10
February Many of us remember the old computer formula GI- GO, which stood for “Garbage In-Garbage Out”. That is, if you program your computer with garbage software (Garbage In), don’t be surprised if you get garbage results (Garbage Out). This is a very logical formula which is understood by even the simplest of minds. And yet, if that is true, which it is, then why can’t our school administrators, educators, poli- ticians, and civic leaders understand this as well? In other words, if we feed our kids garbage truths, then why are we surprised when we get garbage results in terms of behavior, speech, social mores, and violence on the level that we witnessed recently in Newton, CT? One of the biggest lies we are teaching our kids is that we are only here by chance, that all of life is just an elaborate accident, and therefore, there is no real meaning to human existence and certainly no transcendent purpose to life. Pop scientist, Carl Sagan, once stated that the earth is merely “a lonely speck in the great enveloping cosmic dark.” Nobel-prize-winning- physicist Steven Weinberg, once declared that human existence is “pointless” or “just a more-or-less farcical outcome of a chain of accidents.” This cosmic worldview is presently being communicated in our universities, high schools, and middle schools as gospel truth. The secularist view of life assumes that “if it isn’t matter, then it doesn’t matter”. So, forget about God, theology, spiritual- ity, or biblical ethics. Those subjects are off the table. Thus, is it any wonder that so many of this generation are confused about their purpose in life, unsure of their sexual identity, and void of any sense of universal, moral ethics? Life is just a farce after all, “full of sound and fury but signifying nothing”. That is what so many modern scientist would have us believe. But what a strange departure from the most famous scientists in history as leading thinkers such as Galileo, Kepler, Newton, and even Darwin and Ein- stein assumed that the universe had to have some intelligent designer behind it all. Indeed, only a fool could believe that all of the amazingly complex order that we discover in nature is simply there by chance. Or, as Einstein once observed, “the most incomprehensible thing about the universe is that it is comprehensible”. In other words, if the universe came of random disorder, then how do we explain all of the order is out there? Or more to point, how can we have any conscious understanding of it? FEBRUARY 2013 Sunday Services 10:00 a.m. Adult Sunday School 9:00am Sunday School PK-12 10:30am Choir Practice 9am & 11:30am Weekly Activities Ladies Bible Study Tuesdays 12-2 Small Group @ Rivera’s Tuesday 7pm Men’s Breakfast Wednesday 7am Women’s Study Friday 7pm Youth Group Friday 7pm Prayer Service Thursday 6pm Second Union Church Ave. Apolo esq. Mileto Guaynabo, PR 00969 787-720-4423 www.secondunion.org Garbage In: Garbage Out Pastor Bob Zoba

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Page 1: Garbage In: Garbage Out - Second Union Churchsecondunion.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/2ThoughtsFebruary131.pdf · Garbage In: Garbage Out Pastor Bob Zoba. February 2013 Garbage

