Please join our Hollywood Adventist Church community as we celebrate the release of Stained Glass: Hollywood Blvd., a documentary by filmmaker Melody George. This documentary is a unique behind-the-scenes look at the missional development of the Hollywood Adventist Church. Many of our local denominational Conference leadership will be present. You don’t want to miss this exciting evening!

From the press release:

There are 6,000 Adventist Churches in North America–Each one has a story. STAINED GLASS is an unprecedented documentary series commissioned by the Church Resource Center (Vervent) of the North American Division. The documentaries show the pulse of a church through all the joy and heartache that congregational leadership demands. It speaks to church life as it fades away from its traditional position in society. Uniquely addressing the question; “How do congregations redefine their role in the 21st century?” This riveting film series goes where the camera has rarely been allowed: behind the scenes of three churches on the West Coast trying desperately to keep their relevance alive.

STAINED GLASS : Hollywood Blvd by award-winning filmmakers Melody George and Paul Kim is the first in the series of three to premiere. This part of the series follows the Hollywood church as it is confronted with a dwindling congregation that has reflected the recent troubles of their city. With only a handful of disconnected people straggling in for worship service, an idealistic new pastor and a gifted musician decide to take action. Under their guidance, a group of young professionals commit to wrestling with the pivotal question, “How can we be a people among whom God dwells?”

For more information visit www.stainedglassfilms.org

To reserve a seat or for more information contact the church office (323) 462-0010 or email luck@hollywoodsda.org.

WHERE
American Film Institute
2021 N. Western Ave
Los Angeles, CA  90027 [ Google Map ]

WHEN
Friday, March 5, from 7:00 – 9:30 pm

COST
FREE but you must RSVP. Seating is limited.

During these next forty days we join with Christ in the road towards the Cross and Easter. This is a time of reflection, repentance, and formation.

What are you taking up for Lent?

What are you laying down for Lent?

Join us this Sabbath for worship celebrating Christ’s glory. Worship in song, story-telling, sermon, and silence. Ryan will be speaking on Luke 9:28-36:

Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah” —not knowing what he said. While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!” When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen.

The beginning of a new year brings many new things. One of those that’s just around the corner is a new Bible study.

This coming week we are beginning a new series called “The Biblical Story in 7 Acts.” This study is for anyone who enjoys the Bible and I would welcome each and every one of you (though if you all showed up I would have to seriously change the way I’m approaching this. But it would be a lovely challenge to have). Specifically, however, this series of studies is for those of you who are fairly new to the Bible, or you’ve sort of been dancing around the Bible for a while, but never actually jumped in.

In eight session we will be looking at the entire scope of the Biblical story, from Creation to Consummation and everything in between. This is the 30,000 foot view. When you’re in an airplane looking out the window you can see many features of the landscape you can’t see from the ground. For example, if you’ve ever flown over the Grand Canyon it’s truly remarkable to see the entire grand canyon at once. You can’t do that by standing on the South Rim and looking down. It’s just too big. Likewise, there are things you miss when looking from 30,000 feet that you will notice if you actually hike down into the Grand Canyon.

As in geography and topology, so in Bible study, both perspectives are important. I have noticed, however, that many students of the Bible miss the proverbial forest for the trees. So we’re going to spend a few weeks studying the forest, with occasional forays into the trees.

So come with us—Monday nights at 7:30 pm at the church.

Grace and Peace,

Ryan

January 6 through February 16 is the season of Epiphany. The word epiphany means “to know” or “to reveal,” making the season of Epiphany all about the revealing of Christ’s ministry. We’ve experienced Advent (anticipating Christ’s first and second comings) and Christmas (Christ’s birth), so now we seek to know the ministry of Christ.

The ministry of this church is also going full swing during Epiphany. Here’s a list of events that you are invited to participate in.

• Bible Study: Starting Monday, January 11, 7:30 p.m. (more info)
• Sock Distribution at Gett Love. Wednesday, January 20, 8:30 a.m. Meet in the church parking lot.
• Church Work Party, Sunday, January 24, 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
• Annual Congregational Meeting, Sabbath, January 30, 12:30 p.m, Community Chapel.
• Community Walk, Sunday, January 31, 3:00 p.m. Meet at the church.

(For more about the season of Epiphany, visit http://www.crivoice.org/cyepiph.html.)

Merry Christmas to all!

