Pastor Paul's Paragraphs

      I love fall. Actually, it would be more accurate to say that I love the changing of the seasons. Yet, I do love fall. For me it is by far the most colorful season of the year. Here in California we have to travel up into the mountains to get a glimpse of the fall colors. But if you really want to enjoy the fall colors, you must travel east of the Mississippi River or north of the California border. Even though I was born in New York, I grew up in Arizona. I don't remember much about fall in New York, but I do remember my first fall season as a college student attending Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. I owned a Dodge FWD pickup at the time and loved to use it. I would park on a hill behind the fire station just on the edge of downtown and gaze in wonder and awe at the James River. The banks of the river were in full fall colors. I tried to capture them in picture but nothing reflected the real thing. With the afternoon sun behind me and the fall foliage in front of me, the colors crossed the spectrum of beauty to include bright reds, golden yellows, vivid browns, and several shades of green. I do remember experiencing awe at the absolute beauty that unfolded before me.

      Maybe I love the seasons and the change they bring because they remind me of life. Even though our vegetable and flower garden is slowing

     down, I recently planted two 30 foot rows of sunflowers. And guess what, they are up already

     and about three inches tall. Sixty feet of new life in the midst of a garden that is getting ready for winter.

     I recently spoke with one of our young fathers who was relating to me the experience of holding his first child just after birth. He said it was one of the coolest experiences of his life, it was an absolute miracle.

      We sing songs with titles that include "Awesome God" and "Majesty." I think of the words to "I Stand in Awe of You": "Holy God to whom all praise is due, I stand in awe of You." As we move through this fall season and then into the Christmas season, let me challenge you in this area of awe. Psalms 19:1 tells us that the "heavens declare the glory of God." John 1:14 says that the "Word became flesh and dwelt among us." Take time to be still, to bend the knee, to worship at the throne of God, to stand in awe.

      Pastor Paul

Kids Korner - Pastor Greg

      I love "bulletin bloopers!" I read one recently that said: "For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery downstairs." If you don't "get it" the first time, read it over again and have a nice chuckle!

      If there's one thing we KNOW around here, it's that we have CHILDREN! What an incredible blessing it was to be a part of a baby dedication last Sunday with 5 other children in addition to our baby Gracy. That moment really highlighted where our needs in children's ministry are most apparent right now - with our smallest children in the nursery.

      "Confession is good for the soul," right? Well, I'll admit that by far the majority of my time and energies the past 3+ years have been on developing ministry and program for children Pre-School through 6th Grade. Friends, those days are over! With G.R.A.C.E. QUEST, we have a very dynamic approach to ministry for Sunday School, Children's Church, and Midweek Club. But we have a serious baby boom happening in our church and it has my full attention! And I bring this need before you, our church family.

      "Nursery Work" has so often been considered the bottom rung on the ladder of ministry. It's time to put that notion to rest. I am so thankful for the great team of volunteers that faithfully meets the needs of our littlest children week after week, month after month, year after year. But this team has been stretched to the limit. We need your help. If we are to be effective in meeting the needs of children (and their parents!), we have to address the growing population in the nursery.

      Manpower is just half of the equation. Space is the other. We cannot simply "add workers" as that would, in some cases, create even more problems. We are praying, brainstorming, thinking "outside the box," and more to address this challenge. Several ideas are being considered. We would ask for your prayers and any input you may have regarding this issue.

      If God would so lead you to get involved in our nursery, please come and see me. I will be happy to answer any questions you may have about serving in this capacity. If we had 8-12 people say, "I can give our smallest children 1 hour a month", we would be well on our way to better accommodating these precious gifts. Thank you for your prayerful consideration of this growing need. It is such a joy to serve here at Grace.

      Pastor Greg

The Month in Focus with Pastor Ben

      It's time for Grace Notes again. September has been a relatively slow month so far. By the time you read this, we would have had Mission Impossible 2. This is an outreach-oriented event and hopefully we will have seen some kids saved because of it. There is another outreach event on October 14 with guest speaker Rick Caynor. And that's about it for the notes/news section of this article.

      Since there's not a lot to report on, I'll do the other usual thing and give you some thoughts to ponder. I've recently come across two descriptive terms to consider: good and godly. Many people get these two confused, or give them the same meaning. Good means that you don't get in trouble, you do the work that's required of you at your job, you show up to the right church services (the ones where people will see you), you read the right books, watch the right TV shows, etc. All this is done in an attempt to be a "good" person. Many parents are content to raise good kids -they get decent grades, they play a sport or two (or are in some other extra-curricular activity), they have good friends, and they don't get in trouble. Many of our kids are content with this as well. I'd like to take a minute to contrast that with godly. The term "godly" is more than just doing things that seem good - it starts with an attitude. The attitude says "I want God's best and I want His will first in my life." The attitude also says "What's important to God is important to me." This means that good grades are still important so long as you are doing the best you can with the help of God. Sports are still important so long as it's what God wants you to be doing and you have time for the other things He wants you to be doing. Coming to church is still good, but if you want to grow and really do it God's way, you need to be involved (i.e. Sunday school, Home Group, Youth Group, etc.). Jesus said in John 10:10 that He came to give us the abundant life. That is a fulfilled life – full of God and showing Christ to others. An example of a good person is the rich man. This man had "kept all the commandments from his youth" and Jesus told him to sell all he had if he wanted to enter the Kingdom. He was unwilling. He was a good man that was unwilling to sacrifice for Jesus. Are you simply a good person? Or are you a godly person? Colossians 3:2: "Set your mind on things above, not on things of the earth."