February 2013

ManyofusremembertheoldcomputerformulaGI-GO,whichstoodfor“GarbageIn-GarbageOut”.Thatis,ifyouprogramyourcomputerwithgarbagesoftware(GarbageIn), don’t be surprised if you get garbage results (GarbageOut).Thisisaverylogicalformulawhichisunderstoodbyeventhesimplestofminds.Andyet,ifthatistrue,whichitis,thenwhycan’tourschooladministrators,educators,poli-ticians,andcivicleadersunderstandthisaswell?Inotherwords, ifwefeedourkidsgarbagetruths, thenwhyarewesurprisedwhenwe get garbage results in termsof behavior,speech,socialmores,andviolenceonthelevelthatwewitnessedrecentlyinNewton,CT? Oneof thebiggest liesweareteachingourkidsis thatweareonlyherebychance, thatallof life is justanelaborateaccident,and therefore,there isnorealmeaningtohumanexistenceandcertainlynotranscendentpurposetolife.Popscientist,CarlSagan,oncestatedthattheearthismerely“alonelyspeckinthegreatenvelopingcosmicdark.”Nobel-prize-winning-physicistStevenWeinberg,oncedeclaredthathumanexistenceis“pointless”or“justamore-or-lessfarcicaloutcomeofachainofaccidents.”Thiscosmicworldviewispresentlybeingcommunicatedinouruniversities,highschools,andmiddleschoolsasgospeltruth.Thesecularistviewoflifeassumesthat“ifitisn’tmatter,thenitdoesn’tmatter”.So,forgetaboutGod,theology,spiritual-ity,orbiblicalethics.Thosesubjectsareoffthetable.Thus,isitanywonderthatsomanyofthisgenerationareconfusedabouttheirpurposeinlife,unsureoftheirsexualidentity,andvoidofanysenseofuniversal,moralethics?Lifeisjustafarceafterall,“fullofsoundandfurybutsignifyingnothing”. Thatiswhatsomanymodernscientistwouldhaveusbelieve.Butwhat a strange departure from themost famous scientists in history asleadingthinkerssuchasGalileo,Kepler,Newton,andevenDarwinandEin-steinassumedthattheuniversehadtohavesomeintelligentdesignerbehinditall. Indeed,onlya foolcouldbelieve thatallof theamazinglycomplexorderthatwediscoverinnatureissimplytherebychance. Or,asEinsteinonceobserved,“themostincomprehensiblethingabouttheuniverseisthatitiscomprehensible”.Inotherwords,iftheuniversecameofrandomdisorder,thenhowdoweexplainalloftheorderisoutthere?Ormoretopoint,howcanwehaveanyconsciousunderstandingofit?

FEBRUARY2013

Sunday Services10:00 a.m.

Adult Sunday School9:00am

Sunday SchoolPK-12

10:30am

Choir Practice9am & 11:30am

Weekly ActivitiesLadies Bible Study

Tuesdays 12-2

Small Group @ Rivera’sTuesday 7pm

Men’s BreakfastWednesday 7am

Women’s StudyFriday 7pm

Youth GroupFriday 7pm

Prayer ServiceThursday 6pm

Second Union ChurchAve. Apolo esq. MiletoGuaynabo, PR 00969

787-720-4423www.secondunion.org

Garbage In: Garbage Out

Pastor Bob Zoba

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February 2013

2Garbage In: Garbage Out

PastorRev. Robert Zoba

Youth PastorRicardo Jusino

PresidentLuis Alberto Rivera

Vice PresidentJohn Alberts

TreasurerStan Pinkerton

SecretaryAna Victoria Guzmán

WorshipElilda Gil

PropertyJan Gonzalez

Staff-Congregation RelationsDavid Virginia

PhilipGouldwrites,“inrecentyears…asmallgroupofscientistsandthinkershavedecidedtotryanovelapproachcombiningsciencewiththeology…..Theresulthasbeenthegrowingandincreasinglyinfluen-tial“IntelligentDesign”(ID)movement,amajorprojectoftheSeattle-basedDiscoveryInstitutewhichhasproduceda60-minutedocumentaryfilmentitled“ThePrivilegedPlanet”.Thisfilmasksifitispossiblethatthisimmense,symphonicsystemofatoms,fields,forces,stars,galaxies,andpeopleistheresultofachoice,apurposeorintention,ratherthansimplysomeinscrutableoutworkingofblindnecessityoraninexplicableaccident?Ifso,thenit’ssurelypossiblethattherecouldbeevidencetosuggestsuchapos-sibilityofintelligentdesign.Perhapswehavebeenstaringpast...asignalrevealingauniversesoskill-fullycraftedforlifeanddiscoverythatitseemstowhisperofanextra-terrestrialintelligenceimmeasurablymorevast,moreancient,andmoremagnificentthananythingwe’vebeenwillingtoexpectorimagine?’AsChristians,webelievethisiscertainlyplausible,logical,andBiblical.Ifyouagreewiththatperspec-tive,orwouldliketodeepenyourunderstandingofit,orwouldliketointerestsomeofyourskepticalfriendstoreconsiderthatperspective,thenpleaseattendtheupcomingpresentationofthisfilmatSecondUnionChurchonJanuary25that7pm.DavidDeakin,orresidentscientificinventor,willbepresentingthisfilmandfacilitatingourdiscussiontimethereafter.WeinviteyoutomarkthisonyourcalendarsothatyoucanexpandyourvisionofthecosmosanddeepenyourfaithinourIntelligentDesigner.

