Chloe will be getting baptized this Sunday along with many others!  We will be going to Berkeley for this special service.

When: 12pm @ Guardpost

Hi everyone, I hope you all had a good thanksgiving vacation. How does it feel to come back from a long vacation?

This Friday, we are going to have our annual gift exchange! It is going to be exciting and fun! It’s something you will not want to miss. Check below for more information about this and all of the other things we have planned for the week.

***We will have a video up soon***

Friday: We are back to our normal schedule.
When | Friday – 6:30pm
Where | Cesar Chavez Rosa Parks A-C starting with dinner
What | What are we doing afterwards? We are going to have our annual gift exchange! Please bring a gift of $5-$10 and be prepared to compete for gifts that you want. =)

Sunday: We will be having service in Berkeley with Gracepoint Berkeley for a baptism service. We will be celebrating Chloe from USF’s baptism.
What | Sunday Worship Service
Where | Willard Middle School @ Berkeley
When | 1-2pm
Rides | Check again for more information

Written by William 

Hello one and all, I feel fortunate to be able to communicate with you on this platform so here goes! This article may not be as articulate or may not flow as well as some other articles you have read from me, but this is really what the Holy Spirit is stirring within my heart at present, so here goes! 

The title of this article may use a term that you are not familiar with a “community centre” which is a very British term for a building, in which the local council, city authority or local government own for lease back to the community for special events, parties and the like. 

Unfortunately, in both the UK and the US, many churches have become that also, the world out large really only interacts with them when they wish to hire facilities from them, this is a sign of an ineffectual church! 

Now, please do not get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with churches maximising revenues by hiring out buildings and the like, my wife hires out a building for a choir she teaches! But if that is the churches only involvement with the community, it seriously needs to re-think its outreach strategy! 

This in turn leads to an issue that we see in many “healthy” American churches, they get distracted by the “facilities obsession” the churches that have no building of their own, there is an overwhelming desire to get one, the ones that do, want to move to have a bigger facility, and the ones who have land near their existing facility, want to extend it! 

Now if this is done with pure motives to do the work of the LORD, and done with a prayerful approach, then I commend these brothers for wishing to have this enhancement to their ministry, if it is being done to be boastful, or to set the church up for “sheep stealing” or to jut be able to say, “we have a sanctuary that holds xxx” then you would be as well not doing it. 

I tend to take my lead from the good and bad things the early church was doing, there is no stories of “campus extensions” of “building works ministries” or any of the distractions we have today. They kept it simple, they met in folk’s houses, the ones who had more, they gave, and then they started a real community. 

Here is what I think, the church, as in the people and not the buildings should really get back to that community idea. Now community is a real “Christian buzz word” and as much as I do not try to appear trendy, this time, I appear to be on the money! 

What we need is a koinonia mindset, now koinonia is a Greek word that is associated with the first church, they were truly a community, in many ways they were like many modern day missions churches.

The reason I talk about missions churches is that when I was serving at Calvary Chapel Glasgow, that was something that attracted the wretched sinner off the street and back into the church, that wretched sinner was me and the church was one of love, of community, of true respect and regardless of your walk with Christ, you were welcomed in, trusted immediately and made feel as if you were one of the family. 

That situation is not commonplace; you won’t see in many churches the Pastors wife cooking all day on a Saturday to ensure the church as a whole eats lunch on a Sunday! You will not always see such humility, that you will see in that pastor, you will not see the good counsel, the exhortation and the correction delivered in such a loving manner. 

The argument I hear most often when I discuss this with American believers (who quite often belong to disconnected churches) is that the “fellowship has grown too large to know everyone! That may be true, but that also means we need to try harder, seeing folks from church is not just a Sunday pursuit, most folks will be happy to know someone cares enough to give them a call or send them a card! 

Which leads me to my last point, churches really should not be disconnected, you should be able to go up to anyone in your fellowship and have a loving talk with them, we are reminded often times to “love one another” what could be more loving that live interaction! Try it, you may find a new love for that person! 

I know I have went on a bit and I pray this finds you well 

God bless

William

The following excerpt is taken verbatim from an article entitled Has God Gone Green? Found in the Issachar Report section of Volume 19, No. 11 (November, 2009) issue of the Personal Update, which is the news journal of Koinonia House.  The entire article is found on pages 11-15.  It was written by Leisa Garcia, Folio Specialist.  Get this newsletter for free for one year by clicking here:  Personal Update.

