Grace Press — April 2015

Transcription

Reaching Up - Reaching Out!
PAGE #2
(Pastor’s Perspective continued from Page 1)
The resurrection is the most important thing that ever happened. One of the unique aspects of
Christianity is that you can know exactly what day it started on. It has a definite starting point. This
is not true for Judaism or Buddhism or Islam or any other religion or philosophy.
Christianity started in one place on one day at one moment with one man. On Saturday it
didn't exist; on Sunday it did exist.
Christianity did not arise from wonderful ethical teachings. It did not evolve from a meaningful
philosophy of life. It was not the result of wishful thinking. It was not born out of a mistaken
autopsy report. The disciples were really clear on what happened to Jesus.
The great author preacher, Warren Wiersbe, wrote a column for Christianity Today years ago.
Somebody asked him, "Our preacher said on Easter Jesus just swooned on the cross and the
disciples nurtured him back to health. What do you think? Sincerely, Bewildered."
He wrote back, "Dear Bewildered, beat your preacher with a cat-o'-nine-tails with 39 heavy
strokes, nail him to a cross, hang him in the sun for three hours, run a spear through his heart,
embalm him, put him in a tomb for 36 hours, and see what happens."
People sometimes think that in a pre-scientific era the disciples missed Jesus so much they
experienced his presence in some kind of a mystic way. They felt like his spirit was somehow still
with them, so these stories of an empty tomb developed over the years as a kind of legend or myth
that symbolized higher truths about our need for hope and so on. The problem with that line is
nobody signs up for suffering, persecution, and martyrdom, which the disciples did, as a matter of
historical record, in the service of a myth they know to be false. Men don’t die for myths, fairy
tales, or lies.
This emphasis on the resurrection accounts being eyewitness testimony and not poetic
metaphor runs all through the New Testament.
I'll give you just one little example, but there are dozens. When Jesus is carrying the cross, Mark
tells us in his gospel, "A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was
passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross." Why
would Mark list those names in the middle of his gospel? Well, it's for only one reason. One of his
sources would have been this man Simon, Simon from Cyrene. When the gospel was written,
Simon's sons, Alexander and Rufus, were still alive and you could go ask them. In ancient
eyewitness literature like this, names are given. They kind of play the role that footnotes do in
modern literature to document.
In other words, He is risen is not a statement of vague hope. Whatever you think about it, it is and
was clearly understood to be a claim about reality. That's why Peter is quite explicit. He says,
"God raised this Jesus to life, and we are witnesses…" Not sharers of a mystic feeling. Not
tellers of an ancient legend. "…we are witnesses of this fact.”
Continue on Page 4
PAGE #3
(Pastor’s Perspective continued from Page 3)
Peter explains this in the face of great danger, for which he would be imprisoned and eventually
killed, a few weeks after and a few blocks away from the precise spot where Jesus was killed and
he ran away in denial.
We're told, "When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other
apostles, 'Brothers, what shall we do?'" Now cut to the heart is what you feel when you
suddenly realize you have missed the great opportunity of your whole life. The crowd realized that
to know and love and follow this man Jesus is the greatest opportunity ever offered any human
being, and it remains that to this day.
They had missed it, and they were just throwing their life away on money or success or
reputation or health or security or comfort or reputation or whatever stupid thing it is we're
all tempted to just drift into giving our lives to. So don’t make the same mistake they did then.
Jesus is still alive and well!
On a personal level I believe in the resurrection because I have experienced God’s power in my
own life, in my relationships, in my marriage, with my children, in a friendship that I once thought
was dead and gone, has now come back to life, and you know this friend real well. Just ask me!
And finally, look at Grace church. We have been experiencing a resurrection of lives, of hearts, of
relationships, and as a whole church in the last two years! God’s resurrection power is alive and
well in and through our ministries! What a great truth and reality we have before us!
Join us on Easter Sunday for worship (7:00 a.m. Son-Rise Service, 9:01 Traditional, 11:01
Contemporary) as we celebrate the Easter Truth:
He has risen, He has risen indeed!