Blessings,

Second Union ChurchCouncil & Staff

OutreachJulio Rivera

Christian EducationRisa Tobin

MembershipJeff Cherok

FellowshipTammy Tatum

NominatingEze Ebube

Forward PlanningRose de Jesus

Women’s MinistriesAnita Rodriguez

Office ManagerMabel Varela

Minister of MusicLuis Manuel Tirado

Notice:Semi-AnnualCongregationalMeeting

January27,2013ImmediatelyAftertheService

Allarewelcometothismeetingwherewewill be approving the annualbudget forthe2013fiscalyearaswellasattendingtootherbusiness.

If you are a member, your vote is veryvaluable,sopleasecomeandbeapartofthebodyofthechurch.

Wewillbeservingsandwichesandchipsforall.Ifyou’dliketocontributecookies,browniesor juice,wewouldbegratefultoreceiveit.

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February 20133

Throughstunningcomputeranimation, interviewswith leadingscientists,andspectacular imagesofEarthandthecosmos,ThePrivilegedPlanetexploresastartlingconnectionbetweenourcapacitytosurviveandourabilitytoobserveandunderstandtheuniverse.Wenowknowthatarareandfinely-tunedarrayoffactorsmakesEarthsuitableforcomplexlife.

Isthiscorrelationmerelyacoincidence?

ManyscientistsandphilosophershaveclaimedthatEarthisanordinaryspeckofdustadrift,withoutpurposeorsignificance,inavastcosmicsea.Yetcurrentastronomicalevidenceseemstosuggestjusttheopposite.

Doesitpointtoadeepertruthaboutpurposeandintelligentdesignwithinthecosmos?Comejointhediscus-siononthispertinenttopicthisFriday,January25th.

Themoviewillbeginpromptlyat7pm.TheFellowshipCommitteewillbeprovidingsoftdrinksandpopcorn!Makethisafamilynight,adatenight,orjustcomeonyourown-youwon’tbedisappointed!

TheBigScreenat2UCMovieNight

Friday,January25th7:00p.m.

ThePrivilegedPlanet

Lenten Devotional

OurSecondUnionChurchLentenDevotionalisintheprocessofbeingcompiled thanks to thededi-cationandgenerosityofJohnAlberts.Eachyearadevotionalguide isprepared for themembersandfriendsof2UC.Ifyouwouldbeinterestedincon-tributing a short devotionalmessage, contact Johnand he will provide you with a Bible verse andguidelines.

This year’s devotional passageswill correspond totheBibleverseswearereadingasagroup.Thisis

suretobeasourceofgreatencouragementandinsight.Lookforyourcopy!

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February 20133 Did You Know?

LotsoftravelforGeorgeandJoanMcMurray;Oc-toberweddingofGeorge, Jr. andAndreaRoder inSanFrancisco;December trips to Jacksonville, Fla.andthenMadison,Wisc.,thelatterforgraduationofhistorymajorAntonioRengel (grandson) from U.ofWisconsin.InMadisontheyexperiencedarealwinterstormwith16”ofsnowandbelow0tempera-tures.BacktowarmPuertoRicoonChristmasDayand preparations for a 3-Kings’Day visit from theRengelfamily--Robi,Patricia,Francisco,andTony.InJanuary2013ourBucarehouseisfullofdirtysheetsandmemoriesofgoodtimes.

Alana Rodriguez Ramos wasborn to happy parentsAngelaandCesarandbrotherCaleb?!Grandparents, Joe and ElildaRamos couldn’t be happier,andwesharewiththeminthiswonderfularrival!

JoeCalcolliwrites:OnNov. 29, 2012 I brokemyhip. Ispenttheentireholidayrecoveringfromhipreplacementsurgery.IreceivedthebiggestandbestgiftthatIcouldeveraskfor.Thegiftofafullrecov-ery.Thankyouforyourprayersandthoughts.IplantousemygifteverydayfortherestofmylifetobringglorytothenameoftheLord.

