To my Grove family,

Weekend Message

This week my final message in the series, “Live Holy Even When Life Is Hard,” comes from 1 Peter 5. The message is called, “The Tension of Leadership.” Someone from church sent me one of those YouTube videos that fits my message perfectly and it is one you will want to see and hear for sure. Chapter 5 is one of the greatest chapters in the Bible on instructions for those who lead in the church. This will be a very special weekend and one where we will be sharing communion as well.

The HUB

Did you know we are creating a monthly coupon for the HUB? It can be found on The Grove’s Hub page, or you can check in through Facebook and get the same coupon on your phone. The offer will be changing monthly, as will the menu specials. Check us out  here   to see what we’re offering. The HUB will also be open for lunch on the following Tuesdays and Thursdays this month: February 7, 9, 21 and 23 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. This is for all the groups who are meeting at the church on those days or any of you who would like to come down for a great lunch. For those of you having trouble getting to the Hub page, select “More” on The Grove’s home page then the third dropdown is The Hub.

Weekly Video Prayer Moment

Beginning tomorrow you will receive my very first weekly video prayer moment. I want to take a few minutes each week to let you know of one or two important things we can all be praying for as a church. I am recording this on my phone and sending it on to you so we will see how that works. I know what happens when we all pray together and I want to keep us praying together throughout the year.

Grove Website

Remember on our Grove website you can check out job opportunities (Click Here), the Hub menus (Click Here), the Read Through the Bible blog (Click Here), or post and pray for requests listed on our Prayer Wall (Click Here).

Have I told you lately how great you are? In the staff prayer time today I prayed thanking God for the blessings of having a church family like you along with our staff and unity we enjoy! God is so good and you are fantastic May God richly bless you on this warm first day of February – you are the best!

To my Grove Family,

This weekend we will be looking at 1 Peter 4, for the message, “The End is Near.” In the opening remarks of this chapter Peter tells his readers to “arm themselves.” As you read this over think for a moment and ask yourself if you are “armed” today in the proper way.

Tonight is family night and the men and women continue their study of Revelation. The Women are on chapter 10 and the men will be in chapter 14.  Come early and enjoy dinner at the HUB with your family and friends.

Are any of you looking for a small part-time job that would be a ministry as well? Our great MOPS program (Mothers Of Pre-Schoolers) has had to put young moms on a waiting list for 2012 because we don’t have enough nursery workers to take care of their children. If you would be willing to work from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday mornings, you would be blessing these young moms and their little ones.  Please contact Amy Tillman if you are interested in helping with this vital ministry, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or 951.653.9292.

Check out our website for our Read through the Bible blog, our Prayer Wall, the HUB menu, job opportunities and much much more.

See you this weekend.

To my Grove family,

Weekend Message
This weekend we continue the series in 1 Peter called, “Live Holy Even When Life Is Hard.” This week’s message comes out of chapter two and the title is “God and Satan Both Have a Plan for You.” I want to take a moment to thank Pastor Kerry and everyone from last week who made the weekend so special. Thanks also to all the great new volunteers who signed up to help with our Special Needs Ministry – The Grove is just the best!

Prayer Videos

Beginning tomorrow and hopefully most Thursdays throughout 2012 you will receive a short prayer video message from me sharing one or two major prayer needs of our church. Our 60 Days of Prayer was so effective at the end of 2011, and we all know that prayer is the key to anything we accomplish that will really matter here at The Grove. Throughout the year we are going to be sharing different avenues of prayer offered at The Grove and how you can play an important role in this critical ministry.

World Vision Marathon Runners

Thanks to all our Grove “World Vision” runners who ran last Sunday in the ½ marathon and raised over $30,000 for clean water in Uganda. That was an amazing effort and the results of all your hard work will have a lasting impact in several Ugandan villages for years to come. Clean water for people who don’t have any today – that is so fantastic. Carol and I would love to buy all of you who trained and ran so diligently a specialty drink, coffee, or soda for your months of hard work. Just wear your Orange World Vision jersey this weekend and the folks at the HUB will give you your drink order free. Just say Carol wants to pay for this one and we will do it with joy. 

Extreme Makeover “Grove Edition”

Here is another very cool happening. We have over 200 people who are going to “get on the bus” this Saturday, drive to an undisclosed location in the city, and help fix, restore, make beautiful a “place, organization, or location” that needs a little TLC. The destination has been a well-kept secret; I don’t even know where we are going. We have incredible people who just want to help in Jesus’ name and all this will make a lasting difference in our community. Yes, The Grove “makes a difference!”

