Week 36

We welcome you to our worship service! This morning Pastor William Koopmans will lead us in worship.

This evening: our combined worship service is at 5pm and it will be led by First CRC and located at First CRC. Pastor Jack will turn to the 3^rd in the series on Lord’s Day 1, based on Romans 8:1-17, “The Assurance of Christian Comfort.”

We are celebrating Lord’s Supper Sunday September 18 in the pm 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.

September 4, 2011 – Christian Schools International: Christian Schools International (CSI) was established in 1920 and supports Christian school teachers who want Bible-based textbooks for their classrooms, principals and school administrators investigating employee benefit plans, Christian school board members seeking information about governance, and parents looking for a Christian school for their children. Christian Schools International's mission is to advance Christian education and to support schools in their task of teaching students to know God and his world and to glorify him through obedient service. The organization includes nearly 500 Christian schools in the United States and Canada, which employ approximately 10,000 teachers and enrol 100,000 students.

September 11, 2011 –CRWRC East Africa Drought Response: With plans continuing to gel over the last week, the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC) announced today that it is drastically increasing its response to severe drought in East Africa. Previously planning a $4 million response, the agency now has a goal of distributing $7 million in emergency aid between August and December 2011. The response will include food supplies and drinking water, as well as fodder for livestock. This essential aid will help more than 100,000 Kenyans survive until the next harvest in January, 2012. Currently East Africa is experiencing its worst drought in 60 years and it is affecting more than 10 million people. CRWRC will be applying all donations received up to the maximum allowed toward receiving the 4:1 match with CFGB for the Food Aid portion. However, they will also apply for the 1:1 match with the CIDA directly for Water and Animal Fodder support as well. Please be sure to mark your cheque: CRWRC East Africa Drought Response.”

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

· 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.

1. There is a worship service on Friday September 9^th at Eden Villa (190 Stanley Ave.) at 10am.

Thank you to all those who faithfully serve in the nursery with the little ones allowing the parents to worship. We appreciate all the work you do each Sunday!

Who We Are

We are called Christian because we confess, belong to, and follow Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord.

We are called Reformed because our history is rooted in the 16^th century Protestant Reformation. We continue to affirm the Reformation teachings of salvation by faith in Christ alone, and the Bible as the only rule of faith and conduct.

We are called Church because we are part of the universal family of God, through which our relationships to God, to each other, and the world are nurtured.

SUNDAY SCHOOL: Sunday School will soon be starting up its new season; THAT IS, when we get enough leaders. Please prayerfully consider participating in this wonderful children's ministry. All of the material is provided for you, and I will be glad to help you as much as I can, should you need assistance or have any questions. The crafts are simple; all of the supplies are ready for you, and again, I will help if needed. Our children are counting on you; Sunday School is a very anticipated part of the year, let's not let the children down. Please e-mail Liz or call me if you are interested or have any questions. Thank you.

HALL MONITORS: In addition to needing some more leaders, I am also looking for "Hall Monitors". This is a very simple thing to do; but a very important job. If you have monitored in the past, please let me know if you will be continuing again this season. If you have never done this, and have any questions, please feel free to contact Liz. The more people we have volunteer to do this, the less often you have to do it. Normally it would be once every 6 - 8 weeks.

NeighbourLink: NeighbourLink could use your help with some salads for our Pig Roast on Saturday, September 10. If you are able to help by making a salad for 10 people please sign up using the form on the table in the narthex.

LIBRARY NEWS: “Simply Sara” by Hillary Manton Lodge portrays Sara Burkholder who runs away from her Amish home with a single hope: to one day find a future in fashion design. What’s a quilt-making, fashion-loving, formerly Amish girl to do when a new way of life starts to change her?

“The Story Jar” by Robin Lee Hatcher is a lovely novel of three women, their stories threaded together through the concept of The Story Jar…

FROM THE FACILITY ENHANCEMENT TEAM: We have been working diligently on a budget for the new addition of the church. We are working with the plans and feedback received from the congregational meeting. We will be bringing you more information in the near future.

GROW YOUR MEN GROW YOUR CHURCH: There is a Pastors and Leaders Workshop in London on September 24, 2011. For more information or to register go to www.promisekeepers.ca.

From the deacons: RE: the blue lid in your mailbox. During the month of May we all found a blue soup can lid in our mailboxes that was intended to be used to collect spare change for World Missions. Many of our members participated in this challenge and some of the cans were returned but for others the instructions for return were either lost or mis-communicated and they are left wondering what to do with them. Wonder no more. If you have a soup can full of change please bring them to church with you as soon as possible. They can be left on the table in the narthex and the deacons will see to it that they are collected and deposited. Thank you.

OUTLIVE YOUR LIFE BY MAX LUCADO-We are HOSTING a dvd presentation of the inspirational simulcast held this spring on Sept 17, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. We have promoted in the area and are hoping for a good turnout from our own congregation to show support and help us connect with our community. This could also be a great way to set the tone for the new church season and a challenge for each of us as individual Christians. The cost is $6/person and includes refreshments (and registration) at 8:30 a.m. and through out the morning as well as a light lunch. Please call Theresa at 519-351-1478 before September 12 or signup at the table in the narthex. We would love it if you could also take a mini poster and pass it on or hang it up somewhere to help us spread the word even further!

Young Adults is for anyone who has graduated high school and those who still considers themselves young(ish). If this is you please join us this Tuesday night at 7:30pm for a social evening at the home of Pastor Jake and Liesje Snieder. We will begin our study of the ALPHA course on September 20.

YOUTH CAMPING: We are going camping for two nights at The Pinery Provincial Park from Friday, Sept 9 to Sunday, Sept 11. Youth can be dropped off between 6-7:00pm on Friday and need to be picked up between 1-3pm on Sunday. We will be camping at the Group Site. Waiver forms for each person attending must be completed and handed in before or at Camping.

· A tent, sleeping bag, pillow, air mattress, flashlight, plate, cup, bowl, utensils, warm clothes, bathing suit, good shoes for walking/hiking

· Completed Registration and Waiver Form/ Conduct Covenant (hard copies are available on the youth bulletin downstairs by the kitchen)

We need to know how many people to buy food for. If you plan on attending please respond to the Facebook event (ask to join "Chatham Grace Youth Group) or see the sign-up page on our bulletin board downstairs by the kitchen.