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Counting Steps
Are you counting your steps? Recently it was pointed out to me that my smartphone has an app that counts my steps. Interestingly, I didn’t even set that up on my phone. But what I have learned is, as long as I have my phone with me, I can see how many steps I take daily, how many miles I have walked and even how many flights of stairs I have climbed. Fascinating stuff — but what do I do with this information?
Am I less of a man if I do not walk a certain number of steps? If the app only reports that I have climbed the equivalent of 5 flights of stairs am I a “slacker?” What if I have only walked 4 miles by the end of the day — will I be more susceptible to a heart attack? I think not, and thank goodness. My point is, counting my steps can be insightful, but will I use my steps as a catalyst for a healthier life?
The beginning of Lent is marked by Ash Wednesday, which is next week. During the Lenten season, we have an opportunity to count the steps, so to speak, that Jesus took to the cross. He took those steps on our behalf — as a catalyst for an abundant life for us.
However, there is not an app that will count our steps when it comes to walking with the Lord. We must take the steps; we must engage His goodness daily; we must seek His will for our lives; we must courageously follow Him. Perhaps this Lenten season will be an opportunity for you to step into a life-giving pace with Jesus.
One way you could do this is to read Terry Looper’s new book, Sacred Pace. Terry says in his book, “He will be faithful to help us discern His will and do it, if we will only ease into a slower lane and listen for Him.” Will you “ease into a slower lane” during this Lenten season and listen for the Lord? He longs to direct your steps and make straight your paths.
We will have Sacred Pace for sale in the Church Library on Sunday morning for $10. I dare say that after reading this book you just might have a different perspective on “counting steps.” Together may we continue to walk daily with our Lord.
Jeremiah 29: 11-13 says, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
I am praying for you, and I am thankful for you.
Looking forward to seeing you on Sunday, it will be a great day at Grace—you can count on it.
Peace, Trey |
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Celebrate the Ministry of The Rev. Chad Erb
We invite you to celebrate the ministry of The Rev. Chad Erb at a drop-in reception on Sunday, March 17, 10:15-11 a.m. and 12:15-12:45 p.m in the Church Library. As the Grace family, we look forward to sharing our love and appreciation with Chad and his family, as well as surrounding them in prayer for their next journey. |
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Stewardship 2019
Recently, we celebrated our Stewardship Commitment Sunday! If you have not turned in your pledge card, it’s not too late! You may mail it to the church office, bring it to worship on Sunday, or pledge online at www.gpch.org/gratitude. God’s grace is powerfully at work here. There are new members, new conversions, new ministry opportunities all rising up from God’s grace at work in and through people like you. What a privilege it is to be able to respond. Thank you for committing your time, talents and treasures to the mission and ministry at Grace. |
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Ash Wednesday
Worship and Lunch
Wednesday, March 6, Noon
The Founders' Chapel
Invite co-workers and friends for a 30-minute service to mark the beginning of Lent in worship with the imposition of ashes. Lunch will be served in the Church Library following the service for a suggested donation of $7. For child care reservations, please contact Debbie Kay (dkay@gpch.org; 713-267-5084) before the March 1 deadline. |
Join the Choir Family
Now is the perfect time to join the choir family. No experience necessary, and you’ll have the BEST seat in the house every Sunday! For more information, contact Stephanie Clarke (sclarke@gpch.org; 713-267-5031). |
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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Holy Week and Easter Schedule
Maundy Thursday, April 18
7 p.m., Sanctuary
(Child care is available by reservation; contact dkay@gpch.org before the April 12 deadline.)
Good Friday, April 19
7 p.m., Sanctuary
(Child care is available by reservation; contact dkay@gpch.org before the April 12 deadline.)
Easter Sunday, April 21:
6:30 a.m. Sunrise worship, the Courtyard
7:15-11 a.m. Continental breakfast, Massey-Tucker Fellowship Hall
9 a.m. Contemporary worship, Sanctuary
10:15-11 a.m. Easter Egg Hunt for Children, Grace Athletic Fields
11:15 a.m.Traditional worship, Sanctuary
11:15 a.m. Grace en Español, The Founders’ Chapel |
Lenten Prayer Vigil
Join us in a 24-hour prayer vigil as we begin the holy season of Lent. As a church family, we are joining together from wherever we are, handing off the vigil from one person to the next. It’s a way of joining together even when we are apart. It’s a way of partnering together, taking turns to cover our church, our community, and our world with prayer to prepare our hearts to enter into the season of reflection and preparation before the celebrations of Easter. We invite you to sign up for a 30 minute time slot HERE. Contact Sheila Hutchings for more information. |
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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Here's What We're Learning in
The TreeHouse
March 3
Basic Truth: God made me.
Key Question: Who made you?
Bottom Line: God made me.
Memory Verse: “I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” (Psalm 139:14)
Bible Story Focus: I am made in God’s image (creative, helpful, smart).
Made in God’s Image. • Genesis 1:26; Acts 17:24; Proverbs 46:1; Proverbs 2:6 |
Auction Donations Needed for Student Missions Sunday
March 31
Do you have tickets to the Astros? Do you own a fabulous vacation home? Do you have great taste in jewelry? Donate to our Student Missions Sunday Silent Auction where donations will help raise funds for Student Ministries Missions and other student programs throughout the year. Donations and donation forms may be dropped off to Angie Williamson in the Student Ministries offices and are due by Sunday, March 17. For more information about Student Missions Sunday, please click HERE. |
Middle School
Spring Retreat
April 5-7
We are excited to head back to one of our favorite spots in Texas with some of our favorite people, Camp Cho-Yeh! Come join us as we hang out with friends and make new ones. We will eat WAY too many snacks, play games, have awesome worship, and dive into God's Word together. Space is limited so sign up today!
