Since February isthe month that containsValentine’s Day, I thoughtI would write about love inmy article this month. TheBible has a lot to sayabout love. Love is achoice not just a feeling.Colossians 3:14 says,“And over all these vir-tues put on love, whichbinds them all together inperfect unity.” The Apos-tle Paul would not haveasked us to “put on”something which we canonly feel and not control.Love is also a matter ofconduct. 1 John 3:18says, “Let us not love withwords or tongue but withactions and in truth.” It’smore than what we say,it’s behavior. We need toback up our love with ouractions.

In 1 Corinthians13:4-7 we have a won-derful description of loveand its actions. “Love ispatient.” To be patient isto be long suffering. Loveis not in a hurry. A pa-tient person makes allow-ance for another person’sfaults. When I struggle towith patience the bestthing for me to do is

remember God’s incredi-ble patience with me.“Love is kind.” Kindnessinvolves caring for oneanother in the practicaldetails of life. Love isconsiderate, benevolent,and gentle to people. “Itdoes not envy, it does notboast, it is not proud.”Envy, boasting, and prideare signs of insecurity.True love provides asense of security wheretwo people can shareopenly and honestly withone another. “Love is notself-seeking.” If there isone quality that createsan insurmountable barrierto love, it is selfishness.Love on the other hand isgiving and generous.“Love is slow to anger.” Itis not irritable. It is noteasily annoyed. It is notoverly sensitive. A lovingperson does not let angercontrol their reactionswhen they are tired,stressed, or discouraged.“It keeps no record ofwrongs.” Love is forgiv-ing. Ephesians 4:32 tellsus to forgive each otherjust as in Christ, God hasforgiven us. “Love doesnot delight in evil, but

rejoices with the truth.”Love does not take pleas-ure in hearing or sayingderogatory things aboutothers. “It always pro-tects, always trusts, al-ways hopes, always per-severes.” Love is consis-tent. False love has limitson its endurance. Itdoesn’t last when thingsget tough. But real lovehangs in there.

I’ll end my articleby quoting from 1 John4:7-11, “Dear friends, letus love one another, forlove comes from God.Everyone who loves hasbeen born of God andknows God. Whoeverdoes not love does notknow God because Godis love. This is how Godshowed His love amongus: He sent His one andonly Son into the worldthat we might live throughhim. This is love: not thatwe loved God, but that heloved us and sent his Sonas an atoning sacrifice forour sins. Dear friends,since God so loved us,we also ought to love oneanother.”

Your Shepherd,Pastor Mark

The Kaleidoscope

A Note From the Pastor 1

UpcomingMessages

2

Birthdays &Anniversaries

2

Coming Up… 2

February Encouragement 3

Verse of the Month 3

Focus on Community 3

Youth & Children 4

Inside this issue:

Kenmore Community Church

7504 NE Bothell Way

Kenmore, WA 98028

(425) 486-7487 Office

(425) 486-9477 Fax

Email: info@kenmorechurch.org

www.kenmorechurch.org

Senior Pastor:

Mark Rogers

Youth/ Children’s Minister:

Tia Troutman

Worship Leader:

Mary Beth Rogers

Administrative Assist:

Tina Hult

Church Custodians:

Shawn Brown

February2012

A Note From the Pastor

The Men’s Group is meeting for Bible study, prayer, andfellowship on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday nights of each monthat 7:00 pm in the Library at the church. February Studies:2/7 and 2/21.

Women’s Bible Study meets on Wednesday mornings at10:00 am In the Library.

Our Growth Groups: Sunday morning “Seekers Group”meets at 9:10 am in the Fellowship Hall. The WednesdayNight Growth Group meets at 7 pm in the Fellowship Hall.

All Church Prayer Meeting: Saturday, February 11th 10am to Noon. Focus will be on Church Vision.

Annual J.O.Y Get-Together (Seniors Group). Thursday,February 16th, 11:30 am at Third Place Books. Purchaseyour own lunch at the many food venues.

