March 28, 2019

One

I recently read: “Hate has 4 letters, so does Love. Enemies has 7 letters, so does Friends. Lying has 5 letters, so does Truth. Negative has 8, so does Positive. Under has 5, so does Above. Cry has 3 letters, so does Joy. Anger has 5 letters, so does Happy. Right has 5 letters, so does Wrong. Hurt has 4 letters, so does Heal.”

How often do we choose the better side of life?

As we continue this Lenten journey, we are keenly aware that our victory in Christ did not come without suffering. However, Jesus chose the better side of our life — a costly sacrifice indeed. In response, how will our lives embody the truth that the One who died on our behalf also lives?

Romans 5:1-5 reminds us: “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, who he has given us.”

Friends, as you go through your day today, pay attention to the words you are allowing to influence you. In fact, take it a step further and consider how The Word will transform your soul and attitude today.

It occurs to me that One has 3 letters, so does Yes!

Will you say YES to the One who loves you so much that He was willing to die for you?

Pain and suffering do not define us, they shape us. Our identity is found in Christ and He does not disappoint. I encourage you to remember who you are and Whose you are.

I hope to see you this Sunday at Grace. Just a reminder: we have ONE service at 10 a.m.

Peace,

Trey

Student Missions Sunday, One Worship Service this Sunday, March 31

This Sunday, March 31, we will celebrate and worship together with one service in the Sanctuary at 10 a.m. This special day will highlight Student Missions with worship, a silent auction, church-wide lunch, and Sporting Clay Tournament. Throughout the day, you’ll see students serving as greeters and ushers, assisting in worship, playing in the band, and so much more. You’ll also have the opportunity to hear all about what God is doing in Student Ministries and our exciting plans for our mission opportunities in 2019. For more information, please click HERE. (Note: Sunday school classes for children, youth, and adults will not meet. Child care is available during worship for children Kindergarten and under).


Spots Are Still Available for the Sporting Clay Tournament!

It’s not too late to join us for the Sporting Clay Tournament at the Westside Sporting Grounds (10120 Pattison Rd.) for an afternoon of fun. Registration and pre-games begin at 3 p.m. and includes a T-shirt, golf cart, eye and ear protection, and dinner. The shoot will begin at 4 p.m. and end at 6 p.m. The cost for this event is $175/shooter or $650 for a team of four. The day will conclude with an awards ceremony and dinner at 6 p.m. Even if you’re not shooting on this day, we’d still LOVE to see you. We’ll have bounce houses, bocce ball, bean bag toss, and more. BBQ dinner will be served for $10/person or $25/family. Register HERE for the tournament. Register HERE for dinner.
gather
Gather

Lily Dedications

Every Easter the Grace Sanctuary is filled with lilies given in honor or in memory of someone. Dedications may be made through April 14. The cost is $10. You may purchase a lily online at:  gpch.org/lily.

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).

Starting Point Class

April 7, 6 p.m.
Massey-Tucker 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).


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.

Holy Week and Easter Schedule

Monday, April 15,
7:30 p.m., Sanctuary
Houston Masterworks Chorus presents REQUIEM by John Rutter

Maundy Thursday, April 18
7 p.m., Sanctuary
Traditional Worship

(Child care is available by reservation; contact dkay@gpch.org before the April 12 deadline.)

Good Friday, April 19
7 p.m., Sanctuary
Traditional Worship

7 p.m., The Founders’ Chapel
Grace en Español Worship

(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


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.
Connect
Connect

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 Application Deadline March 31

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 four students attending Grace School and 25 students attending 14 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. Triumph will run a camp after each morning of VBS in June as well as operate the PNO event in April.. For more information, contact Lisa Ann Henkel (lhenkel@gpch.org; 713-267-5015).

Parents' Night Out

April 27, 5-9 p.m.

For more information and to register for the PNO Wait List, please click HERE. For more information, contact Lisa Ann Henkel at (lhenkel@gpch.org; 713-267-5015).

College Ministry

The Bridges Sunday School class coordinates 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 Trip
to Dewberry Farm

April 14, 11:45 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Hey Middle School and High School gals! We are heading to Dewberry Farm on April 14 to meet the newest baby animals that have “hatched” this spring, eat delicious food, hang out on the train, climb the rock wall, and more. There are 42 spots available. Tickets cost $19. Bring extra money for lunch, souvenirs, and extra activities. Meet in Massey-Tucker 207 at 11:45 a.m. Transportation is provided and we’ll be back at 4 p.m. Adult volunteers go for FREE! All students will need to have a Grace Medical Waiver on file in order to attend this trip. Register HERE.

Easter Candy
Donations

Children’s Ministries needs candy to get ready for the Easter Egg Hunt on April 21. Please bring a bag of individually wrapped candy to Grace anytime in the next two weeks. We have donation baskets behind the receptionist desk in the Welcome Center during the week and in the Narthex on Sundays. Remember these two simple guideline:

  • NO peanuts, NO nuts of any kind, and NO peanut butter
  • Individually wrapped candy (no big bags of loose jelly beans, for example)

For more information, contact Lisa Ann Henkel (lhenkel@gpch.org; 713-267-5015).

VBS 2019 - Registration Opens April 5

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! We know God will be working through our children during June 10-13 at VBS. How will He work through you?

  • Is He calling you to be a Crew Leader and guide a group of 7-8 kids through VBS?
  • Does He want you to take a leadership role?
  • Perhaps He's nudging you to start with one or two free mornings and be a substitute helper.

No matter where you spend those four days, please pray for that week to be a sweet, special time on campus. We'll pray that you answer His call! For more information about volunteering during VBS, contact Lisa Ann Henkel (lhenkel@gpch.org; 713-267-5015).

