Grace of Christ Presbyterian Church
Lead Pastor — Pastor Jim Marian 11. Grateful to see our student ministries grow in reaching out to both church families and students from our local neighborhood.
Reflections on my “Rookie Year” @ Grace Some pastors are blessed with being able to serve one church for their entire ministry, kind of like that rare sports hero who only played for one team. Others get the chance to serve different churches over their careers, like me. I have come to refer to my first year at a new church as my “rookie year.” I get to meet a whole new group of people. I get to work with a whole new staff. I get to experience the ministries and programs a church offers throughout a calendar year. I get to observe things that are strong and effective, and things that need improvement or might even need to stop being done. And with the Elder’s blessings, I might even suggest a change or two… or three… or four (you’re either smiling or frowning at this point, but thank you for your gracious patience). Here is a list of some of the things I was grateful to God for in my rookie year here at Grace of Christ: 1. My family and I being so warmly welcomed by you with sincere hearts and loving smiles. 2. Laughing as many of you apologized for the rough winter you experienced in 2017. 3. Learning about the agricultural industry here in Yakima. I now know there are Bing cherries and Ranier cherries, but I’m not sure I can tell them apart.
12. Blessed to partner with our gifted worship teams at all services. 13. My heart was filled by seeing hundreds of children and their parents receive Christmas gifts our church provided at Adams Elementary School. 14. Grateful to God for those who trusted Jesus as their Savior through our student ministries, outreach camp, Camp Ghormley and Grace of Christ. 15. Humbled to see so many of our small groups involved in feeding the homeless. 16. Blessed to work with wise and committed elders and deacons… even as we have had to tackle some tough decisions this past year. 17. My family and I are grateful for the relationships we have built with you this past year and honored to be invited into your homes (especially the Taylor’s, who took us in for almost four months until we could find a place of our own). 18. Blessed to share God’s Word with you each week and for your encouraging support, kind advice and eager hearts to put God’s Word into practice. (and for your patience with my longer sermons–I’ll try to shorten them. I understand the “mind can only absorb what the rear can endure”). 19. I have learned to appreciate the incredible legacy of faith and service to our community that our church has built over the years. 20. I learn from so many of you what it means to be an authentic follower of Jesus. Thank you for being such wonderful examples to me and my family!
4. Getting help from our people “blowing out” my sprinklers and “winterizing” my house, cars and trailer (things I didn’t even think of when living in So. Cal.)
With Gratitude to God for a great “Rookie Year!”
5. Being moved and blessed by our prayer ministry as I have seen God work in our lives.
Jim Marian Lead Pastor
6. Humbled by your generous spirits of giving. Your generous and sacrificial giving of time, talent and treasures enable our church to continue to grow and flourish. 7. Enjoying our children’s ministry as they sing with all their hearts in our services at Christmas, Easter and VBS Sunday’s (and I was impressed by the canon the kids shot off in the sanctuary – my kind of church!) 8. Being able to welcome many new people and families to our church and to baptize others. 9. Joining families in both sorrow and celebration with the passing of loved ones. 10. Grateful for the support and graciousness I received with the many changes we have made to the church. 2
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Grace of Christ Presbyterian Church
Associate Pastor of Congregational Care & Church Administration — Pastor Cindy Shively
hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” (Romans 5:3-5).
The Gift of “Tedious Annoyances” Yesterday, I was pulling into the driveway about 6:30 pm, after a meeting, and I thought, “Oh, no, I was supposed to call Cody, in the service department, so he could arrange a loaner car for me for the next day, when I was supposed to drop my car off for some repair work. Ugh! I’ll have to work around that, and make some other plans.” I had left myself a note, and written it on my calendar to remember, but somehow it slipped off the radar until it was too late. A little irritated with myself, but not a big deal… just a “tedious annoyance.” It did cross my mind, maybe there would be an opportunity to talk with someone who might be giving me a ride from their shuttle service. I did have an interesting conversation last time. Then I sort of forgot about it. The next morning, when the shuttle driver was giving me a ride, we began to talk. We had some significant life experiences in common, talked about how faith had helped us get through those experiences, and I was able to invite her to Grace of Christ. Definitely not an accident! It was not a “tedious annoyance,” but rather a Divine appointment. I was a little humbled that I had been irritated about it the day before. It reminded me of a quote by Jean Pierre de Caussade (1675–1751), a French Jesuit priest and writer. He said, You would be very ashamed if you knew what the experiences you call setbacks, upheavals, pointless disturbances, and tedious annoyances really are. You would realize that your complaints about them are nothing more nor less than blasphemies - though that never occurs to you. Nothing happens to you except by the will of God, and yet [God's] beloved children curse it because they do not know it for what it is.
