Connection. Faith Journey Church

Transcription

1 Connection SW Gaarde Street, Tigard, OR Ph Faith Journey Church home of Gaarde Christian School November-December 2011 Bring your entire family and join us in our Gratitude Celebration Special music with Phil Tu, Mr. Mike Davis and the Faith Journey Church Worship Band

2 the Pastor s Pen Page 2 Is It Bad timing, or a Divine delay Who among us likes to make a phone call only to be put on hold for a long period of time? What is worse is to have been on hold for a long, long time only to have another major call come in and have to hang up the other line, or put them on hold only to return and find that the line is dead. This kind of bad timing can also happen in our life, where we are cruising along until suddenly we lose a job or a relationship implodes and future plans give way to what is the new reality. Such are the seasons of times when our dreams and future goals are seemingly put on hold, or on some imaginary back burner. These can be frustrating seasons to say the least. But truly, when is it a good time for a life-changing divine delay? When things are going well, God seems the spoiler. If times are going bad, then God is piling on. Unfortunately we don t get to chose the divine delays in our lives, God does. God s intentions and purposes toward us are good and honorable, but it can still be difficult to trust God in these times and not doubt His character. Listen to Jesus in John s Gospel as He discusses the purposes of God in divine-delays; I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn t produce fruit, and He prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. NLT John 15:1-2 It is clear from this scripture that even when we are bearing fruit, it is God s desire that we produce even more fruit. That great 18th century author, Oswald Chambers once said: let God engineer. Ravi Zacharias writes concerning God our engineer in his excellent book The Grand Weaver: "God is the shaper of your heart. God does not display his work in abstract terms. He prefers the concrete, and this means that at the end of your life one of three things will happen to your heart: it will grow hard, it will be broken, or it will be tender. Nobody escapes." The writer of the book of Hebrews in the Bible speaks of God s desire as the architect of our life to shape us in this life for the next: Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. -NKJV Hebrews 12:2 It is often during these times that Christ-followers look to scriptures such as Romans 8:28: And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. (NKJV) This verse is often viewed as something like the great swap, or the great exchange. Somehow when one door closes, God just magically opens another door that is similar or even better for us! God is more interested in who we are becoming, than He is our immediate escape from discomfort. He is far more concerned with our response to adversity, then the adversity itself. There are times when a delay in seeing change in our circumstances is necessary for God to shift the landscape in order to exact the change of divine direction upon the water that is about to fall. There are times when a delay is required because we are NOT ready for the next season to unfold, and the crops we prematurely pick today, will have been picked way before they were ripe! God is not interested in His work to be terminated prematurely. I don t know about you, but I don t want to be a spiritual Israel and be forced to take another lap around lands called lessons because I was too prideful and impatient to wait for the river to stop upstream. God is interested in both the big dreams and the long picture. The Apostle Paul understood this when He gave us our Lord s response to his weakness and troubled times: "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:9) Christ will give you what you need during your times of divine-delays: Trust Him as Annie Johnson Flint so wonderfully depicts in her poem He Giveth More Grace He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater, He sendeth more strength when the labors increase; To added affliction He addeth His mercy; To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace. When we have exhausted our store of endurance, When our strength has failed ere the day is half done, When we reach the end of our hoarded resources, Our Father's full giving is only begun. Fear not that thy need shall exceed His provision, Our God ever yearns His resources to share; Lean hard on the arm everlasting, availing; The Father both thee and thy load will upbear. His love has no limit; His grace has no measure. His pow'r has no boundary known unto men; For out of His infinite riches in Jesus, He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again! Journeying Together; Pastor Tom Walking with people, following God

3 November - December 2011 Calendars November 2011 SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT Pastor Frank Speaking The Wave Prayer Night FJC Membership 1: Gratitude Celebration No Services All church decorating for 6:00 pm December 2011 SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT Department Christmas Parties 15 GCS 7:00 pm The Wave Prayer Night Faith Family Christmas 6:00 PM 25 Faith Family Christmas 10:00 AM, NO SS or No Services No Services Page 3

