Stake Message: Oct. 25, 2020

 Dear Canoga Park Stake,

A short movie created by the Church and used by missionaries in the 70’s contained this quote: 

“Our birth is but a sleep, and a forgetting. The soul that rises with us – our life's star – hath had elsewhere its setting, and cometh from afar. …trailing clouds of glory do we come, from God, who is our home.”  (William Wordsworth)

We testify that it is true that each person, including you, has come from God and is a child of God. You are loved and valued. So valued that God your Eternal Father sent His perfect son to bring you home. The more you understand about this wonderful plan to bring you home, the easier it is to feel that everything is okay despite any challenging physical circumstance you may face (even a pandemic).

We ran across a lecture from a Church series called “Hope Works” that we thought you would find uplifting. We attached beautiful music to the end of the lecture and provide it as a message of inspiration to you today at https://youtu.be/iXi-Rzw5Pc0

Wishing you the best,

Your Canoga Park Stake Presidency

Stake Message: Oct. 18, 2020

 Dear Canoga Park Stake,

You’ve heard the refrain before “had this been an actual emergency…”  Well, go ahead and bring it on!  The New Canoga Park Stake is ready.  Okay, there are some areas where improvements can be made.  But a great deal of caring ministering was done this week for the Great California Shakeout emergency response drill.  Hundreds of text messages and phone calls were made to check on friends and simulate how we can respond in the event of an actual emergency requiring a rapid contact of church members.  Ward leaders checked lists, and compiled reports, forwarding them to the stake.  And a stake report was transmitted to our Los Angeles Coordinating Council Area Seventy.

This year has taught us that we need to expect the unexpected, and preparation can make a huge difference in our ability to meet the challenges of life. As Dante wrote: "The arrow seen before cometh less rudely." 

We express our deep gratitude to everyone who participated in the drill this week—both making contact with others and responding.  If somehow you didn’t know about the drill or have an opportunity to participate or were not contacted, we will try to do better next time.

Our stake message this week will assist us all in doing better as caring ministers.  Please view and take this message to heart. This video can be viewed at https://youtu.be/eb9yJemGz7s

Wishing you the best,

Your Canoga Park Stake Presidency

Stake Message: October 11, 2020

 (message from President Grasteit)

Dear brothers and sisters of the New Canoga Park Stake,

I hope we were all was able to witness and absorb the flood of revelation and spirituality that was unleashed during last weekend’s conference. What a blessing it is to have a living prophet, apostles and other amazing church leaders that lead us to Christ. I was riveted and inspired by the speakers and feel closer to my Savior for having participated in the conference. I implore anyone who was unable to view the conference to set aside time this week to do so. I am on my second go around and am finding gospel gems that I missed my first time through. 

One principle in particular that gripped my attention throughout the conference was the idea of being prepared both temporally and spiritually. 

Elder Bednar, in the Saturday morningsession said this, 

“Some Church members opine that emergency plans and supplies, food storage, and 72-hour kits must not be important anymore because the Brethren have not spoken recently and extensively about these and related topics in general conference. But repeated admonitions to prepare have been proclaimed by leaders of the Church for decades. The consistency of prophetic counsel over time creates a powerful concert of clarity and a warning volume far louder than solo performances can ever produce.

Just as challenging times reveal inadequacies in temporal preparedness, so too the maladies of spiritual casualness and complacency inflict their most detrimental effects during difficult trials.”

Let me ask you a few question brothers and sisters:

From a temporal perspective, how prepared did you feel when this pandemic began?

• Did you have enough food, water and other essentials to meet your needs for an extended period of time? Do you now?
• Did you have a back up supply of any necessary medications? Do you now?
• Did you have some savings set aside? Do you now? 

From a spiritual perspective, how prepared did you feel when this pandemic began?

