SEPT 5th Devotional and Announcements
ANNOUNCEMENT INDEX
Dear family and friends,
It’s NFL and college football season again and more than ever, I see prominent quarterbacks, and other players, taking a public stand for Christ.
Following the 2025 Rose Bowl win, Will Howard of Ohio State publicly gave “all the glory to Jesus Christ,” noting that he encourages others to get to know the Lord. He has spoken about moving from a “dark place” in his life to a new path after finding Christ.
Jalen Milroe, Alabama’s quarterback has frequently and publicly expressed that his strength comes from his faith. “I surrender my throne to Him, and I know that I can lean on Him no matter the circumstance,” he told reporters in 2023.
Sawyer Robertson (Baylor), who was named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year in 2024, has stated that his identity comes from Jesus, not his accomplishments on the field. He sees football as a platform to be a “witness for Jesus Christ.”
When the Bible speaks of faith, it isn’t talking about wishful thinking, blind optimism, or simply hoping for the best. Biblical faith is confidence in God’s character and trust in His promises, even when circumstances look uncertain.
Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Faith takes God at His Word and rests in the certainty that He is faithful. It is not about the size of our faith, but the strength of the One in whom we place it.
Faith means trusting Jesus Christ for salvation, leaning on Him daily for guidance, and obeying His Word even when it costs us. True faith is active—shaping our decisions, anchoring our hearts in trials, and pointing others to the hope we have in Christ.
Biblical faith is not static. It grows as we walk with the Lord, feed on Scripture, and remember His faithfulness. Like Abraham, who “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness” (Romans 4:3), we are called to live by faith—not by sight.
Faith is simply this: taking God at His Word, trusting His heart, and obeying His call.
The Bible says, “This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, ‘It is through faith that a righteous person has life’” (Romans 1:17).
How do we express faith in Christ? We can’t get to God on our own. We’re all sinners. We’ve blown it. Heaven is perfect, and we’re not. But the Bible says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
The Bible says, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). That means you believe Jesus is who the Bible says he is, and you trust Him for your future with everything you have.
Your belief must be specifically in Christ: “If you confess that Jesus is Lord and believe that God raised him from death, you will be saved. For it is by our faith that we are put right with God; it is by our confession that we are saved. . . . As the scripture says, ‘Everyone who calls out to the Lord for help will be saved’” (Romans 10:9-10, 13).
We will be back to Luke after this Sunday, but for this coming communion Sunday, the sermon will be on 1 Corinthians 11:18-34. You’re encouraged to read over this passage before Sunday. If you haven’t already, please read the testimonies at the end of this email.
ANNOUNCEMENT INDEX
MESSAGE FROM PASTOR KENNY | HIGHLIGHTED ANNOUNCEMENTS | NEW MEMBER TESTIMONIES | JOB OPENINGS | MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES | CLASS SCHEDULE | HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES
HIGHLIGHTED ANNOUNCEMENTS
A STRETCH OF SOUTHBOUND INTERSTATE 5 – will be closed alongside the eastern reaches of La Jolla and Pacific Beach over the upcoming weekend to allow for road and drainage improvements to the regional route, Caltrans advised Wednesday. The closure, extending from state Route 52 to Mission Bay Drive in San Diego, will be in effect from 9PM Friday to 5AM Monday, according to the state agency.
GUYS BREAKFAST – September 6, 8AM in the Fellowship Hall – Come join us for good food and fellowship. Charles Yin, Marriage and Family Therapist, will be sharing how God brings glory to Himself, heals us, and draws us nearer to Him and each other when modern psychology is viewed in Light of His wisdom. Please bring your favorite breakfast food to share. If you have any questions, please contact Mike Uyboco at 619-770-0348.
PRIMETIMERS LUNCHEON - Wednesday, September 10, 12 PM in the Fellowship Hall • $5 per person Seniors, please join us to hear from Cathy Mandigo as she shares her journey into studying apologetics and how this tool of evangelism will not only build your confidence as you contend for the faith, but will also joyfully deepen your own relationship with the Lord your God. In addition, you will enjoy an incredible catered lunch and a great time of music and fellowship. Please sign up on the back of a Welcome Card.
