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One Decision
How do you respond when given multiple choices? Consider dining out—would you rather have a menu of thirty different items or one with only a few? There are times I would prefer the latter simply because the choices can be overwhelming. Then again, variety is part of the fun. Perhaps I just need someone to order for me?
John Maxwell, in Failing Forward, writes: “No matter what you’ve experienced, remember this: There are people who’ve had it better than you and done worse. And there are people who’ve had it worse than you and done better. The circumstances really have nothing to do with getting over your personal history. Past hurts can make you bitter or better—the choice is yours.”
How do you respond in the midst of adversity? This week I am particularly mindful of the unforeseen adversity that Hurricane Harvey rained into our lives a year ago. The carnage Harvey left behind would result in the second most costly hurricane to hit the U.S. mainland since 1900. An estimated 135,000 homes were damaged or destroyed. Parts of Houston received more than 50 inches of rainfall while one third of Houston was completely flooded. Undoubtedly, many of us know all too well the reality of these statistics.
However, in the midst of the adversity, people like you responded. Thanks to the financial generosity of the Grace family as well as gifts from others, Grace has been able to come alongside many families who were directly impacted by the destruction from Harvey. However, the reality is, we are not finished. There are still families and homes yet to be restored, and we must continue to be intentional with our love and support.
One way we can do this is to choose to be in worship this Sunday at Grace. We will gather together in our Sanctuary at 10 a.m. this Sunday and celebrate the amazing love and grace of our Lord. We will also hear stories from various members of our Grace family—stories which give testimony to the positive impact many of your choices have had on their lives. God has been so faithful and this Sunday will be another opportunity for us to give Him our thanks and praise for His unfailing love for us.
I love the reminder from Joshua 24: “Now fear the Lord and serve him with faithfulness… but if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve… but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
I recently read a great quote, “You’re always one decision away from a totally different life.”
Friends, life is full of choices. What decision will you make today to usher in a totally different life?
I hope you will choose to join us Sunday at Grace.
Peace,
Trey
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Two-Service Sundays
in September
These are exciting days in the life and ministry of Grace with the launch of a capital campaign on the horizon. To ensure that the entire Grace family has the opportunity to hear directly from our Senior Pastor, we are making a temporary change in the Worship schedule from Sept 9 – 30. There will be two services in the sanctuary only at 9 a.m. (Contemporary) and 11:15 a.m. (Traditional) – as well as the Grace en Español service. The hope is that those who normally worship in the Chapel will instead attend one of the services in the Sanctuary. By offering just the two services, we can be certain that the Grace family all has the opportunity to hear the same message from the same voice as united we ready ourselves for a bright future. |
Volunteer for the
Usher Team
Guest Services relies heavily upon volunteers. Quite simply, Sunday mornings could not happen without our amazing team of volunteers. Guest Services volunteers welcome all guests who enter the church. In addition to greeting people, volunteers answer questions and help guests find their way around the church. Guest Services volunteers are the very first impression our guests will have of our church.
One of our Guest Services teams is our Usher Team. The Usher Ministry team exists to be “ministers of hospitality.” In this age of always connected-always on, a handshake and a bulletin are not enough to make the first-time guest feel welcome. Our Usher teams serve our guests in the Sanctuary Lobby initiating contact with a warm greeting, friendly presence and offering worship bulletins or other informational materials and clear directions to a seat. We would love to enlarge our Usher team. For more information and to sign-up, please click HERE. |
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Now You Can Give
On the Go!
In less time than it takes to write a check, you can now make contributions using your smartphone at church or anytime. Mobile giving is a quick, easy, and convenient way to support the ministries and missions of Grace.
Online giving is easy to set up, and you can make a one-time gift or automatic recurring contributions with your designated bank account or credit card. You are also able to view your complete giving history.
Using your smartphone’s camera or code reader app, you can scan this QR code to go straight to the secure Grace online giving webpage. Follow the prompts to create or login to your giving profile, and in just a few clicks, your contribution is made. |
Out Of Town This Sunday? Watch Us On Facebook Live Each Week!
We love gathering together each Sunday as a Grace family! But, if you are unable to join us for worship, there are two ways to join us online: on our homepage or live on our Facebook page.
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Starting Point Class
September 23, 6 p.m.,
Massey-Tucker Fellowship Hall,
Room 103
Want to get connected? Find a CORE Community? Learn about our beliefs and ministry? Join the church family? Where do you begin? At the starting point.
During the Starting Point Class, we’ll enjoy a meal and have great conversation together. You’ll learn more about who we are as a church, how to grow in your faith, and the many life-giving ways you can be a part of our church family, including the opportunity to make this your home church through membership. Join us for a casual dinner and conversation — it’s a great place to start! Child care is available (dkay@gpch.org). To RSVP or for more information, contact Beth Craig (bcraig@gpch.org).
