August - Orange Coast Church

Newsletter
August, 2014
Good News…
Culture Changes...
By Pastor Ken Studer
Fiji consists of more than three-hundred tropical islands in the heart of the South Pacific. By
some accounts, it is the third most popular spot in
the world for honeymooners.
This tropical paradise wasn’t always that way,
however. It was once known for its brutality and
cannibalism. The country was originally populated
by sailors who had run out of food and survived
only by eating those who had already died.
As late as the 1800’s, Fijians still practiced killing and eating their enemies. They also killed and
ate the feeble and widows.
Missionaries arrived in the 1800’s and village
after village was converted to Christianity. In less
than 50 years the practice of cannibalism was
abolished.
It is difficult to change culture. The U.S. has
tried it in various parts of the world, most recently
in Iraq and Afghanistan. The U.S. would like these
areas of the world to be politically democratic.
But, when the U.S. forces
eventually leave a country, in
time the culture reverts back to
its old ways.
Culture is nearly impossible
to change. But, it was done in
Fiji and other places as well.
How? Christianity!
No one can politically force a
culture to change. But a culture,
by the grace of God, can
change. Fiji is an example.
Due to the influence of Christianity, the U.S. culture of slavery
changed too. Although other
problems remain, slavery is not
one of them.
In Old Testament times, God
used Jonah to change the culture of the City of Nineveh.
While politics dabble in
change, only the power of the
Good News makes a lasting difference.
Culture can change and that
is Good News.
Discussion Series @ 10 AM in the Sanctuary
AUGUST SCHEDULE:
In Viewpoints this month we will study the Holy
Spirit. While Jesus and God are familiar concepts
to most Christians, sometimes the third part of the
Trinity, the Holy Spirit, is not as well understood. In
Viewpoints we will cover who the Holy Spirit is,
what this part of the Trinity is like, and how we
should interact with Holy Spirit. Join us each week
at 10:00 AM in the Church sanctuary for Viewpoints!
August 2:
You’ll Get Through This, Part 4
August 9:
Who Is The Holy Spirit?
August 16: Improve Your Relationship With The Holy Spirit
August 23: The Attributes of the Holy Spirit
August 30: Cultivating Intimacy With God
August Worship Schedule
This month Pastor Ken begins a new sermon series on Stress Management.