MEMBERSHIP CLASS - September 14, 2-5 PM in The Upper Room If you would like to be a part of the Clairemont Emmanuel family or are interested in learning more about the church, please join us! Contact Pastor Kenny (619-508-3785) or Pastor Aaron (619-855-4966) if you have any questions, or just show up!
TABLES OF EIGHT - Weekend of September 26-28 We as a church are inviting you to participate in a “Tables of 8” event. This event is a chance to connect over a fun meal sometime between Friday and Sunday with other adult family units from church. There are two ways to get involved: host or attend. Our goal is to connect you with brothers and sisters you may not know within our church family. Sign-ups are on the Patio today. Stop by to register or to get more information. If you have any questions contact Pastor Aaron directly at 619-855-4966.
SILENT VOICES GALA – a night of celebration, inspiration & fellowship to support the lifesaving work we do. This is a free event with a catered dinner, held at Clairemont Emmanuel on September 26 ( 6:30PM in Fellowship Hall). This year’s speaker, Annie Tanh Humphrey of Save the Storks, will share a message of hope and a call to action. Patient testimonials and an opportunity to get involved are part of the evening’s program. Register at: silentvoices.org/events (Silent Voices director Kristen Hyler will be on our patio between services on Sunday September 14 to answer questions and to take your Gala registration!)
TIJUANA HOUSE BUILD – Dear Church, we have had minimal interest and signups for the October 11 Mexico house build. We know this is a very busy time of the year for everyone. The missions committee has decided to postpone the trip this Fall and will plan another trip for the Spring. It is our goal to offer this ministry trip twice a year in the Fall and Spring. For the few of you who have expressed interest, hopefully you can still join us in the Spring when we are able to put together a group large enough to go down. If you have any questions or would like to be put on the list for the Spring trip please contact Matt (858-750-0709) or Maria Farr (maria.o.farr@gmail.com, 619-599-5693).
INTERESTED IN JOINING A SMALL GROUP? – Would you like to start or join a small group? Participants decide the frequency and scope of their gatherings. Small groups meet together for fellowship, prayer, and Bible study. These groups are an integral part of our church community. Most meet regularly in the home of a group member. It may include dinner from time-to-time. If you haven’t found a group in your area, please let us know! Call or text Pastor Aaron if you’re interested. (If you’re interested in a women’s group, contact Lois Taylor at the church office.)
DO YOU THINK GOD HAS GIFTED YOU TO BE AN ENCOURAGER LIKE BARNABAS? But you don't feel like you have the training or experience to effectively "come alongside" people who are hurting or going through a crisis. Well, that preparation and training could soon be available to you as a Stephen Minister at CEBC. STEPHEN MINISTRY has a 50-year track record in effectively equipping and deploying people like you to be "caregivers" in their local congregations. Our church has been enrolled as a Stephen Ministry congregation for years, but we have not been active for some time. Now we are in the process of considering a relaunch of the program. Want to know more about Stephen Ministry? Check out their website at stephenministries.org. If such a ministry sounds like an interesting challenge and a possible fit for you, text or call Jim Donahoe at 619-677-1809.
INTERESTED IN SERVING IN KIDS MINISTRY? – We have many opportunities to join on Wednesday nights and Sunday mornings. We’d love to have you join us in our partnership with parents to disciple this next generation! Get involved by contacting Susan Robinson at 619-985-5188 or at SusanAnnRobinson@gmail.com. (AWANA - Wednesday nights from 5:45-8:15pm / EMMANUEL KIDS SUNDAY SCHOOL - Sunday mornings from 10:05am-12:05pm in the Ark or the Harbor. / SPECIAL NEEDS BUDDIES - Sunday or Wednesday nights.)