In Christ,
Rev. John Roberts
Church Calendar
To see weekly & monthly events for Grace Presbyterian Church please go to:
http://www.mychurchevents.com/calendar/calendar.aspx?ci=G1L6F0F0K5M7O9L6I3
PAGE #4
Session Summary
Averill Walters and Elizabeth Duhan, Co–Clerks of the Session
Your Grace Session met Sunday, March 22nd in the Garden Room. Pastor John called the meeting to
order at 6:03 p.m. and the meeting was opened with prayer.
IN ATTENDANCE
Rev. John Roberts, Moderator
Elizabeth Duhan, Clerk of the Session
Roger Schroeder, Treasurer
Marianne Carlson, Treasurer–in–Training
Ruling Elders
Class of 2015: Rick Carothers, Albert Cavazos, Natalie Deller (YE), Shelby Gonzalez*, Sandra Jerabek,
Judy Schaak
Class of 2016: Mark DeKoch*, Miroslava Mares–Sabala, Kathy Molpus, Nora Sai
Class of 2017: Walter Brothers, Bridget Markwood*, Debby Preiss, Jay Wise*
Excused (*) Unexcused (**)
In answer to God’s Word to Us, Albert Cavazos kindly shared a devotional from the Upper Room on the
parable of the Vine and Branches entitled “5th Sunday in Lent” and read scripture from John 15:1–9. Rick
Carothers will give the devotional in April.
The following key items were presented and where necessary upon motion duly made and seconded, the
motion(s) carried:
1. At the onset of the meeting, Marianne Carlson, Elizabeth Duhan, and Roger Schroeder
received “Voice” privileges.
2. The Clerk’s Report, the Correspondence, and the following minutes were approved and
admitted to record as presented: Stated Session Meeting Minutes of February 15, 2015; and
Called Session Meeting Minutes of February 15, 2015.
3. The Treasurer’s Report for the month of February was approved as presented by Marianne
Carlson.
4. Session approved the Baptism of Chiemelie and Tobenna Nwosu on Saturday, April 4th at
2:00 p.m.
5. In meeting the dual signature requirement for all checks issued by Grace Presbyterian Church
as approved by Session in February’s Stated Session Meeting, Session approved the following
Trustees be added to the signature card(s): Rick Carothers, Bertha Ott and Jay Wise. Grace’s
six (6) check signers are Rick Carothers, Albert Cavazos, Bertha Ott, Roger Schroeder, Averill
Walters, and Jay Wise.
6. Session approved Boy Scout Troop 232’s request for a “Barbeque and Car Wash” fundraiser
on Saturday, April 25th.
7. Session approved the formation of a “45th Anniversary / Fall Festival Planning Committee”.
8. Session approved moving Holy Communion during the Traditional Service from the first
Sunday in April (Easter Sunday) to the third Sunday (April 19th).
Lay Leaders for the Traditional Service (9:01 a.m.) during the month of April are:
1st Sunday, April 5, 2015 – Elizabeth Duhan
3rd Sunday, April 19, 2015 – Walter Brothers
4th Sunday, April 26, 2015 – Kathy Molpus
Pastor John kindly closed the Stated Session Meeting with prayer. The next Stated Session Meeting will
be held on Sunday, April 19, 2015 at 6:00 p.m. in the Garden Room .
PAGE #5
TREASURER’S RECAP
MONTH OF FEBRUARY, 2015
MONTH
YEAR TO DATE
$21,113
INCOME
$40,817
EXPENSE
(With Insurance Prorated)
$30,274
-$9,161
$56,538
OVER/SHORT
-$15,721
KEY POINTS:
1. There were several annual renewals which impacted the budget. Contemporary Music account
reflects an expense of $381 for the renewal of the license for printing music. The Sound & Media
account reflects an expense of $349 for the Grace Way Media subscription renewal.
2. Christian Growth & Nurture account reflects an expense of $325 for new Sunday School
curriculum. The New Member account reflects an expense of $178 for materials for welcome
packets for new members.
3. Quickbooks Premier Non-profit was purchased and the annual subscription for both the
accounting software and payroll program is $959, which was charged to Office Maintenance &
Repair. In addition, the Canon copier contract had a onetime fee for 2014 property tax on leased
copier that increased the bill by $195, which was also charged to Office Maintenance & Repair.
