News From A Light In The Valley
Matt 5:14-16 "Ye are the light of the world...Let your light so shine!"
The San Jose Congregation of the Worldwide Church of God Summer 2002 Vol. 6 No. 3

We don't get to play, play, play like we used to as a child. We get to work, work, work. It reminds me of that scripture in 1 Corinthians 13:11. "When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things." In a way that's what our high school graduates are doing.

I hope you'll read some of their thoughts in our special graduates section of this newsletter. Yes, we put away childish things and have to work harder. Yet, God also tells us to become as little children. Mike Ferranti shares what that means in his article. So in the midst of that work, work, work let's slow down a little so we can rekindle some of that joy and ecstasy we experienced as children. Believe it or not, it can bring you closer to God.
But whether you are young or old or all the ages in between, I hope you enjoy this edition of a Light in the Valley. It was written especially for you!

God bless!
Barbara Dahlgren

Statue of Liberty
The following was read by Abby Hulog during Church Life to honor our mothers the day before Mother's Day…

Jesus told his followers that they were the light of the world. He said in Matthew 5:14-16, "You are the light of the world like a city that is set on a hill that cannot be hid. Men do not light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick so it can give light to all that are in the house. So let your light so shine among men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven."

Our light will shine brightly throughout the world as we pour God's love into our homes.
The Statue of Liberty is a symbol of freedom and hope to millions who visit New York Harbor each year. She holds her torch high and shines her light for all to see. Did you know that Lady Liberty is the image of the sculptor's own mother? When Frederic Bartholdi needed a heroic figure for his work, he searched far and wide for the perfect model. When it finally came down to it, he chose his very own mother.

Now, it is his mother's face that graces the skyline of New York City. It is her torch that shines brightly, reminding us all that our influence is lasting and eternal. The parallel here is clear. May we let the light of Christ shine brightly through us to all we meet and especially to the members of our families! And let us never underestimate the lasting influence of a mother.

Personal from the Pastor
By Mel Dahlgren

Why Our Focus In 2002 of  "Embracing the Truth" Is Critical
Our FUTURE is at stake. Please read the SHOCKING SURVEY results below:
A recent pair of nationwide studies conducted by the Barna Research Group of Ventura, California showed that less than one out of three born-again Christians adopt the notion of absolute moral truth. The surveys also found that few Americans turn to their faith as the primary guide for their moral and ethical decisions.

The results of a Barna press release (available at www.barna.org) are disturbing. Regarding absolute truth, 64% of adults said truth is always relative to the person and their situation. The statistics were worse among teenagers. 83% said moral truth depends on the circumstances. Even among born-again adults, only 32% said they believe in moral absolutes. Youth numbers are much worse: "only 9% of born again teens believe in moral absolutes."

The surveys also asked people to indicate how they make moral decisions. According to the Barna report, "The most common basis for moral decision-making was doing whatever feels right or comfortable in a situation." George Barna uses this data to explain why many Christians believe that activities such as abortion, gay sex, sexual fantasies, cohabitation, drunkenness and viewing pornography are morally acceptable. "Without some firm and compelling basis for suggesting that such acts are inappropriate, people are left with philosophies such as ‘if it feels good, do it,' ‘everyone else is doing it,' or ‘as long as it doesn't hurt anyone else, it's permissible' to do."

To put it in Barna's words, "The Church is in trouble." Sermons, Sunday school classes, and Bible study groups can't solve this problem if people don't accept the basic principles of truth being taught. If these issues aren't addressed, "the strength of the church will be undermined for at least another generation, and probably longer."
Shocking, isn't it??   What do all these statistics and interpretations mean for us? Are we basing our decisions on God's word or our own view about God's word? Exactly what does God say about truth?

JOHN 17:17 shows us that God's WORD is TRUTH, not our opinions. If circumstances determine truth, our foundation is sand.
PROVERBS 14:12 says that what seems right to man ends in DEATH.  What is homosexuality producing?  Let's be honest.
In JOHN 14:6 God says His Son IS the source of truth.  Why shouldn't He be?  He MADE us. (Col 1:16-19)
How clear!  What Jesus says is rock solid.  He is the ROCK we must build our house upon. (Matthew 7:24)

When our homes, our churches, our nation, which begins with our personal lives, are built upon the ROCK, Jesus Christ, then the TRUTH is no longer conditional, it is solid as a ROCK.
As we complete the last half of 2002, let's "Embrace the Truth" by asking God to reveal HIS TRUTH to each of us, personally; TRUTH that we have not yet seen and that He yearns for us to understand.  Our future is at stake. 

You will be glad you did when you read His promise in John 8:32.

