Grace Memorial Baptist Church S OF G RACE...

Grace Memoria l Bapt ist Church

S P I R I T O F G R AC E

I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E :

Stewardship Report 2

Pastor’s Column 2

Nursery Schedule 2

Senior Adults News 2

Youth Ministries 3

Church News 3

DECEMBER 2018

Events & Menus on the

December Calendar

Join us for the special services and events at Grace Memorial as we celebrate the birth of our Savior.

Advent Observance—each Sunday beginning December 2 until Christmas Eve

Children’s Presentations, Sunday, December 9, 10:15am

Featuring Children’s Choir musical, Crazy, Busy, Peaceful Holy Night,

and songs by the Preschool Choir

Christmas Cantata, Fantasia Noel, Sunday, December 16, 10:15am

Featuring the Adult Choir and Orchestra

Christmas Eve Family Service, Monday, December 24, 6:00pm

Featuring Carols, Candles, Special Music, Scripture and the Lord’s Supper

SUNDAY NIGHT LIVE, 5PM ENDING DECEMBER 2

WILL RESUME JANUARY 2019! -Preschool Choir, Children’s Choir, Childcare -Adult Bible Study (not meeting Dec. 2)

-Youth Growth Groups will continue

DEACONS

OF THE WEEK

December 2-8

DAVID KESSLER

BILL COGGIN

KEVIN BEANE

December 9-15

BRIAN COGGIN

JIMMIE JONES

RICK JOHNSON

December 16-22

ANDREW PITMAN

ED DEMEYERE

MIKE O’DANIELL

December 23-29

DAVID PILCHER

CHAD PALAO

DON CARRUTH

December 30-January 5

P.J. GRAHAM

SCOTT PURVIS

JOE CHEBAHTAH

WEEK OF PRAYER FOR INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS AND THE LOTTIE MOON CHRISTMAS OFFERING

December 2-December 9, 2018

Remember in Prayer…

Each week in the bulletin we will give you a member of the Pastor Search Team and a Church Staff member to lift up in prayer as the pastor search continues. Please pray with us as we strive to seek God’s will.

Pastor Search Team: Don Carruth, Rhena Coggin, P.J. Graham, David Kessler, Johnny Lewis, JoAnn Pilcher, Andrew Pitman; alternates are Norris Grubbs and Lynda Palao

GMBC Church Staff: Jerry Smith, Mike Mohler, Mitch Peltonen, Rick Johnson, Debbie Thomas, Andi Peltonen, Chris-tine Holton, Amy Lutman, Diane Lane Also pray for Dr. Phelps as he brings the sermon each Sunday.

ANGEL TREE CHRISTMAS (for children whose parents are incarcerated)

If you took an angel from the Angel Tree, bring the wrapped gift to the church office by

Sunday, December 16,

with the adhesive angel tag attached.

END OF YEAR GIVING In order to receive credit on your 2018 giving statement, bring your donations to church or postmark checks by Monday, December 31. You may also donate online until midnight on December 31.

New Ladies Bible Study—starting January 10, 9:30am, In the Fellowship Hall—“The God You May Not Know,” by David Jeremiah, led by Elizabeth

Hanna. Sign up to reserve your book, cost $10.

Church Grounds Work Day

On Saturday, December 8, 8-10am,

we need you to come help us spruce

up the church grounds on the office

and sign side.

Stewardship—November AVERAGE WEEKLY

Sunday School 235

Morning Worship Service 317

Sunday Night Live 67

Van Ministry 10

Wednesday Family Night 100

Budget Needed Per Week $ 17,077.00

Average Weekly Receipts (Budget) 14,960.32

Average Weekly Receipts (Budget & Designated) 16,098.00

YEAR-TO-DATE

Budget Needs $ 802,619.00

Budget Receipts 748,272.73

All Missions 14,033.60

Total Other Designated 65,041.37

Total Deposits: $ 827,347.70

Budget Expenditures $ 725,406.27

GVOM Balance $ 861,954.85

Decisions for Christ (Sept. 2018-Aug. 2019) 2

By Baptism (Sept. 2018-Aug. 2019) 1

WORSHIP SERVICE CHILDCARE SCHEDULE Childcare is provided during the morning Worship Services

in the Children’s Building for birth thru age 3. Children age 4

thru 3rd grade are dismissed to Children’s Church.

