Grace Alive April 2014

Grace of Christ Presbyterian Church

Grace Alive

April 2014

! ! ! n e s i r s i e H

“Glorifying God through equipping disciples to love and serve our neighbors.�

Volume 60

Grace of Christ Presbyterian Church 9 South 8th Ave Yakima, WA 98902

(509) 248-7940

OUR CORE VALUES • GLORIFYING GOD WITH OUR BEST • PIONEERING AND ONGOING OUTREACH • ENGAGING AND NURTURING RELATIONSHIPS • BEING A CORNERSTONE IN THE COMMUNITY • EQUIPPING PEOPLE FOR MINISTRY THROUGH BIBLICAL FOUNDATION AND SERVICE

CALENDAR

APRIL EVENTS 3/29/14 - 4/5/14 3/31 - 4/4 Thursday, April 3 Thursday, April 3 Friday, April 4 April 7 through 10 Monday, April 7 Monday, April 7 Monday, April 7 Tuesday, April 8 Tuesday, April 8 Tuesday, April 8 Tuesday, April 8 Wednesday, April 9 Wednesday, April 9 Thursday, April 10 Friday, April 11 Friday, April 11 Friday, April 11 Friday, April 11 Saturday, April 12 Saturday, April 12 Saturday, April 12 Saturday, April 12 Sunday, April 13 Sunday, April 13 Sunday, April 13 Sunday, April 13 Monday, April 14 Monday, April 14 Tuesday, April 15 Tuesday, April 15 April 16 and 17 Thursday, April 17 Thursday, April 17 Thursday, April 17 Friday, April 18 Friday, April 18 Saturday, April 19 Saturday, April 19 Sunday, April 20 Sunday, April 20 Sunday, April 20 Tuesday, April 22 Tuesday, April 22 Tuesday, April 22 Wednesday, April 23 Wednesday, April 23 Friday, April 25 Saturday, April 26 Sunday, April 27 Monday, April 28

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Easter Project / Student Mission Trip / San Fran All week Spring Break / No Preschool All week Senior Adult Ministry Meeting 1:30p Women’s Ministry Meeting 4:30p Friday Prayer During Lent Noon - 2p MOPS Leadership Interviews 9a - 11:30a Transformation Meeting 1:00p Living Waters Meeting 5:30p Fellowship Ministry Team Meeting 6:00p Worship Ministry Team Meeting 5:30p Discipleship Ministry Team Meeting 6:00p Service Ministry Team Meeting 6:00p Business Ministry Team Meeting 7:00p Parenting Class Kick Off 6:30p - 7:45p Mt Adams Climb - Informational Meeting 6:00p Sacred Messengers 7:00p MOPS Leadership Meeting 9:00a Friday Prayer During Lent Noon - 2p Cristo Vive Craft Night 6:30p Cristo Vive Youth Group 6:30p Ghormley Work Day/Free Lunch/RSVP please!

All day Kidzone Rehearsal for Palm Sunday 10:00a Madison House Easter Brunch Noon Prayer Shawl Knitting Group 1:00p Palm Sunday / Kids Sing!

All morning Kidzone Pancakes Carenet Ministry Team Meeting 12:30p Lebanon Presentation 12:30p Edith Ferry Circle Potluck Noon Wycliffe Dinner and Program 7:00p Children’s Ministry Board Meeting 4:00p Session Leadership Team Meeting 7:00p Soar Guest Speaker: Steve Backlund 6:00p Seder Meal / Hosted by Cristo Vive 6:30p Ghormley Commission 6:30p Maundy Thursday Service / Communion 7:00p MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) 9:00a Good Friday (Sanctuary open for prayer) 12-6p National Day of Prayer Planning Meeting 2:00p Prayer Shawl Knitting Group 1:00p Easter SonRise 6:00a Easter Breakfast 6:30a - 11:30a Easter Sunday 8a, 9:30a, 11a Foundation Board 7:00a Preschool Spring Tea 10:00a Session Dinner and Meeting 6:00p Preschool Spring Tea 10:00a Naomi Circle Meeting 10:00a MOPS Spring Fling: Auction & Dinner 5:30p Prayer Shawl Knitting Group 1:00p Deacon’s Meeting 3:30p American Red Cross Blood Drive 10a - 3p