Personal from the Pastor's Wife
By Barbara Dahlgren

Do I Want to See?
Sight Unseen is the name of an article in the June issue of Discover magazine that caught my eye. It recounts the true story of Mike May, a man who lost his sight at the age of 3 when a jar of lantern fuel fell and exploded in his face. But Mike was not going to let being blind slow him down. He played flag football and soccer in school. He holds the world speed record for downhill skiing by a blind person. He earned a master's degree in international affairs at Johns Hopkins, worked for the CIA, and became president of a company that makes talking Global Positioning Systems for the blind. He even found time to marry and have two children. Then recently, with modern technology, a miraculous surgery gave him back his sight. According to the surgeons, May's eyes now have a lens that ought to provide crystal clear vision. But…it doesn't.

Since Mike May was blind from childhood, his "brain has never been programmed to fully process the visual information it receives." Therefore, Mike still has a seeing-eye dog and walks by tapping the sidewalk with his cane. He is "a blind man with vision." Sight signals go to the brain but they are not being interpreted well. He should be able to discern letters on an eye chart from 25 feet away but he can only see them at 2 feet away. He can't distinguish a cube from a sphere. Basically, although Mike has his sight, he now has to learn to see. It's going to be a long, drawn out process. It won't be easy.

This helps me to realize how amazing it was when Jesus healed the man blind from birth in John 9. Of course, it was a miracle that the man gained sight, but according to the scientific data we now have available to us, it was a miracle he could see clearly after Jesus gave him his sight. In Luke 18 a blind beggar was persistent in shouting to Jesus as he passed. Was Jesus asking a foolish question when he said, "What do you want of me?" It was obvious that the blind beggar wanted to see. "Lord, I want to see." Perhaps Jesus knew that gaining sight is a tricky thing. When we gain sight, sometimes we don't see as well as we would like. Sometimes we see things we don't want to see.

Spiritually speaking, God does not wish us to be blind. He wants to reveal His truth to us. He wants us to have minds ready to assimilate that truth. He wants us to see clearly. But do we really want to see? Do I really want to see? To see means I might have to actually study the Bible rather than just rely on what I think it says. To see means I might not only have to believe what God says but act on it. To see means I might have to learn how to worship God in spirit and truth. To see means I might need to reevaluate why I do what I do. To see means that things may be hazy for a little while until my brain programs the information. To see means I might actually need to change. It's a much more complicated process than we might think.
So do I really want to see? I hope so. When I sing, "Open the eyes of my heart, Lord," do I really mean it? I hope so. I pray that God helps me to want to see so when He asks, "What do you want of me?" I can say, "Lord, I really do want to see!"

The Younger Set
By Kristen Burnsides

We have been studying about famous families in our Bible lessons.  There are many kinds of families mentioned in the Bible:  adopted, grandparented, single parented, blinded, foster, two parents and multi-generational.  We read a scripture and then have a discussion about the meaning.  My favorite one was Esther.  Esther was raised by her cousin, Mordecai, because she had no parents.  He raised her as his own daughter.  She later became a queen and saved her people.

As a homework assignment, we took a family survey.  We were to rank how our family was doing in the virtues named in Colossians 3:12-14.
We also studied about Abram, Sara and Lot.  As a family, they faced many changes.  They were told to go wherever God told them to go.  If they obeyed, they would be blessed.  As part of the lesson, we were to rate ourselves on picture thermometers.  The question we needed to ask was, "When changes take place in your family, do you think of yourself or can other family members count of you to help?"

As a special treat, if we complete our assignments and/or memory work, when class is over we go to 7/11 and get a Slurpy!  Yum!  Yum!

Did You Know?
By Anthony Garside

Continue in Faith
Did you know that after we have received Jesus Christ and our names are written in the Book of Life we have to continue in faith?

In Hebrews 10:36 we are told, "You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised." Verse 38 says, "my righteous ones will live by faith."  We show our faith by simple continuance in trusting God. We show it by doing God's will throughout our lives, not just in the first saving acceptance of Jesus Christ's sacrifice for our sins.

Roger Fossa, who as most of you know died in the faith recently, is one of the precious saints who has portrayed faith to us so vividly, personally, and tangibly. Roger endured a lot of pain and suffering in his life, both physically and emotionally, but he hardly ever spoke of it. Instead he wanted to focus on his friends and their lives. He wanted to pass on his cheerfulness and faith to others by letters of encouragement or in the things he said. Quoting from his memorial brochure: "Most people who knew Roger experienced his generosity. He helped those who were sick, caring for many friends. God was at the center of his life, motivating his compassion for others." He really did pass on his faith!! On our last visit to him he told us, "My bags are packed and I'm ready to go." He also told us he'd be waiting for us in the next life! You can't see faith but Roger made it very real!!

Christians like Roger Fossa and Christians now living have their names written in the Book of Life. And many other names could be added figuratively to another book, which is Hebrews 11 commonly called the faith chapter.

