Yosemite Valley Chapel

Newsletter: Oct - Nov - Dec 2012

Table of Contents

From the Pastor...

Greetings in Jesus' Name!

I trust that all is well with you and yours. It is now the fall season here in Yosemite. The sugar maple across Southside drive is a brilliant red and the dogwoods are dropping leaves faster than I can rake them up. There is an abundance of deer this year and they have found our house particularly inviting due to the number of oak trees that surround us. God's great artistry for the fall season. This is my Father's world!

As we consider the final seasons of the year 2012, we anticipate the holidays with their attendant celebrations. We look forward to spending time with family and friends. We will pause and give thanks on November 22nd. We will celebrate the birth of our Savior December 25th and we will greet the New Year this coming January 1st. These holidays are meant to renew our hopes and aspirations for the future and to bring us together as a people, family, friends, and neighbors.

We'll greet each other saying: "Happy Thanksgiving"! "Merry Christmas"! "Happy New Year"! "Happy Holidays", as we do every year. But this year brings an added dimension of activity as we go to the poles and participate in this wonderful form of government that affords us both the privilege and the responsibility of selecting our national, state, and local leaders.

We will hope and pray that they will lead wisely, honestly and with strength of character. We will expect much of them, as we should. But we must also expect something from ourselves.

As those who have been called to be salt and light (Mt 5:13-16) in a dark and sometimes dangerous world, we must consider the significance of our own presence in the world today. God's plan for our troubled world is the Church, the body of Christ (Eph 4: 11-16).

The Book of Proverbs tells us that "Righteousness exalts a nation". This is a very practical thing.

When people live righteously (honestly, ethically, truthfully, fairly, justly, mercifully etc.) a nation is exalted. This is primarily the responsibility of God's people. The proverb continues "But sin is a reproach to any people". It is reasonable to expect a certain level of integrity from those who aspire to positions of leadership. But we must expect at least as much from ourselves. If we are not living righteously then we cannot expect to see righteousness.

Whatever the outcome of the elections, the responsibility to bring righteous living into a culture rests with those who have come to know The Righteous One. It is He who has empowered us to do so. It is He who has called us to Himself as we live in this world. It is He whose will must be done on earth as it is in heaven by those who are willing to do His will. And it is He to whom we will all give an account on that final day.

As we conclude the year 2012, let us participate in our national life, not only on Election Day, but also in the moment by moment choices that we make to live righteously in this world. There is no one leader or political party or set of laws that exalts a nation, but "Righteousness exalts a nation" (Proverbs 34:14)

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you who support the ministry here in Yosemite through your prayers and gifts. You are vital to our continued service here and are much appreciated. Thank you so much!

In Christ's love,

Pastor Brent



Matthew 5: 13-16

13 "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

14 "You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."


Ephesians 4:11-16

11 "So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

14 "Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work."

New /Old Organ

These days if you visit the chapel, you may notice something new which is also something old. On the left side of the platform you will now see a beautifully restored church pump organ from the 1880's. It is fully functional and the bellows may also be operated by use of an optional specially adapted vacuum motor. The instrument also features the original hand pump which was designed to be operated by an attendant.

We came to posses this beautiful piece of 19th century technological through the kindness and generosity of a couple from Thousand Oaks, California. Bob and Linda had attended a Sunday morning service last year. During our fellowship time and again after the service as we were discussing common interests, the topic of the church organ that they had restored came up. The idea of donating it to the Chapel was discussed, but no decision was made. Some months later, Bob called and after some conversation, the deal was sealed. The organ was picked up and delivered October 10th and that following Sunday Bob set it up and Linda played during our regular services.

Everyone in attendance was delighted with the beautiful sound emanating from this wonderfully and meticulously restored church organ. I emphasize church organ because it was designed specifically to be used in a church setting (information courtesy of Bob and Linda). It is now a welcome addition to our ministry resources here at the Chapel. I know it will be a blessing to many in the years to come. This was not only an act of generosity, but truly a labor of love.

We still enjoy the use of our electronic organ, but this "new" old instrument adds much to the historical ambiance of the Chapel. Much thanks to our latest set of church "organ donors" (Linda's pun) Bob and Linda!

Here are Bob and Linda at the first service on October 14, 2012:

2012 Woman's Day Retreat

A Moveable Feast:
God Revealed in Creation
Facilitated by Spiritual Directors: Julie Miller and Linda Albert

We traveled to three different sites hearing naturalist stories about various environments found in the valley, noticing how each one teaches us something about the character of God and learning how to use nature as a spiritual practice.

We began our retreat at 10:00 A.M. and returned at 4:00 P.M. We wrote in journal notebooks sitting in folding chairs we brought. We broke for lunch enjoying Cathedral Beach.

Thank you Julie for teaching us how to live under the hat!

Thank you Linda for your words of inspiration and strengthening and deepening our walk with Jesus.

Ways to Donate

We at Yosemite Community Church hope you will choose our church to send your end of year tax deductible gift. We now accept PayPal on our chapel website or send a check. Your end of year giving just became easier! You don't have to have a PayPal account yourself.

Thank You for Your Support

Although Yosemite Community Church resides in a National Park, it receives no federal funds. It subsists solely on the gifts and offerings of its members and friends. We thank you for your generosity and support.

If you are interested in becoming and affiliate member (non-resident) or just feel the Lord has placed Yosemite Community Church on your heart for prayer, please call the church office at 209-372-4831 and talk to Pastor Brent.


Jesus Loves You!

Prayer Requests

Please pray for:

1. The Yosemite Valley
2. Pastor Brent and Faith Moore
3. The Ministry of Yosemite Community Church
4. All other Yosemite Ministries in Yosemite