Grace Press — June 2015

Transcription

Reaching Up - Reaching Out!
PAGE #2
(Pastor’s Perspective continued from Page 1)
Setting the Record: So let’s get this straight, Christianity is not about pretending you have it all together
when you don’t! None of us do! If someone says they have it all together, they are everything God
intended, run! Will Campbell who has been known to write some deep spiritual truths, but also some saying
it in some shocking ways was once asked this question: “In ten words or less, what’s the Christian
message?” How would you answer it? Campbell responded: “We’re all bastards, but God loves us
anyway!” What do you think? I think he was onto something there. Romans 3:23 says the same thing, a
little more religiously, “All have fallen short of the glory of God!”
If Christianity is about anything, it is that we are all chipped cups, needing forgiveness, healing, and
restoration. It’s not about having our act together, it’s about admitting we don’t! Its Step One of AA, we
admit we are powerless, we admit we need a power greater than ourselves to change our lives which have
become unmanageable. Then it’s about coming to Christ who brings us forgiveness, grace, acceptance,
love, and also power to become more than we ever could on our own on this side of heaven!
We all know how to live: don’t cheat, don’t gossip, don’t hold grudges! We don’t need more knowledge, we
need the POWER to live the way God intends! That’s what Christianity can give us, if we accept it.
Let’s Get Vulnerable: Grace Church is led by a sinner. You might call me Rev. Sinner, but still a
sinner. Come spend a day with me, I promise I will disappoint you. I love my wife (baby doll) but you will
see how I daily fail in being the husband I could be. Spend a day with me and you will see how I often fail
my children and am impatient with them. And these are just the sins that are easy to admit. I love God with
all my heart, but if you want to see someone fail to consistently live as I should, look at me.
As a follower of Christ I remain a sinner who struggles and often loses the battle with sin. But ALL
CHRISTIANS do! Alexander Whyte, the Christian leader in the 19th century in Scotland, was once
approached and praised by another Christian woman for being such a “holy man!” His response, “Madam if
you knew who I really was, you would spit in my face!”
Does this mean that all Christians are counterfeits, or that Christian life or striving to follow Christ is
meaningless, absolutely not! I mess up a thousand times a day, but today I am more loving and more like
Christ than I was five years ago. I been married 21 years and today I am a better husband than I was five
years ago, because of my walk with God!
We are all riders on the same TRAIN: We’ve all got the same sickness. We all need a hospital. That’s
what Grace is. We don’t need one sick person telling another, man, you are sick! We all come here to see
the Ultimate Physician. Some are further down the path of healing and some follow the doctor’s orders
better than others, but we all need treatment! We all got sin-sickness, we all need recovery often from
ourselves!
So when people walk into Grace or we go out to them, we know everyone has some baggage. No need to
say, “Dang, that’s a big bag of sin you got there!” Everyone has the same ticket and the same seating on
this train of Grace. But we come here and we keep coming here to let Christ work on us, in us, changing
us, moving us to becoming more than we ever could on our own!
So when someone says to you, I don’t want to go to church all they do is want money, or tell me who
to vote for, or judge me, make sure you say, oh no, you should check out Grace…that’s one place
where everyone is truly welcome! But watch out, it’s full of….sinners...and when I look at the Bible
that’s who Jesus came for and hung out with!
Thank God!
Rev. John Roberts
PAGE #3
PAGE #4
Session Summary
Averill Walters and Elizabeth Duhan, Co–Clerks of the Session
Your Grace Session met Sunday, May 17th in the Garden Room. With a quorum established, Pastor John
called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. and the meeting was opened with prayer.
IN ATTENDANCE
Rev. John Roberts, Moderator
Elizabeth Duhan, Co-Clerk of the Session
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
Also in attendance: Mrs. Monica DeKoch
(*Excused) (**Absent)
DEVOTION
In answer to God’s Word to Us, Jay Wise shared an insightful message from Timothy about “Perfection vs.