San Francisco

HS Kids

Adult Ed Parlor Sanctuary Prayer Room Parlor Parlor Lounge Room 203 Room 218 Adult Ed Room Library Chapel Parlor Lounge Lounge Sanctuary Adult Ed Room Gym Camp Ghormley Sanctuary Madison House Garden Room Sanctuary Gym Garden Room Lounge Garden Room Gym Lounge Adult Ed Room Chapel / Garden Room Chapel Adult Ed Room Sanctuary Gym Sanctuary Lounge Garden Room Front Lawn Gym Sanctuary Library Sanctuary/Garden Room Garden Room/Mid High Sanctuary/Garden Room Parlor Gym Garden Room Lounge Garden Room

Committee Committee Everyone MOPS Leadership Committee Committee Committee Committee Committee Committee Committee Parents Everyone Committee Committee Everyone Women Youth Everyone Kidzone kids Sign Up to Help Knitters Everyone Kids Committee Everyone Everyone Everyone Committee Committee Everyone Everyone Committee Everyone Moms Everyone Committee Knitters Everyone Everyone Everyone Committee Preschool Elders & Staff Preschool Women Everyone Knitters Deacons Everyone

Grace Alive is available in a PDF format on the church web page at www.YakimaGrace.com. For inquiries, submissions, omissions, and corrections, contact Curt Rosenkranz in the church office. 248-7940 x 113 curtis.rosenkranz@YakimaGrace.com

WEEKDAY EVENTS

M-W-F Exercisers 9:30a - 10:30a Gym/GR Sr Adults Monday TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) 10:00a Adult Ed

Everyone

Overeaters Anonymous

12:00p Adult Ed

Everyone

Trailseekers

2:30p Gym

Al-Anon

5:15p Adult Ed

Everyone Tuesday Living a Spirit Led Life Women’s Bible Study 9:15a Gym

Women

Women in the Word Bible Study 9:45a Parlor

Women Wednesday Women of Action (2nd and 4th Wednesdays) 9:30a Chapel

Women

Men’s Noon Bible Study

12:00n Adult Ed

Men

Youth Group

6p - 8p Mid-high & Youth Rms 6th-12th

Contemporary Worship Rehearsal 6p - 8p Sanctuary

Prepare-Enrich Marriage Class

6p - 8p Gym, Room 217

Peaceful Parenting class

6:30-8p Chapel

Everyone

SOAR: School of Spiritual Transformation 5:30p Lounge

Soar Students Thursday Bible Study Fellowship

9:00a Sanctuary

Women

Temple Choir

7:00p Choir Rm

Cristo Vive Music Rehearsal

5:30p - 7:00p Chapel

Cristo Vive

Cristo Vive Mid-Week Worship Service 7:00p - 8:30p Chapel

Cristo Vive

SOZO Prayer

5:45p - 9:15p Lounge, Prayer Rm SOZO Team Friday SOZO Prayer

9:00a - 11:30a Chapel, Prayer Rm SOZO Team

Friday Prayer during Lent

Noon - 2p Sanctuary

Everyone

SUNDAY MORNINGS Worship - led Contemporary Worship Team Worship - led by Temple Choir & Organ Worship - Cristo Vive (Spanish)

Adult Ed Bible Class

Golden Circle

Youth Sunday School

KidZone Sunday School

8:00a & 9:30a 11:00a 12:15p 9:30a 9:30a 9:30a 9:30a

Sanctuary Sanctuary Chapel Adult Ed Adults Lounge Youth Room Classrooms

Everyone Everyone Everyone

Adults Gr 6-12 3yrs thru 5th gr

SERMON SERIES “Blessed? Really?”

Lent is the season of preparation that precedes Easter and the Resurrection of Jesus. To help us prepare this year, we will explore the beginning of the most famous sermon ever preached: Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. In the sermon, Jesus pronounces blessings to His disciples and, in doing so, offers an incredible paradigm shift.

