Summer Newsletter

I love the summer time. I love BBQs and the smell of sunscreen and long daylight hours. When I was a teenager, I loved the freedom that summer brought: no studying! There was nothing weighing on me that I should be doing to be more productive. Now it feels like there is always something else I am worrying about. Somehow when I became an adult I worried more and exercised freedom less.

In the book of Matthew, Jesus tells his followers, "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?" Just a few verses later he says, "...seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (Matthew 6:26-27, 33, emphasis mine). We are given the tools to let go of our worry like we could when we were teenagers on summer break. We are told to seek Jesus!

This is my focus this summer, to worry less and seek Jesus more. I want to be present in the moment, free from worrying about my to-do list, knowing that park dates with my son and ice cream dates with students are more important. I pray that you also take time to recognize these moments as they happen for you and surrender your worry. We may not all get a summer break in the traditional sense, but we can learn a little from our teenagers and adopt the worry-free attitude that it brings.

Blessings,

Alicia

Happy Spring!

Hello Families of Living Water!

Happy Spring! Though we haven't had much of a winter, I still get excited every year for the coming of spring. It signifies growth, new beginnings, and sunshine! I am especially excited for my new beginning working alongside Jessica to serve the youth of Living Water. I have a heart for the ministry and have been blessed to get to know quite a few kids on a deeper level through small groups this past year, and I look forward to strengthening those relationships and forming new ones.

I am most looking forward to our trip to Mexico in June. I lived in Mexico for three months in college and currently teach Spanish at the high school level, so I am excited to be serving with the families of Living Water and Oak Tree churches while doing something that I am so passionate about. Consider joining us for this life-changing experience! Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about Mexico (or anything else, really! I will do my best to help!). You can reach me at (916) 217-9181 or alicia@lwceg.com.

Peter writes a letter to "God's elect", those who are serving Christ throughout the world, and says in 1 Peter 4:10, "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms." I pray that in this spring, a new season of growth, you will use the gifts God has given you for his service, that you may grow in love.

Blessings,

Alicia Ashley

InstaHunt Highlight Video

Back to School Kick Off Video 2013

Merry Christmas!

Happy December! It is that magical time of Christmas music, egg nog, nativity sets and family gatherings. This Christmas is extra special for Nick and I as it is our first Christmas as parents. Growing up, my family had many Christmas traditions. I look forward both to continuing those traditions with Kacie as well as starting some new traditions of our own.

One tradition we are continuing this year, is getting a new Christmas movie each year and watching it as a family the weekend before Christmas. And a new tradition we are starting this year is going through an advent devotional as a family. I would love to continue this tradition as Kacie grows older as a way of remembering what this time of year is really about. If you would like to also go through an advent devotional as a family there are many free devotionals to choose from that you can download online. HERE is a link to the one that Nick and I are going to try this year. It is actually an Advent devotional that came out last year, but it comes highly recommended, especially for families with teenagers.

In all the hustle and bustle this season, I encourage you to take time for your family and to remember the real reason we celebrate this holiday season.

"For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
Isaiah 9:6
 

In Him,

Jessica

November Thanks GIVING Opportunities

We have a lot of great opportunities to serve other in our community and around the world during the month of October! Below you will find more information about how to sign up and get involved with each of these opportunities. We are encouraging each Living Water family to get involved with at least TWO of these opportunities!   

  

                    

Youth and Families Service Day

Monday, November 11th 10:00am-2:00pm
Love INC Sacramento

8661 Morrison Creek Drive, Sacramento, 95828

            Click HERE to go the the Love Inc Website and then click on "COTW Sign Up" to register your family to serve with us on Monday, Novemebr 11th in the 10:00-2:00 time slot.

Elk Grove Turkey Trot

Thursday, November 28, 2013

Cosumnes Oaks High School 

8350 Lotz Parkway Elk Grove, CA

8:45AM ¼ Mile Dash Kids’ Fun Run [Ages 12 & under]

9:00AM 5/10K Run/Walk

100% of proceeds from the Courage Run will benefit Courage House, a home for girls rescued from sex-trafficking. 

Click  HERE to register your whole family!

Courage Worldwide Work Day

November 2nd 9:00am-4:00pm

Courage House, Rocklin, Ca  

BBQ Lunch Included Bring a Side Dish to Share

Sign Up on Clip Board at Church 

Or Call the Church Office (916)685-6161

Operation Christmas Child 

Gift Box Packing

November 20th 7:00pm-9:00pm

Living Water Youth Room  

We will need shoe boxes and small gifts and toiletries for children of all ages. If you cannot attend the packing event, please deliver items to Jessica beforehand.

If you have any questions about any of these events call us at (916)685-6161 or email jessica@lwceg.org

Happy Fall!

Dear Living Water Families, The last few weeks it has been starting to actually feel like fall is upon us and I absolutely love it. Fall is such a beautiful time of year! I love that the weather is cool but not too cold and the leaves are changing into those beautiful majestic colors. For me, the season of fall represents change; both changes in our schedules, as the freedom and flexibility of summer fades into the more structures routines of the school year, and changes in our landscape as the old leaves begin to fall off the trees in order to prepare for the winter months ahead. However change is not always easy because like the falling leaves this time of year, part of changing often involves leaving some things behind. In 2 Corinthians 5:17 Paul writes, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" In the spring we are reminded of the new life we have in Christ, but in the fall we reflect upon leaving aspects of our old selves behind us. I have been thinking about this a lot as we are going through the new series, Grace for Shame  on Sunday mornings this fall. We have been discussing what a huge blessing it is that we don't have to carry around our past baggage and mistakes. What a huge relief that we can leave those unpleasant choices and their consequences behind, let them fall to the ground and wither and blow away with the wind. I encourage any of you who haven't been able to join us on Sunday mornings for this new series to come and check it out. You can even listen to the first few sermons in this series by clicking HERE. It has been a great series so far and something I think we can all benefit from learning more about and applying in our lives. In our youth ministry this fall, we are excited for the changes that a new school year brings and have enjoyed getting back into the routines of Confirmation and High School Youth group at the church. It has been a great start so far and we are looking forward to the ways God is going to teach us more about his his grace as we seek him alongside our students this season. In Him, Jessica