WELCOME TABLE – Have a heart to welcome our church on Sunday mornings? We invite you to serve here! The welcome table is a place to welcome all guests, to be a warm space for newcomers (and the regulars) to be seen and known, to connect them with our community, get their questions answered, to share about our church history and culture, and to get resources. Please contact Sunshine McCroskey for more details at speechsunshine@gmail.com or 619-452-5064.Church membership required.
NEED PRAYER? – Community outreach prayer tent opportunity. For the past months on Monday evenings from 6-8PM in the middle parking lot, you may have seen a blue easy-up with “Need prayer?” signs and a couple of Clairemont Emmanuel people there to pray, talk to people, and hand out Bibles and other information. If you’re interested in finding out more, stop by on a Monday evening or call/text Dan Cassels at 619-972-5976.
CLAIREMONT EMMANUEL VETERANS GROUP – If you are you a vet of any branch of military service, contact Gary Anderson at crazygrandpa5x@yahoo.com, or 858-769-6911 to find out more. We would love for you to join us.
PRAYER AND ENCOURAGEMENT – If you’re aware of people who are sick, stuck at home or just lonely, please pray for them and give them a call! Many of these folks have been contacted by you and been so encouraged! Will you pick someone from our church family to especially pray for this week, maybe someone you haven’t seen in a while, and call them or drop them a note to let them know you love them and are praying for them.
RE | ENGAGE - CEBC MARRIAGE MINISTRY – Registration is open for the fall session of our marriage discipleship groups. Re | Engage classes will meet for 14 weeks on Wednesday nights from September – December. Note, the spring session will likely be meeting on either Tuesdays or Thursdays (TBD). If you would like to hear directly from some of our members who have participated in Re Engage, watch this short video capturing their reflections on the program, or the announcements section of the church website. To sign up to join the Fall session, you can sign up directly using this link: https://clairemontemmanuel.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/3028571
AWANA ONLINE REGISTRATION – is open! We offer programs for age 2 through 5th grade, encouraging kids to know, love, and serve Jesus. Awana emphasizes Scripture memory, biblical teaching, games, and activities to engage children in their faith journey. The cost will be $80 per child for the school year with a maximum of $225 per household. All materials needed will be included in this price. Spaces will be limited based on our volunteer ratios. More volunteers are needed! Weekly Awana volunteers will receive an additional discount for their kids. Contact Susan Robinson (SusanAnnRobinson@gmail.com) or Buzz Buser if you are interested in serving Wednesday nights from 5:45-8:15pm. We’d love to have you join the Awana Team!
PARKING! – If you are able, will you please park off campus. As much as possible, we want to leave the lots for our seniors, our families with small children, and our guests. Thank you.
MISSIONS BOOK CLUB – Come join us for the missions book club! We’ll be reading about missions or a missionary every month. Men and women of any age are welcome. Our next book is To the Golden Shore by Courtney Anderson. Meetings are on the first Friday of each month. If you are interested, you can reach out to Danielle Huffman (435-531-2943) or Maria Farr (619-599-5693).
PRAYER AND ENCOURAGEMENT – If you’re aware of people who are sick, stuck at home or just lonely, please pray for them and give them a call! Many of these folks have been contacted by you and been so encouraged! Will you pick someone from our church family to especially pray for this week, maybe someone you haven’t seen in a while, and call them or drop them a note to let them know you love them and are praying for them.
‘GUY’ CONNECTIONS – Men, pick one of these groups and join in!
Cycle Club Russ Vande Vegte 619-990-9643
Tues Bible study Paul Champlin - 619-209-1237
Thurs Book Club Paul Champlin - 619-209-1237
Men’s Prayer Breakfast Byron Harold 619-890-4393
Inductive Bible study Dr David Wu 619-913-3021
Bay Hill Meet-Up Thursday 5 pm, Bill Davis 619-977-3116
Rock Climbing Jonah Dumitru 858-232-2258
Pickle Ball Dan Cassels 619-972-5976 (1st & 3rd weeks are co-ed)
Book Club Bruce Payne 858-220-4865 Time and location, TBD
Gideon’s International Neal Gibsen 619-884-6822
Golfing John Kirk 858-531-3695
Hiking John Kirk 858-531-3695, TBD
Surf Club Mike Uyboco 619-770-0348, TBD
Spartan Club Charles Yin 619-581-0073, TBD
EMMANUEL WOMEN – Sessions begin soon for our Fall Bible studies and Resilient Faith Pop-Up classes. Stop by their ministry table on Sunday to find out more. PLUS, if you’re new and want to get on our mailing list, we’ve got a ‘welcome’ gift for you!
