Pastor Paul's Paragraphs

      As I sit at my desk today and attempt to work during Vacation Bible School, the noise level of an auditorium full of children fills the air. That noise level has got to be similar to that experienced at the end of a jet runway, if not more.

      As I walk around the church complex this week, I am reminded of ministry to children. It is evident in our Preschool (Judy Runge and staff), it is ongoing in our Academy (Russell Rohleder and staff), and it is ever expanding at Grace as a direct result of the leadership of Pastor Greg and an army of volunteers. Thank you to all who participate in ministry to children here.

      We are blessed with both the privilege and the responsibility of reaching children. Today is a humbling day at VBS as we share the gospel with over 200 children present and introduce some to Jesus. I am reminded of Matthew 19:13,14. I like the way it reads in the NIV:

      "Then little children were brought to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them. Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.'"

      I am also overwhelmed with where God has brought us as a church. This past week I stood under the trees of the front lawn of the church with five other people and posed for a picture. Three couples were present in that picture: Pastor Greg and Tracy Mansur, Pastor Ben and Gloria Lunsford, and Joyce and myself. Three pastors and their wives were standing arm in arm, full of excitement and anticipation and fear. Ha, the fear keeps us dependent on the Lord. Last night the youth group met in the gymnasium for pizza with our new youth pastor and wife. By the time you read this, they will be moved in and getting involved in student ministry.

      Enough for now, praise the Lord, and, since it is the last two days of Vacation Bible School, I think I will go get a cookie!

      Thanks for allowing Joyce, Kristi, Jill and I to be part of what is happening here at Grace.

      Pastor Paul

Kids Korner - Pastor Greg

      It’s hard to put into words the appreciation I have for all the people who took part in our Vacation Bible School program last month. When we first started putting the pieces together in January, I never realized the amount of momentum and excitement we would see generated. Over 100 people from our ministry partnered together to make this summer’s VBS a great success. I am humbled by your generous support.

      We ministered to 350 children in this year’s VBS and had over 80 daily workers. That’s incredible! Just stop and think about the impact that will have in our church and in our community for years to come!

      To those who prayed, brought cookies, coffee cans, pool noodles, construction paper, grocery bags, rope (the list seems endless!) and more - I thank you. To those who were able to be here through the week, serving as crew leaders, leading games, doing crafts, teaching Bible stories and much, much more - I can only hope that you were as impacted as I was as we touched the lives of children and families with the message of God’s love. WOW!

      With the week of VBS behind us, we now look ahead to our time at Word of Life’s West Coast Camp! It looks like over 60 children, teenagers and adults will be attending at Lassen Pines Christian Campground, July 18-23. This is always an extraordinary time to “get away” from the distractions around us and focus on God and His Word (with water slides, paintball, go-carts, beach volleyball and more - it’s pretty fun, too!). Please be in prayer as we get ready to make the trip and that life-impacting decisions would be made for Christ. It is an awesome opportunity we don’t want to miss!

      "What will be available to the kids this summer?" This is a question I’ve been asked as we’ve drawn nearer to the summer months. While the primary focus in the month of June was to prepare for VBS, we are now looking forward to a great time on Wednesday nights for the kids in Preschool through Sixth Grade. Summer J.A.M. (Jesus and Me) will begin on July 6 and run through the rest of the summer. This will be a great time of praising, preaching, praying, and playing! We will be building upon the foundation laid during our VBS for a summer-long season of impact! It will be wonderful to revisit the themes, Bible points, verses and music from Serengeti Trek (we may even get a visit or two from Chadder the Chipmunk)! Be in prayer that a number of the children who attended our VBS will also be a part of this summer ministry. Summer J.A.M. will meet at 7:00 PM every Wednesday night.

      What a thrill it is to serve here at Grace. As our family enters our third year of ministry, we are mindful of the Lord’s promise to us: “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” It is His hand of guidance, love, care, and protection that gives us strength day by day. And so often it is through your kindness and generous support that we see His hand in our lives. Thank you so much - may He bless you all richly!