Code 100 on the Worship Center monitor indicates

more workers are needed in the Nursery

Dec. 2 Tina Tulino, Mallori Magee, Help Needed!

Dec. 9 Darla Mansfield, Elaine Strahan,

Stephanie Cheak, Help Needed!

Dec. 16 Mary Jane Smith, Jan DeMeyere, Bob Heustess

Dec. 23 Paula Herr, Libby Behrens, Lyndsey Mohler

Dec. 30 Damon and Kristina Romero, Help Needed!

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!!! Contact Elaine Strahan, 290-9619,

if you can help, and be blessed!

What a miraculous God we serve! The Eternal became temporal. The heavenly became earthly. The unseen draped Himself in flesh. The Voice was seen. The Holy engaged the sinful. Quite an

amazing miracle. We have friends who resist the miraculous, yet in their hearts

they cry out for a miracle. They recognize they don’t deserve it, yet they whisper that mercy can be shown. They fear disappointment, still they peek across the threshold into the realm of Another.

During this season of lights, others struggle to walk through a valley of darkness. The pain of their souls overshadows the joy of those around them. While some sing carols of hope, they hear only a minor key. The Hallmark Card Christmas portrayed on the TV programs is simply too idealistic for their realities. Their aloneness is not abated by the crowded stores and streets.

We all need the miracle of Christmas – of God Himself coming into the world. We all need the assurance of a God Who keeps His promises. We all need Light to break through the darkness. We all need hope of another chance to begin again. We all need the love of a sacrificial Savior.

Please join us during this special month of celebration. Each unique service will be filled with the declaration and demonstration of our miraculous God. Someone you know needs your kind invitation and inclusion to celebrate our miraculous Christ.

Christ has come . . . and is coming again! That is a miracle worth shouting from the mountains and celebrating from our souls!

Merry Christmas, Grace Memorial Baptist Church!

Bro. Dennis

Christian sympathy is extended to …

…Lorene Baswell and family on the death of her

mother-in-law, Ava.

...Wes Rawls and family on the death of his mother, Ann.

...Laura Bonnette on the death of her mother-in-law.

Congratulations to…

...Grandparents Fred and Brenda Burton on the birth of

their granddaughter, Amelya Grace, on October 29.

Proud parents are Joshua & Angela Renaud.

...Grandparents Harold & Linda Zerangue on

the birth of their grandson, Blake Marshall,

on November 8. Proud parents are Steven &

Megan Piper (Zerangue).

Prayer Shawl Ministry “Comfort from Grace”

Meets 1st and 3rd Tuesdays, 1pm-2:45pm, WC 103

For more info, contact Shirley Temples at 985-214-6774.

WORKERS NEEDED! We need help in GA’s, Nursery, and a

Sunday School Kindergarten teacher.

Contact the church office if you can help!

LIBRARY NEWS

Grace Library is open most Sundays from 10:00-10:15am

and 5-6pm. It is also open on Wednesdays from 5-7pm.

Contact Gail Ducote at 504-343-0379 if you are interested

in the Grace Book Club!

Everyone age 55 and older is invited to…

B.A.S.I.C. Dinner Meeting Tuesday, December 11, 6:00pm Meet in the Worship Center,

meal to follow in the FH

PROGRAM: The Honey Island Singing Bees, WC

MEAL: Ham, Carrot Soufflé, Macaroni & Cheese, Rolls, Dessert

RESERVATIONS REQUESTED

Sign up on the Sunday bulletin tear-off or call the church office by

noon on Monday, December 10, to make reservations for dinner.

Thank you!

BASIC MOVIE NIGHT—December 4, 6pm, FH, “Let there Be Light”

Bring a comfy chair and a dessert to share!

REGULAR SUNDAY SCHEDULE—Sunday School-9am, Worship Service-10:15am Youth Choir-4:00pm, Growth Groups-5:00pm WEDNESDAYS, Huddle-6:30pm

DECEMBER EVENTS: Dinner & A Movie-9th, 6PM

Youth Nursing Home Outreach-16th, 2:45 Join us as we go and sing, make crafts and love on the seniors. We will have Growth Groups after.

Youth Fundraiser Lunch-16th and 30th

Youth Breakfast-23rd, during Sunday School

Caroling for Cans-23rd, 5:00 (after choir) Join us as we go caroling to our shut-ins

What’s Coming Up! - High School Ski Retreat-January 18-21. Sign up! $50 Deposit due Dec. 16th.

