Touching Base

Amy and I are glad to be home. We enjoyed our time away and now we are enjoying the freshness of the sea breeze. There is nothing like it!

All of us have a wonderful opportunity on Saturday. Our prayer ministry is sponsoring a Prayer & Praise Retreat. This is a great time to come away for a bit to pray and worship together. The event runs from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM. The cool thing is that you can come for the entire time or you may come and go. I encourage you to make some time to join us on Saturday. For more information go here…https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=250465721645721.

This Sunday we continue with The Summer of Love when we talk about Love Is Patient. We will share in Communion as well. I look forward to seeing you then.


Upcoming Events:
August 13th – Prayer & Praise Workshop
August 31st – September 4th – Men’s Ministry Road Trip
September 4th – Guest Speaker – Pastor Bob Henson

One of the things that I love about the technology of today is that I can be mentored without ever leaving my desk. I have only met Rick Warren on one occasion, yet he mentors me monthly through his blog and daily through Twitter.

I learned this from Rick years ago and it is something that I try to employ in my life. I share these truths today because this is what Amy and I are doing next week. We leave Saturday for some rest and relaxation in Palm Springs. We will miss being at Venice, but sometimes you just have to get away and I know that you will enjoy hearing from others and not hearing from me for a change!
http://blog.pastors.com/blogs/pcom/the-jesus-model-of-ministry-relaxation/

I am praying for your week. You guys will have a great time on Sunday when Richie talks about Love Is Respectful. I will see you next week.


Upcoming Events:
August 7th – Richie Henson Speaking
August 13th – Prayer & Praise Workshop
August 31st – September 4th – Men’s Ministry Road Trip
September 4th – Guest Speaker – Pastor Bob Henson
September 9th & 10th – Women of Faith Conference

Amy and I just returned from a few days away with our family. We had a wonderful time, but we are glad to be home and are looking forward to seeing all of you on Sunday. Actually, I could have stood another couple of days of golf…but…I am looking forward to seeing you all on Sunday.

Just a couple of reminders…
The Men’s Ministry Road Trip is August 31-September 4. The cost is only $225.00 and there is still space available. If you need more information contact Brad Jensen at bradjensen7@sbcglobal.net.

Ladies, there are only 3 spots left for the Women of Faith Conference on September 9 & 10. The next three ladies to pay $89.00 get the spots. The conference will be great. The community with the ladies will be great. Don’t miss it. Make the time. Get your money in to Amy Henson this Sunday.

And…our prayer ministry, Just Pray, is sponsoring a Praise & Prayer Workshop on Saturday August 13th from 10:00 – 2:00 PM at Temescal Gateway Park. You may come and go as your schedule dictates. Check your handout on Sunday for more information or contact Richard at justprayvbc@gmail.com.

I am praying for your week. The Summer of Love continues on Sunday when we discover that Love Is Humble.


Upcoming Events:
July 30th – Seek N Surf
August 7th – Richie Henson Speaking
August 13th – Praise & Prayer Workshop
August 31st – September 4th – Men’s Ministry Road Trip
September 4th – Guest Speaker – Pastor Bob Henson
September 9th & 10th – Women of Faith Conference

Thank you to all of you who donated to and served at the Women’s Ministry Parking Lot Sale on Saturday. We raised $1,500.00 for our missionaries. We will be blessed to be a blessing to them at Christmas time.

Okay, let me keep it real today. I am going to preach…and I may even go to meddling so take it for what it is worth.

Let me talk to men first. Men we have room for you on our Men’s Ministry Road Trip August 31-September 4. The cost is only $225.00 for a five-day trip with four nights on a houseboat with all of the wakeboarding and personal watercraft that you can stand. That is an absolute bargain! Some of you think that you don’t have time to go or you cannot afford to go, but the truth is you cannot afford not to go. You need the community with other men. You need to be challenged in your walk with Christ. You need to get your junk together because your life, your marriage, and your kids need you to get your junk together. I promise you if you go…our speaker Paul Blue will challenge you. You will change and your life and your relationships will never be the same. It is a small investment to make. You will not regret it.

