Our 1st Living Hope Christmas Show at our East Campus

It's all happening Friday, December 4 at 7 p.m. (Come early to see the Glow-in-the-dark Art of Audrey Carson) at our East Vancouver Campus.

LIVE MUSIC

FOOD to DIE for

GUARANTEED SANTA SIGHTING (He promised to be here!)

HUGE ART EXHIBIT

CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT AUCTION (Silent but lively!)

AND MORE . . .

KEEP READING FOR DETAILS :-)

This will be a wonderful evening that begins with live music, amazing food, and our largest ever art exhibit. We will have opportunities for children to get their picture taken with the number ONE Santa in the NW (There’s only one right?).

Our three decorated trees, that will bring so much Christmas joy to those who need help this Christmas, will help add to the nostalgic, wonderful atmosphere that will bring a warm smile to the guests you've invited.

The Silent Auction of Christmas ornaments will let us buy food to add to the GIFT CARD Christmas baskets we will share with those in our church and beyond who are struggling this Christmas. We need you to purchase fun, unique, or just simply beautiful ornaments to add to one of our three trees. Those of us leaders who are working in the main auditorium are competing with Kid’s World and Women’s Ministries to see which tree gets voted Living Hope East's BEST! Fun!

Our Art Wall will be expanded to show several local artists. The main feature will be Pen & Ink Artist, Ron Jones. Ron Jones of Sixth Street Gallery in Vancouver is very active in the Local art scene. Ron took part in Living Hope Church’s Christmas show last year by painting the large murals that were used as part of John’s message. Jones has been featured in Art in America International Review, 2008, New York Art World 2009, and the Art Auction International Magazine 2009. Earlier this year his work was shown in Amsterdam Whitney International Fine Art Gallery, Chelsea NY. Ron has also finished 1^st or 2^nd for three years at the Clark County Fair. His work focuses on the details of the mathematical equations taken from the Fibonacci numbering system. It’s rare to find an artist with an engineering mind; Leonardo? :) You will enjoy meeting Ron and his wife Sarah.

Two other Living Hope Members will also be featured on our Art Wall. Audrey Carson’s colorful, playful explosions of creativity will make you smile and want to see more (she will also have a glow-in-the dark exhibit in our parents lounge). Johanna Larson’s work may take you to another world. We will feature several other local artists as well. The artists are donating between 30-50% of the sale of their art toward our East Vancouver trip to India.

There will be a short, but powerful Christmas story told by pastor Bruce. And then the evening will end with the opportunity to take home an ornament to remember our first Christmas show at our new campus home.

If you have questions or are interested in volunteering please email Pastor Bruce at bruce.lhceast@gmail.com

Just for Fun check out Bruce's latest Winter adventure :)

Reinforcing our True Value (What Counts Most?) Wed Night, 7 p.m. ReFresh Questions & Bible Stories

[Keep checking back for multiple updates to Pastor Bruce's personal blog - link . Read Bruce's random thoughts regarding last week's roller coaster ride . . . miracles, chills, and dangerous thoughts . Not for the faint-at-heart]

What actions help to best reinforce your “forever-connection” to Jesus (I’m secure in him!)?

Here’s the real deal: When I feel discouraged, down, and misunderstood, I naturally move towards isolation. Isolation is the key to all things destructive and “death-like.” Satan sells us lie-based thoughts that imply we’re all alone.

We not only feel abandoned, not important to others, we sometimes even believe we’re far from God.

Finding physical ways to reinforce the truth that God will never leave you is so vital to strong, healthy relationships. The more we match our beliefs with our physical actions, the stronger our thoughts, beliefs, and, most important, our trust grows! The stories and verses below will make a difference in your life. See you Wednesday night (6:55 p.m.) for a small-group Refresh.

Luke 21:1-4 While Jesus was in the Temple, he watched the rich people dropping their gifts in the collection box. 2 Then a poor widow came by and dropped in two small coins. 3 “I tell you the truth,” Jesus said, “this poor widow has given more than all the rest of them. 4 For they have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has.”

I Timothy 6:6-21 (We will do a “story-based-parsing exercise” – I’m guessing 96% of us have never used this “experience-based” study tool before. It’s an amazing way to hear God speak through the Bible. Check back on Tuesday night if you want to prep ahead of time :)

Note verses 18-19 in the Message Bible – “Tell them to go after God, who piles on all the riches we could ever manage—to do good, to be rich in helping others, to be extravagantly generous. If they do that, they'll build a treasury that will last, gaining life that is truly life.”

Luke 11:34-36 “Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is good, your whole body is filled with light. But when it is bad, your body is filled with darkness. 35 Make sure that the light you think you have is not actually darkness. 36 If you are filled with light, with no dark corners, then your whole life will be radiant, as though a floodlight were filling you with light.”

How do we determine value of things? of people? Your use of time? Philosophical values? If you had but one belief that who trump all other beliefs, what would it be? Can you write or state this belief in one sentence?

Measuring Value (From the Weekend Teaching):

Source: The creator, designer, manufacture

Durability: Non-perishable shelf life, quality

Quantity: Rarity, demand, uniqueness

Potential: growth potential, long-term profit

Market Value: What one is willing to pay

Pastor Bruce has uses the acronym MONEY to describe societies most ancient and popular ways of measuring value (There is an amazing story in I Samuel 16 – note verse 7): Come early and get this worksheet; it could help you see where Satan most effectively attacks you regarding your value.)