August 2nd Service Update

Venture will not be able to gather in person tomorrow.

Hello Venture family!

First, let’s give thanks to God that, so far, none of our church family members have experienced major loss of property from the fire and are all safe, though many were evacuated and it was a close call for a few. We are grateful for the firefighters who are risking life and limb and law enforcement who have all been keeping everyone safe!

Due to the ongoing effects of the Apple Fire and the strong possibility that we will not be able to access the Milligan property, we will not be meeting in person as we have for the past few weeks. Instead, our service will be offered live at 9am via Zoom. The link for our Zoom meeting has been sent to everyone on our email list. If you did not receive the link, email rob@venturelife.org.

In addition to this live stream, we will still be posting the recorded version of the service later on Sunday on the Venture mobile app, at www.venturelife.org, and on Youtube at Venture Beaumont.

I can’t wait to resume meeting together and we’ll keep you posted on what the plan for next week will be.

Blessings!
Rob

Venture Plan for Reopening

Reunited, and it feels so good!

Sorry for the cheesy 70’s Peaches and Herb song reference, but I’m pretty excited about regathering as a church family this Sunday!

In case you hadn’t heard, that’s the plan, and it will happen outdoors at 10am at the Milligans’ property located at 9635 Bluff St. on the Banning Bench. We’re taking appropriate precautions according to state guidelines to do so responsibly.

Here are some things you’ll need to know:

  • The service will be somewhat family-friendly since we will not provide any planned children’s activities, so children are welcome at parents’ discretion.
  • We will be observing social distancing guidelines (6 ft. spacing) in our mingling and seating arrangement except for those from the same household. Please assume that not everybody will want a big hug or other physical greetings unless they say otherwise or overtly extend their arms to you, like that aunt who is all about physical touch (it’s ok to be that person).
  • Masks are optional when observing the 6 ft. rule, but recommended either way.
  • If you can, bring your own lawn or camp chairs (there will be some admittedly uncomfortable folding chairs available, too).
  • We will also provide hand sanitizer conveniently located near the entryway and around the meeting area. Please use it whenever possible and while supplies last.
  • There will be an offering receptacle available for your tithes and offerings, as we won’t be passing the offering around.
  • There will be handicap parking available closest to the entry gate with other parking options available in front of the property and on the street. Beware if you are parking on the northbound side of the street. The cliff can be treacherous, especially for those active little ones.
  • A restroom will be available in the house. No portable toilets! Thanks Milligans!
  • Expect a casual, low-tech, yet somewhat sacred environment–it’s still a worship service, after all.

Live-stream option…
The service will be live-streamed on Zoom for those who have internet service and cannot or choose not to attend the service. If you’re in that situation, we still want you to be able to enjoy the service with us in real-time. Here is the link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84805607383?pwd=VlBqY3ZydFMrNjZIS0p0MnBaVjJsQT09. In case it asks, you may need this:
Meeting ID: 848 0560 7383
Password: 057999
You’ll be able to enter a waiting room a few minutes before 10:00am. We’ll try to let you in a little early so you can get a good virtual seat.

Annual Church Meeting…
Following the service on June 28th, we will conduct our annual meeting where members will vote on the budget for the upcoming year and on a prospective elder candidate. We will also give some time to celebrate God’s blessing over the past year, talk about future plans, and pray together.

I know the times in which we live cause things to be less than ideal, but let’s make the most of what we are able to do, joining together in the joy, peace, and unity of the Holy Spirit.

Blessings!
Rob

When Our World is Rocked

As Christ-followers, how do we respond when our “normal” is turned upside-down? When uncertainty seems to be the new theme of our daily lives? How do we trust God’s control in a world that might feel like it is spinning out of control? Join us as we dive into the hope, promises, and instruction of Scripture during our new livestream series.

 

What is a Healthy Church?

 

Our current sermon series in 1 Corinthians is providing an opportunity for us as a church to learn from the early church in Corinth, which needed to correct some things in order to become a thriving, biblically healthy community of Christ-followers. We want to grow through a proper understanding and practice of church unity, holiness, spiritual gifts, worship and a number of other things through our study of this relevant and timeless letter from Paul to the Corinthian Christians.

Our Response to COVID-19

Venture Worship Gathering Cancellations

Hello Venture Family.

