It's September and I'm already getting worried that I'm going to wake up to snow!! To be truthful, I like waking up to snow, but I'm not ready yet....I gotta get the snow tires on my car.

Our Fall kick-off for Worship Arts will be on Tuesday, September 11th. We already have a rehearsal scheduled that evening for the Full Team and band so let's all meet together and have a time of snacks, conversation and prayer together. This includes everyone involved in Worship Arts: tech people, bands, vocalists, Vocal Point, etc.
Come to room 104 @ 7:00 PM.

NEWS & PRAYER REQUESTS

Congratulations to our Kim (Simmons) Flynn. (She's a long-time member of our vocal team and part of Vocal Point). Kim married Tom Flynn on Saturday, August 25th and, let me tell you, Kim was absolutely radiant. It was a beautiful, happy day and we are happy for Kim and Tom.

Continue to pray for Mike and Ruthie Martinez and their daughter and son-in-law. Tawni did end up having to have a D & C, but Ruthie was able to be with her in California. Tawni and her husband will be moving here (hooray!) this fall. There are many changes in the Martinez household as Mike and Ruthie are moving into a new house and are up to their elbows in renovations.

Jonathan and Christine Corbett continue to make plans to move to California. Jonathan is in the final phase of his application to be a police officer in the Glendale police department. An officer from Glendale will be coming here to do a background check on Jon and then they should hear something soon after that. They are hoping this all happens in the next 2-3 weeks. The academy begins in October so they plan to move there in mid to late September. They want God's will to be done in this so your prayer for them is appreciated.

The search for a new teaching pastor is moving along. Continue to pray for the team as they are in the process now of watching videos of some ot he more-likely candidates.

WELCOME

Welcome to a new member of our vocal team: Kathy Brown. Kathy runs a daycare in her home for the children of teachers, and has also been anxious to be part of our worship arts team. Her first time with us will be at rehearsal on September 4th, so be sure to introduce yourselves.

REHEARSALS

Fall begins a new ministry season for our teams and we're looking forward to a great year. We also need to renew our commitment to our Tuesday evening rehearsals. It is particulary hard on our sound/tech team members when we "unschedule" or reschedule rehearsals. I also realize that sometimes you are are set to be at rehearsal and Scott or I cancel it for some reason. I will attempt to be better at communicating early enough with you and our tech team so that everyone is ready to lead worship on the weekend without feeling rushed or unprepared. When you look at the schedule, please be sure that you look at the Tuesday before your scheduled weekend to make sure that you are free for rehearsal.

SCHEDULE

September
2 Kevin Matthews leaing
9 Band: Marc, Mark, Brently Vocals: Jonathan & Christine
16 Band: Geof, Chad, Jeremy Vocals: Full Team *Rehearsals on 9/4 & 9/11
23 Scott, Kevin and Dena
30 Band: Marc, Mark, Arnie Vocals: Liz, Ruthie, Jason G.

October
7 Band: Geof, Jeremy, Chad Vocals: John Skiba & Scott
14 Band: Marc, Mark, Arnie Vocals: Full Team *Rehearsal on 10/9
21 Scott @ piano
28 Band: Geof, mark, Arnie Vocals: Ruthie & Dena

November
4 Band: Geof, Jeremy, Chad Vocals: Kim & Liz
11 Band: Marc, Mark, Brently Vocals: Jason & John *Remember that this was a Full Team weekend, but was changed to the 18th
**Rehearsals for Full Team have been moved to 11/6 & 11/13....no rehearsal for F/T on October 30
18 Band: All percussionists, Mark W. Vocals: Full Team **This is a special service of just worship, thanksgiving and prayer
25 Scott @ piano

December

I now need your availabilities for this month!! This is a big month since there are 5 Sundays PLUS Christmas Eve. I have a drummer and a guitar player for Christmas Eve. Do I have a volunteer for bass?

Whew! This was a lot of news and stuff. I trust that this method of communication is helpful to you. I know I've said it before, but Scott and I thank you so much for your faithfulness and often times....spontaneity. May God bless you this year.

Posted by Dena Flanagan at 04:39 PM | Permalink

Hello, Friends!! Unbelievable as it may seem, it's August and school will be starting soon. Yours truly always gets a little nostalgic during this time of year. Back in my teaching days, I actually enjoyed the beginning of the school year...setting up my classroom, welcoming my students, learning new music and hearing new voices. I get over it pretty quickly, however, when I see all of them in school on the days that I am off.

