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Silence
So, I had an interesting week last week. If you were with us in worship on August 18, or watched us online, then you may recall that my voice was on its way out. It had worsened on Monday—so I went to the doctor and got a steroid shot. However, I also received some disturbing orders from the doctor. He said, and I quote: “Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate AND REST YOUR VOCAL CORDS — aka, QUIT talking, singing, preaching.”
Now, I am not telling you anything you don’t know, but expecting that I will quit talking is about as probable as a 65-degree day in Houston on August 29 — not likely. However, I gave it my best shot.
I must tell you that being unable to speak stirred some CURIOSITY during the week, both for me and for those with whom I came in contact. First, let me share a couple of observations of the latter. My inability to speak caught people off guard; they were not used to me being silent. So, when I would encounter someone, I pointed to my throat and mouthed the words, “I have lost my voice.” They normally responded in one of two ways: They would either just stop talking altogether and walk away as if THEY now couldn’t speak, or they would begin speaking very quietly — as if speaking softly would restore my voice.
For me, my silence reminded me of the importance of listening. That was all I could do: listen. It was frustrating at times not to be able to jump into a conversation or provide my “helpful advice.” I missed being able to spout off a witty comment. In the end, though, I was very convicted that God was teaching me something in the midst of my silence.
You see, I think we have forgotten the gift of silence. In silence we can hear things we often miss. We can listen more intently rather than thinking about what we will say next. We can use other ways to communicate that we may seldom use, like a hug, or a smile, or a humble nod of the head in thanks. But also, silence provides such a tranquil space to reflect.
I couldn’t help but reflect on the words from Psalm 23: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside QUIET waters, he restores my soul.”
God never loses His voice with which he communicates to us. Perhaps we simply need to be silent more often in order to hear Him.
I certainly don’t want you to lose your voice, but I do hope you will embrace silence this week.
Peace, Trey
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Ready Update - As of August 22
We are so grateful for your continued patience and understanding as our Grace campus is being READIED to be a welcoming place, a relevant space, and to extend Grace! We hope you share our excitement and anticipation as we see the various construction projects in progress! The latest transformations include:
Serve on the READY Construction Hospitality Team
We have a wonderful opportunity for you to serve the Grace family and our guests on Sunday! The good news is that it is a brief time commitment, a limited duration, requires very little training, and is a way to contribute to making your Grace a welcoming place. It's an easy – and especially important – way to invest in the life and ministry of Grace.
You are invited to help smooth the worshippers’ path on Sunday morning by volunteering for the READY Construction Hospitality team. We need 8 volunteers for each of the Sunday morning worship hours, beginning August 11 through December 8. Find more information by clicking HERE.
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Grace Worship Night:
An Evening in the Psalms
Sunday, September 15, 5:30 p.m.
The Founders’ Chapel
Please join us for a special Worship Night as we explore the Psalms through reading, prayer, song, and meditation. Childcare is available; please email dkay@gpch.org by Sept. 9 with your child's name and age to reserve a place. |
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. |
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Save the Date! Grace at 50
Sunday, December 8
Mark your calendars! Join us as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of this amazing Grace campus and God’s impact through Grace on the west side of Houston… from Downtown to the Beltway and Beyond. You’ll want to be here for this one-service Sunday and lunch! |
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. |
Save These Dates!
ONE Worship Service Sundays
- October 6, World Communion Sunday
- December 8, Grace at 50!
- December 15, GKM and Grace for the City Habitat Build
- December 29
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Understand, Discover
& Use Your Spiritual Gifts
Sunday mornings, through Sept. 22
10:15-11:10 a.m.
Massey-Tucker Hall, Room 102
We are thrilled that Grace elder, Deb Castillo is leading a class to help us discover our spiritual gifts and our unique strengths. We will explore how combining our gifts and our strengths will help us maximize our Kingdom impact. To reserve your spot in this class, please email Denise Phelps.
