November 30, 2011
Dear Saddleback Family,
Here are five items I want you to know about this week:
If you missed any of the five messages from last weekend, you can watch them online!
Click on the links below to watch each message:
Why Historians Take the Gospel Seriously - Dr. John Dickson
The Reliability of the New Testament - Dr. Sean McDowell
Ten Reasons We Know the New Testament is True - Dr. Frank Turek
The Truth in the First Three Chapters of Genesis - Dr. Paige Patterson
A Biblical Philosophy of Truth - Dr. Doug Groothuis
You can learn the truth about HIV/AIDS, and how to help families struggling with AIDS, at three services on Thursday, December 1 as we observe World AIDS Day at Saddleback. Join us in the Refinery on the Lake Forest campus for:
“AIDS: A Fearful Reality” 6:30 – 7:15 a.m.
“From Fearful to Fearless” 12:15 – 1:00 p.m.
“Fearless in the Father” 7:15 – 8:30 p.m. (with Crave)
I’m speaking this weekend, AND Sunday afternoon will be our last membership Class 101 of the year! If you haven’t attended Class 101, know that we love you, we appreciate you, and we want you to join us this week! Register for Class 101 here.
If you’d like to give any of my books as Christmas gifts to your family or friends, I’d be happy to sign them for you. Just drop off the books at our church office. The receptionist will give you a card to fill out and leave with your books. You can also purchase books and pick up additional cards from the church bookstore which is open on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. I’ll sign the books and you can pick them up next week from the church bookstore.
HELP US NOT REPEAT WHAT HAPPENED TWO YEARS AGO!
Do you remember the crisis that hit all American churches during Christmas two years ago? Christmas fell on a Saturday, so millions missed their regular weekend worship services. That low attendance weekend meant low tithes, which created a big deficit for most churches. Gratefully, at Saddleback our deficit was made up in 48 hours because you mailed in your offering, gave online, or brought it to the church office. Your generosity made national news, and made me so proud of your maturity!
Now, this year the problem is DOUBLED!
1. We’re cancelling our December 10 – 11 services so we can serve our neighbors!
2. Christmas Day is on Sunday this year, which means many of you will miss two services this month.
So here’s my request: Please bring TWO WEEKS of your regular offering THIS WEEKEND to cover the two weekends you’ll miss! In the middle of a recession we’re trying to open our new PEACE CENTER which will help the poor, sick, and unemployed. Your gift matters more than ever right now! So give this weekend, or better yet, you can give online here.
I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR YOU! MERRY CHRISTMAS!