Wow!  What a week, weeks and so on…

We were thrilled to death when Jason arrived for an extended visit between his South Korea assignment and his new post at Fort Hood, Texas.  We were even more excited to learn he bought his sister a ticket to come visit for a few days.  So we had BOTH Joy and Jason with us. 

Oh...and auditors.  Every now and then our headquarters sends auditors to check up on us.  They even checked our closets.

It was so good to see our kids… and here’s a bit of news, Joy called this morning and it looks like she has a new job in New York City.  I wish it had been local but it is a good job, using both her education and her work experience and now she makes more money than I do—again.


We also had a couple of new staff members start in the last few days.  I’ve announced it publicly, but in case you haven’t heard.  Pamela Johnson is our new accounting clerk and Susan Pierce who had been working for us part time through our headquarters—is now our full time business administrator.

And in the mornings I took some much needed time with God.  My Bible readings for these are in Exodus—coinciding with my recent sermons—and it is a lot of fun reading through these pages as I do, slowly and thoughtfully.  
 
What a wonder it is that God took this people, this nation of slaves, perhaps as many as two and a half million of them...and led them out of Egypt.

What an adventure they had learning just who God—whom they had asked for help—really was.  We remember all of the high points of the story, but this Sunday we’re going to talk about something that we usually “pass over” to get to the more exciting stuff.  If you’ll come, I’ll try to make it interesting!!

See you there!! 

Major Clay

The International Staff Band of The Salvation Army will be making a rare appearance in Oakland at the Scottish Rite Center on March 31, 2010.

In existence since 1891 and based in the United Kingdom, the ISB has been privileged to play in great concert venues, including The Royal Albert Hall, Royal Festival Hall, Westminster Abbey, St Paul's Cathedral and Buckingham Palace.

Since its earliest days the ISB has toured overseas, visiting countries from the United States and Canada to Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Switzerland, Germany, Holland and the Scandinavian countries.

The ISB has released numerous CDs of Salvation Army music and has been featured in national television and radio broadcasts.

In 2008 The Salvation Army signed a record contract with Universal Music, the world's leading record company, to raise additional funds for its social work in the UK. In November 2008, the ISB released its first CD on this label entitled "Together".

Tickets for the Oakland concert are free and may be obtained by filling out our form. Limit 4 tickets per person.

Call 510-645-9710 for more information.

To learn more about the International Staff Band, visit their website.

You can read the article about Craig in USA Today by clicking here (or on the photo above)

Jesus Himself said that the world would know we were Christians (followers of Christ) because of the evidence of His love in action toward each other. The news from Haiti inevitably contains some dreadful elements, but it is good to be reminded that God is at work there through His people! Here is one of His people - our very own Craig Arnold - making a difference in the lives of many. One at a time!

As most of you know Craig Arnold is our local Salvationist "on the ground" in Haiti. Here is an edited version of an email he sent to his wife Anne. Please pray for Craig, Anne, Madison, Zach, and McKinley. As Winston Churchill once said "they also serve who only stand and wait". Pray that Craig will have the discernment to know how to do the most good in this tragic situation.

[It's been a] hectic day.  3 trips to airport.  We got some nuns in, a small cargo plane of supplies and one with 8 people.  We finally did a massive feeding.  10,000 meals.  The UN provided the truck and security.  They did a great job.  There were a few press crews there so you might see something.  Yves posted some pictures.

I drove a doctor and a very sick woman to a hospital.  They tried to turn us away because "they only do amputation in that hospital now".  The really sad part is that there were 100's of people backed up in the yard.  Eventually we found a local doctor who took her in.

Our clinic usually has 3 nurses 1 doctor.  Yesterday 8 doctors and 4 nurses flew in on one of their own private planes.  They saw over a 100 cases in one day. That is the good news.  The bad news is they are running short on supplies already but we are working on that.  

The 82nd airborne agreed to let us fuel our trucks at the airport from their tanker.  This saves money but far more important most gas stations are out.

Here is a strange one.  We have made friends with some journalists who have done stories about the SA's response.  I was driving quickly through a mob at the entrance to the airport.  The UN peace keepers had just arrived to take over the area and these Dutch reporters were caught right in the middle.  I slammed on the breaks threw the door open and they jumped in.  The troops sorted things out quickly but these guys would have had a rough 30 seconds.  

UPS has committed 3 planes.  100,000 pounds of freight each.  But they can't get a landing slot until Feb 4-6.  This is OK because this won't be over by then.  (think in decades).  I am working with them on other options.  Pray we can do both.  The huge 3 planes in Feb and something smaller more frequently until then would be best.  

OK I need to sleep.  We get a big plane with 20 people tomorrow and we re doing another massive feeding.  Lots of coordination needed.

Thank God that we actually got something done on a large scale today and pray for planes to get in with more supplies; food, medicine, and water.

Craig

This baby was born in The Salvation Army's Home right after the earthquake.

As many of you are aware, our own Craig Arnold was able to leverage his connections and the generosity of his company - UPS - to go to Haiti and assist with relief efforts. Craig and his family have visited Haiti frequently and so are quite familiar with the Army's work there, especially at the Children's Home.
Anne was able to have a brief phone conversation with Craig as he was looking for more relief supplies at the airport.