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Children’s Ministries Needs
Small Group Leaders
with "Faith Factor"
Thank you to the moms who have volunteered and completed our Kindergarten-1st Grade Small Group team. We still need one or two more friendly faces for our Second-Third grade group as well as a few people willing to substitute once a month when leaders are out of town. Children’s Ministries provides the curriculum and all supplies — you supply the Faith Factor! Please consider being a part of our kids’ lives as we meet in The Backyard and small groups each week. For more information, contact Lisa Ann Henkel (lhenkel@gpch.org; 713-267-5015). |
Cub Scouts Pack 1040 Information Meeting
Sunday, September 8, 3:30 p.m.
Massey-Tucker Fellowship Hall
Join us for our first meeting of the year for Cub Scouts Pack 1040. We welcome boys and girls from Kindergarten to fifth grade. Come learn about what Family Scouting has to offer. For more information, please contact Dath Collins (dath00@yahoo.com; 832-771-2364). |
Thursday Morning
Bible Study
Beginning, September 12, 9:30 a.m.
McKechnie Dining room
Join us this fall for our study of Clash of Kingdoms. Ray Vander Laan, a professor of religion, a teacher and historian, takes us by video on location to where Paul walked and taught, and reveals the culture in which Paul worked, making his message more understandable and applicable to our daily lives. For information, please contact Pat Irwin (713-461-2757) or Gina Enriquez (genriquez@gpch.org; 713-267-5046). |
September Encore Trip:
Holocaust Museum
September 27, 5:30-7 p.m.
Join us for a self-guided tour of the nation's fourth largest Holocaust museum, right here in Houston. The museum recently re-opened in June with a powerful message of “darkness to light.” The museum is dedicated to educating people about the Holocaust, remembering the six million Jews and millions of other innocent victims and honoring the survivors' legacy. The cost for this trip is $12, and payment is due by September 15. Dinner will be on your own at the Cleburne Cafeteria. To register, contact Becky Morris (bmorris@gpch.org; 713-267-5091), or you can sign up on the Encore book at the receptionist desk on every Sunday. |
Kids Worship, Too!
September 29, 5:30-7 p.m.
Elementary age kids and their parents are invited to an all-new worship experience led by Ivy Castle Simpson and the Children's Ministries team. We'll start with a Chick fil-A dinner at 5:30 p.m. At 6 p.m. the kids will move to The Backyard for a super special worship night while parents will join Director of Liturgy Heather Kaemingk for a presentation/conversation about sharing worship with your kids. Everyone will finish together with songs and prayers. Our registration link will be available in next Thursday's Grace Weekly. The cost is $5 a person for the meal. For more information, contact Lisa Ann Henkel (lhenkel@gpch.org; 713-267-5015). |
Calling All Parents
of College Students!
We look forward to connecting and ministering to our Grace college students throughout the school year. Bridges Sunday School Class sends encouraging notes, birthday cards, and care packages to Grace college students, but we need their updated school addresses. Please text your student’s name, address, email and cell number to Carey Dow at 713-822-3981, and we will add them to our list!! |
Crowded House
On September 8th, we are launching Crowded House, weekly Bible study small groups for all students! Not only will these groups give students the opportunity to get to know each other outside of Sunday mornings, but they also allow leaders to invest in the lives of a few, thereby helping your student to feel known, heard and loved. Led by an amazing team of adult volunteers from Grace, these groups will meet Sunday nights from 6-8pm at host homes of Grace members in the vicinity of the church. Email Dorothy, dhobbs@gcph.org, or Lindsey, lmcdonald@gpch.org, if you have a question about the location of a small group or desire more information. |
Inspire! Fall Bible Studies -
Registration is Now Open!
Sign up and register now for the Fall Bible Studies with Inspire! Women’s Ministry. Take advantage of these great opportunities to grow deeper in your relationship with God and with others. To register and to find more information regarding days, times, and studies, visit the website and click on the Learn More button. |
Help Feed Our Student Ministry on Sundays
Thank you to those of you who provided food for Grace Student Ministries over the summer on Sunday mornings! We are continuing a new Sunday morning experience for middle and high school students throughout the fall semester and we invite the Grace family to help continue to support the student ministry. Everyone knows that students love to eat, so can you help feed them to make the time together on Sunday mornings extra sweet? Please click on this Sign Up Genius to contribute. Thank you in advance for you help and for your support in making Sunday mornings an awesome time for our students! |
Weekday Volunteer Teams Needed to Support
Fun, Friends & Faith
Children's Ministries invites you to participate in our F3 ministry at the Belmont Apartments beginning Sept. 30 and Oct. 1. "Fun, Friends & Faith" will provide an afterschool church camp experience for PreK-5th grade students of Walnut Bend Elementary School. Children's Ministries staff members will lead the Monday and Wednesday camps, but we need YOU to show up and show off for God. Volunteer once or twice a month on the day that works best for your schedule. For more information, contact Lisa Ann Henkel (lhenkel@gpch.org; 713-267-5015). |
September
Parents' Night Out
Saturday, September 14, 5-9 p.m.
