Volume 12 Issue 11 Gospel Alliance Church November 2018 Newsletter Volume 12 Issue 8 In This Issue: 91 Weeks with Jesus 2 Adult Growth Groups 3 Children s Ministry 4 Women s Ministry 5-6 Old Fashioned Christmas 7 Bag Brigade 8 JOY Club 9 MOPS/MOMSnext 9 Come Join Us for Our In Due Time 9 Outreach: LEO Service 10 Prayer 10 Thanksgiving Eve Service Time of Thanksgiving Christmas Candlelight Services 11 12 Wednesday, November 21st at 6:30 p.m. Holiday Highlights 13 Calendar 14 Mark Your Calendar 15
P A G E 2 Beginning Monday, November 5 th 91 Weeks With Jesus Growing in God s Word Together Beginning Monday, November 5 th we, as a congregation, will commence on our unprecedented 91 Weeks With Jesus journey together. This theme will guide 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 you, can purchase cd s for $.50 each ($5.00 for 10 weeks)
Sunday Morning Growth Groups Bible Studies for Life P A G E 3 The first half of this study is titled Welcome Home. Inviting others into the family of Christ, and leading those people to grow in their walk with Him and in participation with His body, are foundational to what the church is all about. This study looks at several principles from Scripture that move the church family to be a group that clearly communicates, We re glad you re here. The second half is titled How to Pray. Twelve men walked closely with Jesus during His earthly ministry. Of all the things they saw Him do they only asked to learn one thing from Him: teach us to pray. Jesus gave us a pattern to follow a Model Prayer that moves prayer from some rote, religious practice to a deeper fellowship with our loving Father who works on our behalf. This Adult Growth Group is being taught by Garry Zippay in the Library at 9:30 a.m. A Survey of Worldviews: So What s the Difference? How does biblical Christianity differ from other worldviews? This study will dive into the core beliefs of Christianity to set the stage for comparison to the beliefs and tenets of many popular religions and worldviews. The goal of this study is to help us understand the beliefs of others so we can make the most of opportunities we have to share the gospel. This class is meeting in Room 105/106 at 9:30 a.m. with Dustin Niehenke teaching. Explore the Bible Together, James confirm two great truths of salvation; we are saved by grace through faith alone, but the faith that saves is never alone. Galatians emphasizes salvation by faith apart from works. James emphasizes works as evidence of faith. While some see a contradiction between the two books, a closer look reveals the view of Paul and James to be complementary. Examining salvation from different vantage points, Paul spoke to those trying to obtain salvation by works and James wrote to those who claimed to be saved but with no visible evidence in their lives. Today, believers and unbelievers continue to struggle with these same issues. Thankfully, Paul and James tackled them head-on. Jonathan Stewart is teaching this class in the Senior Pastor s office at 9:30 a.m. Women s Tuesday Morning Growth Group The Ladies' Tuesday morning Growth Group will begin a new study from the book The Women of Christmas. A sacred season is about to unfold for three women whose hearts belong to God. Elizabeth is barren, yet her trust in God remains fertile. Mary is betrothed in marriage, yet she is willing to bear God s Son. Anna is a widow full of years, yet she waits patiently and prayerfully for the Messiah to appear in the temple courts. Following in their footsteps, you too can prepare for the Savior to enter your heart, your mind, and your life in a vibrant, new way. Author Liz Curtis explores the biblical stories of Elizabeth, Mary and Anna, unwrapping each verse with tender care and introducing your afresh to The Women of Christmas. This study will begin on November 6 th from 9:30-11 a.m. Please join us as we learn and grow together. Childcare will be provided. For more information, contact Heather Hodge at 724-433-9107. Wednesday Evening Growth Groups Wednesday s Growth Group and Prayer: Max On Life We have questions. Real, important and challenging questions. Questions about family, finances, and forgiveness. Unsettling questions