Hebrews 11:1 states that faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Here's a summary of points about faith that the author of Hebrews makes for us.
1. Faith takes God at His Word without seeing the final outcome. (v. 8)
2. Faith does not underestimate the power of God. (v. 1)
3. Faith attains the righteousness of salvation. (v. 40)
4. Faith never fears death. (v. 35)
5. Faith pleases God. Without faith we cannot please God. (v. 6)
6. Faith prepares. (v. 7)
7. Faith obeys. (v. 8)
8. Faith lives as an alien in the land. (v. 9)
9. Faith receives ability. (v. 29)
10. Faith lives as a pilgrim and a stranger. (v. 13)
11. True faith passes the test. (v. 19)
12. Faith does not always deliver us from present trials. (v. 35)
13. Faith has to make a choice. (v. 25)
14. Faith chooses to run the race. (v. 1)
15. Faith is not faith until it is tested. (v. 17)
16. Because of faith God is not ashamed to be called our God. (v. 16)
17. Faith comes by hearing. How will they hear if we are silent? (Romans10:17)

Let's never give up! We are surrounded by living examples of faith and faithfulness in the heroes of old AND in our brothers and sisters today.

Truth in the Workplace
By Aimee McNally, CB

According to James Patterson and Peter Kim in their book, The Day America Told the Truth, lying is rampant in the workplace. Their nationwide survey found that 64% of people said "yes" when confronted with this statement: "I will lie when
it suits me so long as it doesn't cause any real damage." The authors wrote, "91% of those surveyed lie routinely about matters they consider trivial, while 36% lie about important matters…the majority of us find it hard to get through a week without lying. One in five can't make it through a single day."

The secular workplace views truth as malleable and adaptable to one's perceived needs and styles. Allan Bloom's The Closing of the American Mind says, "The average student attending college today has determined that everything is relative and there is no truth. Young people coming into the workplace are not seeking the truth. They take the easy way, the way that provides the quickest gratification. They are not seeking alternative solutions. They are not searching for creative, truthful choices. Thus, the closing of the American mind!"

Am I my brother's (or colleague's) keeper? Do Christians have a responsibility to expose their colleague's untruthfulness? Exposing them publicly may not be appropriate, however, we can expose them to God (Eph 5:11). Ask God to forgive them, turning their hearts to the Truth. God gives the Christian worker a limited sphere of control. The Christian can claim that sphere for God. The light of prayer and truth will penetrate the dark work environment. One beam
of light in a dark room has tremendous effect.

How should a Christian uphold truth in the workplace? Make a goal of careful honesty in every interaction. Choose the narrow path, the path of thoughtfulness. Be willing to struggle with choices and decisions, but do not struggle alone. In fervent prayer, ask God to reveal the true Christian perspective. Realize that being a perfect Christian is beyond human ability, but do not use that as justification. At the end of the day, pray for forgiveness and wisdom for tomorrow. The occasional slip of the lip should be a learning experience. Use the experience to understand and see the Godly way to do business. Reflect on what caused the lie. Would a more honest work environment help? Would a closer relationship with Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit help during tense moments?

On waking in the morning and during tense moments at work, ask one important question, "Whom am I working for today?" The answer is God, not the employer, not myself, not my team, not my paycheck. Eph 6:7 says, "Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men." Truthfulness glorifies and serves God. One facet of the Christian Business Leader's mission is to, "discover how to conduct business in a Christ-like manner and glorify God." We are no longer slaves to sin. We no longer worship the god of this world. We worship a better and true God. Let's glorify Him with truthfulness in the workplace.

Christian Business Leaders
Michael and Aimee McNally coordinate our Christian Business Leaders Association (CBL). They meet at our church fellowship hall the third Monday night of each month at 7:15 p.m. Keynote speakers are prominent business leaders in our community who just happen to be Christians. If you have any questions just call them at (408) 517-9709 or visit www.cblw.org. They also publish a Christian Business Leaders Newsletter called the Beacon. Be sure to read Aimee's insightful article in this newsletter. We are privileged to have her as a regular columnist for Light in the Valley.

Watsonville News
By Mary Webb

Can you believe another three months are gone?  Time flies so quickly for us all.  This period started off with a bang.  We had the Wedding of the Year!  As you all know, Priscilla and Rodger Bauer got married on April 20th.  As well publicized as the event was, no further news is necessary.

This quarter has been a trial for many of our members.  Most appropriately, Warren Hill gave us a sermon on June 1st on "Are Your Burdens Killing You"?  I'm sure some of us felt that way.  We are so blessed that if we have a relationship with Jesus, who has the Power, He will see us through.  Just trust in HIM!

Bill Mason and his family went through one of these trials when his father had to go through a very serious eye operation.  Bill went to be with his father during this time of stress.  The operation was successful.

Carolyn Parker, an over-worked nurse, had a stroke in her apartment and lay unconscious for four days before she was rescued.  Amazing how God pulled her through.  After a few weeks in the hospital and physical therapy, she moved back to Kentucky with her family's help.  She's already looking forward to returning to California.  Here again our fervent prayers were answered.

