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  Reality Santa Barbara

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E Bulletin

November 23, 2014

 
 

Missionary Welcome | Hank Stanley

This Sunday we are welcoming visiting missionaries Hank and Kathy Stanley. The Stanleys are long-term, native missionaries to the island of Roatan, Honduras where they founded Alpha Community Church.

Hank and Kathy are also in process of finalizing their non-profit, H.I.O. (His Island Outreach) which is a charitable Christian ministry dedicated to the physical and spiritual empowering of the people of Roatan through spreading the teachings of Christ, caring for the poor and needy, and engaging in community development. The mission of their ministry is to be the human expression of the very heart of God through serving and caring for the poor, oppressed, and broken hearted while preaching and sharing salvation through Jesus Christ.

For more information about Missions at Reality contact: missions@realitysb.com.

 
 

Thailand Team | Thank You!

The Thailand Team returned this week and wants to say THANK YOU to the Reality Church body for their donations and prayers for this trip. Toys, and medical supplies which you provided were given out in Jesus’ name to children and communities such as a Shan I.D.P. (Internationally Displaced People) school inside Myanmar, a small Red Lahu village also inside Myanmar, and a remote hilltop village on the border of Thailand and Laos.

You can see more photos of the Thailand Team’s trip at: realityinthailand.com.

 
 

New Gathering Times | Ventura Campus

Starting Sunday, December 14th the Ventura campus we will be shifting their Sunday Worship Gathering times to:

7:30am  Pre-Gathering Prayer
8:00am  Junior High Prayer
8:30am  1st Worship Gathering
11:00am  2nd Worship Gathering, Junior High Youth Gathering

 
 

Revive Ventura | Young Adult Worship Night

Revive Ventura is TONIGHT on Friday, November 21st at 7pm at Reality Ventura. Revive Ventura is a worship night for anyone who has a heart for young adults in their 20s and 30s or is a young adult themselves.

Reality has unified with six other churches in the area to gather around Christ in prayer, preaching and worship. Christ is bigger than one church, which is why it is exciting to unify with other churches in Ventura to worship Christ together. On Friday night we will be worshiping together and seeking God's heart for young adults in Ventura County.

 
 

The Good Life | Santa Barbara Campus

This Sunday at the Santa Barbara campus, we are starting the second part of our Sermon on the Mount Series: The Life of the Kingdom in Community. Don't miss it!

The “Good Life” is the life that everyone is after. It’s a vision of well-being that we’ve been taught to create or chase. Yet it's usually on the other side of the fence where grass always appears greener. It’s the dream that captivates our imagination, and just as often breaks our hearts. Many of us might agree that the Good Life is as evasive as it is alluring.

But the Bible presents us with a far more satisfying picture. Jesus explained that a taste of the Good Life is here with us right now. In his famous Sermon on the Mount, he gave supernatural examples, situations, and case studies of the breaking forth of God’s kingdom in the present age—the Good Life of Heaven coming down into our world. All of this is now on display in Jesus’ most famous and memorable sermon.

Join us as we continue through Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount taught by pastor Chris Lazo. We meet at the SBHS theatre on 700 E. Anapamu St. Our gathering time is at 10am.

Connect with us on Facebook!

For what to expect, check out the series schedule: The Good Life Series.

 
 

Reality Book Spotlight | Emotionally Healthy Spiritually

With Reality Santa Barbara starting the "relational" aspect of the Good Life series on the Sermon on the Mount, we have a book we highly recommend you read: Emotionally Healthy Spiritually, by Peter Scazzero. In fact, it is my feeling that every Christian should read this book. You can find copies at our Santa Barbara campus or get it on Amazon.com.

Find a review of the book by Pastor Lazo here.

Growing in Christ with you,

Pastor Chris Lazo

 
 

RVTA Operation Christmas Child

We have a beautiful opportunity to send Christmas gifts to impoverished kids all over the world through Operation Christmas Child put on by Samaritan's Purse. By filling a shoebox full of gifts and treasures along with your donation of $7, you get to bless and share God's love with a child in need. These gifts are accompanied by evangelism and discipleship from the missionaries who deliver them.

This Sunday is the last day we will be collecting filled boxes at the Ventura campus. For more info, visit samaritanspurse.org for or contact Nancy Hicklin at nanjan17@gmail.com.

 
 

BBQ Supporting the Youth Ministry | Ventura Campus

Join us this Sunday, November 23rd at the Ventura campus following both gatherings for a fundraiser BBQ supporting Reality's Youth Ministry. It will be a blessed time to fellowship as a church body all while raising funds to send our kids to winter camp. The cost per plate will be $8 (discount pricing available for families). If you don't wish to purchase a plate but feel led to support the youth, you will also have the option to donate. Come hungry!

 
 

All Youth Thanksgiving Night | Carpinteria & SB Campus

We are having a Carp & SB j-high AND high school Thanksgiving Night! We will be meeting at the Carpinteria campus this Sunday, November 23rd from 6-8pm. This will be an epic all youth night full of games, worship and teaching on thankfulness to the Lord. Come join us this Sunday! All j-high and high school students are welcome!

*NOTE: There will be NO j-high or high school youth group the week of Thanksgiving in Santa Barbara or Carpinteria.

 
 

Community Christmas Shoppe

Reality Ventura is happy to be part of the Ventura Christmas Shoppe this year! This is a multi-church function where the common goal is to provide Christmas gifts to at least 500 needy families in Ventura. There are several shoppes in Ventura County distributing gifts on December 13th, and a new Shoppe serving Military and Veteran families on December 20th.