Perseverance.” Mark DeKoch kindly offered to do the devotional at August’s Stated Session Meeting.
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, Monica DeKoch, and Elizabeth Duhan received
“Voice” privileges.
2. The docket was amended to move “Item No. 3” under New Business forward. At this time,
Monica DeKoch reintroduced herself to Session and then shared her vision of introducing a
Church Health Ministry to our Grace family. At the conclusion of the presentation, Monica kindly
answered Session’s questions before taking leave. Upon motion duly made and seconded,
Session• enthusiastically and unanimously agreed to move forward with the new ministry with the
stipulation it would not present an insurance liability to Grace. Pastor John offered to visit with our
insurance carrier before giving Monica the “green light” to begin the ministry in June.
3. The Stated Session Meeting Minutes of Sunday, April 19, 2015, the Clerk’s Report, and the
Correspondence were approved and admitted to record as presented.
4. The Treasurer’s Report for the month of April was approved and admitted to record as
presented by Marianne Carlson, in Roger Schroeder’s absence.
5. Upon motion duly made and seconded, Session approved the formation of the LongRange Planning Committee. Kathy Molpus readily agreed to Chair the newly formed committee
with the following Session members agreeing to lend support: Pastor John, Walter Brothers,
Elizabeth Duhan, and Jay Wise. The committee will actively seek members from the congregation
with gifts to add to this ministry.
(Please continue on page 6)
PAGE #5
(Article continued from page 5)
Upon motion duly made and seconded, Session approved to amend the Called
Congregational Meeting to reflect the purposes set below:
a) to nominate and elect three (3) active members of the congregation, not presently serving as
Ruling Elder, to serve on the Elder Nominating Committee (ENC) with Ruling Elders, Rick
Carothers and Albert Cavazos (Class of 2015).
The ENC is charged with filling the following slate by nominating:
a) one (1) active member under the age of 21, if available, for election to the Class of 2016;
b) one (1) active member to be considered for election to the Class of 2017 to replace
Bridget Markwood; c) four (4) active members to be considered for election as Ruling
Elders to the Class of 2018; and d) one (1) Trustee to replace Hal Burgess; and
b) to present the budget for 2015 to the congregation.
6. Upon motion duly made and seconded, Session approved a “tier system” to effectively manage
the church’s calendar – giving priority to ministries of the church when scheduling conflicts occur.
The new approach to scheduling events will be designed by Pastor John and Elizabeth Duhan and
implemented by Office Manager, Ross Romero and Pastor John.
7. Upon motion duly made and seconded, Session elected Ruling Elders, Walter Brothers and Jay
Wise° to represent Grace at June’s Presbytery Meeting in Kerrville, Texas along with Pastor Roberts.
These are your Lay Leaders for the Traditional Service (9:01 a.m.) for the following months:
1st Sunday (June 7)
– Jay Wise
2nd Sunday (June 14)
– Sandra Jerabek
3rd Sunday (June 21)
– Elizabeth Duhan
4th Sunday (June 28)
– Debby Preiss
1st Sunday (July 5)
2nd Sunday (July 12)
3rd Sunday (July 19)
4th Sunday (July 26)
– Elizabeth Duhan
– Walter Brothers
– Sandra Jerabek
– Kathy Molpus
1st Sunday (Aug. 2)
2nd Sunday (Aug. 9)
3rd Sunday (Aug. 16)
4th Sunday (Aug. 23)
5th Sunday (Aug. 30)
– Elizabeth Duhan
– Albert Cavazos
– Jay Wise
– Walter Brothers
– Sandra Jerabek
Pastor John kindly closed the Stated Session Meeting with prayer. The next Stated Session Meeting will be
held on Sunday, August 16, 2015 at 6:00 p.m. in the Garden Room.
•
The record should reflect, Ruling Elder, Mark DeKoch (husband to Monica DeKoch) abstained from the vote.
Committee/Ministry meets and reports as needed.
