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We have so many wonderful opportunities to make Jesus visible,
please scroll down to see all of our announcements and highlights in the
Gather, Connect, and Bless sections of Grace Weekly.
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Regathering ReVision
Our focus remains on Jesus and His command to love God and love our neighbors. Our unwavering commitment to act out of deep compassionate love for each other means our response to the current spike of COVID-19 cases in Houston is to simply press pause on regathering on the Grace campus for worship.
The Session voted unanimously on June 23 to press pause on our plan to regather for in-person worship through July 12.
It does not mean we press pause on our mission to be disciples who make disciples.
We long to regather as a Grace Family. We hunger to be together as the body of Christ. But, no one predicted we would be facing such uncertain and everchanging times. Yet, this season has reminded us that the Church is so much more than a building. The Church has always been and will continue to be a body of believers called, equipped, gifted, and sent. We must continue to move forth in that mission together.
Click HERE for a detailed look at our phased plan for regathering.
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Church Offices Will Close Temporarily
in Response to Recent Covid-19 Spike
Given the current state of COVID-19 cases in Houston, we have made the decision to close the church offices temporarily beginning Monday, June 29. All church employees will work from home. We will continue to broadcast our services at 10 a.m. (11 a.m. for Grace en Español) each Sunday. If you need to reach someone at the church, you may call the main number to be connected to the voicemail of the pastor on call. For administrative or financial matters, you may contact Hardie Morgan (hmorgan@gpch.org; 713-267-5028).
Some of you drop off your financial offerings at the church, and a receptionist will able to receive them at the desk in the Welcome Center. Also, gifts can be made online at www.gpch.org/give, or you can mail a check to: Grace Presbyterian Church, 10221 Ella Lee Lane, Houston, TX 77042.
Our leadership will continue to closely evaluate the local information and recommendations, and church offices will re-open accordingly.
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Virtual Sunday Worship and House Worship Liturgy Guide
We continue to have one worship service in English at 10 a.m. each Sunday. The link to watch on Vimeo, YouTube, or Facebook will be posted each week on our website and social media.
We also have a House Worship Liturgy guide that you can use during our time together. You can download it HERE.
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Moments of Grace
Online Tool
Moments of Grace is an online tool to share where you see good things happening and God at work. It’s a safe place to “snapshot” a short story, a great picture, a praise, some kindness—wherever you see Jesus visible. Just click on the link HERE to write a short description of your moment and upload a picture (optional). We would love for our Grace family and beyond to see how God is moving through the moments of our congregation.
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Mark Your Calendars for Outdoor Grace Family Worship on the Lawn
Currently planned for July 12,
6:30-8 p.m., Grace Athletic Fields
We invite you to a summer evening of worship and fun for the whole Grace Family! Worship will begin at 7 p.m. Stay tuned for more details coming soon!
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The Power of Prayer
We would love to pray for you! Click HERE to submit your prayer needs.
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Grateful for Your Continued Support
Please know that your faithful giving to Grace’s annual budget will continue to empower us to make Jesus visible in very tangible ways.
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 HERE. Follow the prompts to create or login to your giving profile, and in just a few clicks, your contribution is made. As always, you also can mail your check to Grace (10221 Ella Lee Lane, Houston, TX 77042).
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Conversation Groups
This is a time when we long to be connected to the body of Christ. Our "togetherness" is a good way to fight discouragement and to keep us focused on what is real, good, and right in our lives. The Kingdom of God is breaking through in this world; we are called to be a part of the glory of God.
One of the ways we can connect together is through the new opportunity on Sunday called Conversations. Conversations will follow the sermon series by asking three questions. These questions reflect on how our lives and the Word of God come together or how they could come together when we put thought and determination in our actions. There are no deep theological questions, but there may be a few deep interpersonal reflections. These Conversations will last approximately 30-45 minutes.
