Grace Alive - August 2019

G race of Ch r i s t Pre s by t e r i a n C h u rc h Yo u r P l a ce To B e l o n g , B e l i e v e , B e co m e , B l e s s

Iglesia Presbiteriana Gracia de Cristo: Un Lugar Para Pertenecer, Creer, Ser y Bendecir

AUG UST 2019 VOL 115

Grace of Christ Presbyterian Church

Head Pastor — Bill Williamson

CHRIST ALONE Lessons from Jude “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of His glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.” – Jude 1.24-25 Dear Family of Grace, We will be taking a look at very small, often overlooked book of the Bible: Jude. It may be small, but it has a lot of great Truth for us to consider. In light of today’s culture, living in a country that does not agree about living as “One Nation Under GOD,” Jude has a lot to say. The reality is that the name “GOD” is not much of a controversy. Many people believe in God, or a form of God. It’s the name of Jesus that poses a threat to many. It’s the name of Jesus that causes people to want to take prayer out of school and to even remove those famous words from the Pledge of Allegiance, and the reference to “In God We Trust” on our money. Again, “God” is not the problem. It’s the emphasis placed upon the belief that there is only one true God, and that the only way to know God, to be with God, is through His one and only Son, Jesus Christ.

It was no different 2000 years ago. Religion was popular.

Jesus was not. In fact, the reason Jude even wrote what we now see in the New Testament is that there were some who were trying to convince the Christians that Jesus was not the “way, the truth and the life.” Jude writes to believers then and now, to “contend for the faith.” More importantly, we are to contend for Christ. During August we will try to get a handle on how we live our faith in a way that lifts high

2

the name of Jesus, honoring the only name above all other names, proclaiming Christ to be Lord, and Christ alone.

I can’t help but be reminded of the hymn “In Christ Alone.”

May the opening words of that song put a stirring in our hearts as we not only gather on Sunday mornings, but every day, as we individually and corporately proclaim and lift high the name of Jesus.

In Christ alone my hope is found He is my light, my strength, my song This Cornerstone, this solid ground Firm through the fiercest drought and storm What heights of love, what depths of peace When fears are stilled, when strivings cease My Comforter, my All in All Here in the love of Christ I stand As you rise in the morning, and as you go to bed at night, may the name of Jesus be on your lips. No other name is worthy of our praise. To Him be the glory, and power and honor in all we say, do and think. Christ alone!

Ya k i m a G r a c e . c o m

In the Grace of Christ, Pastor Bill

Grace of Christ Presbyterian Church

Congregational Care — John Stolzenbach

THRPLGREWP My accountability/prayer partner, Gary, and I have been together for over a dozen years. We meet weekly. I thought when we moved to Yakima 8 years ago from Columbus, Ohio, our weekly meetings would end until Gary suggested we SKYPE. We pray for each other through the ups and downs of life and hold each other accountable. “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” – Proverbs 27:17

There are three take-aways I want to leave with you:

One night I was complaining about something and Gary said one very strange word to me, “THRPLGREWP.” I responded, “THRPLGREWP?” What you need to know about Gary is he memorizes small and large passages of the Bible which come in handy for himself and others. I, on the other hand have trouble memorizing my phone number and Social Security number. Gary uses various tools and catch phrases to help him memorize Scripture, THRPLGREWP being one of them.

there is the importance of memorizing Scripture 2 Next, to be used not only in times of trouble, but as a way to thank

Gary was reminding me of the message of Philippians 4:8

That’s exactly what I needed to do at that very moment, instead of having my own pity party. He ended up having T-shirts made for various groups in which he was involved. He had leftover shirts and sent me enough to give to each lady in the New Life Program at YUGM at the time, and of course one for me.

3

1

First, is the reminder from Philippians 4:8. No matter what you or your family are going through, remember God is with you. In the midst of troubling or scary times it’s important to focus on what, in your life is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, of good repute, excellent, and worthy of praise.

and praise God. “Praise the Lord! Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, His love endures forever.” – Psalm 106:1

there is great importance in having someone 3 Finally, who knows the good, bad and ugly that makes up you.

This is someone who will listen, pray and not be afraid to speak the truth in love when necessary as Gary and I do for each other. If you do not have someone like this, I hope you will pray about this. Two Scriptures come to mind here: “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor...” – Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 “Carry one another’s burdens.”