I am now transferring my excitement to a new year with the worship teams. We'll be introducing new music and planning new services and that is totally fun for me!! It makes me want to go out and get stuff to put up bulletin boards. We have already begun the process of planning some great services in November and December.

PLEASE DO THIS FOR ME: Email me and tell me what worship song has really meant a lot to you or speaks to your heart and why. We are planning a special service in November that is totally geared to worship/thanksgiving and we want you to be participants in more than a playing/singing way.

WORSHIP TEAM NEWS AND PRAYER REQUESTS

Kim Simmons had a scary episode with her heart a few weeks ago which required an over-night stay in the hospital. She experienced some chest pain and shortness of breath but the doctors have discovered the problem and have put her on medication. She is feeling better but would appreciate our prayer that God would give her a peaceful heart.

Along with that, congratuations are in order for Kim as she will be getting married on August 25th to Tom Flynn. We are thrilled that God has brought this special man to be her husband and that he gets a great girl like Kim.

Congratulations to Mike and Ruthie Martinez. A couple of months ago, they shared the sad news that their daughter, Tawni, had miscarried. However, their tears have turned to rejoicing as Tawni is expecting again and is due in March. Except for a little scare a few weeks ago, everything seems to be fine and the baby's heart is beating strong. Tawni and Tony are also making plans to move to Colorado Springs in November. Pray for the details of their move and safety for Tawni and baby.

Jonathan Corbett has applied to the Glendale Police Department in Glendale, California. So far, he has taken the written exam and passed and then scored in the top 4 of the physical agility test. Now they wait to see if he will be asked to come back for a second oral interview and then asked to enter the academy in October. This has been a big lesson in patience for both of them, but thus far they are confident in God's leading whether he gets in the academy or not. We are praying for God to grant favor to Jonathan if this is where God wants him to serve.

Martin Shepperdson & Gary Rusk will be in North Africa from October 19-November 3 to teach English to Muslims. Let's remember to pray for them and for their safety as they travel. I know they will be a blessing to the people there like they are to us.

Continue to pray for Scott and the pastoral search team. They are receiving a lot of applications that have to be sifted through by each member of the team. As you can imagine, this is very time-consuming, but they are confident that God has someone specifically for our family.

We are praying that God will provide additional musicians for our teams. We need instrumentalists and vocalists who have a longing to serve our church family in worship.

SCHEDULE

Thank you so much for sending me your schedules. I know it can be difficult to think ahead to all of your obligations for the coming months, but it does help me a lot. I am sending out September-November in this post for your review.
It is extremely important that you look through the schedule carefully and let me know if I goofed or if your plans have changed.

August
12 Arnie, Charlie, Henrique Vocals: Jonathan, John, Mike, Jason
19 Scott only
26 Geof, Jeremy, Chad Vocals: Shelly, Dena, Liz, Ruthie, Christine

September
2 Kevin Leading in main aud./Scott leading in 605
9 Marc, Jeremy Vocals: Christine & Jonathan
16 Geof, Mark, Brently, Chad Vocals: Full Team *Rehearsals on 9/4 & 9/11
23 TBD Special Sunday
30 Marc, Mark, Arnie Vocals: Liz, Ruthie, Jason

October
7 Geof, Jeremy Vocals: John Skiba & Scott
14 Marc, Mark, Arnie Vocals: Full Team *Rehearsal on 10/9
21 Marc & Jeremy Vocals: Scott
28 Geof, Mark, Arnie Vocals: Dena & Ruthie

November
4 Geof, Jeremy Vocals: Liz & Kim
11 Marc, Mark, Arnie, Brently Vocals: Full Team *Rehearsals on 10/30 & 11/6
18 We need all percussionists for this Sunday!!
25 Scott

There are FIVE Sundays in December PLUS Christmas Eve on Monday 12/24. Let me know your plans as soon as you can so I can get the schedule made. So far...I have a drummer for Christmas Eve. We could do "Little Drummer Boy" over & over & over.

Scott and I appreciate our wonderful team of people and we are looking forward to another great year of serving with you.

Posted by Dena Flanagan at 12:55 PM | Permalink