Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Thanksgiving Food Drive at Cypress Church


With Thanksgiving approaching, many of us reflect on what we are most thankful for. While we spend Thanksgiving Day surrounded by loved ones at a table with turkey and all the trimmings, many families in our community are not as fortunate. Cypress Church is partnering with We Care of Los Alamitos to provide a Thanksgiving meal to the needy families in our community. We Care is reporting they are very low on food, so here’s how YOU can help:

Cypress Church will be collecting food items in the church office, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. A donation table will be set up this Sunday (November 21st) in the Worship Center Lobby from 8:00 a.m. until 12 noon. All donations for the Thanksgiving food drive must be received by 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 23rd. We need: turkeys, potatoes, yams, cranberries, stuffing, gravy and desserts. For more information, please contact Clayton Slagle: (714) 952-3001 x 209.

Cypress Church is also partnering with Faith in Christ Ministries to serve hot meals to more than 1000 people in Los Angeles on Thanksgiving morning. If you are interesting in taking part in this wonderful event, please contact Danny Kugelberg in our Student Ministries Department: (714) 952-3001 x 207.

Cypress Church is located at 6143 Ball Rd. in Cypress. Don't miss out on this wonderful opportunity to bring joy to families in need. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Photo caption: Members of the Cypress Church Community Service Team packing donated food to deliver to the We Care agency for distribution to needy families.

Cypress Church - 6143 Ball Rd. - Cypress, CA 90630 - Phone: (714) 952-3001 - http://www.cypresschurch.net

Christmas Season Begins with "Project Joy" at Cypress Church


The holiday season is based on and filled with tradition. For some, it doesn't feel like Christmas until the lights on the house have been strung. For others it's picking out the perfect tree or hitting one of our many Orange County malls to find the hottest new toy on the market. For Cindy Pearson of Cypress, though, it's the annual trek across the US - Mexico border to a village near Tijuana on the first Saturday of every December.

For over a decade, Cindy has been traveling with a group from Cypress Church to deliver gifts to children who otherwise would probably not receive any. When they arrive in Mexico and greet the children, the group unloads shoeboxes filled by caring strangers from another nation. The gifts they deliver are not necessarily the ones that would be found under the tree in the typical OC home, but the smiles they induce are enough to bring people like Cindy back to the same Mexican community year after year.

"I absolutely love watching the kids open their gifts," Cindy says. "They look at each item and share their excitement with their friends as they examine what everyone received."

"Project Joy" is a cooperative effort between Cypress Church and Grace Bible Church in Mexico. Participants on the Cypress end do one of two things, or sometimes both: They fill a shoebox with toiletries and small gifts for children in Mexico and/or they commit to delivering them to the children who live in the community that Grace Bible Church serves.

In addition to delivering the gifts, those who travel to Mexico tell the Christmas story to the children, lead craft activities, break a piƱata and serve snacks to the children.

"Project Joy is a great activity to show the love of Jesus for others in a tangible way," says Bob Koehler, a Reach Ministries Team Member at Cypress Church.

Starting in early November, Cindy and a group of volunteers keep a Christmas tree in the church foyer covered with paper ornaments that lists a child's age and whether the shoebox should be filled with "boy" or "girl" items. Their goal is to hand out as many ornaments as possible. This year, there were 310 ornaments made for the tree.

By early December, they should have an exact number of how many shoeboxes are filled. At that point, Pastor Martin Castro from Grace Bible Church will know how many children from the community to invite.

Dan and Lori Punkay and their three children have been part of the traveling team for the last eight years. They are a bilingual family and the kids are able to interact with the kids in Mexico with no language barrier.

"It is a great opportunity to serve together as a family since we speak Spanish and everyone can have a part in the Christmas play or story," says Dan, whose children are now ages 17, 16 and 15. "We have made it an annual tradition since it is something that we feel like we are equipped to do and we want our kids to experience the joy of giving to others without expecting anything in return," he adds.

The total time spent in the village is about three hours. But while the event (and especially the present opening) seems to be over quickly, the effects of the love the Mexican children are shown can last through Christmas.

Cindy remembers staying late one year with Pastor Martin to visit the home of some of the children, three brothers between the ages of 4 and 7. Their mom suffered from AIDS and had no husband. Cindy says their house was "very, very small and sparsely furnished."

