Children & Worship

Why are there children in the service? Is there a reason the children are in the service during worship and then get dismissed instead of going straight to their classrooms? How come at times children remain in the whole service – isn’t there a place for them?

These are questions I get asked and sometimes ask myself! (Especially in Sunday service when my own son desires to run to the bathroom 3 times in 10 minutes or doesn’t use his “whispering” voice!) In transitioning to my new role as Director Children’s Ministries, I have begun to seek out the answers to these questions for myself – even checking out what other churches do for their children. I can say that I’m thankful and excited that our families get the opportunity to worship TOGETHER! We are blessed to be able to model our worship, to share in praise together, to show our children how to be engaged and at times talk them through the service and talk with them after the service.

This is the first year that Isaac (in Kindergarten) gets the chance to worship with us and sit with us. While it can be challenging, distracting, and at times loud (“Mom, when can I go to Pastor R’s house??”), it is also a beautiful opportunity to disciple Isaac and share the benefits of corporate worship. I have observed children focused on their parents and others as they sing and raise their hands to the Savior. I have seen parents lean down and explain the different aspects of the service or allow their children to put the offering in the plate. I watch moms and dads and grandparents, love on their children by putting an affirming arm around them or enjoying having them close. I have also observed parents doing the hard thing and reinforcing to their children how to be quiet and respectful. For our children to see our passion to worship, our desire to be respectful, reverent and engaged and also to know the importance of being part of a church is a way to biblically disciple your children.

Your excitement or lack thereof translates to your children. If you take each opportunity as the chance to teach, model or just reaffirm your love for them, God will bless your efforts!

Some ideas:

- Make sure your child can “see” what is going on. If you have to, sit closer to the front or allow them to stand in the aisle or on a chair to help them to participate in the singing.

- Encourage your children to worship by giving – remind them to bring their own allowance tithe or give them money to put in the offering.

- Listen for key words or points in the sermon that you can reinforce on your way home or talk with your child about. Ask them to listen for one thing they can tell you about after the service.

For those of you who are not in the specific season of having an active youngster in service, pray for those parents who do and who are investing in their children - it is not the easiest part of the job! Take a fidgety baby to hold or smile at a young child and talk to them after the service. You can be part of raising our children in the Lord and in His church.

Deuteronomy 4:9

Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.

Worship Quotes

Here are the worship quotes from the December 18th service during the offering moment at the 2nd & 3rd services.

To hear the sermon from this week or any other week be sure to check out the sermon page on the church website or find us on iTunes.

"It behooves us to be careful what we worship, for what we are worshiping we are becoming."

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

"A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word, 'darkness' on the walls of his cell."

~C.S. Lewis

"Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests."

~Luke 2:13-13 (NIV)

"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

~Colossians 3:17

"Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks."

~John 4:23 (NIV)

"If you do not know how to worship God in spirit and in truth, even God will disappoint you, because you will end up using him. You will end up not coming on his terms. That is why God said, 'You have sniffed at [worship] and what a weariness it is." (Mal. 1:3)

~Ravi Zacharias

"So long as men worship the Caesars and Napoleons, Caesars and Napoleons will duly arise and make them miserable."

~Aldous Huxley

"Now we can understand how worship counters the sense of loneliness, because loneliness cannot be dispelled by love alone. Only worship can bind all our passions. Something love alone cannot do. This is the reason that worship is the supreme expression in life, the root from which life's branches grow and its expressions flower."

~Ravi Zacharias

"We usually define sacrilege as taking something that belongs to God and using it profanely. Sacrilege is at its worst not when it takes something that belongs to God and uses it profanely, but when you take something and give it to God and it means nothing to you."

~G. Campbell Morgan

"But King David replied to Araunah, 'No, I insist on paying the full price. I will not take for the LORD what is yours, or sacrifice a burnt offering that costs me nothing."