4. Contributions for February were $1,649 less compared to February 2014.
5. Kids Place at Grace had a profit of $694 for February, and a total profit of $8742 for the year.
Billing was delayed in February which impacted the tuition income for the month. In addition,
Michelle Solarek, Director of Kids Place at Grace, was given a bonus of $1700. Both of these
factors reduced the profit amount for February.
Monthly income required
To meet budget expenses
$ 28,269
($339,227 divided by 12 months)
PAGE #6
Monthly income pledged by
our members/friends
$ 15,275
($183,296 divided by 12 months)
From the very beginning of my position I have said and tried to follow a vision that God cast
for our church. I articulated our focus at the beginning as the litmus test for what we do
and don’t do. As you know God is interested in ACTION not activity. One of my first
writings was the following:
Rather than being a hundred flash lights going in all kinds of directions, all kinds of “good”
activities we need to focus our lights on doing His transforming work. We need to focus those
lights into a laser beam …a laser beam has a lot more power than diffused light…focus on limited
activity and focus on actions that change lives.
The main purpose of narrowing our focus, eliminating or directing the light in one direction is to
truly set us apart. To actually BE HIS light on the hill…not just to people in the community we
serve, not just to the people inside the church that are “shaped” by His work, but to literally be the
light on the hill for other churches, to lead the way for other churches to follow .”
I am very excited about the beginning of a partnership with a new vision! Many of you have
worked with and served alongside Tony Reyes the Director of Mission 911. I have watched and
worked with him and have always seen that he truly demonstrates the God sized work that God is
calling us too. As I have prayerfully considered our direction with housing homeless families I have
had some hesitancy, not with the call on the church, but the way.
After meeting with Tony Reyes and in prayer together I realized something that I have always seen
as a problem that no one is willing to address…except Tony, and that is TRANSITION. Families
facing homelessness cannot just get a quick fix. We need emergency shelters, there is no doubt
about it…but we need TRANSITION to give them enough time to get back on their feet.
This is what unfolded at our meeting:
Mission 911: the beginning of a partnership with a new vision.
Tony, and I have met and discussed a vision similar to Family Promise with minimum overhead, to
lead the body of Christ within churches to embrace families facing homelessness with
limited housing opportunities.
We discussed something we both feel strongly about and that is that “the church” needs to open
itself, their buildings, their lives, their time to those in need in a tangible way. We both
agree that “the church” needs to put a face, a real face, a “life” to those struggling.
(Please continue on page 8)
PAGE #7
(Article continued from page 7)
It is easy to house those who struggle in an institution and simple drop off items of need without
ever having one single interaction with them. Yes, of course items are always needed at shelters.
We just delivered much needed food and paper goods to Mission 911, but God does NOT want us
to stop there.
Jesus never just dropped off anything to anyone.
Jesus stopped.
Jesus gave.
Jesus interacted.
Everything changed.
We both believe that if we have churches open their doors to those in need for
a period of time…everything will be changed. It will no longer be “us” and
“them” but “WE”.
We also finally saw one of the pivotal elements from our experiences that can help people move
forward spiritually, mentally, and physically and that is transition time: Time to grow. We have many
emergency shelters that do a very good job in emergencies. Mission 911 does a very good job at
transition, helping people to grow spiritually and mentally…then go. But that takes time, and he has
limited space.
So I said “Tony, what if churches could provide the holding pattern for people in need
physically while you help them address their spiritual and mental needs. You screen the
families and create the frame work for them to grow, as well as a plan of action, and
accountability and “the church” provide the physical needs and at your direction in
partnership with Grace and offer other churches opportunities to help this particular
population if they choose: from day care for working mom’s to recovery programs in place
in their churches and more.
Tony agreed that he is interested in this idea and model and would like to work toward this goal!
Looking forward:
I have begun to work on a website www.hopewins.org that would be the portal or gateway for
churches to be involved in this “pioneering’ opportunity. Building the process of the program will
take a great deal of time, but we think this vision will help meet two important goals: transformation
of the church in ways that will reflect the actions of Christ and meet the currently unmet
needs of so many who want to move forward in their lives but are simply unprepared
emotionally and spiritually. We will work toward this goal together and incrementally.