BillStowellhadasimilarholidayexperienceasJoeCalcolli,albeitwithdoublepneumonia?However,Bill finally busted out of the hospital andwas in-ductedas2UC’snewestmemberon January13th?WelcomeaboardWilliam!

JohnandTinaWoodruffwritethattheywentskiing,tobogganing,sleighridingandhadsnowballfightsoverNewYearsinVermontwiththeirdearfriends.

Sonlights in PuertoRico, the English-speaking Em-mausCommunity,willholdaWomen’sWalktoEm-maus, a 72hour spiritual retreat, beginningThurs-dayeveningMay2throughSundayeveningMay5,2013?

Atrip to Israel for theSecondUnionChurchcom-munityisbeingplannedforNovember?

Efraín (Pito)andJosseetteDrozcelebrate their21stweddinganniversaryon January21st,2013? Con-gratulationsyoutwo!

Our$23,000Novemberdeficitwastrimmedtosur-plus during themonth ofDecember thanks to thegenerosityof2UCanditsmanysupporters?

AlfredDelbreyisoneofthemostpopularprofessorsatInterAmericanUniversity?

Wehaveanewsmallgroup,BiblestudygoinginCondado?

David Deakin has a passion for combining scienceandtheScriptures?Hehasdonatedanumberofgreatvideosonthisthemeandwewillbeshowingone,ThePrivilegedPlanet,onFriday,January25th?

Edwin Perez, Von De-Loach,andRicardoJusino served as ourThree Kings for ourChristmasEveService?

MattGolleyisofficiallyengagedto Piper, Schoppe a childhoodsweetheartfromTexas?CongratsMatt!

BillHeffleycontinuestokeepoursound systemworkingatpeakperformance? (ThanksBill!)

Bill Heffley’s nephew, David, has successfully under-goneahearttransplantinIllinoisthisweekandsofarisdoingwell?PraiseGod!PleasecontinuetoprayforDavid.

BrendaGonzalezhashadacou-pleofhernewsstoriespickedupbythenationalnewsnetworks?

Omar Haedo still pops in andjoinstheMen’sBreakfast?Heandhis growing family are enjoyinglifeinthegreaterMiamiarea.

RashelKrankovichhascompletedherfirstsemesteratOhioUniversityandhopestocometoPRandgetwarmsometimesoon?PraythatshesteersclearofBambionthosewindyOhiocountryroads!

ChristopherandBeckyO’Mearamadeavisit to theirhomestateofOhio recently? Theyareenjoying theirnewlifeinVirginia!Wemissyou!

SusanPagesisstillworkinginthefilmindustryinFLandHectormakesavisittoPRatleastonceamonth?

4

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February 2013

4Did You Know?5

Dennis and Amarilis Gonzalezspent New Year’s Eve in TimesSquare? It was looking like theymightbestrandedinDayton,Ohioforthecelebrationbuttheweathercleared and they made it just intime!Theywereinafriend’s18thfloor apartment overlooking thefestivitesanddescendedtominglewiththecrowdsintimetoseetheballdrop!

DennisGonzalezisenrolledinthreeclassesatMIZPATheo-logicalCollege,he’splanningtoracehisclassicsportscarin5-6racesintheStateshe’stakinganonlinecourse,he’samember/captainof4tennisleagueteamsandhe’shelpingorganizethe2UCtriptoIsrael?Wow!Allthisisinadditiontohiscareer!Ashesays,“Godisincontrol!”

CherishLexvold,oneofourregularChildrenSermonspre-senters,spenttheholidayinRockford,Illinois?

RobValdés(a.k.a.Robbie!)isinItalyforamonth-longcourseonhistoryandarchitecture?Hewritesthathecansuccess-fullyorderapizzainItalian!RobertRamoswasintownlastweekandstoppedintochatwithPastorBob?HereportsthatLedysandthekidsaredo-inggreatandthatGabyisinthefinalroundofLasVoces!

