First Christian First Christian Church held its annual potluck picnic on July 16 at the chapel, an event hosted by Carol Speake and Sue Kaminski.

Festive tables featured red and white checkered tablecloths and matching napkins.

More than 80 American flags were displayed on every fence post and throughout the entire chapel area.

Bible study begins at 9 a.m. this Sunday, with Elder Jack Frost teaching from the book of Acts. All are welcome to attend the classes.

The hospitality room opens at 9:30 a.m. for fellowship and light refreshments.

Worship service starts at 10:15 a.m. with Pastor Bruce Humes, followed by Margaret Humes leading the congregation in hymns of worship.

Pastor Gene Cherryholmes will present the Communion meditation and service and pianist Rhonda Sandberg will play “I Can Hear My Savior Calling” during the offertory.

Gypsy Cherryholmes will read Scripture from Mark 10:42-45. Bette Fritz will sing “The Old Rugged Cross.”

Pastor Cherryholmes will present his message for the day “Servant of All.”

Prayer and verse-by-verse Bible studies during the week are held on Tuesdays with Pastor Humes and on Thursdays with Pastor Cherryholmes, both at 9:30 a.m.

For the Wednesday home study class in Leisure World, call Sue Dougherty at 430-5170.

The Calvary Chapel Bible study meets in the chapel at 6 p.m. on Thursdays with Pastor Phil O’Malley.

Call the church office at 431-8810 on Mondays or Fridays between 9-11 a.m. for information or leave a message.

Beit HaLev

Beit HaLev, House of the Heart, invites congregants to its home Shabbat at 7 p.m. on Friday, July 29.

It will be the first of a series of home Shabbats to give housebound members an opportunity to worship with fellow congregants.

Call 596-3767 for the location.

The Torah reading for July 29 and 30 is Pinchas, Numbers 25:10-30:1. In it, Moses decrees that women may inherit from their fathers. Until then, only a son or other male family member could inherit.

Congregation members who are housebound and unable to come to services are asked to contact Rabbi Galit Levy-Slater about hosting a service in their home.

Beit HaLev can provide rides to services, if needed.

For those who need to observe Yahrzeit for a loved one or a prayer for healing, Rabbi Galit conducts an online Ma’ariv (evening) service every Thursday from 3:45 to 4:45 p.m. through live streaming on the Internet.

Sim Shalom, the online synagogue, provides online Ma’ariv services Monday through Friday year-round with a different rabbi each day. To access it, go to http://simshalom.com, click on “Online Services.

Services are recorded and those who cannot attend can observe them at their convenience.

For more information, contact Rabbi Levy-Slater at 715-0888 or 493-2680

Redeemer Lutheran

“Eat , Drink and Be Merry!” is the theme of this Sunday’s sermon at Redeemer Lutheran Church.

Pastor Gil Moore will use Luke 12:13-21 as the gospel lesson.

Soloist Pastor Lynda Elmer will sing “My Life Flows on in Endless Song.” Greeters will be Joan and Russ Cullimore. Altar flowers will be provided by Maria Swift in memory of her father.

The Sunday service begins at 10:30 a.m. with a Mission Moment presentation by Flo Nesland.

Coffee hour follows the service in the fellowship hall when July birthdays will be celebrated.

Bible class, led by Pastor Lynda Elmer, meets in the fellowship hall from 10:30-11:30 a.m. on Wednesdays.

On Aug. 3, the first chapter of the Epistle of James will be discussed.

 Website for the congregation is available at www.redeemerlutheransealbeach.com

The Respite Center offers adult day care on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.

For more information or to register, call 596-1209.

SBCSL

Rev. Joshua Reeves will conclude his series on Pathways to Prospering at 9 and 11 a.m. on Sunday at the Seal Beach Center for Spiritual Living (SBCL).

His topic will be “Broke Open” and will feature Daniel Namod as musical guest.

The center is located at 500 Marina Drive, Seal Beach, and everyone is welcome.

Wednesday services begin at the new time of 6:30 p.m.

The theme for August will be“We All Matter.” In the first presentation on Aug. 3, Michael Heinle will speak on the topic “Stepping into Your Power.”

Namod will appear in concert at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 31. Suggested donation is $10. He will play songs from his album “Cornerstone,” plus others.

The second session begins on Aug. 1 for Children ages 5-12.

Registration forms are available at online: www.sbcsl.org

Ongoing activities include yoga on Mondays and Wednesdays at 8:30 a.m. with Susan Jones and “Course In Miracles” Mondays,  noon-1:30 p.m. with George Moriarty.

Practitioners are available Sundays for short spiritual mind treatment.       

For additional information, call the church office at 598-3325.

To watch or listen to past sermons, go to www.sbcsl.org online.

LW Baptist

Members of Leisure World Baptist Church will meet at 8:40 a.m. this week for Sunday school in Clubhouse 4. Morning worship follows at 9:45.

Pastor Rolland Coburn’s message will be from Exodus 9, “Tell Your Grandchildren.”

Darlene Harris and Christine Morell will provide special music and the choir will sing “This Could Be the Dawning.”

The congregation will sing “O’ That Will be Glory for Me,” and the chorus will be, “Something Beautiful.”

Following the service, the church family will have lunch and fellowship.

All are invited to attend.

For more information, call 430-2920.

Assembly of God

“Miracles from Heaven,” a popular new film, will be shown at 6 p.m. on Friday, July 29.

It’s the true story of a young child who is miraculously healed because of an accident.