We will begin with an opportunity for churches who would like to be involved to attend a
“poverty simulation” and dinner in April that will give people in the church an experience, be
an actual player in a case where they have to do with what those in poverty deal with
everyday to gain some insight into how completed poverty is.
PAGE #8
If you and others you know in other churches have shown interest, or you think would be
interested in the idea of housing families for several weeks out of the year please invite
them to attend. Space is limited and we really want to make sure that God brings together
every single one that attends.
Please pray ahead for event and for our God sized adventure together!!
After the April event Tony and I will work together on formulating the functionality of the program
and set a timeline for engagement of our faith community.
Jesus stopped.
Jesus gave.
Jesus interacted.
Everything changed.
Embraced by Grace,
Catherine Albert
Outreach Director
www.embracedbygracepccc.org
Get Re-Fueled at the Oasis Mid-Week Worship Service at Grace. You'll love this Mid-Week boost
every Wednesday at 7:01 featuring praise, worship, and a message of hope to empower your life!
Grace Church hosts a mid-week worship experience called the Oasis. We invite you to come and
be filled at the Oasis of God’s love and Grace through praise, worship, and a message of hope that
will empower your life.
This is all done in a relaxed setting of our sanctuary. You come at 6:30 with a potluck meal to
share, break bread with others, and join in worship at 7:01 or you can just come at 7:01 and join us
for worship.
We desire to be a church that reflects and models the early church as mentioned in Acts 2:42
“They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to fellowship and to the breaking of bread
and prayer!” Worship on Wednesdays will help us accomplish this and empower your life.
Nursery care is provided each Wednesday.
PAGE #9
One way of measuring whether our love is genuine is to examine whom we are willing to be in
relationship with. When we let God extend our borders, there will be no one left outside. There
will be no more strangers. Everyone will be welcome.
Take a minute and think…really think about what it takes for you to feel welcome. The word
Welcome means, simply, 'come and be well' in my presence. It's a fundamental human
experience, and a very crucial one. When I am welcomed, I feel good. I can be myself. I relax
and feel unself-conscious, energized, happy.
On the other hand, when I am not welcomed, I doubt myself, turn inward, shrivel up. I feel
excluded, not accepted, and not acceptable. This is painful. If it happens often enough, I will
question my own self-worth.
Hospitality means creating welcoming space for the other. Henri J. Nouwen notes that the
Dutch word for hospitality, gastvrijheid, means 'the freedom of the guest.' It entails creating not
just physical room but emotional spaciousness where the those you are unfamiliar with, maybe
even uncomfortable with can enter and be himself or herself, where they can become an ally
instead of threat, friend instead of enemy.
Ask God in your morning meditation for the courage to take small steps in expanding your own
circle of hospitality. These might be as tentative as smiling at the stranger in line with you
at the grocery store, as deliberate as hosting a get-together for all the strangers in your apartment
building, or as dramatic as volunteering to foster an unaccompanied refugee child in your own
home.
It may mean reaching out to the families we have served through Welcome Home and
Extreme Christmas, offering a shared meal, stopping by and bringing them unexpected
surprise. If they are at church, inviting them to lunch, if they are not at church simply
checking on them to see how they are doing. Ask yourself: What am I personally doing that
only God can do through me to be Welcoming beyond my comfort to others.
It might not cost you much, or it might mean going out on a limb: Can you imagine yourself
during Thanksgiving dinner speaking up to a family member
in defense of the
undocumented, pointing out that, really, everyone is our brother to us, and everyone has a
human right to live where they can support their own family?
Jesus is a risk-taker. He takes risks to include, to be welcoming, to embrace others…take a
risk. He will give you the courage to risk…to embrace others with His Grace.
PAGE #10
Last month, the Youth Group went to Good Samaritan Rescue Mission to serve hot chocolate on a
freezing day to deliver a message of hope. The following week we returned to Judy’s for a third
time to do the finishing touches on Judy’s house, painting and finishing the remodel of the
bathroom and kitchen. The last day of Spring Break the youth went out to Labonte Park for wake
boarding and water tubing.
YOUTH APRIL CALENDAR
Sunday, April 5th, there will be no youth group event due to Easter. Thirty minutes before service
is over all youth will report outside the youth building to assist in hiding Easter Eggs.