• Did you have spiritual reserves born of daily prayer? Do you now?
• Did you have spiritual reserves born of daily scripture study? Do you now?
• Did you have spiritual reserves born of weekly family home evening? Do you now?
• Did you have spiritual reserves born of ministering to your fellow man? Do you now?

If you answered “no” to any on these questions don’t fret, set a goal and improve one area at a time. Bishop W. Christopher Waddell, first counselor in the presiding bishopric, taught this in his address last week:

 “The Lord does not expect us to do more than we can do, but He does expect us to do what we can do, when we can do it. As President Nelson reminded us in our last general conference, “The Lord loves effort.”

My wife recently updated our 72-hour kits and I made a trip to the Home Storage Center at the Bishops Storehouse to buy additional long-term food items. We have both felt an increase of peace in our lives knowing we are progressing in our preparedness. Brothers and sisters, let’s make the effort together to improve both our temporal and spiritual preparedness. 

President Nelson reminds us:

“The future will be glorious for those who are prepared and who continue to prepare to be instruments in the Lord’s hands.”

This week’s message comes from our beloved prophet. This is the address he shared during the Women’s session on Saturday night. Enjoy! The talk can be viewed at https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2020/10/37nelson

Your brother in Christ,

President Grasteit

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(from President Benning)

Don’t forget that you can participate in a meaningful community project for the next couple of weeks. The project consists in creating simple cards to encourage those in our community who are facing difficult challenges at this time. I know that at least one primary age group and their families are participating.  It’s not too late to do your part too.  All the instructions can be found at

canogaparkstake.org/JustServe/Hope of the Valley - Cards of Encouragement - JustServe.pdf

Stake Message: Sept. 27, 2020

 

Dear Canoga Park Stake,

Next weekend is the 190th Semiannual General Conference of The Church. It will be another conference specially adapted to these times of pandemic. The broadcast times are the same as usual, with a 9 a.m. session and a 1 p.m. session on both Saturday and Sunday. A women’s session for all women and young women ages 11 and older will be Saturday evening at 5 p.m. (all listed here as pacific time zone)

We know this will be a special conference and that each of you will be able to have meaningful and memorable experiences if you prepare.  To that end, our stake message for today is intended to inspire and motivate you as you prepare this week.  The video message can be viewed at https://youtu.be/8SBEfXAT4U8

We also remind you that today, September 27 is a special opportunity to unite with everyone in The North America West Area of The Church in a special day of fasting and prayer. Please view the details here. If you did not receive this this announcement in time to participate on the 27th, feel free to plan for a personal period of fasting sometime this week.

We also remind you about the opportunity to participate in a meaningful community project over the next several weeks. The project consists in creating simple cards to encourage those in our community who are facing difficult changings at this time. The project description and instructions can be found at here

One more bit of information that may be of interest to all members of the Canoga Park Stake – today a special meeting of the Encino and Tarzana wards will be taking place to combine these two wards into single ward named Tarzana Ward. You can read the announcement that was sent to those wards here

We think about you often and are pained when we hear of your difficult changes, suffering, and struggles. But countering that pain is the feelings of joy we feel as we hear about your successes and of the wonderful things happening in your lives. We know that each of you are loved by your Heavenly Father, and by His Son, Jesus Christ. 

Wishing you the best,

Your Canoga Park Stake Presidency

 

Stake Message: Sept. 20, 2020

 

Special message from President Grasteit…

Dear faithful members of the New Canoga Park Stake,

Oh, how I long for the day when we can return to our ward buildings to worship together and in person. I miss the fellowship and strength I receive from rubbing shoulders with such amazing and devoted saints. 

Until that day, I plead with all the energy of my soul that we be consistent in the little things that connect us to God and His son Jesus Christ. Again, I speak of the Big 3: 

  1. Daily personal and family prayer

  2. Daily personal and family scripture study 

  3. Weekly Family Home Evening

I fear that if we fail to maintain and strengthen our relationship with the Divine during this unprecedented time, we will be more venerable to the whims of the world and the temptations of the adversary.  

