JULY 2018 Newsletter. Gospel Alliance Church. Billy Graham: A Prayer for our Nation

Transcription

1 Gospel Alliance Church The Mon Valley Christian and Missionary Alliance Church 1011 Fells Church Road Belle Vernon, PA Phone: Gospel Alliance Church JULY 2018 Newsletter Volume 12 Issue 1 Billy Graham: A Prayer for our Nation Our Father and Our God, We praise You for Your goodness to our nation, giving us blessings far beyond what we deserve. Yet we know all is not right with America. We deeply need a moral and spiritual renewal to help us meet the many problems we face. Convict us of sin. Help us to turn to You in repentance and faith. Set our feet on the path of Your righteousness and peace. We pray today for our nation s leaders. Give them the wisdom to know what is right, and the courage to do it. You have said, Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord. May this be a new era for America, as we humble ourselves and acknowledge You alone as our Savior and Lord. This we pray in Your holy name, Amen. Volume 12 Issue 7 In This Issue: Adult Growth Groups 2 Children s Ministry 3-4 VBS THRIVE 4 rightnow Media 5 Women s Ministry 6-7 JOY Club 7 Men s Ministry 8 GAC Annual Church Picnic 9 Prayer 9 Dek Hockey 10 Golf Outing Thank You 10 Let s Dig in for Prayer 11 The Bag Brigade 11 Starting Point 11 Calendar 12 Mark Your Calendar 13

2 P A G E 2 Sunday Morning Growth Groups Explore the Bible We love our heroes, flaws and all. In the pages of the Old Testament, King David stands tall as one of its greatest heroes. But he was no flawless angel. His faults are well documented in the pages of Scripture, as we will see in this quarter s study. Yet this man after God s own heart is one of the Bible s most beloved figures. The Book of 2 Samuel is about David and his reign over Israel. But really, it s not. Second Samuel is ultimately about God s sovereign reign over people and events and rulers and kingdoms. We will learn how God worked through David to provide for the salvation of humanity through the promised Messiah, the Son of David, the eternal King, Jesus Christ. The key themes of this study is the sovereignty of God, the consequences of sin and God s grace, and the covenant relationship with David that was fulfilled in Jesus Christ. This Adult Growth Group is being taught by Matt Cain in Room 105/106 at 9:30 a.m. Gospel Shaped Worship Christians are people who have discovered that the one true object of our worship is the God who has revealed himself in and through Jesus Christ. But what exactly is worship? What should we be doing when we meet together for "church" on Sundays? And how does that connect with what we do the rest of the week? As you search the Scriptures together, you will discover that true worship encompasses the whole of life. This class will challenge you to worship God every day of the week, will all your heart, mind, soul and strength. This class is meeting in the Library at 9:30 a.m. with Jim Tauber teaching. Bible Studies for Life The first half of this quarter s study is titled Why Are We Here? As adults, we would do well to keep asking why questions. Too many adults sink into an attitude that life is just the way it is. But why is life the way it is and can we do anything about it? God s Word provides answers and with those answers comes hope and purpose. The second half of the quarter comes from the book of Nehemiah Building a Life of Service. Following Christ is a life of ministry and service. This is a call for all believers. Nehemiah gave us a great example of what serving looks like. He started a task, prayed and depended on God, and saw it through to completion, giving us a pattern for our own lives of service. Butch Volle is teaching this class in the Senior Pastor s office at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday Evening Growth Groups Wednesday s Growth Group and Prayer The Books of 1 st, 2 nd, & 3 rd John In this 8-part series, Dr. Tony Evans challenges Christians who have grown comfortable and complacent in their faith. Fellowship with God is the essence of our faith, and Tony walks through 1, 2, & 3 John to paint a picture of love, obedience, and truth. In a world that hates Jesus, we are called to love Him and His people with a fierce love. This Adult Growth Group meets Wednesday evenings at 6:45 p.m. in the Senior Pastor s office. Women s Wednesday Evening Growth Group The Book of Ruth Bianca Juárez teaches through Ruth to show how God moves behind the scenes in our lives. On the surface, this book tells the story of two widows and a kind landowner. Even more, it teaches us about God s faithfulness, love, and providence. Walk the journey of Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz and discover the devoted love of God and His transformative power in our lives. We are meeting weekly in the Library on Wednesdays at 6:45 p.m. Come as early as 6:30 p.m. to give your prayer requests and to allow time for us to get to know you! Join us as we grow together in God s word. Child care will be provided. For more information on any of these Adult Growth Groups, please contact Pastor Rich Pukl at rpukl@gospelalliancechurch.org