On March 2-3, 2012 we will be hosting “The Art of Mar-riage” seminar put together by Family Life Today. Allmarried couples and couples considering getting marriedwill benefit from this conference. It will take place on Fridaynight from 7:00 - 9:30 pm and on Saturday from 9 am to4:00 pm with a break for lunch. The cost is $40 per coupleand includes a workbook for each person. Sign up today onyour communication card and invite your couple friends tojoin us.

Next summer we are planning another Mission Trip toWelcome Home Outreach Ministries in Vincente Guerreo,Mexico. If you would be interested in getting more informa-tion about the trip please note it on your communicationcard.

We will be having a Rummage Sale sometime in the springor early summer to raise funds for the Mexico Mission Trip.If you have any items that you wish to donate please bringthem to the church.

Our church has a Benevolent Fund which the elders use tohelp people in need from our church and community. Thefund is quite low at the moment. Contributions to this fundcan be made by noting it on your giving envelope.

UPCOMING MESSAGES

February 5, 2012Christ Among His Churches (Part 4)Revelation 3:7-22

February 12, 2012Worship The LordRevelation 4 & 5

February 19, 2012The Times In Which We LiveRevelation 6

February 26, 2012Visions of Security and Heavenly BlissRevelation 7

PRAY FOR OUR MISSIONARIES:

Gordy & Tabita Beck ~ AustriaKelly & Cherie Green ~ ColombiaMark & Helen Downing ~ Brazil

Becky Osell ~ EthiopiaScott & Ruth Millar ~ Argentina

Steve & Barbara Wilkinson ~ PhilippinesAndy & Lynette Tillman ~ Philippines

Charles Roach 2/4Sandy Anunson 2/6Carol Sooter 2/12Jeanne Cady 2/15

LeRoy Cotterill 2/16Carol Lindlow 2/17Kim Strange 2/29

Lee & MaribethWilliams

2/4

Kevin & StacyBrooks

2/9

Ray & Shawn Brown2/14

Michael & MariellenRau2/27

HappyAnniversary!

Focus on Our Church Community(Getting to Know One Another)

Monthly Spotlight

Paul and Carol Lindlow

We were a part of a clown ministry atour large church and loving it. There wereseven of us who were a part of the chil-dren’s church, but as we continued to planclown ‘gigs’ around the Seattle area, webegan to see that we were not a part of thegreater church and felt sidelined and cutoff. This was a sad time and our group be-gan to feel alone. It wasn’t that anyonewas pushing us away, but we felt that wejust didn’t belong anymore.

Carol was going to school at thetime, and a friend of ours from her schoolinvited us to come to KCC. Carol beganvisiting the church often and felt a warmwelcome each time she did. Paul was sadto see that there was no one asking aboutCarol or trying to keep in touch with her atthe other church. After a while, he decidedthat he would visit KCC – and when he did,the first person who saw him dubbed him‘Mr. Safeway’ because of his job at the gro-cery store nearby.

From that time on, we have beenmembers and have felt the strong commu-nity atmosphere at KCC. The church is fullof fun loving and accepting people. PastorMark is an awesome shepherd andteacher. We enjoy the Sunday morningclass. Carol’s job at UGM’s Hope Place(women and children shelter) keeps herfrom fellowshipping as often as she wouldlike to. Since we have come 11 years ago,Kenmore Church has been a blessing toboth of us.

Verse of the Month

I led them with cords of humankindness,

with ties of love;I lifted the yoke from their neck

and bent down to feed them

Hosea 11:4

February Encouragement

That it may bring forth more fruit. (John 15:2)

Two years ago I set out a rosebush in the cornerof my garden. It was to bear yellow roses. And it

was to bear them profusely. Yet, during thesetwo years, it has not produced a blossom!

I asked the florist from whom I bought the bushwhy it was so barren of flowers. I had cultivated itcarefully; had watered it often; had made the soilaround it as rich as possible. And it had grown

well.

“That’s just why,” said the florist. “that kind ofrose needs the poorest soil in the garden. Sandy

soil would be best, and never a bit of fertilizer.Take away the rich soil and put gravelly earth in

its place. Cut the bush back severely. Then it willbloom.”