regarding illness, death and eternity. Don't we crave answers to these questions that tug on the deepest parts of our hearts? In these sessions taken from Right Now Media, Max Lucado takes on life's most important questions. Here's hoping that his answers to the questions of others will help you find answers to your own. This class is now meeting in the Library at 6:45 p.m. Women s Wednesday Evening Growth Group: Praying with Jesus by James Banks The Bible says the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective, so what does it mean when prayers go unanswered? The Bible also tells us to pray without casing, but what does that look like in today s fast-paced world? This class is now meeting in the Seniors Pastor s Office on Wednesday evenings at 6:45 p.m. Come as early as 6:30 p.m. to give your prayer requests and for us to get to know you. Join us as we grow in the Word together. Men s Wednesday Evening Growth Group: The Man in the Mirror: Solving the 24 Problems Men Face Join us Wednesday evenings we discuss challenges men face in today s world. The Man in the Mirror invites men to take a probing look at their identities, relationships, finances, time, temperament, and most important, the means to bring about lasting change. If life's demands are constantly pressuring you to run faster and jump higher, this class is for you. The Man in the Mirror offers a penetrating, pragmatic, and life-changing look at how to trade the rat race for the rewards of godly manhood. This class will meet in Pastor Rich s office at 6:45 p.m. For more information on any of these Adult Growth Groups, please contact Pastor Rich Pukl at rpukl@gospelalliancechurch.org
PAGE 4 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. Happy November from AWANA we are excited about our wall of pictures please stop up and check it out. We will once again be having Thanksgiving dinner on November 14th. Mark your calendars. Please remember your children are welcome to come now that sports has slowed down. There is also room for any adult who would like to be a part of AWANA. Because kids matter to God! ~ Sandi ~ Save the date VBS Monday, June 24-28 Mark your Calendar! Volunteer Trainings: For those considering serving in Children s or Youth Ministry. Sunday, February 10th from 10:45 a.m. to Noon 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 724-823-0453 or pclark@gospelalliancechurch.org
P A G E 5 This month s dates are: November 13 th & 27 th 2 nd & 4 th Tuesday of every month at 6:30 p.m. Women s Tuesday Evening Prayer Group Sue Higgins home, for more information please contact Sue at suzhiggins52@gmail.com or message her. Our One Day Mission Excursion to the Hands & Feet Project Women s Tuesday Morning Growth Group The Women of Christmas by Liz Curtis Higgs The Ladies' Tuesday morning Growth Group will begin a new study from the book The Women of Christmas. A sacred season is about to unfold for three women whose hearts belong to God. Elizabeth is barren, yet her trust in God remains fertile. Mary is betrothed in marriage, yet she is willing to bear God s Son. Anna is a widow full of years, yet she waits patiently and prayerfully for the Messiah to appear in the temple courts. Following in their footsteps, you too can prepare for the Savior to enter your heart, your mind, and your life in a vibrant, new way. Author Liz Curtis Higgs explores the biblical stories of Elizabeth, Mary and Anna, unwrapping each verse with tender care and introducing your afresh to The Women of Christmas. This study will begin on November 6 th from 9:30-11 a.m. Please join us as we learn and grow together. Childcare will be provided. For more information, contact Heather Hodge at 724-433-9107.
PAGE 6 Our Great Commission Women Harvest Happenings event with Barb Volle as our missionary speaker! Several of our women attended the Great Commission Women National Conference in Lancaster, PA. The theme was Celebrate Our Story so there were stories from Sarah and Aaron Schust, author and Bible teacher Jane Rubietta, Christian singer Laura Story, and various missionaries describing their stories in order to encourage women to share their own stories to bring people to faith around the globe.
