Welcome to this edition of Grace Notesa 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!
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Greetings Grace,
I enjoy watching the sunrise and I also enjoy when I’m able to see the sunset. If I were asked to choose between the two, I know I wouldn’t be able to. Both symbolize different things to me. God smiles on me in the morning and he lets me know it’s time to start shutting things down in the evening. The birds greet me early along with the sunrise. When I hear them singing, I know it’s time for me to get out of bed and to start preparing for the day.
We all have different ways for getting prepared in the morning. We have certain things we do, probably in a certain order. We may even have a mental list each day as to what has to happen once our feet hit the ground. The psalmist tells us in the scripture below that there is one thing we need early:.
“Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days” Psalm 90:14 (NIV)
He asks God to satisfy us early with unfailing love. He doesn’t want us to wait until the middle of the day or evening. He asks to be satisfied early. How often do you wake with everything except being filled with love on your mind? Imagine what it would be like if we all got out of bed, asking to be filled with a daily dose of love early.Think for a moment about your early morning routine. How do you start your day? What do you fill up with first? What is it that you ask for from God early?
If you are in need of more joy in your life remember the psalmist. Start your mornings asking God to satisfy you with his unfailing love each and every day.
Blessings and Peace
Pam Pinkerton
Pastor’s Column
Grace to you,
I have heard many comments about how God has used the O.A.T.S. system of dealing with trouble during the “good fight of faith” of various members. During the course of life, we will all encounter times where we are dealing with trials, tests, and temptations, but I am very confident that God’s grace (the effectual power of God to meet every need) will sustain us in every way. However, we must cooperate with the grace!
One of the ways we cooperate is to use the wisdom that we are gathering from the Word of God both during our personal study and the corporate gatherings. The O.A.T.S. system is just the kind of wisdom that I have used to stay on course when I face unexpected trouble.
Remember;
O – Orient yourself. Find out where your faith and the wisdom of God are for this situation.
A – Address the situation. You may need to get wisdom or understanding before acting.
T – Trust God! Trusting God requires you have some previous experience or know someone who has trusted God before. I look to David who said that he was young and grew old, however he never saw the righteous forsaken. Finally;
S – Stand. We have got to hold the course of faith during the faith fight. Do not throw away your confidence, but stand strong in the Lord!
Immersion in Grace 2014 is fast approaching. During the days of July 20-23, I am expecting a powerful outpouring of God presence to refresh, renew, and restore as we wait in the glow of God’s love. Please make sure you are available to participate in every service. This too, is the grace of God for you!
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
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Happy Fathers Day to the Men of Grace!
*************
UMNS Weekly Digest
Resources for churches - Grants available for creative older adult ministries
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) – Local churches with ideas for creative ministries involving older adults can apply for a limited number of special Aging in Poverty Ministry grants from the United Methodist Committee on Older Adult Ministries. The grants are from the committee and the United Methodist Board of Discipleship. The deadline to apply is Aug. 18.
News around the Connection
Bishop Clark, theologian, relief leader, dies at 93
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) – Retired Bishop Roy Clyde Clark, who nurtured United Methodist ministry globally and vital congregations locally, died May 27 in Nashville. He was 93. As an active bishop, he led the Columbia (S.C.) Area, served as a director of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries and was president of the denomination’s relief agency. In retirement, he helped develop the denomination’s commitment to church vitality.
News of interest
Maya Angelou, celebrated author and poet, dies at 86
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (UMNS) – Maya Angelou, 86, died May 28 at her home in Winston-Salem. The award-winning author of autobiographies, essays, and poetry was a familiar face to many United Methodists. She was a strong supporter of Glide Memorial United Methodist Church in San Francisco where she visited in 2012. The year before, she delivered a lecture at St Paul’s United Methodist Church in Houston. She also was an emerita trustee of United Methodist-related Bennett College in Greensboro, N.C. Many will remember her reading a poem at President Clinton’s 1993 inauguration.
Casting a wide net in Sierra Leone
Campaign aims to save children like Ibrahim
FREETOWN, Sierra Leone (UMNS) — Ibrahim Massaquoi's dramatic arrival into the children’s ward hijacked everyone's attention on May 17. Most fatalities from malaria occur in children under 5. The United Methodist Church and Sierra Leone government are working to save lives like the 4-year-old. Phileas Jusu of Sierra Leone Annual (regional) shares the boy’s story.
NOTE: This 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.
*********************************
Congratulations
Paul and Porsha for the most important event of your life! May you always find love and hope into the company of each other.
