Reflection from the Pastor · desires. Isaiah understood that God’s people need to be constantly...
Transcript of Reflection from the Pastor · desires. Isaiah understood that God’s people need to be constantly...
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GRACE PRESS
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”
(Isaiah 43:18-19)
A new year has arrived, and Grace Presbyterian Church begins a new year of ministry. What will this
new year bring? What can we expect? What surprises will God give to us as we seek to do His will,
advance His kingdom, and proclaim Good News in word and deed? I can’t help but wonder as we embark
upon 2018 together what joys, challenges, changes, and “new things” will “spring up.”
However, for us to discover God’s “new things,” we must not “dwell on the past.” Often what keeps us
from discovering God’s new things is our default to long for the “glory days” of the church. We remember
what it was like to have our Sanctuary full of worshipers. We remember the Sunday School classes full of
children and youth groups bursting with enthusiastic teenagers. We remember when the church was the
center of community life.
It’s great to remember God’s work of the past but to dwell on these things and long for those days dis-
tracts us from what is now. There are wonderful ministries at Grace Presbyterian that God has sprung up.
Grace has an amazing ability to connect with the people of our neighborhood, meeting their needs for
nourishment and provision on so many levels.
While God is always doing new things, it is our job
to perceive it as it springs up in the wilderness of our
desires. Isaiah understood that God’s people need to
be constantly on the watch for God’s new work. Even
during wilderness experiences God is “making a way” to
quench thirsty souls.
This new year will be a year of discovery for Grace Pres-
byterian Church to explore where God is making a way
in the wilderness of thirsty souls here in Vista. Only the
“Living Water” of Christ will satisfy what people are truly thirsting to drink. But that is going to be different
than we have known in the past. This year we will work intentionally on discovering God’s plan for Grace’s
future. We will explore together where it is that God is springing up a fountain of “Living Water” for all to
drink their fill and be eternally satisfied! However, we all need to be in prayer, Bible study, and conversa-
tions with each other, sharing together how we’re perceiving God’s new things.
May God bless your New Year with Peace,
Pastor Mike
Reflect ion from the Pastor
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JANUARY 2018
To paraphrase the words of John R. Frank in his article in Fearless Generosity, “Fear of ambi-
tious generosity requires true faith in our powerful God who defeats this enemy and gives
us hope to be successful.”
Frank went on to write, “Pastor Bill Hybels told the members of Willow Creek Community
Church ‘Vision is a picture of the future that produces passion.’ What a wonderful quote. We as
people move forward because God gives us passion for the future of our ministry, our church,
and our impact. Vision will dispel fear immediately as it moves our focus from what can stop us
(fear) to our possible future (vision). We must believe God can do immeasurable more.”
It seems to me that this is where we stand as we begin this New Year. We need confidence in
fighting off fear and surrounding ourselves with vision. Confidence to step up to fulfilling our
more than half-a-million dollar budget and begin building reserves for the future through gifts to
the new Endowment Fund.
Think about it. Can we become Fearless? With the programs we have, we seem to be Fearless!
This year our giving must also defeat that fear.
Finance Committee Report
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GRACE PRESS Creciendo Juntos
The new school year began with nine students returning and welcoming eleven new students to the after school program from Foothill Oak Elementary.
Volunteers and students enjoyed a fun day of activities and “goodie” bags were given to each student, sponsored by the volunteers.
A perfect way to end the school semester of 2017.
Christmas Highlight
Fall 2017
Creciendo Juntos Grace After School Program
Be the reason someone SMILES today!
Jan. 2018/ Issue 1
Volunteers Needed!
New semester begins
Jan. 10-11, 2018
We need your
help. Please consider
volunteering one day a week and touch a life of a
child today. Contact
Maria Haigh for further details at 760.880.0455
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JANUARY 2018Grandparents@Prayer
.
Generation G: Leaving a Spiritual Legacy
(or Hot Topics on Grandparenting) -by Gramma Pat Whisler
Do you make New Year’s Resolutions? Let’s say yes and make it be a real intentional effort of praying for our grandchildren and their parents in 2018. We know that each time a child is born a grandparent is born too. A special responsibility is also born; to guide these children to a faithful life in God, their Father, Jesus Christ, their brother and the Holy Spirit, their soul. We have been given this sacred trust from our Father to be their prayer warriors and ask Jesus to do great things in their lives
that will lead them to a life of eternal years. How do we do that? Simple, Pray. God’s Word: Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live. -1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 (The Message) This month’s GP Hot Topic: I N T E N T I O N A L P R A Y E R Please allow me to borrow and rearrange the song “The Prayer” to allow us as grandparents to pray intentionally for our grandchildren. If you know the song let the music play in you mind as you pray. Let us pray…
A c t i o n : You just did it; Now, do it again.
