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Wise Chickens
Does the phrase, “Running around like a chicken with its head cut off” resonate with you? I suspect that we have all referenced this emotion a time or two in our lifetimes. We have found ourselves so pressured by the busyness of life that we frantically run around in an attempt to get it all done. And when we don’t accomplish it all, we feel in a state of disorder.
I don’t know about you, but I do not do well with disorder. When I am running around like a chicken with its head cut off, some part of my life is predictably in disorder. It could be family—perhaps not spending the quality of time with them that I should. It might be personal care—not allowing myself physical and emotional rest. Disorder can also manifest itself in agitation toward others or perhaps even depression or a sense of failure. When the norm of life is “running,” we rarely have time to be still. But also, when we are constantly running to fulfill our own ambitions, it is next to impossible for us to consider the needs of anyone else.
James 3:17 says, “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure, then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.”
Here is what I know to be true about my life, I tend to live on the run. Perhaps the same is true for you as well? However, we can be wise when we are running. We can be people with moral and spiritual integrity. While we traverse the topography of the world around us, there should be a transparency of Whose we are. We must not allow our running to hinder us from winning people to Christ. Our sincerity should be displayed with complete clarity rather than being hidden by our agendas.
Quite simply—we should be “Wise Chickens.”
Eugene Peterson’s translation of James 3:17-18 is insightful. He writes, “Real wisdom, God’s wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentile and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor.”
My hope and prayer for us, during these last couple of weeks of Lent, is that we will be intentional in doing the necessary “hard work.”
I hope attending worship this Sunday at Grace is on your schedule. See you then.
Peace,
Trey
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Holy Week and Easter Schedule
Maundy Thursday, Thursday, March 29, 7 p.m., Sanctuary
Good Friday, Friday, March 30, 7 p.m., The Founders’ Chapel
Easter, Sunday, April 1:
9 a.m.
Traditional worship, The Founders’ Chapel
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
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Lily Dedications
Every Easter the Grace Sanctuary is filled with lilies given in honor or in memory of someone. Dedications may be made through March 19. The cost is $10. You may purchase a lily online at: gpch.org/lily.
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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: You can always watch or listen to the sermons on our homepage or you can watch us live on our Facebook page.
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Encore Day Trip
Bluebonnet Tour and Brenham Trip
Thursday, April 5, (Depart Grace at 9 a.m. and return around 2:30 p.m )
We will head to the hill country to see beautiful wildflowers! We will stop at Washington on the Brazos to explore the birthplace of Texas, then head to Brenham for shopping and lunch at Must Be Heaven Sandwich Shoppe. Registration deadline is March 25. There is no charge for the tour, lunch is on your own. Please arrive by 8:45 a.m. For more information or to sign up, please contact Becky Morris (bmorris@gpch.org; 713-267-5091).
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Here's What We're Learning In The Backyard
March 18
Bible Story: Give Peace a Chance (Abigail Intervenes) • 1 Samuel 25:1-35
Bottom Line: Prove you care more about others by being part of the solution.
Memory Verse: “So let us do all we can to live in peace. And let us work hard to build up one another.” Romans 14:19 (NIrV)
Life App: Peace—Proving you care
more about each other than winning an argument
Basic Truth: I should treat others the way I want to be treated. |
Middle School
Spring Retreat
April 27-29
All Middle School students and their friends are invited on the Spring Retreat as we head back to Camp Cho-Yeh this year. 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. This year’s theme is "Forgotten God.” We will be walking through who and what the Holy Spirit is and how it impacts our lives. The cost for this retreat is only $100. There are 80 spots available! Click HERE for more information and to register. Questions? E-mail Reed Brentlinger (rbrentlinger@gpch.org; 713-267-5076).
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Save The Date!
Vacation Bible School
June 11-14; Online Registration opens April 6
Livin’ Loud Lab…
Where God’s Love
Ignites a Chain Reaction
that Changes the World!
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Candy Donations
Children’s Ministries needs your CANDY to get ready for the Easter Egg Hunt on April 1. If you would like to help, please bring a bag (or two or three!) 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 guidelines:
- Individually Wrapped Candy (save loose candy for home)
- No Nuts or Peanut Butter (allergies are NO April Fool's Joke!)
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Here's What We're Learning In The Treehouse
March 18
Basic Truth: Jesus wants to be my
friend forever.