AnnaMcGuire&hubbieDonJondrowvisited2UCfromthegreatstateofTexas?Yvette Valdés-Smith (Christie Zo-ba’s step-daughter) and husbandJakeareexpecting theirfirstchildat theendofMay!Theycouldn’tbehappier,norcouldChristie!

Daryle&KimParkerarebackfromChinaandvisited2UC togiveusanupdateoftheirministryinHar-bin,China?

EdwinPerezwillbe taking250ofhisemployees toParis,Francethisyearforaconference?

StanelyPinkertonspendsendlesshourscrunchingnumberssothatarefinancesbalanceout?(ThanksStan!)

JoeRamoswillbepresentinghisstudyoftheTrinitytotheMen’sBreakfastthisweek?

EdithPerezandourSundaySchoolprogramorganizedaJi-baritoChristmas presentation this year that featured all ofourSundaySchoolkids?Queprecioso!

OnThursday,January17th82peopleattendedthefirstsession of Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace Universityat2UC? This isawonderfulChristian-basedfinancialplanningprogram.DavidBandermanandhiswifeVal-erieFigueroahavedoneafabulousjobcoordinatingthisprogram.Thanksyoutwo-whatateam!

Almost$1,600wasreceivedatourChristmasEveSer-vice?DonJulioandOutreachdonatedthistoLaPosadadeVictoriaandtheBastaYamovementtoendviolence?

David&LauireYosthostedsome17statesiderelativesovertheholidaybreakandtheyalllovedPuertoRico?

Jeff&JoanneCherokorganizedourfirsteverprayerwalkthroughour neighborhood and almost 30 people par-ticipatedinprayer,paranda,andtestimonytoourneigh-bors?

LuisAlberto Rivera has completed hismosaicmaster-piecewhichwillsoonbeunveiledatthenewfacilityofPuertoRicoSupply?ThiswillbecomeanewnationaltreasureofPR.

RonaldRomanMelendezisgraduatedfromConcordiaUniversity in Chicago in December with a degree inTheater? Hehad the leading role in twoproductionsearlierthisyear-“JuliusCaesar”and“InTheSoundlessAwe”andjustfinishedtheroleofMercutioin“RomeoandJuliet.”ProudpapasEva&DavidandevenproudergrandmaSylviaattended thegraduation inChicago inmid-December (brrrr!). His older brotherGabriel hascompletedhisMastersdegreeinChemistryattheUni-versityofMichigan(GoBlue!)andisclosinginonthePh.D.GodhasblessedusGREATLY!!!

SecondUnionChurchwasblessedwithabrilliantper-formancebytheCarthageGospelMessengersonSun-day,January20?Agroupof50universitystudentsfromCarthageUniversity inWisconsinhighlightedourwor-shipservicewithlivelymusic.Itwasarealtreat!

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February 20135

IrmaLallave,RosaTrinidad,PalomaDelLlano(deAymat!)andMabelValera arrived at church at 8am and peparedawonderfulPuertoRicanmealofChickenFricassée,rice,saladanddessertfortheperformers?Thanksoryourded-ication and sacrifice. TheOutreach committeewas alsotreated toameal -good thingscome to thosewhowait!Delicious!

FreddyBeckerputhistalentstoworkforthechurchbyre-finishingtheservingtableintheFellowshipHallandadd-ingwheels tomake it easier tomove around? We can’tthankyouenough,itlooksfabulous!Freddywasalsoseenpaintingthechainwhichpartitionsofftheparkingarea-wereallyappreciateyourattentiontodetailandyourwilling-nesstoserve!(FreddyisinthepictureabovehelpingoutonSundaymorning!

ThelmaRiveragetstheawardforthemostdeterminedflow-erarrangerintheworld?Inavaliantefforttoreachsomefoliagebehind the Lallavehome,Thelma lost her footingandfellonasteephill.Fortunatelyshewasfine.Shecre-ated some beautiful arrangements for the Sanctuary andcenterpieces for theFellowshipHallwith thosehard-wongreenery!ThankstoIrmaLallaveforbeingtheretosaveherandforalwaysprovidingsuchbeautifulflowers!

Did You Know?

