Lake Avenue Church (Official)

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To be sanctified is to be changed, to be growing in our obedience to God and His word. - from the message Sanctify Them with Jeff Mattesich, Sunday, April 18, 2021. If you were not able to join us in worship, you can watch on demand on Facebook and YouTube, or watch and listen to Pastor Jeff’s message on our website at www.lakeave.org/sermons Join us this Sunday as Pastor Jeff Mattesich continues with a message from the Love, Jesus teaching series. Attend our 9 am Indoo...rs & Online, 11:30 am Outdoor Gathering, or On-Demand Anytime on YouTube, Facebook, and Homepage. #lovejesus #gospelofjohn #sermonsatlake #lifeatlake #lakeavenuechurch #churchinmotion

GREEN OAK RANCH FAMILY CAMP Memorial Day Weekend 2021 Friday, May 28 - Monday, May 31 Green Oak Ranch, Vista, CA ... You are invited to attend one of the best family camping experiences dedicated to fun, fellowship, and community-building for all ages! Relax, swim, play games, make crafts, learn archery, join in a parade, line dance, build a bonfire, eat ice cream at our block party and enjoy music and worshipall while enjoying 200+ acres all to ourselves! Spaces are limited this year. Online registration is now open and ends at midnight Sunday, May 23, 2021. Register early using search keyword: greenoak Questions? Contact Michael Mitchell, Camp Coordinator at mailto:[email protected] or call 818.554.7321. #greenoakcamp #greenoakranch #churchinmotion #lifeatlake #lakeavenuechurch #covid19life See more

Small Group Discussion & Personal Devotion Questions Read John 21:1-14 Why do you think Peter says, I’m going out to fish in verse 3? What do you imagine Peter is thinking and feeling at this point?... In verse 4, John tells us that Jesus was standing on the shore but the disciples did not recognize him. Why didn’t they realize it was Jesus? When Peter realizes that the man is Jesus, he jumps into the water and swims to the shore. Why do you think He is so reckless and uninhibited in this moment? When God is calling you into something new, what keeps you from jumping out of the boat like Peter did? What actions, habits, or postures might help you to become more courageous as you follow Jesus this year? Jesus invites the disciples to bring some of the fish they had just caught (v. 10) for breakfast, even though He already had fish cooking on the fire (v. 9). He doesn’t seem to need their resources, yet asks them to bring what they have. Why? What does this tell us about our role in the work God has called us to do? Pastor Mathew talked about how Peter found himself in a time loop in this scene, a cycle of repeating patterns, but that the time loop was broken when Peter recognized the familiar voice of God in this unfamiliar place. Talk about a time in the past when you recognized the familiar voice of God in an unfamiliar place, perhaps through a movie, a book, a broken relationship. When did you hear the voice of the Spirit in an unexpected place? Where might we need to listen for the voice of the Spirit today? What unexpected, unfamiliar places do we need to cultivate so we can hear the familiar voice of God? + + +

Join us for spring series, "Love, Jesus." This Sunday, Pastor Jeff Mattesich will bring a special message entitled "Sanctify Us" from John 17:13-19. Throughout this series, we will learn about Jesus’ simple command to all his followers to Love. We will discover a love that is mighty to save and kind as it leads. We will find that love is the motivation, the method, and the mark of Jesus. We are invited into obedience and the call to love others as Christ has loved us, with the open-door, generous, tender, selfless Love of God.

To be unified as the people of God, we cannot obsessed over each other’s mistakes. We have to run towards being like God and extend forgiveness towards one another. - from the message Clarity in Unity with Jeff Mattesich, Sunday, April 25, 2021. If you were not able to join us in worship, you can watch on demand on Facebook and YouTube, or watch and listen to Pastor Jeff’s message on our website at www.lakeave.org/sermons Join us this Sunday as Pastor Jeff Mattesich start...s a new teaching series entitled Shine Like Stars from the Book of Philippians. Attend our 9 am Indoors & Online, 11:30 am Outdoor Gathering, or On-Demand Anytime on YouTube, Facebook, and Homepage. #lovejesus #gospelofjohn #sermonsatlake #lifeatlake #lakeavenuechurch #churchinmotion