And even Jesus’ brother, James’ encouragement, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-4). The goal for a follower of Jesus, is not to get through life easily. Rather God partners with us in life, to experience His love, goodness, and growth, and help us bring hope to others, in our everyday lives. Whether we encounter seeming “tedious annoyances” or deeper trials and suffering, God promises to be with us, not only giving us what we need, but also developing His character in us, and bringing about His good purposes for life. I know this little incident was nothing when compared with many of life’s deeper losses, disappointments, and sufferings. I am learning, not always immediately but making progress, that God is the great conductor of the orchestra of our lives, bringing good, out of everything we offer to Him. God has also been called the great recycler – the one who takes our “garbage” and makes it into something beautiful. God is saying to each of us, “Trust Me. I love you. Watch what I can do with this!” So the next time you encounter a “tedious annoyance,” or any other trouble, suffering or trial, take heart. God is right there with you – surrounding you with love, grace and wisdom, and turning it into pure gold. Trusting God through it all, Pastor Cindy Shively
De Caussade’s words remind me of what Jesus said, “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33). Also, of Paul’s words, “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, 3
Ya k i m a G r a c e . c o m
Grace of Christ Presbyterian Church
STEWARDSHIP lives, they’ll respond by praying for you in passionate intercession for whatever you need. Thank God for this gift, His gift. No language can praise it enough! 2 Corinthians 9:8-15
God’s Generosity God can pour on blessings in astonishing ways so that you’re ready for anything and everything, more than just ready to do what needs to be done. As one psalmist put it,
He throws caution to the winds, giving to the needy in reckless abandon. His right-living, right-giving ways never run out, never wear out. This most generous God who gives seed to the farmer that becomes bread for your meals is more than extravagant with you. He gives you something you can then give away, which grows into fullformed lives, robust in God, wealthy in every way, so that you can be generous in every way, producing with us great praise to God.
We worry about not doing enough, not being enough, not having enough. We live as if what God can do through us is limited to what we can provide. But God promises in Scripture we will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way. God's grace and blessing upon our lives never comes up short. He supplies us with overflowing generosity; a generosity that isn't meant to be hoarded, but to be given. God’s generosity to us should overflow to those around us. We don’t have to worry about doing enough, being enough or giving enough. What God can do through us is not limited to what we provide. When we live in obedience, expecting His provision and sharing generously, lives will be supernaturally changed. Lord, thank You for extravagantly providing for us! We ask you to shield us from an attitude of scarcity. May we become people who live to give. Janet Krieger Elder Business Ministry
Carrying out social relief work involves far more than helping meet the bare needs of Christians in need. It also produces abundant and bountiful thanksgivings to God. This relief offering is a prod to live at your very best, showing your gratitude to God by being openly obedient to the plain meaning of the Message of Christ. You show your gratitude through your generous offerings to your needy brothers and sisters, and really toward everyone. Meanwhile, moved by the extravagance of God in your 4
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Grace of Christ Presbyterian Church
Gracia de Cristo / English
En Español
Outreach Camp’s Impact on "Jose"
Impacto del Campamento de Alcance en "Jose"
Jose is a student at Adams Elementary School. He attended Grace of Christ Outreach Camp last June at Camp Ghormley with 75 fellow students. Anita Navarro, Adams School Counselor, sent us a letter describing the impact the camp experience had on this particular student. She says that last year Jose would not speak to anyone and had difficulty academically, socially and emotionally. He experiences difficulty reading and writing, attends the resource room for extra help and receives counseling. He said that he does not like school, and has refused to try reading because he says he can’t read.
José es un estudiante de la Escuela Primaria Adams. Él asistió junto con 75 compañeros de la escuela al Campamento de Alcance de Gracia de Cristo en Camp Ghormley en junio del año pasado. Anita Navarro, Consejera Escolar de Adams, nos envió una carta describiendo el impacto que la experiencia del campamento tuvo en este estudiante en particular. Ella compartió que el año pasado José no quería hablar con nadie y tenía dificultades académicas, sociales y emocionales. Tenía dificultad para leer y escribir, asistió a la sala de recursos para recibir ayuda adicional y recibir asesoramiento. Él ha mencionó que no le gustaba la escuela, y se negaba a leer porque decía que no podía leer muy bien.