I testify that consistency in the seemingly small things of the Gospel will produce miracles and spiritual protection in the lives of those who are faithful and diligent in heeding the counsel. I know God lives. I know Jesus Christ is His holy son and that He stands at the head of this church. I know He directs this work and is mindful of each and every one of us. 

Sincerely,

President Grasteit

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Our stake Sunday at home video message for today can be viewed at https://youtu.be/E-RxbEtppMg

The North America West Area of the church has requested that we join in a special day of fasting and prayer next Sunday, September 27. Please view the pdf attached for details or click   here

We also have a terrific opportunity to participate in a meaningful community project through September and October. Please see the project description and instructions in the attached message from the stake presidency, and our Just Serve specialist, Sister Giron. Or click here

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You received this email because you made your email address available to your local Church leaders. It was sent by David Benning, whose calling is Stake Presidency

Stake Message Sept. 6, 2020

 Dear members of the Canoga Park Stake,

Over ten years ago, President Uchtdorf gave a talk that has been named “Lift Where You Stand.” Your present circumstances are probably quite different than imagined ten years ago. We encourage you to give thoughtful consideration to both the physical and virtual locations where you currently “stand.” Your list might include home, work, text messages, voice and video calls, social media comments, and “zoom” meetings. Then ponder how effectively you lift in each of these places. Hopefully, we can recall with fondness some occasions where we effectively listened, taught, testified, loved, and served others. The Lord is working through you to accomplish His purposes as you do these things that lift others. Hopefully this pondering will also inspire us to see opportunities where we can do even better. Recognizing specific areas where you can do better, and being motivated to try, is the essence of lifting where you stand.

President Uchtdorf’s talk along with a music video can be viewed at https://youtu.be/PxXLiEMC41s  

We would like to let you know about a recent change in a stake calling. Brother Martin Furtak has served for the better part of ten years as our Stake Just Serve specialist. He was given this assignment soon after the launch of what was then a new website called justserve.org. As this website matured, it has become terrific resource for our community as a clearing house for finding service opportunities.  A couple of years ago brother Furtak was asked to take on expanded responsibilities to training and support all of the stakes in the Los Angeles in their Just Serve activities. We have extended a grateful release to Brother Furtak so he can focus on his multi-stake responsibilities and other volunteer activities. 

Sister Yanira Giron from the Encino ward has been called and accepted the assignment to serve as our new Stake Just Serve specialist.  We can all look forward to participating with Sister Giron in meaningful community service opportunities.  

Faithfully yours,

Canoga Park Stake Presidency

     Ben Grasteit, David Benning, Mike Payne

Stake Message: August 30, 2020

 

Dear members of the Canoga Park Stake,

This week’s message is a conference talk from Elder Richard Scott selected for us by President Grasteit. Following the talk is a beautiful musical performance by The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square.

View the video at
 https://youtu.be/qc1sgrMTr_k

We have received information regarding the upcoming General Conference of the church to be held on October 3 and 4. In addition to general sessions being broadcast a 9am and 1pm on both days, all women and young women, ages 11 and older, are invited to participate in the women's session, which will be broadcast on Saturday, October 3 at 5pm. Mark your calendar now.

We hope that you received the information about the ability to add names to the temple prayer roles by visiting https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/temples/list or through the Temples section of the Member Tools app. If the temple you select is closed, the names will be sent to the nearest operating temple.  What a wonderful and practical use of technology. 

Faithfully yours,

Canoga Park Stake Presidency

     Ben Grasteit, David Benning, Mike Payne

Stake Message: Sunday, August 23, 2020

 

Dear members of the Canoga Park Stake,

For this week’s message we have two talks that were given by youth at the April 2020 general conference. Following the talks, we have spliced in a music video entitled Love at Home. We hope you enjoy them. 

