Wow – wasn’t March an amazing month of worship?  We welcomed the San Luis Rey Chorale and North Coast Orchestra for two concerts early in the month, then joined our hearts and voices together in worship on Palm Sunday, Good Friday and Easter with our Adult Choir, Children’s Choir and contemporary Praise Team leading us in praise to our risen Savior.  My many thanks flow out to all who helped (singers, musicians, decorators, tech people, chair setter-uppers, communion preparers, ushers etc., etc.) to make this special season of the year extra special here at Lighthouse.

Now what?

My prayer is that we have all experienced a renewal in our hearts and lives.  My prayer is that, as King David prayed, God is granting us a “willing spirit” to use what we’ve heard and learned and sung about to bring good news to others so they “will turn back to” God.  So stay involved!  Keep participating.  Find your niche – your place to serve the Lord because He’s done so much for you.

One of my areas that needs extra help right now is our Broadcast-Video ministry.  We desperately need some folks who are willing to learn how to edit our programs for our Saturday PBS TV show, run the camera at 10 AM on Sunday filming it and/or help this ministry with “sermon packaging.”   To learn more, contact me or Lynda Dixon (see the weekly bulletin for her phone number).

Most importantly, keep the personal fires lit – Jesus is alive!  Walk close to Him!

On May 3^rd – 4^th, our youth group is participating in World Vision’s 30 Hour Famine. By doing this event, we will be taking part in a modern day miracle – going without food to feed our own crowd. This isn’t just another good cause. It’s about walking in Jesus’ footsteps and reaching out in compassion to feed and care for hungry children.

Here’s how it works. Each of our small groups, (within our larger youth group) has set a fundraising goal and is looking for donors.  On May 3^rd and 4^th we will experience hunger together for 30 hours. The bonus? Those 30 hours are going to be a blast – filled with ministry, fun events/activities, engaging learning experiences and much more. Every dollar we raise can help feed and care for a child for a day. That means that if we raise $5,000, we can feed our own 5,000.  Remember, the boy with the sack lunch didn’t have much; just five loaves and two fish. But a little is a lot when we give it over to Jesus. For more information or to donate, check out our group webpage at http://support.worldvision.org/goto/180.

I remember a church Easter Egg Hunt in a dairy field when I was only 4 or 5 years old, when I discovered the difference between a stump and a cow patty on which to tie your new shoes…

I remember everyone in my family getting a new Easter outfit each year, and having to pose for pictures outside (that’s me at 4 years old with my sister Debbie)…

I remember as a kid our church being packed with people wearing their new Easter suits or dresses, and all the ladies wearing fancy Easter hats…

I remember as a parent the challenge of hiding Easter eggs for our kids that were not too easy to find (I liked to hide them well), or too hard (Andrea would scatter them in plain view in the grass).  I also remember finding some of the well-hid ones months later…

I remember getting up while it was still dark (it’s biblical) and getting ready for outdoor Easter Sunrise Services at every church I’ve pastored for nearly 35 years…

I remember coming over on Saturday to our current church property for several years before any buildings were built and cutting down tall, thick mustard weeds and putting down tarps so we would have a place to sit for Sunrise Services (often in the mist), and looking forward to the day when we would have a permanent place to worship…

I remember praying many times that it wouldn’t rain on Easter, although it sometimes did…

I remember the year our services were disrupted at our old site by a neighbor with dementia firing his rifle out the window, drawing a SWAT Team and throwing our services into chaos for hours. It ended peacefully, thank God…

I remember our first Easter in our new facility here, with 1355 in attendance, hundreds of new visitors, 7 baptisms, 100 dozen donuts consumed, and a special Easter Offering of nearly $5,000 to start the very successful Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund. (This fund has since distributed more than $70 million to 8,800 wounded heroes and their families)…

But most of all, I remember hearing each year about how Christ rose from the dead to give His followers eternal life.

Yes, I’ve got a lot of special memories of Easter, how about you?  What do you say we make this Easter memorable?