(El nombre ha sido cambiado para proteger su identidad)
(Name has been changed to protect his identity)
Jose began visiting the counselor’s office at recess this year and shared some new experiences including summer camp. On one occasion he talked about his belief in God and how summer camp instilled the concept that God loves him. He shared that he speaks to God and watches videos on YouTube about God. He said that his experience at summer camp taught him how to talk to God through prayer. He talked for a length of time about Adam and Eve and the fall of man. Anita says she believes his experience at camp last summer is one of the reasons that Jose is doing better this year. His behavior has improved as well as his desire to read. One morning, he came to school early and had a book with him. He sat in her office and began reading to himself. She was curious and asked him what he was reading. He brought the book to her, an old book with no cover. As he got closer she noticed it was a Bible. He began to read it slowly, with difficulty, but he read it. Then he shared a verse that he said he remembered from summer camp. It brought tears to her eyes to see he was reading something he liked to read, even though it was difficult. Mrs. Navarro closes the letter by saying, “Thank you for providing this invaluable experience for our students as you can see, it’s made a positive impact in Jose’s life, and I believe in other students here at Adams as welI. I’ve spoken to other students in passing, and they share similar stories of the uplifting experiences at summer camp with Grace of Christ. Now 4th and 5th graders look forward to returning this June. One female student states she still has the red yarn that was cut at the end of camp activity. Other students hold on dearly to the teaching materials, “Jesus loves me” and the necklace with their name. I’m sure they’ll keep them forever, I still have mine.”
Blessings Anita Navarro, Adams Counselor
José comenzó a visitar la oficina del consejero durante el recreo de este año y compartió diferentes experiencias, incluido el campamento de verano. En una ocasión habló sobre su creencia en Dios y cómo el campamento de verano le inculcó el concepto de que Dios lo ama. Compartió que él habla con Dios y mira videos en YouTube acerca de Dios. Dijo que su experiencia en el campamento de verano le enseñó a hablar con Dios en oración. Habló durante un tiempo sobre Adán y Eva y la caída del hombre. Anita nos dijo que ella cree que la experiencia del niño en el campamento el verano pasado es una de las razones por las que José está mejorando este año. Su comportamiento ha mejorado al igual que su deseo de leer. Una mañana José llegó temprano a la escuela y tenía un libro con él. Él se sentó en la oficina y comenzó a leer. Anita tuvo curiosidad y le preguntó qué estaba leyendo. Él le mostro el libro, era un libro viejo sin tapa. Cuando se acercó, ella notó que era una biblia. El niño comenzó a leerlo lentamente, con un poco de dificultad, pero lo leyó. Luego compartió un versículo que recordó haberlo leído en el campamento de verano. Esto le trajo lágrimas a los ojos de Anita al ver que el niño estaba leyendo algo que ya le gustaba leer, a pesar de que esto era difícil. La Sra. Navarro concluyo la carta diciendo: "Gracias por brindarnos esta valiosa experiencia para nuestros estudiantes, ya que ustedes pueden ver que esto ha tenido un impacto positivo en la vida de José, y también creo que la ha tenido en los otros estudiantes aquí en Adams. He hablado con otros estudiantes de paso, y ellos han compartido historias similares sobre las experiencias edificantes en el campamento de verano con Gracia de Cristo.
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Continúa en la página 6
Grace of Christ Presbyterian Church
Gracia de Cristo / English
En Español
WORSHIP TEAM
Ahora los estudiantes de 4to y 5to grado esperan con ansias regresar este junio. Una alumna afirma que todavía tiene el hilo rojo que se cortó al final de la actividad del campamento. Otros estudiantes se aferran al material de enseñanza, "Jesús me ama" y el collar con su nombre. Estoy segura de que los mantendrán para siempre, yo aún tengo el mío."
Bendiciones Anita Navarro, consejera de Adams
GRUPO DE ALABANZA
We have practice every Wednesday and if we can’t, we practice on Fridays. We treat each practice as another time of worship and devotion. Plus all of us welcome two new members to the Gracia De Cristo Worship Band, Jissel (vocals) and Gerardo (Drums). They are a great new addition to our group. Even if they are youth, they show a great deal of faith and devotion to our God. Also, we have the blessing of sometimes bringing the joy of worshiping and praising to others at the Yakima UGM (English, Spanish, and Family shelter services). Speaking of playing at other services, I personally love our Ash Wednesday service. Every time we come together as one, it’s beautiful, and there is such unity. We are open to playing and want to continue to play at other services and to share our gift of music to our community. Music is such a big part of most people’s lives we want to use it to help people come and give their life to Jesus. We want to thank all of you for your prayers and support. God bless you all.
