Life@Grace for the week of 05.21.09

Here's this week's email . . . should be coming to your inbox in a fancy new form. So time we got this right. Let us know what you think. . . Tim

Celebrating, proclaiming and living the Gospel of Jesus on the Central Coast and beyond . . .

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Beloved Family of Grace,

Hope you're having a GREAT week. I'm still flying after last week's Serve Day. Click here to see a growing collection of Serve Day pics. We'd love your feedback and stories. Click here to take our quick Serve Day Survey.

Here's some things you need to know this week . . .

1. Men's Getaway, May 29-31, Sycamore Canyon, Malibu: Not sure if you can get in, but email Sean Cheney if you want to try. I'm going and looking forward to being with some of our men.
   


2. Mexico Supplies and Tools Needed: Hit the Scrip Table in the Courtyard for a list of what our Mexico Team is looking for and how you can help. Email Pastor Todd for more info.
   
   
   
3. Annual Meeting, Sunday, June 7, 5:00 PM: Come hear how we're weathering the economic downturn, where we are and where we're going. I will share 5 things that I am thinking about as we look toward the future together. Childcare will be provided through age 5.
   
   
4. Child Dedication Sunday, June 14, all services: Note: It's not Father's Day this year, but the week before. Email Dori Iunker to reserve your spot. Space in each service is limited.
   


5. NEW 2 Service Schedule: As usual, we are falling back to 2 services for the Summer, but this year we're also going to 1) adjust our service times back to 9:00 and 10:45, and 2) lengthen our services from 70-85 minutes. Why in the world would we want to do that? Go here to find out and leave your comments.

That's plenty, but here also are some quick links to other Grace stuff you might be interested in . . .

• Listen to last week's message HERE


• See the 09 Teacher Appreciation Video (that, sadly, didn't play in the 3rd hour) HERE
  


• See Serve Day pics HERE


• Take the Serve Day Survey HERE


• See Child Dedication pics HERE


• See lots and lots of pics HERE


• Osos Parking Lot Fact Sheet HERE


• Read about our Service Changes HERE


• Read the blog HERE
  
  
• Follow on Twitter HERE
  
  
• Go to website HERE

We're diving into the flood this Sunday, exploring both questions of its scope and purpose . . . and more! Hope to see you there Bust out and invite a friend to worship with us at Grace. If you're heading out of town for the long weekend, be safe and have a great time.

Because of and for the Gospel. . . Pastor Tim

Life @ Grace for the week beginning Sunday, April 26

Did you get the this week's all church email? If not, check your junk box. If it's not there, call the church office and confirm that we've got your correct email.



Beloved Family of Grace,

Greetings from the windy city of Chicago! It’s been a refreshing and renewing week for our pastoral staff attending the Gospel Coalition Conference. Thank you all for the opportunity to be fed in this nourishing way.

Here's a few things before us as a Gospel community, opportunities to connect, grow and encourage one another together . . .

1. This Sunday, April 26: I am delighted to have my former pastor and mentor, Pastor Don Smith, open God's Word from Genesis 4 & 5 with us and for us.

2. Baptism Sunday, May 3, 9:30 & 11:00 AM: Please note . . . there is no 8:00 service on this Sunday. It’s not too late to obey the Lord and get baptized, so contact Pastor Ken for more info. Baptism services are vital services for our Grace family and for your family. Plan to join us. Better yet, invite a friend to join us.

3. Mexico Dinner, Sunday, May 3, 6:00 PM, $5/ person: Once more we're stepping out to send our students to Mexico to build houses for the needy. It’s a whole church thing, so come out and have a burrito, learn about the project and support our students through the cost of your meal. I'm bringing my kids! Contact Pastor Todd for more information.

4. Ladies Salad Supper, Monday, May 4, 6:30 PM: Always a sweet time of fellowship for the women of the church and community. Husbands, step up, encourage and make it possible for your wife to be there. Contact Women's Ministry Director, Debbi Weeks to RSVP.

5. Child Dedication, Mother's Day, May 10: Children are a gift from the Lord . . . to the parents and to our Gospel community. On these vital Sundays we recognize and rejoice in these precious gifts as parents commit themselves to the privilege of Biblical parenting. Contact our church office to dedicate your own children.

On the blog . . .

Access to resources and reflections from our time at The Gospel Coalition Conference.

Did you know . . .

Our goal is to see 400+ of our Grace community actively involved in our 2nd annual Serve Day on May 16, as we live the Gospel and serve our community in Jesus' name. Sign-up this Sunday at the Serve Day table in the Courtyard. I can't wait!

After being away this week, I'm looking forward to worshiping and being together with you!