Next, Josephine Bingham had a serious fall in church and broke her hip.  The same day she was operated on and spent some time in a convalescent hospital.  Now she's at home and beginning to walk again.  Another answer to prayers!

Even Chris Cepin and I had our problems.  Chris fell twice and tore a ligament in her knee, keeping her glued to her couch.  For the last month my arm has been infected due to a dialysis situation.  But God has been true and faithful to heal us all as He promised, as long as we are faithful in our prayers, putting our trust in him.

We celebrated three graduations in June. Nina Woodard graduated from UC Santa Cruz, and Lilly Ramirez and Tim Cepin graduated from high school. We pray God's blessings for their future plans.

Our two cell groups are going strong.  We are focusing more and more on our vision for the future with God's guidance.

From Our Sister Churches to the North San Francisco & San Leandro
By Jim Roberts

Christ Presbyterian Celebrates 50th
It's a "jubilee" Sunday for Christ Presbyterian on June 30th!  Established in 1952, the host congregation where the San Leandro Worldwide Church of God (WCG) meets will celebrate its 50th year of existence.  The day will also feature a tribute to retiring pastor, Dr. Charles Stewart.  All four churches that meet on the campus are invited to participate in the Services and meal.

By the time you read this, it will probably be a past event.  I will try and update you in the next issue.  I can report that the San Leandro church hosted Dr. Stewart (Pastor Chuck to us) on Saturday, June 22.  He was our guest speaker and his message was much appreciated.  As Hagar and Ishmael learned after they were expelled and sent to the desert by Sarah, God is there when He seems the farthest away.  "When things seem the most bleak, God is closer than ever," Pastor Chuck said.  He had lots of encouragement for us in our church journey.  Chuck, his wife, Nancy, and his mother-in-law were guests of honor at our potluck following.  We acknowledged them for the years of good relationship they have offered to us.

Some of you know that my wife Hazel has been Chuck's part time secretary for a few years.  Now that Chuck is retiring, the Session (Presbyterian Board) asked her if she would go full time status and become Parish Administrator.  Hazel now works 32 hours and will broaden her responsibilities to include management of facility use and of financial resources, and who know what else? 

On a closing note, the brethren of San Francisco and San Leandro appreciated the article published in Light in the Valley about the kidney transplant between the sisters Caranto and Ongchangco.  The full page including the photos was very nicely done.  The families requested some additional copies.  The story was featured on the back page of the June Worldwide News also, but the local story was better!  Our thanks to Barbara and the entire staff for the quality work regularly done on the San Jose Newsletter.      

Become as a Little Child
By Mike Ferranti

Recently, Chester Harris gave a sermon entitled "God Really Loves You." He mentioned that unless we change and become like little children, we will never enter the kingdom of heaven. So, how would I go about changing myself to become like a little child? Does that mean acting like a child or does that mean acting like an adult but without all of the preconceived ideas and prejudices adults tend to have?

If you watch children or spend some time with them, you can analyze the way they go about living their lives. They play with innocence. They act out what they see. They are unpretentious. They generally don't have hidden agendas or motives. For the most part, they have good intentions. They don't tend to judge or criticize others. They accept any and all races of children who want to do what they are doing, playing and having fun. If they fall and hurt themselves, we should pick them up and give them comfort, love, and a sense that we really do care about them, just like our loving Father does for us. When we make a mistake, disappoint them, or hurt their feelings, we take them into our arms and say we are sorry. We try to explain the mistake we made and again apologize to them. They smile and say, "That's okay, daddy. I love you and I forgive you." And sometimes this makes us cry.

Children are quick to forgive. Children are ready and willing to show us love and affection. They hold no past grudges or evil thoughts about our mistakes. The more I watch little children and spend time with them, the more I can learn about what it means to become as a little child. Here are just a few things I must do to become as a little child.

• I must not have ill feelings about any race of people past or present. I must not judge a whole race or group based on what one person does.
• I have to quickly forgive and forget and do my best to not bring it up again. I must not hold anything against anyone, bear grudges, or seek revenge.
• I must not dwell on mistakes that some have made.
• I must accept people for who they are and not judge.
• I must be willing to show love and affection.
• I must think the best of others.

I may not have all the answers but the above is a start. God will set up his perfect government on earth soon. In the mean time, I must continue doing good and thinking good. I must have love and concern towards everyone and that means every single person on the earth, past and present. I must continue to pray, "Father, please help me become as a little child…Amen!"

Children In Church
A little child in church for the first time watched as the ushers passed the offering plates. When they neared the pew where he sat, the youngster piped up so that everyone could hear: "Don't pay for me Daddy, I'm under five."

A 6-year-old was overheard reciting the Lord's Prayer at a church service: "And forgive us our trash passes, as we forgive those who passed trash against us."