3 PAGE 3 Don't miss our exciting Children's Classes to help your child grow in the Lord! 9:30 a.m. Sunday School for 3 year old - Sr. High 11:00 a.m. Toddler Time for ages 3-4, Children's Church for 5 years old through 5 th grade *Nursery is available for the 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. services. Parents and Guardians: Please be sure to escort your children to their classrooms to ensure their safety. Thank You! We have been so blessed by Jill Stein and the foundation she has laid with AWESOME ADVENTURES for nearly three years! Regretfully, Jill has submitted her resignation to honorably spend more time with her family during these formative years. So it is with grateful hearts we express our thanks and appreciation for Jill s service as Children s Ministry Director at Gospel Alliance Church. We appreciate the countless hours of devotion and self-sacrifice Jill and her family have given. Because of the great compassion Jill has led with, along with her amazing volunteers, many of our children have made first-time decisions to follow Jesus and have deepened in their affection for Him! These life-changing decisions were directly impacted by ministries she has had significant leadership over! Jill has led humbly, cared deeply, lived graciously, and exemplified our mission well, To Know Christ and Make Him Known! As we look ahead, Paula Clark will be stepping in to bring leadership to AWESOME ADVENTURES in the meantime. We are excited to see what God has next as Paula joins our growing staff team at Gospel Alliance Church! Jill, you have truly blessed us all. With our love and deep gratitude, Pastor Alan on behalf of Gospel Alliance Church Staff GAC Praise & Worship VBS collected $ for The Bag Brigade GAC Drama Youth Helpers average 20 per night We had an average of 106 children per evening I d like to take this time to thank all the volunteers along with all of the church staff that made VBS a great success. I also would like to thank every parent that dedicated their week to the growth of their children. God bless your summer. We had 29 unchurched families that signed up for VBS

4 P A G E 4 VBS 2018 Enjoy your summer! See you Wednesday, August 29 th for an ice cream social. If you feel led to serve, please make sure your clearances are up to date! For more information about our Children s Ministry please contact Paula Clark at

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6 P A G E 6 Gospel Alliance Women s Ministries This month s dates are: July 10 th & 24 th 2 nd & 4 th Tuesday of every month 6:30 p.m. Women s Tuesday Evening Prayer Group has been moved to Sue Higgins home. For more information please contact Sue at suzhiggins52@gmail.com or message her. Great Great Commission Women The Great Commission Women will be hosting their Celebrate 2018 National Conference on October in Lancaster, PA. Grammy Award winner Laura Story is the keynote speaker, Aaron and Sarah Shust will be giving the opening concert and message, and Jane Rubietta is the Bible teacher. Six breakout sessions and a missions celebration are also planned (one of them is Melissa MacDonald who spoke at GAC IMPACT event a few months ago). Registration is $295 and lodging at the Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square is $139 +tax per night (total, for up to 4 per room). Go to: for more event details and registration information. Gain new passion for your walk with Christ and celebrate what He is doing around the world at this inspiring event!

7 Gospel Alliance Women s Ministries PAGE 7 Just Older Youth Find us on Facebook or us at: womensministries@gospelalliancechurch.org JOY Club Just Older Youth JOY club met on June 7th at 11:00 a.m. Of course, June is wedding month and we went all out to remember. Several members brought pictures of that special day and we saw a video of some memorable moments. We played a couple games related to weddings. The "Big Event" was being witnesses for Don and Linda renewing their vows (??) for another 40 years!! Not sure of the qualifications of the presiding "pastor", which was Sandy Davidson. Theme for July is patriotic - will be Thursday, July 5th. Menu will be picnic food. Thanks to Linda, Dave and Sandy for decorations and entertainment. Won't you join us in July?

