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!
*******************************
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven…a time to embrace and a time to refrain” Ecclesiastes 3:1, 5)
“This year, Reclaim Christmas”. These are the words on the homepage of the Rethinkchurch.org website. Three ways are suggested on how you can Reclaim Christmas, (1) Simplify, (2) Volunteer, (3) Support. I headed straight to the "Simplify” tab!
As I sat thinking about Reclaiming Christmas, the above scripture came to mind. There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven. We are in the Season of Advent. This is a season when we anticipate the Second coming of Christ as we prepare to celebrate his first coming, Christmas. This is a season of quiet, a season of expectant waiting. When there is a lot going on around us it is hard to be quiet. When our lives are filled with busyness, it makes it difficult to expect and wait patiently. As suggested, one of the ways to Reclaim Christmas is to simplify.
I cannot tell you how many articles there are on the subject of simplifying your life. Many suggest we look at our schedules and plan to cut things out. Others suggest that we should rise earlier, or prepare for the next day the night before. And then there are the ones that suggest we get rid of excess items in our lives. It doesn’t matter what ways are suggested, simplifying our lives is not possible without prayer.
Advent Season is a time to pray. It’s a time to fill our hearts with joy, hope, thanks and peace. This Advent Season, I encourage you to Reclaim Christmas and embrace prayer. Get excited about prayer. Add more time during the day to pray. You can even come and pray with the team on Wednesday nights! It is through prayer that we receive guidance and the power to change.
Want to Reclaim Christmas? Pray and ask God to show you where you may need to simply. Exciting things are happening at Grace.
Blessings & Peace,
Pam Pinkerton
----------------------------------------------------------
Reminder
Sunday, December 9, 2012
Joint African American UMC service is set for Sunday, 10:30 am at Campus Drive UMC, 4301 Campus Drive Fort Worth, TX. 76119. Please remind family and friends about the special joint service.
Pastors Column
Grace to you!
As you may well know, the 2013 planning meeting was a tremendous success and I am comfortable in knowing if we, “commit our work to the Lord, our plans will succeed.” (Proverbs 16:3).
There are a few items that I want to highlight as we prepare to close out this wonderful 2012 year.
Remember:
1. God is able to do exceedingly above all that we could ask or imagine!
2. Through prayer, right position, proper implementation of the plan and pace, we will see major things happen.
Be prepared to hear more about upcoming events in January such as the Church Wide Fast, Commitment Sunday; and in February, Youth Confirmation classes and a Preparatory Relationship / Marriage Seminar!
Finally,
1. There are people that make things happen!
2. People who watch things happen, and
3. People who wonder, “What happened?”
I want you to be in the first group as we move into 2013, “Seeking to bring people into a life changing relationship with Jesus Christ, by making disciples through our words and actions in cooperation with God’s grace!”
Stay in love with God and each other,
Pastor Bates
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sharing Grace
Psalm 23----it says it all!
The Lord is my Shepherd----THAT’S RELATIONSHIP!
I shall not want----THAT’S SUPPLY!
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures----THAT’S REST!
He leadeth me beside the still waters----THAT’S REFRESHMENT!
He restoreth my soul----THAT’S HEALING!
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness----THAT’S GUIDANCE!
For his name sake----THAT’S PURPOSE!
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death----THAT’S TESTING!
I will fear no evil----THAT’S PROTECTION!
For Thou art with me----THAT’S FAITHFULNESS!
Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me----THAT’S DISCIPLINE!
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies----THAT’S HOPE!
My cup runneth over----THAT’S ABUNDANCE!
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life----THAT’S BLESSING!
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord----THAT’S SECURITY!
Forever----THAT’S ETERNITY
Be blessed,
Deborah Hunte
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“Let's approach Christmas with an expectant hush, rather than a last-minute rush.” Anonymous
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ephesians 4:22-23.
“Change the former way of life that was part of the person you once were, corrupted by deceitful desires. Instead, renew the thinking in your mind by the Spirit”
Habit
The only way to get rid of a bad habit is to stop it at once. If you try tapering off, this is the result. You drop the "H" and you still have...
A bit
You think you're getting over it by dropping a little bit of the evil thing, so you go on and drop the "A", "but you still are...
Bit
That is to say, you are not getting on at all. You are deceiving yourself. You are just where you were. You are still bitten by the evil thing. However, you think you are progressing and so you drop the "B." But you still lack; you still have...
It
And "it" is the sting of habit. "It" has been the trouble all along. You are where you started. Even when you drop the "I" you still have...
T
Which stands for temptation. And temptation is a longer word to get rid of than habit. Better do the "wholesale" and drop all the letters at once.
This was shared by the pastor on Wednesday night. Just in case you missed it!
Scott Marshall
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Have you ever been so frustrated that you wondered if you were saved?"
"Have you ever asked yourself, if God has blessed me with every spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus, why am I still struggling?"
The answer to these questions, and many more, can be found in the book, "I'm Saved Now What?" by Rev. Penny Stemley. This book will help you understand the process of spiritual growth from the "new birth" to "glorification".
In order to purchase your printed copy or Kindle version, go to www.Amazon.com and search for "Penny Yaites".
This book is an excellent tool for small groups, Confirmation Classes or individual.