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An Evening with
Melanie Shankle
September 16, 6:30-8 p.m.,
Massey-Tucker Fellowship Hall
Join us for a girls’ night at Grace with Melanie Shankle. We will enjoy food, fellowship and glean some words of wisdom from the author of Church of the Small Things. It’s sure to be a night of fun and a great way to kick off our fall season of women’s ministry! Register HERE.
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Encore September
Day Trip
Wednesday, September 19, 9:45 am
Last Spring, a wondrous local attraction was unveiled. It’s called the Cistern, and that’s just what it is: an underground concrete cistern the size of one and a half football fields – nearly two acres – that once held 15 million gallons of Houston drinking water. Join us for a tour of this remarkable Cistern. Following the tour, lunch will be on your own at the Cleburne Cafeteria. After lunch, we’ll continue with a tour of The Rienzi Museum, a MFAH house museum for European decorative arts, situated in the beautiful historic River Oaks neighborhood. COST: $12. Be at the church by 9:30 a.m. We will return to Grace by 3 p.m. Space is limited, and payment is due by September 9. For more information, please click HERE. If you have questions you can contact Becky Morris (bmorris@gpch.org; 713-267-5091).
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The Backyard
Got a Make-over!
Children’s Ministries invites our Grace family to come see the changes made in The Backyard and Learning Center! We’ve put the drop cloths, paint brushes, and ladders away — for the moment! — and can’t wait for you to see the fresh new look created for our preschool and elementary children. Stop by Sunday to see how the outside reflects the heart of our program: partnering with parents to create a place where kids gather for fun, friends, and faith.
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Rec Sports Soccer Registration Now Open
Rec sports is a ministry of Grace Presbyterian Church and open to all children PreK 4 through 5th grade as part of the West Houston Christian Sports Association. Every year we offer boys and girls soccer, basketball and softball/baseball. Parents are required to volunteer in the capacity of team parent, assistant coach or coach. No late registrations will be accepted. For questions contact Wendy Wray, Grace Recreational Sports Coordinator, (wwray@gpch.org; 713-248-2670).
Soccer Online Registration is open August 1-25. Click HERE to register.
- Girls and Boys PreK 4 to 5th (Players MUST be in PreK 4 at the time of registration)
- Practice is once a week at Grace (after 5 p.m. either Monday, Wednesday, or Friday), beginning September 3
- Games on Saturdays (September 22-November 10); Location TBD
- Team Game Schedule will be available on September 18
- Fee $125 (includes: Jersey, hat/visor, trophy, individual & team picture)
- Player is responsible for providing their own: pants, batting helmet w/chin strap, bat, glove & cleats
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Bethel Bible Course Beginning September 9
The 2018-2019 Bethel Bible Course will begin on Sunday, September 9. Elder Jerry Hanlon will lead this forty-lesson course which covers the Bible with twenty Old Testament and twenty New Testament lessons. This popular and life-changing course is a must for those who have always wanted to read the Bible, seek greater Biblical literacy and find God’s unimaginable plan of redemption through Jesus Christ from Genesis to Revelation. Classes will be held at 10 a.m. on Sundays in Massey-Tucker Fellowship Hall, Room A. The cost for the course materials is $100 ($50 for Old Testament, $50 for New Testament). Please register online HERE. |
Inspire!
Women's Bible Studies
It’s time to get INSPIRED! The Fall women’s Bible studies will be starting up the week of September 10 with a great lineup of engaging and powerful studies. No matter the season of life, Inspire! has a group excited to encourage and equip women as they study and connect with one another. To register and to find out more information regarding the days, times, and studies, please click HERE. |
Thursday Morning
Bible Study
Beginning September 13,
in the Heritage Room
Join us on Thursday mornings to study The Path to the Cross, a Bible Study by Ray Vander Laan, a renowned teacher, ordained minister, historian and professor. In his videos , which are filmed on location in the Middle East, he illuminates the historical, geographical, and cultural context of the Scriptures. The class has a discussion lesson and daily Scripture lessons. For information, call Pat Irwin at 713-461-2757 or Gina Axtell at 713-267-5046. |
Bridge at Grace
Meets 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month, 11:30 a.m. (lunch - $5 optional) and 12-3 p.m. (bridge)
Come enjoy an afternoon of social bridge at Grace with church friends or make new friends! No partner required but reservations are required for lunch and bridge. Contact Becky Morris (bmorris@gpch.org; 713-267-5091). For more information, call Toni or Harry Watson at 713-468-6006. |
Preschool Needs
Small Group Leaders
Love Jesus? Love preschoolers? Then Children’s Ministries has the perfect place for you to share your faith — in our youngest Sunday School classes! We provide the lessons and the materials and the preschoolers, you provide a familiar, loving face who helps our 2, 3, and 4 year olds understand God’s plans for them. For more information, contact Gianna Tiedemann in Children’s Ministries (gtiedemann@gpch.org; 832-647-6645).
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Parents' Night OutSeptember 8, 5-9 p.m.
