Connection 11265 SW Gaarde Street, Tigard, OR 97224 Ph. 503.639.5336 http://www.faithjc.com Faith Journey Church home of Gaarde Christian School Going Hawaiian for the Superbowl! Join us on Sunday, February 6th @ 3:00 pm for our annual party to watch the NFL s Championship s game. Faith Journey Church will provide Hawaiian pulled pork, sweet macaroni salad and steamed rice. You just need to bring: Your own beach towels or beach chairs to sit on A yummy Hawaiian snack to share Your family and friends! There will be fun games and activities for all ages (no nursery care provided). Our annual Superbowl fundraising challenge... This year the challenge will be Men vs. Women as we raise funds for remodeling our men s and women s restrooms. February - March 2011 The Grace Card - Coming to Theaters February 25th ARTICLE Page This season, as we at Faith Journey Church focus on grace, make seeing this movie, THE GRACE CARD, a priority for your family. THE GRACE CARD, is a vivid reminder that every day, we have the opportunity to rebuild relationships and heal wounds by extending and receiving God's grace. It is a movie about family restoration, the saving grace of Christ, reconciliation and grace given when none is deserved. To learn more about the movie, or view trailers, go on-line to: http://www.thegracecardmovie.com The Pastor s Pen 2 Feb / March Calendars 3 Schedule 4 Adult Ministries 4 Missions News 5 West of 55 5 Fusion Youth 6 Journey Kids 6 Royal Rangers 7 M pact Girls Clubs 7 Gaarde Christian Sch 8
the Pastor s Pen A Radical Expression of Grace Grace. It s what I crave most when my guilt is exposed. The very thing I m hesitant to extend when I m confronted with the guilt of others especially when their guilt has robbed me of something I consider valuable. -Andy Stanley: The Grace of God Jesus story of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32 reveals the need for grace, and the Heavenly Father s response to that need. It stands for us as a model of the miracle of grace applied where none has been earned. In this familiar parable, Jesus uses an all too familiar event that took place within a divided family. The youngest son, now grown, demands his share of the inheritance, and thus for all intents and purposes declares to his own father, you are dead to me. The father grants the son s demands and gives him his inheritance of money and land. The son proceeds to squander the money, possessions and land in excessive, riotous, drunken living. And when he is left with nothing, this not-so-good Jewish boy is left to feed the pigs (considered very unclean). So, one day as he is longing to eat some of the pig slop, he comes to himself and realizes he would be better off as one of his father s hired hands. (Luke 15:18-20) I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants." And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and Now, this is where Jesus brings home the message of the gracious nature of the Heavenly Father. Here, the father has who been considered dead to the son, has every opportunity to either (1) reject his son outright, or (2) make him earn back his favor, trust position in the family, and intimate relationship with the father. The father, beyond our comprehension, does the following four things that reveal what grace truly encompasses. 1) He felt compassion for his lost son 2) He ran, embraced and kissed his son 3) He had his best robe, ring & shoes placed on his son 4) He had the fatted calf barbequed and celebrated with singing and dancing his son s return to relationship with him God s grace was connected with action towards the one who had offended! It was the stronger-innocent party (the father) who initiated reconciliation. He did not wait for his grace to be earned. You see, grace by definition is favor that cannot be merited or earned. The moment you think you deserve grace, it stops being grace! Grace is far more than enough to cover the need or offense it is ALWAYS over the top in excess! Jesus is teaching us that it is always within the heart of Father God to lavish us with grace. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which He lavished upon us Ephesians 1:7-8a -ESV The grace of God is an unmerited, radically lavished, over the top favor, that comes from within the very nature and fullness of the heart of God. And from His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. John 1:16-17 -ESV Becoming a follower of Christ is birthed out of our recognition and reception of Christ s work of grace on the cross. God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:8-10 -NLT Salvation is NOT a reward for the good things we have done, but rather is an expression of the radical grace that we have received from God in Christ Jesus. We are to dispense radical grace to others in the form of good works or actions much like the Father did towards the son in the parable of the prodigal. It was the attitude of the older brother in the parable that was so displeasing to the father. He who had been faithful had not a measure of grace to spare his brother. The older brother was only concerned for his own position and so called rights as they were. Gratitude is always linked to grace in so much as it is the recognition of grace received that brings about a heart filled with gratitude and The Grace Card thus joy. It is my prayer that we would all look to the incredible, radical grace that was given to us, and be moved to apply the same unmerited, radical grace to the lives of others during this season at Faith Journey Church as we focus on living out a life of receiving and reciprocating in lavishing upon others a radical grace. Keep your eyes open and your heart tender for those in whom you may reflect the very heart of God in radically blessing someone in need. Journeying Together, Pastor Tom Walking with people, following God Page 2
