To Know Christ and. Make Him Known

Transcription

1 January 2019 GAC Newsletter Volume 13 Issue 1 WORSHIP SERVICE TIMES 8 a.m. Worship Service (Self-Serve Nursery) 9:30 a.m. Worship Service (Staffed Nursery) 11 a.m. Worship Service (Staffed Nursery) SUNDAY SCHOOL SCHEDULE 9:30 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. Sunday School Classes for all ages! Who We Are: In This Issue: 91 Weeks with Jesus 2 To Know Christ and Adult Growth Groups 3-4 Make Him Known Children s Ministry 5-6 THRIVE 7 Women s Ministry 8-9 Old Fashioned Christmas 10 MOPS/ MOMSnext 11 JOY Club 11 In Due Time 11 The Bag Brigade 12 Prayer 13 Calendar 14 Mark Your Calendar

2 P A G E 2 It s never too late to join us! 91 Weeks With Jesus Growing in God s Word Together We, as a congregation, have already commenced on our unprecedented 91 Weeks With Jesus journey together...but it s never too late to join us! This theme guides both our personal Bible study and periodically the teaching from the pulpit for the next two years as it takes us through the entire Bible using Know the Word, a wonderful Bible study tool. Know the Word, developed by Alliance Pastor John Soper, consists of five weekly Scripture readings, each followed by an insightful ten minute audio commentary. This is easily accessible on-line at mission119.org. We are asking you to participate and as you decide to do so let us know by submitting the registration form and turning it in at the Information Desk. Be sure to stop by the Information Desk, if you haven t already done so, to pick up a packet of information which includes the Scripture Reading Guide to keep you on track throughout the 91 Weeks. Pastor Rich is also available to answer any questions you may have about the program. If you do not have computer access and you can purchase cd s for $.50 each ($5.00 for 10 weeks)

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5 P A G E 5 Mark your Calendar! Volunteer Trainings: For those considering serving in Children s or Youth Ministry. Sunday, February 10 th from 10:45 a.m. to Noon If you feel led to serve, please make sure your clearances are up to date! Children s Church students will accompany their family to Worship Service the First Sunday of every month. For more information about our Children s Ministry please contact Paula Clark at or pclark@gospelalliancechurch.org

6 P A G E 6 Happy January from the AWANA team. We have some awesome events coming up. My favorite is snowman night. The kids earn rolls of crepe paper for reciting their Bible verses and they get to decorate their teaches up as snowmen. Please remember you are always welcome at AWANA and bring a friend. Because kids matter to God

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8 PAGE 8 Women s Ministries 2nd & 4th This month s date are: Tuesday of January 8th & 22nd every month Women s Tuesday Evening Prayer Group Sue Higgins home, for more information please contact Sue at suzhiggins52@gmail.com or message her. Women s Prayer: We are looking for women that are ready to experience God through praise (Psalm 22:3) and witness His mighty works as we lift up the needs of our women, church family, and beyond. If you don t know how to pray yet, this small group environment is a great way to learn! Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you. Jeremiah 32:17

9 Women s Ministries PAGE 9 Our women and their children went caroling at TLC Adult Care Center in West Newton and Mount Vernon Personal Care Home in Elizabeth. We were able to give out 11 trees to the residents, which were decorated by our church families at the Old-Fashioned Christmas Party we had at our church. It was a meaningful experience for both the residents and the carolers, and we got to enjoy hot cocoa afterward! Check us out on Facebook!

10 P A G E 10 An Old Fashioned Christmas Thank you to everyone that participated in the Old Fashion Christmas Party. Volunteers and participants alike had great fun and fellowship. The many Trees that were decorated with Ornaments, are being delivered to the high rise and shut ins in our area. Thank you all for the laughter and Christmas blessing of great Joy. We would also encourage adults to host a Bring A Buddy event in the future. Contact Paula Clark with your ideas on hosting.