Sunday, April 12th, the youth will be leading worship. From music to preaching. The focus of the
sermon will be Willingness.
Sunday, April 19th, there will be no youth event.
Sunday, April 26th, we will head out to Judy’s home again to throw her a surprise birthday party.
It’s a secret, so let’s all keep it on the downlow. Please contact Catherine Albert if you are
interested in providing food and or gifts for Judy. Afterwards, the youth group will head out to West
Guth park to enjoy a picnic along with ultimate Frisbee, soccer, and other games.
PAGE #11
So many things have happened within our Grace Family lately – deaths of loved ones have been high on
that list since the beginning of the year. Our Grace Family gathers to emotionally support these families and
our Presbyterian Women of Grace gather with food in hand to prepare and serve a reception following
memorial services. It is one of the things we as women do – it is part of our built in nurturing mode.
Sometimes we do not know what to say, but many hugs and a cup of coffee or Presbyterian Punch and a
listening ear says way more to grieving hurting families. It is not a sad hard task for us. It is joy to share the
love of our God and the Grace Family with each and every one. It is something church ladies have been
doing for centuries.
It may seem insignificant or you suddenly remember some church lady joke as you are reading this, but
when the time comes, you will understand and appreciate our Grace Family and our Women of Grace
providing time for special moments as you are surrounded by family and friends. It becomes the beginning of
a whole new set of memories.
The Elizabeth Circle will meet in a very different location for their April meeting. Ladies, you don’t
want to miss this one!! Armeen Stone has moved to the Mirador, on Lipes. She has invited all of us to hold
our meeting/Bible study at her new location. How fun – we are doing a fieldtrip!!! The time is 10 A.M. on
Tuesday, April 14th.
Come via the front entrance (guest parking is in that front area) and you will be guided to our location for the
meeting. If you need a ride, please call Doris Antonetz and then we can make arrangements. Armeen no
longer drives and she has been our faithful Circle Taxi lady for years. Pastor John will be there too, for our
monthly Bible study. This is exciting – don’t miss it!!! All women of Grace are cordially invited to join us.
We are pleased to announce that we continue to sell stock from our Scones, Stones and a Little Stuff
merchandise. Every dime we add means more or expanded projects. If you remember something you saw
and wonder if it is still available, please contact me by email [email protected] or the land line
994-1327. Don’t always remember to turn on the cell, but that is 389-2835 and you can text me on that one.
I am learning!!!!! Slowly!!!!!!!!!
May brings the annual National PW Birthday Offering. For a very long time we had a special offering
at both services on Mother’s Day, asking each person for a donation of a penny per year of their age. Or, if
they had no desire to reveal true age - $5, $10, $25 or $50 or more??? would be joyfully accepted. Our
money is added to the offerings from most of the Presbyterian Churches world-wide for projects that serve
and help women and children in so many ways.
Health, education, tutoring, job placement, new skills required to obtain jobs are just part of the programs
funded by this joint effort that started with one penny per year of age. The national goal this year is
$500,000 world-wide. A very special national PW committee pours over the requests submitted by churches
and organizations and then grants money. In the past they gave a little here and little there. Times and
economy have changed. Fewer projects are selected now but way more dollars are given to the chosen
projects, to make more of an impact on those projects. Our highest offering was $700 in 2013.
PAGE #12
Given all the ongoing fundraisers now at Grace Presbyterian Church, our PW Coordinating team has opted
to no longer request Session’s permission for a special offering. We take our annual contribution out of our
Scones, Stones and a Little Stuff proceeds. Now, if you have a desire to contribute anyway, we would be
thrilled to add it to our donation.
These projects are always chosen to provide grants not only in the US but also around the world. We have
special PW Birthday Offering envelopes. They will be available on the information table at church on
Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights or in the church office. If you want it credited to your annual
donations to Grace, please write your name on the envelope. We thank you so very much.
One of our long time projects continues and this is a good time to promote it – before you hit the road or
jump on a plane for your vacations. We collect the small individual toiletry items that hotels place by the
bathroom sink every day. Sweep them up and bring them home as part of your souvenirs.
There is a large basket with a gold bow located on the information table by the Narthex entrance door.