ALL WOMEN – are invited to a dedicated time of prayer each week on Thursdays at Tracy Rickert’s home at 1:30PM. (NOTE TIME CHANGE.) Contact Tracy for more information (619-376-0553).
SEE SOMEONE YOU DON’T RECOGNIZE AT CHURCH? – Please don’t assume that someone else will greet them. Will YOU go up and introduce yourself to them and welcome them this Sunday to Clairemont Emmanuel!!
AFTER-SERVICE PRAYER – We will continue to invite people to come forward for prayer at the end of the service. Please know that this is an invitation for you to come forward and pray about anything that God has put on your heart. Of course to know the Lord, or to make spiritual decisions, but also to pray for anything personal you’d like prayer for. You might have a special prayer request for family, friends, work, etc. Maybe it’s on your heart to come and pray for our pastors, missionaries, staff, youth, children, or one of our other ministries, etc. Our team is available to pray with you about anything God puts on your heart. Please come and join us.
DEPLOYED – We have one of our young men who are currently deployed. PLEASE PRAYfor Matthew Fahnestock (Navy pilot). Please text Pastor Kenny and let him know of any other members or regular attenders who are deployed or away temporarily and please pray for them.
CONNECTION CARDS – are located at the Welcome Table on the patio or in the acrylic containers on the wall in the back of the sanctuary. Please take one and fill it out if you’d like a call from a pastor, if you have a prayer request, or if you’d like to be added to our email list, etc. Once filled out, put the cards in one of the white boxes on the back wall in the sanctuary. You can also sign up and share a prayer request on-line at clairemontemmanuel.com.
ANNOUNCEMENT INDEX
MESSAGE FROM PASTOR KENNY | HIGHLIGHTED ANNOUNCEMENTS | NEW MEMBER TESTIMONIES | JOB OPENINGS | MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES | CLASS SCHEDULE | HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES
BAPTISM AND MEMBERSHIP
TESTIMONY
Christopher Almazan
I believe that God the Son died for my sins. I am not worthy of God’s blessings, but He continues to bless me each day out of His love. I put all my trust in God as His plans are always greater. On January 28, 2025, I went into surgery for a 15-hour brain surgery to remove the 3x6 centimeter brain tumor from my right brain caused by brain cancer. Miraculously, I understand that God has blessed me with this second chance at life and I have vowed to do better and live life as God’s miracle to show others what He is capable of. It’s God’s will. I’m not worthy because of my sin and I’m ready to accept the blessing of going to Heaven that happens only because of Jesus’ sacrifice for my sins on the Cross.
Marissa Almazan
I grew up in a Christian household and attended a Christian school. I committed my life to Jesus during one of the morning devotionals at school. I decided to further follow in Jesus’ steps by getting baptized when I was nine years old. I have continued to grow in my faith since. When I placed my faith in Jesus, I admitted I am a sinner and can never earn my own way into heaven. However, by God’s grace and Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross my sins have now been forgiven and I have eternal life.
I’ve grown in my faith through many different experiences, but one of the most impactful was when my dad was diagnosed with cancer and passed away less than a year later. It was an extremely difficult season, but through it all my family and I experienced God’s mercy, faithfulness, peace and comfort. Over the years I’ve been blessed to be able to participate in women’s Bible studies and be actively involved in my local church, which have both deepened my relationship with God. Now that I am a mom to a three-year-old, it has been harder to find time to attend a Bible study, but God has given me a new way to grow—through reading the Bible with my son, teaching him to pray, and sharing Bible stories and songs with him. This season has shown me that God can use even the everyday moments of motherhood to strengthen my faith and draw me closer to Him.
