Welcome to this edition of Grace Notes a Newsletter from Grace United Methodist Church, Arlington, TX. This newsletter comes to let you know about happenings at Grace, and to invite you to reflect on your walk with God as you strive to follow Jesus’ summary of the commandments: to love God, one another, and oneself.
Be ready to imagine the impossible!
*************************
Greetings Grace!
Can you believe September is almost here? It’s back to school time for many. I remember those days. That Sunday night before the first day; planning outfits, making sure the backpack was in order, too anxious to go to sleep. Brings back memories!
Summer is a time of vacations, late mornings and long evenings. It’s a time for rest. At Grace, it’s been a summer filled with opportunities to seek God.
September 14th is our Sunday School Explosion! If you want to know more about what each class has to offer, join us on the 14th where you celebrate a class, join a class or perhaps even change a class. We have classes for everyone and we are adding more!
Sunday school is a place to gather to learn more about God. It’s a place to study with your peers. It’s a place to get answers. God’s desire is for us to seek him in as many places, as many ways as we can.
”Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until he comes and showers righteousness on you”. Hosea 10:12
If it has been awhile since you have attended a Sunday school class or if you have not attended a class at Grace, it is time to get the plow out and open new territory.
Sunday school is at 10:25 am -- after the Traditional Service; right before the Contemporary Service. Attending Sunday school gives you more to talk about after church J We, the Sunday School teachers at Grace, look forward to everyone attending Sunday School. This is another opportunity for you to “Experience Grace”.
Blessings and Peace
Pam Pinkerton
Pastor’s Column
Grace to you,
Were you able to see it stick out? If not, take another close look. Remember, I challenged you to read your Bible, particularly the New Testament, while asking the following questions; What is God’s part (or responsibility)? Then, what is my part (or responsibility)?
The Apostle Paul reminded the Christian that it is not logical to “ignore the grace of God”. It is this grace, which God dispenses into our lives through various means, that gives us the increasing ability to overcome in every area of our lives. It is only when we “ignore the grace of God” that we find ourselves frustrated with ourselves, other people, God, and even life itself.
The dispensed grace that helps us overcome is God’s responsibility! God works in us, through us, and for us, at every level of our existence. Your worry and anxiety does not help God nor does it force God into any action.
Therefore, it’s time to take a vacation from worrying!
That’s right, give yourself a vacation from the anxiousness of; when, where, why, and how. We just need to focus on the big “Who”! Focus on God and not the problem. Mind your business and not God’s. If you really need to get busy doing something, then try this;
6 Don’t be anxious about anything; rather, bring up all of your requests to God in your prayers and petitions, along with giving thanks. 7 Then the peace of God that exceeds all understanding will keep your hearts and minds safe in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 (CEB)
Next month, I will share more on “our part” in this cooperative of God’s grace.
We continue to love and pray for your growth in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Pastor Bates and Rona
UMNS Weekly Digest
Impact of a drive-thru prayer ministry
IVYLAND, Pa. (UMNS) - St. John's United Methodist Church in the Eastern Pennsylvania Annual (regional) Conference embarked on a new ministry recently: Drive-thru Prayer. Ruth Portzline, a certified lay minister at the church, describes how prayer volunteers gather each Wednesday afternoon under a canopy outside the church to offer prayer to folks who drive by.
Liberia declares national emergency on Ebola
MONROVIA, Liberia (UMNS) - Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, a prominent United Methodist, is now heading the task force for the fight against the Ebola virus, which she has declared a national emergency. E. Julu Swen of the Liberia Annual (regional) Conference has the story.
NOTE: UMNS Weekly is a digest of news features provided by United Methodist Communications. It includes summaries of United Methodist News Service stories and additional briefs from around the United Methodist connection. Full versions of the stories with photographs and related features can be found at http://umns.umc.org.
Save the Dates
October 12th – Grace Reunion, join us for Worship and Picnic in the park. Details will be available soon.
October 26th – Charge Conference, Polytechnic UMC. 3pm
October 31st – Holy-Ween. 5-9pm.
UMC Area Classes/Events
Grace United Methodist Women’s Day Sunday, September 28th, 9:00 am service. The Theme: It Is Well With My Soul. Wear your red and join us as we celebrate this day!
ERT Training Class. October 18th 8-4pm. Whites Chapel UMC
Trainer: Dara Austin Our CTC ERTs respond to disasters within the conference, as well as to help other areas facing disasters. The mission of an Early Response Team is to provide a caring presence in the aftermath of a disaster, under very specific guidelines that enables a team to be productive and caring while causing no further harm or being a burden to the affected community.
First Annual Young Adult Extravaganza
The Young Adult Ministry (YAM) at Campus Drive UMC presents the First Annual Young Adult Extravaganza. You are invited to join us for this uplifting event.
Date: Sunday, September 14, 2014
Time: 3:00 pm
Location: 4301 Campus Drive, Fort Worth TX 76119
Guest Preacher: Rev. Charles Robinson, Meadowbrook UMC | Fort Worth, TX
Theme: Young Adults stirring up their Gifts.