Jahzeel Garcia-Figueroa Worship Band
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Tenemos práctica todos los miércoles y si no podemos, practicamos los viernes. Tratamos cada práctica como otro tiempo más de adoración y devoción. Además, todos nosotros le damos la bienvenida a dos nuevos miembros al grupo de Adoración de Gracia De Cristo, Jessel Martínez (voz) y Gerardo Miranda (batería). Son una nueva y gran adición a nuestro grupo. Siendo jóvenes, ellos ya muestran su gran fe y devoción a nuestro Dios. Además, tenemos la bendición de poder llevar la alegría de adorar y alabar a nuestro Dios a todos nuestros hermanos en la (YUGM) Misión de Yakima en los diferentes servicios en el refugio, en inglés, español y el servicio para familias). Hablando de tocar música en otros servicios, a mí personalmente me encantó nuestro servicio el Miércoles de Ceniza. Es hermoso cada vez que estamos juntos como uno, y muestra la hermosa unidad. Estamos listos y en disposición para seguir tocando y queremos continuar haciéndolo en otros servicios para compartir nuestro talento musical con nuestra comunidad. La música es una parte muy importante en la vida de la mayoría de las personas y queremos usarla para ayudales a acercarse y entregar su vida a Jesús.Queremos agradecerles a todos por sus oraciones y apoyo. Dios los bendiga a todos.
Jahzeel Garcia-Figueroa Grupo de Alabanza
Ya k i m a G r a c e . c o m
Grace of Christ Presbyterian Church
Student Ministry — Thomas Sudbury
excited to see what is going to happen next here!
Camp is Coming Up! Our Kids are Great!
I have been so excited to see all the great things the students of Grace of Christ are doing and getting connected in. If you are personally connected with one of them, I encourage you to see what they are up to. Go to their games, watch their plays, take time to see what they are investing in! These kids are surprising me more and more every day! I am thankful that they are such a light in our community and they encourage me to do more to be involved.
God is Moving (in more!)
“So we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.” 1 Thes. 2:8 God has been moving in great ways over this past month. We have seen a number of youth connect with us that I have never seen before, some new to the ministry and some who have not been here in a while! Mostly I see God working in wonderful ways with our leaders! One of our leaders had an opportunity to give their first ever talk to youth; it was awesome! Leaders are building great relationships with the youth, sharing the gospel and their lives with these kids, and building a great ministry team! I am
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As a camp counselor for 9 years, I know that camping ministry can be one of the most impactful times in lives of our youth. It was at camp I dedicated my life to Christ and felt the call from God to follow him into Ministry. I met some of my closest friends at camp, and many of my earliest and greatest memories were formed at camp. I think that ANYONE who has an opportunity to be a part of such an amazing ministry should run at the chance. This year, we have decided to have the kids come to the following camps, so that they will all get the opportunity to do this together:
• Middle School : July 15th - 20th • High School : July 22nd - 26th (Water Ski Camp) This does not mean you child cannot go to any other weeks!!!! We would love that too!! We will be bringing our youth staff to these weeks and I will be personally attending these camps. We would love to have all the youth attend so if you or your child cannot attend a time in July, simply attend the dates that will work for you :)
Grace Student Ministries Wash-a-thon 2018!
Next month, we are excited to be having what we hope becomes our annual fundraiser for the students of Grace of Christ. Our Wash-a-thon goal this year is to wash 1000 cars - YES 1000 CARS!! The great part of this is that we want to wash cars for free!! How are we going to make any money if we wash cars for free you might ask? Well we are looking for sponsors for this event. You can donate as little as $0.01 per car washed and all proceeds will help with youth outreach and camping ministries (sponsorship for students) here at Grace of Christ.
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Grace of Christ Presbyterian Church
NEW MEMBERS / BABY CELEBRATIONS
Micah Joel Arkills Baby Dedication, March 2018 Jeff & Brooke Arkills
Emma Rose Davenport Baby Dedication, March 2018 Jon and Deanna Davenport
Jacob Aaron Sudbury Baptism, March 2018 Thomas & Jennifer Sudbury
Anneliese Dawn Eastridge Baptism, March 2018 Heather Eastridge
Brooke Arkills New Grace Partner Reaffirmation of Faith
Sharon Chard New Grace Partner Reaffirmation of Faith
Chris Irving New Grace Partner Reaffirmation of Faith
Don Eastridge New Grace Partner Public Profession of Faith to be Baptized
SAVE THE DATE
Jan and Loel Labberton New Grace Partners Reaffirmation of Faith
Grace of Christ MOPS presents "Free to Dream" Dinner & Silent Auction With guest speaker Friday, April 27th! Please help support MOPS while enjoying a fun evening with friends. Dinner will be provided by D'lish Catering. Tickets will be on sale soon so watch for more details to come.
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Ya k i m a G r a c e . c o m
Grace of Christ Presbyterian Church
Prayer Ministry
Women's Ministry
Prayer Testimonies
BETH MOORE QUEST CLASS
At Grace of Christ, we will start this class in the Growth group cycle; which starts April 8th. You may pick up a copy of the book ($16.50 each) at the Connection Center. You are welcome to order your own copy, best price I’ve found is LifeWay.com. Then join us on Sunday mornings as we go through the study!