Deposit the unopened/unused soaps, shampoo, cream rinse, body lotion, mouthwash, shower caps or any
other lovely little niceties the hotels provided. A day’s worth of these goodies go into a handmade pretty
fabric bag along with a travel size deodorant, individually wrapped toothbrush, sample size toothpaste (or
those really neat combo packs that have a sanitary protective cover for the toothbrush and are available at
Walgreens and HEB - sometimes plus a comb and paper nail file.
We also take unused/unopened sample make-up and lipsticks. These bags are lovingly packed by
Miraslava Mares-Sabala and thirty of these bags are taken to the Women’s Shelter each month. A note is
tucked inside stating “you are loved” – Grace Presbyterian Church of Corpus Christi.
Now, if weight of your suitcase is an issue, you can purchase these wonderful travel size toiletries at our
local drugstores, Walmart and HEB in the pharmacy area. It is an easy thing to do and helps so much to
provide such personal items to each lady entering the Women’s Shelter.
We really want to provide kids and babies bags too. We never have – so we need the travel sizes of baby
shampoo/body wash, baby lotion, baby powder, baby wipes, soft baby hairbrush and maybe a “binkie”
would help too. A little stuffed animal that would fit into an 8”x11” bag would be sooooo wonderful. These
ladies leave their homes quickly, often with just clothes on their backs and nothing else. If you have other
inspirations on what to include – please let us know.
Thanks so much – join us Tuesday, April 14th 10:00 A.M. at The Mirador for Elizabeth Circle and find
a PW Annual Birthday offering envelope. Oh – that can be placed in the collection plate.
Margie Schroeder
Grace PW Moderator
Volunteers
Wanted and Needed!
Saturday, April 4
10:00 AM– 12:00 PM
Consider this in serving the Lord in this
unique way for a couple of hours. Please
bring tools, weed-eaters, etc!
Grace Yard Work is
held the 1st Saturday
of the each month
Contact Sandy Jerabek
361-993-3866
PAGE #13
GRACE PRESBYTERIAN MEN
Rain, Rain, Rain. What a Blessing from God. I would like to thank the Youth Group and Members
of Grace Woman in helping glorify God thru their support with Church without Walls on Sunday,
March 15th.
April’s monthly Grace Presbyterian Men meeting will be held Monday, April 6 th at 6:30 PM at
Nolan’s Restaurant Staples and Yorktown. We will discuss plans and who can help with our
Saturday, April 11th Pancake Breakfast event with Special Guest Speaker, Sheriff Jim Kaelin. The
breakfast will be from 7:30 to 9:00 AM.
I look forward to seeing the men attending our next meeting Monday, April 6th at Nolan’s
Restaurant on Staples. If you have any questions or need help with transportation, please give me
a call or email. GPM meetings are designed to get to know each other, share in fellowship, and
become more Christ Like in whatever missions God leads us to do.
Our calendar for the coming months:
April 12-19
Food/non-perishables to Wenholz Houses
May 17
Church Without Walls meal - Flour Bluff
June 14-21
Food/non-perishables to Timons Ministry
July 19
August 16-23
Baby items/non-perishables to Hope House
September 20
October 18-25
Food/Non-perishables to Women’s Shelter
November 22
November 26
Cooking turkeys for Good Samaritan Rescue Mission
Thru Christ all things are possible.
Fred Christy
361-462-4664
[email protected]
GRACE NOW HAS A NEW FREE CHURCH “APP”
FOR SMARTPHONES
Once you download the APP you can access the church calendar, get push
text notifications, watch a sermon or hear one, and stay up to
date with the ministries of Grace Church.
PAGE #14
OFFICE: 361-985-8585
EMAIL: [email protected]
Please know that you are a holy and precious Child
of God and that God is always with you.
PAGE #15
What is a Home Group?
A Home Group (a small group) is made up of 2 to 12 people who come together to build
relationships through encouragement, accountability, love, guidance, and prayer. The goal is for all
persons to experience life transformation through Christ. The goal is also to build community, the
kind of community the early church had and is mentioned in the New Testament.
Purpose of Home Groups:
The purpose of Home Groups is to build stronger relationships with God and one another. We do
this through Bible Study, encouragement, accountability, love, guidance, and prayer. The goal is for
all persons to experience life transformation through Christ, made possible studying God’s Word and
being held accountable within a group setting. In short, Home Groups are a place where we come
to love and be loved.
