November 22, 2011
Dear Backstage Family:
On Thursday we are celebrating Thanksgiving as a national holiday. It is amazing that as a nation we have set aside one day to be thankful. I always find it interesting to think about who an atheist has to be thankful to. A truly thankful heart will always find its focus directed toward God. That means that true Christ-followers should be the most thankful people in the world. Please stop during the activities of this wonderful holiday and thank God for all of His incredible spiritual, physical, and financial blessing on your life. It is so easy for me to focus on what I don’t have instead of what I do have. It is so easy for me to focus on what isn’t going right, instead of what is going right. It is so easy for me to focus on my needs, instead of my blessings. Please not only take the time to thank God for His abundant blessings, but also, please take the time to thank those in your life who have been an encourager, supporter, etc.
God Is Good
Most of us have some significant anniversary dates in our lives – our birthdays, wedding anniversaries, etc. I have those and a couple of other anniversaries that cause me to stop and say a big thank you to God for His amazing care. On this coming Sunday, three days after Thanksgiving Day, I will celebrate the 11 th anniversary of having received my heart pacemaker. That may seem like a strange anniversary to you, but that anniversary reminds me of God’s amazing protection and grace in my life. I am completely dependent on the pacemaker to keep my heart beating, so without it I would have died long ago – that is why I celebrate November 27 th as a significant anniversary in my life. Every one of these eleven years is a reminder that God has blessed me with days, weeks, months and years that I would not have had without His hand of protection in my life. As I look at the total scheme of my life, I believe these past eleven years have been the most productive ministry years of my entire 32 years of serving as a pastor. They have also been some of the most challenging in other ways. But whether they are the best or worst of days, they are still “grace days” for me and I am very thankful for all of them. God is good – all the time!
This Weekend
It is quite obvious that we are going through a time of great challenge in our country right now. I would call this one of the most negative times financially and in other ways that I remember us going through as a nation. That is why this weekend I am going to share a message entitled, “Living Positively In Negative Times.” I do not think there is anything we can ever do that will reveal Jesus to those around us more than how we respond to these difficult days. If you need a big dose of encouragement, then don’t miss being here for one of our services, Saturday 6:00 p.m., Sunday at 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. If for some reason you are out of town and unable to be in one of the services, please remember that you can be a part of any of the three weekend services via our live streaming video option at www.thegraceplace.com/live.
End of Year Giving
We are very quickly coming to the end of 2011 – as hard as that may be to believe. That means if you wish to be able to claim a tax-deduction on your taxes for contributions made, now is the time to make those contributions. You can make donations by check, via debit or credit card at the SecureGive Kiosk in the lobby, or online at www.thegraceplace.com/giving. The past year has been a really challenging time for the church financially. Your end of the year giving will make all of the difference in enabling us to finish out the year in the financial black. I know there are many ministries asking for your end of the year gifts. We ask that you would consider putting The Grace Place at the top of your contribution list. There are many ways to contribute other than with cash.
For information on the increased tax benefits of these kinds of donations, please contact our Director of Finances, Suzanne Adams at 287-6388 or email her at suzanneadams@thegraceplace.com .
Click for Resources
Remember our website is just a few clicks away and you can use our many online services as well at www.thegraceplace.com. You can find most of the information you need about our church and ministries. You can watch our services live via streaming video at www.thegraceplace.com/live, view previous weekend services in their entirety at www.thegraceplace.com/archives, make online donations at www.thegraceplace.com/giving, and sign up for upcoming events and activities. Please take advantage of this tremendous resource.
I trust you have a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday and we will look forward to seeing you in church this weekend in Celebration and worship! If you are out of town, remember you can be a part of our internet church via www.thegraceplace.com/live at any of the regularly scheduled worship times!
Pastor Rick
Email – rickaddison@thegraceplace.com
FaceBook – www.facebook.com/rick.addison
Twitter – RickAddison
Numbers That Matter…
Kudos To…..
Did You Know?.....
Church office closing at noon Wed. for the Thanksgiving holiday. No campus studies, kids church or Youth activities on Wednesday, Nov. 23. The office will remain closed Thurs and Friday.
Pray for….
Missions:
Outreach ministries-
Pray for our missionaries –
Email rdwray@fastmail.fm
International Institute for Christian Studies www.iics.com Email mccaind@gmail.com
Email oprest@ywambolivia.com
Growth Track – Be A Part of The Grace Place
THE GROWTH TRACK IS COMPLETE WHEN YOU JOIN OR START A MINISTRY TEAM.
All classes begin at approximately 12:45 with a light lunch and conclude by 2:15.
Coming Up…..
FUSION – Adult Singles –
Saturday, Dec 3 – Potluck Dinner 6:00 pm at The Grace Place
Saturday, Dec. 10 – Christmas Pageant
Saturday, Dec. 17 – Christmas Dinner – call for location
Saturday, Dec. 24 – Christmas Eve service at The Grace Place
Saturday, Dec. 31 – Blast Show at Kravis Center
For information contact Jud Costas (772) 626-1694 or Kathy Costas at (561) 248-6909
Tuesday Women’s study has ended until January but special activities planned- 9:30 am
Nov. 29 th- Decorate the church lobby and stage with staff
Dec. 6 th – we do not meet
Dec. 13 th – MOMS and Women’s Bible Study groups meet at Rebecca Sechrist’s for a Christmas Potluck Brunch
Dec. 20 th- Christmas Caroling to Nursing Homes
Wednesday Women’s Study - 7:00 pm
November 30 th- “Can We Talk” – study
December 14 th- Christmas Potluck Snacks Ava Pennington’s home
Christmas At The Grace Place
Thursday, Dec. 1 at 7:00 pm
Preschool Christmas Program “Christmas Presents”
Saturday, Dec. 10th at 6pm & Sunday, Dec. 11th at 9:00 & 11:00am
Christmas Concert “Comfort and Joy”
A special Christmas story told through music—an event you don’t want to miss.
Tuesday,Dec. 13th 6:00pm
Celebrate Recovery Christmas Party and Wrapping Event
Dinner at 6:00pm with an awesome testimony and great food. Come and celebrate with us. Join us as we wrap over 800 presents for Sandy Pines Children/Mental Facility.
Saturday, Dec. 17th at 6:00pm and Sunday, Dec. 18 th at 9:00 & 11:00am
Special musical guests – Cornerstone Brass
Saturday, Dec. 24th at 3:30, 5:00, 6:30 and 8:00pm
Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion Services
Celebrate the birth of our Savior with a beautiful candlelight service. Childcare ages 5 and under only
Sunday, December 25 th – 11:00am Candlelight Communion service