We’ve got Special Services planned from Palm Sunday to Good Friday to Easter Sunday (including, or course, an early outdoor service).

We’ve got our annual Community Easter Egg Hunt for children 2 years – 5^th grade on March 30, which always draws hundreds of kids and their families.  We’ve also got special programs for the kids on Palm Sunday & Easter Sunday.

We’ve got the finale to our sermon series from John on “The Extraordinary Claims of Jesus”, including “I Am a King” (Palm Sunday); “I Am the Way, the Truth, & the Life” (Good Friday); and “I Am the Resurrection & the Life” (Easter Sunday).  Don’t miss these great Gospel messages, and invite your friends, family, & neighbors!

We’ve got a great church family that God continues to bless spiritually, financially, & with many decisions for Christ.

All we need to make this Easter really special is YOU!

Let’s ask God to make this Easter really memorable!

What do you say?

I pray these messages will further your love and understanding of Jesus, and will lead all who hear them to a closer walk with Him.  Would you help us by inviting your family, friends, & neighbors?  Let’s all be praying and watching for who we could invite to this great Gospel series.

God has been doing great things at Lighthouse this year:

• Decisions for Christ: The Lord has already added 12 new members to our church in the first 5 weeks of this year, including 3 last Sunday.  6 have been baptized, and the other 6 transferred membership.  There were also 3 Re-commitments to Christ, a Child Dedication, and 2 non-member baptisms.  We praise the Lord for this harvest, and pray for many more to come!

• Financial Growth:  “Tithe Sunday” last Sunday had a GREAT response.  We said “Let’s all tithe and see what God can do,” and He did, with the second-highest offering in 2 years!  This shows what God can do when we give Him the full tithe, so let’s continue doing so, and have a banner year!

• Willingness to Serve: We’ve had a good response so far to our Service Surveys, with 183 people telling us where they are willing to serve.  Each year this involves many more people in building up the Lord’s church, so we look forward to helping more people find a place to use their time and talents.  Reports are going out to the ministry leaders soon,  so if you turned in a survey, you should be contacted in the next couple of weeks (call the office if not, so we can follow up).  Thanks to everyone who has responded and to all who serve here.  We welcome your involvement.

Let’s all get excited!

Mike Openshaw

We had a great Christmas with all our children & grandchildren here – wild, noisy, & wonderful – and hope you had a wonderful Christmas, too.

Our Oceanside Church had a Wonderful Christmas:

• † The Christmas Musical Angel Alert by our Children’s Choir was delightful and well-done, with a good turnout of 165.  Thanks to Hertie & our talented kids, to Carol Holland for the Afterglow refreshments, and to all who came.
• † The Christmas Concert by the San Luis Rey Chorale & Orchestra filled our church with beautiful music and a record concert crowd of 946 over two evenings – the highest in the 10 years we’ve been hosting them.  It was truly phenomenal!
• † Our Christmas Eve Candlelight & Communion Services were a wonderful blend of the familiar & new, and drew a near-record crowd of 713 in 2 beautiful services.
• † All our Sunday Worship Services in December were exceptional and well-attended, including the final 2 holiday Sundays of the year.  Thanks to Pastor David and team for the powerful worship, to everyone for the response to the “Who is the Christ of Christmas?” sermon series, and to David for preaching Dec. 30.
• † Giving was strong throughout December, traditionally a lower month.  We asked for your support, and you gave it – giving well above budget, which reduced our YTD deficit from nearly -$41,000 two months earlier down to -$8,355.  Thanks for helping us end much better, and let’s keep it up!