11 MOPS/MOPS Next: PAGE 11 (Mothers of Preschoolers and Mothers of School Age) On December 7th our moms group met to celebrate the Christmas season with good food & laughter January 4, 2019 from 9-11AM in the GAC café, the MOPS group will be discussing the topic "loving the life you didn't choose" and practical ways we can do that when life isn't what we expected. On January 18th, they will meet on the topic of "many hues, one humanity", how to live and love in unity with one another, not just people who look, act and worship the same as us and how to raise the next generation to do the same. JOY Club Just Older Youth In Due Time In Due Time... JOY Club enjoyed a fine early Christmas party on December 6th. We enjoyed a delicious catered dinner and a delectable cake for dessert. We had several guests in attendance and hope they will come back to fellowship with us on a regular basis. Of course, we had a very serious gift exchange which is always a lot of fun and threats if you take a favorite package from someone. But, it is always in good spirit and fun and everyone is satisfied. We enjoyed hearing 2 poems Joyce wrote and read to us. Also, Glenn read another poem. Always glad to hear of our members talents. Linda reminded that the van will leave at 5:30 sharp on the l5th for the Nutcracker show. Next meeting if January 3, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. Thursday. JOY club theme for January is "ugly sweater or sweat shirt". We will feast on soups and bread and whatever else turns up. Come and join us! Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. 1 Peter 5:6 The road of infertility is one of pain, struggle, and loneliness. Those facing infertility find it s not a topic brought up in conversation. It s a journey that will either bring couples together and closer to God, or one that will slowly divide couples as they distance themselves from each other, their friends, and God. It is time to break the silence. We want you to know that you are not alone. This may not be the path that you would have chosen for your own life, but we don t write our stories, God does. He writes the story of our lives in a way that is beautiful and brings Him the most glory. It s not always easy, but it is good and the reward is greater than we could ever imagine. Whether you are struggling with infertility, or you know someone who is, this study is for you. Infertility takes many shapes, including failure to conceive, adoption loss, miscarriage, infant loss, longing for grandchildren, just to name a few. Please know you are welcome; come expecting support, laughter, a few tears, and meeting God in a very real way, right where you are. When: Saturday mornings, 9 am -10 am (alternating Saturdays, beginning October 13, 2018 through January 19, 2019) Where: Gospel Alliance Church in the Library Contact Megan Zysk for further information (724) or megzysk@gmail.com

12 PAGE 12 The Bag Brigade We had some big excitement in our church last month with the Bag Brigade and thought we would share some of what we did with you! We were contacted by Starbucks to set up a bag packing event that would serve as a team building meeting for their managers within the district. So on a Monday we had about 25 Starbucks managers and some of their kids meet in the Common Grounds Café for a couple hours of learning about our outreach and then going upstairs for some bag packing. They came from places in the Pittsburgh area as well as Johnstown, Ebensburg, and even Breezewood! They were a great group of people and we had some fun getting to know everyone. It was agreed that each of the 19 stores would do a food drive for us in December which is so exciting for us! They took signs and information for the drive and all seemed really excited to be able to help us. And they asked to come back again to pack more bags! We had a parting gift of our brochure as well as a Starbucks espresso brownie for each of the managers, so everyone went away happy! We'll be sure to update you on how the drive went in our next newsletter article. God is so, so good!!! Item of the month for JANUARY: OATMEAL

13 PRAYER Billy Graham s Prayer for a New Year P A G E 13 This prayer from Billy Graham, written for The Saturday Evening Post in 2008, is just as relevant 11years later. Our Father and our God, as we stand at the beginning of this new year we confess our need of Your presence and Your guidance as we face the future. We each have our hopes and expectations for the year that is ahead of us but You alone know what it holds for us, and only You can give us the strength and the wisdom we will need to meet its challenges. So help us to humbly put our hands into Your hand, and to trust You and to seek Your will for our lives during this coming year. In the midst of life s uncertainties in the days ahead, assure us of the certainty of Your unchanging love. In the midst of life s inevitable disappointments and heartaches, help us to turn to You for the stability and comfort we will need. In the midst of life s temptations and the pull of our stubborn self-will, help us not to lose our way but to have the courage to do what is right in Your sight, regardless of the cost. And in the midst of our daily preoccupations and pursuits, open our eyes to the sorrows and injustices of our hurting world, and help us to respond with compassion and sacrifice to those who are friendless and in need. May our constant prayer be that of the ancient Psalmist: Teach me, O Lord, to follow your decrees; then I will keep them to the end (Psalm 119:33). We pray for our nation and its leaders during these difficult times, and for all those who are seeking to bring peace and justice to our dangerous and troubled world. We pray especially for Your protection on all those who serve in our armed forces, and we thank You for their commitment to defend our freedoms, even at the cost of their own lives. Be with their families also, and assure them of Your love and concern for them. Bring our divided nation together, and give us a greater vision of what You would have us to be. Your Word reminds us that Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord (Psalm 33:12). As we look back over this past year we thank You for Your goodness to us far beyond what we have deserved. May we never presume on Your past goodness or forget all Your mercies to us, but may they instead lead us to repentance, and to a new commitment to make You the foundation and center of our lives this year. And so, our Father, we thank You for the promise and hope of this new year, and we look forward to it with expectancy and faith. This I ask in the name of our Lord and Savior, who by His death and resurrection has given us hope both for this world and the world to come. Amen.

