Happy New Year Hillside Friends and Family!
 
I know for many of you 2010 is a year of anticipation and hopes.  This has been a tough year for many.  It has hit us financially, others have been hurt relationally, still others have suffered emotionally, and some of you may feel like spiritually it was a difficult year as well.  But I think we can all say that while a lot happened that was very hard, God has seen us through and has given us a new year in which to serve Him.  I'm looking forward to trusting God for new opportunities and new growth for all of us individually and for Hillside.  I have a sense that this may be a year like no other.


To start the new year off right, we are going to meet for prayer each night this week.  Each evening will start at 7:00 p.m.  Come when you can for as long as you can.  This first week of the year was a great highlight to 2009 and I know that this will be a fantastic start as we begin 2010.

As many of you know, our friend and Hank Ruiz's wonderful wife, Sue went to be with the Lord.  She celebrated New Year's with a new body and in the presence of our eternal God.  I wanted to let you know about the services for her.  All of you are invited to come celebrate her life.
 
There will be a viewing at 10 a.m. at Oakhill Funeral Home and Memorial Park which is located at 300 Curtner Ave. In San Jose.
 
Following the viewing at 11 a.m. there will be a service at Neighborhood Church located about 10 minutes away at 1302 Branham Lane in San Jose.

The viewing and service will be on Friday, January 8.

Also, a charitable trust has been set up for Sue's family since treatments and hospital stay expenses were huge and not covered by their limited insurance.  You can send gifts to Hillside and we will deposit them in your name into the fund.  All money collected will go directly to the family to offset expenses.

If you would like to show people that you are a follower of Jesus Christ by taking this step of obedience, please email me at PastorDClift@aol.com or fill out a slip this Sunday.
 
May God bless you all in the New Year!
 
Your friend,
Pastor David

Week 8

Hello Hillside Family & Friends!

Because we live on a broken planet, pain is a part of life.  Pain is inevitable, universal, and present in our lives for our time on Earth.  Following Jesus does not end our pain - it transforms it!  Jesus gives meaning and purpose to our pain.  Regardless of the reason or cause for our pain, God can use it for our benefit, for His purposes, and to help others.  God never wastes a hurt.  He takes our hurts, hang-ups, and habits and weaves them into His plan for our lives.  In the “Life’s Healing Choices” series, we've discovered how to tap into God's healing power based on the choices we make.  As we start experiencing healing and God's peace, God wants us to share our experiences with others.  The key indication that we are healing and recovering is when we start using our painful experiences to help other people.  The decision we make to start helping others is The Sharing Choice.  God did not cause our pain, but since we are experiencing it, He can use our pain to help others.  By making The Sharing Choice, we are able to pass along to others the comfort God has given us.  Join us Sunday as we conclude our series with hope and opportunity.
 

12:30 - 5:00pm Bone Marrow Registry Drive
3:00-5:00 PM Spaghetti Feed Donation Dinner
to help those suffering with cancer
6:00 PM - Concert with local choir PSALM 100
(Reception Following)

          

I look forward to worshipping and celebrating with you!

Your friend,

Pastor David
 

Week 7

Hello Hillside Friends and Family!

As we've worked through life’s healing choices the last few weeks, we've examined our lives in the areas of hope, commitment, housecleaning, transformation, and relationships. By now, God has shown each of us at least one area in which we need to grow. This is where the real work of change begins, because growth in Christ is like a person running a marathon. It is hard work. There is no growth without change, no change without loss, no loss without pain, and no pain without grief. Way too many people enter in with high hopes, only to flame out before they've even reached the halfway point. But you don't get life’s gold medal for starting. You've got to finish the race. This week we'll look at 7 ways to maintain your momentum on this road to God’s glory. The message is choice number 7 and is called, "THE GROWTH CHOICE." I'm excited to share it with you.

 
I'm looking forward to worshipping with you on Sunday!
 
Your friend,
Pastor David
 
P.S.  Our sympathy and prayers go out to Vickie Gilles and her family as her mother passed away this week. Services will be held on Friday, Nov. 6 at 11 a.m. at Pittsburg Funeral Chapel (2295 Railroad Ave, Pittsburg). Please keep the family in your thoughts and prayers.

Week 6

Hello Hillside Family & Friends!
 
We probably all have broken a relationship of one kind or another.  In those situations, we instinctively build walls to protect ourselves from people we feel have hurt us and from uncomfortable relationships we don't want to deal with.  In our “LIFE'S HEALING CHOICES” series, we've looked at how our lives can be radically better based on choices we can make. This Sunday we'll look at the choice to offer forgiveness in our relationships.  Hurtful past relationships can eat away at us for the rest of our lives; and it’s an uncomfortable fact that our forgiveness is necessary in order to heal any of these broken relationships.  Also, because we don't love perfectly, the list of ways we've hurt and wounded each other is endless, and new pains develop every day.  Being a great Christian or doing good works doesn't make any of us perfect at loving or forgiving, so, grace and forgiveness are required daily.  In Sunday's message, "The Relationship Choice," we'll consider the essential truths Jesus taught about forgiveness, and learn how and why we can forgive even people who have committed horrible sins against us.  Don't miss this important message.

NO EXCUSES THIS SUNDAY!

Your friend,
Pastor David Clift