And…because I am an equal opportunity nag!! Ladies, there are five spots left for the Women of Faith Conference on September 9 & 10. The next five ladies to pay $89.00 get the spots. The women of Venice always have a wonderful time on their retreats. This will not be any different. The conference will be great. The community with the ladies will be great. Don’t miss it. Make the time. And again…$89.00 plus hotel is an absolute bargain. Get your money in to Amy Henson this Sunday.

I am praying for your week. I look forward to seeing you on Sunday when we continue our Summer of Love when we talk about Love Is Not Jealous.


Upcoming Events:
July 30th – Seek N Surf
August 7th – Richie Henson Speaking
August 31st – September 4th – Men’s Ministry Road Trip
September 4th – Guest Speaker – Pastor Bob Henson
September 9th & 10th – Women of Faith Conference

Dear Venice Family,

Thank you to all of you who have brought items for our parking lot sale. It is not too late to bring items. We need more items. If you have items to donate you can bring them and leave them on the porch near the church office or you can even bring them as late as Saturday morning.

We need your help to set up on Saturday morning as well. The setup begins at 7:00 AM. In addition to the women who are coming to set up and run the sale, we need some men to help us Saturday morning to move heavier items like TVs. If you are available, please respond to my email address at amersh55@yahoo.com. I don’t want to have to call you. I can be very persuasive!! It is always better to volunteer than have me track you down. Haha! And…God will get glory from your service.

I look forward to hearing from you and seeing you Saturday morning at 7:00 AM. Remember…all the proceeds go to a good cause…Christmas Gifts for our missionaries! Thanks for your help and consideration.

Much Love,
Amy Henson

Upcoming Events:
July 16th – Seek N Surf
July 16thth – Women’s Ministry Parking Lot Sale
August 31st – September 4th – Men’s Ministry Road Trip
September 4th – Guest Speaker – Pastor Bob Henson
September 9th & 10th – Women of Faith Conference

We have all kinds of qualifiers that we use when we want to say something definitive. We say things like, “when all is said and done”, “when you boil it all down”, but perhaps our favorite these days is, “at the end of the day”. It is really quite effective. At the end of the day he is still a jerk. At the end of the day you have to be able to live with yourself. At the end of the day…it is what it is! (I couldn't resist...)

Jesus had an “at the end of the day.” Jesus basically said at the end of the day the only thing that really matters is that you love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and body and you love your neighbor as much as you love yourself.

The Apostle Paul had an “at the end of the day.” We see it here and it is the basis for our summer series The Summer of Love.
1 Corinthians 13:13
Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.
At the end of the day love is what matters most. Join us this Sunday as we learn to love God and love others.

Venice Church has a new fan page on Facebook. Head over there and “like” our page to get updates on everything happening with our church family. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Venice-Church/165528453498230

Upcoming Events:
July 10th – The Summer of Love…an 8 week study in 1 Corinthians 13
July 16th – Seek N Surf
July 16thth – Women’s Ministry Parking Lot Sale
August 31st – September 4th – Men’s Ministry Road Trip
September 4th – Guest Speaker – Pastor Bob Henson
September 9th & 10th – Women of Faith Conference

It has been an eventful week around here. God has blessed us in so many ways. 7 people gave their lives to Christ in our service on Sunday. Thank you so much for praying this past week.

On Saturday and Sunday we gave away over 1,000 Venice Church pens to visitors at the Venice High School Centennial. Thank you to Paul Henson, Tom & Sharon Nichols, and Daniel Sweet for manning our booth at the event. Special thanks to Eddie & Dani Cross for giving their entire weekend to organize our booth and represent Venice Church so well at the centennial.

And…a beloved part of our church family went home to be with the Lord. Mrs. Adelia Walpole went home to be with the Lord last Wednesday. We are thankful for the promise of Scripture. She is absent from this body, but she is in the presence of the Lord. She was a blessing to all who knew her. Some of you knew her as Grandma Walpole. Some of you knew her as Shirley Twitchell’s mother. Mrs. Walpole loved Jesus and was a great encouragement to me. Her service is this Friday at 1:00 PM at Gates, Kingsley, Gates in Culver City. Please pray for Shirley and the rest of the family during this time of loss.

This Sunday we wrap up our series called That’s How We Roll. We will talk about this truth…according to the Scriptures growing people change. I look forward to seeing you then.

