New Directions The newsletter of Grace Community Baptist Church March/April 2016, Volume 13, No. 2 GCBC.ws Website Edition From the Pastor: We have been reading through the book of Proverbs as a church and talking about some of what we read as the basis of sermons on Sunday. Recently we talked about the importance of controlling our speech as wise Christians should. Proverbs is very clear we can t be considered wise or godly if we don t control our mouths. Because of technology we can also get into as much trouble by typing as talking. For that reason I want to share again 10 Commandments for online activity. (This is the abbreviated version of my article from several years ago.) Like it or not, we are all representing God and our church family when online, all the time. Proverbs 16:23 says A wise man s heart guides his mouth, and his lips promote instruction. Paul said that we should always, Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt so that you may know how to answer everyone. (Colossians 4:6). These apply to our actions online as much as our spoken words. The 10 Commandments for Christians Being Online (Social Networks) 1. Thou shall not post inappropriate content if you are Christian. Sounds like it would never happen because as Christians we shouldn t be involved in things that are inappropriate or morally questionable in the first place. I don t know a creative way of saying it so I ll just say it plainly: If I am a Christian and involved in questionable activities, clearly I should repent and stop. If I m going to continue, I should at least be wise enough to not tell of it online and advertise (i.e., brag about) a problem area in my life. I should care enough about God to stop and enough about my church to not flaunt such things that can cause others to be tempted or fall, and the name of my God and church family to be tarnished or embarrassed. They will be embarrassed whether you are or not. 2. Thou shall not use the internet to be unchristian towards others. 1 Peter 3:15 commands when answering unbelievers we should do this with gentleness and respect 3. Thou shall not make a personal situation a public one for all to see. If there is any kind of personal disagreement, we need to talk to the person and not to them and 50 other people essentially eavesdropping on what should really be a private conversation between the two persons involved. 4. Thou shall use private conversations (face to face or a phone call) to resolve issues. 5. Thou shall stay out of other people s business and out of their online arguments. 6. Thou shall be careful in friending underage children. Parental approval should happen first if this is done. 7. Thou shall be careful in online friendships of the opposite sex if married. 8. Parents shall not start arguing with kids or friends of your children. I ve heard of this happening. It s very real and always makes the adults look really foolish. We expect kids to act like kids, but not the adults. 9. Thou shall not post things you don t intend to or won t say in person. Sometimes we can be a little more brave behind our keyboard and say or insinuate things we wouldn t say person to person. The insinuation part is so common now I understand there s even a term for it vaguebooking. Clearly it s a problem when a new term is invented to cover it. It goes without saying that none of this is Christian behavior, so this is an area we should be careful of falling into. Article continued on third page
Kids Korner Winter. Spring. Winter. Spring. Our crazy Kentucky weather keeps us all on our toes. We have to pay close attention to the forecast so we can dress our kids and ourselves appropriately each day. I am reminded how this closely mirrors the words that can come out of our mouths. (This is mentioned often in the book of Proverbs which we are reading through this month.) Our moods and our thoughts can fluctuate pretty rapidly. We must pay close attention and stay focused on the words and the intent of the words that come out of our mouths or fly from our fingers as we text, tweet, or post. Are our words uplifting, helpful, positive, or are they negative, degrading, and full of blame? None of us are in a good mood every minute of every day. Nor are we thinking positively 24-7. That means that we need to work hard to listen, pause, think, consider others feelings and God's example, then respond. Our words, spoken and written, are powerful. With His help and lots of practice, we can encourage, mend, correct, and build by simply choosing and using our words wisely. The next CentriKid fundraiser will be a Bowla-thon on Sunday, March 6. Be on the lookout for those sweet-faced campers to come around asking for sponsors. We will also have the Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, March 26 at 11:00 AM for babies through 6 th grade. Spring is coming soon. Hallelujah! Blessings, Mary Ann The children will have a bowlathon on Sunday, March 6, following the worship service. If a CentriKid camper approaches you to ask for a pledge, please be generous. All children are welcome to go bowling with the campers. Children under six years old must be accompanied by a parent; children over six years old must have a signed permission slip. Everyone must wear socks. Easter Egg Hunt ** March 26 The annual Easter Egg Hunt is Saturday, March 26, at 11:00 A.M. and is for all children from babies to age 12. There will be lots of candy and prize filled eggs to find. All children should bring an Easter basket, if possible. If you want to help hide eggs, please be at the church by 10:15 A.M.