We become our best selves as we grow in community that is rich in God's Word, inspired by the Holy Spirit and centered on the truth of our Savior. We hope your conversation groups will create even more questions. If they do, we have a plan. The pastor preaching on the passage will have a short video to answer all those deep questions. Again, the goal of Conversations is a discussion, more of how we live out our walk with Jesus and being honest with one another in the struggle.
Here’s how to get involved in these new Conversations:
- If you would like to serve as a host in your neighborhood or small group, please click HERE.
- If you would like to join on Zoom following the sermon on Sundays at 11 a.m., please click HERE.
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Ponder Farm-to-Table Class is Online
Sunday mornings, 11:15 a.m.
Want to experience the freshness of God’s fruit of the Spirit? Join the Farm to Table class on Zoom at 11:15 a.m. on Sundays to Ponder a verse or two that relates to the Sunday Sermon. No preparation is necessary, but you will want your Bible and a pen and paper. Click HERE to join the Zoom.
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Inspire! Summer Bible Study Now Open
Tuesdays at 10 a.m. or 7:15 p.m.
via Zoom - Begins June 23
Just because we have to physically distance doesn’t mean we have to socially do so. Sign up to join the summer small groups for five stand-alone Bible studies by Beth Moore, Priscilla Shirer, Lisa Harper, Kelly Minter, and Jennifer Rothschild. To register please, click HERE.
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Last Chance to Register for Virtual VBS
You have just a little more time to register for Virtual VBS 2020! Click HERE so we can get your supply box ready!
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Celebrate with CDs
The VBS CD is available HERE and on all music streaming platforms. It includes Ivy Castle Simpson’s song “Lord’s Prayer” from our recent Sunday worship services!
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Small Groups Return
June 28
Preschool: 11:15 a.m.
Kindergarten - 3rd Grade: 11:30 a.m.
Preteens (4-5th Grade): 11:45 a.m.
Our Zoom calls are back this week! Now that summer is here, we’re combining some of our groups and starting a little earlier for some of the elementary classes. Visit the Children’s Ministries Resources page HERE for the links for your child’s group.
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Videos & Activities
for TreeHouse & Backyard Kids
Find all our Children's Ministries Resources HERE. Use the Parent Guides, activity pages, and our personalized Bible Story videos to share God's love with your family.
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Bible Study for Preteens: Rising 5th and 6th Graders
Children’s Ministries and Students Ministries are teaming up for an exciting Bible Study collaboration! We invite our Preteen girls and their moms (or mother figures) and our Preteen boys and their dads (or father figures) to register now for a short summer series beginning after VBS. Registration will open next week!
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Student Ministries
Leads by Example
As you know, we intentionally delayed releasing our summer schedule because we wanted to limit the need to move or alter anything at all. Unfortunately, COVID-19 doesn’t really care about our plans! We believe that we must lead by example in this area. Until further notice we are PAUSING our in-person events.
This week/weekend and into next week we will be planning and sharing other fun events that we CAN do. Our goal is to creatively think about opportunities that allow fun and quality Jesus time to coexist! If you have any questions, please contact Phil Warman (pwarman@gpch.org).
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Summer Nights
Moves Online
Our bi-weekly Summer Nights Bible studies are still happening but moving to Zoom from 7-8 p.m. We recognize there is screen fatigue and more specifically Zoom fatigue, so with this in mind, this will be one of the only screen heavy events.
The Zoom links for our Summer Nights Bible studies will be as follows (these will be the same links every week):
- Boys — Link HERE
- Meeting ID: 868 9263 5714
- Password: 8A$Dqm2+
- Girls — Link HERE
- Meeting ID: 781 867 1202
- Password: girlsRul3!
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Sunday Devo
Sundays, 11 a.m.
Instagram:
grace.middleschool & grace.highschool
Amber Sheffield will give a weekly lesson on the Middle School Instagram page, and Daniel Baudin will do the same thing on the High School Instagram page. If you missed past lessons, or if you want to go back and watch them again, we post them on our YouTube channel HERE.
