10 Ways to Strengthen Your Church this New Year

Transcription

1 January Volume 61, Issue 1 10 Ways to Strengthen Your Church this New Year Do you love your church? Here are ten simple ways that you could greatly strengthen your church this new year 1. Really Pray Really pray for your pastor, your church, your own role in the body. Really pray for God s provision and power. Really pray that God will take your church forward this New Year! 2. Really Participate Many people will casually attend church this season but far fewer will truly participate with passion. In what ways are you engaged with your church? With what energy will you really engage in worship, fellowship, and service? Be faithful to services, and bring an expectant heart and a ready spirit. 3. Bring a Guest Your kind invitation could be what brings them to church. God could use you to bring them to Jesus just because you invited them to come with you. 4. Be Generous Decide to put Jesus and His church at the top of your list. Will you tip God with a little extra change, or will you truly and deeply consider all that He s done for you? Give Him your whole heart, and your generosity will follow! 5. Serve and Encourage Others Begin with Jesus, then move to your family and friends, your church family, your neighbor just look for opportunity to give yourself away and think of others before self. Write a kind note, bake something, tell someone how much you love them. Be a joyful voice of blessing! 6. Remember Someone s Pain Within your reach, there are broken hearts having a very difficult time. For them, the holiday season merely magnified loss, hardship, or sorrow. A kind note, a personal touch, a gift, or a thoughtful ministry gesture will go a long way towards encouraging people who are having a painful New Year. 7. Randomly Love Pick a stranger, pay for their coffee or give a small gift do something randomly kind and attach to it an invitation to your church. The unconditional and unexpected love of Jesus is delightful and life-changing! 8. Forgive and Forbear Churches are made of people, and people have issues. People hurt people. Decide to strengthen your church by personally deciding not to hold a grudge or an offense. Let it go and decide to grow. 9. Walk with Jesus Privately Your private walk with Jesus will overflow into your place in your local body. Your church is as strong as you! Be real. Be done with casual Christianity. Choose to more fully love, embrace, and engage in the call of Jesus Christ and His work. 10. Purpose in Your Heart Christmas quickly turns into a New Year, which provides us with an opportunity to set direction, set goals, turn the page on last year s successes and failures and chart the course for spiritual health and depth. Decide to grow deeper and stronger in the new year! Decide to be a better church member and a more faithful Christian through 2018! Ask yourself three questions: - What are you doing that makes your church stronger? - What are you doing that makes your church weaker? - If everyone followed your example, what would happen to your church? Good questions! Convicting questions! Fair questions. If everyone followed your example, would your church close? Flounder? Flourish? Explode? Healthy churches only happen if Christians are healthy growing stronger in grace and commitment to Christ and His body. This New Year, give Jesus a gift that YOU KNOW He will love! Give Him the gift of your whole self!

2 Page 2 January 2018 In Sympathy Dear Friends, My heart is full with gratitude for the outpouring of care and concern these last few years, most especially the last six months as Donald declined and finally passed to his eternal home. The visits, cards, meals, and most of all the prayers of the faithful have sustained us along with God's great grace. May our Lord richly bless you all as you have blessed us. You are all saints indeed! With love in Christ, Maxine and Family We extend our Christian love and sympathy to: Sherri and Jordan Askew whose mother/grandmother, Patricia Dunkin, passed away on, November 11, The family of Bettie Dian, who died Thursday, December 14, 2017, in Utica, New York. The family of Dotti Elliott, who passed away on Sunday, December 17, Inside this issue:e: Ruth Circle 6 Get to Know a Deacon 5 Message from Maynard 7 See the church calendar online: announcements/weekly-calendar/ Karen S. Arney Baptism Elliot Jackson Lee December 24, 2017 ADDRESS CHANGES Elaine Simpson g P Send Grace Notes items to Jane Heppner at jane.gracenotes@gmail.com Deadline is the 15th of the month. David Dorough Barbara Hart