Our Prayer Ministry testimony this month comes from Krista Strother. It’s a wonderful reminder of how we can pray in all situations and expect God’s supernatural help. Enjoy this powerful story!
God's Miracle
Prior to having my second daughter Leta, I had decided “I wanted to deliver her without any pain medication. On
that final glorious day of her birth, things did not go the way I had planned. I ended up having a medically induced labor and an epidural for pain management. Leta’s labor was long and enduring. Twenty-three hours after being induced, baby was still not close to being born. In fact, the doctor assessed the situation and announced things were going downhill fast. He said, “The baby’s heart rate is declining, and Mom has a fever. I think I am going to take the baby C-section.” I quickly contested, “No! I do not want to have a surgery.” The doctor stood his ground and did not hear my input. When I started to cry, my husband told the doctor we needed some time alone. The doctor and nurses cleared the room and without pause, my husband began to talk in a calm, soothing voice to Leta and God intermittingly. It brought calm to the middle of the storm. I began to focus on the prayer and on God. We did this over the next 5-10 minutes until the nurse came back into the room to check on us. By the time the nurse opened the door, Leta had turned the correct way and came to us somewhat quickly. Our prayers were answered and I did not go into surgery after all. When I met my daughter, I could not believe the journey we travelled. There I was, holding baby Leta who was a living breathing testimony of God’s love and grace right before my eyes. It made our first moments together extraordinarily special. God’s miracle was right there waiting for us all along, as soon as we went to him in our hardship. Praise the Lord! – Krista Strother
Join Us On Sundays April 8th-May 20th 9am-10:30am Mezzanine Classroom Books for this class cost $16.50. Please pre-register & pay (in advance) for your book. You may do this at the Connect Center or in the office. We will place the order and have them available at class.
There Is No Quest Without Questions “The crooked punctuation mark at the end of a sentence speaks of curiosity, interest, and perhaps doubt. A question is an invitation to vulnerability, to intimacy. The Bible does not shy away from such an invite. Over and over we see the people of God asking questions of their Creator. We also see the God of the universe asking questions of His creation. The Quest is a challenge to accept the invitation. In this sixweek excursion with Jesus, Beth Moore uses questions from Scripture to lead you into intimacy with the One who knows you best. Learn to dig into the Word, to respond to the questions of God, and to bring your questions before Him. Let the crooked punctuation mark be the map that points you into a closer relationship with the Father.”
Class Schedule:
April 8 April 15 April 22 April 29 May 3 May 13 May 20
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Ya k i m a G r a c e . c o m
Chapter 1: Video & Discussion Chapter 2: Video & Discussion Chapter 3: Video & Discussion Chapter 4: Video & Discussion Chapter 5: Video & Discussion Chapter 6: Video & Discussion Wrap Up Party!
Grace of Christ Presbyterian Church
Children’s Ministry — Melissa Gray
VBS Work Party!
Join us for a creative morning of VBS prep as we make fun decorations and get ready to turn the church into an Oasis of VBS Fun! Saturday, May 19 from 9-12 in the Garden Room. Please RSVP to Melissa Gray at 248-7940 or Melissa.Gray@yakimagrace.com
VBS Volunteers!
We need YOU to make this VBS better than ever! Youth and Adult volunteer applications are now available in the garden room and online. Our goal is to reach 200 children with God’s love at Shipwrecked VBS this summer, but we can only do that with YOUR help! Having volunteers sign up early helps us to expand our student registration, so please let us know right away that you are ready to join us for an awesome week of VBS fun!
On Sundays, Grace Kids has been digging into the Bible this year as we work our way from Genesis to Revelation. The Elementary students have been practicing and memorizing the books of the Bible along the way! Scripture and memory verses are a fun part of our time together each week and the kids love to earn tokens to spend in our Grace Kids Store each Sunday! Keep up the good work kids! Summer Camp!
Hey kids, come join us at Camp Ghormley this summer! Grace Kids is excited to be joining our summer campers at Camp Ghormley for Primary 2 Camp, July 1-4 and Junior 1 Camp, July 8-12. Grab a friend or two and note on your registration that you are coming from Grace of Christ Church. We are excited to share this camping experience with Grace of Christ Kids at camp this summer!
