March 08, 2015
HELLO, AND GOOD MORNING! IF YOU ARE A FIRST TIME VISITOR, WE WANT TO EXTEND A SPECIAL WELCOME TO YOU! We don't want to embarrass you by asking you to stand up or raise your hand, but we do want to give you a very warm welcome! We want you to know we are glad you’re here, so would you please take a moment to fill out a Let's Connect Card? You will find it in the back of the pew right in front of you. Make sure you grab some sweets and a cup of coffee in the Fellowship Hall, which is located on the east side of the Worship Center. If you have questions, or want to speak to one of our ministry leaders, please feel free to call our church office at 239.694.2797. WE LOVE KIDS! - During our 10 AM Sunday service, we offer a full Children’s Worship time. Children are invited to go to Grace Place, which is located in the Fellowship Hall. We also have a Nursery available during all Sunday worship services to provide a safe and welcoming place for children, newborn to three years of age. The nursery has responsible loving people, toys, and books to provide for the needs of your child. We also have a beeper system in place to contact you, if your child needs you. We have two worship services each week and various programs throughout the week:
Sunday 8:30 AM Traditional
Sunday 10:00 AM Contemporary
Please join us for a free continental breakfast on Sunday mornings from 9:00 - 11:30 AM in the Fellowship Hall. Wednesday 6 - 8 PM Youth program - E-Team and Revolution
WORSHIP ATTENDANCE: February 23 - March 01, 2015 Fort Myers Shores Campus: 8:30 AM - 51 |10 AM -152 | Wed - 62 Cape Coral Campus: 8:30 AM - 285 | 10 AM - 693 | 11:30 AM - 443 Online Viewers: 160 Fort Myers Central Campus: 8:30 AM - 33 | 10 AM - 156 | Wed - 143 Grace Community Center: 10 AM - 161 Celebrate Recovery: Monday - 77 | Tuesday - 80 | Friday - 204 Total Worship Attendance: 2700 GIVING: Fort Myers Shores Campus General Fund: 03/01/2015 Not available at time of printing
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egracechurch.com/donate
WHAT’S HAPPENING AT - Fort Myers Shores BUSINESS DIRECTORY - Don’t miss the opportunity to have your business listed in our new Church Business Directory. Make sure you fill out the form this week so you are sure to get a spot in the Directory. Pick up a form in the Welcome Center. GRACE T-SHIRTS! - This is the last week to preorder your T-Shirt to help the students raise funds for their missions trip to Columbus, GA in June. You will also have a really “cool” T-shirt too! Sizes available are: Youth $10, Adult small thru x-large $15, and xx-large up $17. Thank you so much for your support. We are excited for the opportunity to show the people of Southern Georgia the love of God with a servant’s heart!
REMINDER
FOOD PANTRY - This month we are looking for cans of tuna, chicken, and ready to eat meats. Please help us to fill our grocery basket in the Welcome Center. Thank you for helping serve our neighbors! 2ND SATURDAY! - Next Saturday March 14, is the next 2nd Saturday. Please continue to bring items for our food pantry each week and coupons without expiration dates or those with dates after March 2015. It’s still not too late to volunteer; and you are much needed. Contact Adela at
[email protected] or 239.694.8035. Wow! SOCK HOP AND ICE CREAM SOCIAL - Save the date for this fun event. On March 21 from 5 - 7PM in the Fellowship Hall; we will dance to the oldies but goldie's, have contests, and enjoy some hamburgers, hot dogs and ice cream while fellowshipping with our friends. So plan to join us!