Just today we received word from the city of Beaumont that, effective immediately, all gatherings at city facilities will be cancelled until a tentative date of April 30 due to federal, state and county orders and recommendations for curtailing the spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus). That includes Venture Sunday worship services at the Chatigny Center.

Our primary concern is for the safety and welfare of the Venture family as well as our surrounding community. So, this action is as much for that reason as it is to comply with the city’s orders.

As an alternative, Venture will be providing live-streamed services online through our website.

Included in our meeting cancellations are prayer meetings, student ministry groups and children’s ministries. Life Groups may continue to meet for the time being if they so choose. But we recommend, especially for groups with older members and those vulnerable to infection, not to meet.

During this time we will continue to have most of our usual expenses and encourage everyone to keep up with their usual tithe and offering donations. We are grateful for your continued generosity. You can do that through our website, the Venture mobile app, or by mailing checks to Venture Church P.O. Box 11, Beaumont, CA 92223.

Our response as a church will be focused on continuing to worship and proclaim God’s word through whatever means necessary, and on looking for ways to be of assistance in our community and to be in constant prayer for the end of the spread of this virus and for effective treatments to be discovered to minimize the loss of life and health. So, I’d like to ask you to join us in those prayers.

We also want to continue to provide uninterrupted spiritual care for our church family. Please let us know of any prayer requests or concerns you may have during this time through the Venture app and our website, or you can email me at rob@venturelife.org.

We are saddened, but not taken by surprise by these events. We are reminded that God is in control so there is no need for fear in these days of challenge and opportunity. We’ll continue to seek ways to creatively be the church as the situation progresses. We’ll keep you informed of any other changes.

Trusting our Sovereign God,

Rob Peterson

Values & Vision Sermon Series

Current Sermon Series

What are the essentials we find in the Bible that describe the church God calls Venture to be? Over the summer we’ll explore God’s design for the church and how we seek to fulfill His vision for us.

Christmas Eve in the Barn

Ready for a new perspective this Christmas? Experience the Christmas Eve Gathering in a fresh way this year.

Venture’s Christmas Eve Gathering will be held in a Cherry Valley Barn this year (thanks to our friends at Los Rios for use of their barn!). We will gather at 4:00 pm for a short time of singing carols and hearing the Christmas story — while surrounded by the sights and sounds (and smells) that greeted Jesus as he entered our world 2,000 years ago.

Mark recently wrote a blog about celebrating Christmas in a barn, read it here.

The barn is located in Cherry Valley at 39756 Orchard Street. Find it here.

Operation Christmas Child

As a church, we hope to donate over 100 shoebox gifts to Samaritans Purse! Shoebox gifts can be brought on Sunday mornings or dropped off at the Venture Office and Ministry Center.

We will also send two teams to work a four-hour shift at the processing center in Corona. Join us either on December 1 or 15 to help Samaritan’s Purse sort thousands of shoebox gifts for children around the world. Sign up to serve on Sunday morning or contact Chuck Wells to reserve your spot.

Christ Alone

“What Child Is This?” may be the most important that is asked every December!

How we understand the baby in the manger is one of the most important parts of Christmas. Is he another prophet? A great teacher? Is he the promised Messiah? Is he God in the flesh? Our answers to these questions are what matters most at Christmas.

500 years ago, Martin Luther nailed 95 theses to the door at the Wittinburg Church, a key moment in the Protestant Reformation. One of the foundational beliefs of the Reformation is “Solus Christus” — Christ Alone. Jesus is the only way to the Father, and there is salvation in no one other than him. And there’s nothing we can add to his work. We are born into God’s family through Christ Alone!

This Christmas, we will reflect on Jesus as he is described in John 1 — who he is, what he accomplished, and our necessary response of faith. It could be your most important and significant Christmas ever!

Fall Y’all!

KidVenture Families — get ready for a great time at the Milligan’s home (Google Maps)! Fall Y’all will be held Sunday, October 29 from 3:30-6:30.

Fall Y’all is everything fun about Fall — good food, games, pumpkin carving, and more. The cost is $15 for the entire family. This Shin-dig is an annual favorite around KidVenture, as kids and families gather at Aaron’s home and enjoy all things Fall! Make plans to attend, you don’t want to miss this!