~1 Chronicles 21:24

Answered Prayer

By Jim Peterson

For a year or so, we have been building what we call our “wish list”. This is a list of wants that have not yet become needs for the church. One of the things on that list was a new video projector for the Family Life Center. The current projector is outdated and displaying vertical lines on the left side of the screen that can be distracting.

I am pleased to report that our prayer has been answered. A member of the church has provided us with a gift that will allow us to replace the existing projector. He told us that God had greatly blessed him and his business this year and he wanted to give back to support the church. The new projector should be in place in the next week or two.

We are so grateful for the ways that God continues to bless us. Knowing that some people like to give to meet specific needs, I have included the rest of our wish list to this blog. If you would want to address any of these items, please feel free to give me a call at the church.

1. ***Retractable Basketball Hoops - $14,000

2. ***Replacement projector in FLC - $7869 (includes installation)

3. ***Portable Stage Lighting (LED) - $5,850

4. ***Painting the walls and ceiling of the FLC [walls-paint only approx $3000 ceiling would have to be professionally done - approx. $10,000)

5. ***Landscape lighting to clear up all the dark spots around the church building and parking lots – approx. $8,000

6. ***AED (defibrillator) – approx. $1,000 purchased

7. ***New Carpet for chapel and lobby – approx. $10,000

8. ***Painting of the North Lobby and some carpet – approx. $3,000

9. ***Bookshelves for the Mezzanine Lobby

10.***Completed Youth Space – approx. $900,000

11.***Completed Kitchen and Classrooms on first floor – approx. $300,000

12.***Secondary parking lot – approx. $90,000

13.***Portable Baptistry - $2000-4000

How have you seen God at work and answering prayer in your life lately?? It's never a bad thing to pray specific prayers! That way we get to see how God specifically answers them.

He is Worthy of our Thanks and to be Praised!

Submissions from the Grace Family for Thanksgiving

I am thankful that I have my health, and I am employed. I am thankful that I have my house and the bank doesn’t own me. I am thankful that I have a wonderful husband.

I'm thankful for His growth in my life and for the work He does through me for His glory. He knows all of the work, and I have only finite knowledge of what He does through me. The things I go through, or receive, or circumstances that "work out" mean nothing compared to the relationship I have with Him, so even though I'm thankful for those things, those things aren't the importance of my life or the reason for my thanksgiving and praise. This world will pass away, and I'm thankful that He created me, loves me enough to not let me stay sinful, provided a way through Jesus Christ to wipe those sins away so that I can come back to Him (God) where I belong. That's what I'm thankful for every day, He allows me to wake up and live for Him, and Him through me.

I am very grateful to God and to my family at Celebrate Recovery here at Grace . I have been growing in a lot of different ways through the step studies and share groups at Celebrate Recovery in the past four years. I also got the opportunity to go to California for leadership training, which was very exciting . I have had serious problems with intimacy and trust issues because of my background. Growing up in a alcoholic home and being married to an alcoholic took a real toll on my character. I struggled with low self-esteem and lack of confidence and I isolated myself for fear of letting people really know who I am. I became lonely and non-productive. I could not share God's word with anyone. I wasn't sure I even knew what being a Christian was. I saw Christians as perfect people, and I just did not fit the profile. Through the Step studies and the share groups, I learned to share my heart with other people and through this I also learned that many people had problems just like me. This experience helped me to stop isolating myself and I felt this was a place of belonging and a place I could be real and share my pain and my thoughts without any judgements. I have made friends and I have gotten married again to a wonderful man (I did not say perfect). I know I need the teachings in Matthew on the B-attitudes. I need to be reinforced with the lessons that speak truth to my heart every week, and I need the fellowship of Christian people to succeed in my walk with God and follow his will for my life, and I find all this here at Celebrate Recovery on Thursdays at 7pm. I am Thankful at Thanksgiving and throughout the year.

For two weeks last month I had experienced lower back pain. Pastor Mike prayed for me, as did the church. I no longer have this pain and I believe that God took it away. I am very thankful that I belong to a praying church!

