Yosemite Valley Chapel

Newsletter: January - March 2009

Table of Contents

Pastor's Message

Greetings in the Name of Jesus!

We are reviving our newsletter now to be issued on a quarterly basis. We have a lot of great things going on this year that we are eager to share with all of you who love the Chapel and the ministry here in Yosemite

2009 marks the 130th anniversary of the Yosemite Chapel. We will be be celebrating this event on Sunday, June 7th. Depending on whose history you read, this is the same date as the first services that took place in the Chapel. We have further information elsewhere in this newsletter!

You will also enjoy reading about our regular seasonal events including Marriage Renewal Sunday on May 3rd at 9:15 am and 11:00 am and our Easter Services on April 12th. Please keep these events in your prayers as we anticipate the upcoming year.

As the year 2009 unfolds, we face a completely new landscape in our world and nation. We've had a history making election that has given us a new president who needs our continued prayers for wisdom and protection. We are facing economic, social, and cultural challenges that at times can seem overwhelming. This is especially true if these challenges involve loss of income or foreclosure, as many are experiencing today.

Yet in the midst of these challenges, the resources that are ours in Christ are never threatened, never withdrawn, nor ever subject to the fallibility of human nature. Peter in his second epistle in the first chapter describes these resources with these words;

"Grace and Peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord: seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust"

Notice the adjectives, Precious! Magnificent!
Notice the scope of these precious and magnificent promises-everything!
Notice the content of these promises-life and godliness!

How do these promises come to us?
"...through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence."

Certainly the days in which Peter wrote were no less challenging than ours. We are living in times when we are seeing the consequences of the "corruption that is in the world."

Yet Peter was able to have hope (confident expectation) not in the uncertainty of human institution, promises, or programs, but in the precious and magnificent promises of God's great love for His people found in the truths of His Word.

When God revealed His covenant name to Moses, He said, "I AM." Implied in the manifold meaning of that great name was the thought that whatever Moses needed God to be to him, "HE IS." Today the great "I AM" is still all that we need Him to be. As the challenges of 2009 unfold, let us continue to trust in the power of the great name of the great and mighty God and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Blessings in His name alone,

Pastor Brent

130 Years of Serving the Lord

June 7, 2009 marks the 130th anniversary of the Yosemite Chapel. We are truly excited as we anticipate this important date in the history of the chapel. It is a testimony to God's faithfulness in sustaining the Chapel as a house of worship for both the community and its visitors these many years.

This date is purportedly the actual date that services were first held in 1879. We are very grateful to be serving the Lord in such a glorious place 130 years later! We stand on the shoulders of many faithful men and women of God who have served in the past.

We are planning to celebrate this event by having an extended service starting at our regular time of 9:15 am. There will be former Pastors and Priests from Yosemite speaking at this memorable event. We will be displaying old documents and photographs of the chapel and will welcome the reminiscences of any 'old timers' who may be in attendance. We will be singing the old hymns and hear a message from our current resident minister, Pastor Brent Moore, who has been serving here for the past 8 years.

Family members of former clergy who are now deceased have provided us with letters to be read which recount their memories of times spent as the clergy family in Yosemite. You will laugh, you will be moved to tears, your soul will be touched as we share these precious memories. You will learn of the hardship of the early pioneer families who's journey to Yosemite was so hard but who's faith was so deep. You will hear of the pastor who hiked to the high-country to bring Sunday services. As these stories become a conduit to an earlier time for our generation, we will be inspired and assured as the Word of God continues to go forth from Yosemite Community Church.

For this special service Mrs. June Greathouse will be playing the piano for us. We have been very blessed to have her play for our Marriage Renewal Sundays for the past several years. She and her husband Ted truly love Yosemite and have been vacationing here for many years. They love the ministry of the chapel and its true preaching of God's Word. We are very thankful for June and her faithfulness to the ministry here at Yosemite Community church.

We will also be featuring a walking tour of the Old Village area conducted by Melinda Pillsbury Foster, granddaughter of Arthur Pillsbury. Mr. Pillsbury was a pioneer photographer who innovated many important photographic techniques right here in the Yosemite Valley. His studio called "Three Arrows" was located at the north corner of the chapel lawn. Those of you with an interest in the Old Village will not want to miss this tour!

In addition to these events, we are planning a late afternoon Bar-B-Que and hopefully this will be followed up with an evening country gospel sing along. Hope you are able to celebrate this important date with us.

If you have any information of an historical nature that relates to the chapel that you would be willing to share with us, please feel free to contact pastor Brent at the church office. If you have any anecdotes, stories, copies of photographs, or memorabilia connected to the chapel, we would love to be able to share it with everyone on that Sunday.

Please help us bring the 130th anniversary celebration to fruition. Your prayers and gifts are needed. Our most urgent needs include having the organ serviced and repaired, and thorough preparation of the chapel. Our little chapel reaches so many countries and nations as well as our own. We often receive cards and letters expressing gratitude for a heart being touched or a life being changed or a prayer being answered. Praise God that we are able to minister in a place where so many lives can be effected for the Gospel. The ministry here in Yosemite depends on your prayers and gifts.

Annual Marriage Renewal Sunday
9:15 am and 11:00 am

The first Sunday in May is always Marriage Renewal Sunday. This is a time honored tradition at Yosemite Community Church. We believe marriage is a true Biblical reflection of the portrait of Christ and His church. Pastor Brent Moore will minister to couples as they again exchange vows and rings in these two very special services.

Come share in the special time of renewing our hearts, minds, and the love of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is a service you and your spouse will not want to miss. No reservations are needed to attend. Please arrive at either the 9:15 am or 11:00 am service. Children's Church will be offered at the 9:15 am service only. We at Yosemite Community Church will be so happy to see you.

Genesis 2:24

Therefore shall a man leave his father and mother and cleave unto his wife: and they shall become one flesh.

Easter Services

Easter Sunday services are a special time celebrated year after year in Yosemite. Whether you worship at our Lower Pines sunrise service at 7:00 am or one of our two chapel services at 9:15 am and 11:00 am, you will be in awe by the glory of Yosemite on Easter Sunday. We offer Children's Church at our 9:15 am Chapel service.

Come and start a new tradition by celebrating Easter with us at Yosemite Community Church.

Paster Brent will be preaching on "The Power of the Resurrection."

- Maundy Thursday Service April 9th 7:00 pm

- Good Friday Services April 10th 12:00 Noon and 7:00 pm

- Easter Services at the Chapel April 12th 9:15 am and 11:00 am

- Easter Sunrise Service at Lower Pines April 12th 7:00 am

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 of Yosemite) or just feel the Lord has places 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. The Ministry of Yosemite Community Church
3. All Yosemite Ministries
4. 130th Anniversary Celebration Preparations
5. Pastor Brent and Faith Moore