Grace Christian Reformed Church
We welcome you to our worship service! This morning Pastor William will lead us in worship as we wrap up our VBS program.
This evening our combined worship service is at 6:30pm and it will be led by Calvary CRC and located at First CRC.
UPCOMING LORD’S SUPPER SERVICES:
We are celebrating Lord’s Supper Sunday August 21 in the am worship service.
GRACE CHURCH VISION STATEMENT: As disciples of Christ our purpose is to encourage spiritual growth in ourselves, our family, and our church family so that we will be the presence of Christ to all the world around us in all we say and do.
Thought for the week: “Happiness is not in doing what you like but in liking what you do.”
MORNING OFFERINGS:
July 24 (NOTE THE CHANGE IN OFFERING) – Biblica (formerly the International Bible Society): Every year vacation Bible School has an Operation Kid-to-Kid project. Instead of just making crafts for themselves, they make something for needy children all over the world. It is a tangible way for them to see how easy it is to share God's love with others. This year our project is a cloth "Jesus Loves Me' backpack that the kids decorate. They will also include a personalized bookmark and the organization that we are partnering with, Biblica (formerly the International Bible Society) will provide a Spanish language New Testament to put in each backpack. The cost of each Bible is $2. Each backpack costs $1.50. We are excited to make a difference in the lives of many children, at home and around the world.
July 31 – Shalem: The Shalem Mental Health Network seeks to provide a responsive network of faith-based mental health support. The do this by stimulating, developing demonstrating, promoting and sharing best practices in meeting mental health needs from a faith base. They operate a non-profit counseling service helping clients of any age deal with issues such as: Anxiety, Depression, Conflict, Anger, Grief, Abuse, Communication, Family difficulties, Parenting, Self-esteem, Separation/divorce and Sexuality.
Please inform the office or your district elder if there are any announcements or concerns that you would like to go in the bulletin. Please have all bulletin items in by Wednesday 7pm. Office Hrs: Tues –Fri 9am–noon
PRAYER MINISTRY:
· Please come Sunday mornings at 9am and join in prayer for our church and community. We meet in Room #2 (in the lower level)
· Join us for prayer following the worship services in the room at the back of the sanctuary. All requests remain confidential.
SENIOR HOME MINISTRY:
1. There is a worship service today at Chatham Retirement Resort at 3pm.
2. There is a worship service today at Maple City Residence (97 McFarlane) at 2pm.
3. There is a worship service on Friday at Residence On the Thames at 10am.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
LIBRARY NEWS: Two novels by Tricia Goyer “A Valley of Betrayal” Chronicles of the Spanish Civil War and “The Swiss Courier” during the Second World War. Both novels are suspense filled dramas.
THANK YOU!! To Jackie B for all the work she did this past week and in the past months organizing our Vacation Bible School program in which we reached out to the children in our neighbourhood! It was amazing to see the fruits of those labours this past week as everything ran so smoothly and everyone worked together really well as a team effort. Thank you Jackie for using the gifts God has given you to further his Kingdom!
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL: It is with great thankfulness that we can report that Vacation Bible School went very well with a great response from the neighbouring community. Over 80% of the children attending are community kids which was our aim. There was a positive spirit among the volunteers who braved the heat and humidity with a joyful servant heart. Without frontline workers and behind the scenes help, vacation bible school would not happen. Special thanks to the decorating team (Dennis and Michelle K, Neil and Debbie V and Jeff B) who made a great set, Jeannie B who designed Mary's House, the First Church baking team, tribe leaders and their assistants, shopkeepers, sound people, music director, our nursery team who took care of the little ones, Bill and Suze M for their tireless and creative efforts with the Barnyard, Gertie W, who not only prepared for her own Beadery Shop, but assisted many others as well and Denise B for her beautiful photography, and her son Matt for doing the power point presentation. Another great but often unnoticed help is to the bulletin editors who promote our work, Julie C and Nancy D. Praise be to God who is ever faithful. As you are reading this we are in the middle of our outdoor service which is also the closing program of our Vacation Bible School, Hometown Nazareth, Where Jesus was a kid.