Children's Ministries is thrilled to announce that Triumph Sports will return for our Parents' Night Out events this year! Triumph accepts kids from Kindergarten through Fifth Grade. The cost is $20 per child and includes pizza and all the sports games.
For our PreK Fours-Fives and younger, our Nursery staff will provide our classic safe, fun, Christian childcare. The cost is $10 per child ages PreK and younger. Your child will enjoy pizza, games, and a movie. The deadline for registration is noon on Monday, September 9. Cancellations for a refund are accepted if received by this deadline. To register, please click HERE. |
October Encore Trip:
Sea Center Texas
October 17, 8:30 a.m.- 3 p.m.
Sea Center Texas is a one-of-a-kind marine fish hatchery and Visitor's Center located on 75 acres in Lake Jackson. The $13 million facility opened in March 1996 and includes a 15,000-square foot Visitor's Center housing several aquaria and educational displays of the marine life of Texas bays and Gulf waters, the largest red drum hatchery in the world used to produce larvae for stocking grow-out ponds and conducting research on stressed fish stocks from Texas waters, 35 acres of grow-out ponds and 5+ acres of interpreted marsh areas. Cost is $5 for tips. Lunch on your own at Asiel’s. Please be at the church at 8:30 am for 8:45 departure. We will return to Grace around 3 p.m. Payment is due by Sunday Oct. 6. To register, contact Becky Morris (bmorris@gpch.org; 713-267-5091), or you can sign up on the Encore book at the receptionist desk every Sunday. |
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WHAM Food Drive
Sunday, September 1
Help collect food and other necessity items for WHAM (West Houston Assistance Ministry). Collection bins will be located inside the Chapel and Sanctuary entrances, and in the Massey-Tucker Hall Lobby. Focus items will be peanut butter and jelly, canned pasta and canned fruit, soups and crackers.
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Save the Date! Flu Shots Available on Sunday, September 22 |
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Support Effort
for Clean Water
On September 26-29, Grace member, Fernando Mendiola will ride his bike with Team Living Water in the 2nd annual Texas 250 to raise awareness and funds for Living Water International’s mission to provide access to clean water around the world. His goal to surpass $1,250 in donations. Sponsor a mile for just $5! That $5 provides clean water to one person for one year. Fernando says, “I'm just a local fella that loves to pedal. I pedal for exercise, to meditate, and for fun. But what could be better than pedaling for water? This will undoubtedly be my greatest cycling challenge to date. But with your support, together we can bring clean water to the world... one well at a time.” To support Fernando’s effort and help him surpass his goal, please click HERE.
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Samburu Mission Trip
to North Central Kenya
Saturday, September 28 to Friday, October 11
Learn about the traditions of the Samburu tribe. Experience their daily struggles. Spend four nights in the bush, building a church for the growing evangelical Gates of Zion congregation. Enjoy some Safari R&R in the Samburu National Park. Scholarships are available. The deadline to sign up is September 1. For more information, contact Margaret Ellis, Friends of Samburu, Kenya (silleme@swbell.net; 713-501-5140).
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Hearts Beading for Kenya
A new charitable fund-raising opportunity is forming at Grace. We will be beading for Kenya, creating unique pieces of jewelry with African trade beads. We will meet weekly for fun and fellowship at the church. No experience necessary. For more information, contact Margaret Ellis, Friends of Samburu, Kenya (silleme@swbell.net; 713-501-5140).