°Contingent upon Jay’s calendar being “open” for the dates in question (June 19th & 20th) which was
subsequently confirmed by e–mail to the Stated Clerk, dated Monday, May 18, 2015.
♥
GRACE NOW HAS A NEW FREE CHURCH “APP”
FOR SMARTPHONES
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 #6
TREASURER’S RECAP SHEET
MONTH OF APRIL, 2015
MONTH
$
26,628
$
24,783
$
1,845
YEAR TO DATE
INCOME
$ 92,357
EXPENSE
$ 108,753
SHORT
$ -16,396
(With Insurance Prorated)
KEY POINTS:
1. Contributions were up $2,371 compared to April 2014.
2. The prepayment amounts for Youth summer camp and the winter ski trip as well as fundraising efforts
were $4,839. This was not reflected in the monthly expense number for April because it will be
reimbursable.
3. The Windstorm insurance invoice came in and is $27,010 for the next year beginning in June. The
prorated insurance amount will be reflected in expenses beginning in June.
4. The Kid’s Place at Grace profit was $11,323 for April. The yearly profit amount for the first four months
of 2015 is $22,162.
Monthly income required
To meet budget expenses
$ 28,269
($339,227 divided by 12 months)
Monthly income pledged by
our members/friends
$ 15,275
($183,296 divided by 12 months)
Church Calendar
To see weekly & monthly events for Grace Presbyterian Church please go to:
http://www.mychurchevents.com/calendar/calendar.aspx?ci=G1L6F0F0K5M7O9L6I3
PAGE #7
May 7, 2015
Dear Families of Grace,
How does one begin to express her thanks to
everyone who played any part in the recognition
bestowed upon me on Easter Sunday 2015
including our Session, Victoria Shirley, Margie
Schroeder and Elizabeth Duhan (to name but a few,
I’m sure).
Being Clerk of the Session for the last 20 years is an honor dear to my heart. Little did I realize
when I took the “reins” from the hands of Joseph Montagna (with the blessing of Rev. Charlie
Galbraith) that I would also serve Rev. Charlie Dreyer, Rev. Bob Bullock, Rev. George Klett, Rev.
Mark Salmon, Rev. Sandy Hanna and our present pastor, Rev. John Roberts. I am most grateful
for their support and have grown wiser under their leadership.
The birdhouse designed and made by Vistoria Shirley details my life at Grace and I am most
grateful for the kind words of Margie, Elizabeth, John, and Erika and Shelby Gonzaklez spoken
during the worship services on Easter Sunday.
Thank you all – simple words, yes, but they are expressed from the bottom of my heart with much
love for you ALL!
Volunteers
Wanted and Needed!
Saturday, June 6
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!
Contact Sandy Jerabek
361-993-3866
Grace Yard Work is
held the 1st Saturday
of the each month
PAGE #8
Last month, the Grace Youth Group had an awesome time going to Houston, TX to serve
alongside Faith Church. This is the home of our previous youth director, Jason Houlihan, and we
served at the Houston Food Bank. In addition to serving at the Food Bank, the youth went to
Skyline for a youth-wide lock in.
We would like to thank all of our amazing church members for participating in our first annual
Black Tie Dinner.
This month the youth group will have these activities:
June 8th we will be joining our Outreach Director, Catherine Albert, to deliver a message of hope
to Eva, a single mother of five children. From there, the youth will head over to Pastor John’s
house for a pizza and pool party.
On June 14th, the youth group will be working outside all day to pull the weeds out of the Gaga Pit
to restore it to its pristine condition.
There will be no youth activity on June 21st due to Father’s Day.
On June 28th, the youth group will head out to the Salvation Army to help prepare and serve
dinner to the homeless.
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
Summer may be upon us but that does not mean our Women of Grace stop gathering. Fellowship is so
important each and every month. And breaking bread together – well of course that is a must on our list!!!!