A t h o u g h t : If I had known how wonderful it would be to have grandchildren, I'd have had them first.
I pray you’ll be their eyes And watch them where they go
And help them to be wise In times when they don’t know.
Let this be my prayer
When they lose their way Lead them to a place
Guide them with your grace To a place where they’ll be safe.
I pray they’ll find your light And hold it in their hearts
When stars go out each night Let this be my prayer.
When shadows fill their day
Lead them to a place Guide them with your grace
Give them faith so they’ll be safe.
We ask that life be kind And watch them from above We hope each child will find
Your eternal love.
Let this be our prayer Just like every child
Needs to find a place Guide them with your grace
Join our Grandparents@Prayer meeting on January 28 in room 10 a half hour before the traditional service begins.
When shadows fill their day Lead them to a place
Guide them with your grace Give them faith so they’ll be safe.
I ask that life be kind
And watch them from above I hope each grandchild finds
Your eternal love.
Let this be my prayer Just like every child
Needs to find a place Guide them with your grace
Give them faith so they'll be safe.
-based on “The Prayer” sung by Celine Dion and Andre Bocelli/Josh Groban
The new school year began with nine students returning and welcoming eleven new students to the after school program from Foothill Oak Elementary.
Volunteers and students enjoyed a fun day of activities and “goodie” bags were given to each student, sponsored by the volunteers.
A perfect way to end the school semester of 2017.
Christmas Highlight
Fall 2017
Creciendo Juntos Grace After School Program
Be the reason someone SMILES today!
Jan. 2018/ Issue 1
Volunteers Needed!
New semester begins
Jan. 10-11, 2018
We need your
help. Please consider
volunteering one day a week and touch a life of a
child today. Contact
Maria Haigh for further details at 760.880.0455
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GRACE PRESS Missions Updates
• Mission Outreach Team - Come
join us!
Mission outreach opportunities are
vital for a healthy church. Our vi-
sion and mission statements declare
this. Our desire is to be the hands
and feet of Christ by partnering with
established mission projects here in
North County, throughout California,
the country and Baja California, and
throughout the world. The partici-
pants of the 2017 Costa Rica mission trip have formed the Mission Outreach Team and invite all who
are interested to join us. Currently, we have opportunities with Operation HOPE Vista, Camp Pendle-
ton resale store, Baja relief trips with other churches within our Presbytery, and our partner church in
Tres Rios, Costa Rica, la Iglesia Lluvia de Bendiciones.
To this end we will establish a fundraiser calendar involving a variety of opportunities scheduled
throughout the year. All money raised will be used to fund both local and international outreach trips.
This group will be under the umbrella of the Mission Committee.
The desire of the group is to continue the vocabulary of missions within our church and provide a
variety of opportunities to all. Please join us.
• The Ultimate Multicultural Experience
Pastor Edwin & Jacquelin Lopez from, Iglesia Lluvia de Bendiciones, our partner church in Costa Rica,
will be visiting us this month. Their stay is from January 15 through February 1st. We still have a few
days open for hosting them in your home. If you are unable to host, perhaps you would like to pro-
vide gift cards for local restaurants and recreation opportunities. Maybe you would like to take them
to the zoo or Safari Park, Legoland, etc. Spending time with Pastor Edwin & Jaquelin or contributing
to their visit will make this experience truly unforgettable. Please contact Pastor Eliecer Barrantes
through the church office or at [email protected].
Continued on Page 7...
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JANUARY 2018Mission Updates continued. . .
• United Methodist Church of Vista Outreach
Grant (Cable Grant)
The first week in December we received noti-
fication that we did not receive the funds we
requested. As the letter states, where they did not
award us the money at this time, they would like
to partner with us on outreach and special proj-
ects. Building relationships is important. To the
right is a copy of the letter. Thank you all for your
prayers. God has plans.
• SAVE THE DATE for Operation Hope Vista’s
15th Annual Spring Into Hope event. Watch
bulletins and blasts for updates.
Spanish Ministry Greet ings!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Spanish service of Grace Presbyterian Church!!Continued on Page 7...
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GRACE PRESS Missions: InterVarsity
Continued on Page 9...
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JANUARY 2018Missions: InterVarsity continued. . .
Continued on Page 9...
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GRACE PRESS
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21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28 29 30 31
12pm Telecare
If you have a birthday or anniversary in January and your name does not appear above,
please contact the church office at 760-724-0077 to update our records. Thank you!