****************************
*************************
Greetings Grace,
I enjoy watching the sunrise and I also enjoy when I’m able to see the sunset. If I were asked to choose between the two, I know I wouldn’t be able to. Both symbolize different things to me. God smiles on me in the morning and he lets me know it’s time to start shutting things down in the evening. The birds greet me early along with the sunrise. When I hear them singing, I know it’s time for me to get out of bed and to start preparing for the day.
We all have different ways for getting prepared in the morning. We have certain things we do, probably in a certain order. We may even have a mental list each day as to what has to happen once our feet hit the ground. The psalmist tells us in the scripture below that there is one thing we need early:.
“Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days” Psalm 90:14 (NIV)
He asks God to satisfy us early with unfailing love. He doesn’t want us to wait until the middle of the day or evening. He asks to be satisfied early. How often do you wake with everything except being filled with love on your mind? Imagine what it would be like if we all got out of bed, asking to be filled with a daily dose of love early.Think for a moment about your early morning routine. How do you start your day? What do you fill up with first? What is it that you ask for from God early?
If you are in need of more joy in your life remember the psalmist. Start your mornings asking God to satisfy you with his unfailing love each and every day.
Blessings and Peace
Pam Pinkerton
Pastor’s Column
Grace to you,
I have heard many comments about how God has used the O.A.T.S. system of dealing with trouble during the “good fight of faith” of various members. During the course of life, we will all encounter times where we are dealing with trials, tests, and temptations, but I am very confident that God’s grace (the effectual power of God to meet every need) will sustain us in every way. However, we must cooperate with the grace!
One of the ways we cooperate is to use the wisdom that we are gathering from the Word of God both during our personal study and the corporate gatherings. The O.A.T.S. system is just the kind of wisdom that I have used to stay on course when I face unexpected trouble.
Remember;
O – Orient yourself. Find out where your faith and the wisdom of God are for this situation.
A – Address the situation. You may need to get wisdom or understanding before acting.
T – Trust God! Trusting God requires you have some previous experience or know someone who has trusted God before. I look to David who said that he was young and grew old, however he never saw the righteous forsaken. Finally;
S – Stand. We have got to hold the course of faith during the faith fight. Do not throw away your confidence, but stand strong in the Lord!
Immersion in Grace 2014 is fast approaching. During the days of July 20-23, I am expecting a powerful outpouring of God presence to refresh, renew, and restore as we wait in the glow of God’s love. Please make sure you are available to participate in every service. This too, is the grace of God for you!
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
*************
Happy Fathers Day to the Men of Grace!
*************
UMNS Weekly Digest
Resources for churches - Grants available for creative older adult ministries
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) – Local churches with ideas for creative ministries involving older adults can apply for a limited number of special Aging in Poverty Ministry grants from the United Methodist Committee on Older Adult Ministries. The grants are from the committee and the United Methodist Board of Discipleship. The deadline to apply is Aug. 18.
News around the Connection
Bishop Clark, theologian, relief leader, dies at 93
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) – Retired Bishop Roy Clyde Clark, who nurtured United Methodist ministry globally and vital congregations locally, died May 27 in Nashville. He was 93. As an active bishop, he led the Columbia (S.C.) Area, served as a director of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries and was president of the denomination’s relief agency. In retirement, he helped develop the denomination’s commitment to church vitality.
News of interest
Maya Angelou, celebrated author and poet, dies at 86
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (UMNS) – Maya Angelou, 86, died May 28 at her home in Winston-Salem. The award-winning author of autobiographies, essays, and poetry was a familiar face to many United Methodists. She was a strong supporter of Glide Memorial United Methodist Church in San Francisco where she visited in 2012. The year before, she delivered a lecture at St Paul’s United Methodist Church in Houston. She also was an emerita trustee of United Methodist-related Bennett College in Greensboro, N.C. Many will remember her reading a poem at President Clinton’s 1993 inauguration.
Casting a wide net in Sierra Leone
Campaign aims to save children like Ibrahim
FREETOWN, Sierra Leone (UMNS) — Ibrahim Massaquoi's dramatic arrival into the children’s ward hijacked everyone's attention on May 17. Most fatalities from malaria occur in children under 5. The United Methodist Church and Sierra Leone government are working to save lives like the 4-year-old. Phileas Jusu of Sierra Leone Annual (regional) shares the boy’s story.
NOTE: This 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.
*********************************
Congratulations
Paul and Porsha for the most important event of your life! May you always find love and hope into the company of each other.
****************************