Wow. Where do we start? I am thankful for our kids' health and their relationship with the Lord. I am also thankful for the financial provisions that God has provided over the last year. One year ago things did not look very good for us, but by His grace, he has provided.

God never stops His work in the believer's life. He perfects His children. I am thankful that day by day and with each passing moment, strength I find to meet my trials here, for in my Father's wise bestowment I have no need to worry or to fear.

Moments of peace when the whispers of God seem clearer.

I am thankful for a full van.... Both of my teens are in youth group, so every Wednesday night I find myself driving to and from church. I kept thinking something is missing. At the end of this summer, as I looked at my two kids in the van, I asked God to fill my van with others. God answered. At first we had a wise-cracking, fun teen boy join in, then about two weeks later a shy neighbor teenage girl joined in, and then in mid-October, a loud, fun-loving teen girl joined in. All are seekers. Every Wednesday, my van is now filled with joy, jokes, loud music and laughter as this group of teens and I trek to and from youth group. I have one seat left in my van, and I know God will fill it. I am thankful for my loud van full of teens!

I am thankful to God for his orchestration of relationships in my life. He has shown Himself and introduced to me new ideas and insights and understanding through family and friends that I never would have received on my own.

This past year I have been blessed by the gift of a family:

1) my daughter living closer and being a reminder of the "awesomeness" of God

2) my awesome new son-in-law and daughter depending on God for everything and making me laugh

3) the love of a great, Christian husband

I have so much to be thankful for this year, but above all I am thankful that God has healed my husband. I know that God uses him in my life to speak the truths of His Holy Spirit and to surround my children and me in love. We are truly blessed for everyday that God gives.

I am a teen and I am thankful for the club volleyball team that I have been accepted on. It is a team that was created by coaches, parents, and players that didn't want to have to choose between church and sports. So they only play at Saturday tournaments and no practices on Wednesday night. I am so thankful that I can continue on the youth leadership team at church, be at youth group, attend Epicenter, go to TBF and still play competitive volleyball!

I am grateful for my diagnosis of diabetes this year. It was a wake-up call for me to attend to health issues I was ignoring. With God's grace, I have changed my attitude and lifestyle, so that now I am off the medication for diabetes. Praise God and his infinite wisdom.

I am so thankful for God's faithfulness and provision this year, and for the ways that he has shown his love to me and my family through other believers.

I am thankful that such an awesome and powerful God would care about me and my kids. I am thankful for my two amazing children. And, after much prayer, he sent me the perfect job! I am thankful that we have a beautiful home to live in and that we are all healthy. I am truly thankful for my wonderful small group family and all that they mean to me.

My wife and I are both thankful for continued good health even at our advancing age and for a long lasting sweet marriage of 51 years. Finally, we’re thankful for our kids, in-laws, and grandchildren, and how the Lord has been active in their lives, even when they don’t know it.

We are thankful to God for guiding us in raising our children and teaching us that they will always hear us and learn from us! Parenting is a role that we both have been praying we do right and without God's grace we never would have made it! We will always be thankful knowing He works through us in ways we still don't know!

I am thankful for a fresh understanding of God’s unconditional love for me that is eternal. I am grateful for the renewed sense of closeness between my wife and me in our relationship. I am thankful for increased times of prayer and scriptural discussions and closeness with my wife helped by a devotional book for couples. I am humbled by how God is convicting me of how much I talk about prayer and how inconsistently I practice prayer.

I have seen God demonstrate His love for me through countless unseen realities . . . the things we cannot touch . . . hope, encouragement, music, solitude, reflection, beauty, understanding from those close to me. I am so very thankful.

I am thankful for the Women of Grace who serve so selflessly. In particular, I am thankful for the ministry of the MOPS – Mothers of Preschoolers. The leaders of this program have blessed so many of us who struggle with parenting. I thank the Lord for this ministry and how it has touched me and so many others.