Ways you can get involved:

Donate new, unwrapped Christmas toys for any/all ages. Bring gifts to Reality Ventura starting November 30th and place in the white collection boxes located in the lobby.

Volunteers of all ages are needed to work this event. Booths will be set up with all types of crafts for the children. If you want more information or if you want to volunteer, please visit the ACTION Foundation website or call (805) 987-0300.

 
 

Women's Christmas Worship Night

Attention all Reality ladies! Join us for our Annual Women’s Worship Night on Friday, December 12th from 7-9pm at the Ventura campus. Our special guests, the Ventura Teen Challenge Choir, will be sharing powerful testimonies and their gift of song. This will be a beautiful time of worship along with having tasty treats, coffee, a cocoa and cider bar, a 'Make & Take' ornament workshop supporting Teen Challenge and more!

Plan now to attend and bring your friends and favorite dessert to share. All ladies, youth and adults, are encouraged to come! Childcare will be available.

Questions? Please contact Kari Rodems at wordgal@yahoo.com.

 
 

Youth Winter Camps | Save the Date

Winter is coming, which also means that youth winter camps are also coming! We are excited to announce some save the dates for the families so you can plan accordingly. With an El Niño year coming the snow is bound to be amazing which calls for one of the best winter camps of all time! Here are the dates:

High School | January 16th-19th
J-High | February 6th-8th

 
 

Women’s Retreat 2015 | Save the Date

Save the date for the next Women's Retreat on March 27th - 29th at the Twin Peaks Conference Center! More information coming soon ...

 
 

Seasoned Saints Christmas Party

All "seasoned saints" are invited to welcome the Advent season by attending an old-fashioned Christmas party. What's a seasoned saint? Seasoned saints have experienced multiple seasons of life, may have gray hair, and are retired, close to retirement, or have at least received invitations to join AARP.

This is an opportunity to get to know others at a similar stage in life. Enjoy fellowship surrounded by beautiful Christmas decorations, share special savory and sweet Christmas treats, have a cup of hot apple cider, sing traditional Christmas carols, and hear the Christmas story. To ensure space for everyone, RSVPs are requested by December 1st.

Date | Saturday, December 6th
Time | 5:30-8pm
Location | Vista de Santa Barbara Clubhouse, 6180 Via Real #200, Carpinteria
RSVP | helen.ernst@gmail.com or (805) 708-6950

To learn more, stop by the table in the foyer after service this Sunday, pick up an invitation, and meet some real live Seasoned Saints.

 
 

Reality Worship

Musicians, if you have a heart to serve Christ's body through music, please take a few minutes to read through the worship section of our website by clicking here.

 
 

Serve in Kids Ministry | Ventura Campus

Hey Ventura campus! Our heart is to love on each kid and point them to Jesus. It is an amazing blessing to be able to serve the Lord in this way, and God is so faithful to equip us for this work no matter what our previous experience was with kids. However, several classes are in jeopardy of being closed on Sundays because they lack a consistent team, and we do not want that to happen. Let's keep them open!

In order to prevent classes from closing, we are asking you to prayerfully consider being part of our team of shepherds who extend God's love to the kids and families of RVTA on Sundays. In general, team members serve every other week at one gathering alongside one or more fellow teammates. We teach using a curriculum that is well-written and simple to follow (you will receive training and support). And we have so much fun!

Please visit our website for more details or email terry@realityventura.com.

 
 

Serve at the Ventura Campus

If you currently attend the Ventura campus and have a desire to serve, there are many opportunities throughout the week and at our Sunday gatherings. The Ventura Campus relies on the faithful commitment of our volunteers, as they serve the congregation in numerous ways by facilitating our gatherings and ministries. Rather than fostering a consumer mentality within the church in which we passively benefit from the efforts of a few, we are all called to serve one another. Our model is Jesus, who told His apostles, “I am among you as the one who serves” (Luke 22:27).

If you'd like to serve at our Sunday gatherings or during the week, please fill out our Volunteer Form

 
 

Radical Recovery | Ventura Campus

Radical Recovery is a new group dealing with addictions and radical change as we learn to walk with Jesus through life's battlefield. If you're looking for change and serious about recovery, come join us and be radical for Jesus every Tuesday night from 7-8pm at the Ventura campus. Radical Recovery is led by Tino and Krissy Rico in the J-high room across the parking lot from our main building.

"For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another." Titus 3:3

 
 

Biblical Counseling

In order to better serve the body here at Reality, God has raised up a team of people that we've trained in Biblical counseling. These are mature, committed individuals who are excited to minister in this way. Please email your campus directly if you would like more information or would like to schedule an appointment:

Santa Barbara Campus | counseling@realitysb.com
Carpinteria Campus | counseling@realitycarp.com

 
 

Corporate Prayer

Please join us for Corporate Prayer at 7am on Tuesday, November 25th in Carpinteria and Wednesday, November 26th in Santa Barbara and Ventura as we pray for our campuses.

Carpinteria campus prays in the campus sanctuary.
Santa Barbara campus prays in the SB offices.
Ventura campus prays in the campus sanctuary.


 

Messages

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Serve at Reality

Volunteering is a great way to serve Jesus, his people, and to get to know others in the Reality family. Click here to find out how you can serve.

Prayer

Join us as we come together for prayer every Tuesday at 7am at the Carpinteria campus, and every Wednesday at 7am at the Ventura campus and Santa Barbara offices.

 
 

About Reality

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