Key Question: Who can you follow?
Bottom Line: I can follow Jesus.
Memory Verse: “’Come and follow me,’ Jesus said.” Matthew 4:19, NIrV
Bible Story Focus: Jesus says, “Follow Me.” Anyone can follow Jesus • Matthew 9:9-10
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Sisterhood Connection Lunch
Sunday, March 25
La Madeleine (770 West Sam Houston)
Hey High School girls! We're heading to La Madeleine on Sunday, March 25. We'll meet there right after Sunday school. You buy the lunch, we'll buy you a dessert. Register HERE!
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High School
Spring Retreat
April 27-29
All High School students and their friends are invited to our annual Spring Retreat. We’re heading back to the Frazelles’ lake house in New Braunfels, for a weekend of relaxing, boating, tubing, volleyball, fishing, s’mores, delicious food, worship, and more. We’ll even take a pitstop at Buc-ee’s! The cost for this retreat is only $75. Click HERE for more information and to register. Questions? Contact Angie Williamson (awilliamson@gpch.org; 713-267-5083.)
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Senior Mission Trip:
The Bahamas
July 14-21
All graduating High School Seniors and college students are invited to join us on this year’s Senior Mission Trip. We will be heading to the Bahamas to serve both the local people as well as the displaced Haitian refugee community. We’ll work with Praying Pelican Missions, a short-term international missions organization that partners with and serves indigenous churches, pastors, and communities around the world. To find out more about Praying Pelican Missions go to their webpage. The cost of the trip is $1,200. This includes airfare, lodging, meals, and ministry supplies. For more information and registration, click HERE.
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Students Need You!
There are still middle school students who need mentors. Sixth, seventh, and eighth graders request a mentor from the social worker at Paul Revere Middle School every week. Will you please give an hour of your time each Friday morning to meet with a student who needs your influence? Play games; encourage the student; listen to them. The time is up before you know it, and you will be looking forward to seeing the student again the following week! Contact Becca Lehde (blehde@gpch.org;
713-267-5013).
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Bless Others with an Easter Basket
Gather a small group of friends or family to fill a basket and provide an Easter Sunday meal for families of Presbyterian Children’s Homes and Services or West Houston Assistance Ministries. For more information, contact Chris French (cfrench@gpch.org; 713-267-5039) or Sabrina Hergert (shergert@gpch.org; 713-267-5035.)
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Mark Your Calendars
for the next Grace Day
at the Houston Food Bank
April 7 from 1-4 p.m.
Bless our neighbors across Houston while in fellowship with Grace at the Houston Food Bank. For more information and to register, contact Paul Mancillas (paulmancillas@gmail.com;
832-260-8329).
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Common Ground
Do you assist a family member or friend with daily caregiving tasks? If you answer YES, we offer a caregiver’s support group to share and help called “Common Ground.” It meets on the second and fourth Thursday of each month at 10:30 a.m. in Molly Ann Smith. Please contact Becky Morris (bmorris@gpch.org; 713-267-5091). This opportunity can help you take care of yourself. |
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Revere Mentors
Meet & Greet
March 18 | 10-11 am
(Massey-Tucker Fellowship Hall Lobby)
Meet some of the Grace family mentoring students at Paul Revere Middle School! Administrators from the school will also be with us, excited to meet you and share insights into life at Revere. Hear about the program, ask questions, and learn more about the extraordinary relationship between Revere and Grace. |
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McKechnie Scholarships
The Trustees of the Grace Presbyterian Church (GPC) Endowment Committee are pleased to announce that funds are available for the GPC McKechnie Scholarships to be awarded in May 2018. These scholarships were established in honor of Dr. David McKechnie, upon his 25th anniversary as a pastor of Grace. Applications will be available online from the church web-site on February 15, and the application deadline is March 30.
Scholarship requirements: Parent, guardian or student must be active in the life of GPC, Houston, Texas. Student must be enrolled or accepted into an accredited primary or secondary school or college or university for which scholarship application is submitted. Applicants will need to demonstrate satisfactory academic standing which includes a minimum 2.5 GPA (on a four-point scale) or equivalent and successful class completion rate. A short essay is part of the application.
Please click HERE to download the application. Save your answers and email to: Monica Cvejanovich (mcvejanovich@gpch.org).
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