Fundraising opportunities provided to help defray the cost. Pick up a flyer!

When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, “The LORD is with you, mighty warrior.” – Judges 6:12 (NIV). In this Bible verse, Gideon was going through a season of his life when his faith was weak. He wasn’t feeling it and probably would have rather given up than contin-ued on. At this moment when he was discouraged, an angel appears to Gideon and tells him that the Lord is with Him. You’ve probably experienced times in your life when your faith was weak like Gideon’s. Maybe you questioned if you really heard from God about something. Perhaps you feel like so many things are against you in life that you can’t go on. In times like these, we can take courage in the fact that God is always with us. God doesn’t leave us without help. He said that He would never leave us or forsake us. He has the answer you need for whatever it is that you’re go-ing through. Like Gideon, He won’t leave you. He sees you in your discouragement and tells you again and again in the Bible that you can make it. So choose to shift your thinking onto what God’s Word says. You’re not alone. God is for you and He’s with you each step of the way.

Love ya! Bro. Jerry

Merry Christmas from the Kid’s Wing!

This is the time of year when it seems easy to pretend like you’re holly jolly, but really you’re stressed on the inside about money (or lack there of), family (the crazy and crazier), time (daylight savings time took an hour from everyday and never gives them back), deadlines (all sorts), your weight (pants not fitting), Christmas cards (none again this year), mailing out gifts (lucky if they get them before Feb.), and whatever else there could be that may-be I don’t want to put on the newsletter for everyone to read (fear of Andi)! This is the time of year when we really need to step back, crack down in our quiet time with the Lord, and real-ly reflect on Him (at least I do). We need to dig into the Word of God, and pray for our hearts to be softened (I’m struggling). Christmas is wonderful, but we are not required to celebrate it. Christmas is a man-made holiday, but it is the best man-made one! The world (of course) twists it, smashes it, and distorts it to the millionth degree, but for us who know Christ, there is nothing-and I mean nothing, like celebrating Jesus Christ and what He has done for us. (You may be thinking… hey wait Mitch, that’s Easter). Yes, Jesus died on the cross for our sins, He took our rightful punishment (for those who have repented and have been born again). BUT Christmas is remembering the virgin birth, remembering the genealogies, remembering how God fulfilled so many prophesies (and so much more), to leave no doubt that Jesus is who He is. That our God is THE GOD, and He loves us so much that He became man for us, not to just show us how to live, but to give us a way (The Way). After all, He is the way, the truth and the life, and no one comes to the Father but through Him. And while Jesus is eternal, His birth is what we are remembering this month. I hope that brings a real holly jolly for you. (I needed it) (this is way more space then I have, I wish I could have written more)!

Love y’all! Mitch

CHURCH STAFF

DR. DENNIS PHELPS Interim Preaching Pastor

JERRY SMITH Associate Pastor

Students/Facilities [email protected]

MICHAEL MOHLER Associate Pastor

Music/Adult Education [email protected]

MITCH PELTONEN Children’s Ministry Assistant

[email protected]

RICK JOHNSON Facilities Manager

[email protected]

DEBBIE THOMAS Secretary/Receptionist

[email protected]

ANDI PELTONEN Student Secretary

[email protected]

CHRISTINE HOLTON Music Secretary

[email protected]

AMY LUTMAN Financial Secretary & Outreach Secretary

[email protected]

DIANE LANE Treasurer

[email protected]

ELAINE STRAHAN Nursery Coordinator & Church Hostess

[email protected]

BOB HEUSTESS Pastor Emeritus

Early Learning Center

VENITA RICHARDS Director

[email protected]

Ministers

EVERY CHURCH MEMBER MEMBER

Good News Club Update Five children were saved at Florida Avenue

and 4 children were saved at Honey Island Elementary in October, and 1 more in Novem-ber!

There are 50 students enrolled each at Honey Island, and at Little Oak!

Pray the Lord provides more workers at Honey Island.

Praise God for the Good News- enrollments continue to grow!

ONLINE

PICTORAL

DIRECTORY

Remember to submit

your picture for the

directory if you haven’t

done so already!

If you have any ques-

tions please contact

Bro. Jerry. Thanks!

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