Vol.052.December.2008

Dr. John H. Calhoun, District Superintendent, E-mail: jcalhoun@norcal.org

Northern California District Church of the Nazarene

1866 Clayton Rd., Ste. 200, Concord, CA 94520,

Editor: Kay Clark, E-mail: kay@norcal.org, 925-680-0538 (District office)

Web page: http://www.norcal.org

Contents

Pages 1-2 Dr. John Calhoun, Fellow Students of Jesus

Pages 2-4 Updates on Churches & Pastors; NNU Presents Outstanding Educator Award to Glenda Bernhardt

Pages 4-5 New Book Release by Rev. Mark K. Olson

Pages 5-8 Sunday School Ministries International (SDMI), Nazarene Missions International (NMI)

Pages 9-10 Point Loma Nazarene University (PLNU) Speech and Debate Team Wins First Place Over all

Page 10 Pray for ALL of Our Military

Dr. John H. Calhoun, D.S.

Fellow Students of Jesus

This season can sometimes bring stress because of over-obligating ourselves in many ways. Now, most are facing the added pressure of the current economic conditions. Take a moment and open your life to this truth:

"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich." (2 Cor. 8:9)

Let us know that Jesus was not afraid of poverty. He embraced to show us that our true wealth is in Him. So the herald angel's words still ring true--"Don't be afraid. I'm here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David's town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you're to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger." (Luke 2, The Message)

Be rich in God!

JHC

REVS. ANDY AND RICAREDA VALENZUELA (right) celebrated their 14^th Anniversary as pastors and their retirement from the Vallejo New Life Filipino Church on Sunday, OCT. 26^TH.

REV. JOVEN LAROYA and his wife, Imelda (left) will be the new pastor at the New Life Filipino Church.

Dr. John Calhoun, District Superintendent - center

CORRECTION FROM November’s Issue

The article for the Concord Christ Community Church Library was written by Virgie Brown. She is responsible for starting this wonderful library. In the November issue, last month her last name was not complete. We are grateful to Virgie for her foresight and enthusiasm in keeping the library an interesting and fun place for reading!

Glenda Bernhardt

Northwest Nazarene University (NNU) alumna Glenda Bernhardt was honored Tuesday, November 11, as NNU's 2008 recipient of the L.E. Wesche Outstanding Educator Award. This award is given each year to an alumnus who has provided distinguished service in the field of education.

Bernhardt graduated from Northwest Nazarene College (now University) in 1983 with a degree in applied music. After completing her teaching certifications the next fall, she became an elementary music specialist in Oregon and Alaska. In 1995, Bernhardt moved to California with her family and helped reinstate the choral music program at secondary schools in Carmel. Thirteen years later, she is the head of the performing arts department at Carmel Middle School and serves on the Central Coast Section Board of the California Association for Music Education.
One former student said, "Mrs. Bernhardt is an amazing musician and teacher who taught me everything I know about music, voice, and theory. But more importantly, she is a teacher who relates to her students as family, creating a comfort level between herself and her students that results in lifelong friendships."
Under her direction, Bernhardt's vocal ensembles received numerous superior ratings at local, state, and national competitions, and many of her vocalists are asked to perform in honor choirs across California. A selection of her choirs participated in the prestigious National Invitational Choir Festival in 2003 and again in 2007. The California Central Coast Section of Music Educators named Bernhardt the 2007 Music Educator of the Year.
Another former student added, "The thing that made her so special was that she cared about our lives outside of school. Mrs. Bernhardt showed us that music isn't just a solitary and personal joy, but also a means to create beautiful friendships."
The Wesche Award is named in honor of Lilburn Wesche, NNU faculty emeritus. He graduated from Northwest Nazarene College (NNC) in 1951. During his 30-year career at NNU, he was a professor, head of the education department, director of teacher education, director of graduate studies, interim academic dean, and chair of the division of professional studies.
Award recipients must be current professionals who make a positive impact in the field of education that extends beyond the classroom by demonstrating Christlike character, quality leadership, service to the education profession, and being a catalyst for change.

kkblacklock@nnu.edu
NNU

NEW BOOK RELEASE BY REV. MARK K. OLSON

Volume Three

The John Wesley Christian Perfection Reader

1725 - 1791

Edited By

Mark K. Olson

Available at Truthinheart.com & all major bookstores

John Wesley (1701–1791) is the chief architect and source of inspiration for the modern doctrine of Christian perfection. From the year 1725, when Wesley was “exceedingly affected” and resolved to “dedicate all (his) life to God,” holiness became the DNA of his spiritual temperament. For the next sixty-six years Wesley taught and proclaimed a gospel of holy love, graciously given to sinful humanity in Jesus Christ, for the recovery of the divine image lost by the first Adam. Yet the vision of perfect love did not take shape overnight. The path Wesley journeyed in developing his theology of holiness was often arduous, at times turbulent, became personally painful at junctures, and was long. It took Wesley many years to work through the particulars of his theological principles and to finally integrate them into a holistic theological system.