Baptisms and New Members

Did you know we baptized 170 people in 2011! And we have over 50 people joining the church this weekend, with over 20 from our deaf community – that is wonderful and exciting!

Remember to check our website for the Prayer Wall, Reading Through the Bible (and the Bible blog), HUB menu, and new job opportunities.

I know it will probably be wet and cold this Sunday but please don’t let that stop you from coming to church this weekend. We need each other and need to be together each week—Hebrews 10:24-25.

To my Grove family,

Weekend Message

This weekend Pastor Kerry Warren will be preaching and his message is “Celebrating Differences.” The theme will be on disabilities in the body of Christ. Not only will Kerry’s message be great but he has special video and a closing that will be incredible. This will be a weekend you will not want to miss and one which people will be talking about for a very long time.

Team World Vision

This Sunday many of our Grovites will also be running a half marathon in L.A. for World Vision in order to provide clean water for Uganda. These folks have been working really hard and many of you have seen them on Saturday mornings taking off from our Grille and Bookstore parking lot and running all over the city in preparation for this half marathon. Last Saturday was their 12-mile run. Wes Kriesel who has led the charge shares the following information below about the team and the upcoming race. Go Grove!

• It's less than a week from the half-marathon and we've raised over $29,600 for clean water in Uganda.  
• We've involved 139 officially registered runners and walkers (we'll find out on race day how many make it to the start line). 
• Many have encountered injury or financial hardship handling the fees and related expenses but all have impacted the team with their encouragement, team spirit, and enthusiasm for the cause. Many have struggled through and will be there in spite of setbacks. I'm so impressed and blessed by our church's team!!!
• I'm looking for 20 runners to continue on to the full marathon (right now, we have about eight committed to the full marathon).  
• If anyone wants to donate to the team's total or to an individual member, you can find all the team info and donation links here: http://support.worldvision.org/site/TR/TeamWorldVision/General/837215081?pg=team&fr_id=1510&team_id=25262

Apologetics Class

Last week was the first lesson of our eight-week class on Apologetics (learning why we believe what we believe). This class is being held on Sundays at 10:45 a.m., and because of the huge response to this class, the location will be moving to the Chapel starting this weekend, January 15, where it will stay for the remainder of the class. Most of the members in the Legacy class, who were meeting in the Chapel, will join this Apologetics Class, with a few members continuing to meet for the Legacy Class which has been moved to D-2. For the next three Sundays the Apologetics class will be having a special guest speaker, Alan Shelmon, then ending with several weeks by another special speaker, Brett Kunkle. Come join us for some great teaching.

Weekly Prayer Videos

Starting next week I am going to send, in addition to my normal Wednesday weekly e-mail, a prayer video every Thursday. I want to keep our focus on prayer and let you know the one of two critical needs or concerns of the church. I will shoot the video on Wednesday and hopefully it will come to you every Thursday, just like the Pray Where You Are video came to you at the end of last year. Prayer is the answer to everything and I want to use this as just one more way we as a church family will pray together.

Please continue to check our website for: Read Through the Bible, Prayer Wall, the HUB menu, and job opportunities.

Have an incredible day and see you this weekend,

To my Grove family,

Weekend Message

This weekend Becky White will be speaking and she has titled her message, “Another Gift.” Please read Numbers 13, Isaiah 62, and Romans 4 to be ready for her message.

2012

I told the staff last week that I believe 2012 will be the very best year in the history of The Grove. A lot has happened here the last few years, and as I look back on all of those situations and experiences I see God’s hand in each and every one of them, growing us and making us stronger as a church family. The staff and church are more united and stronger than any other time I can remember, and I have been on staff since 1975 so that is a long time, my friends. God has raised up an army of volunteers here at The Grove and without you we are nothing. You do so much to make this church run and I want you to know we realize this and give God thanks and praise for you on a daily basis. You are not only a blessing but a gift from God. Because you allow God to use you in incredible ways, I just can’t wait to see what is going to happen in the coming year. Thanks for helping us in so many ways and for how you love and care as only you, “the Grove family,” knows how to do. You are the best.

Apologetics: Defending the Faith

A new eight-week adult education class is Sundays, January 8 through February 26, at 10:45 a.m. in Room D-2. This class will train you to think more clearly about your faith and make the proper defense for Christianity. Brochures with more detailed information regarding the class and speakers are available at the General Information counter located in the main hallway. To sign up please contact Heidi at Ext. 2132 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Tax Credit for 2011 Contributions

Here is another reminder from our Accounting department: To receive tax credit for 2011 contributions to The Grove, your giving must be received by December 31, 2011. You can give online at www.thegrove.cc up until 11:59 p.m. on December 31. (The office is closed on December 31.) For assistance with online giving registration, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (she works Monday-Thursday 8 a.m.-6 p.m.). Contributions received on or after January 1, 2012, will be credited to 2012.    

