AMBASSADOR
April 2024
April Sermons
April 7th Senior Pastor - Erik Kling
· Feast of Pentecost
April 14th Senior Pastor - Erik Kling
· Feast of Trumpets
· Pastor Cody Preaching
April 21st Senior Pastor - Erik Kling·
. Day of Atonement
April 28th. Senior Pastor - Erik Kling
. Life’s Journey: Paths and Gates
· Scripture: Proverbs 3 and Psalm 16
May 5th Associate/Youth Pastor Cody Edwards
· Senior/Graduation Sunday Refreshments after service to honor our Graduating Seniors.
Church Secretary - Vicki Aultman
Phone - 218-326-4929. gracma@gmail.com
Office Days Open: Thurs & Fri (may vary). 10am to 3pm
Prayer Chain Contacts
Melissa Monroe, Diane Major, or Erik Kling
Diane: 612-860-3806
Melissa: 218-246-9823
Erik: 218-256-5992
If you would like to have your name added to the prayer chain, please call Diane, Melissa or Erik. Thank you.
God does hear each and every prayer and HE does answer our prayers!
Sunday School Classes @ 9:00
Children Location Teacher
2-3 years old PreK Rm 2 upstairs As Needed
PreK & Kindergarten PreK Rm 1 upstairs Shannah H
1st & 2nd grades Craft Rm upstairs Frances K
3rd & 4th grades Accordion door rm upstairs Journey JL
5th & 6th grades SS rm by upstairs door Jody S
Youth Class – 7-12th Youth Room Cody E
Adult Classes
Ephesians Classroom by kitchen Eric M
Ecclesiastes Library Bernie W
Soul Care class Conference Room Gretchen H
Battling Unbelief Mar 3-May 12 Nicole M
Prime Timers potluck luncheons right after morning service (noon) the first Sunday of each month in the youth room. All are welcome to join us in sharing good food and fellowship.
Come to the Table gathers every Sunday at 6:30pm for prayer, testimonies, and worship. Please come and join us in this special time!
Staying Connected
ALPHA Course – Monday evening, 5:30-7pm thru May 28th. Childcare can be provided. Good study to walk thru core Christian beliefs inside and outside the church. All are welcome to come.
ALPHA HOLY SPIRIT RETREAT – Sat May 11th at Big Sandy - $20, includes meals.
SAVINGS – SAVINGS – if you are sending your child/youth to camp at Big Sandy this year, you will get a discount if your register online (Big Sandy website) using the GRACS24 code.
Ladies “Spring Salad Luncheon Buffet” – Saturday April 13th 11:00am. Join us for a special time together as we celebrate the arrival of spring. Invite a friend or family member. Great way to meet other ladies in the church & area. Space is limited so please sign up at Connection Center & pickup your tickets. Free Event! Signup & tickets are available in foyer or talk to Vicki, Colleen, Cheryl J & LaDonna.
Young Adult Retreat – Big Sandy Camp is hosting a young adult retreat April 19-21, 2024. Young adults – post high school to 30ish – are encouraged to attend. The schedule has teaching, worship and hanging out (board games, activities, coffee & more).The retreat has four registration options.
Fri & Sat – 1 night, 3 meals (supper, brunch, supper), $100
Sat & Sun – 1 night, 3 meals (brunch, supper, brunch), $100
Fri-Sun – 2 nights, 4 meals (supper, brunch, supper, brunch), $110
Young adult married couples may attend but they will be split into guys and gals housing. Registration on Big Sandy website.
Smash Burger Fundraiser – April 27-29 in the church parking lot. More details coming but don’t miss this great opportunity to help the youth missions trip.
Wed Activities
Prayer Group – 9:30am - Library – see Willana Gibbs
Bible Quizzing - 3:00-5:00pm
Soup Supper – 5:00pm Fellowship Hall
Awana’s - 6:00-8:00pm.
Youth Group – 6:30-8:30pm Youth Room
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Bible Studies
Single Ladies Bible Study - Mon 10am at the church. If interested, please contact Pauline.
Thrive Bible Study - Mon 7-8:30pm – College & Career young adults - youth room. See Cody Edwards for more info.
Ladies Bible Study –Tue, 10-noon. Open to anyone but space is limited (Hill City). Studying “The Sermon on the Mount” – Matt 5-6-7. Barbara Kemppainen.
Youth Bible Study – Tue 6:30-8 pm Youth Rm -
Ladies Bible Study – Thurs 10-noon - youth rm. 6-wk study by John Eldredge – “Get Your Life Back”. Workbooks $11 & signup at Connection Center.