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P A G E 8 The Bag Brigade P A G E 8
JOY Club PAGE 9 Just Older Youth JOY Club met on Thursday, October 4th. We all agreed we had good cooks, great bakers and, best of all, extremely good appetites. We enjoyed the homemade soups and breads, snacks and desserts. We are planning our own full course Thanksgiving dinner for our November 1st meeting at 11:00 a.m. Reservations have already been made for The Nutcracker. Van will leave the church at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 15 th. Please be on time! We were reminded to send cards to shut-ins and those in need of encouragement. Also, items are needed to make up sunshine baskets. Will we see you at our Thanksgiving meeting? GAC MOPS/MOMSnext In Due Time... 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)797-6515 or megzysk@gmail.com
PAGE 10 Outreach: LEO Service: Law Enforcement Officers A service to thank our Law Enforcement Officers and their families for their dedication, service and sacrifices to our community! PRAYER Gospel Alliance Church Family Prayer is an important part of our walk with the Lord and draws us near to Him. As a result of our Day of Prayer, on September 29th, we have noted that approximately 90 people came to pray that day, and the Lord is answering prayers. In an effort to give testimony and give Glory to God, we would like to give everyone an opportunity to share any answered prayer. If you would care to share, we would love to hear from you. Please write your answered prayer on a piece of paper and bring it to the Information Desk. Many of the prayer requests that were shared for that day include cancer diagnosis, marriages, unsaved family & friends, employment, etc. Children s hearts are concerned about good grades, their pets & friends, and their families. Please continue to pray for these requests. If you would like prayer or would like your request to be placed on the prayer chain, please contact the church office.
P A G E 11 In His Own Words Time of Thanksgiving Billy Graham More than 150 times the Bible calls men to thank God or tells them how to give thanks. In the Old Testament days God designated a special offering of thanksgiving for His people. God was insuring the people of Israel against the time when they would forget to be thankful to Him. More than thirty times in the Psalms the psalmist speaks of giving thanks. The psalmist said, Be thankful unto Him, and bless His name (Psalm 100:4). And again he said, It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord (Psalm 92:1). Thanksgiving is a part of the most intimate relationship that exists between man and God. We should thank God for the spiritual blessings, beyond the power of human tongue to describe. But more than any other spiritual or material blessing of God s offer of salvation through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. The same one who gave His only begotten Son (John 3:16) is the giver of every other benefit. The Bible says, He that spared not only His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not also with Him freely give us all things? (Romans 8:32). God so loved the world, that he gave His only begotten Son (John 3:16) to take my place on the cross, I must bow in front of that cross and say especially on Thanksgiving Say, Thank you, Lord. This Thanksgiving, I want you to receive the gift of God s grace which is His Son Jesus Christ. Make it a day of real thanksgiving in which we fall on out knees and give humble and sincere thanks to God for all the spiritual and material blessings that He has poured down upon us as a people. NOVEMBER 27, 2014