Pastor s Article continued from first page 10. In general, thou shall not embarrass your God, your church family or yourself while online. In other words, be a wise and godly person all the time, including time online. Recall that the Bible commands: Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen (Ephesians 4:29) This attitude should mark not only our lives, but our online lives as well. Work Day March 19 9:30 A.M. Noon Everyone is invited to join the youth as they do spring cleaning at the church. Bowling April 17 It s time for daylight savings time to begin. Remember to set your clocks forward one hour before you go to bed on Saturday, March 12. Donnie - Soli Deo Gloria The Dare to Care Mobile Food Pantry will be in the church parking lot on Thursday, March 10 and Thursday, April 14, at 10:00 A.M. Ladies Bible Study The ladies will begin a new Bible study on Tuesday, March 8, at 10:00 A.M. The 13-week study comes from Deuteronomy, and the study books cost $10 each. Please sign up on the bulletin board by Sue s office if you plan to participate. Lifepoint Studies Mondays, 6:30 P.M. at the Fays Thursdays, 7:00 P.M. at the Poiles Wednesday Evening Adult Bible Study 6:30 P.M. The adults will begin a new study in March. Church Ministries Committee - April 24 Quarterly Business Meeting - April 27 Lord s Supper March 6 ** April 3 Centri-Kid Fundraiser Lunch Following the worship service on Sunday, April 3, you can stay and enjoy a delicious meal prepared and served by the campers. The cost of the meal is a donation to the camp fund. We sing and say hosanna every Palm Sunday but hardly ever in between. So what does that word mean? That first Palm Sunday crowds spread their cloaks before Jesus as people had before Jehu to proclaim him king (2 Kings 9:13). They waved palm branches in greeting a traditional sign of celebration (Leviticus 23:40). And, of course, they shouted, Hosanna! This was an exclamation of a people in distress [addressing] their king or their god, explains Bible scholar William Barclay. Drawn from Psalm 8:25, hosanna is Aramaic for save now. By the time of Jesus Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, Barclay says, hosanna may have become to some extent only a cry of welcome and of acclamation, like Hail! ; but essentially it is a people s cry for deliverance and for help in the day of their trouble. Hosanna! is the plea of an oppressed people to the one they recognize as their true king: Jesus, their Savior.
Serving in Ministry Nursery Workers Sunday KidsWorship March 6 Jackie/Jeff Riley Mary Ann Alexander/Children s Helper/Carl March 13 Sandra Gullion/Colleen Quinter Tom/Darlene/Tom Littrell, Jr. March 20 Karen Francis/Nicki Wellinghurst Alice Shelman/Pam Wachter /Sue Fields March 27 Jackie/Jeff Riley Jim/Josh/Colleen Quinter April 3 Pam Wachter/Tim Miller The Francis Family April 10 Sue Fields/Sarah Fields The Riley Family April 17 Jackie/Jeff Riley Mary Ann Alexander/Children s Helper/Carl April 24 Sandra Gullion/Colleen Quinter Tom/Darlene/Tom Littrell, Jr. Nursery Workers - Wednesdays March 2 Alice Shelman April 6 Mary Ann Alexander March 9 Sandra Gullion April 13 Alice Shelman March 16 Sue Fields April 20 Sandra Gullion March 23 Karen Francis April 27 Sue Fields March 30 Holly Francis Greeter Ministry Side Door (by Front Door (facing Pre-Worship Secretary s Office) Joyce Applegate National Turnpike) Howard Sloss Back Door March Christine House Parking Lot Greeter Rick Shelman Back Door April Ricky Riley Guide Greeter Darlene Littrell March Carl Alexander Financial Report January February (to date) Offerings $11,742.98 $ 6,699.22 Expenses $ 12,138.95 $10,545.98 Offerings Year to Date $ 18,442.20 Expenses Year to Date $22,684.93 Bus Driver of the Month April Joe Fields Sunday School Attendance Report Average Attendance January: 67 February: 68 Wednesday nights Kids4Christ offers a light snack and activity at 6pm followed by Bible Study in various age groups at 6:30pm. Children of all ages are welcome to join us for a fun night together in a safe and friendly environment. Youth4Christ is every Wednesday night and is a way to give young people the chance to build relationships, grow in their faith and develop a biblical view of life while experiencing the fun that comes with being a Christian. Our Lord could die with the same calm in which he had lived. He had known all along how things would turn out. He knew his apparent defeat would [result] in universal glory for the human race. A.W. Tozer
GRACE COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH 7300 National Turnpike, Louisville, KY 40214 Phone: (502) 361-2911 E-mail: gcbc@gcbc.ws Website: gcbc.ws Facebook: facebook.com/gcbcky Church Calendar: gcbc.ws/calendar THE CHURCH STAFF Donnie Gullion, Pastor Michael Fay, Worship Leader Mary Ann Alexander, Director of Children s Ministries Tom Littrell, Sr., Youth Coordinator Sue Fields, Secretary Postmaster: Return Requested Sunday School is an opportunity to study the Bible in a classroom environment with an age group or gender comfortable to you. This allows an opportunity for open discussions and a time to share our thoughts and questions about the Bible with others. Classes may have structured material from a provided group study guide or may be directly from the Bible. Children's Classes: Nursery: Birth to age 2 * Preschool: Ages 3 to 5 Children 1: Grades 1-3 Children 2: Grades 4 6 Youth Class: Grade 7 through 12 * Children and parents are given numbered tags upon arrival for safety and communication. Adult Classes: Adult 1 (Lower Level): Mixed adults 18-40 (approx. ages) Adult 2 (Lower Level): Mixed adults 30-?? (approx. ages) Men's Class (Ground Level, Front): Adult men Women's Class (Ground Level, Back): Adult women The ages for adult classes are general - you are encouraged to attend any class in which you feel the most comfortable. Week of Prayer: March 6 13 National Goal: $70 Million In March we will be collecting for the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions. Envelopes for this special offering are in the pew racks. Please prayerfully consider what God would have you give to this offering and donate accordingly. We re looking forward to having a missionary speaker on Sunday, March 13. He will share about his experiences on the foreign mission field. Easter Sunday March 27 The greatest news that mortal ear has ever heard is the news that Jesus Christ has risen from the dead, as he had promised. Because Christ lives, we also shall live. The greatest truth that you can ever hear is that Jesus Christ died but rose again, and that you, too, will die but can rise again into newness of life. Billy Graham