In This Issue
Sermon Series
ENC Concert
Kid's and Teens

RWTOct12  
From Pastor Wes

"Be Vigilant!" 
 
Monday brought Boston and the nation the horrific scenes of violence, suffering and evil. 

In a place and moment of athletic celebration, someone carefully planned to maim and kill as many people as possible. Lives are changed forever.  Let us remember those injured and the families of those killed in our prayers. 

If you spend time in Israel, one of the first Hebrew phrases learn is "Shel mee zey?" --"To whom does this belong?"  Any unclaimed item will immediately clear a bus or a city block. The people are vigilant because they know they are always under potential attack.  They are ready and expecting it.

That may sound like oppressive, but it is actually quite empowering.  To realize that there is an enemy who seeks to destroy, empowers people to be ready to respond immediately to any threat.  Complacency is the enemy's friend.

As Christians, it is easy for us to be complacent, to think that our spiritual enemy--satan--has given up and no longer has designs on us. The Bible says: 

"Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith..."
--1 Peter 5:8-9
"How Then Should we Live?" 
OakOfRighteousness
We live in a world that has the power to influence our mind and beliefs in a greater measure and at greater rate of change than ever before.  Christ directed us to be in the world but not of the world.  His disciples are called to be distinct and unique within whatever society they live because they do not live by the world's standards but by the teaching and presence of Christ Himself.

This Sunday, Pastor Wes will preach on what the Bible teaches us about being separate from the world according to God's instructions, in this continuing series on "God's Call to Holiness!" To prepare your heart and mind for this teaching, please take a few minutes and read 2 Corinthians 6.  Also please pray that God will direct the hearts of all and that we have courage and faithfulness to accept and apply God's lessons to our lives.  
Eastern Nazarene College Concert 
ENC A Cappella
THIS FRIDAY AT 6:30! Grace Community Church hosts a concert of the Eastern Nazarene College A Capella Choir.  

ENC's A Cappella Choir and Chamber Singers tour regularly in the New England and Mid-Atlantic states. In addition to performing internationally, the choirs have performed at New York City's Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, and at Boston's historic Jordan Hall at New England Conservatory.  Be sure to reserve this date and plan now to invite friends and family that would enjoy this concert.  Follow this link to see more about the ministry of the choir. 
 
THANK YOU to all those who have volunteered to host choir members!  Arrangements are made and covered for all 47 people in the Choir!   
Kids and Teen News 
Good Wednesday morning!!! I hope that all is well! 

 

 Join us for Youth Group Today! It's going to be a great time of fellowship, fun and a drawing good time....Find out what that means today at 7p
 
 
On Friday, April 26,  the Mercer County Youth Pastors are putting together a worship night for all teens from all denominations! We are calling it the Collective. Pastor Matt will have all details tonight.

Congrats to Sadie Weyna and Amanda Bayne for making the Regional team for Teen Bible Quizzing! 

Teen Camp forms are now available! Contact Pastor Matt for the forms!

 

We are starting to get Vacation Bible School off the ground for this summer! If you would like to help during VBS in July, contact  Pastor Matt.  

Jon Lambert and Gennie Neuman Reception
Lambert-Neuman
Jon and Gennie are getting married! They will be married on June 1 in Minnesota. GCCN will host a reception for them following the Morning Worship Service on April 27. Please bring a card and gift as able.
 
If you would like to make an online gift to Jon and Gennie, you can go here to  to see how they are registered and what their specific needs are. Jon has been a member of our congregation for almost 4 years and currently serves as Church Board Member as well as leading the young adult ministry.  Gennie has completed her Master's degree at Rutgers and is currently involved scenic design.
Upcoming Men's Events
Rock Solid
Good meeting last night!  Our next session is Tuesday evening, April 30. The topic that evening will be "25 Practical Ways to be a Servant-Leader.  We will start at 7:00 pm at Pastor Wes' home.  There are only four more sessions in this series before the summer. 

Note, men, the 3-hour workbee scheduled for this Saturday will be postponed due to weather predictions of rain.
Upcoming Events

April 19, Friday, ENC A Cappella Choir, 6:30pm

April 20, Saturday, Men's 3-Hour Church Workbee, 9:00 am Postponed

April 21-23, Philadelphia District Assembly

April 27, Reception for Jon Lambert and Gennie Neuman following Morning Service;

May 12, Mother's Day

May 12, GCCN group photograph following Morning Service

May 16-18, Regional Teen Bible Quizzing at ENC

May 19, Pentecost

May 26, Guest Speaker on Societal Changes

June 16, Father's Day, Celebration of RockSolid Men's Completion: "The Quest"

June 23, Graduation Sunday--Celebrating our Graduates.  Dinner to follow.

Final Good News
"You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is focused on You, because he trusts in You." 
                       ---Isaiah 26:3
Church Office
GraceCommunityOffice@gmail.com
609.737.3184

Pastor R. Wesley Tink
Mobile: 609.226.9615

Pastor Matthew Brown
Mobile 917.226.7621