Scripture: “For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 2nd Timothy 1:6-7
Have you checked out the Grace Website lately? Log on to www.graceumcarlington.org and tell us what you think. We’re excited that people are finding us online. Please share the site with family and friends.
Be ready to imagine the impossible!
*************************
Greetings Grace!
Can you believe September is almost here? It’s back to school time for many. I remember those days. That Sunday night before the first day; planning outfits, making sure the backpack was in order, too anxious to go to sleep. Brings back memories!
Summer is a time of vacations, late mornings and long evenings. It’s a time for rest. At Grace, it’s been a summer filled with opportunities to seek God.
September 14th is our Sunday School Explosion! If you want to know more about what each class has to offer, join us on the 14th where you celebrate a class, join a class or perhaps even change a class. We have classes for everyone and we are adding more!
Sunday school is a place to gather to learn more about God. It’s a place to study with your peers. It’s a place to get answers. God’s desire is for us to seek him in as many places, as many ways as we can.
”Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until he comes and showers righteousness on you”. Hosea 10:12
If it has been awhile since you have attended a Sunday school class or if you have not attended a class at Grace, it is time to get the plow out and open new territory.
Sunday school is at 10:25 am -- after the Traditional Service; right before the Contemporary Service. Attending Sunday school gives you more to talk about after church J We, the Sunday School teachers at Grace, look forward to everyone attending Sunday School. This is another opportunity for you to “Experience Grace”.
Blessings and Peace
Pam Pinkerton
Pastor’s Column
Grace to you,
Were you able to see it stick out? If not, take another close look. Remember, I challenged you to read your Bible, particularly the New Testament, while asking the following questions; What is God’s part (or responsibility)? Then, what is my part (or responsibility)?
The Apostle Paul reminded the Christian that it is not logical to “ignore the grace of God”. It is this grace, which God dispenses into our lives through various means, that gives us the increasing ability to overcome in every area of our lives. It is only when we “ignore the grace of God” that we find ourselves frustrated with ourselves, other people, God, and even life itself.
The dispensed grace that helps us overcome is God’s responsibility! God works in us, through us, and for us, at every level of our existence. Your worry and anxiety does not help God nor does it force God into any action.
Therefore, it’s time to take a vacation from worrying!
That’s right, give yourself a vacation from the anxiousness of; when, where, why, and how. We just need to focus on the big “Who”! Focus on God and not the problem. Mind your business and not God’s. If you really need to get busy doing something, then try this;
6 Don’t be anxious about anything; rather, bring up all of your requests to God in your prayers and petitions, along with giving thanks. 7 Then the peace of God that exceeds all understanding will keep your hearts and minds safe in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 (CEB)
Next month, I will share more on “our part” in this cooperative of God’s grace.
We continue to love and pray for your growth in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Pastor Bates and Rona
UMNS Weekly Digest
Impact of a drive-thru prayer ministry
IVYLAND, Pa. (UMNS) - St. John's United Methodist Church in the Eastern Pennsylvania Annual (regional) Conference embarked on a new ministry recently: Drive-thru Prayer. Ruth Portzline, a certified lay minister at the church, describes how prayer volunteers gather each Wednesday afternoon under a canopy outside the church to offer prayer to folks who drive by.
Liberia declares national emergency on Ebola
MONROVIA, Liberia (UMNS) - Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, a prominent United Methodist, is now heading the task force for the fight against the Ebola virus, which she has declared a national emergency. E. Julu Swen of the Liberia Annual (regional) Conference has the story.
NOTE: UMNS Weekly is a digest of news features provided by United Methodist Communications. It includes summaries of United Methodist News Service stories and additional briefs from around the United Methodist connection. Full versions of the stories with photographs and related features can be found at http://umns.umc.org.
Save the Dates
October 12th – Grace Reunion, join us for Worship and Picnic in the park. Details will be available soon.
October 26th – Charge Conference, Polytechnic UMC. 3pm
October 31st – Holy-Ween. 5-9pm.
UMC Area Classes/Events
Grace United Methodist Women’s Day Sunday, September 28th, 9:00 am service. The Theme: It Is Well With My Soul. Wear your red and join us as we celebrate this day!
ERT Training Class. October 18th 8-4pm. Whites Chapel UMC
Trainer: Dara Austin Our CTC ERTs respond to disasters within the conference, as well as to help other areas facing disasters. The mission of an Early Response Team is to provide a caring presence in the aftermath of a disaster, under very specific guidelines that enables a team to be productive and caring while causing no further harm or being a burden to the affected community.
First Annual Young Adult Extravaganza
The Young Adult Ministry (YAM) at Campus Drive UMC presents the First Annual Young Adult Extravaganza. You are invited to join us for this uplifting event.
Date: Sunday, September 14, 2014
Time: 3:00 pm
Location: 4301 Campus Drive, Fort Worth TX 76119
Guest Preacher: Rev. Charles Robinson, Meadowbrook UMC | Fort Worth, TX
Theme: Young Adults stirring up their Gifts.
Scripture: “For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 2nd Timothy 1:6-7
Have you checked out the Grace Website lately? Log on to www.graceumcarlington.org and tell us what you think. We’re excited that people are finding us online. Please share the site with family and friends.