      Pastor Greg

The Month in Focus with Pastor Ben

      Hello, Grace Baptist Church! This is my first time writing in a newsletter so forgive me if it’s not on par with those other seasoned journalists!

      First, I’d like to thank you all for inviting my wife and I to lead the youth ministry here. I am very excited for the opportunities that I see and for the ones that will come. We feel very at home with those of you we’ve met and are looking forward to years of developing relationships.

      My wife and I both would like to say thank you to all who gave us gifts cards; it was a real blessing and encouragement. We got many from Target, WINCO, WalMart, and others and know we won’t have to worry about clothes or food shopping for awhile! We are still unpacking and finding storage for all of our stuff that we absolutely cannot live without (which I know you all have, too!). Hopefully we will be done soon!

      Camp is coming up in a couple of weeks and we are preparing for that along with the volunteer youth staff. Please pray for that week as it will be a great time for us to get to know the kids better and establish some foundations for future relationships.

      Thanks again for bringing us here and we look forward to ministering with you.

      Pastor Ben

Grace Baptist has New Youth Pastor

Pastor Ben Lunsford has joined the staff of Grace Baptist as our new Youth Pastor.

Ben candidated for the position on June 5 and, at a special church meeting on June 5, the church voted to call him as Youth Pastor.

Ben has accepted the call and he and his wife, Gloria, moved from Oregon on June 21, officially beginning his ministry on June 28.

Click here for Pastor Ben’s first Grace Notes article!

Community Service Opportunities

A Woman’s Friend pregnancy Resource Center and Medical Clinic has a full-time paid position available. Vivian Hoffart, our Director of Development for the last five years, has moved into the La Vita store manager position, leaving the Director of Development position open. If you would like a job description and an application, please call Becky Reimers at 741-9136.

Christian Assistance Network needs to fill the position of volunteer Office Coordinator. This requires approximately 20 hours per week and involves supervising the overall running of the C.A.N. office, training staff and overseeing the volunteer working on the computer program. If you are interested in this ministry, please see our C.A.N. representative, Ruth Clark, as soon as possible.

W.I.S.E. Women’s Fellowship

W.I.S.E. (Women in Search of Excellence), under the leadership of Lisa Papararo, director, is an interdenominational women’s fellowship.

WISE Women’s Fellowship includes weekly Bible studies, summer fellowship times called Summer Nights, and an outreach event each December called Holiday Heartwarming as well as retreats and training seminars.

The women of W.I.S.E. are pleased to announce that Grace Baptist Church has graciously allowed us to use their facilities for our Tuesday night Bible studies this Fall.

We, the women of W.I.S.E., wish to take this opportunity to invite you to come and be part of our fellowship. Join us as we grow together as a group of Women in Search of Excellence.

For more information, please contact Vicki Gasperoni (755-1801) or check our web site at www.wiseministries.org.

Grace in Action

presents

TAKE ME OUT TO
THE OLD BALL GAME

Monday, July 4 6:30 PM
All Seasons RV Park in Marysville

Tickets are $5.00 or
$7.00 for the shady seats

There will be a laser light show
following the game

For tickets, contact Barbara Miranda

Church Work Day

Saturday, July 9
8:30 AM

Time to clean up, spruce up and repair around the church and school grounds!

There will be painting projects, concrete repair, cleaning projects, door repairs, and lots of other projects.

A sign-up sheet with a list of projects is located on the board in the church foyer.

Check out the list today!

Celebrate Our Country

Sunday, July 3

10:30 AM Service will feature patriotic songs & special presentations and a special color guard. Dress for the day is patriotic casual.

Dinner on the Grounds will follow the service

Tri-Tip Sandwiches and Baked Beans provided
A-M bring either a macaroni or potato salad
N-Z bring dessert or a 1 pound bag of chips

(Sign up on the bulletin board)

Men’s Apple Pie Bake-off
All pies must be made from scratch and will be judged by a special panel of judges!!!

Calendar of Events

Click on the highlighted dates - the events are shown on the right.