News in the New Year!

happy new year! tomorrow (Friday, 1/2/2009), we're not having our regular bible study. instead, all of koinonia (those who are around) are getting together at Emily's house in Alameda, and we'll have dinner all together. after dinner, we'll talk about and share based on this past week's DT in Revelations 22. and then we'll play!

we'll start dinner at 6:30pm. if you need a ride, let your smallgroup leaders know (or me).

and for the rest of you still at home, hope your new year's was very safe, happy, and fun. those of us in town all got together and made dumplings, and then cooked them every which way that we could: frying, deep frying, boiling, steaming, you name it, we did it. and then when we were all dumpling'ed out, we played a traditional Korean game (yoot-nori), which involved a lot of stick throwing and yelling until we got hoarse.

in other news, the Cambodia Winter Mission Team is leaving in just a couple days, so please keep them in your thoughts and prayers: Kevin D, Michael K, Hannah P, Irene K, and Tabitha A. we can't wait to hear their stories and testimonies upon their return!

Welcome Back to 2008!!

Welcome back to Berkeley, hope this first week's going alright. i've already heard about some of you trying to rework your schedules, dropping classes, and trying to pick up new ones.

check this:

• Koinonia bible study is tomorrow, Friday, at 145 Dwinelle. we're starting at 7:30 PM (had to push back the time from 7), and then afterwards we're going out... hopefully, somewhere dry.
• Manny is getting ordained this Sunday! yes, that means he's going to be part of the CLERGY! well, he's just going to become a pastor. if you want to celebrate with the rest of us and congratulate him, then come to Pauley Ballroom, 4 pm, on Sunday. we'll have our usual worship service, and also a Celebration afterwards, which includes a big dinner all together. i've been helping out w/ the Celebration program, and it's knock your socks off funny, and not something you're going to want to miss.
• Frosh welcome back smallgroup dinner next Wednesday (1/30).
• Sophs also have a welcome back smallgroup dinner next week. More info coming.
• Seniors... well, seniors have been around, so hey seniors. Welcome back.

talk to you guys soon... welcome back to Berkeley!!!

Extra Time over winter break

Relaxing at home and find yourself with a little extra time? Listen to the Gracepoint podcast to keep up to speed with what's going on up in Berkeley. Of recent note, there's this past Sunday's message on the parable of the sower, an explanation of "saturation reflection" and our New Year's key verse (Philippians 3:8), and more.