I pray that this week each and every one of you could get a few hours to rest and catch up. After the busy month of December, you need it. 

See you this weekend,

To my Grove family,

Candlelight Communion and Christmas Services

I want to remind you one more time of this week’s services. Our Candlelight Communion service is this Friday at 7 p.m. Daniel Bishop, Becky White, and I will be preaching that service. We are all wearing suits - just because. We will have candlelight communion stations set up all over the Worship Center so you will be able to get up during the service and have communion with your family and friends.

Then the next three Christmas services are identical and we will have two of them on Saturday night at 5 and 7 p.m. (there is no childcare at the 7 p.m. service) and one on Sunday at 10:45 a.m. I hope we haven’t confused anyone and that these times are all clear. As you know this is the very best week in all the year to invite someone to church. They are already thinking about all the facets of Christmas which includes Jesus so this is the perfect time to be bold and invite someone. 

Volunteers Needed

I would also like to encourage you to volunteer some time to help Mary McInteer in the Early Childhood Department (infant through Kindergarten) this weekend if you are able. Maybe you love reading to three year olds. Maybe you just need to get in a few laps around the hallway pushing a stroller with an unhappy camper. Or maybe you just need your baby fix. She has a place for you. You don’t need mad skills. She can use help at the Friday night service at 7 p.m., the Saturday night service at 5 p.m., and the Sunday service at 10:45 a.m. There is a special caramel corn appreciation for anyone helping on Friday night! For Saturday and Sunday you will get your reward in heaven. Give Mary a call at 571-9090 Ext. 2190 or e-mail her at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Apologetics: Defending the Faith

A new adult education class is beginning on Sundays, January 8 through February 26, at 10:45 a.m. in Room D-2. This eight-week class will train you to think more clearly about your faith and make the proper defense for Christianity. Brochures with more detailed information regarding the class and speakers are available at the General Information counter located in the main hallway. To sign up please contact Katie at Ext. 2133 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Tax Credit for 2011 Contributions

Our accounting team has asked me to pass along the following information: To receive tax credit for 2011 contributions to The Grove, your giving must be received by December 31. You can give online at www.thegrove.cc until 11:59 p.m. on December 31 (the office will be closed on the 31st). For assistance with online giving registration, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (Dana works Monday-Thursday 8 a.m.-6 p.m.). Contributions received on or after January 1, 2012, will be credited to 2012.    

Grove Website

Remember on our Grove website you can check out job opportunities (Click Here), the Hub menus (Click Here), or post and pray for requests listed on our Prayer Wall (Click Here).

I hope to see you all here this week, but more than anything else I pray this is your very best Christmas ever. Thanks for how you have blessed The Grove and how you have shown God’s love to thousands in our city these past few months. You, as always, are the very best!

To my Grove family,

Tonight is the last night to experience A Christmas Encounter! You won't want to miss it! Come on down to our cozy building and see our presentation of A Christmas Encounter which will show in the Worship Center along with the Grove band and singers on a revolving schedule anytime between 6:30-8:30 p.m. (8:30 p.m. will be the last presentation).

We regret we couldn't bring you the full outside experience with the animals and hayride due to the weather but we know you will still be blessed by this production. We've reworked the original outdoor hayride experience and brought it indoors because we still want to bring you this very important story in our own unique way. The same story will be told with the original visuals and sounds that we had outside. We will also have crafts for the kids (coloring books and ornaments related to the Encounter), a community art project, free hot cocoa and coffee, and the Hub will be open for additional Grab & Go items.

By the way, we received many great compliments and praise on how wonderful the production was inside last night and how people were changed and blessed by hearing the story of God's plan for mankind.

Bring your neighbors, friends, and family. We'll see you tonight!

To my church family,

We hate to do this but we are being forced because of weather to bring our “Christmas Encounter” indoors – into our worship center. Because of the rain the people with the animals said they won’t be coming which is sad, and we also can’t use our high tech projectors outside in the rain. It is raining now and it is supposed to continue on and off throughout the evening. Tomorrow the weather reports say we are going to have 50-plus miles per hour Santa Ana winds which is also a problem for us doing things outside. What we have decided to do is bring everything inside. You will experience the entire “Christmas Encounter” minus the animals and hayride and we guarantee you it will still be fantastic.