For the first time all the significant writings from Wesley’s pen on the subject of holiness are brought together in a reader format that tells the story how he developed his theology of Christian perfection. All periods of Wesley’s ministry are included-early, middle, and late. Selections from the entire Wesley corpus are included: sermons, journals, letters, commentary notes, tracts, and other writings. Introductions offer historical context and alert the reader to major themes and motifs. Study guides are included for personal and group study.

Whether one agrees or disagrees with John Wesley on the subject of Christian holiness, all will be challenged to reflect more deeply on the nature of Christian discipleship and what it means to be a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ.

The Norcal District Sunday School and Discipleship Ministries is preparing for a busy year. Teams are developing right now to take on the challenge of creating programs and resources to move Sunday School and Discipleship forward on our district.

The SDMI Board and the Norcal District Church would like to send a “special expression of thanks” to Ed Branscome for his service to the district and specifically to the SDMI board as treasurer.

We are putting together a strong vision and will begin implementing some of the aspects of that vision after the first of the year. We will be putting our efforts into three areas: Children's Ministry Development, Discipleship Development and Web Resources Development. We also have plans to create a District Convention and Celebration this coming May, 2009.

Your Norcal District SDMI Teams are:

Administrative: Steve Redmond, Chair; Nancy Clayton, Secretary; Jerry Patten, Treasurer; Moon Louie, Statistics and Communication

Children's Ministry Development: Lynette Medina, Monica Sanchez, Julia Wessels, Regina Allard, Becky Pounds, Carol Kibler, Carolyn Hart

Discipleship Development Team: Karl Mason, Rick Bassett, Richard Bean, Allan Franks, Marvin Pounds

District Convention Development Team: Mark Olson, Sonya Edgbert, Nancy Clayton, Chuck Dooley

Web Resources Team: Daniel Chung, Bart McGlothin, others TBA

If you would like to be involved in one of the above development teams, please e-mail Steve Redmond at cvpastor@yahoo.com. A new Sunday School e-mail will be coming soon.

2009 General SDMI Convention Delegates

Ministry Leaders: Steve Redmond, Tim King, and Carol Kibler

Elected Delegates, Ministerial: Rick Bassett and Nancy Clayton

Elected Delegates, Lay: Sonya Edgbert and Jan Bergessen

Alternates: Monica Sanchez and Lynette Medina

2008-2009 Sunday School Budgets

Just a simple reminder. Budgets are a lifeline to vital ministries on our district and the Sunday School Ministries Budget is extremely important in the resourcing of every local church and ministry. Please contact your local church treasurer, and ask if the SDMI District Budget has been paid. It's that important.

Dr. Steve Redmond, SSMI Chairman

December is Compassionate Ministries Month

There are many ways that we as Christians can show compassion. It is one of the facets of Nazarene Missions that set us apart. Here are just a few of the ministries you could be involved in to be Jesus to someone in a special way.

“Dime A Day”

Have you been saving and collecting dimes for Africa? One dime will allow one African to live for one more day, by giving him food to eat. One more day may give that African the opportunity to meet Jesus. Save those dimes! Send your check to the General Treasurer using the code: ACS-1011 on the memo line.

“Crisis Care Kits”

Crisis Care Kits are always needed for a natural disaster somewhere in the world. Consider creating kits as a special gift for someone that may have just lost everything.

Send you kits to:

Nazarene Relief Shipments

Hands of Hope

1201 South Powerline Road

Nampa, ID. 83686

Make sure to follow up with a check to the General Treasurer for $12.00 per banana box to help get the crisis care kits to the destination of the disaster. For more information, go to: http://www.nazarenemissions.org/10096/story.aspx. In 2007 there were 38,750 kits distributed in 10 countries and 3 US states.

“Child Sponsorship”

Consider sponsoring a child from somewhere around our world. The financial cost of Child Sponsorship is just $25 a month.  That's just a soda a day, a latte a week, a shirt a month, or a 30GB iPod a year. This sponsorship allows a child to be part of a Nazarene Child Development Center. This gives each child one meal a day, school clothes and either schooling or tutoring. The following picture is from a center in India that a Work and Witness team from the San Ramon church recently was able to visit.

Medical Work and Witness Team in India

Vacation Bible School Indian Style

Dr. Mark with a patient (a San Ramon Nazarene) Setting up for the patients to be seen in the clinic.

The medical team saw around 200 + patients a day, in three different villages in South East India. They were not near Mumbai where the bombings and terrorist attack took place. However, a cyclone hit the east coast of India, so the team was not able to hold the last two clinics as was planned due to the torrential rain. At each village the team saw patients, dispensed medication as it was needed, and held a VBS for the children.