View the video at https://youtu.be/Mz-BZE1m2As

Faithfully yours,

Your Canoga Park Stake Presidency

     Ben Grasteit, David Benning, Mike Payne

 

 

Stake Message: Sunday, August 16, 2020

 

Dear members of the Canoga Park Stake,

The last five months have been a unique experience. We have all been spending a great deal of these months in our homes. In addition to the intended outcome of keeping us isolated from a health hazard, the “safer at home” instructions have also given us an excellent opportunity to shelter from many of the other woes of life too. Stories have been told by many about the personal growth they have experienced during the pandemic. For example, Elder Jeffrey Holland recently said, “I hope when things go back to normal — whatever normal is going to be — that I don’t forget the feelings and experiences I’ve had during these months of reflection and solitude.”

What is your story of this period of your life?  How have you changed?  How have you grown?  Have you had experiences and feelings that you hope you will not forget? We promise you that those types of experiences are waiting for you.

Don’t allow yourself to be continuously overwhelmed by politics, the economy, civil and geologic commotion, fires in the hills, the pandemic, and other worldly concerns. These things are important and should be thought about-- even worked on. But we encourage you: do not miss the opportunity to occasionally shut off all sources of secular news, and the accompanying commentary/noise.

Our prophet has specifically encouraged us to hear the voice of God the Father, and of His Son, Jesus Christ this year. We believe today’s stake message will help to inspire you to find ways to do so.

View the video at https://youtu.be/Yn_udooiKnw

Faithfully yours,

Canoga Park Stake Presidency

     Ben Grasteit, David Benning, Mike Payne

The Source on the Elder Holland quote is

https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2020-08-07/this-week-on-social-turn-alone-time-character-time-holland-uchtdorf-craig-190485 )

Stake Message; August 9, 2020

Dear members of the Canoga Park Stake,

We are pleased to tell you that sister Alma Bailey has prepared the stake message for today.  Sister Bailey served at the stake Relief Society in the past and is currently serving in a calling with the church Los Angeles public affairs council.  You’re going to be inspired by her message.  View the video at https://youtu.be/OfkOTcyPQPs

Our stake participates with other churches and groups in the valley in the “Interfaith Solidarity Network.”  At the end of the month the ISN will host a virtual forum entitled “Why is your faith passionate about social justice?” If you are interested in the topic, see the attached flyer and register to obtain the zoom meeting details. (President Benning will be one of the panelists.)

Thank you for welcoming us into your ward virtual meetings. Sometimes we cannot stay in the meeting the entire time as we try to “visit” a few wards each week.  But we really feel that we are getting to know all of you better through these virtual gatherings.  We have amazing teachers in the stake, and comments from all participants are inspiring. Not every ward is holding meetings every week. But if you are somehow not receiving any email invitations to the virtual meetings for your ward, check your spam filter, and/or just reply to this message and we will get you connected with your ward to make sure you have access to the meeting details. 

With love and best wishes,

Canoga Park Stake Presidency

     Ben Grasteit, David Benning, Mike Payne

Stake Message; August 2, 2020

Good morning my dear sisters and brothers,

Let me begin by saying how much I miss the saints of the New Canoga Park Stake. I realize that there are many from the north and east sides of the stake that I have yet to meet... boy do I long for those introductions. I likewise long to resume the fellowship with those that I have come to know and love over the past several years. Until then brother and sisters, let us continue to minister and love those around us. 

First, let us minister to ourselves. As we live the principles of the Big 3, which are: Daily personal and family prayer, daily personal and family scripture study and weekly family home evening, we will qualify for the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. 

I testify that the Holy Ghost leads and directs us in things both temporal and spiritual. Let us claim this grand gift through our diligence in the simple things. 

Second, let us minister to our families (immediate and ward family). This time of quarantine presents an amazing opportunity to deepen family ties. I realize that the quantity of time we are spending together has increased but has the quality of that time increased too? Are we serving each other at home? This is an area I will be working on in my family. Quantity is good, quality is best! 