Our Church helped others have a Brighter Christmas:

• We gave 120 gifts to the Toys for Tots drive to help needy children at Christmas.
• We gave 130 shoeboxes of Christmas gifts & extra items to needy children through Niños de Baja, our Children’s Mission in Mexico.
• We helped 4 Lighthouse families at Christmas through our Benevolence Fund.
• Our teens collected gifts for AngelTree, a ministry to the children of those in prison.
• Our Faithweavers kids sponsored a Food Drive for the hungry for Interfaith, a local charity, collecting 3 bins full.
• Our “Girls Night Out” ministry took 45 of our ladies to sing carols for the senior citizens at Fairwinds nearby.
• Our Missions Team and others sent Christmas cards to all our missionaries around the world.
• A Bible Class, a Growth Group, and others sent Care Packages to the military at Christmastime.
• Many people gave cards and gifts to our pastors and staff.  On behalf of all of us, thank you for all your love and generosity!  (I’m still over-stocked on Klondike bars!)

So now that the decorations are down, the family has all gone home, and Christmas is over, what’s next?

We have a Bright Year Ahead:

• New Sermons begin this Sunday on how God can help you make positive changes in your life.  Join us in worship on the first Sunday of the year – esp. if you haven’t been here in awhile or just started back.  Start your new year right!
• New Sunday Bible Classes and midweek Growth Groups are starting up next week, so find one and get involved.  You will grow in your faith and in your relationships with others.
• The ABC’s of Financial Freedom Class I will be teaching on Thursday nights at 6:30 p.m. at the church the next 6 weeks is full at 64 people.  Many people will be helped to get out of debt and find financial freedom.
• We had a great end to a challenging year – including adding 68 new members, baptizing 51 people into Christ, and dedicating 13 children to the Lord.  Come be part of what God is doing at Lighthouse, and let’s reach more souls for Christ!

Come grow with us!     Mike Openshaw, Senior Minister

As a Nation: By the time you read this, we will have elected a new President, chosen new state and local leaders, and decided on a number of propositions. You might be elated or you might be deflated at the outcome, but consider this: i You had the opportunity to vote. Many people in the world never have that opportunity.  This nation has survived many ups and downs, and God willing, will survive this. God is not through with us yet.  God is still on His throne. Nothing that happens down here can ever change that.  So while, like you, I care deeply about this country and our future, and voted my conscience, my prayer is that our deeply divided nation can come together now and move forward. And we, as Christians, who are told to pray for our leaders (whoever they are) and to be good citizens (wherever we live) need to be peace-making and forward-looking people, regardless of the circumstances (see 1 Peter 2:13-17). So let’s move forward!

As a Church: This Sunday, Nov. 11, will mark 51 years that this church has impacted our community and our world with the message of Christ. Countless souls will be in Heaven through the ministries and missions of Lighthouse – and that is reason to celebrate! Each service will be filled with worship, special music, & a message on “A Church Prepared for Battle” (from Ephesians 6). The music will be a unique surprise – don’t miss it! We will enjoy good food & fellowship together afterwards at the 11:30 a.m. or 1:00 p.m. Church Luncheon (call the church office for tickets or details). We invite every member and attender of Lighthouse Christian Church to join us this Sunday as we celebrate God’s blessings! This church has stayed faithful to our mission through many ups & downs, with a rich history, an exciting present (look at all the decisions continuing), and a bright future. Milestones are worth celebrating, but what matters next is the next 51 years, starting next week – what does God want to accomplish through us next? So let’s seek God’s will, and join us in moving forward!

As Individuals:  If you have been in worship with us the last two months, we have been soaking in the teachings of the book of Ephesians, which is all about being growing members of the Body of Christ.  As we wrap up this series in the next two weeks we want to put into practice what God has been showing us: being a member of Christ’s Body, the church; growing up into Christ; plugging in somewhere as a functioning member of His Body; living a life worthy of our calling; and preparing ourselves for spiritual battle. How would God have you move forward in your own spiritual life with Him? And if you haven’t been in worship recently, don’t miss another Sunday to come worship God and see how God is changing lives! Make a move forward.