8 P A G E 8 Gospel Alliance Bag Brigade Men s Ministry (Alliance Men) During the month of June, men from around South Western Pennsylvania gathered at the Victory Family Church in Pittsburgh for the ManUp Conference. Speakers included brilliant Christian men that discussed multiple topics to help men further their walk with Jesus. Upcoming Events: If you are a man, you are invited to join us at Cedar Creek Park on Saturday, August 4 th for fun and food. In addition to fantastic BBQ, there will be Horseshoes, Cornhole, and Kan Jam. Feel free to bring footballs, baseballs and gloves, cards, or whatever will help you to enjoy spending time in fellowship with other men. Please bring a guest, a friend or family member that does not currently attend GAC. More information will follow (exact times, etc.) Please sign up at the Information Center if you are interested. Is there a specific topic or book of the Bible that you would like to see our next Bible Study done on? If so, your suggestions to gacmen316@gmail.com Do you have a skill or hobby that you are interested in teaching to other men? The Alliance Men are looking at putting together skill training. It would be an opportunity for men to get together with other godly men and learn something new. If you are interested in teaching a session please contact Jason Usher at jason.usher@comcast.net

9 PAG PAGE 9 E 9 PAGE 9 PAGE 9 2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. HELPING YOU TO PRAY: Pray at the same time every day. Choose a specific place to pray away from distractions. Pray out loud. Keep a note pad handy. Listen, be quiet, write things down. Keep a prayer list, so you can see the answered prayers. Find a partner to pray with. Keep each other accountable. Just talk to God! He s waiting for you. Prayer Cards are available at the Resource Wall

10 PAGE 10 Dek Hockey Champions Golf Outing 2018 A special THANK YOU to all who supported our annual Gospel Alliance Church Youth Golf Outing at Butler s Golf Course in Elizabeth, PA, on Saturday, June 16th! So whether you were a sponsor, golfer, or a student/adult volunteer, we are so very grateful for you! It has always been our goal to create an event where golfers want to come back year after year because they sense the love of Jesus while benefiting students who desire to attend LIFE conferences. Your generosity will bless many of our students, helping them attend the LIFE Conference in Orlando, Florida. The purpose of the LIFE conference is to gather the next-generation Alliance Family to experience God and expand His Kingdom locally and globally. So thank you for your vital part in this! With our deep appreciation, Pastor Alan We are excited to announce that your Gospel Alliance Warriors are Bill s Dek Hockey Champions for the spring season! We didn t have a great regular season finishing just 4-8, but fortunately everyone makes the playoffs. We took this opportunity to start fresh! Everyone is 0-0 going into L I F E the playoffs. Bill s playoff format has the first round as single elimination and the next two rounds as best of three series. They say defense wins championships and we took that to heart winning 4 of the 5 games 1-0 and some in overtime. Next time you see one of our hockey players, be sure to congratulate them for their hard work and beating the odds!

11 PAGE 11 The Bag Brigade Item of the Month for JULY CEREAL Individual Serving Sizes VBS collected $ For The Bag Brigade You can drop your items off in the Café in the donation container! THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT! Starting Point You're Invited! Anyone having a desire to learn a little more about Gospel Alliance Church, please join us for Starting Point class on the last Sunday of each month, at 11:00 a.m. We will share topics such as Worship and Prayer, in the Senior Pastor Office.

12 P A G E 12 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! JULY Sunday School 9:30 a.m. 11:00 a.m. For all ages! Wednesday Nights AWANA, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Youth Group Middle School, 6:30 p.m. to 8:20 p.m. (grades 6, 7, & 8) High School, 6:30 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. (grades 9, 10, 11 & 12) Adult Growth Groups, 6:45 p.m. To Know Christ and to Make Him Known Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 Communion Sunday Independence Day OFFICE CLOSED 5 11:00 a.m. JOY Club 6 7:00 p.m. Friday Night Growth Group 7 No Activities :30 p.m. Women s Tuesday Evening Prayer 11 6:00 p.m. Elders Prayer for Parking 6:45 p.m. Women s Growth Group 6:45 p.m. Adult Growth Group and Prayer :30 p.m. Ladies Night Out Craft a la Mode :00 p.m. Elders Prayer for Parking 6:45 p.m. Women s Growth Group 6:45 p.m. Adult Growth Group and Prayer 19 6:30 p.m. Elders Meeting Mahaffey Family Camp 22 Parent's Day :30 p.m. Women s Tuesday Evening Prayer 25 6:00 p.m. Elders Prayer for Parking 6:45 p.m. Women s Growth Group 6:45 p.m. Adult Growth Group and Prayer 26 Women s Ministry at Mahaffey Camp Mahaffey Family Camp 29 11:00 a.m. Starting Point Mahaffey Family Camp