Couples’ MinistryThe Couples’ Ministry met for a night of fel-lowship and great food at EastAsian Bistro inGuaynaboonFriday, January18th? Wehadagreattimesharingandgettingtoknowonean-other.

Don’t miss the upcoming Valentine’s activity.RumorhasitthatChefJoséAymatwillbeteach-ingthementomakeaspecialValentine’smealfor their sweethearts! Ladies, encourage yourhusbandstobeapartofthisevent,you’llbegladyoudid.

Tuesday Ladies’ Lunchtime Bible Study

Jointhewomenof2UCaswehavejustbegunanewBiblestudy.Wearereadinganddiscussingthebook,“ProdigalGod”,byTimothyKeller.Wemeetatnoonandshareameal.Pleasejoinus,allarewelcome.

Tuesday Evening Bible Study

WewillbeginourBiblestudygroupthisTuesday,January22ndat7:00pmatLuisAlbertoandLor-raineRivera’shomeinSanFrancisco.WewillbestudyingthebookofActsandtheonlyrequire-mentforallisthatyoureadthefirstchapter,takenotes,shareandbeontimeifpossible.Contactthechurchfordirections.

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February 2013

67

DuringthebeginningoftheChristmasseasonourchildrenandteacherswereinvolvedinmanyactivities.Firstthechildrenhadaspecial“BigSunday”wheretheyweregivenanexplanationonthemeaningofAdventalongwithaspecialCraftforthemtotakehomeandsharewiththeirfamilies.

On Sunday, December 16 our SundaySchoolchildrenpresentedasagifttoourcongregationtheirownversionof“ELVil-lancicoYaucano”.The children dressedin typical “Jibarito” costumes and didtheir interpretation of the typical andvery popular villancico as it was sungbyaninvitedchildsingerbroughtbyourownLuisTirado from theConservatoriodeMusica.Allofourchildrenages3to11participated.

On Friday January 4we celebrated ourtraditional “Happy Birthday Jesus” withallofourSundaySchoolChildren.Childrenwere treated togames, crafts,

snacks,cupcakes,popcorn,pizzaandaJumpingCastle.GoodiebagswerealsogiventorememberafunnightcelebratingthetruemeaningofChristmas!

AbigthankstoallofourSundaySchoolteachers!Withoutyou,wecouldn’thavesuchawonderfulChris-tianEducationprogramforourchildren.Wearegratefulforyourtime,effortandloveforallofthechildrenwhoattendSundaySchool!

Sunday School News

FromOurDailyBreadYou’re Necessary!

Thestoryhasbeentoldaboutaconductorwhowasrehearsinghisorchestra.Theorganwasgivingabeautifulmelody,thedrumswerethundering,thetrumpetswereblaring,andtheviolinsweresingingbeautifully.Buttheconductornoticedsomethingmissing—thepiccolo.Thepiccoloplayerhadgottendistractedandhopedhisinstrumentwouldn’tbemissed.Theconductorremindedhim:“Eachoneofusisnecessary.”

ThiswasessentiallythesamemessagePaulcommunicatedtotheCorinthianbelieversinhisfirstlettertothem(12:4-7).EveryChristianplaysanimportantroleinthebodyofChrist.PaulgavealistofgiftsoftheSpiritandcomparedtheirusetothefunctioningofthevariouspartsofthehumanbodyforthegoodofthewhole(vv.8-10).TheCorinthianbelieversmayhavehaddifferentculturalbackgrounds,gifts,andpersonalities,buttheywerefilledwiththesameSpiritandbelongedtothesamebodyofChrist.Paulmadespecialmentionofthepartsofthebodythatwereweakandobscure,andtaughtthatallbelieversplayanecessaryandsignificantrole.Noonepartwasmorenecessarythananyother.

Remember,JesushasgivenyouasignificantparttoplayandwilluseyoutobuildupHispeople.

AsamemberofthebodyofChrist,youareanecessarypartofthewhole!