A renewed faith in our Creator through difficult times. He is faithful and I’m truly blessed as a single father to raise my teens with Godly wisdom and see them grow in faith. Side note – finding a special woman to share this joy with and soon to become my wife. God is more than Good; He is awesome.

I am very thankful that the Lord led our family to Grace Community Church. We had been looking for a church home for a long time!

The Lord has been so very real to me as my heavenly Husband in this year that my earthly husband was taken home. He, the Lord, has asked me if I would go with Him to the end of the journey on earth….to the edge of the sea. He has shown up with joy and filled me unspeakable on a lonely road. He has sent a friend or a phone call at the needed time. When no one was there, he was there. He accepts me where I am and what I am feeling. He carries me thru the good and the bad. He is changing me and I am grateful beyond words.

I am grateful for a husband who takes his health seriously. Just over a year ago he had a heart attack. Since that time he has lost over 20 pounds, reduced his stress, and stayed committed to an exercise routine. Some people don't take these wake up calls seriously. I am thankful my husband did!

Grace Christian Learning Center

By Nicole Gibson

Fall is in the air and at Grace Christian Learning Center the classrooms have been filled with festivities that remind us all of the beautiful seasons God has created in this world. I am really enjoying getting to know all of the wonderful women who are truly centered in doing God’s work for these children. It’s been obvious by all the smiles, hugs, squeals and giggles that the children can feel the love of Christ these teachers are sharing.

This week was lots of fun. We started off with Sharon Madonna sharing Chapel time with the kids on Monday and Thursday. This year we’ve had the privilege of the MOPs group joining us at Chapel too. We are so happy to add even more little ones to listen as Sharon shares stories of God’s great love. We are so thankful that by God’s grace Sharon is on the mend and able to make it back to GCLC to share such a special time.

The classes have been having lots of fall fun and Grace Christian Learning Center even had the chance to share the message of Christ with some new families at the Frederick Preschool Fair this week. What a wonderful opportunity to tell other families about all that God is doing through this preschool. We also got class pictures back (boy are they cute!) and just in time for Thanksgiving Break!

Before our week off all the classes are celebrating with a Fall Party. The kids love the opportunity to cook and share with each other just the way the Pilgrims and Indians did many years ago.

As teachers we are all looking forward to time spent with family and friends over Thanksgiving but we thank God for the blessing of sharing His love and wisdom with the children through scripture like 1 Thessalonians 5:18, “in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Discipleship and Sacrifice

By Pastor Dan Haffey

Our Fall spiritual journey in the Book of Acts is recounting God’s plan for the unleashing of the Gospel under the power of the Holy Spirit. It also lays out the call to be a disciple, that is, a follower of Jesus Christ. The principal actors in Acts, having encountered God, were 100% sold out to the Mission. They gave up everything to follow Christ by telling the great story of redemption. They sacrificed all to be a follower of Christ. Luke 14:33 says that “any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple”. What have you (or would you) give up to follow Christ? Have you given up anything? If your relationship with Christ was measured by your sacrifice, how strong would that relationship be?

So what are the other qualities needed to be a disciple? First, a personal and vital relationship with Christ. The power to overcome all the natural and unnatural obstacles to bold in Christian living comes from the Spirit of God within the believer. Next, a love for others. John 13:35 tells us that it is our LOVE that will be the proof of our discipleship. Since that kind of love is not natural we need the power of the Spirit to supernaturally love others, even the most unlovable! Third, an obedient heart toward God’s teaching. Jesus says clearly in John 8:31 “if you hold to my teaching you are really my disciples”. Last, a fruitfilled life. Just as we are to known by our love of others, our lives as disciples are to bear good fruit, the fruit of the Spirit in our own lives and good fruit in the lives of those we encounter.

The first century church was unique in some ways BUT their commitment to Christ is the pattern we are to follow in our own path of discipleship. Are YOU a true disciple of Christ? Do you evidence the qualities of a disciple?

Ask God to show you where you need to grow as a disciple…..He will bring the truth about yourself to you if you ask with a sincere heart.