Jesus offers an inverted view of the world. Conditions we would normally view as unfortunate and tragic (to put it lightly), Jesus chooses to lift up, precisely because of their afflictions and emptiness. When you have reached “rock bottom” and have nowhere else to turn, there is Good News! You can always turn to God because He is ready to give you what you need. Through Him, you are given comfort, sustenance, eyes that truly see, present joy, and the assured hope of full membership in God’s future kingdom!

Join us for this next series as we hear and embrace God’s promise that we are, in fact, blessed!

April 6, 2014

“The Pure in Heart” Matthew 5:1-2, 8

April 13, 2014 Palm Sunday

“The Peacemakers” Matthew 5:1-2, 9

April 20, 2014 Easter

“The Hungry” Matthew 5:1-2, 10-12

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ANNOUNCEMENTS COOKIES & CANS OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE

Session is looking to find a volunteer to fill the role of Clerk of Session. If you are interested or would like to suggest someone who might fill the role well, contact John Rasmussen at 952-9614. Requirements: candidate must have previously served as an Elder, and be a current member of our church.

MT ADAMS CLIMB!

If you are interested in climbing Mt Adams on July 18-19, please come to the informational meeting on Wednesday, April 9, at 6p in the parlor.

Every Sunday morning we serve cookies, coffee and punch during fellowship hours after each service in the Garden Room. Our church family provides the cookies each week.

Please bring cookies on the week beginning with the first letter of your last name.

Also consider bringing a donation of non-perishable food items for donation to Calvary Rescue Mission.

April 6 : A-F April 13 : G-M April 20 : N-S April 27 : T-Z

WHAT CAN I DO?

It seems everything is so expensive these days. But, there’s a way you can help minister with your labor!

The 2nd Saturday of EVERY MONTH is a workday at Ghormley. Come lend a hand, cleaning, repairing, etc. Everyone can help. Workers will be fed lunch.

Please call 672-4311 to let the staff know you’ll be there. More on page 17.

PRAYER DURING LENT

The Sanctuary will be open for a time of prayer on Fridays during Lent (March 7 through April 11 ) from noon to 2p.

Additionally the Sanctuary will be open on Good Friday from noon until 6p on April 18.

HOLY WEEK

Maundy Thursday Service, April 17, 7p Good Friday Prayer, April 18, 12-6p SonRise Service, April 20, 6a Easter Services April 20, 8a, 9:30a, 11a Easter Breakfast 6:45a-11a, in the Gym

LEBANON

Wycliffe Dinner Fundraiser

Come support Wycliffe Bible Translators by attending their fund-raiser dinner and program!

Hosted here Monday, April 14, at 7p in the Gym. All are invited. Contact: Pat or Harley Drollinger at 972-1457, or Esther Nelson at 453-5922 to reserve your plate.

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Pastor Jack will be giving a presentation on his recent trip to Lebanon on Sunday, April 13 at 12:30p in the Lounge. All are invited.

Refreshments will be served.

Each do nati to save u on can help p to thre e lives!

BLOOD DRIVE EVENT TEAM We need YOUR help preparing for our next three blood drives (April 28, July 28 and October 15.)

Biggest areas of need are canteen and registration volunteers for the day of the event. We also need people to bake homemade cookies, make sandwiches and create refreshing lemonade!

Call Ericka in the church office, 248-7940. Thank you!!

CRISTO VIVE

Gustavo Carvajal

4 de Mayo Cristo Vive Fund-raiser Dinner

You are invited to an evening of celebration, great food and commitment to serve the Hispanic community in Yakima. Sunday, May 4 at 6p in the Gym. Please sign up at the Connection Center, invite a friend or even better, be a table host. The cost is $10 per person or $70 for a table for 8.

Childcare will be available upon request.

jal Gustavo Car va

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SENIOR PASTOR

Pastor Jack Peebles

Dear Church Family, “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:11-13)

A few short weeks ago, members of the Session and I had the great pleasure of welcoming eleven new folks into the membership of Grace of Christ Presbyterian Church. They are featured in this edition of Grace Alive on page 13.

