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From
Pastor Wes
Sadly, on Saturday there will be a funeral for Whitney Houston about 50 miles north of here at New Hope Baptist Church in Newark. It is the same Church where Whitney began to sing publicly when she was 11 years old. Her first solo was "Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah." Now dead. Too soon. Too early. Too sad! Whitney joins the long list of incredibly talented people who died all too early after struggling with issues that just seemed to be too large, too overwhelming in their lives.... Marilyn Jimi Janis Elvis Kurt Michael Amy Whitney So many others.... I can't imagine the opportunities and temptations wealthy celebrities face, I have not walked in their shoes. But I do know that we have a God who can deliver! Jesus said, "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed..." (Luke 4:18) It's true! God can deliver! Freedom is in Jesus! I wish we could explain why some don't seem to find that freedom. I can't answer that. There are no simplistic answers. Somewhere this week I heard that the last song Whitney Houston sang publicly was "Jesus Loves Me, This I Know." We have hope. Lord, we need You! We pray for Your deliverance from what would destroy us. We pray for those in torment. We pray for Your Peace. Save us, O God! Lord, Have Mercy! |
This Week
Wednesday
7 pm Youth Group
Friday
6 am
Prayer for the Community
4 pm Church Board Meeting
Sunday 9:30 am
Sunday School
10:45 pm
Morning Worship Service |
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On the Road to the Cross
 As Jesus was making that final trip to Jerusalem, He knew that He would be arrested, tortured and then death on the cross. What was He most concerned about? What mattered most to Jesus in those crucial days? You will be challenged and blessed through the sermon series Pastor Wes is beginning this Sunday entitled "On the Road to the Cross." What matters to Jesus, matters! |
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Men's Ministry...Next Step!
We're delighted to announce that we will be having a Men's Class beginning this coming Sunday Morning! Brian Clark has offered to initiate this ministry. Brian, from Indiana, has a call to pastoral ministry and is in his final year in the Master of Divinity program at Princeton Theological Seminary. Things begin at 9:30, with the Men's Class meeting at 9:45 in Pastors' office. Also men, this next Tuesday will be the second session on the great benefit of accountability relationships. Even if you missed the first session, this next one will be of great interest and help to you!
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Vacation Bible School Meeting
This Sunday after our Morning Worship Service, we are having a VBS informational meeting!
Come and see what Sky VBS is all about, from the Up and Away Sing and Play to All Start Games to Spotlight Drama to the Imagination Station. We'll need a lot of volunteers for our VBS to be amazing!
Are you a/an: artist, arts and crafts guru, gamer, storyteller or actor? Then Sky needs you!
Come to the informational meeting and see how you can further the Kingdom through ministering to our kids!
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Kids & Teens News 
Hey Grace Community! We hope that this week has already been a blessing to you! Here's what's been happening in the lives of our Youth and Teens this week!
On Saturday, February 18th, some of us are going to the February Teen Bible Quizzing Meet at Toms River in New Jersey. We are planning to start a quiz team next season! If you'd like to see what goes down, contact Pastor Matt by February 12th.
This Sunday, we are having our first VBS Meeting. It's an overview of what will take place during VBS summer. Say a while after service and see what great things will happen during Sky!
PLAN NOW FOR SUMMER CAMP: Teens (finished grade 7-12) Camp is July 30th-August 4, Kids Camp for finished grades 1-3 is August 6-10th and Grades 4-6 is August 13-17! Stay tuned for more information!
Please keep our Children and Youth in prayer! We are anticipating great things that happen in the upcoming months! Be blessed today!
Later Days!
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Now for a Little History
In 1948, Rev. Elizabeth Vennum, Global Mission Council member, was asked to think and pray about a challenging project for missions. Rev. Vennum knew if God wanted the project to take place, He would provide the plan. On the return trip from Kansas City, God gave her His plan of giving "love" gifts. It was modeled after the sacrifice of the woman who anointed Jesus' head with expensive perfume poured from an alabaster jar (Matthew 26:6-13). At the Global Missionary Council meeting in 1949, Mrs. Vennum told of the Alabaster plan God had given her. The Council unanimously adopted the plan, and the first offering was received in 1949. The Board of General Superintendents approved the plan for Alabaster funds to be used exclusively for buildings and properties in cross-cultural ministries.