Jeanice Davis
I asked Christ into my heart at a very young age, but rededicated my life as a teenager at summer camp. I realized this wasn’t my parent’s faith, it was mine. This wasn’t an earth-shattering event, but one that planted God’s still small voice in my heart, and has prevented my life from shattering so many times as I struggled with so many things. I can positively claim that God saved my life – that deep-rooted, Savior’s voice in my heart keeps me in His arms daily. Jesus is my Lord and Savior and I can’t make it into Heaven without Him filling the gap of my imperfect human-ness – paying for my sin. I am a child of God and belong to Him alone.
Elda Dominguez
I was born in Oaxaca, Mexico. My mother raised me in the Catholic Church. When I was 12, an uncle invited us to the First Baptist Church. There, Pastor Hermenegildo Ortiz explained the gospel to me; I understood my need for salvation in Christ Jesus, and I said a prayer to trust Christ alone for my salvation in April 1968. Later, I understood my need to be baptized in April 1977.
Dawson Miller
Growing up in a Christian household I had always heard about Jesus, God, and the Bible. After careful consideration and talking with my parents, I accepted Jesus into my heart in third grade. I have rededicated my life to Christ many times over the years, but since I was born, he has aways been a part of me. To answer the question “Why should I let you into Heaven?): nothing about me deserves to get into Heaven. I can claim I am a good person and deserve it, but in all reality, I don’t. Only be the grace of God and the sacrifice He made on the Cross do I have any hope to spend eternity with my Creator. There is no point in living a life time without the Lord just to desire spending eternity with Him in Heaven. Accordingly , I make it a daily priority to spend time with the Lord and profess His name to demonstrate my need for Him in my life and my desire to one day spend eternity with Him instead of apart from Him.
Joshua Stevens
I had practiced witchcraft and was extremely suicidal when I was invited to my friends youth group. For the first time in my life, a smile didn’t feel forced, and I had a taste of true joy. I gave my life to Christ in 2013, but have back slid into a lot and went through a very painful deconstruction recently. I found a lot of my beliefs on the brink of falling apart, but after doing more research, I now can safely say that I do love the Lord with my mind as well as my heart. That has been a hard place to get to. Leaving the LGBT community for Christ hasn’t been easy, but genuinely so rewarding, and I am going all in for Jesus, I know that I am going to heaven, not by my own effort, I’m getting into heaven because I have placed my trust in Jesus and he is my Lord. He died for me and took the penalty of my sin and sealed me with his Holy Spirit.
ANNOUNCEMENT INDEX
MESSAGE FROM PASTOR KENNY | HIGHLIGHTED ANNOUNCEMENTS | NEW MEMBER TESTIMONIES | JOB OPENINGS | MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES | CLASS SCHEDULE | HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES
MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES
NEED FOR A RIDE – Longtime member Barb Reeves along with her daughter, Sharon Colette, find themselves unable to get to church these days due to driving restrictions. If you live in/near Pacific Beach, they would welcome the opportunity to ride-share on Sunday mornings. They prefer 1st service, and enjoy their Adult Teaching time which ends at 11:30. If you feel led to help them out, contact Sharon at 760-567-3395 for more information or to coordinate a ride.
EMBRACE GRACE CO-LEADER NEEDED – You can be that someone to help lead women to hope, love and a future. Help reach scared and overwhelmed moms-to-be; Surround them with supportive community; Remind them they’re not alone and most importantly, point them to Christ Jesus, our Way-Maker. Will you say YES to co-leading? Contact Nancy Wiseman for more information at 770-630-8540 or nancylwiseman@gmail.com
CLAIREMONT EMMANUEL VETERANS GROUP – If you are you a vet of any branch of military service, contact Gary Anderson at crazygrandpa5x@yahoo.com, or 858-769-6911 to find out more. We would love for you to join us. Stop by the table on the patio to learn more.