Fall Festival!

By Brenda Rota

If you were on campus the evening of October 30, 2011 then you got to experience how GCC celebrates Fall Festival.

Erin O’Hara served as ministry leader over this event. This does not fall under her staff responsibilities. Rather, this event is something she is passionate about, and her passion is evident in all aspects of her planning.

Fall Festival is not only for our church families to enjoy, but it is another opportunity for us to invite our friends, neighbors, and family members onto our campus. We welcomed 19 visiting families to our campus that night. Candy and costumes were definitely part of the evening. But there was so much more!

Our small groups were joined by ministry teams from MOPS and Drama to provide 15 activities for the families to participate in. Face painting, balloon art, moon bounce, bracelet

making, donut eating race, and the basketball shoot out were only some of the games offered. Family portraits were taken in the Atrium and hotdogs were served in the North Lobby.

Before the night was finished, our drama team and high school students made sure that everyone heard the Gospel presentation. They did a great job!

So, how do you measure success? Pictures are a great way to tell a story. A few snapshots are included here and on the Community Bulletin Board. We are asking all who took pictures to send them our way!

If you are a numbers person, here are some stats for you: we counted 216 children; over 220 adults; 136 family units; 288 hot dogs served; and over 200 bags of candy distributed. We even came in under budget and collected $140 in donations for our Thanksgiving Baskets!

We measured success at the end of the night by the two young families who thanked us for making them feel welcome in our church. And, watching the way our small groups bonded over their service in the booths. And hearing the four year old boy who said his favorite part was playing the donut eating contest with his grandfather. What was your favorite part of the evening? Leave your comment below.

Thanksgiving ... A Favorite Time of Year!

By Pastor Mike

What a great time of year! Thanksgiving! I love the cool, crisp weather…the anticipation of deer hunting with my brothers and nephews the week after Thanksgiving…and the Thanksgiving Dinner with family.

However, the eternal dimension is very significant! Psalm 136:1 says, “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His loving kindness is everlasting,” He is worthy of our thanks and praise!

It is important to note…that Thanksgiving Day is a cultural holiday. Yet we need to be reminded that the practice of giving thanks is part of our daily spiritual disciplines. So may we ask God to use the cultural holiday for His glory to give us opportunities to praise Him!

Speaking of opportunities…Wednesday, November 23 at 7:00pm is our Thanksgiving Eve Worship Service. It is a powerful time of worship to God through testimonies, Scripture reading, special music, congregational singing, offering for needy people and video clips. Hope you can make it!

Help & Hope for Parents

By Pastor Mike Brubaker

Often Moms and Dads have asked me for suggestions and for help in parenting their children. They have asked for workshops or classes on parenting with a biblical and Christian perspective. Wow… here it is! On Saturday, November 12 and Monday, November 14 there are Parenting Conference Workshops here at Grace Community Church. Catherine Hickem, nationally known Christian author & speaker is our guest to lead these Workshops.

On Saturday, November 12 from 8:30am to 1:00pm Catherine will address the issue of “Parenting Adult Children.” And on Monday, November 14 from 9:00am to 11:30am she will address the issue: “Regret Free Parenting.” Please register through our website…www.gracetoday.org or call the church office… 301-473-4337 and speak with Brenda (x124) or Verlyn (x100). I love how the sovereign and providential plan of God brings Catherine Hickem to Grace at just the right time to offer hope & help in parenting!

Fall Festival…it’s BACK!

By Erin O'Hara

After a Sabbath rest last year, the Fall Festival at GCC is returning, complete with moon bounce, carnival games, food and fun for the whole family! Sunday, October 30^th, 5-7pm - the Family Life Center will be transformed into a colorful world of people, games, candy and costumes. This ministry event brings joy to my heart!

Joy is a gift we receive from the Lord! In reviewing the context for joy in the Old Testament, it is often surrounded by times of celebration, thanksgiving and offerings to the Lord for the blessing that He imparted to His people. Many times, food and feasts were part of the joyful festivities.

