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First Connections Team

Ken Blanchard teaches us to “catch people

doing something right” – and it is in that spirit

that I write today. We are known to be a friendly

church – it’s one of the accolades we get from

many of our visitors. Right from the moment

people walk in the front door of the sanctuary

we greet them and make them feel welcome.

So, consider yourself caught!

But now we would like to extend our friendliness

out onto the patio area. As newcomers walk

onto our campus they are often confused as to

where to go. It seems obvious to us: the building

that looks like a church and has a steeple on

top!

But many newcomers understandably assume

that the first building they encounter (the

Ministry Center) is the main building. We’ve

often found people standing out on the patio

with a confused look on their faces.

We need a team of people to help newcomers

MARCH 2016

find their way and to experience the

friendliness of Meadowlark as soon as they

walk onto our campus. This is doubly

important for new families with children.

They need know where to register their

children for Sunday School. At this time

Cathrine has to be the person on duty to

help them – and she has to oversee the

Sunday School at the same time. She

cannot be in two or three places at the

same time.

Research tells us that visitors decide

whether or not they will ever visit a church

again within the first eleven minutes on the

church campus – that’s before the worship

service has even begun! What makes a

huge difference is when they encounter

people who welcome them on their way

from the parking lot. So, this is a vital

ministry of every church - and it is one every

one of us can do!

Therefore, this is a recruiting message.

Please let me know that you want to be a

member of the First Connections Team by

filling in a Connection Card on Sunday

morning or email me at

raymond@meadowlarkchurch.com.

In the Joy of Serving Him!

Raymond van Pletsen

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CONNECTION GROUPS

Continuing

Monday

Open

Tuesday

Pastor Dave’s Study 1pm the Ministry Center and 7pm at the Shaw’s 1827 Redwing St. San Marcos CA 92078

Women’s Study at Paula Molta’s Tuesday nights at 7pm 7037 Crane Ct., Carlsbad, CA 92009

Wednesday

Reign Men (Men’s Group) 2nd and 4th Tuesdays. 8:30am in the Ministry Center.

Pastor Jake’s Study 3pm in the Ministry Center. “Starting 1 Corinthians

Sermon Based Study at David and Paula Molta’s Wednesday nights 7pm 7037 Crane Ct. Carlsbad, VS 92009

Youth Group – Salt & Light Night – meets Wednesday nights in the Ministry Center. For Youth 7 – 12 grades from 7 - 8:30pm

Thursday

Daniel & Revelation Bible Study 1pm in the Ministry

Center

Saturday

Ironmen…Men join us every Saturday 8am in the Ministry Center

By His Grace Homeless Outreach

‘INC’

In the Name of Christ By Bill Baker, Founder & Chair

wtbaker@roadrunner.com – 760-438-2482.

By His Grace “BHG” is also a founder and member

of “ARS” Alliance for Regional Solutions with the 35

other Charities and 9 Cities of North San Diego

County Developing a Program to Provide Shelter for

all the Homeless in the Nine Cities of North County

with all the San Diego County Services and

Community Services and Faith Centers in North

County.

There are 250+ homeless in Oceanside –

Escondido region that are opportunities to serve.

We have a history of getting 10-12 into recovery

programs such as Interfaith where I serve on the

Board. I lead Bible Study in the Winter Shelters

from December through March. Emphasis is

focused on “Physical Health”, “Financial Career”,

Mental & Education”, “Family & Home”.

Please contact me for more information at

wtbaker@roadrunner.com – 760-438-2482.

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Family Ministries

Happy Spring! The Easter season is quickly approaching and there a many egg-citing things

coming up for Spring! Invite friends and family!

Palm Sunday

March 20th - Kids Choir will sing and parade to celebrate our King at the beginning of both services.

We will have practices every week during Sunday school. Your kids won’t want to miss any of the fun!

Plus an extra rehearsal the day before on Saturday, March 19th @ 10am in the Chapel with the Youth

Band.

On March 20th, Please have kids arrive & check in at the Fireside room no later than 8:30 am for

sound check and performance prep. Attire will be pastel, spring colors, please. Nice shirt and

pants for boys, dresses or top and skirt for girls! Breakfast goodies provided for early birds!!

_________________________________

Easter Sunday 8:00am Sonrise service outdoors

(No Sunday School)

8:30am Breakfast

9:00am Contemporary Worship Service w/Sunday School

followed by

Eggstravaganza Egg Hunt @ 10:15

Plus a Jump House with super slide, crafts, and other fun activities!

10:30am Traditional Service

___________________________________________

Mark your calendars for

Vacation Bible School!!!

July 18-22 All children 4yrs. Up to 5th grade are welcome join the fun!

VBS program will be 9am-12:30pm with extended day program available until 3pm.

*Registration begins in May.

We need teachers, story tellers, station leaders, group leaders, and help with registration, snacks,

crafts, decorating, and much more.

Come to our VBS planning meeting if you would like join the fun and help by being a volunteer. May

22 @ 11:30 in the Ministry Center.