Sorry for the last notice; we tried to hold off as long as possible. We are all bummed but we want to give you and the Lord the “very best we have” and know everyone will stay cozy and warm. So come tonight or tomorrow and enjoy with us the story of Christmas.

To my Grove family,

Christmas Encounter

You will not want to miss the Christmas Encounter that will begin tonight and run through Friday from 6:30-8:30 p.m. We had our run-through last night (minus the sheep and camel) and it was fantastic. You will be blessed and so will your friends if you invite them. It was cold but if you bundle up it makes it feel all the more like Christmas and you will hear the story of God’s heart for all people from creation to the nativity.  Special thanks to Adam, the entire Cel Arts Department, and our incredible and oh so faithful volunteers! As a staff we feel very blessed just to be part of something so special and so much fun. Bundle up with all your winter clothes and choose a night to be with us!

Weekend Message – Grove Clothing

This weekend we continue on with our Christmas Advent series and my message is called “A Longing for the Light of Christ.” Please read Psalm 36, Proverbs 4:19, John 3:19, Ephesians 5, 1 John 1, and John 1:1-12 to be ready for this weekend. We have special music for you as we always do and another treat as you leave just to say we love you. This will also be the last week we will be selling our new Grove clothing line in the hallways after the services. I bought four items and love them all. Buy something and tell someone by wearing it you are a proud member of “Team Grove.”

Christmas Services Schedule

Let me go over next week’s Christmas schedule of services one more time, just for clarity, as Christmas is on Sunday this year:

On Friday, December 23, at 7 p.m., we will have our Candlelight Communion service. Becky White and Daniel Bishop will join me in preaching the message for this special time of worship and communion together with you as a family.

On Saturday, December 24 and Sunday, December 25 we will have our three IDENTICAL Christmas services. On Saturday the services are at 5 and 7 p.m. and on Sunday the only service will be at 10:45 a.m. I will be preaching at all three of these services and we will have great Christmas music that we will all enjoy. Hopefully that makes it clear and there is no confusion. It will be a great week and we so look forward to you being there.

You are a great church and I look forward to seeing you at the Encounter and again this weekend for church.

To my Grove family,

Weekend Message

This week we will continue our five-week Christmas Advent series, “A Longing for Christ,” and this message is “A Longing for the Salvation of Christ.” Please read Luke 2, Luke 15, Matthew 11, and John 3:16-17 to be ready for the message this weekend. If you have time, send me an e-mail with some of your family’s Christmas traditions. My first point is going to be about Christmas traditions and how we celebrate Christmas as families. After each service we will be handing out wonderful home-made sugar cookies so come and enjoy!

Christmas Encounter

Have you invited someone to come with you to the Christmas Encounter December 14, 15, or 16 from 6:30 till 8:30 p.m.? This is something for the entire family and is an event I think your friends would enjoy as well.

Christmas Services

Let me remind you once again about our Christmas weekend services since Christmas is on Sunday this year. We will have three identical Christmas services, two on Saturday night at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. and one on Sunday at 10:45 a.m. These three services will be identical. We will also be having a Christmas Candlelight Communion service at 7 p.m. on December 23. This will be different from the services on the weekend. I hope this makes it more clear since it is a bit different this year.

Gift Card Donations Needed

Put a smile on the face of a child this Christmas. Donations of $25 Target gift cards are being collected now in baskets on the reception tables during weekend services or at the church office. We will use these cards to match with a needy mom or guardian and a shopping partner from our church to go shopping, have lunch or coffee, and then return to The Grove to wrap the gifts together for the family. Our goal is not just to handout gift cards, but to create community and relationship with those struggling families. Right now we have over 125 kids on the list and only 35 cards, so if you’ve been thinking of getting a Target card for this ministry, please bring it this weekend. Thanks so much. Our Shopping day is on Monday, December 19, and we will also need MANY volunteers to give time and love to these parents! Please reply today and volunteer to make a difference.

Generous Giving

You have already bought gifts (over 600 gifts) through Angel Tree for children whose parents are currently incarcerated. You have provided 75 holiday gift baskets for Inland AIDS project, gifts for our missionaries and our staff, countless turkeys and all the fixings for folks who would not have had a Thanksgiving without you, and what you have done reaching out to those around you that God puts in your path could fill a book of kindness and good deeds. That is who you are – the most generous and loving church ever!

Grove Clothing

We have re-ordered many items in our new clothing line that we showed you last weekend. We even have ordered a black hoodie like the red one that was so popular with everyone. They will all be on sale again this weekend and then they will go to the Bookstore to be sold there until they are gone. These are great Christmas gifts and a great way to say you are part of The Grove team!

See you all this weekend,