This was our first “new member” class since we made our transition to ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians. Within ECO, members are now technically designated as “covenant partners.” The reason for the change in terminology is to enliven our understanding of membership in the Church of Jesus Christ. Whereas the term “member” may invoke the image of a country or social club, “covenant partner” accentuates the expectation of involvement and service for the benefit of others. In fact, participation in the mission and ministry of the Church is the primary distinguishing characteristic of the partner: “Each covenant partner (member) shall strive to be faithful to Christ by participating in the congregation’s worship, fellowship, and service on an ongoing basis. Faithfulness in Christ involves each covenant partner’s dedication of time and talents for the congregation’s mission and ministry, in accordance to the gifts that God has bestowed upon him or her.”

(ECO Polity and Discipline, 1.0305)

In our time together, every one of our new covenant partners had a chance to articulate to our Elders how they felt God was calling them to participate in the mission and ministry of our congregation. It was gratifying to me that these new “members” had caught on to the mission of our church: Glorifying God through equipping disciples to love and serve our neighbors. From loving their own children to serving through Camp Ghormley, they all understood the vision and expectation that we are all to “roll up our sleeves” and contribute as part of our overall discipleship!

After hearing from our new covenant partners, I began thinking about you. I am so grateful to be part of a congregation in which so many people serve.

Every day, ministry happens within the church and our Yakima community as a result of your commitment to love and serve neighbors. I am proud of you as a congregation, and I would be remiss if I did not offer a word of appreciation. On behalf of the Session and staff of Grace of Christ Presbyterian Church, thank you for living out your faith in Jesus!

Living and loving for Him,

Pastor Jack Peebles 6

ASSOCIATE PASTOR

Pastor Cindy Carter

Where is God at Work?

At Easter we are reminded of God’s astounding work on the cross. Jesus’ death on the cross paid the penalty for our sins – past, present and future, and offered us reconciliation to God, thus restoring the love relationship for which we were created. In His book, “Experiencing God,” Henry Blackaby describes how God is still at work all around us and wants us to join Him in what He is doing.

How do we know where God is at work? The scriptures tell us of some things only God can do. One is John 6:44 which says, “No one can come to me [Jesus] unless the Father who sent me draws him.” In essence, no one will seek God or pursue spiritual things unless the Spirit of God is at work in his or her life. Suppose a neighbor, a friend, a coworker, or family member begins to inquire after spiritual things. You do not have to question whether that is God drawing him or her. God is the only one who can do that. No one will ever seek after God unless God is at work in his or her life.

When we want to know what God is doing around us, we need to stop and pray. Then, watch to see what happens next. Make the connection between your prayer and what happens. We can also discover what God is doing by asking probing questions. For example, if someone comes to you with a concern, rather than trying to fix it, simply empathize, and offer, “How may I pray for you?” It also may be helpful to ask, “What is your sense of what God is saying to you in this circumstance?” Then listen. See if you don’t sense a hunger for God, or recognition of a need in one’s life, or possibly the realization of something that needs to change. God doesn’t cause all things to happen in our lives, but God definitely uses them for his good purposes in our lives and in the world.

Once we have a sense of what God is saying to us, then we need to ask the question, What does God want me to do about it? Then we need to ask God for strength and courage to do it - to make whatever adjustments are required to join God in what He is doing, even if it means an inconvenience, a sacrifice, or rearranging something in our lives.

Remember, God pursues a continuing love relationship with you that is real and personal. The more we nurture that love relationship with God, the more we take on God’s heart. A tender and sensitive heart will be ready to respond to God at the slightest prompting. When God nudges, obey immediately, or you may miss an important opportunity to join God in His work.

What God initiates, He completes. Isaiah 46:11 says, “What I have said, that will I bring about; what I have planned, that will I do.”

Let’s join God in the areas He is already at work!

Have a joy-filled Easter!

r Pastor Cindy Car te 7

CHILDREN

Susie Woodin

Easter Sunday in KidZone

HOSANNA! HOSANNA!

The children in KidZone are excited to participate in worship again on Palm Sunday, April 13.

This year on Easter Sunday all KidZone kids will participate in a special Holy Week Treasure Hunt in KidZone. Each child will receive a special treasure box/can with treasures that represent the story of Holy Week. It’s going to be a fun day for everyone!

Be sure to ask your child to tell you the story of Holy Week using their treasure box.

Don’t miss this special day…

Sonbeams and Cubbies sing during the 9:30 service, and K-5th Graders sing in all 3 services.