A boy was watching his father, a pastor, write a sermon." How do you know what to say?"  he asked.  "Why, God tells me."  "Oh, then why do you keep crossing things out?"

After the christening of his baby brother in church, little Johnny sobbed all the way home in the back seat of the car. His father asked him three times what was wrong. Finally, the boy replied,  "That priest said he wanted us brought up in a Christian home, and I want to stay with you guys!"

Terri asked her Sunday School class to draw pictures of their favorite Bible stories. She was puzzled by Kyle's picture, which showed four people on an airplane, so she asked him which story it was meant to represent. "The flight to Egypt," said Kyle. "I see ... and that must be Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus," Ms. Terri said. "But who's the fourth person?"  "Oh, that's Pontius - the Pilot.

The Sunday School Teacher asks, "Now, Johnny, tell me frankly do you say prayers before eating?"  "No sir," little Johnny replies, "I don't have to. My Mom is a good cook."

Church Happenings

April 2002

Beulah Gray
Beulah Gray, one of our shut-ins, passed away on Tuesday morning, April 2. Beulah lived and taught school in Santa Rosa before moving in with her daughter, Alice Russ, in Sunnyvale in 1995. David Essenmacher brought her to church occasionally and brought her cassette tapes of our church services when she couldn't come. Beulah loved our church and will greatly missed.

Congratulations Rodger and Priscilla!
Rodger and Priscilla Bauer were married on April 20 in a lovely rustic setting at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Salinas, CA. Friends and family helped them celebrate the occasion with dinner, dancing, toasting, and cake. Rodger and Priscilla reside in the San Jose area, where Priscilla will be taking a teaching position in the San Jose Unified School District. The happy couple will be leaving soon for an extended, belated honeymoon to New Zealand.

Bill and Bertha Bryce Visit
Bill and Bertha Bryce, who served in the ministry in our area a few years ago, came for a visit in April. Bill and Bertha have retired and are now living in the Salt Lake City, Utah area. Bill spoke a little to our congregation about the time they served in San Jose and about their retirement. Bill and Bertha were and still are loved by all in this area. It was good to see them again!

Portland Conference
A Regional Worldwide Church of God Conference was held in Portland, OR on April 26-28. Guest speakers from our headquarters in Pasadena, CA included Joe Tkach, Mike Feazell, Dan Rogers, and Ron Kelly. Warren Hill said he learned a lot and "I especially enjoyed the early morning prayer sessions."

Appreciation Shown for National Volunteers Week
Luanna Leisure, our Fellowship Ministry coordinator, honored volunteers during our Church Life segment at church services in April for Volunteer Appreciation Week. Linda Smith, our Administration Ministry coordinator, along with assistants, Tony and Myrna Paulino, honored volunteers in their area in May. Each volunteer received a little gift and much appreciation from the congregation. Many hands make light work. Although the work we do for our church can seem heavy at times, it would be so much more difficult without the help of the many people who volunteer. Thanks to you all! You are appreciated!

May 2002

International Pot Luck
On May 11 we had an international potluck, followed by an afternoon of fun and games. Since it was the day before Mother's Day, we honored our mothers with a special cake and each one received a beautiful red rose.

June 2002

Tanner Herlofson Blessed
At the close of church service on June 1, a special prayer was given for little Tanner Herlofson, grandson of Herb and Luanna Leisure. Todd and Tracy (Luanna's daughter) Herlofson now reside in Mesa, Arizona. Todd is the son of Ted and Opal Herlofson who were from this area many years ago.

Happy Anniversary!
The San Jose congregation surprised Pastor Mel and wife, Barbara, during church with a gift of champagne to celebrate their 33rd anniversary. Barbara jokingly remarked, "A little chamgpagne is the secret to a long marriage!" An anniversary cake was served in the fellowship hall after services.

Graduates Honored
On June 8, the graduating seniors, Victoria Doerr, Remy Zebrowski, Mark Ackerman, and Ian Paulino were honored during church. They each received a lovely Bible from our church and shared their thoughts with our fellowship. Be sure to read their articles in this newsletter. Afterwards, a special graduation cake was served in the fellowship hall.

Roger Fossa
After a long bout with esophagus cancer, Roger Fossa died the first of June. On June 8 a memorial service was held at church. Be sure to read the article by Alicia Carrillo about Roger in this newsletter. Also Anthony Garside has some nice remembrances of Roger in his Did You Know article.

Communion
A special communion service was conducted by Cliff Higgins on June 15. Since this was the day before Father's Day, Cliff blended the church service to honor our physical fathers and the communion portion to honor God, our Spiritual Father. It was a very moving ceremony.

Thanks, Yulia!
On June 22 Yulia Hall shared special music for the first time with the San Jose congregation. She reminded us that what makes the music special is who it is about…God! We hope to be hearing from Yulia many more times. Thanks, Yulia!