May Encore Trip: Butler Longhorn Museum and Kemah Boardwalk Tour

May 8, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Think of Texas, and you think of Longhorns: ponderous cattle with horns as wide as a man is tall. From the western art of Charles M. Russell to the University of Texas mascot, the Longhorn is synonymous with Texas and its long ranching history. Yet few Texans or visitors to this state realize that at the beginning of the 20th century, Longhorns were on the verge of extinction. Today, the Longhorn is alive and well thanks to the efforts of six pioneer breeders and a few far-sighted federal employees, who refused to allow these animals to become extinct.

The Butler Longhorn Museum tells the story of this amazing comeback, and in doing so, tells a compelling chapter in the story of the American West. Following the museum tour, we will enjoy lunch at a place of your choosing and then enjoy shopping on the famous Kemah Boardwalk until 3 p.m. The cost of the museum tour is $10. To register, contact Becky Morris (bmorris@gpch.org; 713-267-5091).

June Encore Trip: Alley Theatre, Ken Ludwig's
The Three Musketeers

June 30, 1:30 - 5 p.m.

All for one and one for all! A swashbuckling romp of romance, danger, and comedy, perfectly suited for the whole family. Alexandre Dumas’ timeless tale springs to life as the young D’Artagnan, joined by his sister Sabine, discovers honor amid intrigue and high-stakes adventure when he meets the famous Three Musketeers. En garde for this action- and humor-packed summer hit. The cost is $25. Payment is due by Sunday June 9. To register, contact Becky Morris (bmorris@gpch.org; 713-267-5091).

Student Ministries
Project Home

May 11, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.,

Grace Student Ministries will partner with West Houston Assistance Ministries (WHAM) for their community Food Fair. We will be helping to create boxes of food from WHAM’s food pantry.  Later that morning we will pass out the food boxes to families in need of assistance. We will meet at WHAM at 9 a.m. Food Fair will end no later than 2 p.m. (time varies depending on number of families). Pick up and drop off at WHAM, located at 10501 Meadowglen Ln. Please make sure to eat a big breakfast before arriving at WHAM. Bring a sack lunch to eat and water bottle for during our time at WHAM. Wear closed toe shoes and long pants. Register HERE.
Bless
Bless

Powerful Tools
for Caregivers

Beginning April 30, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

Are you or someone you know a caregiver for a loved one? Powerful Tools helps caregivers develop skills and confidence to better care for themselves while caring for others. It is a six-week series led by trained facilitators using a standardized curriculum. The weekly topics range from reducing your stress to communicating in challenging situations and mastering caregiving decisions. Caregivers learn the skills needed to reduce stress, communicate more effectively, practice self-care, reduce guilt, anger and depression, make tough decisions, and much more. The workshop begins April 30 from 10 a.m. to noon for six weeks. There is no charge for the course, but there is a charge of $25 for the workbook (scholarships are available). To register, contact Becky Morris (bmorris@gpch.org; 713-267-5091).

Church-Wide Bake Sale

Sunday, May 5
Massey-Tucker Fellowship Hall Lobby

Mark your calendars for a church-wide bake sale hosted by the Women of Grace on Sunday, May 5. This bake sale will fund scholarships for female students at Grace Girls’ High School in Kenya. Please donate homemade cakes, cookies, and pastries. All donations may be brought to the Heritage Room on Saturday, May 4, by 3 p.m. For more information, contact Diana Peper at 713-291-0325.  

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 or Susan Jernigan at 713-582-3332.

Houston Food Bank

April 13, 8 a.m.-noon, Portwall Warehouse

Bless our neighbors across Houston while in fellowship with Grace at the Houston Food Bank. For more information and to register, please contact Paul Mancillas (paulmancillas@gmail.com; 832-260-8329).

Become a Mentor & Impact the Life of a Middle School Student Forever!

Beginning April 30, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

For the past seven years, Grace Presbyterian Church has partnered with Paul Revere Middle School to provide adults the opportunity to mentor students. Mentoring, at its core, guarantees students that there is someone who cares about them, assures them they are not alone in dealing with daily challenges, and reminds students that they matter.  Research confirms that mentoring has a powerful positive effect on students personally, academically, and on their future dreams. Signing up involves three easy steps: filling out an application, completing a background check, and having a placement conversation. For more information or to speak to a member of the leadership team, please click HERE . 

Friends of Westchase Vision Dinner

Monday, April 8, 6:30 - 8 p.m.

You are invited to hear about a new ministry initiative called Friends of Westchase. This is a “vision night” dinner to gather ministry-minded and passionate people from Grace. The purpose is to engage the wisdom, experience, and passion of Grace to share a strategic, intentional plan to launch Friends of Westchase to literally bless others across the street. We look forward to sharing the concept and ministry design behind Friends of Westchase, provide an understanding of the structure, function, and potential outcomes, and share about the alignment of current local ministries, efforts, and partnership. Dinner will be provided. RSVP by emailing Gina Enriquez by Monday, March 25.

Looking Ahead in 2019… SAVE the DATE!

March 31, McKechnie Scholarship Deadline
March 31, Student Missions Sunday
April 5-7, Middle School Retreat
April 7, Starting Point Class
April 13, Grace Day at Houston Food Bank
April 15, Houston Masterworks Class
April 18, Maundy Thursday Service
April 19, Good Friday Service
April 21, Easter Services
April 27, Parents' Night Out
May 3, Preteen Movie Night
May 5, Women of Grace Bake Sale
May 19, Brookwood Plant Sale at Grace
June 9, One Worship Service at 10 a.m.
June 10-13, Vacation Bible School