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February 20137 8In Fond Memory of Marina

WearealldevastatedbythesuddenlossofourdearsisterinChrist,MarinaMcCormack.Shewasadearfriendtosomanyandshehadsuchaservant’sheart.Sheandherhusband,Eduardo,andtheirchildren,Daniel,Andrés,andNataliahaveattendedSecondUnionChurchforthepasttwelveyears.Marinacontributedtoourchurchfamilyinsomanyways.Shewasaconstantandac-tivememberoftheWomen’sGuildandWomen’sMinistriesteam,shefaithfullyattendedSundayservicesandtheWomen’sBiblestudies.Sheservedonthechurchcouncil,shehasbeenanactivepartofourflowerministry,sheprovidedhome-bakedmealstopeoplereturningfromhospitalstays,shesangsomanytimesduringworshipservice,shewastheunparalleledVBSsnackcoordinator,shecraftedforhoursandhoursforourChristmasBazaarwhereshealsoservedfaithfullyandprovidedcountlessbakedgoodies. Shewasamemberofthe

EmmausCommunity,Thelistgoesonandon.ShewasatreasuretoSecondUnion,anditwillnotbethesamewithouther.

ThereareseveralwordsthatpeopleusefrequentlytodescribeMarina’schar-acter,shewaswise,shewasgenerousandshealwaysputothersfirst.Shewasatrueservant.Shelovedtogiveandtoshareandtosupportthosearoundher.Sheopenedherhousetomanyandwasquicktoofferprovisiontoanywhomightbeinneed.Shewasthepillarofherfamilyandanexampletousall.Aboveall,MarinalovedJesus,andthereisnodoubtthatsheisinHisarms.Ourheartfeltcondolencesgoouttoherhusband,Eduardoandtoherthreechildren:Daniel,AndrésandNa-

talia.Mayweprovidecomfort and supportandencouragement toyou.

Wemiss you,Marina!Weloveyou!

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February 2013

A special note from Christie Zoba:

Marinawasmydear,dear, friend,andtherearen’twordsenoughtoex-presshowmuchIammissingher.IstruggleknowingthatIcan’tpickupthephoneandcallherforadviceorjusttochat.HernameisonalmostallofmyemaillistsandIhatethethoughtofnotbeingabletolistentoherstoriesandanecdotesaroundtheBIblestudytables.ShehadsuchagreatwayofexplainingBiblicaltruthstoeveryone,andshewassohappytoshareherperspectivewithsomeonewhowasseekingguidance.Shelovedgivinggifts,andshewasalwayssocarefultochoosejusttheright

somethingsheknewyou’dlove.AnyofyouthathavebeenapartoftheEmmausCommunityknowthatshewasthebestgiverofAgapegiftsever!Shewenttosuchlengthstocomeupwithsomethingtopleaseevery-one.Ifyouwereeverinneedofmeals,youcanbesurethatMarinaprovidedsome.Butourrelationshipwasevenmorespecial,becausewesharedsomuchtogether.Wemetregularlyforlunch,andBobandIsharedmanymealswithsheandEduardo.Iwasblessedtoknowhowmuchshelovedherchildren-intheiraccom-plishmentsandintheirchallenges.Shewassuchasupportiveandunconditionallylovingwifeandmother.Sheprayedferventlyforthem-aswellasforhersistersandbrother,herparentsandforEduardo’sfamily.Ofcourse,herconstantprayerwasforherchildrenandforthemtoknowJesuswiththeassurancethatsheandEduardoknew.

ImetMarinafourteenyearsagowhenIwasinvitedtoparticipateinaBible study inawoman’shome. ThiswasaGod-incidence,becauseI didn’t knowanyof thewomenas theydidn’t attendSecondUnionChurchatthetime.Butweformedanincrediblebondwhichtiesthatcannotbebroken-evenbydeath-becausethegluethatheldourrela-tionshipstogetherwasJesusChrist.IknowIwriteonbehalfoftheoth-erswhoformedthisspecialbond:IrmaCandia,KaranCastells,MarjorieVernon,andTeresaTruesdale.SheinspiredusbyherloveforJesusandhercommitmenttothatwhichsheknewtobetrue.Oneofherfavoriteverseswas2ndTimothy1:12“forIknowwhomIhavebelievedandampersuadedthatHeisabletokeepwhatIhavecommittedtoHimuntilthatDay.”

