DECEMBER 2015

UPCOMING EVENTS

Providing a loving atmosphere where people and

cities are transformed by the presence of God.

Sun

Mon

CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION Join us December

13th at 6PM at the San Rafael Community Center

YOUNG LIFE JR. HIGH & HIGH SCHOOL CLUB

Mondays at 7PM at 118 Circle Rd. in San Rafael.
Contact Sandee Morgan at 415.324-0001.
MENS BIBLE STUDY Tuesdays at 7AM at Joes
Caf in Terra Linda. Contact Jon Riley at
415.828.9761.
WOMENS BIBLE STUDY Tuesdays at 10AM at
659 Las Colindas Rd. in Terra Linda. Contact Mona Riley at 415.479.0822.
PRAYER MEETING Tuesdays at 7:30PM at 234
Johnstone Dr. in Marinwood. Contact Steve Johnson at 415.479.8312.
COMMUNITY GROUPS
Central San RafaelWednesdays at 7PM
206 Marin St. in San Rafael
Contact Rebecca Riley at 415.847.8456
Terra LindaWednesdays at 7:30PM
1068 Los Gamos Unit E in Terra Linda
Contact Laura Boyd at 818.731.8722
For more information visit:
www.opendoorsanrafael.com

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

10

11

12

17

18

19

23

24

25

26

30

31

Mens Bible Study

Community Groups
7AM
Womens Bible Study Central San Rafael
7PM
10AM
Terra Linda
Prayer Meeting
7:30PM
7:30PM

CELEBRATE RECOVERY Sundays at 6PM at

the New Hope office in San Rafael. Contact Dave
Weaver at 416.382.0419.
COLLEGE GROUP Sundays at 7:30pm at 1535
5th Ave. Apt. C in San Rafael. Contact Jon Riley
at 415.828.9761.

Tue

7
Worship 10AM
Celebrate Recovery
6PM
College Group
7:30PM

13

Mens Bible Study

7AM
Community Groups
Young Life Jr. High
& High School Club Womens Bible Study Central San Rafael
7PM
10AM
7PM
Terra Linda
Prayer Meeting
7:30PM
7:30PM

14

15

16

Mens Bible Study

7AM
Community Groups
Womens Bible Study Central San Rafael
7PM
10AM
Terra Linda
Prayer Meeting
7:30PM
7:30PM

Worship 10AM
Christmas
Celebration 6PM

20

21

22
Mens Bible Study
7AM

Worship 10AM
Celebrate Recovery
6PM
College Group
7:30PM

27

28

Worship 10AM
Celebrate Recovery
6PM
College Group
7:30PM

29
Mens Bible Study
7AM

TESTIMONY
TOUCHED BY HIS LOVE
by Miyo Hall
I am a third generation
Japanese American born
to parents who were interned during WWII. I
was raised in Mill Valley
with a very strict upbringing by my father who
was a perfectionist and
my mother who was very loving and supportive. There was no religious influence in our home,
although my parents were both Buddhists. In my
early adult years I became an atheist, seriously
searching for the meaning of life.
I got saved because my Christian girlfriends would
share Jesus and invite me to the Open Door
Church. One day, I got so exasperated with them
that I said to the sky above "Okay, if you are so real
and so great a God, then you will just have to show
me or make yourself known to me." I threw that
statement up in the air, never believing for a minute
that I would get a response.
Several months later, I attended Open Door Church
and after the morning sermon, I was asked if I
wanted to ask Jesus into my life and something
inside of me said yes. As I was saying the sinner's
prayer, all of the words became real and in my
heart, I knew the words were true. Jesus showed
me that I was living a life without Him and that He
had a special plan for my life if I would turn to Him
and give Him my life. In those moments, I experienced God's unconditional love for me...a love that
I never knew existed. I broke down in tears and a
huge burden of hurt, pain and disillusionment was

P AS T O R S C O R N E R

B I R T H D AY S & AN N I V E R S AR I E S

lifted and washed away. He then filled me with His

unconditional love and I was truly born again. It
was a cathartic experience for me as I received
healing and a new life in Him. That experience is
forever imprinted in my heart and that is what motivates me to this day.
Since that day, I have always felt a close and personal relationship with Jesus. He has stayed close
and accessible to me even when I have put Him
"on the shelf" and taken some paths outside His
perfect will. I returned to college and earned a
Master's degree in rehabilitation counseling at
SFSU. God has given me a heart for others and
their burdens and challenges and I believe in prayer and healing.
My husband, Jim and I met at Open Door Church in
1980 and we were married in 1989. I believe God
lead us back to Open Door Church about 2 1/2
years ago. We feel very blessed by the love,
warmth and reality of God moving among this community of believers.
Miyo serves on our Sunday morning prayer team.

JOY
This month, during the Christmas season, we will
be talking about joy. Joy and Christmas go hand in
hand for me. The first Christmas I can remember
was in 1951 when I was four years old. My mother
had remarried and for the first time in my life I had
a mom and a dad. My biological father had left before I was born. My fondest memory from that
Christmas was sitting in front of our little tree, in my
little rocking chair, watching with wide eyes and
amazement all the little blue lights. I must have sat
there for hours. The joy that little boy felt in his
heart that Christmas is still with me today. The
warmth of God's love, the magic of that little tree
and the security of my family, knowing I had my
own mom and dad. Life is not always fair, but I
know in God's heart this is the love, joy and peace
He always wants for us. As we look for Him again
this season, I pray that nothing will keep us from
finding Him and all that He has for us. This is the
good news of great joy!

CH U RCH of t he OPEN D OOR

D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 5 C AL E N D AR

Pastor Mike
But the angel said to them, Do not be afraid. I
bring you good news that will cause great joy for all
the people. Today in the town of David a Savior
has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord.
Luke 2:10-11

DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS
James Cannan 12/1, Asia Cannan 12/1, Coen Morgan 12/9, Justus Morgan 12/9, Johnny Donohue
12/10, David Schleiger 12/13, Barbara Rokoszak
12/16, Elliot Holleman 12/20, Rima Hardy 12/22,
Dave Weaver 12/30, George Rentzel 12/31, Darragh Hoffman 12/31
DECEMBER ANNIVERSARIES
Walter and Blanca Underhill 12/6, Ron and Joan
Crook 12/15

Senior Pastor
Associate Pastor
Elders

Michael Riley
Jon Riley
Frank Worthen
Steve Johnson
Howard Hervey

Worship Service 10AM

San Rafael Community Center, 618 B Street
Office Hours:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 11AM3PM
P.O. Box 6217
San Rafael, CA 94903

415.459.1980
www.opendoorsanrafael.com

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