Be ready to imagine the impossible!
*******************************
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven…a time to embrace and a time to refrain” Ecclesiastes 3:1, 5)
“This year, Reclaim Christmas”. These are the words on the homepage of the Rethinkchurch.org website. Three ways are suggested on how you can Reclaim Christmas, (1) Simplify, (2) Volunteer, (3) Support. I headed straight to the "Simplify” tab!
As I sat thinking about Reclaiming Christmas, the above scripture came to mind. There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven. We are in the Season of Advent. This is a season when we anticipate the Second coming of Christ as we prepare to celebrate his first coming, Christmas. This is a season of quiet, a season of expectant waiting. When there is a lot going on around us it is hard to be quiet. When our lives are filled with busyness, it makes it difficult to expect and wait patiently. As suggested, one of the ways to Reclaim Christmas is to simplify.
I cannot tell you how many articles there are on the subject of simplifying your life. Many suggest we look at our schedules and plan to cut things out. Others suggest that we should rise earlier, or prepare for the next day the night before. And then there are the ones that suggest we get rid of excess items in our lives. It doesn’t matter what ways are suggested, simplifying our lives is not possible without prayer.
Advent Season is a time to pray. It’s a time to fill our hearts with joy, hope, thanks and peace. This Advent Season, I encourage you to Reclaim Christmas and embrace prayer. Get excited about prayer. Add more time during the day to pray. You can even come and pray with the team on Wednesday nights! It is through prayer that we receive guidance and the power to change.
Want to Reclaim Christmas? Pray and ask God to show you where you may need to simply. Exciting things are happening at Grace.
Blessings & Peace,
Pam Pinkerton
----------------------------------------------------------
Reminder
Sunday, December 9, 2012
Joint African American UMC service is set for Sunday, 10:30 am at Campus Drive UMC, 4301 Campus Drive Fort Worth, TX. 76119. Please remind family and friends about the special joint service.
Pastors Column
Grace to you!
As you may well know, the 2013 planning meeting was a tremendous success and I am comfortable in knowing if we, “commit our work to the Lord, our plans will succeed.” (Proverbs 16:3).
There are a few items that I want to highlight as we prepare to close out this wonderful 2012 year.
Remember:
1. God is able to do exceedingly above all that we could ask or imagine!
2. Through prayer, right position, proper implementation of the plan and pace, we will see major things happen.
Be prepared to hear more about upcoming events in January such as the Church Wide Fast, Commitment Sunday; and in February, Youth Confirmation classes and a Preparatory Relationship / Marriage Seminar!
Finally,
1. There are people that make things happen!
2. People who watch things happen, and
3. People who wonder, “What happened?”
I want you to be in the first group as we move into 2013, “Seeking to bring people into a life changing relationship with Jesus Christ, by making disciples through our words and actions in cooperation with God’s grace!”
Stay in love with God and each other,
Pastor Bates
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sharing Grace
Psalm 23----it says it all!
The Lord is my Shepherd----THAT’S RELATIONSHIP!
I shall not want----THAT’S SUPPLY!
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures----THAT’S REST!
He leadeth me beside the still waters----THAT’S REFRESHMENT!
He restoreth my soul----THAT’S HEALING!
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness----THAT’S GUIDANCE!
For his name sake----THAT’S PURPOSE!
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death----THAT’S TESTING!
I will fear no evil----THAT’S PROTECTION!
For Thou art with me----THAT’S FAITHFULNESS!
Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me----THAT’S DISCIPLINE!
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies----THAT’S HOPE!
My cup runneth over----THAT’S ABUNDANCE!
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life----THAT’S BLESSING!
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord----THAT’S SECURITY!
Forever----THAT’S ETERNITY
Be blessed,
Deborah Hunte
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“Let's approach Christmas with an expectant hush, rather than a last-minute rush.” Anonymous
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ephesians 4:22-23.
“Change the former way of life that was part of the person you once were, corrupted by deceitful desires. Instead, renew the thinking in your mind by the Spirit”
Habit
The only way to get rid of a bad habit is to stop it at once. If you try tapering off, this is the result. You drop the "H" and you still have...
A bit
You think you're getting over it by dropping a little bit of the evil thing, so you go on and drop the "A", "but you still are...
Bit
That is to say, you are not getting on at all. You are deceiving yourself. You are just where you were. You are still bitten by the evil thing. However, you think you are progressing and so you drop the "B." But you still lack; you still have...
It
And "it" is the sting of habit. "It" has been the trouble all along. You are where you started. Even when you drop the "I" you still have...
T
Which stands for temptation. And temptation is a longer word to get rid of than habit. Better do the "wholesale" and drop all the letters at once.
This was shared by the pastor on Wednesday night. Just in case you missed it!
Scott Marshall
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Have you ever been so frustrated that you wondered if you were saved?"
"Have you ever asked yourself, if God has blessed me with every spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus, why am I still struggling?"
The answer to these questions, and many more, can be found in the book, "I'm Saved Now What?" by Rev. Penny Stemley. This book will help you understand the process of spiritual growth from the "new birth" to "glorification".
In order to purchase your printed copy or Kindle version, go to www.Amazon.com and search for "Penny Yaites".
This book is an excellent tool for small groups, Confirmation Classes or individual.