

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Following our Congregational Meeting, FOPC held a Town Hall meeting. If you would like to hear the podcast click here.

Hi everyone!

The campus has been overrun this week by little munchkins who are here for Adventure Camp (preschoolers) and Music Camp (K-6). I just watched the first dress rehearsal of the Friday night show (yes, tonight! at 7!) -and I was hugely moved to see a hundred kids singing and dancing and clapping and stomping and shouting as they sang about "We are united in Jesus Christ! We are the soldiers of the light!" Their voices filled the sanctuary and together they became something impressive and mighty as they followed Sara Noah's direction.