We invite you to join us for a special Prayer Service this Friday night at 7:00 p.m., with songs, scriptures, and prayers by our leaders.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 4:6

Although, we officially begin this ministry in the Fall, we want to invite our young adults to join us this summer for a couple of BBQ’s. Our goal will be to enjoy good food, build relationships and seek God’s direction as we move this ministry forward. Please set the following dates aside and join us if you are graduating or in your twenties: July 26th & August 23rd

There is another change taking place as we start this new young adult’s ministry. I am in the process of turning over the majority of my responsibilities surrounding our midweek children’s program (FaithWeavers) to Angela Kerr. Although, I will continue to be the overseeing pastor of the program, Angela will basically be doing all the hard work. Angela was the FaithWeaver preschool director this past year and did a fantastic job. She not only has a passion for children’s ministry, but has earned her degree in teaching, is a leader in Promise Land, created and organizes a community kids group, which hosts multiple gatherings each week, and has four wonderful children of her own. Our FaithWeaver ministry is clearly in good hands. I encourage all of you with a heart for children, to please partner with Angela next year in this ministry.

Jonathan Gleason, Youth Minister

The Spirit that Refreshes

This summer I’ll be preaching a series on the Holy Spirit called “The Spirit That Refreshes.” So many people are worried about the economy, the upcoming election, loved ones deployed to war, and the future of our country, that we could all use some refreshment, Amen? That is what this series is designed to bring. Throughout the Bible and throughout subsequent history, the Holy Spirit has brought refreshment, renewal, and restoration to weary people again and again – and He can do so for us today. Plan to join us each week you’re in town for a different story in the Bible about the Holy Spirit’s refreshing work in people’s lives. Each message will stand on its own, but be tied to the larger theme; so if you miss any, you will get much from the ones you are able to hear. This is a great series to invite people to, for many people want to understand the Holy Spirit better, and everyone could always use a  refreshment! We will continue to provide those red & white invitations, so be praying about who you could invite each week. We still want to each “Bring Ten” new visitors this year to help our church grow and to reach more people for Christ.

Have a Coke and a Smile!

We’re going to kick things off with a Refreshment Fellowship on June 10, providing cold Coca-Cola drinks and bottled water after each service (with help from the fellowship team) from ice coolers on the Church Patio (paid for by donated funds). There will be many kinds of Coke and bottled water as well (1/person), so plan to stay after services that Sunday to enjoy some refreshing fellowship on our church patio, and get to know each other better.

Come and be Refreshed!

We’ve had a great 30-weeks together looking at The Good and Beautiful God, The Good and Beautiful Life, and The Good and Beautiful Community. We’ve learned a lot about the character of God, about living out the teachings of Jesus, and about living together as a vibrant community that honors God. We’ve been challenged by weekly Soul Training exercises to put God’s Word into practice. Now it’s time to live that out.  No matter who you are, no matter what you’re going through, you are invited to come and be refreshed!

Mike Openshaw, Senior Minister

If you can slow down enough to listen to people talk, you’ll hear how STRESSED they are: stressed about the economy, stressed about politics, stressed about the price of gas, stressed about this season of “Survivor” (girls rule, boys drool).

Where can you slow down and be refreshed, renewed, restored?  The ONE place busy people think they don’t have time for – CHURCH!

If I had a nickel for every time someone told me that they almost didn’t come to church today but are SO glad they did because of their experience with God, I’d have a LOT of nickels.  If those who haven’t come to church recently actually DID come, they would have a LOT less stress and a lot more joy and purpose and fulfillment in their lives.  But when you’re busy, going to church seems like the ONE expendable thing you can cut out to get some sanity in your life.

I know I’m just a pastor (forgive me), but could I suggest, ever so gently, that this is INSANE – cutting God out of life to get some sanity?  Maybe the problem is in the concept of “going to church.”  That sounds like just another activity that requires time and energy and money we don’t feel we have to do something we don’t really want to do; when in reality, it’s about worshiping the living God – who if we don’t make room for, our spiritual life starts to shrivel.  No wonder many feel so stressed – who can face the world without God in control of their life?