EGG THE HOOD! - This is an opportunity for us to come together and spread the Easter message across the Fort Myers Shores area by one of the most widely recognized Easter symbols…an egg. We are excited to tell you about your first opportunity, as a congregation, to “Be the Church” and “Leave the Building” in your brand new T-Shirts! If you order one by today, they will be here in time for this event and if you haven’t ordered one yet… Don’t Worry - you can meet Jordan in the Welcome Center after the service! LEAVING A LEGACY! - Sincere thanks to the individuals and families whose generous legacy gifts are funding some amazing projects in the months to come! After careful consideration by the Guide, Operational, and Facilities teams, we have begun some projects on campus that we will all enjoy for many years. Please note, because these are special gifts, NO money will be spent out of our operating fund when the work gets done! That means that your tithes and offerings will continue to fund the ministries and operation of the church and not the projects. So, between now and Memorial Day you will notice some upgraded lighting, flooring, and sound buffering in the small fellowship hall, parking lot maintenance, a new, quieter ice machine and more! The majority of the work will be done by our talented facilities team, so these generous gifts will go much farther. Interested in helping out? Write "Projects" on your "Let's Connect" card and someone will contact you. Interested in leaving a legacy of your own? You gift will have eternal value when you invest in God's economy. Again, thank you to the people who have given these wonderful gifts!
REACH
visit the REACH wall in the Welcome Area.
2ND SATURDAY! - This is our outreach to neighbors in need; offering prayer, health counselling, budgeting help, lunch, Choice Food Pantry and more. Please mark your calendars; the next 2nd Saturday is March 14. Please continue to bring items for our food pantry each week and coupons without expiration dates or those with dates after March 2015. It’s still not too late to volunteer; and you are much needed. Contact Adela at
[email protected] or 239.694.8035. KICKING IT WITH JC - Martial Arts/self-defense classes are available on Monday evenings at 8PM for adults, and on Thursday evenings at 7PM for anyone 8 years old or older. This takes place in the Fellowship Hall, and there is no charge! If you wish to be a part of this or need more info call Bryan and Tricia Carpenter at 239.826.2032 . HELPING HANDS - Are you handy with a hammer, or like to do small projects to help others out? Then we’re looking for you! The Helping Hands Ministry is looking for some extra hands to help out with some much needed projects. Contact Bob Johnson at 239.694.1803.
CONNECT
Contact Tina Glenn at
[email protected]
SOCK HOP AND ICE CREAM SOCIAL - Save the date for this fun event. On March 21 from 5 - 7PM in the Fellowship Hall; we will dance to the oldies but goldie's, have contests, and enjoy some hamburgers, hotdogs and ice cream while fellowshipping with our friends. So plan to join us! JOY GROUP – We are “Just Older Youth”, and if you are 50 to 150 then come join the fun each Monday at 1:30 PM in the Fellowship Hall. We enjoy our time together as friends in fellowship. There’s always interesting speakers, games, activities, fun for all! You won’t want to miss a single week. Come and join us on March 9, for craft day! Do you need a ride? Call Adela at 239.694.8035 or Alberta at 239.694.8139. GREETERS - USHERS - Our Welcoming Team is awesome and appreciated! How about joining us by signing up to serve one Sunday a month? You will enjoy greeting people as they enter the building or help with the offering. We’d love you to be a part of the team! Contact Denny Pendarvis at 239.303.2054 PRAYER SHAWL QUILT MINISTRY - We meet on 1st and 3rd Wednesday from 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM in the small Fellowship Hall. Your ability to bring a sewing machine is helpful. Bring your smile and love for fun and fellowship. Experience is not required, but sewing a straight line is helpful. Need more information? Contact Lesley Merrifield at 239.693.5431
SEND
Contact Neil Johnson njohnson@
[email protected] or visit the SEND wall in the Welcome Area.
WHAT IS THE MISSION OF GRACE CHURCH “SEND” MINISTRIES? The mission of Grace Church “Send” ministries is to partner with God in training and equipping disciples to reach people through demonstration and declaration of God’s love by informing, instructing, and involving people in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) making fully devoted disciples of Jesus to the glory of God. TWELVE CHURCHES - Grace Church has been serving in Nicaragua now for about eight years. In 2010, the Nicaragua Strategy Team was formed to help prayerfully guide the ministry work of Grace Church in Nicaragua. Twelve Churches is a 501c3 non-profit organization whose mission is to aid in the encouraging, training, and equipping of Nicaraguan pastors and congregations. Since partnering with Twelve Churches, Grace Church has identified eight churches in Esteli that we are now in a covenant relationship with as we continue to do God’s work together in Nicaragua. We are blessed to be a part of what God is doing in this beautiful county of Nicaragua.
