Aug 22, 2016 - On August 28th, during our regular gathering time, we are engaging in our first Community Impact Initiative, an opportunity to serve our local ...
Monday, August 22, 2016 Church Family – The last three weeks have been challenging and encouraging to our church family, with a call placed on all of us to be a church that PRAYS and a church that GOES. We have explored what God has to say in His word about being in His presence (praying) and being on mission (going). We have discovered that this call to prayer and mission is one that is placed on each and every one of us that are followers of Jesus. Yesterday, we learned about an exciting opportunity that our church family is embracing this coming Sunday. On August 28th, during our regular gathering time, we are engaging in our first Community Impact Initiative, an opportunity to serve our local community in real, tangible ways. We will be going to at least seven different impact point locations around New Holland. We will be cleaning, weeding, painting, stuffing envelopes, and many other things, all in an effort to communicate to our community that we love them because God loves us, to build relationships that will allow us to proclaim the gospel into their lives. This is different. It may be challenging. You may even feel resistance to it. But we are asking you to push through the things that might tempt you to stay home on Sunday. Look to the example of Jesus, who prayed desperately the night he was betrayed, but who willingly stepped into the mission His Father laid before Him. This same Jesus healed on the Sabbath when the contemporary religious leaders shamed Him for it. May we be a church that, like Jesus, does GOOD for others during a time dedicated to the worship of our majestic Creator. May we push through our hesitations and our excuses to be the hands and feet of and mouths of Jesus in our community. May we start this Sunday as a church family. We welcome any questions you may have and are looking ahead to serving alongside of you this Sunday! In Christ.
Grace Family Church Overseer Team Please see the reverse side for more details on our Community Impact Initiative
COMMUNITY IMPACT
INITIATIVE Next Sunday, August 28th, our church family will engage in a Community Impact Initiative, praying and going together during our regular gathering time (10am-noon), making worship service tangible.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Gather at GFC Building at 10am SHARP. (Actually, 9.45am would be best!)
GO to our various community impact points from 10.15-12.15 Return to the PARK at 12.15 for our annual Labor Day PICNIC. At least 7 different Impact Points (eg - Cross Connection Ministries, NH Fire Department, & more). Each team will have a leader who will be able to provide direction and answer questions. Please let us know that you’ll be coming, as we need to have enough people available to meet the needs at each opportunity. Feel free to call or email to let us know.
THINGS TO REMEMBER: We are saved to serve. Serving doesn’t save us, but we serve if we’re saved! (Ephesians 2.8-10) This is the start, not the goal. This is a catalyst event, intended to create in each of us and all of us as a church family a desire to be praying and going in all areas of our lives, all the time. We’re not DOING everything. These are just first step, introductory steps. Hopefully, this will allow us the opportunity for more open doors into our community. You don’t need to KNOW everything. You don’t need to have an answer to everything that people might ask you while you’re out. All we’re trying to do is communicate to our community that we love them, want to make a difference, and have an opportunity to share God’s grace with them. If you’re really stumped, your group leader will be there to help! Offer to pray for those you meet. What better way to be PRAYING as we’re GOING! Invite those you meet to our picnic. Free food to let our community know we care! NOTE: If you picked up your new GFC Shirt this week, please wear it on Sunday. This will help us be “official” as we work throughout New Holland and create opportunities for conversations.
If you didn’t get one this week, they will be available on Sunday. Come early to find your size!