Grace of Christ Preschool - Register for 2018-2019
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Ya k i m a G r a c e . c o m
Grace of Christ Presbyterian Church
Hospitality Ministry Hallelujah! He Has Risen! The triumph of Jesus over death through His own death and resurrection is the greatest news ever proclaimed! It testifies of the deep, deep love of our Heavenly Father’s for the people and world He created. John 3:16-17 declares the joy that is ours in Christ Jesus and is a declaration of power to transform lives. It was a delight to have this message shared on Easter with the new, as well as familiar faces, that filled our church services, hallways, Garden Room, and classrooms!
Easter IS the BIG EVENT that grounds our FAITH! In anticipation of Easter, the Hospitality Ministry Team (HMT) gathered to prepare to do their part in lowering the barriers that sometimes inhibit guests’ ability to hear the gospel. In a church our size, it is easy to get overwhelmed trying to find your way around or even to feel like you’ve had made a connection with the service when you finally arrive back at home!
Spring Up! Event On March 11, HMT held their ‘Spring Up! Event’ to prepare for Easter, as well as continue to hone our knowledge and skills in the ministry of hospitality. Part of our time together was spent in prayer, as we know that it isn’t our efforts but the Holy Spirit that works to bring God’s purposes and plans to fruition. Some updates and changes were shared and we also reviewed some safety and security features of our church’s main gathering areas. Being a ministry team of hospitable people, we didn’t miss the opportunity for a bit of fellowship over refreshments and a little fun mixed in!
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A crowd of 46 attended the Spring Up! Event as the Hospitality Ministry Team geared up for Easter. Extra greeters and ushers were assigned, a Welcome Packet was prepared and made available for firsttime visitors, ample refreshments were set out, new baristas were trained and on hand, and the sanctuary was arrayed with lilies. What a joy it is to serve on the hospitality team and be a part of the welcoming face of Jesus as we serve others!
Join Hospitality Ministry We are always looking for others to come join our team. If interested in learning more about how you can participate in the Hospitality Ministry Team, stop by the Welcome
and Connect Center or call Linda Mathews at 509388-5527 or Linda Sorenson at 509-834-1185.
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Grace of Christ Presbyterian Church
Mission Ministry
More Meals & Volunteers Needed! Camp Hope will now remain open at its Englewood Avenue location through June. This means that with the shelter’s extension, more “Meals of Grace” are needed for Thursday evening dinners. Presently, Grace’s Meal Teams have been preparing and serving dinners for around 90 people on Thursday nights. Camp Hope is operated by Transform Yakima Together – a faith-based non-profit group. The shelter has met a great need and is expected to continue its service at the Englewood facility at least through June. Please consider serving with one of Grace’s Meal Teams. This can be a one-time or an ongoing commitment. Kiki Graf will be acting as the coordinator for the continuation of “Meals of Grace.” You can contact her at 509.930.0906 or Kiki@ centralwainsurance.com. Please sign-up at the Connection Center in the Garden Room to join this amazing outreach.
Clothing Exchange
Slated for Saturday, May 19, the Clothing Exchange is a once-a-year opportunity to bless others by donating your gently-used or new clothing to other families. Offered at nocost, participants are welcome to take items that they need. Donations will be accepted beginning on May 12.
Outreach Camp
Now is the time to begin thinking about Outreach Camp at Camp Ghormley. This camp will be held on June 15-17 and there are many ways that you can be involved to support this time-honored tradition of Grace. Call Alex at the church for more information!
Love, INC Annual Banquet (Love in the Name of Christ)
Thursday, April 19 West Valley Church: 7109 Nob Hill Blvd Doors Open: 5:30pm Dinner: 6pm Please RSVP to Keith Mathews: klmathews@fairpoint.net A good dinner, an update of the ministry, and an opportunity to support Love, INC financially. 12
Campbell Farm Update The Farm continues to offer mid-week, after-school youth group for kids on Wed afternoons, including dinner and lots of fun. On February 10, a Gala was held at the Emmanuel Presbyterian Church in Bothell, hosted by them and Wallingford Presbyterian Church. The goal of this event was to raise enough money to purchase a used 15-passenger van for the Farm's transportation needs, and over $20,000 was raised at the event. Praise God! There have also been some major improvements done to the buildings and grounds via volunteers and a contractor from Bothell who has donated much time and energy over the past year. Windows have been replaced in all the houses, as well as some other structures removed and replaced, like the chicken coop and animal barn. These all improve the overall appearance and energy consumption of TCF! Twice per week, the Tt’awaxt Collaborative, a health initiative between the Indian Health Service, Virginia Mason Hospital, and the March of Dimes, brings pre-natal medical services to native women and families. The word, Tt’awaxt means in the Yakima language: caring or gathering family. The clinic meeting at the Farm has seen four healthy babies delivered since it began in December 2017. The next big event is the annual Salmon Bake, held the last Saturday in April, the 28th, from 11 am - 3 pm. This is a fun time to see the Farm and reconnect with old friends, as well as have a great meal of salmon cooked outdoors. Tickets will be available soon at the Farm!
