march 2015newsletter

EACH OF YOUSHOULD USE

WHATEVER GIFT YOU HAVE

RECEIVED TO SERVE OTHERS,

AS FAITHFUL STEWARDS OF

GOD’S GRACE IN ITS VARIOUS FORMS.

1 PETER 4:10

DON’T JUST GO TO CHURCH(THOUGHTS ON SERVING)

I grew up in the church and I have spent my whole adult life participating in churches of a variety of denominations and sizes. At a very young age my parents didn’t just teach me, they showed me, that we didn’t just “go” to church. By their own partici-pation, they exemplified for me that being a “Part of the Body” meant serving. 1 Corinthians 12:19-20 “But now God has placed each one of the parts in one body just as He wanted. And if they were all the same part, where would the body be? Now there are many parts, yet one body.”

We always looked for ways to participate and volun-teer both individually, depending upon our gifting, or as a family. Both my parents worked full time but they always made time to be an integral part of the church body. I am so thankful for the example they set because I wouldn’t have the treasured experiences and friendships I have without volunteering my time in the church. When I look back upon all the years of my life spent on a pew, in a chair, in a fellowship hall or in a classroom, most of my best memories are centered around serving.

As a child, as a teenager, as a single, as a young married with no children, as a married with young children, as a married with elementary chil-dren, and now as a married with teenagers - in all these seasons of my life, the church has offered a place for me to use the gifts the Lord has given me in HIS church body for His glory.

During all but the youngest season of my life I have also had a job. A few jobs I have liked, but most have been a means to help provide for my education or my family. The difference between our “job” and serving is that when we serve, we can pray about our

giftings and CHOOSE to do what we are MADE to do, not what we HAVE to do to bring in a paycheck.Now I am not saying we can’t or don’t serve the Lord at our jobs. In fact, we are called to be like Jesus and point others toward Him no matter where we go and no matter what we are doing. But there is something distinctive and unique about serving in a local church body. 2 Thessalonians 1:11 “To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of His calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by His power.”

The church has always offered me a place to serve in areas I am passionate about. Ephesians 2:10 “ For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works,

which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them.” In the church I have found great fulfill-ment and lifelong friendships by serving alongside other believ-ers with the same passions as me. These experiences have also allowed me an opportunity to grow in my faith and expand my vision beyond the boundaries of my own little life.

What do you love to do? What do you get excited about? How has God gifted you? Those gifts

aren’t meant for your personal provision and ful-fillment, they are meant to BUILD the Church, to build His eternal Kingdom. “From Him the whole body fitted and knit together by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth of the body for building up itself in love by the proper working of each individual part.” Ephesians 4:16. As a church body we can have more impact on our community and in our world when we are all using our unique giftings to minister to others.

So I would ask you, how are you using the gifts

At a very young age, my parents didn’t just teach me, they showed me, that we didn’t just “go” to

church.

by Marni Osterhage

YOUR STORYWhy do you serve? How do you find time to serve?

How old where you when you started serving?Khrystina Ecoff (GKW Worship/Nursery, Age 13) Starting serving at age 8Wyatt Kane (G2 Band, Worship Team, Age 18) Starting serving in Middle SchoolHayden Kane (G2 Band, GKW Worship, Worship Team, Age 16) Started Serving in Middle School

Like most people, I want to feel connected and I learn best by doing. Serving meets those needs for me. What keeps me going over the long haul is watching God work in people’s lives. Over and over again, He amazes me! I love seeing Him in the details! He has brought me together with some pretty interesting peo-

ple and I have more love in my life than I ever thought possible.

Serving in GKW actually saves us time! Why? We know exactly what our children are learning and can continue to support the theme, bible verse, and activi-ties in real life Monday through Saturday. Since all the lessons are pre-planned and prepped, it really helps guide lessons that

would have taken lots of time to prep had we done it ourselves. The other amazing thing is that someone else packs a box with all the need-ed supplies for the lesson; which we are always grateful. Honestly, the little bit of time it takes to read the lesson is so worth knowing what our kids are getting on Sundays. Along with the church, serving helps us support their growth in serving God and learning how to love others the way God wants us to. And for that, the time is totally worth it!

Kim TeleginServes: Grace Ladies,

Hospitality, G2 Events

Val & Jesse ParbonServes: Grace Kids

World

that the Lord has given you to build and serve the church? Then, look around the church - there are so many places where there are opportunities to serve. How would you answer the following questions:

Do you like people?Do you like technology?Do you like to make coffee?Are you a teacher?Do you like kids?Do you like tweens and/or teenagers?Do you like cooking?Are you dramatic?Do you have a heart for the needy?Do you like working outside?Do you like building things?Are you creative?Do you play an instrument?Do you sing?