Craig was able to get to the Children's Home and one of the kids ran up to him and said, " you don't know how much it means to us that you came to check on us". He has been visiting these kids every year for the last 6 years. Craig reports that many of the kids have been sent away to safer places. All their concrete security fences have just crumbled. Folks from the neighborhood have crowded the soccer field and about 400 are sleeping there. Any available flat space is being used for people to sleep, although the kids have not been able to get much sleep. They are really traumatized, as you can imagine. The Salvation Army is giving out food and water as it becomes available to all of them.

There are dead bodies everywhere. Many people with horrific injuries are just being cared for by family members, who wash them and try to bandage them with whatever they have.

Craig said he marveled at the response of the rest of the world to the plight of the Haitians.

Please continue to pray for Craig's safety and well-being as he shows God's love in action.

The Salvation Army is accepting monetary donations to assist in the effort via, http://www.salvationarmyusa.org or 1-800-SAL-ARMY and postal mail at: The Salvation Army World Service Office, International Disaster Relief Fund, PO Box 630728, Baltimore, MD 21263-0728. Designate donations "Haiti Earthquake."

As you already know, the country of Haiti, one of our close U.S. neighbors, suffered a devastating magnitude seven earthquake yesterday.
The Salvation Army is mobilizing additional resources and personnel to assist with the International relief effort in Haiti. The Salvation Army has had a presence in Haiti since 1950 and currently operates schools, clinics, a hospital, feeding programs, children's homes and church-related programs spread across two major facilities in Port au Prince, close to the epicenter of the earthquake. Salvation Army staff currently stationed in Haiti are in full-fledged disaster relief mode and additional resources are being mobilized.
The Salvation Army's World Services Office, based in Alexandria, VA, has committed $50,000 to the relief effort and the organization is prepared to commit more financial resources, as well as food, water and other emergency supplies, to assist in the recovery.
The organization is preparing to send more than 44,000 lbs of pre-packaged emergency rations to the country, along with emergency disaster teams. The Salvation Army is working with other agencies to identify appropriate transportation for the food. As with all such relief efforts, The Salvation Army will be a part of the initial emergency response while assessing longer term needs of the residents.
The Salvation Army is accepting monetary donations to assist in the effort via, http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/, 1-800-SAL-ARMY and postal mail at: The Salvation Army World Service Office, International Disaster Relief Fund, PO Box 630728, Baltimore, MD 21263-0728. Designate donations "Haiti Earthquake."

David Prince, Sr.

It is with a great deal of sadness that we mark the passing on Tuesday January 5th of David Prince Sr.
It is with great gladness that we note that he has received the highest promotion possible - to Glory! One for which he hoped and prayed all his life.

David, for decades, has been the consummate Soprano Cornet player in both the Oakland Citadel and then Concord bands. He was a quiet, unassuming christian man with simple, but perfectionist tastes, and a profound appreciation for the subtle and sublime joys of life.

His integrity, commitment and depth of character are legendary. We will have to substitute for him now, but he is truly irreplaceable.

There will be a service of remembrance for David in The Concord Community Church at 6pm on Friday January 8th at 6:00PM. All are invited to celebrate the living of this great man and friend to all who knew him.

Even if you cannot attend, please pray for peace, comfort, and uplift for Shirley and the rest of the family.

Here are some announcements from our bulletin today. You won't want to miss them!

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The Men's and Women's Tuesday Bible Study Groups are starting again on January 5th at 7:30PM. Come and join us for a great time of learning, sharing and fellowship.

Sacred Grounds Women's Fellowship is putting on a "Movie Night" on Sunday January 10th at 6:00PM. The night's movie will be "Gifted Hands". Please RSVP to Anne Arnold so that she can have appropriate amounts of popcorn available!

The East Bay Escrow Association is holding the 2nd annual Crab Feed on Saturday January 30th at 7:00PM. You can check the flyer in the Fireside Room for more details or contact Debbie Neylan through the Church Office for tickets.

Also according to the bulletin - being a christian is a lot like being a pumpkin! God lifts you up, takes you in, and washes all the dirt off you. Then He opens you up, touches you deep inside and scoops out all the yucky stuff - including the seeds of doubt, hate and greed. Then He carves you a new smiley face and puts His light inside you to shine for the whole world to see!

Blessings!

Wow! It's a new year! Have you made your new year's resolution yet? Some of you will know that I encourage it! I love to hear that people are making or have made a resolution. You know why? Because I've never heard a person make a resolution to be worse than they are right now. We make resolutions because we want to better ourselves.

The other thing about resolutions is that there is no time like the beginning of of a new year to change. It's just something about the way we're wired, but there is something about having a brand new year laying out ahead of us to help us achieve change in our lives.

Last year, as you may recall, I made a resolution to spend less time watching TV and more time in my study - and you know what, I did it! Not as much as I had hoped, but definitely better than the year before. So, while I've heard a lot of people say that they never keep their resolutions, I can testify that it does work. (Now I'm hoping to lose some weight.)

So think about it - you have a brand new year ahead of you - what are you going to do with it? There are lots of good things you can do, but can I suggest that you think about God as you do your resolving? Perhaps you could read through the Bible? Or at least read it? Perhaps you could attend Bible Study? And, how about helping someone become a new person in 2010! Could I suggest that you consider sharing your faith? I mean actually resolving to share your faith. Perhaps with a co-worker, a friend or neighbor, family member - even a complete stranger. Could you at least pray about it?

Hey, and here's a resolution that's easy to keep - resolve to join us Sunday as we enjoy a time of United Worship and Fellowship with the Hamonah Presbyterian Church. It's an annual event and it's a great time!

See you there,
Major Clay