In the fall season, we are reminded of the harvest, the blessing of the Lord’s provision, the richness of His creation and imagery as the leaves turn beautiful colors and the air becomes crisp. As we gather, we have the opportunity to celebrate God’s goodness, His imparted blessing to us. I feel so blessed by my church family and the chance to gather, feast, celebrate and laugh with one another. The relationships that have formed at Grace are a beautiful connection and impartation of God’s blessing to me.

In addition to the celebration of our family, the Fall Festival allows us the chance to multiply God’s joy to us and bless others with it who may not have ever experienced an eternal connection like the family of God. We want to CHALLENGE you to pray for and then invite friends, family, neighbors who would not otherwise step onto a church campus. What an amazing opportunity for them to see and experience the joy of the Lord!

* face painting * scavenger hunt * toss away * moon bounce * portraits * balloon art * cookie decorating * costumes * skits * donut eating * bracelet making * sporting competition * songs *

Evangelism Training Class

By Eric Miller

I'm excited for our upcoming Evangelism Training Class (This Sunday, October 23 at 9:30 AM in the Chapel) for several reasons ... allow me to explain:

1. We're all called to share our faith. While we can often come up with reasons why we don't want to share our faith, we know that it's still a commandment and it's still very important. So I'm excited to help us wrestle with those thoughts and feelings to come to a point where we're willing to take a step of faith in hope that the person we're sharing our faith with will also take a step of faith ... one that has WAY more significance than us risking embarrassment or being uncomfortable!

2. All we have to do is plant the seed. We're called to present the gospel to any and everyone, no matter where we are or who we're talking to. This can be very scary to us. But I love thinking about the reality of Scripture, where we can rest in knowing that our job is just to scatter the seed, it's the Holy Spirit's job to make it grow. If you think about it, we get the easy part!

3. I love hearing and sharing stories of how we've been able to share our faith and plant seeds of the gospel in people's lives. It's a great time to pick up some new ideas and methods of how we can do that and take a risk to get out of our comfort zones.

I hope that you'll join us this Sunday! I promise it will be a rewarding experience to be a part of!

A Journey Through Acts

By Pastor R Dallas Greene

The Acts of the Apostles could easily be called the Acts of the Holy Spirit working through the apostles. It has been my prayer that each of us would become increasingly aware of the Holy Spirit’s activity in our lives and that we would all experience greater intimacy with God. As I open this book to you on Sundays and many of you are studying through Acts on your own and in your small groups, I am hearing how the Holy Spirit has been empowering your witness and giving you divine appointments. We have asked you to pray about your one, to write their name in black on the cross in the lobby atrium, and when you present the gospel to them to underline their name in green and if (or when) they come into the kingdom to circle it in red.

About a month ago, a woman felt burdened for her son-in-law and placed his name on the cross writing his name in black. She prayed for an opportunity to talk with him. That very afternoon her son-in-law came to her house. She told him that she had placed his name on the cross and she would like to tell him the good news of the gospel. As she began testifying to the goodness of God, the sky outside was cloudy and then a shaft of light broke through the clouds. Then there was a glorious rainbow reaching from one side of the horizon to the other. She felt God was confirming her witness with special effects. When he had to go, he asked if there was more, she said yes and he said she could talk to him anytime. So she underlined his name in green and someday soon, I hope she will circle his name in red.

This past Sunday a staff member’s son saw the cross and put his name on it. That afternoon the mother wisely asked him if he knew the gospel. He asked her to tell him the story about Jesus. He listened carefully to what his Mother said to him. He had some questions. When she finished, she asked him if he would like to receive God’s free gift and believe that Jesus took his place on the cross. He said yes. He will be circling his own name in red. We know there is a celebration in heaven and we will be flying a balloon this Sunday to celebrate on earth.