Do you like to pray for others?

If your answer is YES to any of these questions, there is a ministry in which you can serve at Grace Church. I encourage you to pray and ask the Lord where He would have you serve and watch the Lord expand your influence and bless your life in ways you might never have expected! And remember, if you have kids in your home, they are watching – how you invest your time and gifts will be a lesson they will learn without even saying a word!

Marni OsterhageGrace Kids World Pastor

Girls Night Out

SERVING OPPOR TUNI TIES

As an IndividualGrace Kids World / Birth-5th grade Check In Greeters, Teachers, Helpers, WorshipGeneration Grace / 6-12th grade Leaders, Event Help, Food Teams, Camp Leaders and Helpers, Tech, WorshipFirst Impressions Ushers, Greeters, Welcome Team, Security,CoffeeWorship & Arts Vocal, Instrumental, Drama, Stage Design, Production, TechMen’s MinistryGrace LadiesGrace Sports Players NetworkPrayerFacility CareAdministrative HelpHospitalityLocal OutreachWorldwide Outreach

Under 18Grace Kids World / Birth-5th grade Worship (3rd grade and older) Tech (6th grade and older) Helpers (6th grade and older)Generation Grace / 6-12th grade Leaders (6th Grade and older) Worship (9th Grade and older) Tech (6th Grade and older)First Impressions (16 and older)Worship & Arts Worship Team (9th grade and older) Tech (9th Grade and older)Local Outreach (usually 6th grade and older)Worldwide Outreach (usually 9th grade and older)

As a FamilyThere are some areas that are perfect for work-ing together as a family. This is just a short list but there may be more depending on the age of the children.

Fall FamilyFest Christmas DecorSpring Cleaning DayLocal OutreachWorldwide Outreach

As a CoupleMany of the opportunities that you can do as an individual you can also do as a couple. Some might be a little easier to serve together.

Grace Kids World Check In, Greeters, Work in an age group togetherGeneration Grace Leaders, Event Help, Food TeamsFirst Impressions Greeters,CoffeeWorship & ArtsGrace Sports Players NetworkPrayerFacility CareLocal OutreachWorldwide Outreach

There are lots of ways to serve at Grace Church and in our community. Here are a just a few we have listed. To get more information, fill out an Involvement Application.

Once In AwhileMost opportunites are a weekly or monthly ba-sis but year round there are events that come up that extra volunteers are needed.

Easter Summer CampsConferencesFall FamilyFestChristmas SeasonFacility Care Hospitality for Memorial Services

Start your storyMost areas of serving at Grace Church start with filling out an Involvement Application. We use this to help you get best connected to the ministry you are interested in serving in.

1) Pick up an Involvement Application at the Welcome Center or online at gracechurch360.org/serve-impact/serving-resources2) Complete an Involvement Application. The application goes over your contact information, interests,giftingsandavailablitity.Thereisalsoabackgroundcheck.3)TurninyourInvolvementApplication.YoucanbringittotheWelcomeCenter,churchofficeorastaffmember.4)Yourapplication is reviewedandastaffmembercontactsyoutoget involved. Ifyoudon’tknowwhereyouwanttoserve,that’sokay!Wecanhelpyoufindaspot.5)Startserving!Ifyoufindoutthattheareayouareservinginisn’tthebestfit,that’sokay!Talktoyourministryleaderandwecanhelpyoufindanewspot.

We value releasing individuals into ministry. Our goal is to recognize, equip and release leaders into ministry. We are all ministers who have been given gifts to be discovered, developed, and deployed. We have been created for ministry, gifted for ministry, authorized for ministry, and needed for ministry.1 Corinthians 12:14-20, Ephesians 2:10

Out of the boxMaybe you look at these lists and you don’t see anything that fits you. That’s okay. Just because it doesn’t exist right now, doesn’t mean with your passion it can’t be created. We encour-age you to talk to a staff member or pastor and dream together!

W E E K 1 : P H I L I P P I A N S 1 : 1 - 6

I T I S A LWAYS TOO SOON

TO QUI T!

W E E K 3 : P H I L I P P I A N S 1 : 1 2 - 1 4

THIS ISN’T OPPRESSION -

THIS IS OPPORTUNITY

W E E K 4 : P H I L I P P I A N S 1 : 2 0 - 2 6

WHEN I HAVE JESUS, I HAVE WHAT I NEED

(TO BE A SPOUSE, PARENT, CHILD, COWORKER, BOSS,

STUDENT, ETC.)