4 Service Schedule Sundays 8:45-9:45 am Sunday School - All Ages Nursery ( Birth - 2 Yrs ) 10:00-11:30 pm Worship Service Children s Church ( 3 Yrs - 5th Grade ) Nursery ( Birth - 2 Yrs ) 6:00 pm Adult Home Group - GrosJacques Home PYRO Youth - Faith Journey Church Wednesdays 7:00 pm Adult Study in Modular #2 PYRO Youth ( Sanctuary ) Missionettes ( Girls Kinder - 5th Grade ) Rainbows ( Girls and Boys 3-4 Years ) Fridays 7:00 pm The Wave Prayer - Prayer and and Praise Worship (2nd on the Friday second of each Friday month) of each month Tuesdays 5:30 am Men s Bible Study - Davidson s Office Hours 8:00am - 4:00pm Monday through Friday West of 55 After working for 40 years as a teacher Jane Hanson retired. She and her husband were looking forward to the arrival of their first grandchild. Retirement is that time of life when many people simply relax, travel, or enjoy hobbies. But Jane heard about a ministry to at-risk youth in a city near her home, and she knew she had to get involved. I realized there are kids just waiting, and I could make a difference, she said. She began teaching English to a young Liberian man who had been forced to flee his home country because of civil war. Though he was in a safe environment, he didn t understand the new language. Of this ministry opportunity, Jane said with a smile, I could just go shopping to stay busy, but what fun would that be? Jane is making a difference. Perhaps she has learned a little of what Jesus meant when He said, Whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. (Matt. 16:25) Giving ourselves to the Lord through helping others takes self-denial, yet one day Jesus will reward that effort. (Matt. 16:27) Let s follow Jane s example of love for God and others no matter what our stage of life may be. Work for the Lord His retirement plan is out of this world! Pastor John Granholm Page 4

5 Missions News The Great Commission is not an option to be considered; it is a command to be obeyed. ~Hudson Taylor Why do all these people give so much money? I looked up at my dad, whose tall frame towered over mine. Civic Stadium was packed. It was nearly 25 years since Billy Graham came to Portland and there was excitement in the air. My father neatly folded a check and placed it in the passing offering plate. Then he looked down and smiled. We give so others can hear about Jesus, he answered. I can t go, but I can send someone else. I was only eleven at the time, but those words impacted my life forever. I can t go, but I can send someone else. The Lord calls all of us to play a vital role in the Great Commission. Our missionaries need YOU! They stand on the frontlines of the greatest battle known to man and face opposition in ways we may never know. To our missionaries, prayer and financial support are key parts of God s lifeline. Niina Downey MISSIONARY REQUESTS: Mark Rodli {Thailand} The worst floods in 50 years have hit Thailand. Over 300 people have died, tens of thousands without jobs, hundreds of towns/villages are submerged, and people have been living in shelters since September. Pray for those who lost loved ones, homes, livelihoods, and pray the drinking water doesn t become contaminated by flood waters. Rob & Jeanel Shipley {Uganda} Fewer than 75% of Ugandan adults can read. Tragically, rather than reading for themselves, Ugandans who can read tend to rely heavily on what they have heard from preachers, who may or may not be dealing honorably with God s Word. Pray a hunger for God s Word would spread through the nation. Steve & Julie Kramer {The Netherlands} We are helping pioneer a new university ministry. Would you pray for us to be able to find a suitable meeting place for our weekly university meetings? There are almost 20,000 students in the city. The need is incredible! Russ and Beth Chambers Jamie and Alisha Deweese Missionaries to OSU (Chi Alpha) Carl and Terri Gibbs Missionaries to Africa Tamara Henkes Missionary to Romania Dennis & Diane Holcomb Missionaries to Poland Ken Huff Missionary to Cambodia Eric & Jacquelin Jenkins Missionaries to Algeria Steve and Julie Kramer Missionaries to the Netherlands Bill & Carol Paris Missionaries to Tokyo, Japan Josh & Renee Ransom Missionary to China Matt & Heather Reigel Missionaries to Germany John & Beccy Rodli Missionaries to Azores/Portugal Ryan & Christy Thomas Missionaries to Mexico Rob & Jeanel Shipley Missionaries to East Africa David & Dorothy Yunuba Missionaries to Africa John & Carolyn Stewart Missionaries to Indonesia Chuck & Janet Wilson Missionaries to Botswana Page 5