Welcome Home, Zack!
Zack Baggerly was home for a short visit in June. Zack is in the Marines and has been attending school in the Carolinas. He graduated third in his class majoring in electrical engineering. Next he will be going to further his education in Yuma, Arizona specializing in wiring for airplanes. He loves to hear from everyone so try to drop him a note. His e:mail address is: krypt94@aol.com.

Farewell to a Dear Friend
We bid a fond farewell to Georgia Masiewicz. She and her husband have moved to Southern California. While Georgia was attending our San Jose fellowship she served in many areas. She worked in Children's Ministry, was in charge of our tape program for our shut-ins, served on Women's Ministry committees, and helped plan various church activities. We will miss Georgia greatly but we know she will look for ways to serve God wherever she goes. God speed and God bless!

Reunion Picnic
About 50 people attended a special Reunion Picnic on Sunday, June 23, at John D. Morgan Park in
Campbell. It was an opportunity to see and visit with old friends. Our thanks go to Edrie Felts, Linda Smith, and Luanna Leisure for planning the activity. Be sure to read more about it in the article in this newsletter.

Congratulations to Katie and Dave!
Katie Miller and Dave Richardson were married by Pastor Dee Bulante of the Worldwide Church of God (WCG) congregation in Olympia, WA at a small, informal, family wedding on Sunday, June 2nd at Point Priest Park on Puget Sound. They now reside in Port Orchard, WA and attend the Federal Way church where Dave leads worship and the local youth group. Both Katie and Dave plan to help with the Washington Summer Educational Program (SEP) this summer. They will then put their efforts into preparing for international missions as God opens the doors. I'm sure they would appreciate our prayers for this endeavor. A local reception was held for the happy couple at the home of Katie's parents, Ross and Sandee Miller, on June 29.

Goodbye to Sherisa, Randy, and Dakota
Pastor Mel and wife Barbara are sad because their daughter Sherisa and her family, husband Randy Emata and son Dakota, have just moved to Studio City, CA near Los Angeles. Randy, a professional musician and producer, recently opened for John Tesh at the Jubilee Christian Church in San Jose and will be on tour in Europe for a month this summer. Sherisa and Dakota will be attending the Summer Educational Program in WA. Sherisa will be a counselor and Dakota will be a camper.

Congratulations Spencer and Joyce!
In an intimate ceremony, Spencer and Joyce Sambor were married at the church hall on Saturday, June 22. Elder Warren Hill officiated. A reception followed at the Double Tree Hotel in San Jose. They will reside in the San Jose area. Be sure to give them a big hug when you see them. We wish them every happiness!

The Teen Scene
By Victoria Doerr

It's that time of the year again...graduation! Every summer millions of youth around the nation celebrate their "freedom" from mandatory schooling. This year is no different, and the class of 2002 is extra special, at least for me. I am one of the four in the San Jose congregation who has graduated from high school in this special year. All four of us – Remy Zebrowski, Ian Paulino, Mark Ackerman, and myself, Victoria Doerr – have a wonderful future ahead. It is with God's love and guidance that we will be able to fulfill our dreams and accomplish even more goals as we take the next leap out into the world. In the following articles, each graduate shares his/her feelings, hopes, and dreams. On behalf of the four graduates, I would like to thank every single person who has contributed to our success as we now look to the Lord for our futures.

I am Victoria Doerr, and as many of you know, I have grown up in this San Jose congregation. I have endured many triumphant and troubled times, but I have made it through and accomplished many of my goals. I graduated from James Logan High School in Union City on Friday, June 14, as a Suma Cum Laude.

I have been fortunate enough to receive two scholarships: one for being a tutor in the Brian Kelly Tutoring Program at James Logan High School; the other entitled Las Estrellas, for young women. During my four years of high school, I was a member of the California Scholarship Federation. I have also been privileged to travel to seven foreign countries on 3 continents as an official U.S. Student Ambassador. I have also visited several states all across the U.S. My adventures in Australia, New Zealand, Spain, France, and Italy have given me opportunities that I will always cherish and never forget.

I have also been blessed with many musical abilities. Having played the piano and violin for over seven years each, and singing on the side, I find it fitting to become a music minor while in college.

Speaking of college, I will be attending California Polytechnic State University, also known as Cal Poly, in San Luis Obispo starting in July of this year. I will be participating in a special program for freshman that will help me get acquainted with the school and community as well as giving me a head start with some of the most difficult classes to schedule. I will be a Liberal Studies major, and I plan to pursue a career as an elementary school teacher.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has helped me get to where I am in my life. First of all I would like to thank God, because without His guidance and protection, I would probably not be standing here today. I would also like to thank the San Jose congregation for supporting me through every stage of my life, from YES (Youth Educational Services) to YOU (Youth Opportunities United), to SEP (Summer Educational Program). Also, I would like to thank our Pastor, Mr. Dahlgren, and his loving family for being a loving support for me to lean on. And thank you to all of my teachers who have taught me so much and been a great supporting team for every one of us graduates.
I would also like to thank my sister. She is the best friend and sister that anyone could ever have. Last, but certainly not least, I would like to thank my mom. She has been there for me through thick and thin, no matter what, loved me to the end. I may not say it enough, but I do appreciate you mom, and I love you very much.