IamconfidentthatMarinaisinthearmsofourSavior,andassadasIamthatsheisnolongerphysicallyheretosharewith,Iknowthatsheisaprayeraway.And I am persuaded that our friendshipwhichwasborninChristwillneverdie.

9 In Fond Memory of Marina

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February 2013

102UC November in Israel

IfatriptotheHolyLandissomethingyouhavedreamedofdoing,nowisthetimetomakethatdreamareality.AgroupfromSecondUnionChurchwillbetravelingtoIsraelinthefirstpartofNovemberfora14-dayexpertly-guidedtripwhichpromisestobeunforgettable.Ifyouareinterestedinthisamazingopportunityyoumustmakea$300depositbyJanuary31st.Infor-mationconcerningthetripisbelow.Foranyadditionalquestions,pleaseseePastorBoborDennisGonzalez.

*Approximatedate:November5th-19th,2013 *Approximatecostlandportion:$2,600perperson *Approximatecostairportion:$1,300perperson

Someofthesitesweplantoseependingthefinalitinerary:

•Cesarea-Herod’scastle,romanaqueductandportHaifa-gardensofBaha’i•Megiddo-hillofArmageddonmentionedintheRevela-tionastheplaceofthefinalbattle•MountandchurchoftheSermonoftheBeatitudes•SeaofGalileecrossbyboat•Capernaum- where Jesus’ ministry was centered andhometoSimonPeter•MountoftheTransfiguration(MountTabor)•Cana-whereJesus’firstmiraclewasperformed•JordanRiver-where Jesusandmanyotherswerebap-tized•Qumran-wheretheDeadSeaScrollswerediscovered•Jericho-where the Israelitesentered into thePromisedLand•MountoftheTemptations-whereSatantemptedJesus•ScopesMountain-forabeautifulviewofJerusalem•Domeof theRock-whereAbrahamwasgoing tosac-rifice Isaac, locationofHerod’s templeandnowsacredMoslem temple.The thirdmost holy site of Islam afterMeccaandMedina•Westernwall&tunnel•ViaDolorosa-Jesus’walktohiscrucifixion•BethesdaPool-whereJesushelpedtheparalyticman

•Golgotha-whereJesuswascrucified•Christ’stomb-rockexcavationwhereJesuswaslain•MasadaNationalParkHerod’simpenetrablecastlewherethelastIsraelitesbat-tled10,000Romansoldierstothedeath.Cablecartakesyouup.•DeadSea- lowestpointonearth.Water is super saltywherenoonecandrown.Greatmineraltreatments.•Gethsemane-AreawhereJesussweatedbloodawaitinghisfinalhours•LastSupperroom-whereitisbelievedthatJesushadtheLastSupperwithhisapostles•AkelDoma-fieldofbloodwhereJudasdied•Caiaphas’house-whereJesuswastakenafterhisarrest•Dungeon-whereJesuswasincarcerated•YadVashemHolocaustmuseum-movingtributetothe6millionJewsthatdiedintheHolocaust•IsraelMuseum-ascalemodelofJerusalematthetimeofJesusofapprox.100feetby100feet•ChurchoftheNativity-oldestchurchofcontinuoususeintheworld.BelievedtobewhereChristwasborn.•Jerusalem Archaelogical Park- Temple Mount excava-tions•ArchivesofHolocaustvictims

AdditionalDetails:

WewillbestayinginhotelsinvariousareasofIsraelinGalileeandJerusalem.Wewillbetraveling byprivatebustoallthesites. WewillhaveabusdriverandalocalEnglish-speakingguidethatwillaccompanyustothesites. PastorBobwillexplainthetheologicalChristianimportanceandwillrelatethesitetotheBiblical verses. Wewillhaveanumberofpre-tripreunionstoexplaintherouteandrelatetotheBiblical importance Wewillneedadepositof$300andpassporttostartthevisaprocess Datesforfuturereunionswillbeinformedforallthatwishtoattend