SPECIAL NEEDS MINISTRY – Children’s Ministry is exploring the idea of starting a Special Needs Team to better support individuals and families in our church community who have children with special needs. No experience is necessary—we’re simply looking to see who might be interested in learning more. This is not a commitment, just a chance to express curiosity or willingness to be involved in the future. If you’d like to be part of the conversation, please contact Nikki Uyboco at nikknacks1@gmail.com.
VOLUNTEER LEADERS NEEDED FOR YOUNG LIFE AT CLAIREMONT AND MISSION BAY HIGH – The growth of these clubs - almost 200 students a week - means more adult leaders are needed. All you need is a heart for high schoolers to hear the good news of Jesus Christ. Please contact David Warren for more information at 619-347-8358 or warrenpride@gmail.com.
LIVING WATERS/MEMBER CARE – Living Waters ministry would like to love on our CEBC members in times of need (surgery, illness, cancer treatments, death of loved one) as well as celebrations of life (wedding, birth, new home, etc.). If you know of a CEBC member that deserves some love please submit a prayer card addressed to Living Waters with member name and address and reason for care and our Living Waters team will make sure a card will be sent to them.
MINISTRY TABLES – If you are a leader of one of our many ministries and would like a table on the patio, contact the office (619-276-1922) to schedule a Sunday! Plan to be at your table after both services.
SUNDAY AM BOOK TABLE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED – If you love books and talking to people, consider being at the book table to talk about books as a possible ministry. We are starting to sell some books (recommended by the Overseers) at the book table and so this volunteer opportunity would also involve taking money and making change.
AV MINISTRY – Men and women! If you are looking for a ministry and (especially if you have a background in technology / sound, but even if you don’t), contact Pastor Zach (858-322-2105), or one of the guys in the sound booth and let them know you’d like to join the team.
SILENT VOICES – Although they do not currently have a table on the patio, we have the opportunity to help restock the Silent Voices pantry with baby supplies (diapers, blankets, baby wipes, personal hygiene items, clothing, etc.). Silent Voices is a Christian pro-life pregnancy center founded by member Sharon Pearce, that provides life-affirming alternatives to abortion, and support to mothers and babies in our community who need help. If you have any questions about the ministry outreach, please contact Sharon Pearce (619-851-5336) or Paul Champlin (619-209-1237).
GREETING AND USHERING – If you are interested in greeting and ushering, talk to Joe Dameron on Sunday morning or to Timothy Hulbert (first service) or Justin Hoech (second service).
ANNOUNCEMENT INDEX
MESSAGE FROM PASTOR KENNY | HIGHLIGHTED ANNOUNCEMENTS | NEW MEMBER TESTIMONIES | JOB OPENINGS | MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES | CLASS SCHEDULE | HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES
2024 Class Schedule
· All classes are held in The Upper Room from 2-5PM
· Text Pastor Kenny (619-508-3785) if you’re interested in reserving a spot for any of these classes.
· Our goal is that every member takes each one of the classes.
ANNOUNCEMENT INDEX
MESSAGE FROM PASTOR KENNY | HIGHLIGHTED ANNOUNCEMENTS | NEW MEMBER TESTIMONIES | JOB OPENINGS | MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES | CLASS SCHEDULE | HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES
Housing/JOB OPENINGS/For Sale
JEANIE PRESLEY – was laid off from work (as was her entire department) and is looking for a Product Manager, Project Manager, Scrum Master, Quality Assurance or Business Resiliency role. Please contact her at jeanie.presley@gmail.com or 619-997-2079 with any leads.
HOUSING NEED – Young member couple with baby looking for three bedroom in the Clairemont/Bay Park/LaJolla/UC area for under $3200 a month. Contact Jona (858-232-2258) or Brooke (951-553-6578) Dumitru.
ANNOUNCEMENT INDEX
MESSAGE FROM PASTOR KENNY | HIGHLIGHTED ANNOUNCEMENTS | NEW MEMBER TESTIMONIES | JOB OPENINGS | MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES | CLASS SCHEDULE | HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES