Simple Dessert
Simple Dessert
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When
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Sun Jan 30 6pm – 9pm Pacific Time |
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Where
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Jay & Jamie Messenger’s Home (map) |
Advent Conspiracy 2010
November 18, 2010 by Jerry Fast
Filed under Feature
Why Advent Conspiracy?
What is it all about?
[WORSHIP FULLY]
It starts with Jesus. It ends with Jesus. It’s a season where we are called to put down our burdens and lift a song up to our God. It’s a season where love wins, peace reigns, and a king is celebrated. It’s the party of the year. Joining the conspiracy means entering this season with a passion to worship Jesus to the fullest.
[SPEND LESS]
Before you think we’re going all Scrooge on you, keep reading. How often have you spent money on Christmas presents for no other reason than obligation? We’re asking people to consider spending less this Christmas (maybe buying just one less gift). Sounds insignificant, yet many who have taken this small sacrifice have experienced something nothing less than a miracle: They have been more available to celebrate Christ during the advent season.
[GIVE MORE]
God’s gift to us was a relationship built on love. No wonder why we’re drawn to the idea that Christmas should be a time to love our friends and family in the most memorable ways possible. Time is the real gift Christmas offers us, and it can’t be found at the mall. Time to bake really good cookies and sing really bad Christmas carols. Time to make love visible through relational giving. Sounds a lot better than getting a sweater two sizes too big, right?
[LOVE ALL]
When Jesus loved, He loved in ways never imagined. Though rich, he became poor to love the poor, the forgotten, and the sick. By spending less at Christmas we can join Him in giving resources to those who need help the most. This isn’t just a theory based on good intentions. It’s a movement that’s saving lives.
Join the Conspiracy…
Community Christmas Celebration
that will include
Dinner Party – Clothing Distribution
Grocery Distribution – Café Energeo
Kid’s Christmas Party for K-5th grade
There are many ways to join the Conspiracy by donating and serving in a variety of areas.. Please prayerfully consider how you can participate. Stop by the lobby table on Sundays or Wednesdays at the Journey to sign-up & get more information.
Donations Needed
Clothing-Clean, gently worn, Infant-Adult sizes
New Socks-Pick up tag in lobby
Groceries-Pick up tag in lobby
Raffle Prizes-New items; kitchen/household, board games, books, toys, etc.
Sugar Cookies-Undecorated
White frosting
Ways to Serve
Clothing room-Organizing begins 11/24, Distribution on 12/10
Dinner Party Crew
Kid’s Christmas Celebration Team
Greet &/or Host
Set-up &/or Clean-up Crew
Additional Ways to Give & Serve…
Advent Conspiracy Offering-Sundays, Dec 5th & 12th to support all our efforts plus Living Water International
Gift Wrapping (14 years old & up)-Shifts available on Saturdays
Spiritual Practices
September 16, 2010 by Ben Sadler
Filed under Feature
As we enter the fall season we kickoff our new teaching series on Spiritual Practices. It is our hope as leaders that deeper intimacy with Christ will develop and people will come to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. The two are connected you know. Our relationship with God will influence how others view Him. How could they not? As the Church, Jesus calls us to carry on His ministry on earth.
That means we proclaim the good news of the kingdom in our words and actions realizing that our proclamation comes from the overflow of the Holy Spirit’s work in our hearts. The Spiritual Practices put us in a position of receptivity to the Spirit’s work. What is the Spirit’s work? To point to and make us more like Jesus. That means a putting to death of sin and manifesting in us the righteousness of God. The Spiritual Practices put us in a position to live the kind of life God blesses.
Again we are not calling Grace to legalism or ritualistic practices. Nor are we calling Grace to a false prosperity gospel that states “do x, y, and z and God will make you rich”. No we are calling the church to a vibrant, dynamic, deeper relationship with God. We know that we will talk about that which we are most passionate. How can we be passionate about God if we don’t spend time getting to know Him? How is your passion for Jesus? Are you engaging Him regularly in Prayer? Are you reading and feasting on His Word? As Pastor Jay asked last Sunday, do you know God better now then you did a month ago? Six months ago? A year ago? This series serves as an invitation to journey into the deeper waters of the Spirit. May we swim deep allowing ourselves to be completely consumed and changed. May our love and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ increase and may we demonstrate this love by bearing fruit and leading others to repentance
Men–Are You Ready?
August 30, 2010 by Jay Messenger
Filed under Feature, Uncategorized
The weather is changing, leaves are starting to turn, kids are about to go back to school…and football season is right around the corner!
Maybe you’re a football fan (I am!) and maybe you’re not (which may be true of you)…. But much of the sports talk at this time of year is about the upcoming football season, who is expected to do what, who’s looking good and who isn’t, and what team will eventually make it to the Superbowl. But behind the scenes, for several months now, training camps have been spooling up, players are conditioning, working hard, memorizing plays, practicing and preparing for what’s ahead…so is the same true of you?
I was talking to a Dad recently who kids have entered adulthood…they’ve gone off to school, moved out of the house, and some have just gotten married. All of his kids are believers, which he’s very grateful for. But he’s facing the reality of letting go…entrusting daughters to the care of new husbands, hoping that their parents have prepared them to lead, protect, and love their wives the way Christ does His church.
But the reality is that some many of our kids today are growing up in homes where Dad is absent…literally. Statistics tell us that 40% of American kids will go to bed tonight without Dad at home…he’s gone…separation, divorce, abandonment have all taken their toll. With Dad out of the picture, who is going to teach these boys to become men? Christian Men? Men who are strong, loving, protective, persevervant, faithful…like Jesus?
That’s the reality this Dad is facing…he has a son in law who is a believer, but who was never taught what it means to be a Christian Man. Quite frankly, instead of acting like a man, his son in law is a boy who has never grown up…he’s making poor choices because he’s never had anyone to show him what it means to be a Jesus-Follower AND a husband. What if this was YOUR son in law? Your son? Your friend? Or maybe this is YOUR story too…?
For your own spiritual development (as well as for those the Lord has entrusted to you) it’s time to hit training camp…and it’s called Men’s Fraternity. We’re offering two blocks this year at the Journey…the first year “The Quest for Authentic Manhood” and the second year “Winning at Work and Home.” Come join us as we learn and grow together as Men of God. What it means to be a husband…a dad…an employee…a friend…and a spiritual leader in your home. What if you already know how to do that stuff? Then bring someone with you…like your son(s)…your neighbor(s)…your co-worker(s)…your friends.
If you were with us last year, we invite you to come join us again. If you’re like me, you saw some true growth and development this last year and want to keep the momentum going…so don’t let this opportunity pass you buy.
Your wife, kids, grand-kids, family, friends, and co-workers need you to be the man God has created you to be…don’t put off your own development because “you’re to busy.” Find a way to make time early Tuesday mornings…or come to the Journey on Wednesdaynights. Your life is not the pre-season…this is the real deal. Are you ready?
The Power of Prayer
August 10, 2010 by Ben Sadler
Filed under Feature, Uncategorized
Do you really believe that prayer changes things?
I mean seriously do we come to God with a sense of expectancy in our conversations with Him. Throughout our day are we waiting and looking for ways in which He might be moving? When we come together on Sunday mornings and we sing songs asking God to meet with us…do we really believe and expect Him to do so?
“You want something but don’t get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God” James 4:2
Now this is not a blog about asking God to give you a car or make you wealthy but this verse serves as a reminder that God is our Provider and we need to be coming to Him believing that He provides.. God wants to give good gifts to His Children and the greatest gift of all is Himself. Like pastor and writer Jim Cymbala asks How many blessings from God have we missed out on because we haven’t asked Him?
Over the past several months God has really been placing a burden on our heart (ours meaning Heidi and I) regarding the discipline of prayer. For me prayer has been one of the weaker disciplines in my life. Sure I prayed… about the big things…. About the things I felt I had no control over. But most of the time I was too busy doing ministry and reacting to life to really take time to pray. Does this ring true to any of you? And what is the fruit of such living? Honestly for me…. I have walked in anxiety, fatigue, and discouragement.
But a major turning point began a few months ago. It started with reading Richard Foster’s chapter on prayer in his book “Celebration of Discipline” In that chapter he talked about God using prayer to change things. There are many instances in the bible where God changed His mind in response to the prayers of His people. I asked myself, do I really believe that prayer changes things? Do I believe that God can truly change lives of those I minister to? Do I believe He is on the verge of doing something miraculous at Grace? The scary thing is I’d been so concerned with just surviving the ministry week I hadn’t taken much time to wrestle with questions like that. So, my wife and I began getting up earlier and being very intentional in the way that we prayed. Being as specific as possible even over little things, and we have seen God do some amazing things in the lives of our young adults. There is such an expectancy in our hearts regarding his intentions for Grace Community Church and we have a hunger for his people to deepen in their relationship with Him.
We want to see His people get on board in asking Him to use this church as an agent of restoration and life change through Christ in this community. Starting in the fall we will be teaching a prayer class at The Journey. Through it we hope to equip and encourage people to engage God in conversation expecting to see Him move. Sure we will teach ‘about’ prayer. .. but we will spend a lot of the time ‘praying’. If you are interested come talk to me, Heidi or Gerry. If you aren’t able to attend the prayer class we have a prayer night at our place 2817 NE Rene Ave. Gresham, OR. 97030. On the first Wednesday of every month starting at 6:30. We’d love to pray with you. One other resource I’d recommend is this sermon from Jim Cymbala on prayer. Take an hour and let it challenge you.