Parents' Night Out (PNO) is a program offered by Grace Church to church, school, and community families that provides a safe, fun, Christian environment for children while parents enjoy some much needed free time. Ages are 3 months to 5th grade. The next PNO will be Saturday, September 8, from 5–9 p.m. The cost is $10 per child. Your child will enjoy pizza, games, and a movie. The deadline for registration is noon on September 5 or until we reach our childcare capacity. Cancellations for a refund are accepted if received by this deadline. Space is limited to registrants only. Unfortunately, we are unable to accept walk-in registrants. Register HERE.
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Save the Date:
Colorific Preschool FXFriday, September 21
Children’s Ministries kicks off a new season of Preschool F/X (Family Experience) events on Friday, Sept. 21. Bring the whole family as our preschoolers explore God’s love and the colors He created for us. Look for registration information in next week’s bulletin!
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Mentors Needed for New School Year
We invite you to become a mentor at Paul Revere Middle School. Mentors meet with students on Friday mornings for one hour. Mentors remind the student that someone cares about them, assures them they are not alone in dealing with daily challenges, and reminds each student that he or she matters. Mentoring has a powerful, positive effect on students personally, academically, and on their future dreams. For more information or to apply, click HERE..
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New Ministry Opportunity:
Friends of Westchase
Saturday, September 1, 8 a.m. -12 p.m.
We will gather to build relationships and rapport with our neighbors in Westchase. Teams will be prepared and given assignments to conduct interviews to assess the needs and assets in the community. We will start at Grace for a brief time of preparation, coffee, and pastries at 8 a.m. Then, we will go to the Monte Carlo apartment complex to conduct assessments. We will finish up back at Grace no later than noon. Please consider joining the team and receive your very own Friends of Westchase shirt. For questions, please contact Chris French (cfrench@gpch.org; 713-267-5039).
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Post-Harvey
Home Blessings
As they move back into their restored homes or relocate to different permanent homes, flooded families may request a team of Grace members to offer prayers of blessing. We have created a "walk-through" prayer pamphlet that the blessing team uses from the front door throughout the home to pray a hedge of protection and God's glorification in this journey.
You may request a home blessing by completing this form. Denise Phelps will contact you to schedule a blessing time and put together a team.
If you would like to be a part of a home blessing prayer team, you can volunteer by completing this form. It offers options for the days, times of day, and zip code where you might be a blessing to our flooded families. We will be in touch with you when an opportunity arises that meets with your availability.
We remain committed to walk alongside families still recovering from the aftermath of Harvey. Prayers continue to be lifted for continued healing, restoration, and rebuilding.
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Kenya Mission Trip Interest Meeting
Sunday, September 9 at 5 p.m.,
Church Library
Join us as Stu Ross shares information about the trip itinerary, travel, projects, and ministry opportunities in Kenya. We will discuss the cost, the deadlines, and the trip dates for this exciting opportunity to continue our 20+ year partnership of building churches and schools with the Kenya Christians, Stu Ross, and the Outreach Foundation. Please RSVP to Gina Axtell. For questions, please contact Chris French (cfrench@gpch.org; 713-267-5039).
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Help Welcome
Refugee Families
in Houston
Grace’s ministry friend, Houston Welcomes Refugees helped resettle 121 refugees across 26 families from six different countries this past year. HWR is preparing for more arrivals in the coming months. HWR is looking to mobilize 80 volunteers who can form 10-12 new Welcome Teams to partner with refugee families arriving through February 2019. Please consider attending an upcoming training and orientation on Monday, Aug. 27, 7-8 p.m. or Tuesday, Sept. 11, 7-8 p.m. to become part of a Welcome Team. To learn more and sign up, please contact Chris French (cfrench@gpch.org; 713-267-5039).
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Do it All in Jesus’ Name -Stephen Ministry
Stephen Ministers bring distinctively Christian care to those in need. They use both words and deeds to express Christ’s care for others—listening and comforting, calling on the training they have received and employing the tools of faith. If this job description fits your personal goals for ministry, consider becoming a Stephen Minister. A training class is starting soon. For more information, contact Denise Phelps (dphelps@gpch.org; 713-267-5063).
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Save the Date!
Flu Shots Available
September 16
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Looking Ahead in 2018… SAVE the DATE!
August 26, Harvey Anniversary Worship- ONE Worship Service at 10 a.m.and Congregational Lunch
September 8, Children’s Ministries Parents Night Out 5-9 p.m.
September 9, 16, 23, 30, Two-Service Sundays in the Sanctuary (9 a.m. Contemporary and 11:15 a.m. Traditional)
September 16, An Evening with Melanie Shankle 6:30 p.m.
September 23, Phases: Parent Conversations at 10:15 a.m.
October 7, World Communion Sunday - ONE Worship Service at 10 a.m.
October 12-14, Together Forever
October 26, Trunk or Treat
November 5, Wood Memorial Golf Tournament
December 2, Phases: Parent Conversations at 10:15 a.m.
December 16, Grace Kids Musical & Christmas 4 the City Habitat Build – ONE Worship Service at 10 a.m.
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