Calling all Youth!!! We need you at VBS too! If your youth is at least 6th grade or older, they can apply

to join our Youth Crew Guides. Must be available all week, meet all requirements, & attend the pre-

VBS 1- day training. Stay tuned for more info.

Visit our website: meadowlarkchurch.com Or contact: Cathrine@meadowlarkchurch.com

Blessings,

Cathrine Osthimer, Director of Children’s Ministry

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Easter Memories

What does Easter hold for you? As a child I

remember looking forward to a colorful Easter

basket filled with chocolate bunnies, colored eggs

and jelly beans! We would go out in the yard and

have an Easter egg hunt collecting the dozens of

eggs we had decorated the day before. I would

put on my new Easter dress and hat and go to

church where there was a wonderful smell of

lighted candles as I entered the sanctuary.

As an adult I have come to realize the true

meaning of Easter....celebrating the risen

Christ! Knowing that He was crucified for our sins,

suffering a terrible death on the cross, being

scoffed at and humiliated, mocked and beaten,

hanging on the cross until his last breath.

I will always cherish His final words as He hung

there dying with two criminals at his sides; " Father

forgive them for they do not know what they are

doing!" Yes, He forgave even this terrible

treatment he received and before drawing his final

breath he uttered in an audible voice, "Father Into

Your Hands I Commit My Spirit." Jesus gave

himself over to death as his heavenly Father

asked him to, not because of any sins that Jesus

had in his life, but to cover the sins of us who are

believers.

Easter Memories con’t

I am thankful that God sent his only son to die for

our sins and I am reminded of how much He

loves us and how blessed we are to be his

children! So when we think of Easter and we

celebrate it together, let's celebrate the One who

gave us eternal life through His death on the

cross. Jesus, the Christ.

Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore, since we have so

great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us

also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin

which so easily entangles us, and let us run with

endurance the race that is set before us, fixing

our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of

our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured

the cross, despising the shame, and has sat

down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Happy Easter

Bonnie Standard

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Mission News xon’t

We have joy in our hearts that as a faith-based

work, God has abundantly provided in various ways

the entire time.

This in itself has been a confirmation of His

blessing on this important specialized ministry. We

also rejoice that we have so many prayer partners

interceding for the fruitfulness and effectiveness of

this ministry. You are all a great blessing to us.

We rejoice in having reasonably good health as we

face the reality of aging. At the Drs. urging we

have lost some weight. We both exercise regularly

and are trying to eat less to keep the pounds off.

My wife stays active with her ceramics class and her

sewing business. I enjoy watching NBA LA

Clippers.

This letter is respectfully submitted by

Dorothy Kuster Chair of your Mission Board

Mission News

Compassion and Encouragement

Chaplain Phillips

Tri-City Hospital

The joy in our hearts is manifold. Most importantly

is the truth that God has sent His one and only Son

into the world, taking on flesh as a baby in

Bethlehem. Jesus sinless life and ultimate sacrifice

for our sins is indeed an amazing grace from God

that brings great joy to all who receive Him by

faith. He enables us to know and experience new,

abundant and eternal life. This is indeed the grand

message of hope that is shared with patients,

families and staff at the Medical Center where I

serve as a chaplain. It is my desire to speak truth in

love and compassion as well as demonstrate the

love of God as Christ's representative.

We rejoice that God has provided an outstanding

group of godly chaplains to minister in the name of

Jesus. With seven volunteers and two part time

chaplains alongside of me, the medical center has

quality compassionate spiritual care provided to

people in need. It is an unique front-line type of

ministry that requires much wisdom from God to

adapt to each and every circumstance. We rejoice

that it has been almost 12 years since our ministry

focus moved from church pastoral service to

hospital chaplaincy.

Let the resurrection joy lift us from

loneliness and weakness and despair to

strength and beauty and happiness.

~Floyd W. Tomkins

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Bible Verse for March

For I know the plans I have for you.

declares the Lord, plans to prosper

you and not to harm you, plans to

give you hope and a future.

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV).

More Mission News

Recently a committee for Meadowlark Missions &

Missionaries have asked us and we welcome the

opportunity to outline what we do. Below is our

mission & vision statement with a brief explanation

of our current activity. For more information,

please go to our website, our Facebook page or ask

us for a slideshow presentation that features photos

of our mission family.

• Our Mission : “Give hope to those in regions of

Baja California, Mexico where poverty and

hunger is a way of life.”

• Our Vision: “Provide local pastors and outreach

programs aid to establish a sustainable

environment with a solid foundation in Christ.

We are a non-profit 501(c) 3 organization founded

by Richard and Leslie Hytinen in 2008 and

currently managed by David Zorger, supported

entirely by private donations and operated

exclusively by volunteers.

We travel to regions of Baja California, Mexico

entering through the border crossing in Tecate, go

inland on Mex Hwy 3 through Palm Valley over a

mountainous pass through the town of El Testerazo,

onto Zaragoza and down through the Guadalupe

Valley to El Porvenir [about 60 miles from Tecate

port of entry.