FEBRUARY - MARCH 2011 Calendars february 2011 SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT 1 2 3 Fusion Youth to Generation Unleashed 2011 4 5 6 Superbowl Party - Hawaiian Style @ 3:00 pm 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Fusion Youth HS Leadership / Discipleship Class 14 15 GCS Community Open House @ 7pm 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 GCS Community Registration for 2011-12 School Yr begins 27 28 23 24 25 Opening Day for THE GRACE CARD Movie 26 march 2011 SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT 1 2 3 4 5 Missions Convention Banquet 6 Missions Convention Services 7 8 9 10 Fusion Youth to District Fine Arts Festival 11 12 13 Fusion Youth HS Leadership / Discipleship Class Daylight Savings 14 15 GCS Talent Show (K-8) @ 7pm 16 17 18 Fusion Youth All-Nighter 19 20 21 GCS Spring Break 22 23 NO Mid-Week Services or Clubs 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Page 3
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 Adult Home Group - Faith Journey Fusion Youth - Faith Journey Church Wednesdays 7:00 pm Adult Study in Modular #2 Fusion Youth ( Sanctuary ) Missionettes ( Girls Kinder - 5th Grade ) Royal Rangers ( Boys Kinder - 5th Gr ) Rainbows ( Girls and Boys 3-4 Years ) Fridays 7:00 pm The Wave Prayer - Prayer and and Praise Worship (2nd on the Friday second of each Friday month) of each month Tuesdays 5:30 am Men s Bible Study - Davidson s Office Hours 8:00am - 4:00pm Monday through Friday Opportunities for Learning & Study for Adults @ Faith Journey Church Proverbs 27:17 tells us, As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. Adult Ministries Sunday Mornings @ 8:45 am: Adult Christian Education - A Walk through Genesis Understanding that God is a God of Purpose, and we are a People of Promise. Sunday Evenings @ 6:00 pm: Cornerstone Fellowship Group Meeting together weekly for fellowship and study. Tuesday Mornings @ 5:30 am: Men s Bible Study Gathering: The Book of James Join the men of Faith Journey Church on Tuesday mornings to study God s word, and connect with others who will encourage and strengthen you on your journey. Wednesday Nights @ 7:00 pm: Living A Life on Loan - Finding Grace at the Intersections Discover our purpose in life and experience the full life that God wants each of us to have. All that we have our loves, our talents, our resources, our opportunities are from God, and He is concerned with how you and I will use these to extend grace to others. In His Service, Pastor Kelly GrosJacques Page 4
Mark your calendars now for our annual Missions Convention and reserve Saturday, March 5th for a fun filled, exciting evening! New this year will be an open house beginning at 3:30. This is a time for all to come meet and mingle with our three special guest missionaries. They will have display tables with information and things for you to see and touch. This will be a great time for you to ask those questions that you always wanted to ask, and didn't. At 3:50 the doors to the sanctuary will open and you will be escorted to your table to begin an evening that will touch your heart for missions. Of course there will be great food, great fun, and great laughter. This year's theme, "All Generations", is at the heart of who we are. "I will sing of the Lord's great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations", Psalm 89:1. It's all about souls! The need to tell all generations about Jesus is great. As a nation, we are facing challenges in this second decade of the 21st West of 55 century that are different in some ways than those of previous generations. Yet two things always remain constant: People are still lost without Christ, and God is still in the business of rescuing people from the domain of darkness and transferring them to the Kingdom of God's beloved Son. (Colossians 1:13) The apostle Paul said that people will not know of Christ unless someone is sent to tell them. That is why we as believers with our churches partner with missionaries to make it possible for them to take the Word of God to those who have never heard. Don't forget to mark your calendars right now for the Annual Missions Convention the date is March 5th and the time is 3:30 to 7:00pm. Come and have a great time! In His Service, Donna Randol Missions News Russ and Beth Chambers Missionaries to OSU (Chi Alpha) Carl and Terri Gibbs Missionaries to Africa Tamara Henkes Missionary to Romania Dennis & Diane Holcomb Missionaries to Poland Ken Huff Missionary to Cambodia Eric & Jacquelin Jenkins Missionaries to Algeria Steve and Julie Kramer Missionaries to the Netherlands Bill & Carol Paris Missionaries to Tokyo, Japan Josh & Renee Ransom Missionary to China Matt & Heather Reigel Missionaries to Germany John & Beccy Rodli Missionaries to Azores/Portugal Ryan & Christy Thomas Missionaries to Mexico Rob & Jeanel Shipley Missionaries to East Africa David & Dorothy Yunuba Missionaries to Africa John & Carolyn Stewart Missionaries to Indonesia Chuck & Janet Wilson Missionaries to Botswana The first people to climb Mt. Everest, the world s highest mountain, were Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay in 1953. Hillary was just 33 years old. His feat afforded him fame, wealth, and the realization that he had already lived a remarkable life. So what did Hillary do for the next 55 years? Did he retire and rest on his laurels? Absolutely not. Although Hillary had no higher mountains to climb, that didn t stop him. He achieved other notable goals including a concerted effort to improve the welfare of the Nepalese people living near Mt Everest a task he carried on until his death in 2008. Did you know that God told the Levites to retire from their regular duties at age 50 (Numbers 8:24-25)? But He did not want them to stop helping others. He said that they should minister with their brethren to attend to needs (vs 26). We cannot take this incident as a complete teaching on retirement, but we can see a godly implication that continuing to serve others after our working days are over is a good idea. Many people find that when they retire, they have nothing meaningful to do with their time. But, as the Levites and Sire Edmund Hillary did, we can refocus when we retire giving of our time to help others. Life takes on new meaning when we invest ourselves in others. In Him, Pastor John Granholm Page 5