08/02 Stress Management Intro
08/09 Managing Stress #1
08/16 Managing Stress #2
08/23 Managing Stress #3
08/30 Managing Stress #4
August Birthdays
Jesseca Green
Bruce Kryger
Steven Holness
Henry Madolora
Quinn Meyer
Tristan Major
Russell Murphy
Sei Bermejo
Marlene Glasgow
Scott Ispirescu
Alex Kryger
Cheryl Bowers
Deya Eyvazova
Eli Noteras
Amy Oldoerp
Sabrina Park
Darren York
Joey Jones
Sara Kramer
Courtney Rice
Clara Jacobus
Akbar Fazli
Sheri Klein
Celeste Merchat
Egan Ravindran
James Griffith
Heather Hasso
Gerald Meyer
Jeffrey Schulze
Justin V. Chakt
Camille Degennaro
Michael Sloat
Desiree Gandeza
Joshua Hszieh
Judith Lotfian
Marie Chang
August 1
August 1
August 2
August 2
August 2
August 3
August 3
August 5
August 5
August 5
August 5
August 6
August 6
August 6
August 6
August 6
August 6
August 7
August 7
August 8
August 9
August 10
August 10
August 10
August 10
August 11
August 11
August 11
August 11
August 11
August 12
August 12
August 13
August 13
August 13
August 14
Jeff Kiser
Leo Cabus
Rhonda Meyer
Rebekah Studer
Junior Gamez
Giovanti Haya
Cheryl Hayton
Lu Zhu
Kurt Nielson
Ben Page
Jade Pepper
Nathan Rambo
Gianina Wilson
Young Oh
Domingo Rabino
Gerald Judianto
Paul Kirshman
Heather Landreth
Tyler Marsh
Myles Strampello
DeAnn Wright
Bill Chadwick
Gloria Oquendo
Michael Major
Cristina Monteiro
Consuelo Sanchez
Andrew McCowan
Sacha Morales-Sainz
Sarah Zanjani
Dean Anderson
Elizabeth Black
Thony Matias
Julie Sea
Christian Hamblin
Pamela Bruns
Simon I. Ginat
August 14
August 15
August 15
August 15
August 16
August 16
August 16
August 16
August 17
August 17
August 18
August 18
August 18
August 20
August 20
August 21
August 21
August 21
August 21
August 21
August 21
August 22
August 22
August 23
August 24
August 24
August 25
August 26
August 26
August 27
August 27
August 27
August 28
August 29
August 30
August 30
August Calendar
August 1
Warehouse 41
August 2
SAC Lunch
August 8
Youth InTouch
August 9
Youth Game Night
Saturday After Church Lunch
Saturday, August 2
August 10 Pageant of the Masters
August 15 Warehouse 41
August 16 20/40 Luncheon
August 16 Youth Dinner & Movie
August 17 20/40 Brunch & Hike
Orange Coast Church Office
41 Post
Irvine, CA 92618
(949) 769-6777
www.orangecoastchurch.org
2825 Main St.
Irvine
Everyone loves a good mystery, especially in the world of art. You don’t have to
be Sherlock Holmes to figure out whodunit
when The Art Detective, the 2014 Pageant
of the Masters, is on the case.
The Festival of Art’s world famous theatrical celebration of art in tableaux vivants
– “living pictures” – will reveal how lost
treasures were discovered, where crimes
of passion were uncovered (or covered up)
and how creative riddles were unraveled,
with a gallery of the world’s great masterpieces providing the clues!
College group, 1st & 3rd Fridays
Sunday, August 10, 8:30 PM
Fridays, Aug 1 & 15, 7 PM
church office (41 Post)
AUGUST YOUTH EVENTS
Bass Lake Retreat
Pictured below is Orange Coast Church’s
youth group from this year’s retreat which took
place on July 7-11. Everyone had a great time
and there were no accidents to people or equipment.
Dinner & Movie
July 16, 6 PM
Irvine Spectrum Youth will go to Ruby’s Diner
for supper and then watch a
movie. Cost: $10. Meet outside
the front of the diner.
August 9, 7 PM
Youth Game Night
The retreat was held at Bruce and Peggy
Coy’s vacation cabin at Bass Lake. Many
thanks to the Coys for hosting this year’s youth
retreat.
Bring your favorite card,
board, dice, or domino game.
Meet at the church office, 41
Post, Irvine. Food Provided.
Cost: FREE
Youth Meeting
Friday, August 8, 7 PM
For more information
about youth activities
contact Nick Grubbs.
On July 19, twenty-six OCC members and friends
embarked on a short-term mission trip to Fiji. Their
destination was The Mission at Natuvu Creek on the
Island of Savusavu. Fiji is comprised of hundreds of
islands.
Mission Trip
July 19-29
The group left from LAX and flew to Nadi, Fiji, a
10.5 hour trip. Then, most of the group boarded a
smaller plane that took them to Savusavu. From there
it was a 2-hour trip by van to The Mission at Natuvu
Creek. The last leg of the journey for some of the
group was by boat.
The mission trip had several objectives: (1) To provide free medical and dental care to the Fijians; (2) To
conduct a Vacation Bible School (VBS) for Fijian children; (3) To build a foot bridge
over a large creek; (4) To install flooring in the chapel; and (5) To conduct a series of
meetings for the adults while the kids were in VBS.
All of the objectives were accomplished. As a bonus, the trip also included times
for recreation, like zip-lining, snorkeling, swimming, hiking and a trip to the top of a
volcano and a trip to a cave where skeletons were found from the time when the Fijians were cannibals.
Pictured: Susi Conner, Scenery, Kitchen Staff, Vacation Bible School, Pastor Ken & Barbara (On Sabbath, Pastor Ken wore
his Fijian sulu.)
20/40
20/40 Luncheon
Saturday, August 16
After Church
14474 Culver Drive
Irvine, CA
20/40
20/40
Dinner
&
Thursdays
7:00 PM
Meet At
Church Office
41 Post, Irvine
& HIKE
Sunday, August 17, 10 AM
@ Maria Lima’s
38 Honey Locust, Irvine