14 P A G E 14 WORSHIP SERVICE TIMES 8 a.m. Worship Service (Self-Serve Nursery) 9:30 a.m. Worship Service (Staffed Nursery) 11 a.m. Worship Service (Staffed Nursery) SUNDAY SCHOOL SCHEDULE 9:30 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. Sunday School Classes for all ages! Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 OFFICE CLOSED New Years Day January Sunday School 9:30 a.m. 11:00 a.m. For all ages! No Evening Activities 3 11:00 a.m. JOY Club Wednesday Evenings AWANA and Youth Groups 6:30 p.m. Adult Growth Groups, 6:45 p.m. To Know Christ and to Make Him Known 4 9:00 a.m. MOPS (Find Your Fire) 7:00 p.m. Friday Night G. G. 5 9:00-10 a.m. In Due Time 6 Communion Sunday Children s Church: children sit with family for 3rd Service 7 8 6:30 p.m. Women s Tuesday Evening Prayer Group 9 6:00 p.m. Elders Prayer for Parking 6:30 p.m. AWANA and Youth Groups 6:45 p.m. Adult Growth Groups and Prayer 10 6:30 p.m. Elders Meeting :30 a.m. Women s Tuesday Morning Growth Group 16 6:00 p.m. Elders Prayer for Parking 6:30 p.m. AWANA & Youth Groups 6:45 p.m. Adult Growth Groups and Prayer :00 a.m. MOPS (Find Your Fire) 19 8:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. January Jam: ORANGE 9:00 a.m. In Due Time :30 a.m. Women s Tuesday Morning Growth Group 23 6:00 p.m. Elders Prayer for Parking 6:30 p.m. AWANA & Youth Groups :30 p.m. Women's Ministry Ladies Night Out: Movie & Praise 26 6:30 p.m. Women s Tuesday Evening Prayer Group 6:45 p.m. Adult Growth Groups and Prayer 27 THRIVE BELL Choir 2 nd & 3 rd services :30 a.m. Women s Tuesday Morning Growth Group 30 6:00 p.m. Elders Prayer for Parking 6:30 p.m. AWANA & Youth Groups 31 6:45 p.m. Adult Growth Groups and Prayer 31 New Year s Eve

15 January 2019 New Years Day, Tuesday, January 1, OFFICE CLOSED No Evening Classes, Wednesday, January 2 JOY Club, Thursday, January 3 MOPS (Find Your Fire), Friday, January 4 Friday Night Growth Group, January 4 In Due Time, Saturday, January 5 Communion Sunday, January 6 Children s Church: children sit with family, Sunday, January 6 Women s Tuesday Evening Prayer, January 8 AWANA & Youth Groups, Wednesday, January 9 Adult Growth Groups & Prayer, Wednesday, January 9 Elders Meeting, Thursday, January 10 Women s Tuesday Morning Growth Group, January 15 AWANA & Youth Groups, Wednesday, January 16 Adult Growth Groups & Prayer, Wednesday, January 16 MOPS (Find Your Fire), Friday, January 18 In Due Time, Saturday, January 19 JANUARY JAM: Orange, Saturday, January 19 Martin Luther King Day, Monday, January 21 Women s Tuesday Morning Growth Group, January 22 Women s Tuesday Evening Prayer, January 22 AWANA & Youth Groups, Wednesday, January 23 Adult Growth Groups & Prayer, Wednesday, January 23 Women s Ministry (Ladies Night Out), Friday, Jan. 25 THRIVE Bell Choir, Sunday, January 27 Women s Tuesday Morning Growth Group, January 29 AWANA & Youth Groups, Wednesday, January 30 Adult Growth Groups & Prayer, Wednesday, January 30 Mark Your Calendar February 2019 P A G E 15 MOPS (Find Your Fire), Friday, February 1 Friday Night Growth Group, February 1 Communion Sunday, February 3 Children s Church: children sit with family, Sunday, February 3 Women s Tuesday Morning Growth Group, February 5 AWANA & Youth Groups, Wednesday, February 6 Adult Growth Groups & Prayer, Wednesday, February 6 JOY Club, Thursday, February 7 Volunteer Training, Sunday, February 10 Women s Tuesday Morning Growth Group, February 12 Women s Tuesday Evening Prayer, February 12 AWANA & Youth Groups, Wednesday, February 13 Adult Growth Groups & Prayer, Wednesday, February 13 Valentine s Day, Thursday, February 14 MOPS (Find Your Fire), Friday, February 15 Youth All-Nighter, Friday, February 15-Saturday, February 16 AWANA Derby, Saturday, February 16 President s Day, Monday, February 18 Women s Tuesday Morning Growth Group, February 19 AWANA & Youth Groups, Wednesday, February 20 Adult Growth Groups & Prayer, Wednesday, February 20 Elders Meeting, Thursday, February 21 Work is Worship Seminar: Friday, February 22 Love Your Neighbor, Skate Night: Sunday, February 24 Women s Tuesday Morning Growth Group, February 26 Women s Tuesday Evening Prayer, February 26 AWANA & Youth Groups, Wednesday, February 27 Adult Growth Groups & Prayer, Wednesday, February 27 WORSHIP SERVICE TIMES 8 a.m. Worship Service (Self-Serve Nursery) 9:30 a.m. Worship Service (Staffed Nursery) 11 a.m. Worship Service (Staffed Nursery) SUNDAY SCHOOL SCHEDULE 9:30 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. Sunday School Classes for all ages! Sunday School 9:30 a.m. 11:00 a.m. For all ages! Wednesday Evenings AWANA and Youth Groups 6:30 p.m. Adult Growth Groups, 6:45 p.m. Gospel Alliance Church The Mon Valley Christian and Missionary Alliance Church 1011 Fells Church Road Rostraver Twp., PA Phone: info@gospelalliancechurch.org