Pastor s Perspective Grace Fellowship March 2018

Transcription

1 . Pastor s Perspective Grace Fellowship March 2018 I recently shared a message about Spiritual Blind Spots. What we discovered is pride is almost always a key contributor to people having Spiritual Blind Spots. When we choose to humble ourselves, walk in humility, and reject prideful attitudes we are safeguarding ourselves from the danger and the destructive consequences of Spiritual Blind Spots. I was pondering the words of When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, one of the greatest Hymns ever written. I can hardly read the verses of this hymn without wanting to bow my head, and my heart, before the Cross of our Lord Jesus. Isaac Watts wrote these words, When I survey the wondrous Cross on which the Prince of Glory died, and I find myself gazing and fixed on this cross Isaac Watts speaks about. It is this cross that deeply moves my heart with wonder and amazement that such great love and grace was there on that day, on that hill, on that cross. It is this Cross that shines like a piercing light and exposes all my pride and selfishness. Isaac Watts continues with these words, my richest gain I count as loss and pour contempt on all my pride. How can we not consider all our achievements and our richest gains as loss when we stand before this cross? All the things that we esteem as great in this life are so very small in the light of this wondrous cross. It is this cross that makes us resent and despise every prideful action, and every prideful attitude no matter how small. The only real cure for the pride of our hearts is this cross, this wondrous cross on which our Prince of Glory died. May we gaze upon it and allow it s penetrating and convicting light to defeat pride in our lives, and may we have the image of this cross ever before us all the days that we live. Isaac Watts continues with these words, and may these be the words from each of our hearts: Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, Save in the death of Christ my God! All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to His blood. See from His head, His hands, His feet, Sorrow and love flow mingled down! Did e er such love and sorrow meet, Or thorns compose so rich a crown? His dying crimson, like a robe, Spreads o er His body on the tree; Then I am dead to all the globe, And all the globe is dead to me. Were the whole realm of nature mine, That were a present far too small; Love so amazing, so divine, Demands my soul, my life, my all. From my heart to yours, Pastor Ron

2 Prayer On the 1 st and 3 rd Wednesday of each month, there is a special time for prayer at the church, from 7 8 PM. This month: March 7 th & 21 st Ladies Ministry The Ladies of Grace will meet on Saturday, March 17 th at the church at 9:30 a.m. Last month we enjoyed the tour at the Pregnancy Help Center and lunch. The fellowship was wonderful! This month we will meet at the church for brunch. Please bring a portion of food to share. We will have a baby shower for the Pregnancy Help Center. A list of items that are needed will be provided on the table in the foyer. There is a Ladies Prayer time on Wednesday afternoons at 2:00 p.m. at the home of Kim Neely. This time of prayer coincides with the weeks that the home groups meet. For the month of March: the 14 th and the 28 th.

3 Men s Ministry Monthly Breakfast: Regularly scheduled for the 2 nd Saturday of each month at 8:30. Men, come enjoy fellowship, encouragement and sharing from the Word PLUS a hot cooked breakfast. This month: on the 10 th. Weekly Breakfast: Regularly scheduled every Tuesday, at 8:30 at I- Hop. Feel free to stop in for a cup of coffee or breakfast. Begin the day with fellowship, encouragement and sharing. Change those clocks forward! March 11, 2018 (or before bed the night before)

4 Teen Ministry Ground Zero welcomes all year olds to the Sunday evening get-togethers at the church at 7:00, led by Scott & Laura Milton. Come for Bible Study, discussion, community service projects, outreach ministry & plenty of fun activities! Be sure to check with Scott about possible schedule changes. Hymn Sing-Along The monthly Hymn Sing Along at the Mariposa Apartment Homes, 121 River Bend Dr. will be on March 24 th. The residents of Mariposa are blessed by the hymns and old-time singing led by Pastor Jack. You are invited to come on out to join in the singing and fellowship with the Mariposa residents. Refreshments will be served! WiFi - New Info When you are at our facility and wish to use WiFi, here are two passwords that will be helpful: 1fellowship (for the auditorium area) and 512fellowship (for the other building and office area).

5 Sunday, March 25 th we will be setting in an Elder and deacons. There will be a potluck immediately following the service. Easter is on its Way! Easter is on April 1 st. We will have our annual breakfast beginning at 9:00 AM. Easter service will begin at 10:00 AM. Details to follow.

6 Home Fellowship Groups Our home fellowship groups are an important part of our church life, providing growth, care, affection and mutual edification Mike Milton s home group and Pastor Ron s group will meet on March 14 th & March 28 th at 6:30. Locations to be announced. The other Wednesday group is scheduled to meet at Scott & Laura Milton s home, at 7:00, also on the 2 nd and 4 th Wednesday of each month. Check in with Scott or Laura about child care and any possible schedule changes. The Friday home fellowship group is scheduled to meet at 7:00 on March 2 nd at Bob and Kim Neely s home and March 16 th at Jon & Lynn Pearson s home.

7 George Frances, IV Annie Galindo Claire Johnson Rob Milton Ken Lynn March Birthdays 17 th 20 th 23 rd 27 th 31 st March Anniversaries Sam and Susan Nijmeh 9 th Did you know we have a prayer chain at Grace Fellowship? If you need prayer call the church office at and then I will pass it on to ladies below. If we are not in the office, you can call the prayer chain. The idea is the person you contact will pray with you and then pass on the prayer request to others on the chain. Helen Jackson , Leia Payne , Karen Rodriguez , Lynn Pearson If you would be interested in being on the prayer chain, please contact the office.

8 Regular Schedule of Meetings Sunday 9:30 10:15 AM Christian Education 10:30 12:00 noon Worship & Preaching 11:15 12:00 noon Children s Church Program Communion: 1 st Sunday of Each Quarter Monday 4:00 5:30 PM Grace Girls, ages 7 12 (contact Donna Smiley for details.) Tuesday 8:30 9:30 AM Men s weekly breakfast & share group (I-HOP) Note the new time & location) Wednesday 2:00 PM Ladies Prayer Time (meet at Kim Neely s home at 2:00, this coincides with home group meetings) Call group leader Three home fellowship groups meeting on the 2 nd & 4th for time may change Wednesday of each month. (Check with Pastor Ron, Mike Milton, Scott Milton for details.) 7:00 PM Prayer at the Church (1 st & 3 rd Wednesday of each month) Friday 7:00 PM Home fellowship group (1 st & 3 rd weeks; check with Sam Nijmeh for location) 6:30 PM Single with Grace home fellowship group (2 nd & 4 th weeks) Check with Julie Dominguez for location Saturday 8:30 AM Men s Breakfast on 2 nd Saturday 9:30 AM Ladies Brunch on 3 rd Saturday Church Office: gfsecretary@outlook.com