6 Adult Ministries Ask yourself this question are we born with an attitude of gratitude? Or is that something that must be taught to us and then nurtured in us throughout our childhood years? It s simple to answer if you have ever had a toddler. Say please, and Mommy will pick you up. What do we say to Grandma for the new toy she just gave us? Those are words heard over and over again in the home where children are being raised up and nurtured in the ways of gratitude. And yet as adults it is seldom that we hear a please or a thank you, so I wonder if teaching gratitude is enough? Perhaps we need to not just TEACH it but to LEACH it! Yes, I mean to let it percolate out of our very being so that those around us will understand that we are grateful people and we are very aware that without God we are nothing and we have nothing! Thanksgiving and Christmas bring us opportunity to share our attitude of gratitude for all that God has done FOR us and IN us! Don t be ashamed to boldly share the Good News of the LOVE & HOPE which only life in Jesus brings! Gratitude digs the soil, humility plants the seed, and love brings the harvest! Pastor Kelly GrosJacques Youth Ministries We have been blessed to be able to work in Fusion Youth these past couple of months, and had a blast doing so! We believe that God has given us a direction for our students, and a direction always starts by knowing who we are. The name Fusion for FJC s youth group has been around for a few years and had significant meaning when the two youth groups of the middle school and the high school fused together becoming one entity. With the help of our student leadership team we have determined that we are People Yearning and Reaching Others, simplified being PYRO! Our heart is to yearn after God which causes us to grow, and reach our community for Christ. We are excited about the growth that we have experienced on Wednesday nights during our 7pm service and anticipate even more growth in numbers. We look forward to this next season that God has before us as we are challenged to grow spiritually. Josh & Jessica Bray PYRO MEETING TIMES Sundays: Sunday 8:45 AM PRYO small 6:00 PM Wednesdays: Worship 7:00 PM UPCOMING YOUTH EVENTS December - Overnighter February - Generation Unleashed PYRO Page 6

7 Children s Church Ministries The holidays are quickly approaching, which means busy schedules full of shopping, decorating, and travel. Amidst all of this commotion, it is important to remember the true meaning of Thanksgiving and Christmas. Not only should we take time to think about why these holidays are important, but we need to make sure that we are teaching our children the value of these holidays. Children often see adults getting wrapped in how big the turkey is and in finding the perfect Christmas gift. But, these holidays are about giving thanks to the Lord and celebrating the greatest gifts that God has given us, including the birth of Jesus. Instilling these values in children can be as simple as reading about the birth of Jesus, having meaningful conversation about these special holidays around the dinner table, and continuing to attend church through this busy season. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and a Merry Christmas!! Shelby Gill Children s Church 10:00AM Freedom Kids Services for 3 yrs - Kindergarten On Sunday mornings, our little ones (three years old through kindergarten age) meet together to learn, sing and play. Journey Kids Services for 1st - 5th graders Kids, bring along your energy on Sunday mornings for Journey Kids! This is no time to sit back and watch... every child is an integral part of the service. Together, we re learning to worship, serve, reach out and translate what we re learning into action in our own lives. M Pact clubs for girls first through fifth grade and Rainbows club for preschool aged girls and boys Dear Friends, Our M pact leaders are excited for the opportunity to touch girls with the power of the gospel and the love of Christ. This is the most important thing we can do because, if Jesus tarries-- these girls--all girls-- who name the name of Jesus, are an integral part of the Church of tomorrow. Some will take their place as mothers and some as leaders in churches, business, classrooms, courtrooms, and hospitals. This year s national Girls Ministries theme is Beautiful in His Season based on the bible verse Ecclesiastes 3:11 NIV He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. The girls we love and disciple have a divine purpose and we are privileged to bring Bible-based lessons that deal with relationship and behavior issues, to show them there is a better way. This truth is in stark contrast to a self-centered worldview where scantily clad tween girl idols lives tell a different story. We would love to have your child join us on Wednesday evenings 7:00 to 8:15. In His Service, Connie Frisinger, M Pact Clubs Coordinator Page 7

8 Gaarde Christian School Gaarde Christian School is off to a robust start for the 2011/2012 school year! I am so pleased with the excellent staff and great group of students and families we are blessed with this year. We have 205 students this year with 101 in pre-school and 104 in Kindergarten through eighth grade. It is our intent to always be looking to improve our program and better serve our school families. In line with that, we are in the process of seeking regional accreditation for our middle school program. Gaarde Christian is already an approved member school of ACSI (the Association of Christian Schools International). Obtaining regional accreditation will further enhance our standing in the field and improve our overall service to our valued school families. It is a blessing to be part of the ministries of Faith Journey Church, a family of ministries serving God by serving people. We are looking forward to good things God s blessing will enable us to do. Frank Canepa, GCS Administrator SW Gaarde St. Tigard, OR 97224