      Pastor Ben

Harvest Festival 2006

Annual Halloween Alternative for children!

Not sure where to take the kids for Halloween? Why not bring them to Grace Baptist Church on Wednesday, October 25, from 6:30 - 8:30 PM. Enjoy a safe and Christian friendly environment. Parents and children Preschool through 6th grade are welcome. Admission is free when donating one canned good. Costumes are encouraged but please refrain from anything scary or grotesque. Here are just a few highlights: Jump House, Games, Candy, Costume Contest, Great Food and much, much more! For more information call the church office at 673-6847.

Ministry Opportunity

If you are interested in fellowshipping with God’s people, serving God’s children, and sharing in the many blessings of this event, speak to Pastor Greg. Share with us your ideas, your talents, and your time - help make an impact in a child’s life they will never forget! If you can’t be in attendance, but would love to help, we need lots and lots of candy. We also need cakes for our ever famous cake-walk. Please keep all the helpers and visitors in prayer.

Ministries Coming to GBC

Blankies for Babies - As a new ministry to our many newborns, we would like to offer each a blanket made in love by our church members. If you can sew, crochet or knit, please contact Loretta Stone.

Changes for Life - Tired of feeling tired? Well, get involved with Changes for Life! Meet once a week with group leader Sue Garvin to learn how you can make a difference in your weight, health and lifestyle! This group will meet weekly in the Auditorium, Monday evenings at 6:30 PM. For more information, contact Sue Garvin.

Operation Christmas Child

This is a hands-on missions project in which everyone in the church can participate. Pick up a shoe box from the church and fill it with items such as: safe toys, toiletries, Bibles, coloring books, small clothing, etc. Bind the box with two rubber bands and place the girl/boy label on the top. No money or food type items are accepted. Boxes are due by Sunday, November 19. These boxes will reach less fortunate children around the world. Spread the gospel one box at a time. You can pick up a shoe box in the church foyer on Sunday, October 8.

Donate Poinsettias

Once again this year, Grace Baptist Church would like to give you the opportunity to remember a loved one or special friend this Christmas season by purchasing a poinsettia in their memory or in their honor. These plants will be used as part of the church decorations. Because of the planned arrangement for these plants and the need that they all be the same size, the church will be purchasing the poinsettias.

A listing of those donating poinsettias and for whom they were donated will be published in the December 17 bulletin. You will also have the opportunity to take your poinsettias after the morning service on December 24.

If you would like to be a part of this special remembrance, please fill out the form below and return it, along with $7.00 for each poinsettia you would like to donate, to the church office by Sunday, December 10.

If you have any questions please contact Abby or Lori in the church office or send an email here.

Print the form (click here).

A Victorian Christmas Card Come to Life

Join Grace In Action as they charter a bus and head to San Francisco to celebrate the 27th Annual Dickens Christmas Fair on December 9. Enjoy Dickens characters in costume, merchants and artisans, dazzling entertainment, delightful foods and much, much more!

Transportation is $35 and the entrance fee is just $17.

See Joyce Seibel to reserve your spot to this magical Christmas come to life.

Quarterly Administrative Meeting

Mark your calendar and be sure to attend our next Quarterly Administrative Meeting on October 29, following the evening service.

GBC Parking Lot Project Update

The Special Church Administrative Meeting of Sunday, September 24, was held to discuss the parking lot resurfacing project. At that meeting, the church body voted to accept a bid to resurface a large area of the parking lot at a cost of $72,500 and to re-line that area at a cost of $1500 - $2000. Funds available for this project total $75,500. However, there is another area of the parking lot that needs to be graded and resurfaced. The cost for this repair would be an additional $9200. These funds are not currently available. Would you please consider how the Lord would have you to be a part of this very important project? If you would like to donate to this project, please let Pastor Paul know by October 15, as work is scheduled to begin on October 18.

Making an International Impact

Farewell to the Farley Family
Tim, Virgie and Hannah Farley will be returning to Peru at the end of October. We thank the Lord that they were able to receive the support needed to return to the mission field. Please continue to pray for the Farleys as there is much work ahead of them. Join us for a Farewell Reception following the evening service in the Gym.

City on a Hill
Rick and Lisa Caynor will present their ministry to Thailand during Sunday School and at both services. Rick has served for the past 3 years as the Director of Student Mobilization for ABWE. Lisa has been teaching Bible at Harrisburg Christian School.Prior tothey were in youth ministry for 9 years. For more information visit www.cityonahill.abwe.org.

Calendar of Events

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