FORM
Contact the church office at
[email protected]
DISCOVER YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFTS! - God's plan for the church calls each member of the Body of Christ to play a vital role. God wants us to experience joy and fulfillment when we serve, and that only happens when we serve in a role that matches who God created us to be. We have discovered a great free tool to help each person discover and consider their own spiritual gifts, by assessing talents, abilities, individuality, dreams and experiences. If you are not computer savvy, make an appointment at the church office and we will set you up. Or, simply log into Ministrymatters.com and in the search bar type "spiritual gifts inventory." It will direct you to the questionnaire. You will need to open a free account, and it is a great resource. Answer the questions, and please don't keep the information to yourself! Forward it on to Pastor Shari to make an appointment to talk about your results. Church - this is not about getting more volunteers. It is about you discovering joy, not drudgery, in your ministry for Christ wherever you serve. WEDNESDAY NIGHT BIBLE STUDY - We are having fun while exploring the Scriptures together! We are still studying in the Book of John. We go chapter by chapter, verse by verse, and have lively, thought provoking discussion all along the way. This group is open to all. Come give it a try! Eat at 6:10, and class begins at 6:30. Nursery is provided, children’s ministries happen at the same time, and we’ll feed the whole family for free! Bring a Bible or we will provide one for you SOJOURNERS - Learn the Word of God, enjoy challenging discussion, and experience genuine fellowship. Join the Sojourners group on Sunday mornings at 10AM in classroom 2. There is room for you, and you will love this group!
AGE LEVEL
Contact Beverly Cox at
[email protected]
ANNUAL EGGSTRAVAGANZA - E-Team’s annual Eggstravaganza is only a month away! Will you help the Children’s Ministry Team? We are in need of small candies (no chocolate please) and toys that will fit into plastic Easter eggs. Please drop items or monetary donations off at the office by Friday, March 20. If you would like to help fill eggs, please contact Beverly at
[email protected]. Thank you for your support. REMINDER
GRACE PLACE - On Sunday mornings from 10 - 11 AM, Grace Place is where kids want to be! Pre-Kindergarten through fifth grade students have fun with musical worship, activities, and a this weeks Bible lesson; And lead Us Not Into Temptation. Come to the Fellowship Hall and join friends you know and those you still have yet to meet as we praise God together! E-TEAM - Pre-K through 5th grade students are in for an awesome time Wednesday evenings from 6 - 8 PM. We start with a free dinner and then enjoy learning about Jesus through music, crafts, games and this weeks bible story is Caesarea Philippi: Truth Revealed, Come hang with us, you’ll be glad you did! REVOLUTION - Students sixth grade through college level, join us for dinner at 6PM. Then a fun time of hanging out, playing games, worship, and this weeks lesson is on “Community?” So plan to come and bring a friend! STUDENT MISSION GARAGE SALE - Our students will be doing a fundraiser on Saturday March 14 from 7AM - 1PM at the Church Office. How can you be a part of this? Donate gently used items, and shop! Drop off your donations now thru Thursday March 13, either at the Church office or at the Church on Sunday Mornings. (Please no computers, printers, appliances, or TV’s), UPWARD SPORTS - Soccer registration has ended, first practice will be on March 10. Upward is a sports league which promotes fun and fellowship while learning a sport. It focuses on character development as well as skills. Every child gets to play equal time. Contact Jessica Llado at 239.980.1736 or Ryan Pitts at 239.980.0511 with any questions.
