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John 16:33- "In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
The question is not if we will have trials or sorrow our life. The question is when will we have sorrow? In fact, in John 16:33 Jesus promises us that we will have tribulation. We live in a world that is stained by the curse of sin. Many of you are going through this suffering and sorrow right now. I write this blog post looking out at so many people who are hurting in our church, in our county, in the world as these wars are going on. The world and the sin within this world are the cause for this pain and sorrow. The world does not have the answers to solve this pain, this sorrow that it caused. Anything that comes from the world will ultimately fail to sustain us through our times of trial. Today on my Worship playlist a song came on called 'Christ our Glory'. This is one of the verses from that song: "Though trouble and anguish increase all the more They cannot compare to the glory in store Come joy or come sorrow, whatever befalls The light of the Savior will outshine them all" Revelation 22:5 talks about this shining light of God that will illuminate the new heaven and new earth forever and ever. We serve this God. This is the God who split the red sea. This is the God who destroyed the prophets of Baal. This is the God who came down to earth and died for our sins. This is the God who has overcome the world. This is the God who we must run to in our trials, in our sorrow, and in our joy. Because our perfect Savior Jesus Christ will outshine our sorrow and our joy because he is better. Lean on Christ today in your joy and in your sorrow. He is the Good Shepherd. We are the sheep. He is the Almighty Father. We are the little children. He has overcome the world. - Pastor Josh Who doesn’t remember as a kid, laying on the couch watching your favorite movies, cuddled up in a warm blanket, towel on your forehead, sick. For me, those memories of being sick and laid up on the couch are actually, quite fond. It feels good to be fully taken care of, someone checking on you, making sure you’re okay and well fed. Something about that warms your soul, makes you feel like you mean something to the family member taking care of you. Who was it that usually took care of you as child when you were in need? How did it make you feel?
The Bible says in Ephesians 2:9 that “we are adopted into Gods FAMILY and have become Gods children.” If this is so, we should then be caring for our family members the way God intended us to. If a brother or sister is in need we should help carry their burdens as it talks about in Galatians 6:2 and further goes on to say in verse 10 “Therefore as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the FAMILY of believers.” Some of you may be unaware of the Meal Ministry here at Grace, so I wanted to share with you some about what it is. As I mentioned above, we are all part of one family and the meal ministry reaches our members in need by bringing them a meal during a hard time and unexpected events but also reaches out to people in Joyous times too. Meals are delivered for a week or two weeks or even more by their FAMILY members in Christ. I think this is a fantastic way to carry each other’s burdens and encourage our brothers and sisters in need, to help them feel a part of the family. My family has been blessed many times by this ministry and it has filled our cups during great and also hard times. The compassion that is poured into a home cooked meal or even a meal purchased with love is something that really does nourish the soul. I encourage you to prayerfully consider being a part of this ministry and serving our family members in need. If you are interested you can send me a text or email with your contact info and when we have someone in need I will reach out to you. It doesn’t take much to cook up a meal or share what you’re already making for dinner and it can really make an impact on someone else’s life! Or maybe YOU are a member in need and the blessing of a meal would really help you at this time. We would love to bless you too. So, please reach out! If you have more questions about this ministry feel free to call me or find me at church! Elissa Reisbeck 707-349-9479 misslissh@gmail.com Come on out to Grace Church on Saturdays October 7th and 14th, from 7 am to noon. We need many volunteers to help us spruce up our church grounds. There are lots of jobs to do and we need many hands. Bring your kids and show them how to serve the church. Things to consider bringing:
We have a variety of tasks lined up for our Church Workday, and there's something for everyone to get involved in. It depends on how many hands we get as to what jobs will get priority. Here's a list of tasks we'll be tackling:
Depending on the number of volunteers and the progress we make, there may be additional tasks and projects that we can work on together. Why don’t we give knives to babies? That was the question God spoke to me this morning. It’s not that I didn’t know the answer, it was more so that He was trying to teach me something. You see, sometimes I get frustrated with where I’m at spiritually. I know God does these big amazing things (evidenced by scripture, and seeing a bit of it in life now too), but I’ve found I’ll ask Him to do big miraculous stuff and I see small miraculous stuff instead. Even writing that feels silly. “Hello, Monica, you see small MIRACULOUS stuff!” Okay, true. I am very thankful for where I’m at with the Lord! He’s healed me of multiple things, He talks to me, increases my faith, He’s given me words for people from Him…but I know that because He’s a God of more there’s more to be seen. And so I ask Him, “God, where’s the more? How can I be a part of Your more? And how can others see the more of You too?” And that’s when He brought to mind a few stories in the Bible and the fact that we don’t give knives to babies. The point He was making: small obediences of the Father’s voice lead to the more of Him. Let me explain. The first reminder was the fishes and loaves event in Matthew 15:32-39. Jesus started out with just 7 loaves of bread and a few fish. He then miraculously multiplied it and fed thousands of people. What lesson can I learn from that? Well the people that were there got to be a part of that from a bunch of small obediences. First of all, they had been there with Jesus for 3 days by that time. At any point during those three days they could have thought “we’re running out of food, I need to go home.” Nope, they stayed with Jesus. Another small obedience: someone had to have looked at that huge crowd, then looked down at the small amount of food they had and instead of saying “this isn’t enough to feed everyone, I’ll just eat it myself” they offered it up to the Lord Jesus. There are other obediences too: sitting down when told to, handing out one basketful when told to, etc. Do you see what I’m seeing here? Jesus did the miracle, but the people got to be a part of it