You’re invited to our second annual Lessons and Carols service on Christmas Eve, 7 p.m. in the Sanctuary. We’ll sing Christmas carols and read the story of salvation fulfilled in Christ’s birth. This will be a night of warm fellowship, prayer, and praise.

Read Pastor Ryan’s Christmas journal.

This next Sabbath marks the beginning of Advent season, when we remember Christ’s first coming as a human baby, and anticipate his second coming in glory at the fullness of time.

The sermons for Advent will be from the Gospel of Luke.

1. November 28, Luke 21:25-36
2. December 5, Luke 1:68-79
3. December 12, Luke 3:7-18
4. December 19, Luke 1:39-55

Advent events include a Christmas Concert on Sunday, December 6 at 7 p.m. in the Sanctuary. Aaron Beaumont (Myspace), Aaron Roche (Myspace), and Nick Zork will be presenting original holiday music. Musicians from our church will also provide inspiring Christmas music, both traditional and contemporary.

There will be a Christmas Eve Lessons and Carols service in the Sanctuary at 7 p.m. We’ll read the story of Christ’s birth, sing carols, and be family for each other. All are welcome.

The color of Advent is royal blue, which is why the website isn’t its usual purple.

Christ the King Sabbath is the last Sabbath of the Christian year. Next Sabbath the new year will begin with Advent. This Sabbath, whose liturgical colour is gold, is the climax of our year-long journey through the Gospel of Christ as experienced in scripture, the kingdom, and sacred time.

“Its purpose is to celebrate the coming reign of Christ as King of the Earth and his completion of the renewed creation that marks the fullness of the Kingdom of God. That hope is born from the entire life of Christ and his teachings that have been celebrated in the seasons of the Church Year during the past twelve months. In celebrating the Reign of Christ the King, this [Sabbath] also provides an appropriate bridge to the new Church Year that begins the following [Sabbath] on the first [Sabbath] of Advent with an emphasis on hope and expectation, the longing for the coming of the Kingdom of God amid the darkness of a sinful world.” Christ the King, Christian Research Institute.

This Sabbath is also the day we traditionally celebrate and recognize our Emerging Leaders. This year the leaders are Nathan French, Julia Alty, Dennis Hill, and Leslie Foster.

The gospel reading for this Sabbath will be John 18:33-37. Scott will speak about Pontius Pilate’s encounter with Christ and the Kingdom.

Fire Place Vespers is going to be a little different this summer.

Once a month we’ll meet in the Fellowship Hall to watch a classic movie about faith and God by a classic director. A short period of discussion and reflection will follow each screening.

Also, we’ll meet at Griffith Park for an informal time of song, prayer, and fellowship at sunset, 7:00 p.m., Fridays. Map of Location.

July 24 Wall-E
July 31 I Confess, Alfred Hitchcock
Aug. 14 Vespers in the Park, 6:45 p.m.
Aug. 28 “Three” from The Decalogue, Krzysztof Kieslowski
Sept. 11 Vespers in the Park, 6:45 p.m.
Sept. 25 Brother Son, Sister Moon, Franco Zeffirelli

Further screenings and vespers may be spontaenously held. We’ll meet in the Fellowship Hall on Friday nights at 7:30 for screenings. Popcorn and drinks will be provided; please feel free to bring other snacks or food to share. Parental guidance is suggested for these films; while they are not explicit, they are mature and at times thematically intense. More family-friendly films will be scheduled (like Wall-E).

Join us at Dockweiler State Beach on May 30 for an afternoon and evening of fun, food, sand, community, worship and prayer. All are welcome to join us.

We’ll be celebrating the first Sabbath in the season of Pentecost, which remembers the sending of God’s Holy Spirit to the waiting apostles. During our worship we’ll return our unanswered prayers and hopes to God (see Easter’s Holy Saturday service for more details on those prayers).

Bring your own food: hot dogs, drinks, marshmallows, watermelon… time to enjoy all those great summer foods! Hot chocolate will be provided.

After dark the beach will get cold, so bring a change of clothes, a sweater, and/or blankets to keep you warm.

Carpooling is encouraged to save on parking fees.

Saturday, May 30, 3 p.m. until 10 p.m., Worship at 7:00 p.m.

This vespers is part of the weekend’s Pentecost services. You are also invited to Fire Place Vespers, Friday night, May 29, at 7:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall, and to also enjoy our Sabbath morning worship at 11 a.m.

You can see photos from last year’s beach vespers in the Hollywood Flickr Pool.