– Galatians 6:2 It is amazing what a difference one person can make.

Sounds like something we are hearing about a lot these days around Grace of Christ, as we Love One Another Well, with Drops of Grace, which will soon ripple out to touch those around us. Who knows how far the ripple will go?

Ya k i m a G r a c e . c o m

Together Serving Jesus One Person at a Time, John Stolzenbach

Grace of Christ Presbyterian Church

Stewardship

GENEROSITY long afterward Jesus began a tour of the nearby “Not cities and villages to announce the Good News concerning the Kingdom of God. He took His twelve disciples with Him, along with some women He had healed and from whom He had cast out evil spirits.

Among them were Mary Magdalene, from whom He had cast out seven demons; Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s business manager; Susanna; and many others who were contributing from their own resources to support Jesus and His disciples. – Luke 8:1-3

”

has given each of us the ability to do certain things “God well. So, if God has given you the ability to prophesy,

speak out when you have faith that God is speaking through you. If your gift is that of serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, do a good job of teaching. If your gift is to encourage others, do it! If you have money, share it generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously.

And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly. – Romans 12:6-8

”

must each make up your own mind as to how “You much you should give. Don’t give reluctantly or in

Please See Back Cover for the Shopping List! bulletins and hot coffee on Sunday mornings to enjoy in the Garden Room.

In 2nd Corinthians, Paul says we should not give because we feel pressure to do so, we should not give because we feel we have to, rather we should give with heartfelt gladness. We should give because that is the example Jesus gave us... Sacrificial giving at the cross. The Holy Spirit moves in our hearts and we give generously, supporting the work of God and ultimately learning to trust God with our own finances. Giving to God demonstrates our honor of Him. It is our privilege to join in what He is doing to establish His Kingdom on earth. May we experience the blessing of sacrifice so that results are realized for the Kingdom of God. Our giving is an act of our worship and service to God. Our giving brings glory to His Name. May we grow as generous givers who support this church in its ability to do the work of the Kingdom.

Meditate on the Scriptures. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you insight regarding how you can give generously to His Kingdom. Ask God to open your eyes to opportunities to give.

– Janet Krieger

response to pressure. For God loves the person who gives cheerfully. – 2 Corinthians 9:7

”

The Luke passage reminds us that although God created everything in the world, He relied on people to support Jesus’ ministry, and the reality is He continues to do so today. This partnership with His people is God’s way of allowing us the opportunity to participate with Him in ministry in a most tangible way.

We are a generous people. We give our money, resources and time to others. We give with the conviction that supporting the ministry of Jesus is the best investment of our treasures. We minister to our community whether it is at Adams Elementary School or Camp Ghormley. Our financial giving is also a demonstration of our commitment to His church, this Body of Christ.

We appreciate the electric bill being paid with a welllit and cool sanctuary, paper available to print the 4

Ya k i m a G r a c e . c o m

Elder Business Ministry

Grace of Christ Presbyterian Church

Gracia de Cristo / English

En Español

JESUS CHRIST IS THE LIGHT OF MY LIFE. Outreach Camp 2019 was a huge success thanks to our 45 amazing volunteers and counselors. It would not have been possible without the prayers and support from our congregation. God blessed our team with 105 students who were eager to explore what being a light means in their sometimes-dark world. They got to spend Father’s Day weekend with our real Father and His Son Jesus up at Ghormley Meadow, hearing beautifully raw testimonies in both English and Spanish from some members of our very own Gracia de Cristo community.

Here are some numbers: 37 students gave their lives to Jesus at camp, 46 already had and the rest are still thinking.

For many of these students, this was their first time leaving Yakima and being away from family and friends. Camp opened a door of opportunities to make new friends and to have deep conversation about what to do when faced with fear, uncertainty, and loneliness. They learned that one of our most powerful tools in life is prayer and that you can use it in any situation. By the end of the weekend, you could ask almost any kid who came to you what they should do when they are scared or hurt and they would say, “PRAY!” It was so amazing to see the children get excited and understand that Jesus is our Light and is not only for their parents or adults but for them too. They do not need to do anything to be able to accept the love that God our Father has for them.

