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!
*******************************
“Keep alert, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong”. 1 Corin. 16:13 NRSV
Happy New Year!
Grace was on the move in 2014 and it gets even better in 2015. We have so much to look forward to this year. Grace is growing and it shows! I wanted to share the scripture above because in all that we do, we must stand firm in our faith. When you plan big, the enemy is even more on the prowl to steal, kill and destroy the vision God has placed before us. To help stand firm in your faith, we encourage you to be in attendance where your faith can grow.
Attendance in bible class is growing. You are really missing out on in depth teaching by not attending on Tuesdays at 7pm. Sunday school starts at 10:25, right after the first service. Have you visited a class lately? We have classes for all ages. Stop by the hospitality table and then join a class. Let us know what you think. Your Sunday school teachers would love to hear from you.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 English Standard Version (ESV)
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
We have added more corporate prayer meetings in 2015. Join us on Saturday mornings. These meetings will be noted in the monthly calendars.
In addition, to help you “Experience Grace”, seminars are scheduled along with some special events. The Women’s Conference is in March and a Financial Freedom Seminar is scheduled in May.
Your leadership team is excited at what 2015 will bring!
Blessings and Peace,
Pam Pinkerton
Pastor’s Column
Grace to you,
“ Where there is no vision, the people perish:…” Proverbs 29:18a
Have you ever heard the phrase, “I’m bored because there is nothing to do”? Either you may have said it at some time in your life, or if you have children, you have heard them vent this way in an effort to get you to make life more exciting.
A person who makes this kind of statement may not have a boredom problem, but in fact, may have a “vision” problem. This year, 2015, we are going to spend a lot of time talking about “vision”.
The above referenced verse, as found in the King James Version, gives us the indication that there is an absolute need to have a heavenly vision in our personal lives, in the family, and in the church.
We have started the “Vision” series discussing the “6 Principles of Vision”. The first principle that we have discussed is, “Vision starts with God.” We have to find out if we are muddling through life with mere “good” ideas or if we are supernaturally infused with “God” ideas.
I urge you to hook into the services this year to become a part of what God is doing in the life of the church. If for some strange reason you are unable to be in one of the Sunday morning services, I encourage you to purchase the CD for listening, sharing with others, or downloading onto your audio device for repeated listening and study. In 2015, the members of Grace UMC Arlington are “running with the vision”.
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
Growing in Grace
Hello Grace Family,
Happy New Year. It is our mission to bring people into a life changing relationship with Jesus Christ. We are asking for outreach ideas big and small. Our goal is to do a better job with the mission.
Please contact Paul Toviessi with any ideas or comments. He can be reached at paultoviessi@gmail.com.
*****
Grace United Methodist Women
Mission education is important to deepen spiritual growth and understanding of how god is at work in the world. The inward work of spiritual growth increases the outward expression of mission. With this in mind, United Methodist Women provides many opportunities for mission education through events, programs and personal study. (United Methodist Women-On a Path for Mission)
Opportunities include:
Mission U, the Reading Program, Christian Social Action Network, and Conference/District events. Join us at our next UMW meeting, Saturday, January 24th.
For more information, please see Pam Pinkerton or Juanita Rischer.
Volunteer opportunities available:
Non-Profit Committee, this committee will study and seek to create a Non-Profit organization for Grace.
Interested in working with the children during children’s church? Please see Wilma Davis.
UMNS Weekly Digest
Ecumenical applause for new U.S-Cuba relations
WASHINGTON (UMNS) — Both the National Council of Churches and Church World Service applauded the new diplomatic agreement between the United States and Cuba and the return of Alan Gross, imprisoned for five years in Cuba. The Rev. John McCullough, a United Methodist pastor and CWS top executive, led a delegation of U.S. faith-based advocates to Cuba in early November to support the release of Gross.
Food arrives by Christmas in Ebola-ravaged village
MONROVIA, Liberia (UMNS) — A $15,000 Ebola response grant from the United Methodist Committee on Relief has made Christmas a lot brighter for 350 families in the Topoe Village, outside of Monrovia, with the distribution of much needed food. Julu Swen reports.
Movie ‘Selma’ sparks reflections on church, racism
The movie "Selma" offers United Methodists a chance to reflect on what the church can learn from its own history and the movie about the Civil Rights march.
Full versions of the stories with photographs and related features can be found at www.umc.org/news
The United Methodist Church
Online Course introduces Four Areas of Focus. Discover how the United Methodist Church is focusing on four long-term priorities in a free, online course provided by United Methodist Communications.
"Four Areas of Focus” (FAF101) is a self-directed, online learning experience that provides a basic overview of the focus areas adopted by the 2008 General Conference: leadership development, church growth, ministry with the poor and global health.
The four areas provide a source of inspiration and opportunity for discipleship for all United Methodists as we bring these priorities to life through a wide range of ministries.
To access this free online course, go to www.moodle.umcom.org and select the “United Methodist Basics” category. Then select “Four Areas of Focus” from the list of course offerings. On the right side of the login page, complete the brief registration form.
For more information about this course or other online courses, visit
www.Learn.umc.org .