On June 9th all Women of Grace – that's any lady who attends Grace, partner or not – is invited to join us for
Brunch at Town and Country Restaurant on Alameda at 10: 00 A.M. Traditionally this is a large gathering
and we love it!! The more the merrier!!!! Please call the church office by June 5th to make your reservation to
be sure the restaurant has enough tables pulled together and enough wait-staff to serve us. Pastor John will
join us for a devotional. The last 2 years a number of the restaurant guests have stopped eating so they can
listen to John too.
July and August will bring more meals together – we eat at a local restaurant and it is all fun, hugs, food,
fellowship open to all Women of Grace – again – any lady who attends Grace will be most welcome. There
will be more information coming on the locations for these luncheons.
Presbyterian Women and Grace Presbyterian Men (aka GPM) will be promoting an intensive cleaning day for
our church kitchen in the near future. This will be open to the entire congregation – to help. Stay tuned for
more details.
We continue to sell jewelry pieces from our Scones Stones and a Little Stuff collection. The latest venue was
Brighton Park during the Brighton Village Neighborhood Association annual spring BBQ. I had no idea how
much might sell. It was well over $100 but the most interesting thing that happened was totally unexpected.
Everyone knows I talk – yes – a lot – promoting things. So, I was telling all the potential customers about
Scones and Stones. The date is already on the church calendar - 1st Saturday of February 2016! One lady
spoke up in a loud clear voice – oh you have to go to this – the Scones are to die for and it is such a fun
event and great shopping!!! I had not bribed her to say all of that either!!!
As I was explaining about using broken jewelry items or orphan earrings to create new jewelry pieces, I said
they are resurrected to become useful again. One lady stopped cold in her tracks and said – oh – how
wonderful and appropriate to come from a church – to be resurrected to a useful wholeness as we are all
broken – we can be resurrected to usefulness. That was a sermon right then and there – in the shade of a
big old oak tree in Brighton Park.
There were other women selling jewelry they have made but ladies kept coming back to the Grace PW table
saying they were thrilled to purchase our pieces knowing it all goes for mission projects serving women and
children. It was a wonderful time to talk about Grace Presbyterian Church in the community!
So – please continue to share your previously loved jewelry with us – for Scones Stones and a Little Stuff.
Don't forget – mark your calendar right now – All Women of Grace Brunch – June 9th, 10:00 A.M. at Town
and Country Restaurant on Alameda – and call the church office (985-8585) to make your reservation.
Also continued thanks for all the calls, notes and emails – checking on my back issues post-rear end
collision. I had an injection in my back and praying it will ease pain and discomfort.
Love you all!!!!!
Margie Schroeder
Presbyterian Women of Grace Moderator
PAGE #10
BIBLE STUDY HERE AT GRACE!
All are welcome...
Join us Tuesdays at 1:30 PM in the Garden Room for our Bible
Study on the 1st Book of Corinthians!
Until I come, devote yourself to
the public reading of Scripture, to
preaching and to teaching.
1 Timothy 4:13 NIV
Thursday Night Bible Study is held every Thursday at
7:00 PM in the Garden Room. It will begin it's study of the
Book of Hebrews. Everyone is invited to join us as we
search God's Word for hidden treasure.
Would you like to give a special teenage girl in your life a great gift?
Sponsor them for the 3rd annual New Life Christian Retreat June
12-14th! They will be reminded of God's great love for them, their
creation in His perfect image and how they can share His love with
others. New Life is an outreach ministry of Grace’s youth department.
Go to www.newlifechristianretreat.com for permission slips and more
information!! See Pastor John or Sheila Ferrell if you have any
questions.
Kingdom Kidz is looking for Sunday School teachers! We have a great
curriculum that the kids love!! The commitment is once a month during
the Contemporary Service. Feel free to come sit in on one of the
classes. See Pastor John or contact Sheila Ferrell at 361-658-9898 if
you feel God calling you to teach our amazing children of Grace!!
PAGE #11
PAGE #12
(
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 #13
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.
(Please continue on page 15)
PAGE #14
(Article continued from page 14)
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.
PAGE #15
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 #16

Grace Press — June 2015

Transcription

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