To My Grace Place Church Family,
I hope you all had a blessed Christmas and have been able to enjoy some family and relaxation over the holidays. Here are important several things for you to know:
· Break the Famine
We are reading through the Bible together as a congregation starting Thursday, January 1. The reading plan for each day can be accessed from the front page of our website if you don’t have your reading plan with you. If you ordered a journal or Bible and haven’t picked it up yet, you can stop by either office today or tomorrow before noon.
This week there will be a limited number of bookmarks available at each service for those who did not purchase a journal. The bookmarks indicate the daily reading plan for the first three months of the year. They will be distributed on a quarterly basis.
Let us know if you are not in a small group and would like to join one or are willing to host or facilitate. We are planning three regional small group gatherings (Loveland, Berthoud, and Longmont) in January so you can meet others in your area who are in small groups or wanting to join small groups. Watch for details.
· Giving
There has been a strong surge in giving the last couple weeks (compared to the first two weeks of December). This is such a blessing since we have been very tight financially. Thanks for your faithfulness and generosity toward God’s work through Grace Place. If you would still like to make a donation before the end of the calendar year you can stop by either campus office before noon tomorrow (New Year’s Eve), or put a check in the mail and get it postmarked no later than December 31.
· New Series
This weekend we begin a new six part series called “Origins of Grace.” We will survey the main stories found in the book of Genesis and look especially at how we can see Jesus and the gospel foreshadowed in those stories. If you are following the Break the Famine reading plan, you will read the stories before I teach on them which will make the messages even more meaningful. I encourage you to bring your Bibles to the worship gatherings for maximum impact and learning.
· Thursday Night Worship
To all of our faithful Thursday night regulars in Berthoud (and occasional Thursday night visitors) we ARE meeting for worship this Thursday, January 1. What a great way to start the new year. Tom Ewing will be our guest worship leader.
· Crystal Darkness
On Wednesday, January 7, 6:30—7:00 PM, the broadcasters of Colorado are teaming together to air a Telly and Emmy Award winning documentary called Childhelp Crystal Darkness aimed at fighting back against the scourge of crystal methamphetamine. Nearly every broadcaster in the state will be participating and they will be pre-empting all programming to air this in unison. It’s an unprecedented event in the history of the state. Meth is a drug that is tearing apart families and all of our children are targeted. This is helpful information as we team up as a state to fight back!
· Desperate Houselives
Mark your calendars for a spiritual feast on February 12-15. My friend and mentor, Dr. Richard Fredericks, Senior Pastor of Damascus Road Community Church, will be here presenting a weekend series called Desperate Houselives: 1) Desperate Parenting, Thursday, 6:45 PM (Berthoud); 2) Desperate Marriages, Saturday morning (Berthoud); 3) Desperate Finances, Sunday (regular service times at both campuses). You can attend any or all of the series. Richard will present thought-provoking and wise counsel from God’s Word in a practical and gospel-centered way.
On Saturday (Valentines Day) we will be hosting a Marriage Summit during the morning and early afternoon which will include continental breakfast and lunch. Pre-registration will be required. Make plans now to attend. More information will follow.
· Baptisms
Last weekend there were 10 baptisms in Berthoud and Loveland—some planned, some spontaneous. In the coming year we hope to include more frequent opportunities for baptism in our worship gatherings and look forward to seeing many take the plunge!
Happy New Year!
With much love,
Clay