REMEMBER…Palm Sunday Rehearsal! Please come SATURDAY, April 12, at 10a to the Sanctuary. This practice is for everyone! Sonbeams & Cubbies will practice first and K-5th grades follow at about 10:15.

Practice should be over by 11:00. We need everyone!

Spring... My favorite season of the year - trees and bushes are slowly coming back to life, and bulbs are starting to push through the ground. For me spring is the breath of fresh air I need for revitalization after the let down of Christmas. And there's no greater inspiration than the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to start off spring. It's also a great blessing for the children of the church to be part of worship in celebrating Jesus. I'm often told "It wouldn't be Palm Sunday without the kids in worship!" It will be a glorious day!

Springtime reminds us of all we have to look forward to, and that we would have no future without the hope and salvation that Jesus has given us through His death and resurrection. That glorious day led to this glorious spring day-- look for the glory in each day this spring and beyond...and remember Living, He loved me Dying, He saved me Buried, He carried my sins far away Rising, He justified freely forever One day He's coming Oh glorious day, oh glorious day Happy Spring and so Happy Jesus is Alive!

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Susie Woodin

CHILDREN

Susie Woodin

SUNDAYS JUNE 15 – AU

GUST 24

YOU MIGHT THINK VBS COULDN’T GET ANY BETTER…UNTIL NOW! Introducing “Triple S VBS” Super Summer Sunday!!!

11 Super Summer Sundays of Weird Animals…Where Jesus’ Love is One of a Kind!

For the last several years we have been asking big questions about what it means to do children’s ministry well in the summer. We are so grateful for our KidZone leaders making Sunday mornings a great place for young people to learn about Jesus during the school year. And we are so grateful to all the volunteers who make VBS a fun and exciting event to learn about God’s love. But we know that times are changing, the culture is shifting, and we need new vehicles to do children’s ministry well.

In the summer of 2014 we are proposing some changes that we hope will help us do a better job of outreaching to kids in our valley, a better job of inviting young families and a better job of getting our congregation involved in ministry with kids. Here are the main details of that proposal:

•

We want to stretch VBS over the entire summer.

This would mean rather than having one week of high octane events, we would put time and energy into making all 11 summer Sundays at our church a place where kids can experience the fun and hands on nature of what we have come to love about VBS.

•

We want to intentionally invite kids and families with kids to be a part of worship on Sunday mornings with us.

Our kids need to see how we worship as adults, and they need a place to invite their friends in the summer time.

Our families need to worship with their kids to teach them, and so that they can invite their family and friends. And the summer time is the perfect time to experiment with these things. Most churches separate the family for the entire morning making it tough for new families to feel comfortable because they don’t know the people taking their kids for more than an hour. Incorporating our kids into a portion of the worship service will give us a safe place to invite families and allow them to be immersed into the love of Jesus flowing through our church family.

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We want to make VBS an option for the kids of families who attend the parenting classes, and families from Madison House.

The plan is to provide transportation to the church for kids and families to attend this Sunday morning VBS event.

This will also be an excellent outreach to the children in our neighborhood. There will be no charge for this VBS, no need to ask for scholarships, and our prayer is that more will be inclined to participate due to that fact.

•

We want to encourage our faithful VBS volunteers to volunteer at Madison House this summer as well.

Each year we get over 200 adult volunteers to help with VBS. This is wonderful, and they accomplish a beautiful thing in that week of service. But we have made a commitment to Madison House and they need our help this summer. If our VBS volunteers got involved at summer day camp at Madison House, we would see kids who are not part of a church get to experience the love of Jesus.

•

We want to expand our volunteer base within our congregation.

By holding VBS on Sunday mornings this gives congregation members who work during the week the opportunity to serve. Amazingly, we have a number of volunteers who use vacation time to serve during the week of VBS. This allows more flexibility for future volunteers and parents to participate.

There has been much discussion and prayer in making this decision. We are excited about this direction that God has called us to, and know that with your trust and support it will be a wonderful summer filled with God’s love and the FUN of VBS!

Susie Woodin

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Rhonda Cardona PRESCHOOL

We offer classes for 3 year olds, 4 year olds, and two different Pre-Kindergarten class options. We have filled our three’s and four’s classes and we are taking names for our waiting list. Don’t let this happen to you for our Pre-Kindergarten classes! Call for information today and schedule a time to come and see our top rated classrooms and teachers in action.