13 Mark Your Calendar P A G E 13 Communion Sunday, July 1 July 2018 Youth return from Creation, Sunday, July 1 Independence Day, Wednesday July 4, Office Closed NO Wednesday evening activities, July 4 JOY Club, Thursday, July 5 Friday Night Growth Group, Friday, July 6 Marion Villa VBS: Outreach, Monday, July 9 Friday, July 13 Women s Tuesday Evening Prayer, Tuesday, July 10 Women s Growth Group, Wednesday, July 11 Adult Growth Group & Prayer, Wednesday, July 11 Ladies Night Out: Craft a la Mode : Sunday, July 15 Women s Growth Group, Wednesday, July 18 Adult Growth Groups & Prayer, Wednesday, July 18 Elder s Meeting, Thursday, July 19 Mahaffey Family Camp, Friday, July 20 through Sunday, July 29 Women s Tuesday Evening Prayer, July 24 Women s Growth Group, Wednesday, July 25 Adult Growth Groups & Prayer, Wednesday, July 25 Women s Ministry, Mahaffey Camp, Thursday, July 26 Starting Point, Sunday, July 29 August 2018 Women s Growth Group, Wednesday, August 1 Adult Growth Groups & Prayer, Wednesday, August 1 JOY Club, Thursday, August 2 Friday Night Growth Group, Friday, August 3 Alliance Men s BBQ, Cedar Creek Park, Saturday, August 4 Communion Sunday, August 5 Women s Growth Group, Wednesday, August 8 Adult Growth Groups & Prayer, Wednesday, August 8 Women s Tuesday Evening Prayer, Tuesday, August 14 Women s Growth Group, Wednesday, August 15 Adult Growth Groups & Prayer, Wednesday, August 15 Elders Meeting, Thursday, August 16 Annual GAC Picnic, Sunday, August 19 Adult Growth Groups & Prayer, Wednesday, August 22 Starting Point, Sunday, August 26 Women s Tuesday Evening Prayer, August 28 AWANA, Ice Cream Social, Wednesday, August 29 Youth Groups, Wednesday, August 29 Women s Growth Group, Wednesday, August 29 Adult Growth Groups & Prayer, Wednesday, August 29 September 2018 Communion Sunday, September 2 New Adult Sunday Growth Group, September 2 Children start new school year, Sunday, September 2 Labor Day, Monday September 3, Office Closed AWANA & Youth Groups, Wednesday, September 5 Adult Growth Groups, Wednesday, September 5 Women s Growth Group, Wednesday, September 5 JOY Club, Thursday, September 6 Friday Night Growth Group, Friday, September 7 Women s Tuesday Evening Prayer, Tuesday, September 11 AWANA & Youth Groups, Wednesday, September 12 Adult Growth Group & Prayer, Wednesday, September 12 Women s Growth Group, Wednesday, September 12 September 2018 AWANA & Youth Groups, Wednesday, September 19 Adult Growth Group & Prayer, Wednesday, September 19 Women s Growth Group, Wednesday, September 19 Elders Meeting, Thursday, September 20 Women s Tuesday Evening Prayer, Tuesday, September 25 AWANA & Youth Groups, Wednesday, September 26 Adult Growth Group & Prayer, Wednesday, September 26 Women s Growth Group, Wednesday, September 26 Let s Dig in for Prayer! 12 hour prayer: Saturday, September 29 Starting Point, Sunday, September 30 Gospel Alliance Church The Mon Valley Christian and Missionary Alliance Church 1011 Fells Church Road Belle Vernon, PA Phone: info@gospelalliancechurch.org Wednesday Nights AWANA, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Youth Group Middle School, 6:30 p.m. to 8:20 p.m. (grades 6, 7, & 8) High School, 6:30 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. (grades 9, 10, 11 & 12) Adult Growth Groups, 6:45 p.m.