I have struggled with how to explain the mistaken concept of God being immanent that many false religions hold to be true.  I have never found a better explanation than this article puts forth, and so I included it in my blog for all to read.

Please understand that being “green” is not a negative thing in theory…saving energy, recycling, avoiding the use of toxic chemicals, replanting trees…just being a good steward of the earth and our health overall is God’s command to us.  However, many have taken it to extremes and are turning God’s command to be good stewards into an extremist agenda, and in some instances, a religion unto itself.  It is not the “green” part I am focusing on here.  For the moment, I am just focusing on the religions that use the concept of God being immanent as support for their “green” agenda.

I am thankful to God for the wisdom and insight he gave Leisa Garcia to write this fantastic article, and I strongly suggest that you read the entire piece,  if you get a chance!

Blessings,

Carl

“…immanent - emanating or issuing from, or as if from a source.  Not to be confused with the similar words “eminent” (high station, rank or repute) and “imminent” (likely to occur at any moment; impending).

One Scripture commonly used to try and prove their assertion that God is immanent (in everyone and everything) is Ephesians 4:6:  ‘One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.’

God truly is transcendent-above and separate from His creation, but God does NOT emanate from from any part of creation.  According to Thayer’s Lexicon the word ‘through’ in this passage means ‘diffusing his saving influence through all.’

It is critical to understand that Paul is writing to ‘the Saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus.’ God does not dwell in everyone.  He dwells only in those who have been born again by the Holy Spirit, who are direct creations of God.  He does not dwell in unbelievers.

God indwells us.  However, He does not become us and we do not become God.  As God’s Shekinah glory dwelt in the Holy of Holies  in the Tabernacle  and Solomon’s Temple, God dwells in us.  God did not become part of the Tabernacle or the Temple.  He simply dwelled there. [emphasis mine]

In a vain attempt to provide scientific proof for their beliefs, the ’spiritual greens’ espouse that God is in every cell and every atom at a quantum level.  Therefore, everything from the universe to the elements that make up creation are one with divinity, or one with God.

Interestingly, this belief that ‘all is one’ has been confirmed by the powerful sensation experienced by those who practice Eastern Meditation, Yoga and Contemplative Prayer in which they feel ‘at one with the universe.’  In fact, this may simply be a physical phenomenon caused by restricting the flow of information to the parietal lobe of the brain which causes you to lose your sense of boundaries…”

Here is the link to this past Sunday’s message in case you didn’t hear it or want to hear it again. 

Before the message, the Grumpy Old Men interviewed Gracepoint whipper-snappers. This video just makes people smile involuntarily. 

Here is some sharing from the Thanksgiving service with some pictures from it.

Hey everyone! I hope you all had a lot of fun this weekend! For me, it was all a blur. I don’t really remember what happened during Gracepoint Berkeley’s Thanksgiving Celebration. What was your favorite moment? Please comment to help us remember what happened throughout the night. Many people said their favorite part was the ribbon dance or Element.

Well, we do know what was our most memorable moment. It was our performance!

If you’re going to be around for this week, check again soon for our announcements for this week! For those of you who will not be around, I hope you all have a good break, and I’ll see you when you get back! Happy Thanksgiving!

Tuesday: Since we will be smaller, we will have Bible Study this Tuesday with our Berkeley groups in Berkeley. Please contact Will.
When | Tuesday – 6:30-8pm – Prayer Meeting
8-9pm – Bible Study
Where | First Presbyterian Church, Berkeley

Wednesday: We will be having a crab fest! We will have a crab fest dinner at Matthew and Helen’s (from USF Koinonia) house! Please let a staff know if you are interested.

Thursday: If you do not have any Thanksgiving plans, Daemin and Ahmi are opening up their house for a thanksgiving dinner at their place! It will be a Thanksgiving potluck! Please let a staff know if you would like to come. However, if you have family plans, you should eat with your family. =)

Sunday: We will be having service in Berkeley with Gracepoint Berkeley
What | Sunday Worship Service
Where | Willard High School @ Berkeley
When | 1-2pm
Rides | Check again for more information

dragostea divina care se aude din cantul inimii lor

Hey everyone! You all worked hard learning the dance! Thanksgiving Celebration is now less than a week away, so it’s time for us to keep on practicing! Here is a video that was shown at the thanksgiving retreat remembering and being thankful for what happened this past year (for more videos go here) followed by some announcements. Please make sure you read through the announcements because our bible study time and location is changed for this week.