"I will never forget it," she continues. "They had an artificial tree (about a foot high) and their three gifts surrounding it. They had carefully placed everything back into the boxes and reattached the lids because they knew this was their Christmas."

Cindy says the positive effects of being involved with Project Joy often remain with the volunteers as well. "Many families who volunteer want to teach their children to be thankful and try to come up with ways that can really help demonstrate how fortunate they are. This is a hands-on opportunity to really experience this up close and personal and yet return to their own home the same day."

Anyone interested in either filling a shoebox or helping to deliver the gifts to Mexico on Saturday, December 4th is encouraged to call the Cypress Church office at (714) 952-3001. Passports are required to deliver gifts in Mexico.

In addition to Project Joy, several other events are scheduled throughout the Christmas Season:

The Christmas Extravaganza is on Sunday, December 5th starting at 5:45 p.m. The community is invited to join groups from Cypress Church and go caroling around the neighborhood sharing joy with neighbors and inviting them to Cypress Church. Following the caroling, groups will return to Cypress Church for dessert, fun, and fellowship.

The Community Christmas Worship Concert is on Sunday, December 19th at 4:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Cypress Church will be joined by two other churches in the community. The choir and orchestra will lead worship to the newborn King.

The public is also invited to celebrate the birth of Jesus on Christmas Eve. There will be two Candlelight Services on Friday, December 24th at 4:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.

Those interested in learning more about any of the above events may contact Cypress Church at (714) 952-3001 or online at http://www.cypresschurch.net/ The public may also interact with the Cypress Church community on Facebook, and Twitter. The church campus is located at 6143 Ball Road just east of Valley View. Everyone is welcome at Sunday services and Bible studies that are held at 8:45 and 10:30 a.m. as well as many other activities throughout each week.

Photo 1 Caption - Boys in the Tijuana, Mexico area are excited about the candy canes they received from "Project Joy" volunteers.

Photo 2 Caption - Children at Grace Bible Church in Tijuana holding up their "Project Joy" presents delivered by Cypress Church.

Cypress Church - 6143 Ball Rd. - Cypress, CA 90630 - Phone: (714) 952-3001 - http://www.cypresschurch.net/

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Cypress Church To Feed Hundreds On Thanksgiving Day


On Thanksgiving Day students and adults from Cypress Church will join together with many area churches to serve Thanksgiving dinner to thousands of needy area residents. Early in the morning on November 25th a group of about 75 volunteers from the Cypress Church Student Ministries and the "Knights of the Holy Grill" will head for South Central Los Angeles.

The annual Thanksgiving Day Celebration is organized by Pastor Joe Browne of "Faith in Christ Ministries." Pastor Joe has tremendous compassion for people in need. “Not only is this an opportunity for organizations to unite by responding to the needs of the poor,” he says, “It’s an opportunity to demonstrate the love of Christ.

Several hundred volunteers of all ages will prepare turkey, potatoes, dressing, gravy, beverages, dessert and more. After a time of praise and thanksgiving to God they will spread out to many different locations where almost 5,000 people will receive a hearty meal.

The Cypress Church team plans to serve at MacArthur Park near Wilshire and Alvarado Streets in Los Angeles. They expect hundreds of hungry homeless people waiting to be fed. The buffet line will open at noon the volunteers will keep serving as long as supplies last.

Cypress Church cooperates with many other churches, ministries and missionary organizations to serve the needs of the local community as well as India, Mexico, New Orleans, Ecuador and other locations around the world. The church campus is located at 6143 Ball Road just east of Valley View. More volunteers are needed and information about Thanksgiving Day service opportunities is available at (714) 952-3001 or email: danny@cypresschurch.net. Sunday Worship Services are held at 8:45 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. The church website is located at: http://www.cypresschurch.net/

Photo Caption: Cypress Church Student Ministries and the Knights of the Holy Grill will feed hundreds of homeless at MacArthur Park on Thanksgiving Day.

Cypress Church - 6143 Ball Rd. - Cypress, CA 90630 - Phone: (714) 952-3001 - www.cypresschurch.net

Saturday, November 13, 2010

"To Save A Life" Film at Cypress Church


It's movie-time! On Tuesday evening, November 23rd beginning at 6:30 p.m. Cypress Church will be transformed into a movie theatre. Plan on bringing a group of friends and enjoy "To Save A Life," complete with popcorn and red vines.