Venice Church has a new fan page on Facebook. Head over there and “like” our page to get updates on everything happening with our church family. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Venice-Church/165528453498230

Upcoming Events:
July 10th – The Summer of Love…an 8 week study in 1 Corinthians 13
July 16thth – Women’s Ministry Parking Lot Sale
August 31st – September 4th – Men’s Ministry Road Trip
September 4th – Guest Speaker – Pastor Bob Henson
September 9th & 10th – Women of Faith Conference

I hope that you are having a great week. I hope that you are praying with me about this Sunday. I believe that it is an important day, a big day. I am praying that it turns out to be a life-changing day for your friend who needs to meet and receive Jesus. I am praying for you. I am praying for your friend. Please pray for me. I am going to do my best to introduce your friend to Jesus. Pray that the Holy Spirit will touch our hearts on Sunday.

And…it will be our privilege to have our Missionaries Dave & Nan Walter with us on Sunday. I know that you will enjoy hearing from them. I know that many of you look forward to meeting them and many of you look forward to getting reacquainted with them.

If you are going to be at the Venice High School Centennial Celebration on Saturday and/or Sunday please stop by the Venice Church booth and say hello. We are very proud to be a part of this historic celebration in our community.

Venice Church has a new fan page on Facebook. Head over there and “like” our page to get updates on everything happening with our church family. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Venice-Church/165528453498230



Upcoming Events:
June 25th – Seek N Surf
June 26th – Missionaries Dave & Nan Walter
July 10th – The Summer of Love…an 8 week study in 1 Corinthians 13
July 16thth – Women’s Ministry Parking Lot Sale
August 31st – September 4th – Men’s Ministry Road Trip
September 9th & 10th – Women of Faith Conference

If you think about it Father’s Day is kind of weird. Some people are even opposed to celebrating Father’s Day. They think it is lame because they see it as a Hallmark creation. I once read where a guy, a father, said about Father’s Day, “Anyone can procreate, and most eventually do. I refuse to celebrate a statistical probability.” I get his point and having been raised by a father and having been a father now for 25 years I appreciate fatherhood more than ever. Obviously, I am not talking about the ability to procreate, but rather the skill of fathering. Fathering (parenting) is a skill. Good fathering can be learned. Every father has strengths and weaknesses. Take everything you can (the good and the bad) from your father and use it to grow into the person that God has called you to be. Give thanks and celebrate your father on Sunday.

And…this Sunday wear your favorite jersey to Venice Church to honor all the dads. We will continue with our series “That’s How We Roll” when we talk about community and fellowship. See you then.

Venice Church has a new fan page on Facebook. Head over there and “like” our page to get updates on everything happening with our church family. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Venice-Church/165528453498230


Upcoming Events:
June 18th – Rockstars Concert & Open House
June 19th – Father’s Day
June 22nd – EPIC Camp
June 25th – Seek N Surf
June 26th – Missionaries Dave & Nan Walter
July 16thth – Women’s Ministry Parking Lot Sale
August 31st – September 4th – Men’s Ministry Road Trip
September 9th & 10th – Women of Faith Conference

Venice Church has been blessed to be a part of this community for 84 years. That is a testimony to God’s faithfulness and the faithfulness of his people that have been a part of this great church. Our longevity in the neighborhood is surpassed by only a few entities. One of them is Venice High School. Venice High is celebrating its Centennial June 24th -26th with an extravaganza that encompasses the entire weekend. There will be a festival on the font lawn of the school on that Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

We would like to be there with a booth to help them celebrate. We will need quite a few people to man the booth. If you are alum or would like to represent Venice Church at their Centennial Celebration, please let me know by firing me an email.

Venice Church has a new fan page on Facebook. Head over there and “like” our page to get updates on everything happening with our church family. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Venice-Church/165528453498230

This Sunday we roll on with our series That’s How We Roll when we talk about service and ministry. I look forward to seeing you there.

Upcoming Events:
June 18th – Rockstars Concert & Open House
June 19th – Father’s Day
June 22nd – EPIC Camp
June 26th – Missionaries Dave & Nan Walter
July 16thth – Women’s Ministry Parking Lot Sale
August 31st – September 4th – Men’s Ministry Road Trip
September 9th & 10th – Women of Faith Conference