Grace Blog
Preparing for Grace Gathered :: January 24, 2010
Church family, we are in a season where God is blessing in our gathered services. After having begun our second service just three months ago, our second service is already 90% full! We praise God for the many people who are being reached and influenced through the gospel ministry, and we are asking those of you who can come to the early service (8:00AM) to please consider doing so to provide more seating for guests and our Hispanic members as well.
If you are new to the area or are looking to attend one of our services this Sunday, visit our “New to Grace” menu on our website where you will find information such as directions, what to expect, and other frequently asked questions. We look forward to meeting you and have the opportunity to share the love of Jesus and how He has changed our lives!
Bible Study: 1 Samuel
During our Sunday morning Bible Study (beginning at 9:30am), Rick Tarter will continue his teaching through the book of 1 Samuel. This class is provided for all adults, and the children and youth will continue their various studies through Desiring God Children’s curriculum and other book studies.
Grace Gathered (Worship Services)
In our gathered worship services this Sunday, we are looking to take up the radical call of life on mission with Jesus as Pastor Tim picks up his sermon series in Matthew 10. In preparation for this Sunday, we encourage you to read the entire chapter of Matthew 10 and reflect on the radical nature of being a follower of Jesus. Jesus was not preparing His disciples for a life of ease. In fact, they would be called upon to confess Christ at the cost of their lives. However, three times we find in Matthew 10:26-33 Jesus tells His disciples not to fear. We will go deeper and discover why and how we life affirming the mission and denying the fear that would seek to keep us silent when we are called to speak and tempt us to live a life of ease when we are called to count the cost. We encourage you to prayerfully meditate on the lyrics to “Let Your Kingdom Come”–a song which we will sing together in calling us onward in gospel faithfulness.
Let Your Kingdom Come
Your glorious cause, O God, engages our hearts
May Jesus Christ be known wherever we are
We ask not for ourselves, but for Your renown
The cross has saved us so we pray Your kingdom come
Let Your kingdom come
Let Your will be done
So that everyone might know Your Name
Let Your song be heard everywhere on earth
Till Your sovereign work on earth is done
Let Your kingdom come
Give us Your strength, O God, and courage to speak
Perform Your wondrous deeds through those who are weak
Lord use us as You want, whatever the test
By grace we’ll preach Your gospel Till our dying breath
Reminders
1. Those who are look to visit with us or are coming down as Snowbirds, please note the schedule change for Sunday morning. We have two morning services (8:00 and 10:45) with Sunday School in the middle at 9:30am.
2. We have customized a Bible Reading Plan with bookmarks that you can pick up at the Welcome Center. If you have not considered reading through the Bible in a year or have never done so, be encouraged and give it a try! You can also access the bookmarks here on our website.
3. This Sunday is the deadline for all those interested in participating on any of the 2010 mission trips through Grace. This includes Greece, Dominican Republic, and the possible trip to Haiti. Please have your application filled out and returned to Pastor Tim or to the church office.
4. On Sunday, January 31 during our Baptist and Lord’s Supper service, we will have the opportunity to hear Pastor Tom and Mrs. Donna share their experiences in Central Asia over the past three weeks. You will not want to miss this time of seeing the gospel through baptism, celebrating the gospel through communion, and hearing about gospel advance through church planting reports and overseas missions!
– Words and Music to “Let Your Kingdom Come” by Bob Kauflin. Copyright © 2006 Sovereign Grace Music
Labels: Grace Baptist Church, Grace Gathered, Worship Services | posted by TimBrister at 2:02 pm | Categories: Grace Gathered, Humor |
Grace at the Race!
Tomorrow, Thanksgiving morning, several members of Grace will be lacing up their running shoes for the 29th annual Cape Coral Turkey Trot. This is a 5k (3.1 mile) run beginning at Cape Coral Hospital. This is important information because some of us running will need to be close to the emergency room, namely pastors Tom Ascol, Ken Puls, and Tim Brister.
Rumor has it that bets are being wagered on this high-profile pastoral race. Pastor Tom has already concluded that, since being struck by lightning, his “flash”-like speed will be impossible to be beat. Pastor Ken has composed his own running music with the perfect syncopation and rhythm of running that he is slated to outpace the rest of the pack. Pastor Brister, new to the race, has sought encouragement from turkeys who have gone before. They told him, “Run in such a way so as to win.” Another told him to “compete according to the rules.” Still another said, “Press on for the prize!” He feels pretty good now.
Rick Jensen and his daughter Hope are also running in the race to keep the other three in line (that’s what a good deacon is for, right?). Having just survived Texas in a camper, Rick is ready to rickroll the racers. Friends of Hope have overheard her chanting, “Hope you can believe in.”
The Ascol’s fan base is expecting a high turn out, and Bryant King has already conspired about ACORN’s illegal involvement in the Ascol camp. Brister has been informed that, should Pastor Ken win, an immediate drug test should be performed by the anti-doping agency. Surely black coffee every morning can’t do that alone!
Without further ado, let the race begin!
(Check Sportscenter for the highlights.)
Labels: Humor | posted by TimBrister at 7:49 pm | Categories: Humor |
Pastor Ascol Sightings in Mexico!
Mrs. Donna has been so kind to post some photos from their trip to Mexico, and I thought I’d post a couple of Pastor Ascol. Without further ado, Cowboy Tom and Flash Ascol.
Labels: Humor, Tom Ascol | posted by TimBrister at 4:53 pm | Categories: Humor |