PrimeTimers Potluck Luncheon – 1st Sunday of each month – great food, great time to meet and get to know other people. Everyone WELCOME, especially those that are over 50. Great way to get plugged into the Church family.
Come To the Table: Every Sunday at 6:30pm. Testimonies & prayer. All are welcome to enjoy this sweet time.
Nursery Workers needed for Sunday morning services. IF you are interested in this ministry, please sign up at the connection center or talk to Naesa Myers for more information. Nursery is for infants up to 3 years old.
Life Transformation Group: Meet weekly with two or three other individuals. They confess sin, read scripture, and pray for the lost.
Food Bank Ministry – 2nd Thurs of every month. Volunteers welcome.
Diaconate Meeting – 3rd Thurs of every month
Sunday Morning Worship Service – 10:30 am
Soul Care Sunday School Class
The class will be based on Rob Reimer’s book, “Soul Care”. We will discuss a chapter each week along with watching a video. Here are some points that will be covered:
We are broken – body, soul and spirit – and we need the healing touch of Jesus.
We get used to our garbage and after a while we can’t smell it anymore.
What are your root fears? God cannot cleanse that which we will not confess. Be set free from shame.
We need to pray through our negative emotions as they take our focus off Jesus
There are 3 core lies about our identity: Your value is dependent on whether certain people love or like you; on your performance; and on whether you are in control.
Whatever you agree with you give power to in your life and it will shape your life.
Pay attention to being defensive as it is from being insecure.
Overcome family sin patterns. Recognize the, admit them and BREAK THE CYCLE!
We are called to be passionate pursuers of Christ.
We usually seek God’s hands and not His intimacy. Seek His face!
The biggest problem with the church is that we are making it too much about us and not enough about Jesus.
Humble yourself if you want life change. Own 100% of your part.
Abide in the Lord. Then Jesus shows up and brings His power. Encounters bring transformation. God isn’t trying to fix us; He wants a relationship with us.
Choose forgiveness and offer it at the level of offense.
Only the light of God can purge, cleanse, heal, restore, and set you free.
Books will be available soon from Gretchen Hyink if you would like to start reading!
We will meet in the conference room and class will NOT be held December 24 or 31.
Christmas Child
Twenty-two years ago, I was just a little girl who received a shoebox gift in Cambodia.
Then later, I had the privilege to experience distributing Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts to the children in the village I served as a children minister in Cambodia.
God called me to be more involved with OCC by becoming The Greatest Journey Teacher. As you know, “the Greatest Journey” is a 12 lessons discipleship program offers to children after they receive their shoebox gifts. I witnessed the impact of the Gospel in the lives of children, not only as they hear the Gospel before receiving their shoebox gifts but also as they go through the discipleship program.
Today, many of the children whom I have taught are now the ones serving and teaching other children themselves. I couldn’t be more proud to be their teacher.As we live in a land where hatred and extremism continue to dominate, we realize that there
Truly, the Great Commission is happening in action in that part of the world all because of a simple shoebox gift.
NEW GRAC DIRECTORY UPDATE IN PROGRESS
A new church directory will be coming out this summer. Anyone who considers GRAC (Grand Rapids Alliance Church) to be their church home can be included. The new format will include a photo, phone numbers, addresses, and emails for easy identification and contact purposes.
If you are NEW to GRAC, and want to be in the directory, fill out a purple DIRECTORY UPDATE FORM and drop it back in Connection Desk basket or in the Offerings Box.
If you are CURRENTLY IN THE DIRECTORY, review your page. (A copy is kept in the library.) Submit any CHANGES for CONTACT INFO including:
(1) PHONE - any additions, deletions or changes to landlines and cell phones
(2) ADDRESS - Mailing address and or street address
(3) EMAIL - to receive GRAC emails, prayer chain requests, etc.
(4) NEW PHOTO - (have it taken at church or provide a current one, otherwise the current photos will be reused.) Use a purple Directory Update Form or the tear off the perforated Connect Card on the bulletin. Return it to the Connection Desk basket or drop it in the Offerings Box on the round table.
**PICTURE TAKING SCHEDULE: Sunday, April 14th , 21st & 28th in the library before
and after church, 10:00-10:30 and 11:45-12:30.
If you miss these dates, pictures will also be taken on Sunday, May 19th 10:00-10:30 and 11:45-12:30.
**To use your own photo, submit a PDF copy to Nancy Farris via email – gracma@gmail.com OR put it in Nancy Farris’s church mailbox to be copied and returned to you.