On the way to the Divisional Youth Retreat, I hit a child posed to walk across the street! Fortunately, it was only the kid you see in the picture above - yes the light yellow plastic kid. As we laughed about this event, I asked the youth if there was any spiritual application we could get out of the event.

I can't remember exactly what ideas we brainstormed. But I think some of them were:

1) Pay attention to the signs around you. God might be telling you something.

2) Stay in your lane, be mindful of people around you, you can hurt someone.

3) Sometimes you get hit by something you're not expecting.

What lesson do you think you can come up with? Pause for a moment in the days to come - look at an object, an experience, a saying, a sign - think upon these things. It's a fun way to keep our minds focused on God. There's no serious lesson here - just an example of any easy way to share with friends and engage in conversation.

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. Colossians 3:1-2

APRIL

4/03 Territorial Women Officers Retreat (3/3-3/6)

4/11 Monthly teen and young adult night 6 - 8:30 pm

4/12 Divisional Encore @ Modesto

4/13 Palm Sunday

4/14 Spring Service Week (4/14-4/17, 9 am - 12 pm, for youth 7 - 17, $25 for special lunch on 4/17) - let Major Shoshannah know if interested

4/18 Office Closed, United Good Friday Service @ San Jose, 5:30 pm with Bread and Broth

4/19 Annual Community Easter Egg Hunt, 10 am - 2 pm VOLUNTEERS NEEDED - register with link

4/20 Easter Breakfast at 9:30 am, Worship Service 10:30 am - men please contact Rich and Joshua

4/25 Created Women's Retreat (4/25-4/27), Sign up asap for attendance and workshop choices

Save the Date:
May 3 - Santa Clara Women's Event

May 9 - Monthly Teen and Young Adult Night

May 24 - Tentative Young Adult Volleyball Tournament

Hi church. Our regions of The Salvation Army (the Golden State Division) has embarked on a journey to look more closely at our churches, programming, growth opportunities, our strengths and more. The tool used to help in this is Gloo Health. Will you please help us by filling out this Gloo church survey? These are anonymous . We will not be able to see who sends in the surveys. The information will be compiled to help us as The Salvation Army and also us locally as the Santa Clara Citadel. You can access the link by the QR code or click here for the link. Thank you advance. https://survey.church/thesalvationarmysantaclaracitadel/deploy470

Created / Creados is the theme for the 2025 Women’s Ministry Retreats. The Scripture is Ephesians 4:24 (put on the new self…created after the likeness of God). Our feel for the weekend will be art focused (paint, creativity, images, etc).

English Retreat: April 25-27 – Lt Colonel Shari Fowler (DDWM & DSP, Southwest Division) will be our guest speaker, and we are finalizing the worship team.

The registration fee has not risen and is the same as last year - $200 for cabins, $250 for Lodge rooms, and $100 for those choosing to stay off-site (commuting from home/staying in a hotel) or choosing to be a Saturday-only attendee. The registration details will be coming soon, along with media files you can use to promote these retreats locally. *The church is again willing to help pay up to $100 for those who are staying on site.

Registration is due April 8. Please remember to sign up for workshop choices as well.

As we all know, Commissioning is coming!! Commissioning Events will be held at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, June 13-15.

We are continuing with an evangelism-based theme for the weekend, following on from “Testify”. The Theme for the weekend will be “This Is My Story”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RvUEemy-MA

There are some important changes to the schedule:

· The Friday evening program will incorporate Commencement, a celebration of Long Service (officers)….recognition of Long Service (Local Officers) and more!

· During the day on Saturday the annual Encore Competition and Bible Bowl Final will take place

· The Saturday Evening program will feature the musical “This is My Story”, which is a series of stories behind some of the world’s best loved hymns.

· Sunday Morning Holiness meeting will include the Ordination and Commissioning.

· Sunday Afternoon meeting will include the appointments of the new officers.

Register at: events.usawest.org

The theme for last year’s congress, Testify, was designed to encourage each one of us to tell more people about Jesus, more often. The most effective way of sharing about Jesus is to tell your own story. Over the next 20 weeks we will be sharing with you a short “testimony” video from the leadership team of the Territory, and our cadets who will be commissioned as officers this year.

Feel free to share these with others as encouragement, and share your own story. (If you are not sure what your story is, or are searching for the answers to your spiritual questions please talk to any officer)

This week's testimony is Colonel Debbie Lum:

Please keep informed by signing up for the Remind App. The goal is to touch base with a newsletter once a week and send communication in a secure way. Text to: 81010, Send the message: @chkhc6. Please share the info. Thank you in advance.

Sunday:

• 9:30 AM Small Groups for All Youth and Adults
• 10:30 AM Worship service
• 11:00 AM Junior Church for kids 1 - 5 grades and Nursery
• 11:45 AM Potluck & Fellowship (3rd Sunday unless scheduled otherwise)

Tuesdays:

• 6:30 PM Dinner for All
• 7:15 PM Bible Study

Wednesdays:

• 5:30 PM ARC Service and graduations

Thursday:

• 7:15 PM Young Adult Volleyball Fellowship

Friday:

• 6:00 PM Teen Youth Group (Monthly)

Saturday:

• 8:00 AM Men's Brunch (Monthly)
• 10:00 AM Women's Fellowship (Monthly)

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