Cypress Church Volunteers Build Home for Needy Family

Early this summer a team of volunteers from Cypress Church travelled on a six day mission trip to serve disadvantaged residents in the Ensenada, Mexico area. There were ten Orange County residents in the group from three different families. The mission trip was led by Dan Punkay and Justin McElderry. Other participants included Lori, Andrew and Natalie Punkay; Suzanne, Eliana, Vivian and Cael McElderry; and Tom Frank. All age groups from elementary school to adults were represented.

This is the sixth year that volunteers from Cypress Church have partnered with YUGO Ministries to assist the community of Lomas Bonitas. This neighborhood is located in the mountains on the edge of Ensenada.

The community of Lomas Bonitas is unique in that the residents are immigrants from southern Mexico. There is no running water or natural gas service. The local wage is about $6.00 for a full day of labor. The roads are dirt and in very poor condition. While the parents are working, local pastors Juan and Karina Ambrocio provide programs for the children in town.

Most families do not own homes, but live in one room structures provided for them by the local church, “Centro Cristiano Jehova Jire,” and Yugo Ministries. This year the Cypress Church team partnered with a family of three who were in need, helping them build a small home, complete with a full roof. The family’s previous home was particle board with a tarp over the top. In addition to building, the volunteers also assisted with a neighborhood feeding center for children.

Andrew Punkay gave the Wednesday evening sermon in Spanish at “Centro Cristiano Jehova Jire.” When asked to describe the focus of this trip, Cypress Church Associate Pastor Takeshi Takazawa stated: “This ministry effort is specially designed for volunteers to work together as a family unit to serve people in need and develop relationships.”

Yugo Ministries has been taking the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the people of Mexico since 1964. They train and host youth, adult and family teams from the U.S. and Canada to work in cross-cultural evangelistic, construction, and mercy ministry efforts.

Cypress Church partners with missions organizations around the globe to spread the Good News about Jesus Christ to the world with actions as well as words. This summer other teams from the Cypress area have traveled to Ecuador, India and New Orleans to assist needy individuals and families.

Information about global mission opportunities is available at (714) 952-3001 or email: info@cypresschurch.net. The Cypress Church campus is located at 6143 Ball Road just east of Valley View. Worship services are held on Sundays at 9:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Bible studies and activities for all ages are available. The church website is located at: http://www.cypresschurch.net/

Photo Caption: Families from Cypress Church working alongside their counterparts in Lomas Bonitas, Mexico to build a new home.

Photo Caption: Ten Orange County residents ranging from grade school age to adults assisted local residents and YUGO Ministries in Mexico this summer.

Photo Caption: A needy family in Mexico has moved from a living under a tarp to a new home as a result of volunteers from Cypress Church serving others in the Name of Jesus.

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

Nicole Werner to Open Cypress Festival with National Anthem

Local voice teacher Nicole Werner has been selected to sing the National Anthem at the Cypress Community Festival. Described as a “diminutive charmer with powerful pipes,” Nicole Werner has proven herself the consummate triple threat in musical theatre productions and concerts throughout the country.
Nicole is the lead vocalist with the Cypress Church Worship Team. She grew up in northwest Orange County where she attended Los Alamitos High School and the Orange County High School of the Arts. She studied performing arts at UC San Diego and received an MFA in Musical Theater from San Diego State University. This is the only graduate program of its kind in the nation equipping artists to both perform and teach at the university level.

Her performance credits span the spectrum of musical and theatrical talents. She “dazzled” in 42nd Street as Peggy Sawyer, starred as the title role in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella at South Bay Civic Light Opera and played Olive in San Diego’s regional premiere of Putnam County Spelling Bee. She has served as a guest artist with the San Diego Chamber Orchestra since 2006 and has sung throughout Los Angeles with jazz groups Odyssey Tango Trio and Blue Coral.

Most recently, she traveled to the East Coast to sing with the Cape Cod Symphony Orchestra. She also has had the great honor of recording a new musical demo with the legendary Golden Age composer Hugh Martin. She works as a choreographer and director for university, public school, and professional productions and teaches voice and musical theatre at Orange County Song and Dance and in her private studio. She is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association and The National Association of Teachers of Singing. More information about Nicole is available online at: http://www.nicolewerner.net/

The opening ceremonies at 9:00 a.m. on Festival Day will include the Flag Salute with a color guard from the Boy Scouts of America. The public is invited to attend this free event at Oak Knoll Park on Saturday July 28 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Festival information is available online at: http://www.cypressfestival.com/

Photo Caption #1: Voice teacher Nicole Werner, who sings regularly at Cypress Church, has been selected to lead the National Anthem at the opening ceremonies for Cypress Community Festival on July 28th.