Ya k i m a G r a c e . c o m
Grace of Christ Presbyterian Church
Ghormley Meadow Christian Camp
CAMP REGISTRATION 2018 SAVE NOW! Early Bird Special Ends April 13th! Registration for summer camp 2018 is now open! Don’t miss the opportunity to save money on your child’s camp registration by registering before April 13th. For more information, visit us at: www.ghormleymeadow.org/ summercamp/ worship time, crafts, games, good food, and lots of other fun activities designed for moms and daughters to connect and make memories! Don’t miss out on this amazing time. Register online now: http://www.ghormleymeadow.org/ community-events/mother-daughter-weekend/
Support Needs
Summer Staff Hiring
We’re hiring! We’ve begun our search for those who God is calling to serve at camp this summer. We have many needs, and a variety of types of positions remain available. If you’re thinking about joining our team, don’t delay, apply today! For more information on summer jobs, visit us at: http://www.ghormleymeadow. org/join-our-team/college-summerstaff/
Online Giving
We’re excited to announce that online giving is now available through our website! Please visit our Donate page to see what giving opportunities we currently have, and how to get involved. http://www.ghormleymeadow.org/join-ourteam/donate-to-ghormley/
Mother Daughter Weekend
Attention all moms and their daughters! We still have spots available for our Mom and Daughter Retreat Weekend, the weekend of April 20-22! Plan to spend a weekend created just for moms and their daughters to have fun together, explore, play, laugh, and build life-long memories together, all in God's beautiful creation! There will be a speaker,
www.ghormleymeadow.org 13
Interested in supporting the ministry of Ghormley? We have a number of projects either in process or that we are raising funds for so we can begin. If you’d like to know what we’re up to, or how to support the ministry of Ghormley, visit us at: http://www.ghormleymeadow.org/join-our-team/ donate-to-ghormley/
Prayer Needs • Pray that God will continue to bless us with groups to fill our non-summer months, especially in the months of April and May this year. • Pray that relationships will be built, lives changed, and every person who comes to Ghormley Meadow will meet Jesus. • Ghormley has hired a fundraising consultant to help us build a future vision and development plan. Please pray for God's direction in this very important process! • Pray that God will lead us to the right staff members He desires to serve at Ghormley this summer.
Fred Meyer Rewards
Ghormley recently became an official Fred Meyer community rewards member (#84874)! Help send kids to camp just by shopping. All funds donated go towards our general scholarship fund. Want to join? Simply visit our website: http://www.ghormleymeadow.org/join-ourteam/donate-to-ghormley/
509.672.4311
facebook.com/ghormleymeadow
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Grace of Christ Presbyterian Church
Grace of Christ Presbyterian Church 9 South 8th Ave Yakima, WA 98902 (509) 248-7940
Our Core Values Glorifying God With Our Best Pioneering and Ongoing Outreach Engaging and Nurturing Relationships Being A Cornerstone in the Community Equipping People for Ministry Through Biblical Foundation and Service
April Calendar of Events Thur, March 29 Maundy Thursday Communion & Tenebrae Service 7:00 pm Sanctuary Fri, March 30 Good Friday Quiet Reflection 12:00 - 2:00 pm Sanctuary
Everyone Everyone
April Sun, April 1 April 2 - 6 Thur, April 5 Sun, April 8 Mon, April 9 Mon, April 9 Tue, April 10 Wed, April 11 Wed, April 11 Fri, April 13 Sat, April 14 Sat, April 14 Sun, April 15 Tue, April 17 Wed, April 18 Thur, April 19 Fri, April 20 Fri, April 20 Sun, April 22 Tue, April 24 Thur, April 26 Thur, April 26 Fri, April 27 Fri, April 27 Sat, April 28 Sat, April 28 Tue, May 1 Wed, May 2 Thur, May 3 May 4 and 5 Sun, May 6 Sat, May 19 Sun, May 20