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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! November 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. To Know Christ and to Make Him Known Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 11:00 a.m. JOY Club 2 9:00 a.m. MOPS/ Moms Next 7:00 p.m. Friday Night Growth Group 3 4:00 p.m. Alliance Youth Bon Fire & Movie Night 4 Communion Sunday Children s Church/ 3rd Service Daylight Savings Time Ends 5 91 Weeks with Jesus begins 6 9:30 a.m. Women s Tuesday Morning Growth Group 7 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 8 9 10 9:00-10 a.m. In Due Time 6:00 p.m. GriefShare Marriage Encounter 11 Veteran s Day 12 13 9:30 a.m. Women s Tuesday Morning Growth Group 14 6:00 p.m. Elders Prayer for Parking 6:30 p.m. AWANA Thanksgiving Dinner 15 6:30 p.m. Elders Meeting 16 9:00 a.m. MOPS (Find Your Fire) 17 9:30 a.m. Paint & Popcorn: Children s Event Marriage Encounter 6:30 p.m. Women s Tuesday Evening Prayer 6:30 p.m. Youth Groups 6:45 p.m. Adult Growth Groups and Prayer 18 6:00 p.m. GriefShare 19 20 21 6:30 p.m. THANKSGIVING EVE SERVICE 22 Thanksgiving Day OFFICE CLOSED 23 OFFICE CLOSED 24 9:00-10 a.m. In Due Time 25 6:00 p.m. GriefShare 26 27 6:30 p.m. Women s Tuesday Evening Prayer 28 6:00 p.m. Elders Prayer for Parking 6:30 p.m. AWANA and Youth Groups 29 30 6:45 p.m. Adult Growth Groups and Prayer
Mark Your Calendar P A G E 15 November 2018 JOY Club, Thursday, November 1 MOPS/MomsNext, Friday, November 2 Friday Night Growth Group, Friday, November 2 Youth Bonfire & Movie Night, Saturday, November 3 Daylight Savings Time Ends, Sunday, November 4 Communion Sunday, November 4 Children s Church: children sit with family, Sunday, November 4 GriefShare, Sunday, November 4 91 Weeks with Jesus: starts again, Monday, November 5 Election Day, Tuesday, November 6 Women s Tuesday Morning Growth Group, November 6 AWANA & Youth Groups, Wednesday, November 7 Adult Growth Groups & Prayer, Wednesday, November 7 Marriage Encounter, Friday, Nov. 9 Sunday, November 11 In Due Time, Saturday, November 10 Veteran s Day, Sunday, November 11 Women s Tuesday Morning Growth Group, Nov. 13 Women s Tuesday Evening Prayer, Tuesday, November 13 AWANA Thanksgiving Diner, Wednesday, November 14 Youth Groups, Wednesday, November 14 Adult Growth Groups & Prayer, Wednesday, November 14 Elder s Meeting, Thursday, November 15 MOPS/MomsNext, Friday, November 16 Paint & Popcorn, Children s Ministry, Saturday, November 17 GriefShare, Sunday, November 18 Thanksgiving Eve Service, Wednesday, November 21 No Evening Classes, Wednesday, November 21 Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 22, Office Closed Friday, November 23, Office Closed In Due Time, Saturday, November 24 GriefShare, Sunday, November 25 Women s Tuesday Evening Prayer, Tuesday, November 27 AWANA & Youth Groups, Wednesday, November 28 Adult Growth Groups & Prayer, Wednesday, November 28 December 2018 THRIVE Practice, Saturday, December 1 New Adult Sunday Growth Groups, Sunday, December 2 Communion Sunday, December 2 Children s Church: children sit with family, Sunday, December 4 Old Fashioned Christmas, Sunday, December 2 AWANA & Youth Groups, Wednesday, December 5 Adult Growth Groups & Prayer, Wednesday, December 5 JOY Club, Thursday, December 6 Women s Ministry: Caroling & Cocoa, Friday, December 7 Friday Night Growth Group, Friday, December 7 THRIVE Practice, Saturday, December 8 In Due Time, Saturday, December 8 Women s Tuesday Evening Prayer, December 11 AWANA & Youth Groups, Wednesday, December 12 Adult Growth Groups & Prayer, Wednesday, December 12 MOPS/MomsNext, Friday, December 14 Alliance Youth: Shopping, Dinner & Movie, Friday, December 14 THRIVE Play: Sheep in Heavenly Peace, Sunday, December 16 AWANA, Wednesday, December 19 NO Youth Group, Wednesday, December 19 Adult Growth Groups & Prayer, Wednesday, December 19 Elder s Meeting, Thursday, December 20 In Due Time, Saturday, December 22 CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE Candlelight Service, Sunday, December 23 at 6:00 p.m. Candlelight Service, Monday, December 24 at 6:00 p.m. Candlelight Service, Monday, December 24 at 7:30 p.m. Christmas Day, Tuesday, December 25, Office Closed No Evening Activities, Wednesday, December 26 New Years Eve, Monday, December 31 2019 New Year s Day, Tuesday, January 1, Office Closed Gospel Alliance Church The Mon Valley Christian and Missionary Alliance Church 1011 Fells Church Road Rostraver Twp., PA 15012 Phone: 724-823-0453 Email: info@gospelalliancechurch.org www.gospelalliancechurch.org