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GLB Church October Newsletter!
October is here! While our sunny Long Beach skies stay mostly the same, this month still brings opportunities to pause, reflect, and grow together as a community. It’s a chance to reconnect with our faith, celebrate the ways God is at work in our lives, and find small ways to make a difference around us.
This month reminds us that growth often happens quietly, through everyday acts of kindness, service, and love. Whether it’s attending a service, volunteering, or simply reaching out to a neighbor, there are countless ways to engage with our community and strengthen the bonds that make GLB so special.
We’re Moving from CCB to Pushpay
We’re excited to share that GLB Church is now switching from CCB to Pushpay to make giving and staying connected even easier. Click the link or simply scan the QR code below to update your info and get set up in just a few minutes.
”But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified… And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, ‘Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.’… Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, ‘You of little faith, why did you doubt?’”— Matthew 14:26-27, 31
A few Sundays ago, I preached on this passage of Scripture above where Jesus walks on water and then Peter walks on water. I love what Matthew is doing here in telling us this story. He is focusing our attention on Jesus’ power and how Jesus is the ‘I Am’ from the Exodus story and he is telling us, in a subtle way, that Jesus is inviting us out of the boat to walk on water. In our lives, we can get so distracted by our routines, our careers, our worries, our future, that even in the midst of us possibly walking on water with Jesus, we begin to sink a bit. And in those moments or those seasons, Jesus’ gentle but firm voice
comes through the wind and the waves saying, ‘Hey, little faith, why did you doubt?’ The invitation is to stay focused on Jesus. He is our anchor, he is our calm in the storm. And as we stay focused on Jesus, we navigate our potential anxieties and worries with faith and trust in him and we focus on what Jesus was focused on and what Jesus prioritized.
The month of October offers us some great opportunities to focus on Jesus and his priorities. Our campus ministry will be attending their annual fall semester retreat in San Diego in partnership with campus ministries throughout the Pacific Southwest family of churches (Arizona, Nevada, California, Hawaii). This retreat always provides a great spiritual boost for the students and also is a great catalyst for seekers. The GLB Church is partnering with other churches throughout the Long Beach area on October 11th for the annual ‘Love Your City’ serving day. This is a day to go out into our communities and meet tangible needs throughout our city whether it be feeding the hungry, renovating facilities, donating blood, etc. The church reflecting the heart of Jesus in his healing ministry. We are also launching our annual ‘Equipping the Saints’ classes, providing opportunities for spiritual growth and maturing in our faith in different areas of need as we ‘grow up’ into the ‘full measure of Christ’ as Paul talks about in Ephesians 4. And lastly, we also have our annual Harvest Fest on October 26th! This event is always a highlight for the church as we have fun together as a family and host many guests who might be in search of community and a word from the gospel of Jesus.
In the middle of all this great activity for the church, the temptation is to become distracted by waves or wind of worries in our lives. Even with great activity, we can become distracted by all the planning and worry about outcomes with these activities. The encouragement is there from Jesus- ‘Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid’. Let’s keep focused on Jesus. Let’s let what concerns him, concern us- the salvation of souls, the healing of the sick, clothing the naked, feeding the hungry, good news for the poor. Let’s allow Jesus’ priorities to become our priorities- solitude with God, heart transformation, loving our neighbor, hospitality toward a stranger. And as we focus on Jesus’ priorities of a field that is ripe for harvest and a message of good news of his kingdom, we might find ourselves out of the boat and walking on water. Looking forward to a great October!
Get Involved!
This month is full of chances to stay rooted and connected — in community and in purpose. Whether you’re new or have been around for a while, there’s a place for you here!
Want to help but not sure where you fit? Send an email to hello@glbchurch.com
Text JOIN to (562) 561-2020
Stay connected! Join our communication list to receive the latest updates, events, and news straight to your phone. Don’t miss out on all that’s happening!
Love Our City ’25 – Citywide Serve Day
On Saturday, October 11, 2025, churches across Long Beach will unite for Love Our City ’25, a day of serving and connecting with our community. We’ll kick things off at 7:30 AM at Parkcrest Church, where we’ll share breakfast, worship, and prayer before heading out into the city for a morning of service projects.
You can pick a project that fits your interests or skill level—many are family-friendly. After you sign up and choose your T-shirt, project leaders will reach out with details closer to the day.
We are happy to pray for your requests! You can email prayer requests to glbprayerministry@gmail.com or enter them here.
Come on out and join us on October 29th at Christ Lutheran Church in Long Beach for our Prayer Night!
“The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?”
October often carries a theme of fear in our culture—with Halloween and darker nights—but this scripture flips that idea on its head. It’s a reminder that no matter what we face—uncertainty, change, or even personal challenges—God’s light drives out fear. As the days get shorter, it’s good to anchor ourselves in the truth that His presence is constant, steady, and stronger than anything we could come up against.
Reflection Questions:
- Where in my life am I letting fear or uncertainty have more influence than God’s light and truth?
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What does it look like for me to live with confidence in God as my “stronghold” this month?
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How can I be a source of light for others who may be walking through fear or doubt?