Along the way we give aid to an orphanage whose

purpose is to care for new borns and children up to

18 years of age. We also give aid to 4 pastors with

outreach programs as well as a family of 6 who

struggle in a poor environment.

More Mission News con’t

Our aid consists of suppling Bibles and christian

tracks in Spanish for distribution along with

money contributions to acquire food and

supplies for our missions family. This is the

mission entrusted to us by its founders who

believed no matter what the age, we are all

God’s children and it’s our hope to continue

support of that vision.

Our purpose is God’s will be done in the

communities we serve and make every effort to

share His word with those our hearts touch.

What We Need :

• Money donations work best, It gives the

orphanage and Pastors the flexibility to meet

their immediate needs.

• We can always use volunteers and prayer in

support of our mission, its goals and vision.

Like us on Facebook… house of children

missions inc

visit us on our website…

www.houseofchildrenmissions.org

Blessings, House of Children Missions Inc. Director: David Zorger

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San Diego Blood Bank

Meadowlark Member Group “MLCC”

The most prominent thing affecting the blood donation network right now is the spread of the Zika Virus. The Zika Virus is spread by mosquito infection and there have been restrictions placed on donors who have traveled to countries that have tropical climates and are on the at risk list. The Center for Disease Control is requiring donors to wait at least 28 days before donating blood if you have traveled to countries in the following areas: Mexico including Baja, Central America, Caribbean, Cape Verde, Africa and South America. You can access a list of individual countries affected and more information at: http://abcnews.go.com/health/zika-virus-outbreak-impac . Please keep these travel restrictions in mind if you plan to donate.

Our next blood drive at Meadowlark will be on Sunday,

May 1, 2016 from 8 am until 1 pm. You may donate

before after and during both services. Our second blood

drive will be on Sunday, September 25, 2016 from 8 am

until 1 pm. All donations will benefit our MLCC donor

account for use by Meadowlark Church members in

cases of emergencies or scheduled surgeries where the

total units of blood required is not covered by

insurance. Our church family has been tremendously

responsive in our previous drives and through your

donations have provided a valuable out reach to our

surrounding communities that benefits those in

need. Thank you for your great support.

Take care and God Bless Bill Troop

JESUS LOVES US ALL SO MUCH

Jesus loves us all so much That He would bleed and die

He took upon His beaten back

The cross that saw Him crucified

Yes, He loved us all so much That He was scorned and scoffed

He took it all upon Himself For it was the will of God

God knew it was the only way,

The final sacrifice Jesus Christ, a sinless man, Would need to give His life

And even in the gift He gave We still have not yet known

The fullness of His mighty love

And the grace so freely shown

All He asks is that we all Repent and follow Him,

For He has made the way for us, Free from hurt and sin

Yes, God loved us all so much

And yes, He loves us still He longs for us to trust in Him

And do the Fathers will.

© By M.S.Lowndes

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March Ushers

Ushers and greeters Bob & Judy Wigand

David and Paula Molta Communion Bob & Judy Wigand

3/6 Lyle Birkley Steve Allen Marty McDougall Janice Birkley 3/13 Larry Hale Gordon Olson Joan Anderson Wade Thompson 3/20 Ken Kreutz Noni Kreutz Don Lovitt Bill Troop 3/27 Ruben Escovedo Ed Griffith Audrey Hillier Daisy McKennet

Please arrive ½ hour before the service when you

serve.

March Greeters

2nd Service

March 6th Fran Bowman Marlene Rogers

March 13th John Marks

Dorothy Marks

March 20th Dale Nanninga Ginny Nanninga

March 27th Shrylene Somers Gloria Esser

First Service Contemporary Service

THE GOOD NEWS CORNER

With Pastor Jake

GOOD NEWS FOR THE MONTH OF

MARCH. THE WINDS OF MARCH BRING MUCH

GOOD NEWS INTO OUR LIVES! THE GARDEN

TELLS US THAT "WE ARE WORTH IT, THE

CROSS TELLS US WE ARE FORGIVEN, THE

EMPTY TOMB TELLS US WE HAVE ETERNAL

LIFE, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT IS OUR

GUARANTEE. WOW, NOW THAT IS NOT JUST

GOOD NEWS, IT IS GREAT NEWS.

HALLELUJAH AND AMEN!!!

10:30 Service Traditional Service

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Frank Woods Mar 2 Marty McDougall Mar 3 Salma Rodrigez Mar 4 Gene Lloyd Mar 5 Ginny Nanninga Mar 6 JoAn Benzel Mar 8 Norma Steward Mar 8 Kittie Griffith Mar 9 Fran Harmon Mar 13 SueAnn Mitchell Mar 15 Dave Shaw Mar 19 Richard Kuntz Mar 19 Al Zimmerman Mar 23 Ryan Monaco Mar 24 Margaret Wood Mar 26 Al Eldridge Mar 27 Jesse McCall Mar 27 Joan Watson Mar 27 Barbara Schmad Mar 28 Jay Standard Mar 28 Ruben Escovedo Mar 29 Liam Hillier Mar 31

A BIG Happy Birthday to these people celebrating their

MARCH Birthdays!

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