World Evangelism Fund

The NMI mission council is praying for each church during this economic down turn that the Lord will bless His people, so that we can continue to do our part with the World Evangelism Fund.

Mission Connection

If you have enjoyed receiving the mission connection every quarter, it is now available electronically. Send your e-mail address to www.nazarenemissions.org if you would like to receive it.

General Assembly and Conventions

The 2009 General Assembly and Convention website is up and running at www.gaorlando.org. Check it out for the latest details and information.

Jesus Film Stats

In the last 11 years, the JESUS Film Harvest Partners (JFHP) teams have shared the gospel of Jesus Christ by way of film to over 50 million people. That’s more than the combined populations of Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia and Wyoming!! The true estimate of converts at this time is 5, 555, 555 people! To learn more or to become a JFHP Partner, visit www.jfhp.org .

Packages to Missionaries

Please do not send ANY packages to ANY missionary without first checking with them to make sure the items are still wanted or needed by that missionary. Do not forget that empty medicine bottles are NOT needed at this time.

PLNU Speech and Debate Team

WINS First Place Overall and First Place

in Debate at Grossmont Tournament

PLNU Speech and Debate Team WINS PSCFA Fall Championship

This year’s fairly young PLNU Speech and Debate team enjoyed an unexpected win this past weekend by taking First Place in the Four Year University division of the PSCFA Fall Championship for speech and debate, and winning Second Place in Novice Sweepstakes. There were over 50 colleges and universities competing in one of the largest tournaments in the nation. The field included programs like UCLA, SDSU, CSU Long Beach, Northern Arizona University and University of Nevada, Reno, not to mention many very strong community colleges and other strong Christian Colleges.

Debate Results

Senior Debate

Caitlyn Burford and Angela Compton won Gold Medals in Senior Parliamentary Debate

Speaker Awards were presented to Danielle Lawson for Third Place Speaker, and Angela Compton for Seventh Place Speaker.

Daniel Nadal won a Gold Medal for Lincoln Douglass Debate (single person format against another single person, versus the team format).

Junior Debate

Barbara Gausewitz and Ciera Wilson won Gold Medals in Jr. Parliamentary Debate.

Jayme Oswald and Ben Powers won Silver Medals in Jr. Parliamentary Debate.

Novice Debate

The teams of MacLean Stevens and Joel Ressel; Nathanial Maddix and Ally Beardsley; and Josh Irvine and Margaret Urfer won Bronze medals in Novice. Parliamentary Debate

Mac Stevens won 6th Place Speaker in the division with about a hundred

competitors.

Mac Stevens also won a Gold Medal in Lincoln Douglass debate novice division.

Individual Events Results

Ally Beardsley won First Place Novice After Dinner Speaking

Josh Irvine won Second Place Novice Extemporaneous Speaking

Nathanial Maddix was a Finalist in Novice Extemporaneous Speaking

Ben Powers was a Finalist in Novice Extemporaneous Speaking

MacLean Stevens was a Finalist in Novice Extemporaneous Speaking

Caitlyn Burford won Fifth Place in Senior Extemporaneous Speaking

John Morris was a Finalist in Junior Impromptu Speaking

Barbara Gausewitz was also a Finalist in Junior Impromptu

Daniel Nadal won Fifth Place in Senior Impromptu Speaking

Christopher Gutierrez won fourth place in Senior Persuasion

Christopher Gutierrez and Danielle Lawson won Fourth place in Senior Duo Interpretation

Danielle Lawson won Fourth Place in Senior Informative

Joel Ressel was a Finalist in Novice Informative

Kim Jensen was a Finalist in Junior Informative

Raegen Pratt was a Finalist in Novice Prose.

Skip Rutledge, Ph. D. Voice: 619.849.2391

Director of Forensics Fax: 619.849.7015

Professor Communication and Theatre

Point Loma Nazarene University

e mail: skiprutledge@pointloma.edu

http://www.pointloma.edu CommunicationTheatre/FacultyStaff/SkipRutledge.htm

"The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education." Martin Luther King, Jr.

Please remember our family and friends that will not be at home this Christmas. Pray for their safety and well-being while far away from home.

Ron Keenan, Jr., was deployed to Iraq the first week of December. He is with the 82^nd Airborne (he has served two tours of duty with the Marines several years ago). He will be there for approximately a year. He enjoys the military life and hopes to make it a career.

He is the grandson of Marcia Bundy, District Advisory Board Member, Properties Board Chairperson, and member of the Concord Christ Community Church. Many of us have known Ronny all of his life. We will continue to pray for him and the rest of our military and their families.

“Thank you” to ALL of you that have served and continue to serve our country. We love you!