3 January 2018 Page 3 December Christian Education Report The Christian Education committee wants to sincerely thank all those who participated in the programming during December.helping to make this a more memorable holiday season both personally and for so many others. The Christmas Alternative program of gifts that keep on giving provided assistance of over $2000 for ministries supported by Grace Covenant. Eighty-nine boxes were delivered to the Operation Christmas Child program and thirty-five gift bags were assembled for the Share the Care clients. Over 80 people joined together for a time of crafts and good food before going into the Sanctuary for a special Picture Perfect program and participation in decorating the Sanctuary for the season. Special thanks to Nancy Nordman for her part in the program. The VPK classes of Small Blessings Childcare blessed family and friends with a special Christmas program after which all shared hot chocolate and peppermints on the front porch of Conway Hall. How blessed we are to have this school as a part of the ministry of Grace Covenant. Grace Covenant Carolers On Sunday, December 17th, a group of Grace Covenant Carolers shared a festive event with the residents of Westminster Towers and Conway Lakes Center. They d love for you to join them next time in this rewarding experience! On the afternoon of December 10, the gym was alive with happy sounds as more than 35 family units created award-worthy gingerbread houses. What a great way to create memories to last a lifetime. The final holiday program for the committee for the year was the Reindeer Games provided for the children of the Small Blessings Childcare by Grace Covenant. This annual event is so much fun not only for the children but also for those who came to help. As well as playing games, the children each made an ornament to hang on their family tree. Our monthly Family Fun Nite is a special time for friends to spend together just enjoying time with friends while sharing good food. Special Advent studies were conducted by the various Sunday School classes, whose members also participated in social activities and service projects. Many thanks to all the Volunteers who helped to make these activities possible and to all those who participated. Family Fun Nite Tuesday, January 16, 2018 Conway Hall 6:29 pm Come chase away the Winter Blues with good food, fellowship and fun. All are invited for a covered dish dinner (drinks, bread and dessert are provided) and a time of fun and fellowship with friends. 4th Thursday at the Garden Thursday, January 25, :30 pm Olive Garden -East Colonial Drive Don t miss this opportunity to share in a meal with friends and family at the Olive Garden Restaurant on East Colonial Drive. Everyone is encouraged to attend.no agenda. just a time to fellowship together.

4 Page 4 January 2018 Correspondence to the Outreach Committee Dear Pastor Pittendreigh, On behalf of the families we serve, please accept our sincere gratitude for your contribution of $ on 10/25/2017. Your gift and continued support directly helps those in need who come to our doorsteps. May God continue to bless you as we serve together. In His Service, Robert Stuart, Executive Director Christian Service Center of Central Florida Dear Friends, Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. (Isaiah 40:1) "Comfort my people" is a divine command people of faith are eager to obey. How many times we yearn to fulfill that command when we see pictures of hurricane destruction in the islands, Texas and Florida, a community gathered in candlelight vigil following violence in Charlottesville, or a child playing on hard baked ground between tattered tents in a refugee camp in South Sudan. We cannot touch them all...but we can pray, and we can give, and when we do, we become a visible witness of the loving heart of God, and the hands and feet of Jesus. Your prayers and gifts enable Presbyterian Disaster Assistance and our partners across the globe to manifest God-with-us, Emmanuel, to those in chaos and despair. Your gift of $3,000 Disaster Relief-General Relief & PDA Support is perfect, a blessing from God above in a moment where it is most needed here below. It is a privilege to serve together in a Church that makes such giving reliable, and provides constant faithful partnership to brothers and sisters across the world and here at home,shadowed by the challenges and changes brought by disaster and war. Your generous gift is a gift that makes divine comfort real, helping those afflicted by disaster touch the tangible presence of Love. May peace be with you, in all seasons. In Christ's peace, The Rev. Dr. Laurie A. Kraus Coordinator Presbyterian Disaster Assistance world, and the people we care about, by how we have changed things for the better. One of my favorite movies is It's a Wonderful Life. It took an angel to show George Bailey how many lives he had changed, and how different the world would be if he gave up on his dreams and was never in it. We don't need a visit from an angel to remind us of how your good deeds have helped make a wonderful reality - 86 residents fulfilling their dreams. Their transformed lives are a testament to what can be achieved when our family, friends and neighbors come together. Dave's House residents are living in wellness and managing their serious mental illness. They each have an ongoing success story - whether they are volunteering, returning to work or university, or reconnecting with their families. With the stability of permanent supportive housing, they can explore all the wonderful options life affords them. Dreams to reality were made possible because of your support. You are a catalyst in providing them a sense of security, belonging and stability. You have contributed to their having a "home." For this, I thank you! As we welcome a new year, filled with new resolve and the possibilities of a wonderful life, I hope you will renew your commitment to our journey of providing hope for tomorrow - forever homes and health that lead to lasting wellness for another hundred individuals in our community. Kindest regards, Pam Gould CEO & President Dave s House Dear Pastor, God calls us to care for the homeless as he cares for us. Since the very inception of Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida over 30 years ago, the religious community has been the backbone of our work. You are the heart and soul of our organization, providing hope and faith to those in need. For that, we are tremendously thankful. With the help of congregations like yours, we are able to transform lives. Last year alone, we provided over 250,500 meals and 194,555 nights of shelter. But most importantly, nearly 1,000 men, women, and children moved from our programs into permanent housing. You are the reason that those who wander, lost and aimless, are able to find purpose and make their way home. Dear Trudy, This is the time of the year many of us take a personal inventory of our accomplishments. Did we reach our goals for ourselves, our families and our community? Are we on the right path to find fulfillment on our life's journey? We often evaluate our impact on the Sincerely, John E. Hearn President/CEO Coalition for the Homeless