LEADERSHIP NOMINATIONS NEEDED Deadline to Submit is May 17, 2021 Do you know a leader? The Nominating Committee is accepting Leadership Nominations from the church family now through May 17. Find out what kind of leaders we are looking for and nominate someone to serve on elected leadership by visiting our Nominating Committee web page at www.lakeave.org/nomcom... #churchleadership #nominatingcommittee #nomcom #lakeavenuechurch

Small Group Discussion & Personal Devotion Questions Read John 17:6-12, 20-23 What do we learn about the disciples in verses 6-10? How does this characterization shape your view of them?... How does Jesus describe his relationship with His Heavenly Father in this passage? What does it mean for us to be one as Jesus and the Father are one (vs. 11)? How is this kind of one-ness different from our usual conceptions of unity? Why did Jesus pray for the disciples’ protection (vs. 11, 15) as they pursued this unity together? What do we need to be protected from today as we pursue unity? Pastor Jeff said that Unity involves Forgiveness, Grace, Empathy, and Restorative Church Discipline. In which of these areas do you need to grow, in order to pursue oneness with your brothers and sisters in Christ? What specific actions do you feel led to take in order to pursue unity in the Church at large, but also right here at Lake? + + +

Clarity on Unity John 17:11 & 20-23 with Jeff Mattesich Acting Senior Pastor

Dear LAC Family, This week Pastor Jeff Mattesich brings us information about spending time in the Gospel of John for the next two weeks as we extend our Lenten teaching series to go a little deeper into Jesus' prayer from John 17, and its significance for us during these critical days. He also shares some news about our next series out of the book of Philippians, as well as encouragement and more. Check it out! WORSHIP SERVICE SCHEDULE... 9 AM - INDOOR & ONLINE 11:30 AM - OUTDOOR GATHERING ON-DEMAND ANYTIME - YouTube Facebook Homepage + + +

MEMBERSHIP SEMINAR A One-Time Commitment for the Opportunity of a Lifetime This Saturday, April 17, 9-11:30 am Zoom Meeting ... Consider becoming a member of the Lake Church Family. We invite you to join us virtually to hear Pastor Jeff Mattesich and other members of our Pastoral Team share their hearts about our Lake Family’s biblical foundation, purpose and vision. Come and listen. There is no expectation to join at the end of our time together. We take the family part of membership very seriously and believe that the Lord calls and leads us to become a part of a local family! In Acts 2, we see that the first thing new Christians wanted and needed was to meet together in family units for the purpose of fellowship, prayer, spiritual growth, and serving one another. These family units became the source of their encouragement and mutual help and the means of ministry to others and the expansion of God’s Kingdom. In becoming a part of our Lake Family you will be able to join with us in discovering God’s vision for us and how it can best be accomplished. Please register online using search keyword memseminar Questions? Contact the Adult Ministries office at mailto:[email protected] #membershipseminar #lakeavenuechurch #churchinmotion #lifeatlake #covid19life See more

GREEN OAK RANCH FAMILY CAMP Memorial Day Weekend 2021 Friday, May 28 - Monday, May 31 Green Oak Ranch, Vista, CA... You are invited to attend one of the best family camping experiences dedicated to fun, food*, fellowship, and community-building for all ages! Relax, swim, play games, make crafts, learn archery, join in a parade, line dance, build a bonfire, eat ice cream at our block party and enjoy music and worshipall while enjoying 200+ acres all to ourselves! Spaces are limited this year. Online registration is now open and ends at midnight Sunday, May 23, 2021. Register early using search keyword: greenoak Questions? Contact Michael Mitchell, Camp Coordinator at [email protected] or call 818.554.7321. #greenoakcamp #greenoakranch #churchinmotion #lifeatlake #lakeavenuechurch #covid19life

What’s up Church Family! Thanks for spending a few minutes with me as I tell you about what happened last Sunday and what we’re looking forward to in the upcoming future. The Family Ministries Team is excited to get back onto our campus, and we look forward to in-person student and family events coming up. Below are some general dates for upcoming events to remember:...Continue reading

