Connection. Faith Journey Church. September/ October Journey - Pursue - Impact. Upcoming Sermon Series

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1 Connection Faith Journey Church home of Gaarde Christian School Journey - Pursue - Impact SW Gaarde Street, Tigard, OR Ph September/ October 2016 WELCOME BACK TO SCHOOL! Gaarde Christian School is starting it s 49th year of ministry to the families of the Southwest Portland Metro area. The faithful people who had a vision for quality and affordable Christian education back in the late 60 s had little knowledge of the worldwide and eternal impact that their dream would have! Throughout the years, our teachers and administration have sought to not only educate students with a high level of commitment and expectation, but they have also sought to empower the students to be servants and grace-givers. Churches across the country have pastor s who came to Gaarde at some point in their early educational years. Schools around Oregon and Washington have teachers on staff that came to Gaarde. Gaarde students are nurses, physical therapists, coaches, business men, and wherever they are making a living, they are also making an impact for Jesus! There really is no better place to begin your education than at Gaarde Christian School! We are excited to see what God does this new school year and believe that as before, the students who attend Gaarde in will become world changers and history makers! Upcoming Sermon Series ARTICLE Page The Pastor s Pen 2 Sept - Oct Calendars 3 Schedule 4 West of 55 4 Missions News 5 Adult Ministries 5 Worship 6 7 Journey Kids 7 s 7 Gaarde Christian School 8 8 What if? How many times have you heard someone say those two little words? Life is often filled with words of regret like, if only. In this nine week series we will discover the lifeinfluencing power of this tiny little word, if.

2 the Pastor s Pen Page 2 Avoiding regrets by changing the if s Her name is Ruby. She was eighty-six years young at the time we had one of the most memorable conversations in our relationship. As her pastor we had many such conversations over the five years she was part of our church and school (lunch lady). On this particular occasion, she was talking about regrets. She asked me in her sweet watereddown southern accent, Tom (sounded more like Tam), do you have any regrets in your life up to this point? I answered her fairly quickly that I m quite sure I do Ruby, I just couldn t tell you right off of the top of my head what they might be. She continued, I have had a long time to think about any regrets I may have, and I can honestly tell you I have none. And that is a good place to be. No regrets I don t have any. Follow Christ where He leads you and live out of your passions and you won t have any. Ruby turned one hundred years old last year, and when Connie last spoke to her some days after that monumental day, she was still living with no regrets! What if? How many times have you heard someone say those two little words? Life is often filled with words of regret like, if only. In his book If: Trading Your If-Only Regrets for God s What-If Possibilities, Mark Batterson says this of the if s in life: Let me make a bold prediction. At the end of your life, your greatest regret wont be the things you did but wish you hadn't. Your greatest regret will be the things you didn't do but wish you had. It s the what-if dreams that we never act upon that turn into if-only regrets. Eric Jackson writing in the October 18th, 2012 edition of Forbes Magazine wrote THE 25 BIGGEST REGRETS IN LIFE. What are yours? 1) Working so much at the expense of family and friends. 2) Standing up to bullies in school and in life. 3) Stayed in touch with some good friends from childhood and youth. 4) Turned off my phone more/left my phone at home. 5) Breaking up with my true love/getting dumped by them. 6) Worrying about what others thought about me so much. 7) Not having enough confidence in myself. 8) Living the life that my parents wanted me to live instead of the one I lived. 9) Applying for that dream job I always wanted. 10) Been happier more. Not taking life so seriously. 11) Gone on more trips with the family/friends. 12) Letting my marriage break down. 13) Taught my kids to do stuff more. 14) Burying the hatchet with a family member or old friend. 15) Trusting that voice in the back of my head more. 16) Not asking that girl/boy out. 17) Getting involved with the wrong group of friends when I was young. 18) Not getting that degree (high school or college). 19) Choosing the practical job over the one I really wanted. 20) Spending more time with the kids. (quantity time) 21) Not taking care of my health when I had the chance. 22) Not having the courage to get up and talk at a funeral or important event. 23) Not visiting a dying friend before he/she died. 24) Learning another language. 25) Being a better father or mother. Having past regrets can cause us to live in fear of the future, fear of make the wrong decisions. This can lead to becoming regret adverse, where you become almost frozen in making a decision that in any ways reminds you of times you regretted a similar choice. In the Bible in the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy you find that living with despair and feeling as though your life is in the balance is not a great way to live. In fact it goes on to say in Deuteronomy 28:67 that In the morning you will say, if only it were night and in the in evening you will say, if only it were morning. This is done in order to rush the perceived horrors of life along to unseen better days. But this is not the heart of our loving Heavenly Father for us to live in this sort mind-set. That is why He sent His son into this world, to provide a much different kind of life! Jesus said The thief comes only to steal and destroy. I came that you might have life and have abundantly! (John 10:10) We invite you to join us fall as I begin a brand new series beginning Sunday, September 18th as we drill-down on the eight if s of Romans chapter 8. Come & discover why some call it the greatest chapter in the Bible! Our very special guest for this series at our September 10am. gathering will be Pastor Bill Wilson, the Oregon Ministry network Lead Pastor. Journeying Together, Pastor Tom Walking with people, following God

