 Empire COB Schedule:
"Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." Matthew 6:33
Emergency Food Pantry:
Opens every Tuesday from 9:00am to Noon
Goverment Commodities Distribution:
Goverment Commodities are givien out on the first Wednesday of the month,
9:00am-12:00pm. Volunteers arrive at 8:00am to set up.
Heaven's Bounty Thrift Shop:
Heaven's Bounty Thrift Shop will now be open on first Saturday of each month
from 9:00am to 2:00pm.
Fellowship Singers:
Fellowship Singers meet up every Thursday @ 4:15pm.
Women's Fellowship:
Women's Fellowship meeting every 3rd Tuesday of the month starting at 1:00pm..
Church Board Meeting:
Church Board meeting every 3rd Thursday of the month starting at 6:00pm.
Coffee Hour / Sunday Luncheon:
Coffee hour and Sunday Luncheon will now take place every 2nd and 4th Sunday after Worship Service.
Friday Fellowship:
Friday Fellowship is back. Next: September 8, 11:30am - 2:30pm, at the Church.
*Schedule subect to change on any given week or month.
Empire COB News:
Shed Work Day:
The next Shed Work Day is Friday, September 29, 2023 at 9:00am.
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Prayer Alerts
+ Kenny Fox
+ Pam Franklin
+ Phil Franklin
+ Glenn Stanford
+ Evelyn Hurlbut
+ David Leib
+ Seth Lutes
+ Butch Peterson
+ Troy Slaybaugh
+ Melody Deabreu
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District News:
Join in Disaster Response:
Another project we are involved in for 2023 is our regular BDM project scheduled for two weeks October 29- November 11, 2023. The location will be announced whenever the details are ironed out. Most likely somewhere in the eastern side of the United States. Let Lindy know if you are interested in being a part of this fall trip for two weeks.
Jesus in the Neighborhood and other Partnership Grants:
With the adoption by the denomination of the Compelling Vision at the 2021 Annual Conference, the Pacific Southwest District Congregational Vitality Task Group wants to encourage our congregations, fellowships, and projects to look for ways to bring life to the Jesus in the Neighborhood vision in your community. PSWD is still making $500 grants available to assist and encourage congregations to try something that will share Jesus in your community with relationship-based neighborhood engagement.
Congregations can apply for up to two grants per year. Applications received by the first of each month will be considered by the committee soon thereafter and checks will be mailed to the church the following week. Applications should be in and approved prior to the event.
Professional Growth Opportunities:
Priesthood of All Believers - Dr. Denise Kettering Lane. 3-part Zoom series --Mondays: September 11, 18 & 25, 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM (Pacific). Have you ever heard the phrase"priesthood of all believers" or seen the phrase "Ministers: All members of the congregation" in a bulletin and wondered what it meant? We will spend three sessions unpacking the theological, historical, and practical implications of the priesthood of all believers and discuss its relevance for participants current ministry settings.Registration is free but required. Donations welcome. CEUs (.15) are available for $10.00 per session. Translation to Spanish will be available.
Barna CoLab - AI & Tech in Your Church - begins September 5 on-line. A growing number of leaders are wondering what role artificial intelligence and other new technologies could and should play in church leadership. Here at Barna, we agree this is an important and timely topic. We also believe the answer could depend on the person and ministry context. To help you work through these questions in your own heart, reaching conclusions that align with your beliefs and goals, we’re hosting a six-week CoLab dedicated to exploring the role of tech and AI in church ministry. Cost $199 for one, team pricing available. District support of 50% cost is available.
Fresh Expressions - Fall Workshop Series - The Fall Workshop Series will help you develop new strategies for discipleship, funding and creativity that will fill you with vision and excitement for the year to come. Explore three opportunities to learn: 1) Cultivating Brilliance: Growing Creativity in Life, Team, and Ministry; 2) Disciple-Centric Church: How to Put Transformation at the Center of Your Ministry; 3) Kingdom Business: How Missional Entrepreneurs Grow Ecosystems that Impact Communities. Cost $129 for one, team pricing available. District support of 50% of cost is available.
Shepherd Heart Pastoral Renewal Retreat - September 24-28. Come for refreshment and find your hearts warmed during this pastor- and poet-led time for rest, play, soul care, creativity, and fellowship, all nestled in a cozy chalet amid ponderosa pines of Northern Arizona. We can choose to go on gentle walks through the pines, receive rest on our neighboring lake, or stand in wonder at cathedrals of whispering aspen– just in time, we hope, for bright, changing autumn colors! In sum, we’re invited to connect with our loving Creator from deep places within.
Jesus taught them many things by stories... Friday, November 10 pre-District Conference led by Jonathan Hunter. The parables of Jesus are at the heart of the story we know as the Gospel. While they seem familiar to us, some of their deep meaning is obscured by our lack of understanding of the time and culture in which they were shared by Jesus. A better understanding of the essence of stories and storytelling can help us more faithfully tell this Gospel story while at the same time giving us tools to share our own journey of faith. How can we be more effective in our own storytelling? In this interactive learning experience, we will explore the many facets of stories and storytelling. We will practice telling a story, telling our story and telling The Story. We will explore how our own experience can be used to share our faith. And we will highlight the discipline that is needed to more faithfully share the stories of Jesus. Register as part of District Conference registration in September. Cost $25, 0.6 CEUs.
District Prayer Calendar:
September 17 - South Bay COB (Redondo Beach), their partner Journey Covenant and their shared ministry.
September 24 - Live Oak Church of the Brethren
October 1 - The global church on this World Wide Communion Sunday.
October 8 - For the pastors who serve our churches with faith and devotion.
October 15 - Bethany Theological Seminary (our Seminary), its students and faculty.
October 22 - For the PSWD staff and their work among us.
October 29 - For the saints of the church who show us how to follow the way of Jesus.
November 5 - District Conference which meets November 10-11 and the district leaders.
November 12 - For those called into leadership for PSWD for 2024.
November 19 - Enter with the password: “Thank you!” Make yourselves at home, talking praise. Thank God. Worship God. - Psalm 100:4 (The Message)
November 26 - As Advent begins may we slow down and prepare our lives for Christmas.
December 3 - For the licensed ministers in our district as they pursue education and training while serving the church.
December 10 - That your church might be a place of hope, peace, love, and joy in your community.
December 17 - Those who are without a safe and warm home as we move into winter.
December 24 - “To you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ, the Lord” - Merry Christmas!
December 31 - Take a moment to look back at the past year and notice the times you felt especially close to God.
Camp Peaceful Pines:
Camp Peaceful Pines has updated their website:
Please check out the Camp Peaceful Pines website at: camppeacefulpines.org
Opening Camp: May 26-29, 2023
Women's Retreat: June 9-11, 2023
Discovery Camp: June 27-July 2, 2023
Jr/Jr.High/Youth Camp: July 16-21, 2023
Family Camp: July 21-27, 2023
Song & Story Fest: July 29-August 4, 2023
Weekend Nature Camp: August 18-20, 2023
Love and Laughter in the Pines: August 25-27, 2023
Closing Camp: September 1-3, 2023
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