CHRISTIAN RACIAL RECONCILIATION SEMINAR The Now & The Next (Part 1) Sunday, May 2 1-2 pm Zoom Racial reconciliation is important to our Christian faith. As a large multi-ethnic church, we must understand how to acknowledge, listen to and love our neighbor. Come to Part 1 of a two-part seminar series and hear from Pastor Jeff Mattesich, Pastor Chuck Hunt, Pastor Jeanine Smith, Adrian Pei (our Racial Reconciliation consultant) and Kathy Holliman (our Racial Reconciliation M...inistry Team Chair) as they share the vision and respond to questions about how racial reconciliation is a part of our faith, this church, and God’s Word. Register online, keyword: racialreconciliation Questions? Contact Kathy Holliman at [email protected] #racialreconciliation #churchinmotion #lakeavenuechurch #lifeatlake

To break the time loop, look for the familiar voice from unfamiliar places . . . Jesus trains us to listen to his voice from unexpected places. Sometimes the Bible is not the only place the LORD is going to talk to you. He can even talk to you through your enemies. That’s the way the Holy Spirit works God’s voice is manifested through nature, God’s voice is manifested through human conscience, God’s voice is manifested through art and literature and culture. But the ultimat...e revelation of course is the word of God. But sometimes in the time loop we get so focused on one thing, we go to it again and again; sometimes God will use something different to get your attention. - from the message Trapped in a Time Loop with Pastor Mathew P. John, Sunday, April 11, 2021. If you were not able to join us in worship, you can watch on demand on Facebook and YouTube, or watch and listen to Pastor Mathew’s message on our website at www.lakeave.org/sermons Join us this Sunday as Pastor Jeff Mattesich continues with a message from the Love, Jesus teaching series. Attend our 9 am Indoors & Online, 11:30 am Outdoor Gathering, or On-Demand Anytime on YouTube, Facebook, and Homepage. #lovejesus #gospelofjohn #sermonsatlake #lifeatlake #lakeavenuechurch #churchinmotion

Join us this Sunday as Pastor Mathew P. John brings us a special message from John 21:3-7 entitled Trapped in a Time Loop. WORSHIP SERVICE SCHEDULE: 9 AM - INDOOR & ONLINE; 11:30 AM - OUTDOOR GATHERING; & ON-DEMAND ANYTIME on YouTube Facebook Homepage

Join us this Sunday as Pastor Mathew P. John shares a message on Trapped in a Time Loop. Attend our 9 am Indoors & Online, 11:30 am Outdoor Gathering, or On-Demand Anytime on YouTube, Facebook, and Homepage. #lakeavenuechurch #churchinmotion #lifeatlake #trappedinatimeloop #mathewpjohn #groundhogday #covid19life #sundayservices #worship@lake #lacfamilyministries

Dear LAC Family, Watch our Friday Update with Chris Ramsey and Pastor Mathew P. John, as they share new information about the future of COVID-19 restrictions and additional details about this coming Sunday's Worship Services and the soft-launch of our Family Ministries programs. Visit www.lakeave.org/family-ministries for details and registration. WORSHIP SERVICE SCHEDULE... 9 AM - INDOOR & ONLINE 11:30 AM - OUTDOOR GATHERING ON-DEMAND ANYTIME - YouTube Facebook Homepage + + +

THE MOSAIC COURSE Jesus: According to World Religions Sundays, April 18 to June 6, 6:30 - 8 pm Zoom Meeting... In this course, we will explore the uniqueness of the Christian faith in the context of other world religions and learn to share our faith our neighbors of other faiths and worldviews in a culturally-sensitive manner. Topics include: Understanding Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Islam, Judaism, Atheism; Jesus: The Only Way and The Uniqueness of Christianity. Please visit us online to register using search keyword: mosaiccourse. Registration ends Sunday, April 18 at midnight. Questions? Contact Pastor Mathew P. John at [email protected] or 626.817.4512. #themosaiccourse #churchinmotion #lakeavenuechurch #lifeatlake #mathewpjohn