with their small obediences that maybe didn’t make sense to their minds. My mind may have gone, “Why would I sit down for a meal? There’s not enough food for everyone. That’s weird, so maybe Jesus didn’t say that. I’m going into town to get my family food. I’ll even buy some extras for others here.” And that would be me missing out on the more that Jesus had for them in that moment. Another reminder came to me when thinking about the guy who was healed after his friends lowered him into a house to see Jesus. It’s in Mark 2:2-12. So many people were in a house listening to Jesus preach that when four people had carried a paralytic to be healed they couldn’t get into the house. There were many small obediences here too. The four friends would have had to meet up with the paralytic, decide to carry him on his stretcher to the house, decide they wouldn’t let a packed house stop them, decide to tear open the roof (enough to fit a stretcher down), and then act on all of that. I am so inspired by their actions! I'm also convicted about the times that God is telling me to do something and I stop because I don’t want to look silly for doing something “different” than what the natural world would say is normal. What does all of this have to do with giving knives to babies? Well, the Lord showed me it’s because babies haven’t developed in all the ways that would make it a good thing for them. They need to grow their fine motor skills, and their ability to obey simple directives. Developing in ways that don’t seem connected to having a knife. Eventually babies grow up enough, develop enough, and are responsible enough that they can have a knife. For some that might be when they are 5 years old, and for others that’s when they’re 10. Does that make sense? They get the more after they’ve listened to their Father or Mother. God was saying the same is true of me. Of us. Have I obeyed Him in the small thing He told me this morning? Did I obey Him last time He called me to something uncomfortable? The disciples got to see and be a part of more, but it was after they had followed Jesus. They had a series of obediences and got to be a part of Jesus’ miracles (like handing out the fish and loaves) before they got to be a part of some of the bigger more (like healing the sick). (Disclaimer: sometimes we get the more before the obedience, like Saul (who became apostle Paul) did on the road to Damaskus (Acts 9:1-9), I know that. But gosh there are SO many times the more comes with the obedience. And boy am I thankful our loving Father keeps inviting me to more, even when I’ve said no to things I should say yes to.) “Holy Spirit, help me to keep saying yes to what You want me to say yes to, and no to what You want me to say no to. That I would fear You, God, in a reverential awe-struck way more than I fear what people might say and do. Stir up a deeper love of being in Your Word so that I can barely get enough of it. And please keep moving me toward the more of You!” Greetings Church Family!
We are excited to announce we have filled our Administrative Assistant position and are excited to introduce you to Holly Dowdey! The Dowdey's have been attending Grace Church since 2021 and they have all jumped in with both feet. You can see them on the stage leading us in worship, serving at Awana, Refuge, and at VBS. You may recognize them from Sunday School or the second row on the right during second service. Yes, there is a new voice and a new smile to greet you on the other end of the phone when you call or when you step foot in our office. Colette and Holly are going to be training and transitioning as Colette continues to prepare for retirement and Holly prepares to take over our admin position. Don't be shy feel free to call or stop by to say hi. I know you are going to extend to her a warm welcome but please be gracious as there are many new things to be learned in the coming weeks. I love you Church! I hope to see you on Sunday! -Pastor Paul Proverbs 22:6 encourages us to instill a strong foundation in our children, one that they will carry with them throughout their lives. While it's not a guaranteed promise, it serves as a valuable principle to guide us. Our upbringing often shapes our responses to challenging situations, but what if you didn't have a strong foundation in faith or experienced a turbulent family life during your formative years? This firsthand understanding highlights the struggles some of our children are grappling with. Awana presents a beacon of hope for the children of Lake County. Within its safe and nurturing environment, children engage in exhilarating games, fostering joy and laughter. They embark on a journey of learning God's principles through a step-by-step approach to understanding the Bible. At Awana, our focus lies on guiding children towards salvation, helping them memorize Bible verses, and enabling them to embed God's word in their hearts, regardless of their current life circumstances. As an Awana leader, you become a vessel through which God imparts an eternal legacy to a child. Whether you're reading scriptures, coloring, playing games, or simply sitting beside them during messages of hope, love, and courage, you play a pivotal role in their lives. You empower them to navigate their journey, respect their parents and teachers, and honor those in authority over them. Serving at Awana represents a seamless entry into ministry; all you need is a willing heart, and God will take care of the rest. We invite you to consider if God is calling you to be a part of this transformative journey. We understand that not everyone can commit to every week, but your willingness is invaluable to our children. Join us for a leader meeting on Tuesday, September 19th, at 6:30 pm in the Sanctuary. Awana's start day is Tuesday, September 26th. Our kids need you, and together, we can make a lasting impact on their lives. Last weekend, we were blessed to have 81 men gather in Albion. We prayed, worshiped, read God’s Word, shared insights, asked questions, played games, joined in laughs, and ate well. The men spent the day on Saturday enjoying various adventures at the beach, kayaking, and, most importantly, goofing off together. I believe many men left with full stomachs and a full spiritual cup. Dr. Dan Iles graced us with his wisdom and insight throughout the weekend. His messages reminded us of the importance of perseverance and purpose in our lives as men of faith. Dr. Iles' teachings were like a guiding light, urging us to stay steadfast in our faith and to continually seek God's purpose for our lives. His words resonated deep within many of us as he urged us to move forward daily. One of the most powerful and moving experiences of the weekend was the worship led by Tim Early Jr. As we raised our voices in song, the sound of men's voices filled the meeting room. There is something incredibly special about men coming together in worship, and Tim Early's leadership allowed us to connect with God in a way that words alone cannot describe.