Youth Ministries Hindered We were never as happy to say See ya! to a year as 2010. Frankly, it s been a really tough year for our family, as seems to be the consensus with many others. Very recently, we were encouraged by this particular portion of Scripture: In 1 Thessalonians 2:18, Paul mentions that he has tried to visit the Thessalonians, but Satan hindered us. The word hindered was actually from a military usage. They use to tear up a road so that an advancing army had to slow down and work its way through it. What an incredible image! Satan does not want us to succeed and he tries to make things as difficult as possible, even tearing up the road in front of us to stop us from advancing, making it twice as hard to get to where God wants us to go. The good news is that hindered does NOT mean stopped! The enemy cannot stop God s work no matter how hard he tries and even though the road is rocky, Jesus is there, working with us every step of the way. MARK YOUR CALENDARS: February 2011 Feb 3rd-5th - Generation Unleashed Feb 13th - Leadership/Discipleship Mtg March 2011 Mar 10th-12th - Fine Arts Festival Mar 13th - Leadership/Discipleship Mtg Mar 18th - Fusion Youth All-Nighter Mar 23rd - NO YOUTH GROUP (Spring Break!) Stick with it, put on the armor of God, and don t let anything make you veer from the path He has called you to! Kiel & Niina Downey Children s Church Ministries We just wrapped our Kidmo series A.I.M. (Agents in Motion). Through these interactive lessons, your children were inspired to be world changers by impacting those around them - family, church, friends, community, and world. Encourage your children s ideas on what they can do to make a difference. It could be as simple as inviting a friend to church. the possibilities are endless. On February 7th we will begin a new Faith Case series Investigating the Fruit of the Spirit. We re helping kids discover the ongoing evidence of a Spirit-filled life as described in Galatians 5:22,23: The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Or, in the words of our Session 1 Faith Fact: The fruit of the Spirit shows Jesus in me. So kids, will you join the investigation team? I ll have your official badge waiting! Serving Him, Alaina Worden Page 6
Royal Rangers clubs for boys kindergarten through 5th grade The Royal Rangers and leaders spent several weekends recycling Christmas trees for their annual fundraiser. This fundraiser has grown over the years and we were able to partner with the youth group to share in the monies raised. Thank you to all who helped and to those who made a donation to support both of these ministries. As we are back in full-swing with the weekly Wednesday night meetings, I am reminded of the purpose of Royal Rangers to Reach, Teach and Keep boys for Christ. While we love playing dodge ball, indoor soccer or gladiator, we always try to balance the activities to ensure fun, challenge and a continued learning of the Bible and Christian character. Our leaders teach a Bible story or Christian principle each week to help each boy achieve what we pledge from Psalm 119, I will hide God s word in my heart, that I might not sin against God. If you know a boy age kindergarten through 5th grade, we would love to have him join us for our regular Wednesday night club meetings at 7:00 pm. Farrin Hockett M Pact clubs for girls first through fifth grade and Rainbows club for preschool aged girls and boys Memorizing scripture is an integral part of M pact clubs curriculum. Each month, the girls work on a badge (unit) that has a specific scripture verse with it. The students also memorize their club s motto, pledge and scripture verse. The following is each clubs pledge: Rainbows: As a Rainbow, I will be a good helper, pleasing Jesus every day. Prims: As a Prim, I will be careful of what I say, where I go and what I do; trying always to be my very best for the Lord Jesus, because I love him. Stars: Having accepted Jesus as my Savior, I will follow Him in service, in testimony, in attitude, and in relationships; striving always to glorify my Lord as a Star. Good character and moral values enhanced with scripture is a part of our clubs that the students will carry on into their teens and adulthood. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path Psalm 119:105 In His Service, Connie Frisinger, M Pact Clubs Coordinator Page 7
Gaarde Christian School On February 15 th we will open our doors to prospective GCS families. This open house event is a great opportunity for your friends and family to experience the heart of our school ministry first hand. Our staff will be here to show off our school and answer questions. At Gaarde Christian School from preschool through Middle School children have the opportunity to grow spiritually, academically and personally in a Christ-centered learning environment. In preschool, the classroom is our textbook and the toys are our curriculum. In Kindergarten the low student/teacher ratio led by experienced teachers creates an environment for children to flourish during this important milestone in their lives. Elementary students are provided with the education, guidance and experiences they need to establish a solid foundation. Once in middle school, students are challenged to think analytically about the world they live in. A Biblical worldview is established and students learn to defend that world view. GCS is committed to continue to provide an outstanding Christ-based education. I encourage you to invite any of your friends to our open house who may be interested in giving their children the advantage of attending Gaarde Christian School. In His Service, Kellie Hooper GCS Administrator 11265 SW Gaarde St. Tigard, OR 97224