Small Group and Personal Devotion Discussion Questions: Read Isaiah 11:1-9 Isaiah says that a shoot will come from the stump of Jesse in verse 1. What are the characteristics of this branch who will bear fruit (vs. 2-5)? How does Jesus bring this prophecy to fulfillment?... Describe the future Kingdom depicted by the prophet in vs. 6-9. Why are the weaker animals able to rest in the presence of the stronger animals? Similarly, how does the coming of Jesus change our world today? Read Isaiah 10:20-25, 33-34- 11:1. In this section, Isaiah says that the power of the Assyrians will be destroyed and God will do a new thing with the house of Jesse. Share your own stories about how God has brought redemption and peace out of a difficult situation. In what areas of your life/our world do you long for peace? What are the habit, practices, and rhythms that help you experience peace and live as a peacemaker? + + +

Sunday, December 6, 2020

Sunday Service December 6, 2020 11AM

Veterans Day Virtual Coffee Honoring All Who Served Next Saturday, Nov. 7, 10-11:30 am, Zoom Meeting Please join us next Saturday for a Zoom Fellowship, coffee break, and prayerhonoring military veterans. Bring your favorite coffee cup as we give tribute to military veterans who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. Register online using keyword: veteransday.... In recognition of the Navy’s Core Values of Honor, Courage and Commitment, Terry Sheffield will be making a 30 minute presentationSomalia 1993that emphasizes these values to build the foundation of trust and leadership. We will close with the United States Armed Forces Medley and prayer. #veteransday #lifeatlake #lakeavenuechurch #churchinmotion

Sunday Service December 6, 2020 9AM

Please watch our Friday Update from Pastor Jeff Mattesich as he invites us to enter into a moment of prayer and fasting for our country as we head into this pivotal election week. If you were not able to join us on Wednesday Evening at our Illumine Us General Election Prayer Gathering, you can watch the video on demand on Facebook or on YouTube at https://youtu.be/W8KuCu4uEq4 The Election Prayer Prompts are also available for download from our Prayer Ministries page here: htt...ps://www.lakeave.org//2020_General_Election_Prayer_Prom This Sunday Pastor Jeff will continue in the Timely Series as he speaks to us from James chapter 3 on the power of our words: "I believe that James has something to us and the Bible has something to say to us about how we use what God has given us - these words, our mouths, our tongues." "I am prayerful, I am fasting, that we would be a strong community - different, divided in some ways - but united in Jesus and be able to walk with one another in the weeks ahead - and God's Word will help us with this in the weeks ahead." We hope you will be able to join us this Sunday in worship online at 9 and 11 am on YouTube, Facebook, and our Homepage - or in-person in our West Parking Lot at 5 pm! Please sign up on our event page here: https://www.lakeave.org/eve/sunday-night-outdoor-gathering May God bless you and yours and we hope you will join us this Sunday. + + +

TOMORROW IS THE LAST DAY TO SIGN UP Blessing Bags to Cards of Love Community Outreach Drive Gift Cards for ChristmasFor Our Neighbors Experiencing Homelessness Be a blessing to our Sunday Community Meal family by giving gift cards for Blessings Bags and write Cards of Love. ... Go online and sign up to help meet the practical needs of some of the most vulnerable in our community. Use search keyword: blessingbags. Questions? Contact Amara Ononiwu, our Housing and Homelessness Outreach Coordinator at [email protected]. #advent #adventdevotional #christmasatlake #weneedalittlechristmas #reasonfortheseason #littlechristmas #lifeatlake #lakeavenuechurch #churchinmotion

The Ministry Council would like to take this opportunity to give a SHOUT OUT to our pastoral team. Please continue reading the Pastor Appreciation letter online at www.lakeave.org/pastor-appreciation. In addition to this shout out, we are inviting you, church family, to express your gratitude to our pastoral staff. As you reflect on this season, show them that you see them, and that you value each of them as a person. Consider writing a note, giving a social media shout out, or sending heart-felt email; and commit to regularly praying for them and their families. #pastorappreciationmonth #lifeatlake #lakeavenuechurch #churchinmotion