8am Men’s Breakfast (English) 5pm Men’s Group (Spanish)
SUN MON TUE WED THUR FRI SAT
6:30pm Missions Committee
WEEKLY SCHEDULE
S U N D A Y S
9 & 10:30am: Worship Services
9 & 10:30am: Adult Studies
10:30am: Spanish Service
10:30am: Children’s Sunday
School
M O N D A Y S
7pm: AA meeting
T U E S D A Y S
5:15pm: Soup Kitchen
7pm: Bible Study
W E D N E S D A Y S
10am: Staff Meeting
1pm: Knitting Ladies
2pm: Creciendo Juntos (Tutoring)
5:30pm: G In G Dinner
6:30pm: Kids Bible Club
6:30pm: Spanish Bible Study
7:30pm: Worship Band Rehearsal
T H U R S D A Y S
10am: Bible Study
2pm: Creciendo Juntos (Tutoring)*
* no 1/4
6pm: Hand Bell Choir
7:30pm: Choir Rehearsal
FRIDAYS
10am E & L10:30am PWC Luncheon6:30pm Spanish Min. Leader Mtg.
10am E & L6:30pm Worship Committee
10am Ordination of Officers
10am E & L5:30pm Telecare7pm Deacons
7pm Marriage Workshop
8:30am PEO
1pm Finance Comm.
1 Steven Solano
5 Deborah Barrie
6 Claudia Bossaler
Scott Huston
Jake Woolsey
9 Pierre Domercq
Chad Woolsey
10 Bill Eldridge
13 Patrick Ryan
14 Eliecer Barrantes
Debbie Woodward
15 William Dyer
18 Jean Compton
Pauline Lawhead
21 Mary Poston
22 John Earnest
23 Jeremiah Elliott
Samuel Elliott
Denise Stockman
25 Mateo Barrantes
Mary Forbess
Albina Lumetta
29 Jan Patterson
1 John & Letty Calhoun (10 years)
5 Roger & Elaine Corley (38 years)
15 Eliecer & Abby Barrantes (13 years)
25 Ken & Sue Bouchard (26 years)
25 Randy & Terry-Jeanne Sawyer (39 years)
Office Closed
Office Closed
9am PWC Board10am E & L Circle6:30pm Session
8:30am Grand.@Prayer
10am WallDedication
8:30am PEO 4pm Personnel
9:30am PEO Book Club
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JANUARY 2018
Alice Nolf
Anna Weintre
Bill Greenway
Bob Wilson
Carol Lewis
Cathy Medlyn
Chad Woolsey
Charlotte Damon
Colbie Kelley
Debbie Barrie
Denise Stockman
Dick Woolsey
Dodie Bumgardner
Ed Neuman
Edna Murray
Elizabeth Apollo
Elizabeth Bostian (Son)
Elizabeth Johnson
Erin Eldridge
Fanny Aliaga
Gil Gordon
Grigorii Kirillov
Judy Woolsey
Knox Family
Letty Calhoun
Marilyn Lee
Mark Compton
Martha Kost
Maxine Fox
Mori Family
Neil Kirkland
Pauline Whiting
Phil Damon
Richard Tauber
Rich Yates
Rita Sinatra
Shane Ogard
Shirley Casperson
Taryn Johnson
Terry Breen
Terry-Jeanne Sawyer
Thomas Family
Trisha Roest-Sinatra
Ward Family
William Story
Yvonne Jones
PLEASE PRAY FOR:
Punch/Coffee Flowers
January 7 Deacons Helen Frederick
January 14 Deacons Lucy Dickson
January 21 Deacons Available
January 28 Deacons Chuck Enger
Punch/Coffee Service and Flowers for January
Church Staff
G R A C E P R E S B Y T E R I A NC H U R C H
1450 E. Vista WayVista, CA 92084
Phone: 760-724-0077
Fax: 760-724-2534
E-mail: [email protected]
www.gpcvista.org
Address Service Requested
W H E R E G O D ’ S F A M I L Y G R O W S
GRACEPRESBYTERIAN
NEIGHBORHOOD CHURCH
facebook.com/GPCVista
Interim Pastor/Head of Staff Rev. Dr. Michael Wallman
Associate Pastor of Hispanic Ministries Rev. Eliecer Barrantes
Director of Church Operations Christie Elliott
Bookkeeper Albina Lumetta
Secretary Veronica Campos
Bridge Ministries Director Felipe Huguet
After School Program Director Maria Haigh
Chancel Choir Director Jayne Parker
Organist Frances Hummel
Hand Bell Choir Director Pat Sexton
Facilities Jim Aliaga
GRACE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IS A CONFESSING CHURCH, and we believe:
That Jesus Christ alone is Lord of all and the way of salvation.
That Holy Scripture is the triune God’s revealed Word,
the Church’s only infallible rule of faith and life.
That God’s people are called to holiness in all aspects of life.