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Operation Turkey 2019
We are 91 days away from Thanksgiving Day. Starting to think about your holiday plans? Make sure this year you include Operation Turkey as part of your holiday traditions. Once again this year, Grace will be hosting Operation Turkey. The goal this year is 75,000 meals delivered. At Grace we will prepare around 7,000 of those meals. To learn more and to register, go to www.operationturkey.com.
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Manna From Grace
Saturday, September 14, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
at the home of Joan Cantrell (281-352-0250)
Twice a month folks gather to have fun and fellowship while they prepare food for those in the family of Grace who are going through a time of illness or trial. While some of the meals are delivered, many are put in the church freezer, located right inside the portico door. These are for anyone to take when they know someone who could be blessed by one of these meals. If you would like to know about Manna from Grace – volunteering or receiving meals, contact Becky Morris (bmorris@gpch.org; 713-267-5091).
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Clothed by Faith:
New Ministry Relationship
How many people does it take to make a difference? Just One. Be the one to donate gently used clothing utilizing the donation container located at Grace Presbyterian Church in Massey-Tucker Hall. We are excited to introduce our newest ministry relationship with Clothed By Faith. Let’s fill this donation container over and over again to build a strong relationship with CBF, who depends on the help of those in the community to fulfill its mission to demonstrate God’s love through the provision of gently used clothing to those in need. To learn more, go to www.clothedbyfaith.org. If you have questions about donations, please contact Chris French (cfrench@gpch.org; 713-267-5039).
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Why Stephen Ministry?
We have many needs for care in our congregation and community: people experiencing divorce, grief, a terminal illness, loss of a job, relocation, an empty nest, retirement, hospitalization, loneliness, and many other stresses or challenges. Often people with needs suffer silently or do not request or receive the level of care they really need. With a limited number of pastors for a congregation the size of Grace Presbyterian, you can quickly see why it would be impossible for our pastors to meet every need of every single person. Stephen Ministry expands the care Grace Presbyterian Church can offer by equipping and organizing members to provide Christian care. This gives us a larger pool of people with the gifts, skills, and calling to bring Christ’s love and care to those who most need it. And this one-on-one care is completely confidential. If you or someone you know is going through a difficult time, contact Denise Phelps (dphelps@gpch.org; 713-267-5063) or Susan Jernigan (susan.jernigan@sbcglobal.net; 713-582-3332).
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Looking Ahead in 2019… SAVE the DATE!
August 25, PE/ES Small Group Leader Training
August 25, MS/HS Sunday School Leader Training
September 1, WHAM Food Drive
September 1, ONE Worship Service at 10 a.m.
September 14, Manna from Grace
September 14, Children's Ministries: Parents' Night Out
September 18-30, Kenya Mission Trip
September 15, Worship Night: An Evening in the Psalms
September 20, Children's Ministries: Preschool Family Experience
September 22, Flu Shots Available at Grace
September 27, Children's Ministries: Kids' Worship Night
September 29, Children's Ministries: Sacraments & Sundaes
September 29, Encore trip to the Holocaust Museum
October 6, World Communion Sunday, ONE Worship Service at 10 a.m.
October 18, Children's Ministries: Preteen Event
October 27, Trunk or Treat
November 4, Grace Golf Tournament at Pine Forest Country Club
November 9, Children's Ministries: Parents' Night Out
November 13, Men's Night at Grace with Jonathan Evans
November 27, Operation Turkey Tailgate
November 28, Operation Turkey
December 7, Children's Ministries: Drop & Shop
December 8, Grace at 50 Anniversary Celebration, ONE Worship Service at 10 a.m.
December 8, Christmas in the Courtyard
December 15, Christmas in the Courtyard
December 15, Grace Kids Musical & Christmas for the City Habitat Build -
ONE Worship Service at 10 a.m.
December 22, Christmas in the Courtyard
December 24, Christmas Eve Services:
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3 p.m. Traditional worship with Communion in The Founders’ Chapel
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3 p.m. Kids' Christmas Celebration Service in the Sanctuary
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5 p.m. Contemporary worship in the Sanctuary
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7 p.m. Traditional worship in the Sanctuary
- 7 p.m. Grace en Español worship in The Founders’ Chapel
December 29, ONE worship service at 10 a.m. in the Sanctuary
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