Sunday, September 11 is the last day to sign up for GCF Family Camp on September 23-25 at Willow Falls Camp in Blue Ridge, Georgia. Each family is asked to make a minimum payment of $40 to cover food. Cost for a single person is $20. This does not cover the cost of the facility, so if you can contribute more for this fun weekend away, please do!
To go you MUST sign up and pay by Sunday, September 11.
**THERE WILL BE NO SERVICE AT GCF ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25.
GCF Youth are all invited to the Consumed Conference in Bimidji, Minnesota, September 2-5, sponsored by Salt & Light. Click the link for more information.
Our final session of equipping classes will begin on February 9, and continue for eight weeks through the end of March. Classes will be held every Wednesday from 7:00 to 8:45, locations to be announced. Here are the courses being offered in this session:
HOW TO STUDY YOUR BIBLE
Teacher: Mark Murphree
Description: Want to go deeper than “just reading another chapter” or “just memorizing another verse”? Learn how to really *study* your Bible, and transform your life through greater Scriptural understanding!
Textbook: How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth by Gordon Fee
OFFENDED: The fundamental impairment to healthy relationships
Teacher: Ernie Lawton
Description: The class will deal with the issue of offense and how to practically overcome it so that all your interpersonal relationships and intrapersonal relationship will have an opportunity to thrive.
Textbook: The Bait of Satan by John Bevere
HOW TO MANAGE YOUR FINANCES
Teacher: Tom & Sandy Vincent
Description: Explore foundational principals of financial management such as tithing, budget, saving and reducing debt. Practical help in developing a budget.
Textbook: Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey
THE SPIRIT, THE CHURCH & ME
Teacher: Bryan & Michelle McCrea/Rich & Maryanne Molton
Description: We will be exploring the way God discloses his activity in our midst through the gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy.
Textbook: None
Sign up begins at church Sunday morning, January 30.
Ron MacLean and Keith Miners, our friends from Canada, will be with us at our Sunday morning service on January 16 for the installation of our elders. Please make every effort to come out for this important event.
Ever wonder what it would be life to visit the South Pole, cross and Egyptian desert, explore a South American Jungle, climb Mount Everest, or go under the Pacific Ocean? Now you can do all those things and more in one action filled week. You’ll meet a pilot, an archeologist, a jungle doctor, a mountain climber, and an underwater explorer. And in each site, you’ll discover something new about Jesus. So get out your suitcase, goggles, and hiking boots. The Jesus Expedition is about to head out and you won’t want to miss it!
Where: Grace Covenant Fellowship
When: July 12-16 from 9am – Noon
Ages: K-5th Grade
Guides (aka Volunteers) are needed for all phases of the expedition. See Jessica Handwork or Maryanne Molton to help.
Our first session of equipping classes is underway. Here are the courses being offered from April 7 through May 26:
PARENTING
Teacher: Steve & Becky McGarvey
Time & Place: Sunday night 7-8:45 at the church
Description: Basic child training principles and training children to love learning and enjoy work. Winning and keeping the heart of your child.
Textbooks: Jumping Ship by Michael and Debi Pearl and In Defense of Biblical Chastisement by Michael Pearl (booklet)
MARRIAGE
Teachers: Jon & Maura Walsch
Time & Place: Sunday night 7-8:45 at the church
Description: This class will go through the Alpha Marriage Course.
Textbook: Two Alpha Marriage workbooks
HOW TO STUDY YOUR BIBLE
Teacher: Mark Murphree
Time & Place: Wednesday night 7-8:45, location TBA
Description: Want to go deeper than “just reading another chapter” or “just memorizing another verse”? Learn how to really *study* your Bible, and transform your life through greater Scriptural understanding!
Textbook: How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth by Gordon Fee
EVANGELISM
Teacher: Tim & Mandi Ord
Time & Place: Wednesday night 7-8:45 at the Ord’s
Description: The vision for this class is to equip us to better share our faith in Christ Jesus. The desire is to give a good perspective and encourage us as believers to Boldly Go and share the Hope that is available to everyone through faith in Christ.
Textbook: The Way of the Master, Ray Comfort
OFFENDED: The fundamental impairment to healthy relationships
Teacher: Ernie Lawton
Time & Place: Wednesday 7-8:45 at Mark and Lisa Love’s
Description: The class will deal with the issue of offense and how to practically overcome it so that all your interpersonal relationships and intrapersonal relationship will have an opportunity to thrive.
Textbook: The Bait of Satan by John Bevere
HOW TO MANAGE YOUR FINANCES
Teacher: Tom & Sandy Vincent
Time & Place: Wednesday night 7-8:45 at the Vincent’s
Description: Explore foundational principals of financial management such as tithing, budget, saving and reducing debt. Practical help in developing a budget.
Textbook: Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey
The next eight-week session of classes will begin on June 23.
We were all thrilled and moved again last Sunday as Aaron Fish joined us for his first Sunday service. Our friends the Fishes spent five roller coaster days in Florida awaiting his arrival from Haiti. In the end, they were rewarded with a new son in their growing family.
We are so excited that Dania Brock has arrived from Haiti and is settling in to her new home in Toccoa. She is picking up English amazingly quickly, fitting right in as a natural member of the family and already making friends at church. Be sure to tune in to the Rachel Ray Show on Wednesday, February 3, to see an account of the Brock’s adoption adventures. The film crew shot footage at the church of Dania’s first Sunday morning service, so you may get a glimpse of us as well as the Brocks.
Here are links where you can go to give to the orphanages in Haiti where Dania and Aaron are. They both provide links to PayPal, so it’s super simple to donate:
BRESMA orphanage in Port-au-Prince where Dania is: http://www.centeroflife.net/haiti/ On the last page, be sure to write “BRESMA orphanage” in the note to the church.
Keith and Cindy Lashbrook’s orphanage in Port-au-Pai where Aaron is: http://www.gme.org/ They have a big banner on the front page that says Haiti relief. There’s a place for additional notes, and it would probably still be good to write the Lashbrook’s name or that you want your contribution to go directly to the orphanage.
Georgia residents, contact your senators through these links:
Johnny Isaakson: http://isakson.senate.gov/contact.cfm
Saxby Chambliss: http://chambliss.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=Email
You can contact your senators in any state through the senate website, http://www.senate.gov/
Here is a suggested sample letter:
Dear Senator
Please contact the state department and request visas for the children already adopted in Haiti and humanitarian parole for the ones still in progress. Your request can help rescue many children in Haiti who are waiting to be moved to their new homes. For example: The Bresma Orphanage in Haiti has 150 children who are facing death with little food or water. BUT today five of those children had their adoption completed – they received their visas and made it safely to the US embassy thanks to the effort of many parties involved in Haiti and stateside. These children face grave outcomes if we fail to act quickly.
We’ll pass on more information as it becomes available.
Disciple Night and Home Groups are back in full swing for 2010. Community Dinners are on hold for a time. But there’s lots to look forward to this year.
John Harvey will speak at our Sunday morning services on January 24 and 31. We are looking forward to having him and his wife Ruth join us for worship.
Ladies, mark your calendars for April 16-18 for our ladies’ retreat at Camp Hawkins. Details to come.