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Student Ministries
Mission Experiences
Are YOU ready to serve the Houston community? We are too! We will lead a two-day Mission Trip experience for our students, and we want YOU to be a part of it! There are only 25 spots available for each trip. Contact Phil Warman if you have any questions! GET EXCITED!
High School:
July 29-30, Register HERE
Middle School:
August 4-5, Register HERE
Middle and High School Summer Mission Experiences are back for summer 2020! Join us in making Jesus visible in our local communities. We can't wait to serve alongside one another, with appropriate social distancing and masks, as we learn and serve others in the city of Houston. More details to come!
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Volunteer & Shop at Garage Sale Fundraiser
for Kenyan Families
Today through Saturday, June 25-27
In her recent Fruit of the Spirit message, Margaret Ellis talked about serving families in Kenya. Now, she needs your urgent help! The Friends of Samburu organization is raising financial support to purchase food rations for the 300 families in the Kiltamany community, located just outside of the Samburu National Park. Due to the current pandemic and swarms of locusts that devastated their family plots, food insecurity is a reality.
Come volunteer at the Friends of Samburu Garage Sale, today through Saturday, June 24-27, at 12214 Fieldsboro Dr. in Houston. Help set up, tear down, and/or sell items to the public. We will practice social distancing. You also are invited to come by and make a purchase to support this initiative. All proceeds from this sale will directly feed the hungry. To volunteer, call Margaret Ellis (713-501-5140).
Love Your Neighbors
As much as you are able, within the suggested guidelines with care and compassion, reach out to your neighbors and the vulnerable to see how you can help make Jesus visible to them. The simple gesture of being connected and in community will provide great comfort to those who feel most isolated.
We’d love for you to share these “Moments of Grace” online with the Grace family so we can we celebrate and stay socially connected even as we must be physically distant.
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We Have Many Opportunities
to Bless Others in Three Tangible Ways:
- Providing Food
- Resourcing Health Information
- Encouraging Spiritual/Emotional Support
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Providing Food
West Houston Assistance Ministries - West Houston Resource Center
Grace and Friends of Westchase are strengthening our partnership with WHAM. Here are three ways to partner with them:
- VOLUNTEER: Please serve at their food distribution. Sign up HERE.
- ONLINE: Donate much needed supplies by making a purchase on WHAM’s Amazon wish list. Items will be directly delivered to WHAM. If you give online to WHAM, please type Grace Campaign in the comment section of the donation page.
- IN PERSON: Donations can be be dropped off at the food pantry from
10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Monday-Friday at 10501 Meadowglen Lane, Houston, TX 77042. For an updated list of needed items, please click HERE.
- DAILY PRAYER: Check out their Facebook page and then pray specifically.
Resourcing Health Information
Making Masks for WHAM to Distribute
West Houston Assistance Ministries (WHAM) wants to provide homemade cloth face masks to the hundreds of people who come to its center for food. Can you help? The following links give easy-to-follow instructions for making masks:
- Mail or deliver masks to WHAM, at 10501 Meadowglen Lane, Houston, TX 77042.
Encouraging Spiritual/Emotional Support
Community Resources
If you need help with supplies, counseling, safety situations or anything else, please reach out to us or to the following resources:
- WHAM for West Houston: (713) 780-2727
- NAM for Northwest Houston: (281) 885-4555
- Mental Health Services: (713) 871-1004 (offered by Hope and Healing Institute)
- Family Violence 24-Hour Hotline: (281) 885-4673
- Suicide Prevention Hotline: (800) 273-8255
How can we Pray for and Help You?
Please know that we are praying for you and want to help in any way if we can. Are you able to get out of your home and get groceries/gas/other supplies? Do you have face masks or need any? Can we pray for you in a specific way or add you to our prayer team list? Do you just need to talk out all that you’re feeling at the moment? Reach out to us HERE.
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