3 September - October 2016 Calendars September 2016 S U N MON T U E W E D T H U F R I S A T GCS Ice Cream 7 GCS First Day of Social 7pm School 11 If Sermon pm Series Begins 18 Special Speaker, pm Pastor Bill Wilson pm K-5th K-5th K-5th GCS Walk-A-Thon October 2016 S U N MON T U E W E D T H U F R I S A T 1 Beach Day FJC Annual Business pm pm pm pm K-5th K-5th pm Women s Night 22 Out - Chonda Pierce K-5th K-5th 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 7:00 pm Adult Home Group - Location Varies 6th-12th grades Wednesdays 7:00 pm ABLAZE Youth s Missionettes (Girls Kinder - 5th Gr.) Rainbows (Girls and Boys 3-4 Years) K-5th grades Fridays 7:00 pm The Wave Prayer - Prayer and and Praise Worship (2nd Second Friday Friday of each of each month) month Tuesdays 5:30 am Men s Bible Study - Davidson s Office Hours 8:00am - 4:00pm Monday through Friday West of 55 Life s waiting stages teach the peaceful art of patience. Indeed, we call blessed those who showed endurance. You have heard the endurance of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful. James 5:11 In life, we must wait for many things. Small children wait until they re old enough to go to school. Young teens wait restlessly until they can finally get their driver s license. College students study as they anticipate a career in their chosen field. And once in their careers, workers strive and wait for promotions and raises. Young couples save money, waiting to buy their first home. Middle age adults look forward to retirement. After so much waiting in life, we either become entirely frustrated or we grow increasingly patient. There is something about the patient person that can bring calm to a group. And it s usually the older, mature person who fills the role of calming the often rash notions of youth. Reflect a little on your own journey toward gaining a patient spirit. You might be surprised to discover that your calming ways have been born out of a good number of simple, waiting experiences. Indeed, it s this mature patience that provides peace and stability not only to your life but also to those around you. In His Service, Pastor John Granholm Page 4