Who can be a member of a Home Group?
Everyone is welcome to connect with a Home Group whether you are new in your faith journey or
have long been a follower of Jesus.
Why Join a Home Group? What are the benefits of being in a Home Group?
Community:
All of us are looking for a place to belong, as well as place to become all that God wants to become.
Our number one need in life is to love and be loved. God designed people for community. Each of
us has a desire "to belong" somewhere. Seeking community is often what brings many of us to
Grace! It will be the relationships that we build that keep us coming back to Grace!
At Grace, we understand that worship celebration on Sunday is uplifting, a time to celebrate God,
and an important part of our spiritual growth but it will not bring about the kind of life transformation
that can take place in a small group. It is in Home Groups where life transformation occurs. Even
Jesus did not do it alone; He created community by gathering the 12 disciples. The only thing Jesus
left behind to carry on His movement was a small group of disciples.
We are here today in this group as a testimony to their work! Over fifty times in the New Testament
the phrase "one another" is used to describe our relationship to other believers as God’s Word
emphasizes community.
PAGE #16
We are instructed to love one another, encourage one another, pray for one another, accept one
another, bear one another’s burdens, and build up one another. One of the best ways in which
you can obey these commands is through a Home Group Ministry.
You will begin to understand the Bible better in a Home Group.
If you’ve ever listened to a sermon and wanted to stop the preacher and say, "But what about...?"
or "You don’t understand my situation!" then a small group is for you! Preaching is an important
part of Christian education and growth but it is also one-way communication. Home Groups allow
for a more in depth look at the implications of God’s Word and ways to apply it to your life. In a
Home Group setting, you can ask questions, participate in a discussion of the text, and hear
others share insights and illustrations of the truth you are trying to grasp. The Bible must be
applied to your own personal situations and that happens best in Home Groups. Home Groups
are safe places where people can take the “masks” off and truly be themselves. It is a place of
loving accountability, a place of encouragement on this journey called life.
"They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread,
and to prayer. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Every day they
continued to meet together... they broke bread in their homes and ate together... and the Lord added
to their number daily those who were being saved." Acts 2:42, 44, 46-47
"Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house they never stopped teaching and
proclaiming the Good News that Jesus is the Christ." Acts 5:42
Home Groups You Can Join and Times They Meet:
Tuesday Nights at 7 p.m. Margaret Jordan Facilitator, Meeting at Fred and Sandy Christy’s
House, address is 5221 Graford Place. Margaret Jordan’s contact number is 244-2194.
Tuesday Nights at 7 p.m. Larry Clack is Facilitator. Meeting at Karla and Larry Clack ’s house
address 7437 Bar T Drive. Larry’s contact number is 452-3712.
BIBLE STUDY HERE AT GRACE!
All are welcome...
Every Tuesday with Pastor John Roberts
in the Garden Room at 1:30 PM
Until I come, devote yourself to the
public reading of Scripture, to
preaching and to teaching.
1 Timothy 4:13 NIV
Every Thursday with Mark DeKoch in the
LIFE Building at 7:00 PM
Handouts will be provided
PAGE #17
Drive Thru Prayer Ministry
Every Tuesday from 4:30 to 6:00 PM
It doesn't matter whether you are coming
or going, you are going to receive a
blessing of prayer.
Victoria Shirley welcomes everyone and anyone to
drive in for a time of restoration, healing,
encouragement, and prayer.
We want to thank Victoria for doing this unique and
awesome way of spreading the Good News of
Jesus.
Children’s Sunday School
Sunday School available for children
ages 4 through 6th grade, after
Children's Moments at the
11:01 AM Contemporary Service.
Missed A Sermon…
Or just want to hear it again?
You can now watch and listen to Pastor John’s Sermon by going
to http://www.gracepccc.org/sermons/index.htm
Never Miss a
Sermon Again!
You can NOW donate to
Grace Presbyterian Church
Ministry!!!
Fast Easy Secure Go
Green!
To donate– please go to
Stay Connected with Grace!
http://www.gracepccc.org/
www.facebook.com/gracepccc
donate.htm
PAGE #18

Grace Press — April 2015

Transcription

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