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Contact Rhonda Cardona: 248-7940, ext. 119

/

Rhonda@YakimaGrace.com

DEVOTIONAL

Janet Krieger

Leadership . . . Me? But Jesus called them together and said, "You know that in this world kings are tyrants, and officials lord it over the people beneath them. But among you it should be quite different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must become your slave. Matthew 20:25-27 Care for the flock of God entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly -- not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God. 1 Peter 5:2 John Maxwell writes “God is the Ultimate Leader, and He calls every believer to lead others. The call to leadership is a consistent pattern in the Bible. When God decided to raise up a nation of His own, He didn’t call upon the masses. He called out one leader — Abraham. When He wanted to deliver his people out of Egypt, He didn’t guide them as a group. He raised up a leader to do it — Moses . . . Every time God desired to do something great, He called a leader to step forward.

Today He still calls leaders . . . For every work.”

"The truth is, anyone who believes in Me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. John 14:12 For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things He planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:10 God expects His children to lead and our leadership is to be modeled on what we say and do. A life of faith is to be lived so that we bring glory to Him. The reality is that each of us is in a position of leadership whether it be in the church, our workplace, among our friends or within our families.

The church needs leaders. Leadership in the church is about listening for vision from God, within the corporate community of the church, and then being given the authority and power to pursue that vision — to extend the Kingdom. Kingdom work is the most

important thing we as believers can do. It is a work that influences the culture and establishes an eternal future.

Consequently leadership in the Body of Christ cannot be left to chance. Committed leaders are required to accomplish the work Jesus has given to His church. God has promised personal blessing and satisfaction as the reward for Kingdom leadership.

It is a true saying that if someone wants to be an elder, he desires an honorable responsibility. 1 Timothy 3:1 Those who do well as deacons will be rewarded with respect from others and will have increased confidence in their faith in Christ Jesus. 1 Timothy 3:13 Grace of Christ needs the leadership of individuals transformed by faith, with discernment for our present reality, vision for our future and lives that model the character of Christ.

Church leadership . . . . Why not you?

The nominating committee of Grace of Christ is seeking suggestions of candidates for Elders and Deacons for 2015. Perhaps you are a potential leader, or you know someone who is. Please pray and submit names of those God brings before you to our church office.

ger Janet Krie

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able from Tickets avail m or in the a MOPS mo e. church offic

FAMILY

PEACEFUL PARENTING Wednesdays @ 6:30pm April 9 - May 28

NEW TIME

Understanding the Child’s Behavior How to Develop Empathy in your Child The Power of Praise What makes my Child Unique and How Do I Honor That What is My Parenting Style Barriers and Builders to Communicating with my Child

...with Community Health & Parenting Expert Mary Pleger

Free Class Register Today!

(509) 248-7940 Grace of Christ Presbyterian Church 9 South 8th Ave, Yakima www.YakimaGrace.com Shan.Trick@YakimaGrace.com

Childcare & kids programs available. Certificate of Attendance provided.

Kids Don’t Come with an Instruction Book...We Can Help!

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MISSIONS - CLOTHING XCHANGE

Another successful event for our Clothing Xchange. Thank you all who participated.

Fall Clothing Xchange will be on Saturday, October 18.

Alex Rule

NEW COVENANT PARTNERS Welcomed into the body of Grace of Christ Presbyterian Church on Sunday, March 23, 2014 Rosalie DuBrau Reaffirmation of Faith