5 Missions News Did you know. Between , 469 trafficked children were identified in Portland. The youngest victim was 8 years old. In Portland, underage girls are commonly sold in strip clubs and online sites. Portland has more strip clubs per capita than Las Vegas. Door To Grace is a Portland based program founded in Door To Grace brings safe and loving family to sexually exploited children. The Door To Grace office (Day Home) is a safe welcoming, home like place where youth attend after school services. The space feels like a healthy home: a fully stocked kitchen, a dinner table, a place for her things, lots of sunny windows, cozy couches, an open door and trusted, familiar faces. These services are interwoven with a commitment to demonstrate Christ s love and redemptive healing, while also being sensitive to the trauma and abuse these youth have experienced in life. Door To Grace is not just an after school program though. They also places girls with families. One girl with one host family that will remain her family forever. There is no aging out of the program. Door To Grace is one of the local ministries supported by Faith Journey Church. There are many opportunities to get involved ranging from donating items to becoming a host family. For more information on how to be involved with Door to Grace, please contact our church office or Lindsey Frisinger, our D to G coordinator. Suzie Hockett Beth Chambers(Missionaries to OSU(Chi Alpha) Jamie and Alisha Deweese Missionaries to Clackamas Community College(Chi Alpha) Kiel & Niina Downey Missionaries to Thailand Rick & Laurel Ellis Missionary to Chile Carl and Terri Gibbs Missionaries to Africa Tamara Henkes Missionary to Romania Dennis & Diane Holcomb Missionaries to Poland Ken Huff Missionary to Cambodia Steve and Julie Kramer Missionaries to U of O(Chi Alpha) Bill & Carol Paris Missionaries to Tokyo, Japan Josh & Renee Ransom Missionary to China Matt & Heather Reigel Missionaries to Switzerland John & Beccy Rodli Missionaries to Azores/Portugal Rob & Jeanel Shipley Missionaries to East Africa David & Dorothy Yunuba Missionaries to Africa John & Carolyn Stewart Missionaries to Africa Adult Ministries Recently, I have had the opportunity to help a friend manage several ESTATE SALES, a business she is starting up in her retirement. I typically enjoy dealing with the public in this kind of setting, lots of small talk, getting to know someone as they explain why they are collecting certain items etc. But I will be honest, it has been slightly disturbing to experience the greedy attitude or maybe it is an entitlement attitude, whichever it is, it has made me uncomfortable to realize that this is the new normal. At such sales, there are typically very good deals, i.e. a practically new set of outdoor furniture, or full sets of dishes that have no chips etc. And still, people want to bargain you down from your already low price listed and if you don t budge on the price, they get indignant or mad. It s as if they believe that I OWE them something. It s a disturbing trend and I wonder where and when it will stop? And when I answer that question, I say It s only going to stop, one family at a time. Yes I do believe such attitudes are caught and not taught, so it begins in the home! Take a moment and consider what you are teaching your children not just with books or pens, but with actions and attitudes! Help them to understand that they really aren t entitled to anything, but that everything they have is a blessing from God! We can turn the tide on this alarming spiral into a self-absorbed society! Pastor Kelly GrosJacques Page 5

6 Worship Humble and Kind by Tim McGraw You know there's a light that glows by the front door Don't forget the key's under the mat When childhood stars shine, Go to church 'cause your mamma says to Visit grandpa every chance that you can It won't be wasted time Hold the door, say "please", say "thank you" Don't steal, don't cheat, and don't lie I know you got mountains to climb But always stay humble and kind When the dreams you're dreamin' come to you When the work you put in is realized Let yourself feel the pride But always stay humble and kind Don't expect a free ride from no one Don't hold a grudge or a chip and here's why: Bitterness keeps you from flyin' Know the difference between sleeping with someone And sleeping with someone you love "I love you" ain't no pick-up line So always stay humble and kind Hold the door, say "please", say "thank you" Don't steal, don't cheat, and don't lie I know you got mountains to climb But always stay humble and kind When those dreams you're dreamin' come to you When the work you put in is realized Let yourself feel the pride But always stay humble and kind When it's hot, eat a root beer popsicle Shut off the AC and roll the windows down Let that summer sun shine Don't take for granted the love this life gives you When you get where you're going don't forget turn back around And help the next one in line I think this song is a description of every parents hope for their children. We hope they will grow up to be upright citizens, Godly men or women, serving the Lord, and always be humble and kind. But so often that isn't always the reality. We can be the best parents in the world, but it doesn't mean that our children will grow up to be opposite than what we have envisioned. I just want to encourage all the parents out there. Just because our kids didn't grow up to be what you have envisioned, it doesn't mean you are a bad parent. We need to remember God made each one of us uniquely and differently. That also applies to our kids. Ask yourself these questions, "Did you train your kids in the way of the Lord?", "Did you pray for them and with them always?", "Did you discipline them in the way of the Lord?", and last "Did you give them 100%?" If you can honestly say "Yes" to all the questions, then rest of it is up the Lord. We have to remember that God is sovereign. Just because we can't see beyond the bad, it doesn't mean God can't make things beautiful. Be encouraged and don't give up praying for your children. You might ask how all these have anything to do with worship. The answer is "praying without ceasing". Praying without ceasing is a form of worship. Don't stop praying for your children. Do your best to teach them to be humble and kind, and let God take care of the rest. Phil Tu FJC Worship Leader Page 6