5 January 2018 Page 5 Rooted Student Ministry Schedule January 6 Give Kids the World Leave church at 3:30 pm and return by 10:30 pm January 20 Serve at Ronald McDonald House Time TBA January 27 Breakfast Pancakes Canoe DeLeon Springs Meet at church at 7:30 am Return by 5:00 pm Cost $25 per person including 2 meals, canoeing and swimming in the springs. February 3 Give Kids the World Time TBA February 4 Sunday Youth Sunday All youth please attend both services. Arrive at 8:00 am. Brunch will be served between services. Souper Bowl of Caring and Super Bowl Party 5:00 pm - halftime Neusaenger s House Bring something yummy to share. February 10 Parent s Night Out 4:30-9:30 (youth) Kids will be attending 5:00-9:00 pm. February 11 Sunday Envelope Fundraiser Begins Get to Know Your Deacons We would like to introduce the Board of Deacons for In order for the congregation to know a little more about each Deacon, we will feature one of the Deacons in the Grace Notes each month. The Deacon will explain their duties on the Board. They will also share a short biography about themselves. Four Deacons are elected each year and serve a three year term. So sit back, relax and enjoy getting to know a terrific group of people who are here to serve you. If you have any questions, please contact Sue Nordman. ~~~~~~~ My name is Susan Nordman and I am privileged to be the Moderator for the current Board of Deacons. I handle a lot of the administrative stuff for the Deacons. I also call the meetings and prepare the agenda. The Moderator and the Board of Deacons establish programs and goals for the year to meet the needs of our congregation. I grew up in Orlando - attended Blankner, Howard, and Boone. I went to college at Orlando Junior College, and Mercer University in Macon, Georgia. I worked in insurance in Atlanta, Chicago, and Los Angeles. Karl and I are very happy to be back in Orlando. I really like the weather! We enjoy the museums and historical Orlando. Karl and I do not have children but Karl has three grown children and five grandchildren whom we visit most every year.

6 Page 6 January 2018 Ruth Circle December ended with a lovely Christmas luncheon enjoyed by members and staff. In the new year, we look forward to continuing our excellent study of Hebrews under the guidance of Winnie Rutherford. We will also continue our support of Servant's Heart. Please consider joining us the 2nd Monday of the month at 10 a.m. in room 16 by the office. For any questions please contact Barbara Hart. Do You Remember Your Favorite Teacher? Would you like to have the same impact on one of our youth as they had in your life? If so, the youth of our church would love for you to help teach Sunday School. We have a great curriculum that is easy to teach and also allows for a time of personal devotion as you plan as well. Training will be provided for all those who are interested. We are looking for anyone who would be willing to team teach for a week, a month, or the year! Please contact Jimmy Steele (jimmy@grace.to) if you are interested.

7 January 2018 Page 7 Message from Maynard Do you know the old hymn, Count your blessings? The words of that hymn tell us to Count your blessings, name them one by one. Count your blessings, see what God has done. I once read about a woman who felt she had no blessings in life. She often felt discouraged. One year she had a single new year s resolution, and that was to count her blessings. She thought it would be uplifting if she would be reminded that every month or so she could acknowledge an occasional blessing. To remind her of her resolution, she put a large jar in the center of her kitchen table. Calling it her Thanks-Living Jar, she was determined to discover a few things for which she could be thankful in living out each day. Each evening she would sit with the jar, paper and pencil in hand, and consider if she had anything for which to be thankful. She would then write her comment on the paper and drop the reminder of her blessing into the jar. Much to her surprise, she found that some days she had many praises. As she expected, there were other difficult days in which she struggled to find a single comment to write. She expected those difficult days to outnumber the joyous days, but she was wrong. Before too many weeks went by, she realized she had more blessings than she ever imagined. At the end of the year she emptied her jar and counted the notes. During 365 days, she had accumulated over 3,000 scraps of paper with blessings upon each one. Until that moment, she had been living her life focused on what she did not have, rather than the blessings she had been given. She found that her gratitude for the gifts had overshadowed the discouragements she had endured. If you are looking for something new to try for the new year, perhaps you might consider your own Thanks-Living jar for Lectionary for January January 7 Acts 19:13-18 January 14 1 Samuel 3: 1-10 January 21 1 Corinthians 12: 1-11 January 28 Isaiah 6: 1-8 Count your blessings, name them one by one!

8 JANUARY 2018 GRACE COVENANT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Non-Profit Organization U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit No Orlando, FL Return Service Requested Sunday Worship: 8:30 & 10:45 a.m. Office Hours: Monday Thursday: 8:30 a.m. 3 p.m. Friday: 8:30 a.m. noon 1655 Peel Ave., Orlando, FL Phone: churchoffice@grace.to To: Dr. Maynard Pittendreigh Senior Pastor Candy Vander Weide Commissioned Lay Pastor SAVE THE DATE: THE THIRD ANNUAL GCPC ROOTED YOUTH GROUP GOLF CLASSIC WILL TAKE PLACE ON SATURDAY, APRIL 21ST AT 8:30 AM. You don t have to be a golfer to make this tournament a great success. We are in need of hole sponsorships, businesses to donate prizes or sponsor holes, non-golfer volunteers the day of the tournament, and more. Please let Jimmy Steele know if you are interested in helping or if you would like more information about the tournament. A portion of the proceeds will be given to one of our ministry partners.