Michael Thomas Reaffirmation of Faith

Donald & Krista Strother Reaffirmation of Faith

Caleb & Heather Brotherton Reaffirmation of Faith

Frances Hove Reaffirmation of Faith

Doyle & Patricia Ehl Reaffirmation of Faith

Stefani Tweedy Profession of Faith Having Been Baptized

June Smith Reaffirmation of Faith

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MISSIONS - LIVING WATERS FOR THE WORLD - GUATEMALA

Yakima Valley Living Waters in Guatemala In February, a team from Grace of Christ Presbyterian Church (Jim and Kathy Bricel, Larry and Peggy Allan and Monte Schilperoort) went to Guatemala on a survey trip for Living Waters for the World. The team was based in Antigua and visited four different villages outside of Chimaltenango. We connected with pastors within the local presbytery who introduced us to people in the surrounding villages. It was an honor to be welcomed into these people's homes. We were looking for communities (church, school, community of faith, etc.) where we could install a water filtration system in the future. Our hope is that this system would provide a sustainable source of clean water, as we would train and equip a local team to operate and maintain the water system for their community. We met with these groups, listened to their needs and explained to them about Living Waters and how we could hopefully help them and explained what they would need to do on their end to make this possible. We also collected water samples for testing and analysis to aid in determining how to treat the water to make it safe for drinking.

The communities we visited receive contaminated water from a municipal system 1 to 3 days a week, for as little as one hour a day. Installing a water treatment system with storage would allow them to treat, bottle and sell the purified water for half of the going rate, and to give some away to the poorest of the community or to a school. This would eliminate the need for them to boil their drinking water (on a wood fire) for their families. As you might guess, respiratory problems abound in these areas as well, as evidenced by the thick smoke each morning.

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One of the sites we visited was an elementary school of 120 children. Their school lunch room is made up of an open fire where they boil water and prepare food for the children. Books are scarce and facilities are minimal, but the staff is committed and eager to serve their students and community. Our team is in the process of evaluating the different sites to determine which, if any of them, will be suitable to follow up with an installation.

Our experiences on the trip were rich and varied.

We shared a meal with women in a remote village, watched others weave on a floor loom and some with back looms, visited a coffee plantation, pealed corn off the cobs for the pigs, climbed a volcano, bartered in the market, laughed with the children, and watched as men climbed on top of the public buses (which they called chicken buses) while going about 60 miles an hour!

Thank you for your prayer and financial support. It is wonderful to be a part of a church who continues to offer financial and spiritual support to the poor. There is so much need around the world for clean water as well an ever present need to encounter the Living Water, Jesus Christ.

"Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward." (Mark 9:41)

Kathy Bricel

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GHORMLEY GHORMLEY SUNDAY – MAY 4 On Sunday, May 4, during worship, we will be celebrating the work that God is doing at Camp Ghormley. Youth and adults are accepting Christ as their Savior and Lord at camp. People are finding rest and time away from our busy world and enjoying the beauty and peace of Camp Ghormley’s mountain setting. Join us as we give praise for our beautiful camp in the Cascades!

WWW.GHORMLEYMEADOW.ORG From Elementary, to Senior High; from high-adventure, to leadership we have a camping program for every youth this summer.

Look for details on our website, or call 509-672-4311.

YEAR OF GHORMLEY – MAY 2014 – MAY 2015 That Sunday will also be the kickoff of the Year of Ghormley, which will culminate in the celebration of Ghormley’s 75th anniversary next summer. This Year of Ghormley will not only celebrate the history of Camp Ghormley, but more importantly, we will be looking toward the future God has for Camp Ghormley. There will be opportunities for those who have not been to the camp or have been away for a while to experience its beauty and serenity.

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HOW YOU CAN BE INVOLVED WITH GHORMLEY Please thoughtfully consider how you might partner with Ghormley this year.

Here are some ideas: Prayer For Ghormley staff as they prepare for the summer camping season; The theme for summer is “Time Traveler – Revisit the Past, Embrace the Future” Hiring summer staff Preparing camp facilities Develop programs for summer camps

• • • •

For the Ghormley Commission as they: Take on some of the executive director responsibilities in this interim period.

Plan and facilitate events and activities for the Year of Ghormley Start the process of hiring a new Executive Director Look at capital improvements for the camp over the next several years

• • • •

Volunteer – [Contact Joe Buckley, cell:961-1295, home:697-8729, jcbuckley2@fairpoint.net] Ghormley Work Days are scheduled for the 2nd Saturday of each month camp to provide maintenance of facilities and grounds Adopt-A-Cabin Adopt-A-Flower Bed “Shine and Dine” Men’s Work Day on May 24 Host guest groups Help with activities and events that will be part of the Year of Ghormley Financially support Camp Ghormley through operating funds, camp scholarships, memorials, etc.