More than 60 years later, Alabaster is still strong, having provided more than 8,600 projects since 1949. Faithful Nazarenes around the world have given approximately $95 million dollars for this much-needed ministry.
Bend down! Pick it up! Marvel! Really....it's amazing!
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| A Delicious, Delectable, Delightful Dinner
A BIG thank you to everyone who helped make our church dinner this past Sunday such a special occasion! Thanks to Sandi for her great leadership! Thank you to all those who prepared such wonderful food ! Thank you to everyone who pitched in on the various which made it all go so smoothly!
Our next dinner together will be our annual Missions Dinner on March 4th. This is an opportunity to bring a meal to share that reflects the country or culture of your heritage. Our focus on March 4 will be Global Missions.
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Want to Be a More Contagious Christian?
It seems that almost every disciple of Jesus Christ wishes that they were better prepared and more effective at sharing about Jesus with their friends and co-workers. At Grace Community Church we regularly offer one-day seminars to help you become more empowered and confident in share your faith. The next opportunity to participate will Saturday, March 17. This simple, enjoyable and effective seminar will give you tools you need to help change lives! This seminary will begin at 9:00 am, finish at 4:00 and cost $10. for materials. Snacks and lunch are provided. We believe that this one-day investment of your time will help to change at least one person's life for eternity, money back guarantee! Please sign up here.
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Church Directory:
We received the proof copies from the printer this week and they look great! The process has taken longer than we expected because the printing costs were coming in at a high level, so we continued to shop around for a better price. By shopping further, we are getting our Directories printed at a price 60% below the first two estimates we received! Good stewardship! |
Two Great Gospel Presentations
We are planning the next Grace Community Church group trips and there are two now available for immediate sign-up:
First, "He is Alive!"
This is the resurrection story presented dramatically by the Fountain of Life Church in Burlington, NJ. This passion play celebrates the life, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus in an unforgettable way! There are over 200 volunteers that help make this a powerful recount of Christ's love. With tickets at $10 or less, maybe you could invite a friend or two? We are planning on attending the Friday evening presentation on March 30 at 7:30 pm. Check out these links and respond here by February 19 if you would like to attend.
Second, "Jonah" at Sight and Sound Theater, Lancaster, PA
We are assessing if there would be interest in a Grace Community Church group trip to see "Jonah" at Sight and Sound Theater in Lancaster, PA on August 18th. Sight and Sound productions are of highest quality and sell out early, so we would need to purchase our tickets by February 26. The cost would be $64.00 per ticket. Please respond as soon as you are able by expressing your interest here for this event.
Thank you to Amy Weyna for coordinating these events!
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Header Picture for this Newsletter
Up to this point, we have used generic header pictures for the top of this newsletter. Now we welcome your artistic contribution! We'd like to use pictures that relate to the ministry of Grace Community Church in some way. Please email Pastor Matt with your pictures or for more information. |
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Upcoming Events
February is Alabaster Month
Thursday, February 16, Front Step Banquet, Philadelphia Compassionate Ministry
Friday, February 17, Church Board Meeting @ 4:00 pm.
Saturday, February 18, Teen Bible Quiz at Toms River, NJ
Sunday, February 19: Launch of new Men's Ministry Class during Sunday School time
Sunday, February 19, Vacation Bible School Volunteers Meeting following Morning Worship Service;
Tuesday, February 21, Men's Group at Pastor Wes and Sarah's home, 7 pm.
Friday-Saturday, February 24-25, Pastor Matt to Boston for ENC Gospel Choir reunion
Saturday, March 10, Contagious Christian seminar, 9:00 am- 4:00 pm, $10 fee, snacks/lunch provided
Friday, March 30, "He is Alive", Church trip to Fountain of Life dramatic presentation;
Sunday, April 1, Palm Sunday
Sunday, April 8, Resurrection-Easter Sunday!
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Final Good News
"Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. (James 5:16)
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Contact Info
Church Office (609)737-3184 Ming Lai
Pastor R. Wesley Tink Mobile: (609)226-9615
Pastor Matthew Brown Mobile: (917)226-7621 |
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