Photo Caption #2: Nicole Werner’s performance credits span the spectrum of musical and theatrical talents. She “dazzled” in 42nd Street as Peggy Sawyer and starred in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella at South Bay Civic Light Opera.


Cypress Church - 6143 Ball Rd. - Cypress, CA 90630 - Phone: (714) 952-3001 - http://www.cypresschurch.net/ - Sunday Worship at 9:00 a.m.; anf 10:30: a.m.

There IS a Cure for the Summertime Blues at Cypress Church

With summer jobs for teens harder and harder to come by, many parents are desperate for activities to keep those teens busy. Video games are rarely socially stimulating and hanging out at the mall can cost too much. Cypress Church is offering an alternative where teens from junior high and high school can make lasting relationships and parents can rest easy knowing they are keeping busy in a safe and stimulating environment. All summer long, planned activities are open to local youth.

For starters, every Thursday is *Beach Day* at Bolsa Chica State Beach (Warner Ave entrance, near Tower #28). There, teens will find other kids having fun in the sun, sand and surf. They may recognize someone from school or may meet someone who, like them, is looking for a way to get involved in a group activity. There are adults to supervise and facilitate volleyball and touch football games, make sure everyone is staying safe, and usually one or two adult chaperones who can give basic surf lessons. The group meets from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Thursday each week (except July 29).

The fun doesn’t end at the beach. An outing to Magic Mountain is planned for Monday, July12. Six Flags offers 16 of some of the best roller coasters in the world. Admission is $40 and additional monies will be needed for food but the transportation is free.

Some other planned events include:

* Pool Party – Tuesday, July 27 at a private residence in La Palma.

* Week-long camp at Hume Lake – August 8 thru 14. Nestled in beautiful Kings Canyon, Hume Lake is considered a “can’t miss” annual trip. From boating to hiking to stargazing, Hume Lake offers an exciting summer camp experience.

* Battle of the Ages – Saturday, August 22. In a multi-sport day that will pit teens against adults, participants will compete in events like softball, dodge ball, Wii and trivia.

* End of Summer Bonfire – Tuesday, August 31. All good things must come to an end and summer is no exception. Teens will have one last chance to hang out with the friends they made during the summer and reflect on great times they shared.

While teens are given special attention during the summer months, Cypress Church is also offering a chance for younger children and their parents to take part in planned activities. For elementary aged children, a highlight of the summer will be a week-long Vacation Bible School. With a *High Seas Expedition* theme, VBS will run Monday through Friday beginning July 26 during the morning hours. At VBS, kids join a *crew* of five elementary-age children. Each crew has an adult or teenage Crew Leader. Crews rotate through seven stations each day and the daily Bible message is reinforced at each station throughout High Seas Expedition in creative ways.

Younger siblings of all ages can take part in the same beach days at Bolsa Chica as the teens. It is also a chance for moms to get to know each other while their children take part in building sand castles and digging for sand crabs.

Other weekly activities for moms and young children include pool parties, park days and outings such as the Santa Ana Zoo. Moms and kids meet very Wednesday midday to participate and to welcome new guests interested in building relationships and sharing the joys and frustrations of motherhood… and having fun while doing so.

Cypress Church is located at 6143 Ball Road (just east of Valley View) in Cypress. For more information regarding events planned for teens, contact Student Ministries Pastor Danny Kugelberg at danny@cypresschurch.net. For planned children’s events like Vacation Bible School, contact the Children’s Pastor Mike Haugland at mikehaugland@cypresschurch.net or by calling (714) 952-3001. Moms interested in finding out more about planned events for them and their young children contact Lori Fieger at ldfieger@yahoo.com. The public 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 Caption: Teens, children and their moms in and around the Cypress area are invited every Thursday to Bolsa Chica State Beach for fun in the sun, sand and surf. In photo, L to R, are Kevin Sticht, Danny Kugelberg (Pastor of Student Ministries), Jim Ferm, Mike Haugland (Pastor of Children’s Ministries), AJ Hanania, Sean Loon, and Josh Tiffany.

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