• • • • • •

Tell us your Camp Ghormley Stories As part of this year-long celebration, we want to hear your stories about Camp Ghormley. We will print them in upcoming issues of Grace Alive during the coming year. Please send your stories to the office, the Connection Center or email Kathy Mathison at kmathison@yvn.com. If you have questions please feel free to call Kathy at 575-3693.

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MISSIONS - TRAILSEEKERS

I would like to share some of the highlights from 20132014 season for TrailSeekers, a program for at risk kids and youth. The elementary after-school program meets weekly at Grace of Christ, averaging 30 boys and 10 girls each week. The idea for this year’s theme came from the character “word of the month” from the area schools. We chose to focus on the Word of the Week (WOW) from God’s Word. We started with God speaking everything into existence. We’ve looked at how our words affect others and what words of thanks and giving look like. At Christmas we read about the Word made flesh. We’ve looked at words of faith, hope, promise, love along with the Beatitudes and the words Jesus spoke from the cross. We will end the school year with words of protection and words to live by. On May 12th we will hold our second annual year-end carnival on the north lawn at church to celebrate another wonderful year. All of this would not be possible without a very committed volunteer staff of 45 teachers, helpers, and drivers who pick kids up at their schools and deliver them home.

Along with the elementary program there two high school and one middle school leadership groups that meet weekly. The reach of the program involves more than just the youth. Contact is made with each family, and hundreds of visits are made each year, keeping up with any concerns or situations impacting the children and youth. We are now serving children of those, who themselves, were TrailSeekers as kids. Many of the kids who themselves, benefitted from TrailSeekers, are now giving back to the community as adults.

The summer camping season begins with the 24th annual Orcas Encampment. Once again 42 boys (21 from Yakima and 21 from Kennewick) going into first through third grades will begin their TrailSeeker journey on Orcas Island. Each boy is teamed up with a high school mentor. We also visit the Woodland Zoo and the Seattle Science Center. This adventure begins at GCPC on June 15, with the opening ceremony and ends at GCPC, with the closing on June 20. July and August, there will be shorter camp experiences called Short Stops, on Orcas Island and Mt. Rainier along with a family camp and preschool camp. For the Orcas Encampment, each boy is given a personal toiletry bag including a comb, shampoo, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, a used bath towel, hand towel, washcloth, two pairs of under shorts, and two pairs of socks. This is all given to them in a handmade cloth bag so that they can keep their belongings together.

God is making a difference in the lives of these kids and youth. We have seen tremendous growth. Thanks for your continued support and prayers.

You can also join our staff of volunteers for 2014-2015.

Contact me at stolzie43@gmail.com or 426-2689 for the elementary program. Contact Greg Nebeker at gregagape@hotmail.com or 307-1100 about any of the other programs or camps.

John ach Stolzenb “I have hidden your word in my heart...”

Psalm 119:11

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STUDENTS

Jeff Murray

Easter Project 2014 Mission Team

The Easter Project is a chance for us to learn about the things that we were built for: love, relationship and service.

I'm very excited to be part of this team of students and to see them grow in their personal understanding of God’s vision to make our broken world new. I know that each of the mission trips I took as a teenager were formative in my understanding of God’s love and all it's depth and substance. Please continue to pray for our student community. We know that we are sent, loved and supported by you and by Jesus.

Peace in Jesus Christ,

Kevin McMillen

Samuel Garcia

Sandra Mendoza

Dylan Walsh

Luke Stuber

Galilea Martinez

Araceli Martinez

Julia Villasenor

Adrian Rule

Sarah Laurvick

Ben Gerhardstein

Spencer Martian

Karly Smith

Terry Knight

Ellixes Rodriguez

Alejo Rule

Olivia Buchanan

Hannah Baumbach

Jeff Murray

Ben Antonio

Kelsey Schmidt

Please pray for our team as we minister to the people of San Francisco.

March 29 - April 5

Jeff Murray

Craig Harris

Estevan Mata

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GRACE OF CHRIST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 9 SOUTH 8TH AVE YAKIMA, WA 98902

NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID YAKIMA, WA PERMIT NO 59

Come celebrate Holy Week with us!