I pray that the lessons learned at the Men's Retreat continue to guide us on our individual journeys of faith and purpose. Let us remain steadfast and united as we walk together in the light of God's grace. I, Pastor Brent, would like to express my thankfulness to all those who made this retreat possible, our speaker, worship leader, cooks, those who helped clean and setup, and each man who attended. Your presence and hard work made this retreat a tremendous success. I am once again looking forward to doing this again, next year. -Pastor Brent We are thrilled to invite you to our annual Women's Retreat, an unforgettable weekend of spiritual renewal, fellowship, and adventure! This year's theme is "All In: Diving into the Depths of Fellowship," and we couldn't be more excited to grow together. This year, at Grace Church, we are focused on being ministers of the gospel. During this retreat we will be digging into how each person is uniquely part of the ministry and how every individual has an impact. The focus passage will be in Colossians. Retreat Details Dates: October 27-29, 2023 Location: Hartstone Bible Camp - Only an hour away from our church, this beautiful and serene location is the perfect backdrop for a weekend of reflection and connection. Cost: Register early for the special rate of $100. After October 15th, the cost will be $115. Reserve your spot today! Speaker: We are honored to have Jessica Smith as our guest speaker. She brings wisdom, insight, and a passion for deepening our faith and fellowship. Worship Leader: Shannon Nickel will lead us in inspiring and uplifting worship sessions that will touch our hearts and bring us closer to God. Activities: Hartstone Bible Camp offers a wide range of activities to help you relax and bond with your fellow sisters in Christ. You can enjoy:
Do you have food allergies? Let us know what food allergies you have. Hartstone staff is able to accommodate many food allergies. There is also a separate kitchenette for those of you who need to bring and prepare your own food. Go to the Registration page for more information and pictures of Hartstone.We can't wait to see you at Hartstone Bible Camp for a weekend that will leave you refreshed, renewed, and strengthened in your faith. This retreat is a wonderful opportunity for spiritual growth, deepening friendships, and creating lasting memories. We encourage you to invite your friends, family, and anyone else who would benefit from this enriching experience.
P.S. Register early to take advantage of the discounted rate! If finances are a concern, please reach out to us - we are here to help ensure that you can be part of this wonderful retreat. Hungry Ones Gathering at Grace Church!
Who is Hungry Ones for?
What is Hungry Ones?
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What should I expect at a Hungry Ones Event?
Why Hungry Ones?
Are you tired of living paycheck to paycheck? Do you long to experience financial freedom and security? We are excited to invite you to a life-changing opportunity that will help you to take charge of your finances and build a strong foundation for your future. Join us for Financial Peace University by Dave Ramsey – a transformative nine-week class that starts on Sunday, September 17, at 10:45 AM during the second service of our church. We'll be meeting in the library (Green Room). What is Financial Peace University Financial Peace University is a comprehensive program designed to equip you with the tools and knowledge you need to manage your money wisely, eliminate debt, and achieve your financial goals. Through engaging video lessons, interactive discussions, and practical exercises, you'll learn how to navigate the world of finances with confidence and clarity. Class Details Start Date: Sunday, September 17 Time: 10:45 AM (During the second service) Location: Church Library Your Guide: Christian Ahlman What's Included: For $79.99, you'll gain access to a wealth of resources that will set you on the path to financial freedom:
We understand that if you're facing financial difficulties, spending money on a class might seem counterintuitive. However, for just $79.99, you're investing in knowledge and tools that can potentially save you thousands in the long run. The cost goes directly to Financial Peace University to supply the tools and does not go through Grace Church. Interested but don't have the $79.99?Reach out and talk to us before you decide that the cost will stop you from taking the class. Sign Up Today! Ready to make a positive change in your financial life? Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity. Sign up for Financial Peace University by visiting www.fpu.com/5B9EEE
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LocationOffice Hours: M-Th 8:30am-4pm
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