W E E K 5 : P H I L I P P I A N S 1 : 2 7 - 2 8

WHEN I BEGIN TO PURSUE GOD, I FIND

THAT GOD IS PURSUING ME.

W E E K 2 : P H I L I P P I A N S 1 : 7 - 1 1

MORE THA N A NYTHING

MY LOVE I S TO AB OUND

IN EXC E SS

Here are a few highlights from the first 5 weeks of our sermon series, Citizens of Heaven. Miss a week and want to catch up, listen online at gracechurch360.org

GRAC E AT A GLANC EMarch 1

Girls Night Out is a night for ladies to come together to worship, be encouraged and meet new friends. Kim Telegin will be speaking and sharing about God’s great love story. There will be sweet and salty snacks and desserts. February 6, 6:30pm

Unite the Night is a free event for middle school students, high school students, college students and young adults put on by Generation Grace, the student ministry of Grace

Church. This will be a fun night of worship, free food, and guest speaker Zach Franklin. Unite the Night is Wednesday, March 25 at 7:00pm

We invite you to dream bigger and believe God for new possibilities. The Grace Ladies Conference is April 24 - 25. Kim McManus from Mosaic Church in Los Angeles will be

the guest speaker for the weekend. The cost is $30 until April 19 and then the cost will go up to $40. Dinner and lunch are provided.

more information at gracechurch360.org/events-news

SUMMER CAMPS

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL (VBS) June 23-26 Vacation Bible School is a day camp like experience for kids going into Kindergarten - 5th Grade. This year’s theme is Everest: Conquering Challenges with God’s Mighty Power.

KIDS CAMP July 20-23Kids Camp is for kids going into 3rd - 5th grade. This year camp is located at Canby Grove Christian Center in Canby, OR. Grace Kids World will join up with other church-es in the North Pacific Foursquare District. More information about cost and speaker will be available in the spring.

MIDDLE SCHOOL CAMP (WILD WEST) July 10-12Middle School Camp is for students going into 6-8th grade. Middle School Camp is located in Bickleton, WA. This is a true “wild west” adventure! This year students will leave from Grace Church on Friday morning, July 10 and return Sunday early evening, July 12. If you would like to be involved as a leader for Wild West we have volunteer op-portunities as team leaders, cooks, and more. Please contact Brittany Campfield at brittanyc@gracefoursquare.org for more information about serving. Information about cost will be available in the spring.

HIGH SCHOOL CAMP August 3-8High School Camp is for students going into 9-12th grade. This year High School Camp will be at Silver Lake Camp in Medical Lake, WA (near Spokane). This beautiful facility is located on the lake and has beach access, a water trampoline, kayaks, ski boats, zip line, mini golf, giant swing, sand volleyball and more. This year’s speaker is John Hammer who is the Senior Associate Pastor at Sonrise Christian Center in Everett, WA. More information about cost will be available in the spring.

LOOKING AHEA DMARCH 7 / 5:00PM Camas Christian Academy AuctionMARCH 14 / 5:00PM GKW Volunteer Appreciation DinnerMARCH 14 /6:30PM G2TribesMARCH 22 Grace Group Winter Season endsMARCH 25 / 7:00PM G2 Unite The NightMARCH 28 / 7:30AM Men’s BreakfastMARCH 28 / 9:00AM-2:00PM Grace Church Spring CleaningAPRIL 3 / 7:00PM Good Friday ServiceAPRIL 4/ 6:00PM Easter ServiceAPRIL 5/ 9:00AM + 11:00AM Easter ServiceAPRIL 11 / 6:30PM G2TribesAPRIL 15 / 6:45PM WednesdayNightLadiesBibleStudystartsAPRIL 16 / 9:30AM ThursdayMorningLadiesBibleStudystartsAPRIL 17 / 7:00PM G2 Encounter Night APRIL 19 / 4:00PM Newcomers DessertAPRIL 24 + 25 Grace Ladies ConferenceAPRIL 26 Grace Group Spring Season startsAPRIL 26 GSPNBasketballstartsMAY 9 / 6:30PM G2TribesMAY 10 Mother’s DayMAY 27 / 7:00PM G2 Unite The NightJUNE 17 / 7:00PM G2 Move Up NightJUNE 21 GKW Move Up DayJUNE 21 Father’s DayJUNE 23-26 VBSJUNE 17 / 7:00PM G2 Move Up NightJULY 10-12 Middle School Camp (Wild West)JULY 20-23 Kids CampAUGUST 3-8 High School Camp

more information at gracechurch360.org/events-news