So don’t think of it as “going to church” and feeling guilty  (or relieved) when you don’t – think of it as worshiping God, as connecting with the One who created you to know Him, who redeemed you from the pit and from a pointless and godless life, and who loves you more than you realize.  You wouldn’t believe the difference your being here would make for you and for your church!

King David was busy (you know, the man after God’s own heart), but David didn’t say “can’t make it on the Sabbath, ‘cause I’m  too busy slaying giants, running for my life from Saul, and ruling a kingdom and all…”  David said,

“I was glad when they said to me,
‘Let us go to the house of the LORD.’”

Psalm 122:1 (NASB)

He doesn’t say “I was mad” or “I was sad”, but “I was glad” – he wanted to go worship his God!  How about you?  Do you view Sundays as YOUR day, or as THE LORD’s day?  A day you HAVE to go to church, or a day you CHOOSE to go worship your God?

We’re having a wonderfully renewing time in our current series about The Good and Beautiful Community, with messages that are interesting, encouraging, and biblical.  In the coming weeks we’ll enjoy seeing how to please God by being The Uniting Community, The Forgiving Community, The Encouraging Community, The Generous Community, and a big conclusion as The Worshiping Community (with refreshments that day!).  Wouldn’t you like to come and be refreshed, renewed, restored?

Come join God’s Good and Beautiful Community of followers who choose to put Him first in their lives, who look forward to spending time worshiping Him and thanking Him for His many blessings, who want to hear a word from Him about living a more God-centered life and seeing what He will do next, and who enjoy being with His people on His day.

Yes, you can still believe in Him in your heart, and pray to Him as you please, and read the Bible when you feel like it, and watch a religious show on TV now and then, or listen to one on the radio, but it just ain’t the same as being in the Lord’s house on the Lord’s Day with the Lord’s people.

Don’t GO to church – come BE the church.  Come be refreshed!            Mike Openshaw, Senior Minister

Worship means so many different things to different people.  Our English word comes from the old English word, “worthship” and speaks of recognizing our Creator’s  worth.  A combination of both awe and friendship is found in the privilege of worship.  And yet very little is said in the New Testament about what the early Christians did when they came together for worship.  Our earliest full description of a Christian worship gathering comes from about A.D. 150 by a writer named Justin Martyr – here’s how he described it, using language (such as “president”) that a non-Christian of his time would understand:

“On the day called Sunday, there is a gathering together in the same place of all who live in a city or a rural district.  The memoirs of the apostles [New Testament scriptures] or the writings of the prophets [Old Testament scriptures] are read as long as time permits.  Then when the reader ceases, the president [Pastor] in a discourse [sermon] admonishes and urges the imitation of these good things.  Next, we all rise together and send up prayers.  And … when we cease from our prayer, bread is presented and wine and water [communion].  The president, in the same manner, sends up prayers and thanksgivings according to his ability, and the people sing out their assent saying the “Amen.”  A distribution and participation of the elements for which thanks have been given is made to each person, and to those who are not present it is sent by the deacons.  Those who have means and are willing, each according to his own choice, gives what he wills, and what is collected is deposited with the president.  He provides for the orphans and widows, those who are in want on account of sickness or some other cause, those who are in bonds and strangers who are sojourning, and in a word he becomes the protector of all who are in need.

“We all make our assembly in common on the day of the Sun, since it is the first day, on which God changed the darkness and matter and made the world, and Jesus Christ our Savior arose from the dead on the same day.  For they crucified him on the day before Saturn’s day, and on the day after (which is the day of the Sun) he appeared to his apostles and taught his disciples these things.”

They met on Sunday to hear God’s word; to partake together of the Lord’s Supper, to sing and to pray and for each to give “what he wills.”  Sounds like a “low-tech” version of Lighthouse doesn’t it?  Join us in the month of May as we worship the one who rose from the dead.

David Skates, Worship Pastor