At first glance the cookie in the picture looks like it's being held up by a hand. But if you look more closely, you'll see that the cookie is being held at just the right angle, pressure, distance so that it's staying held up and not dropping to the ground below to crumble.

This is what it's like with God, sometimes, we just can't see what He's doing. We don't feel His hand on us. We feel like we're hovering with no support and see the looming fears and dangers ahead. But, He knows how to hold us just right to keep us from crumbling. Let this picture remind us that God has got this. He knows best in all things. Rest in Isaiah 55:8-9:

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD.

“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Major Shoshannah

There a lots of pictures and events in this newsletter. Please scan through it all. See you next week!

R.T. Carr was loved in this corps and in Silicon Valley. It was asked that some of his affairs be taken care of before having a time of remembrance. Now is the time - please join us on Friday, March 9, 10 am to celebrate his life. The service will be held at The Salvation Army Santa Clara with light refreshments after. Please invite others who knew him.

Please share any pictures of R.T. via email/text with Major Shoshannah by March 1.

Preparing our Hearts for the Easter Season. We will be joining in the Lenten Awakening Series. Weekly themes for the series are as follows:

Week 1—February 18, 2024: Jesus Revealing Us

Week 2—February 25, 2024: Jesus Humbling Us

Week 3—March 3, 2024: Jesus Healing Us

Week 4—March 10, 2024: Jesus Re-Creating Us

Week 5—March 17, 2024: Jesus Uniting Us

Palm Sunday—March 24, 2024: Jesus Gifting Peace (United Worship at San Jose Temple, 10 am brunch, followed by 10:30 am service)

Good Friday—March 29, 2024: Gifting Paradise (Details coming soon.)

Easter—March 31, 2024: Easter People (Breakfast Potluck @ 9:30 am, worship 10:30 am, followed by Easter Egg Hunt)

Once a year, there is a special weekend created just for our teenagers. We’ve heard repeated stories of how weekends like this have impacted the spiritual journey of our youth. We encourage you to send your teen to the Divisional Youth Retreat (DYR). It is a financial investment, but we as a church are willing to help pay $100 towards the registration fee – your cost being $80 per teen you send. Major Shoshannah will be attending DYR to help chaperone and be there for your youth as well.

Jeniffer Dake is the special speaker. She is a phenomenal speaker, and she proudly speaks to audiences across the country about her passion for living life in the fullest of Christ. Lifestyle evangelism is not only her most passionate speaking topic, but also her manner of living. Please visit https://jenifferdake.com/about to get to know more about her.

General Information

Dates: March 15 -17, 2024

Location: Camp Redwood Glen

Cost: $180

Age : 13-18 years

Theme: REBORN

• Our vision for this DYR is to witness a spiritual rebirth through the Holy Spirit. We are praying that our teens would understand the full gospel and be empowered by the Holy Spirit so they can be born again in water and the spirit and fully experience the fullness of Christ in their daily lives.

• Key Verse: “Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” – John 3:3

Registration Due Date: Friday, March 8th, 2024 See Major Shoshannah

Divisional Youth Retreat is less than a month away and we need 8 volunteers to help us run the event. As an incentive for helping us, we will throw an appreciation meal for helping us! The meal is homecooked Korean BBQ by Captains Kim! We will communicate with you to set a date that works for you to have Korean BBQ. Here are a few things that you’ll be doing. Please let me know if you have any questions or interested in helping. Thank you!

Young Adult Volunteer Tasks:

• Set up and decorate the chapel and other meeting spaces.
• Supervise assigned free-time activities
• Inflatables, video game room, arts & craft, etc.
• Help monitor teens throughout the weekend
• Support Corps Officers in supervising cabins nightly. You will be assigned to share a counselor room with an officer.

We are all focused on the upcoming holiday season, but I wanted to give you a bit of information regarding the upcoming Territorial Congress:

• Date: June 13-16, 2024
• Location: Pasadena Convention Center
• Theme: Testify!
• Visiting Leaders: General Lyndsay and Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham
• Mission Statement/Scripture: Teach, Train and Motivate Salvationists to tell the Story of Jesus more often, and to more people, through words and actions. “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” (1 Peter 3:15)
• ARC Command will be receiving their own travel subsidy for current beneficiaries. Those who have graduated and attend your corps can be included in your non-officer counts.

Registration is now open, and the registration website also has links to the hotels that we have negotiated room rates for. We encourage everyone to register and book rooms early. PLEASE note Retired Officers must book their hotel room directly through Major Nancy Dihle. https://events.usawest.org/

The Ordination and Commissioning ceremonies will take place as part of the Friday night opening celebration session of the Congress, with the appointments being given out in the final meeting on Sunday afternoon. What an exciting way to start the Congress!

Meals

Registration at the congress includes 5 meals for the entire family. This will be a wonderful time for fellowship.

There is a goal of sending 200 delegates (no officers or retired officers included in this count) from the Golden State Division. There will be a subsidy available of $350 per delegate for the first 200 delegates. We are still working out details regarding the subsidy and how it will be distributed.

As more information becomes available, it will be shared. Here is the link to an article on The Landing about the Territorial Congress: https://usawest.sharepoint.com/sites/NewFrontierChronicle/SitePages/General-to-attend-2024-Congress-in-Pasadena.aspx

If you're a Salvationist with a passion for art, this is for you! The theme is "Testify" – teach, train, and motivate others to share Jesus' story through their words and actions. 1 Peter 3:15 reminds us to "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope

that you have."

To enter, submit your original artwork that represents your ideas and thoughts on the theme. All submissions must be the original work of the participant, and open to Salvationists of all artistic abilities across the Western Territory.

1 Winner per category will have their art featured on an item sold during Congress, June 14-16, 2024.

Each winner will also receive a $50 Amazon gift card! Entries are due by April 7, 2024.

Email submission must include your name, age and Corps/Division

artcontest24@usw.salvationarmy.org

Creating Artwork for the “Testify” Theme

If you're a Salvationist with a passion for art, this is for you! The theme is "Testify" – teach, train, and motivate others to share Jesus' story through their words and actions. 1 Peter 3:15 reminds us to "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope

that you have."

To enter, submit your original artwork that represents your ideas and thoughts on the theme. All submissions must be the original work of the participant, and open to Salvationists of all artistic abilities across the Western Territory.

Your artwork may be hand-drawn or digital but must include The Salvation Army red shield. It should be no larger than 8 1/2" by 11", and submitted in JPEG, JPG, PDF, or PNG format. Only one entry is allowed per person.

Categories:

Adults 20+

Teen 19-13

Children 12 below

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Sunday:

• 9:30 AM Sunday School for Youth and Adults
• 10:30 AM Worship service
• 11:00 AM Junior Church
• 12:30 PM Potluck & Fellowship (3rd Sunday unless scheduled otherwise)

Wednesday:

Illuminate Youth Schedule

• 4:00 PM Troops Youth Character Building Program
• 5:00 PM Music Instruction: Singing, Timbrels, Drumming, Solo Practice
• 6:30 PM Dinner for All
• 7:15 PM Adult Bible Study/Youth Drama

Friday:

• 5:00 PM Teen Youth Group (Monthly - Dates vary)

• 7:00 PM Women's Fellowship - Ladies Night Out (Monthly - Dates vary)

Email: shoshannah.ruwethin@usw.salvationarmy.org
Website: siliconvalley.salvationarmy.org
Location: 3090 Homestead Road, Santa Clara, CA, USA
Phone: 408.247.4588
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TSASantaClaraChurch