Easter Sunday / Sunrise Service 6:30 am North Lawn Everyone Easter Breakfast 7:00 - 11:00 am Gym Everyone Worship Services 9:00am, 10:45am, 11:00am & 1:00pm Sanctuary (Chapel) Everyone Spring Break / No Preschool All Week Preschool Senior Adult Ministry Meeting 2:00 pm Fireside Room Committee Beth Moore Class Begins 9:00 am Mezzanine Classroom Women Edith Ferry Circle Lunch & Meeting 12:00 pm Fireside Room Women Business Ministry Team Meeting 4:00 pm Library Committee Mission Ministry Team Meeting 4:00 pm Adult Ed Room Committee Foundation Board 7:00 am Library Board Preschool Board Meeting 12:00 pm KidZone Center Board MOPS Leadership Meeting 9:30 am Fireside Room Committee Orcas Camp Mentor Training 10:00 am Adult Ed Room Mentors Prayer Shawl Ministry 1:00 pm Garden Room Knitters Youth Leader Meeting 4:00 pm Lounge Committee Preschool Spring Tea 3's 10:00 am Sanctuary Preschool Preschool Spring Tea 4's and PK 10:00 am Sanctuary Preschool Grace Fellowship 2:00 pm Garden Room Everyone MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) 9:00 am Chapel Moms Youth Community Connections Clean Up Yakima Students 6th-12th Deacon's Meeting 12:30 pm Lounge Deacons Session Dinner and Meeting 5:30pm Garden Rm / Adult Ed Elders Mary MacLean Guild Meeting 12:30 pm Fireside Room Guild Adams Staff Appreciation Dinner (We need helpers!) 5:30 pm Gym Adams Staff MOPS Creative Moments 9:00 am Room 203 Moms MOPS Dinner and Auction 5:30 pm Garden Room Everyone MOPS Gathering and Training 12:00 - 4:00 pm Garden Room MOPS Leadership Prayer Shawl Ministry 1:00 pm Lounge Knitte Hospitality Ministry Team 5:00 pm Lounge Committee Grace y Gracia Juntos 6:00 pm Lounge Women Senior Adult Ministry Meeting 2:00 pm Fireside Room Committee ECO Presbytery Meeting Fri & Sat Sanctuary/Garden Rm Everyone Pastor Jim's Installation Service 9:00am - 11:00am Sanctuary/Garden Rm Everyone Clothing Exchange 9:00am - 1:00pm Gym Everyone Pastor Cindy's Last Sunday - Happy Retirement! 9:00am - 11:00am Garden Room Reception
Grace Alive is available in a PDF format on the church web page www.YakimaGrace.com. For inquiries, submissions, omissions, and corrections, contact Ericka in the church office 248-7940 x 100. ericka.clark@yakimagrace.com 14
Ya k i m a G r a c e . c o m
Grace of Christ Presbyterian Church
Weekday Events MON
TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) All Staff Check-In Meeting Overeater’s Anonymous Trailseekers Al-Anon Divorce Care
TUE
SOZO Prayer Pursuing Our Limitless God (Women's Bible Study)
Women in the Word Bible Study
WED
Youth Group *Dinner too! Gracia de Cristo Music Rehearsal
10:00 am 10:00 am 12:00 pm 2:30 pm 5:15 pm 6:30 pm
Everyone All Staff Everyone Trailseekers Everyone Everyone
Prayer Room Gym
SOZO Team Women
Fireside Room
Women
6:30- 8:30 pm 6:00- 8:00 pm
Gym Sanctuary
6th-12th grade
9:00 am 1:30 pm 7:00 pm 5:45 - 9:15 pm
Sanctuary Lounge Choir Room Prayer Room
Women Adults Temple Choir SOZO Team
9:00 - 11:30 am
Chapel
Moms
9:00 - 11:30 am
Prayer Room
SOZO Team
Sanctuary Chapel Sanctuary Sanctuary Adult Ed Room 103 KidZone Wing Youth Rm & Gym
Everyone Everyone Everyone Everyone Adults Adults 3yrs thru 5th grade Gr 6-12
9:00 -11:30 am 9:15 am 9:45 am
THUR Bible Study Fellowship Growth Group - Open...Come Check It Out! Temple Choir SOZO Prayer FRI
Adult Ed Lounge Adult Ed Gym Adult Ed Lounge
MOPS – Mothers of Preschoolers (1st & 3rd Fridays) SOZO Prayer
Sunday Services and Events
SUN
Grace Contemporary Worship 9:00 am Grace Modern Worship 10:45 am Grace Traditional Worship - Led by Temple Choir 11:00 am Gracia de Cristo Worship in Spanish 1:00 pm Going Deeper: Romans 9:30 am Golden Circle 10:15 am Grace Kids 9:00 & 10:45 am Youth reFUEL 9:00 am
Announcements COOKIES
Thank you for bringing cookies, crackers, fruit, or quick breads for all to enjoy during our fellowship hour on Sunday. See dates you can contribute – last names beginning with… April 1 April 8 April 15 April 22 April 29
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N - S T- Z A- F G-M N-S
Ya k i m a G r a c e . c o m
GRACE OF CHRIST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 9 S 8TH AVENUE YAKIMA, WA 98902 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
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