Illumine Us: General Election Prayer Gathering, October 28, 2020 7 pm

Watch our Wednesday Update featuring Duane Funderburk, Worship & the Arts Co-Director, as he shares a beautiful piece of music and information about next Thursday's Goldline Noon Concert entitled "You'll Never Walk Alone" with guest artists Darnell Abraham and Crystal Rivette. In addition, Duane also shares some exciting information about our upcoming Christmas Concert preparations taking place. The concert is tentatively set for the third week of December. Watch for more information as it becomes available. During this COVID-19 Season, our LAC Concerts are presented virtually here on Facebook and on LAC's YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/lakeavenuechurch

We are inviting you to take the time to express your gratitude to our pastoral staff. Show them you value them as a person. Consider writing a note, giving a social media shout out, or sending heart-felt email; and commit to regularly praying for them and their family. #pastorappreciationmonth #lifeatlake #lakeavenuechurch #churchinmotion

"Working Together" with Jeanine Smith, Sunday, October 25, 2020 "Timely: Study in the Book of James" James 2:14-19

Read James 2:14-26 Re-read verses 14-19, in which James discredits a faith without deeds and compares it to that of the demons. What kind of faith is James talking about here? What are some examples of what this sort of faith might look like today? Compare and contrast James’depiction of Abraham and Rahab. What do they teach us about faith in God? Why does he include both of these people as models of dynamic faith?... What does it mean that Abraham’s faith and his actions were working together in verse 22? What are some present day examples of this sort of dynamic faith? What do your actions reveal about your faith these days? James says in verse 24 that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone. How do we hold this together with Paul’s words in Romans 3:28 or Ephesians 2:8-9? One of the main actions that James calls us toward in this letter is to care for the poor and marginalized. How might this sort of action demonstrate true faith? What are some ways you can care for the poor and marginalized this week? BONUS: James says in 2:26 that faith without deeds is like a body without a spirit. Read Ezekiel 37:1-14, in which the prophet shares a vision about bones and bodies and spirit. What effect did the Spirit (breath) of God have on the bodies in verses 10 and 14? How can deeds enliven a person’s faith, just as the spirit enlivened these bodies in Ezekiel 37? NoteSome of these questions were influenced by N.T. Wright’s book James: 9 Studies for Individuals and Groups + + +

Sunday Service October 25, 2020 11AM

Sunday Service October 25, 2020 9AM

Dear LAC Family, Please watch Pastor Jeff's Friday Update as he shares important information regarding e-mail phishing information, details about this Sunday morning and evening services, and ministry opportunities coming up next week and beyond. You received a special e-mail a couple of weeks ago when a phishing scheme was launched asking for gift cards and donations from what appeared to be Pastor Jeff. Pastor Jeff and the staff of Lake will never ask for money in the form ...of gift cards or other ways to be sent to him or any other individuals. Always check to ensure that e-mails come from our domain - lakeave.org. If you should ever have any questions about e-mail communication that doesn't sound right, simply e-mail us at [email protected] and we will work with you to determine if it is coming from us. Regarding this Sunday, there is a 50% chance of rain. If it does rain we will be canceling our Sunday Evening Outdoor Gathering scheduled for 5 pm. Visit us here and Instagram platforms for updates. We will also post something directly on our homepage to let everyone know. Starting Monday, October 26, we want to help Huntington Hospital with a special Blood Drive that is desperately needed. This drive runs through Friday, November 6, and takes place at Huntington Hospital. To sign up simply call 626.397.5422 to make your appointment! For all information download the flyer https://www.lakeave.org//docs/out/LAC_Blood_Drive_2020.pdf or visit https://www.lakeave.org/events/annual-blood-drive?evid=2663 We invite you to join us next Wednesday, October 28, at 7 pm for our online mid-week gathering, Illumine Us, as our Prayer Team leads us time in prayer for the upcoming General Election. Join us here on Facebook, YouTube, our our Homepage. As we continue to work towards our churchwide goal of reconciliation, Pastor Jeff introduces Adrian Pei, our consultant in this process. For more information about Adrian and his work please visit https://www.adrianpei.com This Sunday, Pastor Jeanine Smith will bring us the Scriptures from James Chapter 2 of our Timely Series with a special message entitled "Working Together." We hope you will be able to join us in worship online at 9 and 11 am online - or in-person in our West Parking Lot at 5 pm! Don't forget to sign up and bring your facemasks and a comfortable chair. See you on Sunday if the weather permits. + + +