Be ready to imagine the impossible!
*******************************
“Keep alert, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong”. 1 Corin. 16:13 NRSV
Happy New Year!
Grace was on the move in 2014 and it gets even better in 2015. We have so much to look forward to this year. Grace is growing and it shows! I wanted to share the scripture above because in all that we do, we must stand firm in our faith. When you plan big, the enemy is even more on the prowl to steal, kill and destroy the vision God has placed before us. To help stand firm in your faith, we encourage you to be in attendance where your faith can grow.
Attendance in bible class is growing. You are really missing out on in depth teaching by not attending on Tuesdays at 7pm. Sunday school starts at 10:25, right after the first service. Have you visited a class lately? We have classes for all ages. Stop by the hospitality table and then join a class. Let us know what you think. Your Sunday school teachers would love to hear from you.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 English Standard Version (ESV)
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
We have added more corporate prayer meetings in 2015. Join us on Saturday mornings. These meetings will be noted in the monthly calendars.
In addition, to help you “Experience Grace”, seminars are scheduled along with some special events. The Women’s Conference is in March and a Financial Freedom Seminar is scheduled in May.
Your leadership team is excited at what 2015 will bring!
Blessings and Peace,
Pam Pinkerton
Pastor’s Column
Grace to you,
“ Where there is no vision, the people perish:…” Proverbs 29:18a
Have you ever heard the phrase, “I’m bored because there is nothing to do”? Either you may have said it at some time in your life, or if you have children, you have heard them vent this way in an effort to get you to make life more exciting.
A person who makes this kind of statement may not have a boredom problem, but in fact, may have a “vision” problem. This year, 2015, we are going to spend a lot of time talking about “vision”.
The above referenced verse, as found in the King James Version, gives us the indication that there is an absolute need to have a heavenly vision in our personal lives, in the family, and in the church.
We have started the “Vision” series discussing the “6 Principles of Vision”. The first principle that we have discussed is, “Vision starts with God.” We have to find out if we are muddling through life with mere “good” ideas or if we are supernaturally infused with “God” ideas.
I urge you to hook into the services this year to become a part of what God is doing in the life of the church. If for some strange reason you are unable to be in one of the Sunday morning services, I encourage you to purchase the CD for listening, sharing with others, or downloading onto your audio device for repeated listening and study. In 2015, the members of Grace UMC Arlington are “running with the vision”.
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
Growing in Grace
Hello Grace Family,
Happy New Year. It is our mission to bring people into a life changing relationship with Jesus Christ. We are asking for outreach ideas big and small. Our goal is to do a better job with the mission.
Please contact Paul Toviessi with any ideas or comments. He can be reached at paultoviessi@gmail.com.
*****
Grace United Methodist Women
Mission education is important to deepen spiritual growth and understanding of how god is at work in the world. The inward work of spiritual growth increases the outward expression of mission. With this in mind, United Methodist Women provides many opportunities for mission education through events, programs and personal study. (United Methodist Women-On a Path for Mission)
Opportunities include:
Mission U, the Reading Program, Christian Social Action Network, and Conference/District events. Join us at our next UMW meeting, Saturday, January 24th.
For more information, please see Pam Pinkerton or Juanita Rischer.
Volunteer opportunities available:
Non-Profit Committee, this committee will study and seek to create a Non-Profit organization for Grace.
Interested in working with the children during children’s church? Please see Wilma Davis.
UMNS Weekly Digest
Ecumenical applause for new U.S-Cuba relations
WASHINGTON (UMNS) — Both the National Council of Churches and Church World Service applauded the new diplomatic agreement between the United States and Cuba and the return of Alan Gross, imprisoned for five years in Cuba. The Rev. John McCullough, a United Methodist pastor and CWS top executive, led a delegation of U.S. faith-based advocates to Cuba in early November to support the release of Gross.
Food arrives by Christmas in Ebola-ravaged village
MONROVIA, Liberia (UMNS) — A $15,000 Ebola response grant from the United Methodist Committee on Relief has made Christmas a lot brighter for 350 families in the Topoe Village, outside of Monrovia, with the distribution of much needed food. Julu Swen reports.
Movie ‘Selma’ sparks reflections on church, racism
The movie "Selma" offers United Methodists a chance to reflect on what the church can learn from its own history and the movie about the Civil Rights march.
Full versions of the stories with photographs and related features can be found at www.umc.org/news
The United Methodist Church
Online Course introduces Four Areas of Focus. Discover how the United Methodist Church is focusing on four long-term priorities in a free, online course provided by United Methodist Communications.
"Four Areas of Focus” (FAF101) is a self-directed, online learning experience that provides a basic overview of the focus areas adopted by the 2008 General Conference: leadership development, church growth, ministry with the poor and global health.
The four areas provide a source of inspiration and opportunity for discipleship for all United Methodists as we bring these priorities to life through a wide range of ministries.
To access this free online course, go to www.moodle.umcom.org and select the “United Methodist Basics” category. Then select “Four Areas of Focus” from the list of course offerings. On the right side of the login page, complete the brief registration form.
For more information about this course or other online courses, visit
www.Learn.umc.org .