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CORE GROUP MEETING
Sunday, September 9, at 2:00 p.m. |
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Greetings!
How often does doubt and anxiety settle within us? Do we frequently question why we are going through whatever experiences come our way? Are we afraid we can't bear the burdens we bear? The Psalmist, King David, must have gone through the same challenges we all have, in several multiples perhaps, and yet he always found ways to thank God for whatever good or bad event he had been through. "One day in your temple is better than a thousand anywhere else...Lord God All-Powerful, you bless everyone who trusts you," is what King David said in Psalm 84:10, 12 CEV. "Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever." 1 Chronicles 16:36 NKJV The Church Staff
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 Intercessors' Meeting Tonight
Every Wednesday evening at 7:30 a small band of our faithful members gather together for prayer here at Gospel Life. We probably see quite often how that other church parking lots overflow with parked cars on Wednesday evenings when they have their prayer meetings. Why so?
That is a question only you can answer for yourself and there is no requirement for attendance. Tonight, however, we urge all who can to spend an hour or so together in prayer for whatever needs each individual might have, or for the perceived needs of the church as a whole.
We need to continue raising our petitions to our God, not because He doesn't know what's in our minds, but to exercise our faith and trust in Him. Let's keep praying for Pastors John and Jessie as he continues to physically nurse her back to her original health and strength. She's spending some time for rest and restoration at their home in Green Hills, in Metro Manila, Philippines, having been discharged from the hospital a couple of days back.
God is doing something regarding our fiscal challenges at Gospel Life, and we don't even know about it. Let's hold on to that faith, and pray that our faith and trust in Him continue to strengthen us, believing that He knows the best way to deal with all these challenges before us.
Come tonight, and bless the Lord with your presence! |
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 CORE GROUP MEETING
Please note that our Core Group Meeting is rescheduled for this coming Sunday, after the Fellowship Lunch, at 2:00 p.m.
Several items will be presented or taken up including the matter of LifeTouch (formerly Olan Mills) producing our church directory with color pictures of our congregants. This is not going to cost the church a single cent and an 8" x 10" frameable photograph (the same one that will appear in the church directory) will be given to the individual or family free of charge. Further details will be given at the meeting.
Plans for the upcoming Walnut Family Festival in October (Saturday, the 12th) will also be discussed. Suggestions as to how we will participate in the parade and in the festival grounds (at Suzanne Park) are most welcome. This year's theme is "Rockin' in the Park."
There are sign-up sheets for the parade and for the booths at the church foyer. Please indicate your plan to help by adding your name on the sign-up sheets.
If there are specific items you'd like to bring up, kindly give Pastor Joannie a call to let her know what it is you'd like to add to the agenda, if appropriate.
Remember, many hands make light work!
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 "COURAGEOUS"
"Honor begins at home," so the poster that accompanies this movie says. As spiritual priests and head of families, now or in the future, all the men in our congregation, young or old, single or married, MUST determine to be a part of the Men's Retreat on Friday and Saturday, September 21 and 22.
The movie, which topped the charts on the weekend it began showing in movie theaters, will be shown at Gospel Life on Friday evening, the 21st, at 7:30 p.m.
On the 22nd, Saturday morning, attendees will have their usual breakfast before breaking up in groups for two bible study lessons based on the movie.
We invite all the men to fill up all the lines in the sign-up sheet at the church foyer. You will be approached by someone if you haven't had the time to write your name down.
Sorry, ladies, this is FOR MEN ONLY! |
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IS YOUR SMALL GROUP MAKING AN IMPACT?