Third, let us minister to others. Social distancing makes this step a bit more complicated, however, there are still many ways to serve others. Family history comes to mind, uplifting and inspiring phone calls, text messages and emails can be sent to friends and neighbors. Be creative and always use good judgement in how you minister to others but keep ministering. 

Ministering nourishes the soul of both the minister and the ministeree. 

On to this week's message...Today's message comes from Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles. Elder Andersen will forever hold a special place in my heart. On December 14, 2014, he set me apart as stake president of the Canoga Park stake. Since that day, I have always paid close attention to all his addresses. Today's address was given in October 2008, while he was serving in the Presidency of the Seventy. Following his remarks will be a short, touching video on the faith of a child. Enjoy!

Here is the video link:  https://youtu.be/KDTortcI1FA

Sincerely,

President Grasteit

Stake Message: July 26, 2020

Dear members of the New Canoga Park Stake,

In case you have missed some of our previous Canoga Park Stake email messages and are wondering why you are receiving them, here’s why: there was a stake boundary reconfiguration earlier in the year and some wards that were previously in the Granada Hills stake are now in the Canoga Park Stake. This change transpired just a couple of weeks prior to the time the pandemic hit California. Even though we have not yet met in person as a full stake, we feel a new energy in the stake. We feel the strength, faith, and love of this entire “new” stake. We hope you feel it too. Each week since the safer at home order began, the stake has provided a video message to help stay in contact with the stake, and to provide a way for us all to get better acquainted with members of the stake. We hope these messages help to make your Sunday and the following week special. 

Brother Mark Deakins from the Northridge 1st ward is the speaker for our stake message today. (Yes, they recently moved and this is the same Deakins family that previously lived in the Encino ward)  

You can view the stake message at https://youtu.be/Y-ZANCvMQZ4

This weekend should have been our first stake Pioneer Day for the newly configured stake. Due to the pandemic this year we’ll just need to plan to have a celebration twice as big next year!  In the meantime, you might enjoy music and messages from The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square. Recordings from the 2019 and 2018 Pioneer Day concerts can be found at https://www.thetabernaclechoir.org/articles/enjoy-choirs-past-summer-concerts-now.html

With fondest wishes for your health, safety, and peace,

The New Canoga Park Stake Presidency

     Ben Grasteit, David Benning, Mike Payne

Stake Message: July 19, 2020

Dear brothers and sisters of the New Canoga Park Stake,

We have selected this talk titled Faith Is Not by Chance, but by Choice by Elder Neil L. Andersen as today’s stake message. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFHIddaIv_s&list=PLHsk5x9hN7tKwjRqjt3tGpMa5XrjR6HQV&index=13  

If you have been following along with the Come Follow Me curriculum over the past few weeks, perhaps you can identify with the plight of a group of people who were “cast out of their synagogues” and were in need of a boost to their faith. (Alma 33:2)  Alma and Amulek proceeded to teach these people about the importance of studying the scriptures and praying to grow their faith. Faith can always grow, regardless of our circumstances. But it does take effort. We encourage you follow Elder Andersen’s instruction to “be relentless in protecting your faith” and to “strengthen your faith, and live to be deserving of the Savior’s approving words...”

Faithfully yours,

The New Canoga Park Stake Presidency

    

 Ben Grasteit, David Benning, Mike Payne

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New Resources to help fulfill our callings

 New Resources to Help Us Fulfill Our Callings

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/member-and-leader-responsibilities?lang=eng&cid=email-MC_Member&LeaderResponsibilities_061620_CTA1a

Local stake and ward leaders should teach and support members as they carry out their duties and responsibilities. This video presentation can be used to instruct in normal times, as well as during periods of time when meetings and gatherings need to be adapted to fit local or world circumstances.

Leaders should review the overall presentation video and then determine which portions should be shared with various groups for teaching and training.