The film is sponsored by Assembly of God Church in Leisure World.

For more information, call 343-3655.

Little Flower Guild

The Little Flower Guild will hold its monthly card party at noon on Thursday, Aug. 4, in Clubhouse 2. Pinochle, bridge and canasta games will be played.

Everyone is welcome to attend, but a table of four is necessary to play, so bring partners.

People who want to substitute for bridge or who need a substitute are asked to call Gail Mandell at 799-0117.

Cost is $1 per person and refreshments will be served.

For more information, call 799-0117.

Aglow International

Aglow International will hold a luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 11, at Mimi’s Restaurant, 6670 E.Pacific Coast Highway, Long Beach. Men and women are welcome.

Reservations should be made by Aug. 8 by calling 343-8066.

Community Church

Community Church welcomes Kelly Frankiewicz, new pastoral assistant, to the pulpit on July 31. Her sermon will bring to life her water color painting titled, “Windows on Eternity: Salt and Light.”

The Scripture reference is Matthew 5:13-16. The lay liturgist will be Mary Maness. Guest organist will be Don Frederickson. Worship services begin at 9:50 followed by a coffee hour.

Matthew 5:13-16 states, “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world.”

The Scripture encourages all godly people to share what they know of the Divine with others. Scripture says:“Your life may be the only gospel your neighbor ever hears, so let your light shine.”

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Pastor Roe will continue the summer book study, “Spirituality and the 12 Steps” from 10:30 a.m.-noon on Aug. 2 in the Fireside Room. It’s based on the book by Richard Rohr titled, “Breathing Underwater.”

The class will meet on Tuesdays through Sept. 7 in the Fireside Room.

The book is available for $10 at the church office. This 12-step study is open to everyone. The group can be joined anytime during the series.

Faith Christian Assembly

Pastor Sheri Leming will discuss what it means to be “the light of the world” at the 10:30 a.m. service on Sunday, July 31, at Faith Christian Assembly.

As the world seems to be growing darker, many people hope for positive change,she said.

In Matthew 5:14, Jesus made what Martin Lloyd Jones calls, “one of the most astounding and extraordinary statements about the Christian that was ever made.”

Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.”

Pastor Sheri will provide a good understanding of the Scripture.

Faith Christian Assembly is located at 13820 Seal Beach Blvd., outside the St. Andrews Gate, in Seal Beach.

Sunday services include: adult Bible class at 9:30 a.m., early worship at 10:30 a.m., and celebration worship at 5:30 p.m.

The Faith Fellowship Group meets at 11 a.m. on Tuesdays in the Garden Room. Midweek Bible study meets at 7 p.m. on Wednesday in the Garden Room.

For a free newsletter and more information, call 98-9010 or visit www.FCAchurch.net

Holy Family Catholic

Holy Family Catholic Church will celebrate the18th Sunday in Ordinary Time this week.

The first reading is Ecclesiastes 1:2; 2:21-23; the responsorial psalms are 190:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14, 17; the second reading, Colossians 3:1-5, 9-11; the Alleluia, Matthew 5:3; and the Gospel, 1 Luke 12:13-21.

The church celebrates Sunday Mass at 8 a.m., 10 a.m. and noon.

The Vigil Mass is 5 p.m. on Saturday; and daily Mass begins at 8:30 a.m., Monday-Saturday.

Confessions are heard Saturday and eves of Holy Days, 4 -4:45 p.m., and first Fridays, 7:15 a.m.

•••

The Life in the Spirit Seminar continues from 1-2:15 p.m. on Tuesdays through August in the church.

For more information, call Kathie Paradis at 375-0871.

St. Theodore

The Rev. Reese Riley returns to St. Theodore Episcopal Church on Sunday, July 31. He will be the Celebrant for Holy Communion.

Rev. Riley arrives one week early to take over for Rev. Lisa Rotchford, who will be in Oxford, England, studying for her doctorate in theology.

Rev. Riley’s homily will feature the Scriptures of the 11th Sunday after Pentecost: Ecclesiastes, Colossians and Luke, Chapter 12.

The service begins at 10:30 a.m. in the Clubhouse 3 lobby. A coffee hour follows in Room 9. All are welcome.

The Service of Morning Prayer will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 3 at in the Chapel, 1240 Oakmont Road, 52-B.

Table Fellowship

The Table Fellowship will meet at 5:30 p.m., Friday, Aug. 12, at the Mutual 10 home of Doris Sandrick, 3110 Seaview Lane, 245-D.

A free soup dinner will be served, and fellowship will revolve around the table.

Those who seek a deeper relationship with God and others are invited.

All backgrounds and beliefs are welcome.

The group meets on the second and fourth Fridays of the month.

Due to limited space, reservations are required by calling Sandrick at (714) 896-0140.

Christian Women

The Christian Women’s Fellowship and Bible study will meet at 10 a.m. on Monday, Aug.8, in Clubhouse 3, Room 6.

Members will be continuing the study of 1 Corinthians.

All residents are welcome to attend.

The group meets the second and fourth Mondays of the month.

For more information, call Jean Davidson at 431-0597 or 594-8100.

Good Shepherd

Two worship services are offered every Sunday at Good Shepherd Church of Los Alamitos.

The first service at 9 a.m. features traditional classic hymns.

A modern contemporary band leads the second service at 10:45 a.m.

 Free dinners are served every Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.

The church is two miles north of the main gate on Los Alamitos Boulevard.

For more information, call 493-2553.