Four Things a Church Small Group Must Do
The Basic Human Longings
by Dan Lentz
I have been thinking about my own small group currently gathering on Wednesday evenings in our home. As I think about the core people in our group now, and the people we are trying to reach out to as well, I wonder: What do these folks really need? How can we best help people in their spiritual journey? Stephen Ministries in St. Louis, has done a good bit of research into this question. Based on surveys and conversations with thousands of individuals, both inside and outside the church, four primary longings have been identified that people look to have fulfilled. In the context of churches/small groups, these four needs are: - Spirituality -- helping people experience Jesus and His saving power in their lives
- Community -- helping people experience Jesus in one other, giving them the sense that they are connected to a "body," a loving community, as well as to the Creator and Sustainer of all things
- Care -- helping people experience Jesus in their pain and suffering. When many people are most clearly in need of the gospel and most open to God's presence and the healing, saving power of Jesus
- Service -- helping people experience meaning, purpose, and significance by participating in Jesus' mission in the world and being involved in something that is not only bigger than themselves, but also life-transforming and enduring
These longings make sense Biblically, as well. How well a congregation or small group meets these four longings can be a significant indicator of its overall health and ability to be in mission with Jesus. (Cut this article out, make copies and distribute to members of your small group. It may be worth discussing and perhaps inject new life into your fellowship.) |
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CHRISTLIKENESS
Our theme for the month of September is "Christlikeness." A series of sermons revolving around this theme will be presented to us by Pastor Joannie Alano.
Christlikeness includes these attributes among others: loving God, loving our family, serving others and sharing the good news. These topics will be covered in the Good News Hour sermons of the coming three weeks. What greater goal could there be than to become just like Jesus? That is not within our power to do, and so it is the Holy Spirit who empowers us to be like Him.
His blood did it for us on the cross, and because we are covered in His righteousness, in God's eyes we are just like Jesus. He doesn't see the "filthy rags" we are covered with. He can only see Christ's robe of righteousness covering us victoriously and gloriously! |
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 MARKETPLACE MINISTRY
SMALL THINGS
"Who despises the day of small things?"Zechariah 4:10 - Life is filled with a series of small things that can amount to something big. Have you ever considered why the God of the universe came to earth and spent 33 years identifying with mankind through work? Jesus grew up as a carpenter's son and, no doubt, learned the trade from His daily routine of helping His father. For 30 years He worked. When it was time for Him to begin to fulfill His purpose for mankind, He told countless stories of people and their work. He told stories of landowners, farmers, fishermen, tax collectors, and so on. He related to the everyday man because He Himself was one. This is why it was important for Him to have some personal work experience. - Life is filled with daily routines. Every now and then, God takes us to the mountaintop to experience His presence in a dramatic way. This is not the norm. It was not the norm for those in the Bible either. Moses spent 40 years in preparation. Paul spent a great deal of his life working toward the wrong purpose until a dramatic event changed his life. Jacob spent 20 years working for Laban. - God uses work to develop character qualities that He plans to use at the appropriate time. In the small things we develop trustworthiness with God. The day-in and day-out grind of working life molds us and makes us into what God desires. God may still be preparing you for something far greater. For now, however, you are learning the daily lessons of small things. Pray that you will be faithful.
- (Today God Is First (TGIF) devotional message, Copyright by Os Hillman, Marketplace Leaders.) |
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 CHURCH GREETERS' SCHEDULE
September 9 - Vonnie & Tito Cabrera
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September 16 - Penny & Conrad Miranda
September 23 - Linda & Danny Santos
September 30 - Lelit & Tony Luciano
October 7 - Ruby & Ding Dijamco |
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Meditation |
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Dear Father in Heaven, thank You for Your loving hand of guidance. This is hard to do from a human standpoint (even a "child's" viewpoint), but thank You for Your chastisement. I know that You love me because You care enough to bring about or allow things to happen to stop me and redirect my priorities and my paths.
When things don't turn out like I expect, it's usually because I'm not doing what You want me to do or I'm doing something that would not bring about the best results for me, my loved ones, or those in my circle of influence.
Thank You for continuing to direct the work of my hands, the desires of my heart, the steps that I take, and for helping me to turn in trust to You when You redirect my paths. For God, I know that all things work together for the good of those who love You (Romans 8:28).
I love You. In Jesus' name, amen. |
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