Because of and for the Gospel . . . Pastor Tim

Listen to last weeks' MESSAGE

Get info from the WEBSITE

Pics from FLICKR

Read the BLOG

Follow on TWITTER

Life @ Grace for the week of March 8

Below is the email for the week and Tammy Arlen, our terrific Nursery Coordinator, let me know today that there is plenty of childcare lined up for the NVision Conference Friday and Saturday night. Don't let those kiddos keep you from coming. . .

Beloved Family of Grace,

Thanks to the many of you who sent notes of encouragement in response to last week's email. I understand that some (or maybe all) of those links were broken. Sorry for that. Bear with us as we figure this thing out.

Here are 4 things you need to be aware of this week. . .

1. NVision Conference, this Friday & Saturday, March 6 & 7, 6:30 - 9:00 PM. Ok, this technically, is still this week, but it's not too late to jump in! It's FREE! Hope to see you there.
   
   
2. Moody Bible Institute Symphonic Band Concert, Thursday, March 12, 7:00PM. Come enjoy an evening of excellent and inspirational music. Also, we're still looking for some housing for the student musicians. Call (543-2358, ext. 107) or email Pastor Al, if you can help.
   
   
3. Getting to Know Grace, a 3 week class beginning March 15 in the Founder's Hall. If you are new to Grace, come learn who we are, what we believe and how we do ministry. Call (543-2358, ext 104) or email Pastor Ken with questions and/or to let him know you'll be coming.
   
   
4. Welcome Lunch, Sunday, March 22, 12:30 PM. An intimate opportunity for those new to Grace to meet our Ministry Staff and hear our vision for the Central Coast. Call (543-2358, ext. 107) or email Pastor Al to RSVP. We’re looking forward to meeting you.

Go to our church website for more upcoming event info. You can pick up the March Life @ Grace Newsletter at all Worship Center entrances and at the two Welcome Centers.


Did you know . . . ?

Did you know that your faithful giving to our Benevolence Fund has enabled us to give $1000 love gifts to six financially-challenged Grace families in just the last two weeks? That's exciting to me! Thank you for Gospel generosity. If you know a Grace family in financial need, contact one of our pastors. Let's keep praying for one another in these stressful financial days.

Remember to set your clocks forward one hour before going to bed on Saturday night.

Because of and for the Gospel . . . Pastor Tim

Read the blog.
See the pics on Flickr
Listen to last week's message

let the experimentation begin . . .

You should be receiving this today via email . . .

Beloved Family of Grace,

If you've read my blog, you know this was coming. In our efforts to trim our expenses a bit in line with present economic realities, we are going to be experimenting with the ways we communicate to you. We see this as a season to try some things, be flexible, evaluate and adjust along the way.

So here are 2 things we are going to try immediately . . .

1. Our beautiful and informative Life@Grace will move from to weekly publication to a monthly publication. It will be available at the door on your way in and out on the first Sunday of the month and at the two Welcome Centers, and in welcome bags throughout the month. Life@Grace has been and will continue to be available for download at the website at graceslo.org. To download this week's Life@Grace, CLICK HERE.
   
   
2. We will begin sending a Weekly Life@Grace Email to those who want it. This weekly email, written by one of our Ministry Staff, will give you information regarding the coming week of ministry at Grace. Our initial goal is to keep this email SHORT. . . . roughly no longer than a single screen length. (My screen might be longer than yours!) Consider this email is your email for this week. Reply to this email with the words UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject field to not receive these emails.

If you need information or have questions about an upcoming event, go to the website at graceslo.org or call the church office (543.2358).


So here's 3 things you need to know this week. . .

1. Its Missions Week. A great week to lift our heads and be reminded about what God is doing in the world. I'm kicking things off this week with a message "Why Missions?" from Psalm 96. Feel free to read ahead. Visiting missionaries will be in Adult Bible Fellowships and Growth Groups throughout the week. The NVision Conference is happening next Friday and Saturday evenings, March 6 & 7 from 6:30 - 9:00. Its a crash course of the Biblical basis of missions, the history of missions and what's happening in missions today. I'll be there. Hope you'll consider joining me. You can sign up right now by CLICKING HERE.
   
   
2. The Ladies Salad Supper is this Monday, March 2. To RSVP, call 546-0522 press 5 then 6 or email Women's Ministry Director Debbi Weeks at debbi@graceslo.org
   
   
3. Housing Needed. We're looking for some overnight housing for those coming to perform as part of the Moody Bible Institute Concert, on Thursday Mar. 12. Call or email Pastor Al at al@graceslo.org, if you can take one or 5 students for the night.

That's it for this week. Thanks for flexing with us as we strive to be good stewards of the Lord's resources. Your feedback and suggestions are always invited.

Because of and for the Gospel. . . . Pastor Tim