Thursday: Why are we having it on Thursday? Because we’ll be practicing on Friday for TC!
What | Bible Study and Thanksgiving Celebration practice!
When | Thursday – 6:30pm
Where | Humanities 217

Friday & Saturday: Thanksgiving Celebration practice! Stay tuned for more information about time and location!

Sunday: The moment you all have been waiting and practicing for! Thanksgiving Celebration!

What | Sunday Worship Service & Thanksgiving Celebration!
Where | Kofman Auditorium @ Alameda High School
When | Sunday – Service @ 1pm
Celebration @ 3pm
Rides | Check again for more rides information

Între halta indulgenţei faţă de sine şi gara renunţării la sine sunt mereu şinele glorificării Lui în noi .

Iubirea Tatălui divin pogoară viziuni care îndurerează ochii şi ne înalţă mâinile.

This Friday….

Hunting for Dinner? Join us at Green & Gold @ 6:30pm!

Hunting for Treasure? Join us for our special scavenger/treasure hunt to run around campus and look at hidden treasures that silently glitter throughout the campus waiting to be found.

Hunting for Fun?  Join us for our Thanksgiving Celebration Singing & Dancing with SF State Koinonia!

So join us at Green & Gold @ 6:30pm!

Hey Koinonia!  SFSU is going to join in on the Thanksgiving dare from last Sunday’s message from Pastor Ed at Gracepoint.  This is a challenge to spend 21 days thinking about what you are grateful for and you can even post them up so that others can see.  There’s no better time for us to set aside our busy schedules and learn to be grateful for all that we have.  So head on over to Thanksgiving Dare and get started.

Warriors vs. Clippers.  Who knew it would be so lopsided?

Nonetheless, we had a good time and stayed til the end!

Hey SFSU Koinonia!  Just a quick plug for the Thanksgiving retreat that is happening this Saturday.  It’s going to be a great time of sharing about how God has been faithful in other groups!  We’ll get to hear from brothers and sisters from Gracepoint Austin, Gracepoint Davis, and Gracepoint Hsinchu, Taiwan!

So if you haven’t signed up yet, head on over to the Thanksgiving Retreat Sign-ups now and put your name down.  Rides will be provided.

Hi everyone, I hope y’all are doing well!  Wow, another busy weekend huh!?  Koinonia Live was an amazing time as we enjoyed a bountiful and scrumptious potluck with dishes such as eggrolls, fire beef, pork shoulder, thai curry, and much more!  We also had amazing desserts like coconut and almond jello with mango pudding, blueberry pie, mochi cake, and pumpkin pie made from the pumpkins carved on Friday night!!

Also, please be sure to check out our Sierra Lodge Page for more videos and pictures. We will have skits from Koinonia Live up soon, so please check again later.

Friday:
When | Friday – 6:30pm
Where | Burk Hall room 28

Sunday: We will be joining our other sister Koinonia groups in Berkeley for service.
Where | Willard Middle School in Berkeley
When | Sunday – 1:00pm
Rides | Pickups @ dorm shuttle stop @ 12PM!

Join us for the Warriors Game this Friday!  They will be  playing the Clippers at 7:30pm in Oracle Arena.  Pick up will be 6pm from the Guardpost.  Contact Mike to see if there’s still extra space.

Watch the Warriors take on the 0-4 Clippers!

Also, TC (Thanksgiving Celebration) is right around the corner!  Sign up for TC here! Here is a trailer made by Gracepoint Berkeley

As many of you saw during our Sierra Lodge trip, Gracepoint puts on a huge performance called G-Live!  We got a chance to see various skits from the past two GLive performances.  We actually got a sneak preview prior to the official GLive release.  But that was only two clips out of the entire performance.  So many of us were left thinking, “man, that was awesome!  I want more Glive!”  Well you couldn’t!  At least until now! The official GLive DVDs have been announced! To pre-order your DVDs, click here!

To get you guys pumped up about it, here the intro video:

It’s that time of year again!  Thanksgiving Celebration!  If some of you are thinking that this is some quaint little dinner around a turkey then think again.  It’s one of the most hilarious times as we get together with our Berkeley counterparts and witness or even participate in some of the sickest dancing and acting this side of the bay.  So check out the trailer below or better yet join us for this “You don’t wanna miss out” kind of nights!

Sign up here

Where | Alameda – Koffman Auditorium (Rides will be provided)
When | Sunday, Nov 22 – 1pm