RECOVERY
Contact
[email protected]
CELEBRATE RECOVERY CENTRAL CAMPUS - This Monday March 9, come and hear a lesson on Spiritual Inventory by Tom K. Dinner at 6:00 PM, LG at 6:45 PM, SG at 8:00 PM. CELEBRATE RECOVERY CAPE CAMPUS - This Friday March 13, hear a Testimony by Tom S. on how God has been walking thru life transformation with him. Dinner at 5:30PM, LG 6:45PM, SG at 8:00PM, Solid rock café at 9:00PM. FITNESS - FAITH - FELLOWSHIP - Join us for a meditation workout on Monday evenings at 6:30 PM in the Choir Room. Call Jacque Rippe for more info at 239.694.0451.
A NOTE FROM JOSH LYLE: Why I Love Easter Spring, I love Spring! I always have; I love the beautiful colors and the light and airy breeze in the air, the flowers bloom, the birds fly home, and the caterpillars emerge into beautiful butterflies! Spring also means it’s time for Easter!! :) I couldn't imagine Easter being celebrated during any other season. Life starts anew all over God’s creation and brings about a sense of restored energy. The winter depression is over and now is the time to be refreshed in the presence of the Lord. Everything is so fresh and full. The beauty of Spring doesn't diminish year after year out of habit; even the smallest of flower buds has a firm structure and a radiant hue. Every living creature exhibits this renewed energy, renewed joy, renewed hope. Spring in itself is a beautiful message. Unfortunately, this wonderful spirit surrounding the season of Easter doesn't evoke the same anticipation as Christmas does. You don’t hear many people picking Easter as their favorite holiday, people aren't out spending hundreds of dollars on Easter decorations and the box office doesn't erupt with a slew of Easter themed movies. Somehow we've gotten things terribly mixed up and Easter became this overlooked, second-rate holiday. See, if Easter had not happened, Christmas would have no meaning. If the tomb hadn't been empty then Jesus would have just been a severely misunderstood Jewish rabbi born in a random barn some 2000 years ago. Why would we ever celebrate that? Easter gives Christmas its meaning! Christ’s atonement offers us hope and the promise of eternal life. As much as I love Christmas, I have to love Easter even more! Read the sermons of Acts. When the first Christians preached, they didn't mention Bethlehem; they talked about the empty tomb. They never got over the fact that on Easter Sunday when they went to the tomb, Jesus was gone… and neither should we! Blessings, Jordan Lyle
GRACE CHURCH...one church in many locations! GOD’S VISION FOR GRACE CHURCH IS: To partner with God in transforming people from unbelievers to fully devoted disciples of Jesus to the glory of God. FORT MYERS SHORES
CAPE CORAL
FORT MYERS CENTRAL
CAMPUS
CAMPUS
CAMPUS
14036 Matanzas Drive Fort Myers, FL 33905 239.694.2797 Worship Times: 8:30 AM - Traditional 10:00 AM Contemporary
2415 Grand Avenue 13 SE 21st Place Fort Myers, FL 33901 Cape Coral, FL 33990 239.334.3160 239.574.7161 Worship Times: Worship Times: 8:30 AM - Traditional 8:30AM - Traditional 10 AM- Contemporary 10 &11:30 AM - Contemporary 6:30 PM (Wed) - Contemporary
GRACE COMMUNITY
GRACE COMMUNITY
FORT MYERS CENTRAL
CENTER
CENTER THRIFT STORE
THRIFT STORE
4151 Hancock Bridge Parkway 4151 Hancock Bridge Parkway North Fort Myers, FL 33903 North Fort Myers, FL 33903 239.656.0122 239.656.1320 Hours: Worship Times: Tues-Sat: 10 AM - 4 PM 10 AM - Contemporary Wed: 10 AM - 5:30 PM
2415 Grand Avenue Fort Myers, FL 33901 239.244.5712 Hours: Saturday - Monday 10 AM - 3 PM
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