This groundbreaking film deals with many of the issues and temptations that teens face head-on in today's world (we promise it's not cheesy). The LA Times calls the movie: "…appealing, poignant and inspiring…"

Young people in the community are invited to come and hear about the hope that Jesus offers. Parents who wish to screen the film are invited to a preview showing on Sunday, November 21st at 6:30 p.m.

In the movie the main character, Jake Taylor, has it all: friends, fame, a scholarship and the hottest girl in school. What could be better? Enter Roger Dawson who has nothing. No friends, no hope, putdowns and getting pushed aside. These two used to be best friends but high school politics quickly pulled them apart. The movie seeks to answer the question: "What do I want my life to be about?"

The Cypress Church campus is located at 6143 Ball Road just east of Valley View. Youth groups meet weekly on Tuesday evenings and Sunday services are at 8:45 and 10:30 a.m. Information about activities for teens is available from Student Ministries Pastor Danny Kugelberg at (714) 952-3001 or email: danny@cypresschurch.net. Cypress Church and Cypress Student Ministries have Facebook pages and the church is also on the web at http://www.cypresschurch.net/

Cypress Church - 6143 Ball Rd. - Cypress, CA 90630 - Phone: (714) 952-3001 - www.cypresschurch.net

Monday, November 8, 2010

Surviving the Holiday Potluck at Cypress Church


Cypress Church is holding a special "Surviving the Holiday" potluck on Thursday, November 11, 2010 beginning at 6:30 p.m. The dinner is sponsored by GriefShare Ministries. Anyone age 16 and up is welcome to attend.

GriefShare Coordinator Kerry Couch says: "No matter how long it's been since your loved one died, grief can make the holidays a painful time. But there is hope! Join us for a potluck and encouraging seminar that will help you survive the holidays and discover new reasons to enjoy them again."

The potluck dinner will be held at the Cypress Church campus located at 6143 Ball Road just east of Valley View. GriefShare also holds weekly meetings on Thursday evenings at 7:00 p.m. Information is available at the church office or contact Kerry at (714) 609-6445. The public is invited to visit the church website located at http://www.cypresschurch.net/ Sunday worship is at 8:45 and 10:30 a.m.

Cypress Church - 6143 Ball Rd. - Cypress, CA 90630 - Phone: (714) 952-3001 - http://www.cypresschurch.net/

Friday, November 5, 2010

Cypress Teens Capture Great Pumpkin


Teens from Cypress Church found *The Great Pumpkin* on Friday evening, October 29th. The Great Pumpkin Hunt was jointly sponsored by Long Beach Alliance Church, Bethany Church of Westminster, First Baptist Church of Los Alamitos and Cypress Church. There were more than 225 participants in this annual event.

40 adult drivers helped to transport excited junior high and high school students to various mystery locations in the surrounding area, each car attempted to be the first to solve the clues and locate the Great Pumpkin. Student Ministries Pastor Danny Kugelberg stated that the whole group had *a rockin’ good time.* Students were encouraged to bring their friends and everyone had an opportunity to learn about the life changing message of Jesus during the evening and more than 35 youth made a commitment to follow Christ.
Cypress Church Student Ministries has many exciting activities for Junior High and High School youth. Weekly meetings are held on Tuesday evenings. Upcoming events include the screening of the film *To Save a Life* on Tuesday, November 23rd at 6:30 p.m. Cypress Church students will also travel to Los Angeles to feed Thanksgiving dinner to the homeless and needy on Thursday, November 25th.

Information about activities for students in the Cypress and Buena Park area is available by phone at (714) 952-3001. The Cypress Church campus is located at 6143 Ball Road just east of Valley View. Sunday worship and Bible studies are at 8:45 and 10:30 a.m. The public is invited to interact with the church on Facebook or visit the website located at: http://www.cypresschurch.net/

Photo Caption: Students from the Cypress, Westminster, Los Alamitos and Long Beach areas participated in the Great Pumpkin Hunt with youth from Cypress Church on Friday, October 29th.

Cypress Church - 6143 Ball Rd. - Cypress, CA 90630 - Phone: (714) 952-3001 - http://www.cypresschurch.net/