WCG Memories
By Remy Zebrowski

Growing up in the San Jose area has been wonderful for me. I have loved being part of the Worldwide Church of God (WCG), as well as having the unique opportunity to be home schooled along with my brother. I have so many wonderful memories of events, from Mt. Madonna camping trips to "Youth Days," church picnics to the Funsten's famous backpacking trips, not to mention weekly Bible studies, and of course, S.E.P. (Summer Educational Program). Even more special are the memories I have made of friends and extra "family" I have gained through the years. I laughed when I found a 7th grade picture of my now graduating class…we were so little then!

Now, as I have completed high school, my plan is to attend Azusa Pacific University this coming fall. I currently intend to major in Communications, and minor in maybe Music, Spanish, or Youth Ministry. I am going to be part of the Bel Canto Choir, for freshman girls, which will be a lot of fun and will surely keep me busy.

I would just like to say thanks to more people than I can name here without filling the whole newsletter for supporting me. You guys have really been my big family! I thank God for you. I know I wouldn't be who I am now without your influences on my life. Thanks you so much and God bless you always!

I Am Blessed
By Ian Paulino

On Saturday morning of June 8, I was very nervous when Mr. Funsten walked up to me and told me I was to say a few words during church when the seniors were to be honored. I did not have anything prepared, so I was worried as to how my "speech" would come out.

I gathered all my thoughts while I was there in front of the congregation. I prayed also, so that I would not look too bad in front of the congregation. When it was finally my turn, I just got up there and spoke about things that I felt very strongly about. I just let the words come to me as they left my heart and mind.

I have just graduated from Mount Pleasant High School. My favorite subject was art and I especially liked the animation program. I love cars, art, and playing guitar. I enjoyed being in Youth Opportunities United (YOU) at church. I loved the chemistry and friendliness between people in YOU and also getting closer to God through Christ. One of the best experiences I ever had was going to the church Summer Educational Program (SEP). My future plans are to go to De Anza College in the fall.

After I was done speaking that Saturday morning, I still felt like there was more to say that I might have forgotten. I am just happy for my other fellow graduates and wish them luck in the future.

Thank you to all. I am very glad to be so blessed. All praises to God!

I Love SEP and Volleyball
By Mark Ackerman

For the last year I have been attending Genesis High School while taking a few classes at Evergreen College. I have been slowly getting used to college-style schooling, and now I am planning to go to college full time, starting after the summer. While I am not sure exactly what I want to do in the future, I figure I will be in school for the next few years at least.
I like the computer and love to draw. I also enjoy all kinds of sports, but I especially love, love, love volleyball! I take any opportunity I can to play volleyball.

Lately, I have been working with my uncle installing Dough-Boy Pools. I am almost positive my Mom enjoys me working more than I do, but it has been a fun experience.
I am leaving this Saturday to go to one of the SEP (Summer Educational Program) Regional camps in Washington. I loved SEP in Orr, Minnesota, so I am really looking forward to a great week in Washington. I know I'll learn more about God and maybe I'll get to play some volleyball!

Reunion Picnic
By Edrie Felts

A very successful picnic was enjoyed by about 50 people on Sunday, June 23rd. The invitation went out to anyone who has attended with us, both now and in the past. We wanted to be able to visit with parts of the body we don't see as often. Some families came from out of town and in the case of Charlie and Lauretta Ferranti, their "hello" was also a "good-bye" for awhile since they moved to Montana in June.

Just visiting was the activity of choice though Dominoes and Volleyball were also quite popular. Debbie Sanders and Herb Leisure were our grill chefs for hot dogs, hamburgers and veggie burgers and there was a tasty array of salads and desserts. We plan to have another picnic next year and will get the word out sooner so our out of town friends will have more time to plan to attend.

Things Aren't Always As They Seem

Submitted by Belin Wilson

Two traveling angels stopped to spend the night in the home of a wealthy family.
The family was rude and refused to let the angels stay in the mansion's guest room.
Instead the angels were given a small space in the cold basement. As they made their bed on the hard floor, the older angel saw a hole in the wall and repaired it. When the younger angel asked why, the older angel replied, "Things aren't always what they seem."
The next night the pair came to rest at the house of a very poor, but very hospitable farmer and his wife. After sharing what little food they had the couple let the angels sleep in their bed where they could have a good night's rest. When the sun came up the next morning the angels found the farmer and his wife in tears. Their only cow, whose milk had been their sole income, lay dead in the field.

The younger angel was infuriated and asked the older angel how could you have let this happen? The first man had everything, yet you helped him, she accused. The second family had little but was willing to share everything, and you let the cow die.