God is moving! The Holy Spirit is prompting us to pray, to be intentional and to be bold. He is drawing people to Jesus and opening their hearts to believe. I give thanks to God for the ones we know have come in and look forward to hearing your stories about the ones yet to come in.

Would you be willing to share your story of how you've spread the gospel to your one? We'd love to hear and pray and rejoice with you!

Celebrate Recovery

By Verlyn Mahaffey

It’s Thursday night and there is a gathering of leaders in a small office and they begin to pray for the night for God’s presence, for the Holy Spirit to work in hearts, for their hearts to be right before Him!

As they leave the office full of hope, joy and strength for the evening they see the people coming. They greet and talk for a while until the Praise Team begins to sing praises to God. This night is explosive with praise and singing to the Lord.

God is moving, one knows and feels His presence. We sit down as a leader takes us into a time of testimony to what the Lord is doing in our lives. Person after person gives glory to the “I Am” in their life and the changes and healing that He is doing; relationships restored, marriages restored, lives changed, victories through His name!

Cannot get much better! But it does in the small groups that take place where intimacy of sharing, praying, listening, hoping, crying, laughing all bringing an opening for God to work. This happens here at Grace every Thursday evening at 7pm here in Celebrate Recovery. It is an amazing spiritual journey!

Heritage Days

By Brenda Rota

We were very excited to go back to Heritage Days in Middletown this year. Last year was the church’s first year to participate in this well attended event. With more than 30% of our church family from Middletown, it makes sense to have a presence there.

This year we tried something new. Our youth got involved by entering a float in the parade. They brought great energy to the parade! The youth praise team rode on the float with their instruments and many from our youth group and church body walked alongside to hand out candy. Hearing the lyrics, “Jesus is alive”, sung down Main Street in Middletown surely brought God glory. It also gave all those on the parade route a clear message of who we are at Grace Community Church.

GCC ran our tie dye booth for the second year in a row. We did not choose tie dye because we have a resident expert. I can confess to you I did not tie dye my first shirt until last year at Heritage Days. Rather, we chose an activity to bring people into our booth who we could engage in a spiritual conversation. I was asked several times if this booth was a ‘money maker’ for the church. I loved their response when I told them it was not our goal to make money. It was our goal, though, to meet our neighbors and talk to them about Jesus.

When was the last time you set aside an entire day to be in community? All four of our pastors, the staff and many from our church body spent the better part of September 25, 2011 getting to know the people who pass our campus every day. At the end of the day, the vendor next to our booth came over to hug me good bye. She said, “I’ve watched your booth all day. Your church is like a big family.”

Midweek Moment - May 9, 2011

Midweek Moment

May 8, 2011

Faith: Generation to Generation

Pastor R. Greene

Faith: Generation to Generation (Ephesians 3:20, 21)

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen. (NIV)

· God wants us to pass on our faith to our children and grandchildren

· His power works in us to transform us into faithful followers.

Timothy: Three Generations of Faith ( I Timothy 1:5-7)

⁷That precious memory triggers another: your honest faith—and what a rich (sincere) faith it is, handed down from your grandmother Lois to your mother Eunice, and now to you! And the special gift of ministry you received when I laid hands on you and prayed—keep that ablaze! God doesn't want us to be shy with his gifts, but bold and loving and sensible. (The Message)

· Paul believed in Timothy and thanked God for him

· Paul affirmed Timothy’s faith and his heritage of faith.

· Timothy was raised in the faith by his mother and grandmother.

· Timothy’s father was probably unbelieving as a Greek.

· God wants to fan the Flame of Faith in our lives!

· God has given us a spirit of power, love and of self-discipline.

Holding Fast to the Foundation of Faith (II Timothy 3:14-17)

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, ¹⁵ and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶ All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, ¹⁷ so that the servant of God^[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (NIV)

· Paul urges Timothy to hold onto what he was taught about the scriptures.

· Spiritual growth comes ONLY from meditation, memorization and reflection on His Word……..we are transformed by the Word!

