Grace Church E-mail Newsletter - December 2000
The Grace Church E-mail NewsletterDecember 2000, Vol. 2 No. 12Welcome to the Grace Church E-mail Newsletter, a monthly resource devoted to promoting the ministries and events of Grace Church. You received this because you have expressed an interest in Grace Church. If you would like to be removed from this mailing list, please see the instructions at the end of this newsletter.The Grace Church Web Site is found athttp://www.gracehome.com/Editor: Chris Ellermailto:[email protected]=======================================================CONTENTS THIS MONTH:1. December Calendar of Events2. Worship Center Update3. An Evening of Christmas Praise4. Christmas Sunday at Grace5. Project Blessing6. Pastoral Search Team7. Become a Gem8. 24-hour Prayer Chain9. Do You Have A Story to Tell?10. Help Spread the Word
December Calendar1 Communion (Evening Service)10 Home for Christmas (AM)An Evening of Christmas Praise (PM)17 Christmas Offering (AM)Grace 101 (first base for newcomers to Grace)Believer’s Baptism (PM)Children's Christmas Musical (PM)24 Candles, Carols & Communion (AM)Grace Church Schedule8:30 & 11 a.m. WorshipNo ABFNo Evening ServiceGrace West Schedule9 a.m. WorshipNo ABFNo Evening Service25-26 Christmas Holiday (Church Offices Closed)27 No Wednesday Dinner or Classes31 New Year's Eve SundayGrace Church Schedule9 a.m. ABF10 a.m. WorshipNo Evening ServiceGrace West Schedule9 a.m. WorshipNo ABFNo Evening ServiceNew Year's Eve Celebration with Sanctuary (PM)JANUARY1 New Year's Day (Church Offices Closed)3 Winter EquippingYOU Classes Start
_____|Worship Center Update |__________________________As I write to you this morning snow is falling INSIDE our worship center. Unfortunately, we learned this past week that the roof will not go on until Jan. 3 or 8. At this time it is a safe assumption we will not be in our worship center by Easter Sunday. Here are the prayer requests regarding the worship center at this time:1. Pray for the safety of the men working on the building.2. Pray that the building will get enclosed by the end of January.3. Pray that God will give us patience during this process._____|An Evening of Christmas Praise |_________________Our annual Christmas Musical will be presented on Sunday evening, Dec. 10. The Grace Church Choir and Orchestra have prepared a wide selection of traditional Christmas favorites and new songs that will both warm and encourage you during this Christmas season. Most importantly, you will find yourself worshipping the Christ of Christmas as we focus our attention on His birth and the gift of salvation that is ours because of Calvary. "An Evening of Christmas Praise" begins in the Grace Church Auditorium at 6 p.m. on Dec. 10. A Christmas fellowship will follow._____|Christmas Sunday at Grace |______________________On Sunday, Dec. 17 we will celebrate Christmas Sunday at Grace. During the morning worship service we will have our traditional Christmas Nativity scene. We will also bring our Christmas Offering at this time. Our offering this year will go towards our Worship Center (Grace Church) or new building (Grace West). Please prayerfully consider your part in this offering. We are also collecting nonperishable foods for the Central Iowa Food Pantry. During the evening service our Children will present their Kidz Christmas Praise concert._____|Project Blessing |_______________________________Christmas is the season of remembering the generosity of God, as He gave His one and only son-Jesus! We, too, desire to give during this season. Grace is a diverse church; we have people from every ethnic and economic backgrounds as part of our church family.One group of people we want to remember this Christmas season are the single parents in our church. Many of these men and women are faithfully working to support and raise a godly family on very limited funds. While they may get by day-to-day, there is very little left over at the end of the month for extras, like Christmas gifts. This is where you can help!The Women's Ministry of Grace Church is coordinating what we are calling "Project Blessing." Through this ministry opportunity, you purchase a gift certificate in the amount of $20, $40, $60 or more to a local merchant and these will be distributed on Sunday, Dec. 17 to single-parent families here at Grace and Grace West.We recommend you purchase certificates from K-Mart, Target or Wal-Mart due to the wide variety of merchandise available at these stores.If you are interested in helping a single-parent family this Christmas Season, please write BLESSING and the number and amount of certificates you plan to buy. Your gift certificate(s) will need to be received by the church office no later than Dec. 10.If you are a single-parent family and need help this Christmas Season, please write JULIE on your Care Card (or e-mail us at mailto:[email protected]) and our Project Blessing Coordinator, Julie Ennis will contact you. Be sure to include your telephone number on your Care Card._____|Pastoral Search Team |___________________________How We Are Seeking Our Next PastorOn Oct. 24, 2000, the Elders appointed the following men to serve on the Pastoral Search Team:Terry Anderson, Chair Jay Mc FarlingChris Eller David StubbsLarry Jatho Ron StubbsGreg LeoThe Search Team is in the process of narrowing a long list of potential candidates down to the top three. During this process the search team is contacting pastors by telephone and asking them to pray about the position. They are also sending a packet of information on Grace Church along with a candidate survey to potential candidates.From the short list of the top three men, the elders will prayerfully and carefully select the man they believe God is calling to serve as our next senior pastor. We will only pursue one man at a time.If the selected man agrees to candidate, our elders will invite him (along with his wife) to Des Moines for a face-to-face interview with our Elders. This will also give the candidate the opportunity to see our facilities and meet our staff.After careful prayer and seeking God's wisdom and discernment, the elders will consider whether or not this is the man God has chosen to serve as our senior pastor. If they believe he is, the elders will extend a call to the candidate. He and his family will be invited back to Grace Church, this time to meet the church family. You will be given the opportunity to hear him preach, ask questions, meet with him in small group settings, and get to know his family. At the end of this process, the elders will ask you to confirm their choice with your vote. The candidate must receive 75 percent confirmation from our congregation to become our next pastor. If you have any questions about this process, please contact Terry Anderson, 271-7773.Please pray daily for our Elders during this process. Also pray for our new senior pastor and his family. Pray that God will begin moving in their hearts and preparing them for the move approaching them._____|BECOME A GEM |___________________________________Are you interested in learning more about the Bible and how to do some practical ministry? If so, you may be interested in Grace Evangelical Ministry School (GEMS). The new semester starts Jan. 22 and runs through May 6. Classes are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday nights and Sunday afternoons. Call Pastor Colyer (265-0199) or write him at mailto:[email protected]_____|24-HOUR PRAYER CHAIN |___________________________Our 24-hour prayer chain begins Dec. 17 at midnight. Please sign up for a time or times on the wall east of the Welcome Center. We will be praying in one accord for our new pastor, our worship center and for unity in the body._____|Do You Have A Story To Tell? |___________________Sometimes it's difficult to give testimony of how God is working in your life, but testimonies are a powerful tool in the Hands of the Holy Spirit. In the past, the only real option was public testimony during a worship service. Let's face it, however; standing in front of 500 to 600 people is intimidating. Most of us would rather do almost anything. Now there is an option. Using video tape, we can record your testimony and play it during a worship service. The church is edified through your words and God is glorified. If you have been ministered to through Grace Church, if God has worked in a mighty way in your life, if you have witnessed His Power and His glory, share the good news with your church family! For more information contact Chris Eller at 265-0199 or mailto:[email protected]._____|Help Spread the Word |___________________________HELP SPREAD THE WORD about Grace Church's Monthly Newsletter. If you know of anyone who would like to receive our Update, please forward this to them and encourage them to subscribe. To subscribe, click on the following link:<<http://www.gracehome.com/mlm/mlm.cgi.>>
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