"Things aren't always what they seem," the older angel replied. "When we stayed in the basement of the mansion, I noticed there was gold stored in that hole in the wall. Since the owner was so obsessed with greed and unwilling to share his good fortune, I sealed the wall so he wouldn't find it. Then last night as we slept in the farmer's bed, the angel of death came for his wife. I gave him the cow instead. Things aren't always what they seem."
Sometimes that is exactly what happens when things don't turn out the way they should. If you have faith, you just need to trust that every outcome is always to your advantage. You just might not know it until some time later because things aren't always what they seem.

Our congregation web site continues to feature new and updated tools and resources for our members and visitors. Visitor suggestions have led to site improvements, and the influence of our site continues to grow, as we reach people around the globe.

• In the last several weeks we have updated our Search Page. It now performs Strong's Concordance number searches. Our Bible Search features, provided by the Bible Gateway, have undergone updates as well.
• We have developed a new page to track benedictions and other closing scriptures from our weekly services. This resource provides a handy history for worship leaders, and a helpful source of encouraging blessings from scripture for everyone.
• In response to requests from our web site visitors, we have added "printer-friendly" versions of Barbara Dahlgren's weekly "Walking in the Valley" columns. For those who like to keep printed archives of this column, the new format provides a cleaner, simplified look and greatly reduces printer complications such as margin issues and superfluous graphics.
• Free sermon tape requests continue to come in from our site visitors around the world. In the past four months we have sent sermon tapes to Australia, Canada, England, India, Malaysia, Morocco, Northern Ireland, the United States and Zimbabwe. Our local web site continues to be an effective avenue for preaching the Gospel to the nations of the world.
• Our latest three Monthly Bible Quiz Contest winners were Kathryn Sherrod, Joanne Moses and Aaron Burnsides. Be sure to visit our Bible Quiz page every month for your chance to win gift certificates to local Bay Area Christian book stores.
• We have now seen over 200,000 hits since our major revision in April of last year.

Please keep the comments and suggestions coming. Let us know what you like and what you want to see on your congregation web site, www.wcgsouthbay.org, by emailing webmaster@wcgsouthbay.org.

Roger Has Passed The Baton
By Alicia Carrillo

After a long battle with cancer, Roger Fossa passed away the first of June. Alicia shares some memories of this gentle man…

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." (Heb. 12:1, NIV). Roger Fossa has run the good race set before him, seeking God's guidance to the end. His struggles with cancer helped to strengthen him. The winters before he entered the hospital for the last leg of the race were spent skiing on the powder white slopes of California. Roger took advantage of the opportunity of enjoying skiing to teach others how to ski. The setbacks did not diminish his capacity to enjoy life and those he loved.

His winning smile and friendly personality made me feel comfortable when I first met Roger over ten years ago. I noticed Roger was a bit shy on first meeting him, and as I realized later, he warmed up to you soon. He impressed me as a caring, warm person who had a genuine sense of compassion. He enjoyed meeting new people and getting to know you. Roger gave of himself to others – sharing in a way that one never forgets. Roger was a faithful steward of God's many gifts. This ability is in every person who receives the gifts God wants to give us. How many gifts did you see him share during his race and how can these examples add to your foundation?

None can know, as a lifetime of service is steadily given, the path God has set for us. His father had helped get him a job at Pequot Mills after high school. Roger had begun to embark on a career in engineering while studying at MIT when WW II began. He earned many decorations, served under General George Patton as his driver, and thereafter spent two years recovering from a gunshot that blew off his left hand. Roger learned the trades of watchmaker, repair, and jewelry making. After setting up shop in San Francisco, he also helped others to learn the art of making jewelry.

After being married while in the service, Roger and his wife Nora had a baby girl, Nora Lee. Roger had also adopted Nora's son, Ronald, when they married. He did not know that around the bend his race would bring him another opportunity to be a father. A blind woman he knew gave Roger her daughter, asking him to raise her child for her. He raised this girl with his children; unfortunately, nothing more is known of this little girl. He gave his love freely, caring for those who needed a father.

The example Roger has left us is an inspiring memory to help us run our race. The many fingers graced with beautiful and precious wedding rings Roger made are a part of the body, which gives so much. As he worked to make these rings, so your hands can work to serve others as God leads you. He is working in us to accomplish His good and perfect will. What will you do with the baton?

Newsletter Staff
Editor - Barbara Dahlgren
Assistant Editor- Linda Smith
Circulation- Edrie Felts
Did You Know?- Anthony Garside
Features/Christian
Business Leaders- Aimee McNally
Photographer- Betty Shamus
Reporter/Features- Mike Ferranti
The Younger Set- Kristen Burnsides
Teen Scene- Victoria Doerr
San Leandro/
San Francisco- Jim Roberts
Watsonville- Chris Cepin/Mary Webb
Website Updates- Brad Mann