I did—and the bush blossomed forth in the mostgorgeous yellow know to nature. Then I moral-

ized; that yellow rose is just like many lives.Hardships develop beauty in the soul; the soul

thrives on troubles; trials bring out all the best inthem; ease and comfort and applause only leave

them barren.

From the devotional, “Springs in the Valley”

The bark by tempest vainly tossedMay founder in the calm;

And he who braved the polar frostFaint by the isles of balm.

Whittier

Phone: 425-486-7487

Fax: 425-486-9477

Email: info@kenmorechurch.org

www.kenmorechurch.org

7504 NE Bothell Way

Kenmore, WA 98028

Church FamilyYOUTH AND CHILDREN’S MINISTRY

Not all of you were able to attend our an-nual church business meeting last Sunday so Ithought I would share with you some of the thingsI wrote in my annual report regarding the youthand children’s ministry accomplishments last yearand some of the things we are looking forward tothis year.

Because it’s hard to measure success inministry, I’ll put to word the simplest statistical &ideological goals I held. My first objectives were1.) Deepen relationships with the KCC Body as awhole in order to strengthen bonds betweenChurch and youth (and bonds between me &Church family) 2.) Build personal relationshipswith Teens one on one and in small group settingsto assess & meet need. 3.) Knit youth together instrong bonds that won’t easily break, bonds thatallow for vulnerability & genuine interaction withone another and with God. 4.) Assess needs ofyouth and integrate Church adults into the YouthMinistry to help meet said needs, creating a morefamily based Youth Ministry. Specifically, the goalwas to work toward a mentorship program.

While not every goal was met with completion or per-fection, all have seen significant & Group has increased at-tendance even after graduation. Events this year included aMini-Road-Trip, many summertime trips to the waterfront,several birthday parties, countless coffee and dinner dates,random celebrations, and Holiday festivities. This year wespent time studying the Word together, praying together, andlaughing (excessively, perhaps) together- sharing life. Moreimportantly, this year bonds were forged in unlikely circum-stances, and the teens grew as a family. Equally important,several members have committed to help build, disciple,mentor, and otherwise minister to the youth of KCC and Ken-more. Several of our members have committed to our newKCC Youth Ally Program that we prepared last year but arestarting this year. I cannot express the excitement with whichI approach this program. And the appreciation I hold for thosewho have helped me push it through.

This year we spent time studying the Word together,praying together, and laughing (excessively, perhaps) to-gether- sharing life. More importantly, this year bonds wereforged in unlikely circumstances, and the teens grew as afamily. Equally important, several members have committedto help build, disciple, mentor, and otherwise.

This church loves their children (and no wonder!),which thrills me. I cannot possibly take credit for the yearwe’ve had, as it’s much owed to the volunteers who made itpossible, and the people of this church, who, with great love,pulled children into their worlds, into our Family. We’ve hadseveral events, only half of which I can even pretend to takecredit for- the Easter Egg Hunt, VBS (with record numbers ofkids and volunteers!), & the annual Harvest Party. That’s tosay nothing of the spectacular Children’s Church & SundaySchool lessons they’ve learned and interacted with! We’vecertainly had a fun year, filled with more volunteers than everbefore, and a steady flow of new & familiar faces. Thank youfor making our Events & weekly happenings possible. I onceheard a statistic about the healthiest/most well adjustedadults coming from a childhood steeped in interaction withnon-familial adults. This is the heart that beats in my ministryphilosophy, be a Church Family rich in cross-generational in-teraction, knowing the value of our Children, and seekingChrist together.

Again immeasurable, yet, I hope it helps communicatemy vision & intention for the year passed.

There are so many people to thank for making an-other year so wildly successful. I think every person in thechurch deserves gratitude at some juncture for his or her aidin these ministries. Thank you all for your part in these minis-tries, whatever it was, prayer, encouragement, donation,time, even listening ears- your love falls on appreciativehearts. This has been a peculiar, changing, wonderful, andbusy year. That said… Onward ho!

Tia Troutman