June 26, 2017

Greetings!

Is it warm enough for you? We have certainly been enjoying some beautiful summer days and wonderfully cool nights haven’t we? As we head towards July, we do have some great fellowship opportunities coupled with this nice weather to take full advantage of:

First off, we have a number of summer Taco Tuesdays. Our first dinner is this Tuesday at El Torito in Yorba Linda at 6:15 p.m.

In many respects, fellowship around the table is where the church started. Christian author Max Lucado writes, “Long before the church had pulpits and baptisteries, she had kitchens and dinner tables.” In the book of Acts, St. Luke shares: “The believers met together in the Temple every day. They ate together in their homes, happy to share their food with joyful hearts” (Acts 2:46 NCV).

And second, we are planning a family picnic on Sunday, July 2^nd, from 11:00-12:30 on our campus. We’ll have a bounce house, pizza, shaved ice, a popcorn machine, and more.

Third, we have our annual support of the praise band and July 4^th Firecracker Run. This is a great opportunity to pass out cold water on a hot day. Meanwhile, we share praise music with our community.

Fourth, we have a number of hikes available this summer for you and your family. Our second hike will be July 15^th at Yorba Regional Park. In addition to this hike, we have a wonderful hike coming up on August 26^th at Crystal Cove.

Fifth, don't forget about a great opportunity to join us at Concordia for their Concert on the Green on Sunday, July 16^th. We have chartered a bus for your convenience. Be sure to sign up in the courtyard or contact the church office.

And finally, as many of you know, our youth ministry is sponsoring a couple of beach nights on June 28^th, July 19^th, and August 9^th. This is a great time to study God’s Word, fellowship, and enjoy sand and surf. To learn more or to sign-up for one of the beach nights, please be sure to contact Timothy, our DCE, at Hephatha’s church office.

In Acts 2:42 we read that one of the four things the early church devoted itself to was “fellowship.” We are not surprised that the early church devoted itself to “the apostles’ teaching,” “breaking of bread” (Lord’s Supper), and also “to prayer.” Luke tells us these early Christians also devoted themselves to fellowship. They just didn’t have fellowship; they devoted themselves to it. This means that fellowship was a priority. This summer, make fellowship a priority and be sure to join us for some of the fellowship opportunities.

I love the summer months and I truly love being your pastor!

I am looking forward to fellowshipping withmy church family.

In the wonderful name of Jesus,

	MARY’S KITCHEN Date: Thursday, June 29, 2017 Time: 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Hephatha will help serve breakfast to those in need at Mary’s Kitchen in Orange. Meet at Hephatha at 7:30 a.m.
	CHOC Date: Wednesday, July 12, 2017 Time: 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Help with crafts and setting up fun events for children and their families. Meet at Hephatha at 9:30 a.m.
	FIRST LUTHERAN Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2017 Time: 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Hephatha will help cook and serve dinner for those in the homeless community through Feed the Hungry at First Lutheran in Fullerton. Meet at Hephatha at 3:30 p.m.
	MARY’S KITCHEN Date: Thursday, August 3, 2017 Time: 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Hephatha will help serve breakfast to those in need at Mary’s Kitchen in Orange. Meet at Hephatha at 7:30 a.m.
	CHOC Date: Thursday, August 10, 2017 Time: 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Help with crafts and setting up fun events for children and their families. Meet at Hephatha at 9:30 a.m.
	VINEYARD FOOD BANK Date: Tuesday, August 15, 2017 Time: 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Food distribution to local families in need. Meet at Hephatha at 9:30 a.m.

To sign up please contact the church office at
714-637-0887 or HephathaChurch@Hephatha.net

Summer Lunch Time Bible Study

The influence of Jesus is vast. How did a penniless preacher become the central figure in human history? How did He manage to influence the fields of science, art, government, medicine, and education? Today our culture embraces human dignity, compassion, forgiveness, and tolerance because of what Jesus taught. We’ll sit down and talk about “Who Is This Man?” on four Wednesdays. We will watch a very powerful video series in Pastor’s office.

Sr. High Summer Cinema

We will be meeting Wednesday, July 12 at Cinema City to see Spider-man Homecoming. After the movie, we will be getting dinner and discussing the movie. Since showtimes are not out yet, please contact Timothy for exact times.

For more information contact Timothy at 714-637-0887 ext. 157 or tpotthoff@hephatha.net.

Taco Tuesday

Join us for a family-friendly fun Taco Tuesday with both friends and families at Hephatha. We will meet at El Torito on Tuesday, June 27 at 6:15 p.m. They are located at 22699 Oakcrest Circle, Yorba Linda, CA (Savi Ranch).

Ivan Rutherford’s acclaimed singing career includes over 2,300 performances playing the lead role of Jean Valjean in Les Miserables on Broadway for which he was nominated Best Actor at the first annual National Broadway Theatre Awards held in New York. His other prominent musicals include West Side Story, South Pacific, and Titanic. The concert will feature songs from theatre, stage, film and popular culture.

Hephatha Lutheran Church plans to charter a bus to the July 16 Concert on the Green featuring Ivan Rutherford. Cost for the bus charter is $15 per person. Children (10 and under) free. There is no cost for the concert. Participants are encouraged to bring a picnic lunch, dining on the green before or during the concert. The bus will leave Hephatha at 3:45 p.m. and return at approximately 8:00 p.m. Tickets may be purchased on the patio after each service on Sunday, June 18, and 25.

Here are some of the ministries at Hephatha in need of extra hands to carry out their ministry …

Video: Did you know that we have been working on making the messages from our services available in video format online? We need people to assist with the video camera, so we can video-cast the service. This will help people who can’t come to worship anymore. Or, if you miss worship, you can catch up from the comfort of your own home! Now, if you heard a message that’s touched your life you can share that message with friends and family. Plus, it’s a chance for people who are new to check us out before they attend church.

Praise Band & Tech: Love to sing, play an instrument, or just want to help out with the service. We are looking for people to join the praise band. We are also in need of people to help with the projection and sound during the service.

For more information contact the church office at
714-637-0887 or HephathaChurch@Hephatha.net

What is Happening at
Hephatha this Week

MONDAY: June 26

• No Junior High School Youth Group this week.

TUESDAY: June 27

• Taco Tuesday @ 6:15 p.m. at El Torito in Savi Ranch.
• Praise Band Rehearsal @ 7:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary.

WEDNESDAY: June 28

• Women’s Wednesday Morning Discussion @ 9:00 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall.
• "Who is this Man" Bible Study @ noon in Pastor's Office.
• Youth Beach night @ 3:45 p.m. at Huntington State Beach Tower #3.

THURSDAY: June 29

• doSOMETHING: Mary's Kitchen @ 7:30 a.m. Meet at Hephatha.

SUNDAY: July 2

• Services: 8:00 a.m., 9:30 a.m., and 11:00 a.m.
• Sunday School @ 9:30 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall.
• Child Care @ 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. in Room 6.
• Open in the Word Adult Bible Study @ 9:30 a.m. in the Youth Room.
• Family Picnic @ 11:00 a.m. on the School Field.
• No 6:01 p.m. service this week.

MONDAY: July 3

• Office Closed
• No Junior High School Youth Group this week.

TUESDAY: July 4 - Independence Day

• Office Closed in observance of Independence Day