Stake Message: July 12, 2020

Dear brothers and sisters of the New Canoga Park Stake,

We have selected this message from President (then Elder) Russell M. Nelson as today’s stake message. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1995/10/perfection-pending

We request that you spend a few minutes looking at the https://www.justserve.org/. Whether you are new to this site, or if it has been a while since you have explored the site, we encourage you to look around and see how many wonderful projects are underway in the Valley and in Los Angeles. It may comfort you to know that so many people care enough to organize and carry out these projects. If one of the projects listed feels like something you should be involved in, we encourage you to act on that feeling.

We love you, and pray for your health, safety, and happiness.

Faithfully yours,

The New Canoga Park Stake Presidency

     Ben Grasteit, David Benning, Mike Payne

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Stake Message: July 5, 2020

Dear brothers and sisters of the New Canoga Park Stake,

Happy Independence Day weekend! For most people, celebrations and family time together were a dramatic curtailment compared to years past. Some may have spent the 4th alone for the first time in their life. In many areas progress on resolving the pandemic is being made, but it remains a time for each of us to be focused on finding ways to lift he burdens of others. In spite of her flaws America and Americans have a long history of service to neighbor, and to country. There is so much that is good in this country, and so much potential to do even better. Every one of us can be a positive part of that future.

President Grasteit recorded a special message about caring, and ministering for us this weekend. The video can be viewed from https://youtu.be/-Iy4WSDcz1U

After the stake message, we invite you to listen to this inspiring and patriotic music from the musical group Gentri. Due to copyright limitations we could not splice it into the stake video. View and listen to it at https://youtu.be/v-27hj4z5u0

We think about you continuously and are deeply interested in your welfare. As far as we know, there have only been a few cases of COVID-19 in the stake and all have recovered. We invite all to join us in prayers of gratitude for this blessing, and also in continuing prayers on behalf of all who are ill, lonely, have lost jobs or suffered a reduction in income, and for a protective blessing over all who serve the sick and who search for a cure such as a vaccine.  

Faithfully yours,

The New Canoga Park Stake Presidency

     Ben Grasteit, David Benning, Mike Payne

P.S.  There will be another special virtual fireside of the Los Angeles mission tonight (Sunday, July 5) at 5pm. (see attached)  The event will be streamed as a Facebook Live event at https://www.facebook.com/lamissionfiresides

From the Relief Society

1. If any of you know of a place to live in our Ward boundaries please reach out to the RS Presidency.  The Campbell’s are looking for a room or guest house to move back into our ward.
2. Dianne Meyer is available to teach piano or cello and looking for a part-time job in the morning till about one or two in the afternoon. She is looking to take people to the store or take care of them. She is the daughter of Priscilla Taylor.
3. Tarzana Ward is hosting a weekly gathering to study “Come Follow Me” together and they have invited Woodland Hills Ward to join them.  This is every Wednesday at 6 PM.  Please reach out to Britton to get added to their Zoom meeting email list.
4. Sister Natalie Morris is expecting twins with a daughter Nadia who is almost 3.  She is looking for help with the newborns starting in mid-September for $20/hour.  The hours would be approx. 7 AM to 1 PM, but she is flexible and willing to talk about days and times.  Please reach out to her at 503-780-7912 if you would like to help or know of someone that would be available
5. Shirley Maney will be in need of our prayers as she prepares and has surgery on July 14th 
6. For those that would like to send cards and notes to Sister Kendrick, she is still in a rehab facility and in need of our prayers.  Please send those to her home address and Bro Kendrick will get them to her:  23314 Gonzales Dr, Woodland Hills, CA  91367
7. Our ministering sister phone calls/texts are more important than ever, and President Grasteit would like us to make sure we ask if families are continuing the Big 3 (prayer, scripture study and Family Home Evening).  If they aren’t please challenge them to work on one for that particular month and check back with them the following month.  If anyone needs help with food, getting groceries or anything else please let the RS Presidency know.  Also, if anyone needs a blessing please contact the Bishop