"Learning to be used by God"

Pine Car Derby!!!

Just a friendly reminder that the Master Club Pine Car Derby is right around the corner. Get those cars ready to go!

Wednesday, June 6th at 7pm in the Howard Sears Field House.

Kits are $5 and can be purchased from Thom and Wendi Bennett in the GBCKidz office.

See ya at the races!

VBS

Attention all!

We are gearing up for VBS, and we need YOU!

Please sign up at the SS office to help!

• When – June 18 – 22
• Time – 9 am – 12:20 pm
• Where – Grace Baptist Church

JR. Camp Registration

Check it out! You can pay for JR. Camp online!

http://store.grace-middletown.com/event-registration/?ee=2

Thanks Jeremy!

How are you reaching out?

When you think of outreach, what do you think?

Merriam Webster defines outreach as: the extending of services or assistance beyond current or usual limits <an outreach program>; also : the extent of such services or assistance.

Usually, we equate outreach with annoyance. We try to excuse ourselves from outreach by saying that we don’t want to be a bother to other people. We say things like “I don’t like to be bothered, so I won’t be a bother to others.”

I whole heartedly agree… if my purpose for being out there was not outreach. To put it plainly, if I were just trying to “sell” something, then my visit would be no more welcome than the cable man trying to talk me into the latest package of 5000 channels with nothing to watch.

Think of what we have at the church…

• The Gospel – The medicine to cure people of the disease of sin.
• Christ – The one who can mend the broken relationship between God and man.
• God’s Word – The wisdom to live a life pleasing to our creator.
• Mercy – God’s withholding our deserved punishment.
• Grace – God’s giving of our undeserved forgiveness.
• Justification – Being made as if we had never sinned.
• Redemption – Being purchased from our old master.
• Security – The knowledge that I am His Forever!
• Reconciliation – Knowing that when God sees me, He no longer sees my unrighteous filth, but sees the righteous blood of Christ.

Just to name a few…

Now, if I know that is here, why would I not want to take it to others who do not know?

I find it funny, how I can get a phone call to let me know when some restaurant is giving away free burgers, or a grocery store is giving away free baked goods. I have even been with friends who will hand a coupon to someone they have never met at a restaurant so they will get a “good deal.”

This is Outreach. It is taking what the church has to offer outside of these walls to those who do not know. Consider this… somewhere along the lines, someone reached out to you.

Second Hour Children’s Ministries

A recap of second hour ministries.

2, 3, and 4 year olds stay in the same room during both 1st and 2nd hour on Sunday.

Kindergarten moves up to “Noah’s Park” in room #236 located above their Sunday School room.

1st – 3rd Grades goes to “The Farm” located in above the Music Room in room #214

4th – 6th Grades will be in “Kidz Church” located in the basement.

Parents are always welcome to any of our First or Second hour ministries.

Promotion Sunday

Parents, Teachers, Bus Captains, etc…

This is a reminder that June 3th is Promotion Sunday.

On that Sunday, you will drop your children off at their current Sunday School Class, and pick them up in their next grade up.

Sixth Graders will be promoted to the Youth Department, and as a result be in the main service during second Hour.

2 year olds will graduate from the nursery to the 2 year old class.

Thank you for your attention!
Andy

Interesting Circle

An investment in the children in our church is an investment in the future of our church. An investment in the parents in our church, is an investment in the children in our church. And, an investment in the teachers in our church is an investment in the parents in our church. Interesting circle, don’t you think?

Mark your calendars – November 1st – 3rd

Elephant Hunting

So my son, Gabriel, has this elephant that he absolutely loves. When it is bed time, he will put out an all points bulletin for this elephant. When he is sad, he grabs this elephant and holds the tail. Yes, the tail… I know it is odd, but thats what he wants to hold.

Normally, we do not let him take it out of the house because we are afraid of him losing the precious elephant. When we take a trip, Sarah and I both remind each other not to forget the elephant.

Well, we took a trip to WV to visit my family, and we forgot to pack the elephant. THE HORROR!

Bless his little heart. He would look all over my parents house trying to find his elephant, then that lip would come out. At one point, I thought I may have to drive all the way back to pick up the elephant and bring it to him.

It made me wonder… what is it that I am that attached to and cannot live without? We are supposed to cling to God in such a way that it looks like we don’t want anyone else. In a day when independence is so pushed, we are actually to be dependent.

It kind of fights society doesn’t it?

• Society says be your own person, the Bible says “let this mind be in you…”
• Society says you have to plan, Christ says “take no thought for tomorrow.”
• Society puts their trust in politicians, Christ says “I will give you rest.”

When society says independence is the key to a happy life, Christ says dependence on Him is the true key to happiness. What a difference!

As I thought about what it was in my life that I had to take with me everywhere I went, I had to admit it was probably not what it should have been. What about you? What is your elephant?

By the way… if anyone can help us find another elephant like this one, I would be forever in your debt. I can foresee losing this and experiencing the wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Master Club Regional Competition

It is just about here! Saturday, March 24th, we will be hosting the Master Club Regional Competition. If you are available to help during this event, please see Thom and Wendy Bennett. We need everything from Judges to Greeters.

Most importantly, we need people showing up to cheer on the kids!

VBS Meeting

There will be a VBS Meeting coming up April 15 (hopefully you will have your taxes done by then).

We will meet in the chapel (Lamplighters Room) right after the AM service. This will be mostly informative, and we will be signing up people for various responsibilities.

We will be as brief as possible, so you will not be too late getting to Cracker Barrel.

Invite your friends!