7 Youth & Journey Kids Ministries We are very excited to welcome Pastor Sarah Delacruz to our staff! As our NextGen Ministries Pastor, Sarah will be leading our children and youth ministries into a new season! Her desire for children of all ages to truly experience an authentic relationship with Jesus has been demonstrated by her own walk with Christ. As a teenager, her parents were called into the ministry and soon after Sarah, as well was called to be in full time ministry. Sarah has lived in many places including New Jersey, Florida, Japan, North Dakota and most recently, Arkansas. She will be intentional in developing leaders in both children s and youth ministries and encouraging kids to serve in many areas, understanding that we are not raising up the church of the next generation, rather these students are part of the church of today. Pastor Sarah will lead both groups into all kinds of opportunities, including camps and conferences, that will build them up in their personal walks with Jesus. Pastor Sarah is also teaching Bible and Experiential Learning to our Gaarde Christian School Middle School students and is excited to walk alongside as they are maturing into young adults. 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 We will be starting up our Club programs again on Wednesday, September 14th after a 3 week break. Many of our students will be promoted to their new classes and our teachers will be rested and ready to go with new lessons and activities for your children. We hope you will make sure to bring them out on Wednesday evenings from 7 to 8:10 pm. I am so excited to announce a new addition - Cathy Stevens has agreed to come on board with us and co-teach our Prims class with Renee Alvarez. This will make an incredible team for our 1st and 2nd grade girls. Renee has been teaching this group for over 18 years and will in charge of the lesson and badges, while Cathy will bring into the classroom crafts and activities to coincide with the lesson. I know the girls will love having both teachers in their classroom. Donna will be working with our 3rd thru 5th grade girls and I will be in charge of the Pre-school thru Kindergarten boys and girls. We would love to have your students attend and September is a great time to begin. In His Service, Connie Frisinger M Pact Coordinator Page 7

8 Gaarde Christian School This is what the Lord says Israel s King and Redeemer, the Lord Almighty: I am the first and the last; apart from me there is no God. Isaiah 44:6 Welcome back to a new school year. The school year is already shaping up to be a tremendous year, as we seek to serve families spiritually and academically. This year s spiritual theme for Gaarde is Knowing God. We want our students to dive into His word, learning more about the God we serve and how our lives are daily affected by His presence. This September, Gaarde launches the fall of 2016 with great anticipation of His handiwork. We have added new technology, new field trips, new teachers, and campus upgrades. All of these only continue to enhance the tremendous educational experience your students receive at Gaarde. Looking forward to an amazing year! See you at the Ice Cream Social, Sept. 6 at 7pm. Important Dates September 6 - Ice Cream Social, 7p September 7 - First Day of School, K-8th September 8 - Preschool Back to School Night, 7p (Parents only) September 12 - First Day of Preschool, MWF 3's, PreK AM & PM September 13 - First Day of Preschool, T/Th 3's K-8th Back to School Night, 7p (Parents only) October 13 - Early Release at 12pm, No PM Preschool, Staff Development October 14th - No School, Staff Development FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THE GCS WEBSITE! Kendra Jones, Administrator YOUR CHILDREN, OUR CALLING We all had a great and powerful time at Powwow. Thank you to all that gave us your prayers, help and financial support to get us there. Our cardboard boat might have sunk but our Outpost Pride was second to none. Christ-centered program for boys in Kindergarten through 12th Grade Mikey White for placing 3rd in the Wildcat Race. Gabe Pearson for taking 2nd Place in the Hammer Throw. Nate Hagans for placing 1st Place in Archery. The entire Outpost for placing 3rd as a combined total in the Wildcat Race. Great Work Rangers! We want to send out a few congratulations to the following Rangers for the special awards that they received at Powwow: We are always welcoming new boys that might want to join our Outpost. We would love to have them visit. Please go to for more information. To Give and To Serve, Jake Killin Ben Sorenson, Brian Sorenson and Landon Bottorff for successfully completing the Junior Training Camp SW Gaarde St. Tigard, OR 97224