· Some people are “auditing” their faith…listening but not taking responsibility for their own spiritual growth.

· The key to spiritual growth is discipleship…..(Christina and Rachel Rapp)

· Discipleship is about pouring into others, fanning their flames of faith.

Pass on the faith to the next generation, be the oxygen to their faith flames…..!

Spring is HERE!

By Lisa Catania

Spring is here at last!

Spring is finally here! After a very long, cold winter, the warm air has arrived! I love how God paints His world this time of year! The flowers are in bloom in an array of colors. The trees are budding in bright greens. The sky glows in beautiful blues. Then I watch the birds that are nesting in the bushes in my front yard and there is hope, joy and new life. The winter doldrums and worries seem to wash away as I admire God’s handiwork. Then I meditate on Matthew 6:25 – 27, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” Enjoy the beauty of God’s world, all that is in it, relax, and give thanks to God for a new season!

Midweek Moment - May 9, 2011

Midweek Moment
Living the Christian Life: Our New Identity
Colossians 3:10-14
The Well -Dressed Christian Woman
May 9, 2010
Pastor R. Greene

We have a new identity when we become believers in Jesus Christ, everything is different and new. We have a new self.

Our New Identity: (Colossians 3:10-12)
· Therefore as God's chosen people….we are chosen.
§ Chosen: He chose you before you were born.
§ Holy: You are set apart for God's use.
§ Dearly Loved: He loves you unconditionally.
Our New Clothes (Colossians 3:12-14) Virtues that Flow from our new identity.
· Compassion: bowels of mercy, deep empathy, we are called to extend compassion
that takes action.
· Kindness: loving care of others and their feelings; extends itself for the benefit
of others.
· Humility: thinking of ourselves less; the opposite of pride.
· Gentleness: strength under God's control; soothing; not weakness.
· Patience: an eternal perspective; faith that God is at work; longsuffering in the
face of suffering.

Will you clothe yourself with these qualities? God will help you to be compassionate, kind, humble, gentle and patient.
Col. 3:13-14 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
· We are called to forgive from the heart as God forgave us.
· What are holding against someone else?
· Will you forgive them?
Put on Love: binds the clothes together; they all stem from Love which comes only from God.

Midweek Moment - April 3, 2011

Contemplations of the Cross: Love, Obedience and Abiding

Pastor R. Greene

Text: John 15: 1-15

¹ “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. ² He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes^[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. ³ You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. ⁴ Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

⁵ “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. ⁷ If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ⁸ This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

⁹ “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. ¹⁰ If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. ¹¹ I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. ¹² My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. ¹³ Greater Love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. ¹⁴ You are my friends if you do what I command. ¹⁵ I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.

God’s will is that we bear “much fruit” , the fruit of sincere love of others.

What is love? Agape love (not Eros) is the highest level of love; (I Cor. 13: 4-8)

ü Unconditional

ü Genuine

ü Unending

ü Sacrificial

Am I bearing the fruit if love? (John 15:8)

· Love is the evidence of being His disciple (v 8)

· Love abides, perseveres, persists

How does the Father love? (John 15:9)

· Perfectly

· Patiently

· Consistently, deeply

· Warmly w/ deep affection

· Not like human fathers

Love and Obedience: (John 15:10)

· Loves leads to obedience

· Jesus obeyed His Father out of love

· Fruit: comes from the combination of Love and Obedience

Love + Obedience = Joy (John 15:11)

· Love and obedience completes our Joy

· We are commanded to love others as He has loved us (v. 11).

· God showed His love by sending Christ to die (John 3:16)

· “If you hang around Christ you will smell like love”. (R.)

Love Multiplied (John 15: 12, 13)

· Love like you have been loved

· Love those you don’t like or don’t like you.

· Love sacrificially….

How is God’s love flowing in and out of me? (2 Corinthians5:14, 15)

· Are you loving others with agape love?

· Are you loving out of God’s love for you?

· Do you live like God’s servant or God’s friend?