We will meet at Grace on Friday, April 5, at 5 p.m. We will eat Chick-Fil-A for dinner, load up the buses and head out to Cho-Yeh. We will return on Sunday, April 7 at noon. The cost is $100. For more information, contact Reed Brentlinger (rbrentlinger@gpch.org; 713-267-5076). Register HERE. |
McKechnie Scholarships
The Grace Presbyterian Church Endowment Board of Trustees is pleased to announce the fourth year of scholarship awards from the Grace Church’s endowment funds. In 2018, the board awarded scholarships to 4 students attending Grace School and 25 students attending fourteen different US colleges and universities. The funds for these scholarships come from the General Endowment Fund for Grace Church and the David G. McKechnie Scholarship Fund. The scholarships are funded from the income produced by these two Endowment Funds, so funds available are totally dependent on the income produced from the two fund balances. The application for 2019 scholarships is available HERE.
If you want to make a gift to the Grace Church General Endowment Fund to assist in building the capacity of the endowment to fund these scholarships and other needs of Grace Church outside of the annual operating budget, you may contact Hardie Morgan at the church office. The McKechnie Scholarship Fund is closed to new gifts, so all new gifts will need to be made to the General Endowment Fund. |
Summer Sports Camps Job Opportunity
Triumph Sports is looking for high school and college students who love Jesus, love working with kids, and love having fun for its summer sports camps. Applicants must be 16 or older. High school students earn $10/hour and college students earn $12/hour as coaches. College graduates can be head coaches and earn $20/hour. Apply online at www.TriumphSports.com. Grace will host a Triumph camp after each morning of VBS in June. For more information, contact Lisa Ann Henkel (lhenkel@gpch.org; 713-267-5015). |
Here's What We're Learning in
The Backyard
March 3
Bible Story: Secret Service (Give in Secret) • Matthew 6:1-4
Bottom Line: Serve others without looking for applause.
Memory Verse: “Jesus sat down and called for the 12 disciples to come to him. Then he said, ‘Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last. They must be the servant of everyone.’” Mark 9:35, NIrV
Life App: Service—Lending a hand to help someone else
Basic Truth: I should treat others the way I want to be treated. |
Save the Date! VBS 2019
June 10-13, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
This year our theme is LEVEL UP!... How are YOU gonna play the game? Mark your calendars now for the best week of the summer! |
World Water Day 5K & Open House
Grace Student Ministries will partner for the third year in a row with Living Water International for the World Water Day 5K. This year the race will raise money to share safe water with the people of Plaine du Nord, Haiti, the same place our church will be sending a team with Living Water in both February and March.
The 5K Run/Walk: Meet us at 7:30 a.m. at Living Water International. The race starts at 8 a.m. This will be a chip-timed race with awards for the top three participants in each age group (14 and under, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60 and over). Stay after your run/walk to enjoy the Open House and tour the Living Water International office, meet the staff, and hear the stories of thirsty people whose lives you’ve forever changed! This activity will be fun for the whole family. Guests are welcome to stop by anytime between 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.
Details and registration can be found HERE. Contact Lindsey McDonald (lmcdonald@gpch.org; 713-267-5067) to let us know you are participating or with any questions/comments. |
College Ministry
The Bridges Sunday School class is now coordinating our college ministry events throughout the year. If you have college-aged children, please contact Carey Dow (careydow@me.com; 713-822-3981) to make sure that we have their contact information so that we can let them know when events are planned. |
Student Ministries
Summer Mission Trips
Registration is now open for all of our Student Ministries summer mission trips. Information and registration links may be found HERE. |
Encore Day Trip:
84th Annual River Oaks
Garden Club Azalea Trail
Friday, March 1
9:45 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
If you have registered for this trip, please be at the church by 9:45 a.m. for a 10 a.m. departure. For more information, contact Becky Morris (bmorris@gpch.org; 713-267-5091). |
Encore April Day Trip:
The Wild West in the Back Yard – New Dubina
Wednesday, April 3
9:45 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
It is a rite of passage for many Texans to retire to a home on the range. But unlike other wannabe cowboys, Jimmy Helms, a retired Houston dentist wasn’t content with just a herd of cattle and a stocked fish pond. He built his own old Western town that recalls the days of lawmen and gunslingers on the ranch. He now has well over 20 buildings to explore. Come join us and return to the Wild West! The cost of the tour and lunch is $15. Seating is limited. For more information, contact Becky Morris (bmorris@gpch.org; 713-267-5091). |
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Easter Baskets for Presbyterian Children's Homes and Services
You are invited to gather a small group of friends or family to fill a basket and provide an Easter Sunday meal for families of P.C.H.A.S. If you would like to bless one of 24 families, please sign up at the table in the library this Sunday, March 3. You will receive a basket, instructions, and family information to help prepare the basket. For more information, please contact Gina Axtell (gaxtell@gpch.org; 713-267-5046).
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Manna from Grace
Saturday March 9, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. at the home of Judy Sims (713-253-1614)
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 – please contact Becky Morris (bmorris@gpch.org; 713-267-5091).
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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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Looking Ahead in 2019… SAVE the DATE!
March 1, Encore Day Trip
March 6, Ash Wednesday Worship Service & Lunch
March 23, World Water Day 5K and Living Water Open
March 31, McKechnie Scholarship Deadline
March 31, Student Missions Sunday
April 5-7, Middle School Retreat
April 18, Maundy Thursday Service
April 19, Good Friday Service
April 21, Easter Services
April 27, Parents' Night Out
June 10-13, Vacation Bible School
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