In John 8:12 Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” This verse is packed with blessings and power, and those 105 students are ready to wield it. They learned what it means to live as the light, how to share it with friends, family, and their community. Even in the situations that feel hopeless, there is light, and that light is for them to shine and share. Therefore, if you see one of these blue light bulb shirts in the grocery store, do not be afraid to ask about it!

Outreach Camp is one of those ministries that our church and Ghormley do really well. These kids are literally starving for Jesus and being able to help feed them with drops of grace, through a weekend of fun, is life changing not only for them but also for the volunteers. You too can “Love Well with Drops of Grace!” If you would like to get involved with next year’s camp, just call 509-2487940 to be connected!

– Ali Hildebrand 5

JESUCRISTO ES LA LUZ DE MI VIDA.

El Campamento de Alcance 2019 fue un gran éxito gracias a nuestros 45 increíbles voluntarios y consejeros, pero no hubiera sido posible sin las oraciones y el apoyo de nuestra congregación. Dios bendijo a nuestro equipo con 105 estudiantes que estaban ansiosos por explorar lo que significa ser una luz en su mundo a veces oscuro. Tuvieron que pasar el fin de semana del día del padre con nuestro verdadero Padre Celestial y Su Hijo Jesús en Ghormley Meadow, escuchando testimonios maravillosamente puros en inglés y español de algunos miembros de nuestra propia comunidad de Gracia de Cristo. Aquí hay algunos números: 37 estudiantes dieron sus vidas a Jesús, 46 ya lo hicieron y el resto lo está pensando. ¡La semilla ya ha sido plantada!

Para muchos de estos estudiantes, esta era la primera vez que salían de Yakima o que estaban lejos de sus familiares y amigos, lo que abrió la puerta a oportunidades para hacer nuevos amigos y tener una conversación profunda sobre lo qué podemos hacer para enfrentar el miedo, la incertidumbre y la soledad. Aprendieron que una de nuestras herramientas más poderosas en la vida es la oración y que la puedes usar en cualquier situación. Al final del fin de semana, usted podría preguntar a casi cualquiera de los niños, que acudían a usted, asustados o lastimados, que es lo que deberían hacer y dirían sin demorar: “ORAR” ¡y lo harían! Fue asombroso ver a los niños emocionarse y entender que Jesús es nuestra Luz, y no es solo para sus padres o para los adultos, sino también para ellos que no necesitan hacer nada para poder aceptar el amor que Dios nuestro Padre tiene para todos ellos.

En Juan 8:12, Jesús dijo: “Yo soy la Luz del mundo. El que me sigue no andará en tinieblas, sino que tendrá la Luz de la vida.”

Este versículo está lleno de bendiciones y de poder, y todos los 105 estudiantes están listos para usarlo. Aprendieron lo que significa vivir como la Luz y cómo llevarla y compartirla con sus amigos, familiares y comunidad. Que incluso en las situaciones que se sientan desesperanzados, hay Luz y esa Luz es para que ellos brillen y compartan. Por lo tanto, si ves una de estas camisas azules con un foco, en la tienda de comestibles, ¡no tengas miedo de preguntar ¿cómo les fue en el campamento.?

El campamento de Alcance es uno de los ministerios que nuestra iglesia y Ghormley hacen realmente bien. Estos niños literalmente tenían hambre por conocer y aprender de Jesús

Ya k i m a G r a c e . c o m

Grace of Christ Presbyterian Church

Gracia de Cristo / English

En Español

“Blessed and greatly favored are those [oh Lord] who dwell in Your house and Your presence; They will be singing Your praises all the day long.” – Psalm 84:4 Please, meet and welcome our sister Patricia Ovalle, who was baptized on Sunday, June 9 and is a new member of our church and worship band. She and her family moved from Chicago to Yakima. We want people to feel welcomed to our church community, and to experience the true Love of God and His Son Jesus Christ through our brothers and sisters. God has given Patty the gift of praising Him in His sanctuary every Sunday in the Spanish service.

Our desire is to continue supporting families who visit us from other cities and who are looking for an opportunity to settle down here in the Yakima Valley.

FAMILY FIELD DAY On Saturday, June 1, some of our families participated in Family Field Day at Campbell Farm from 8a-8p. We had wonderful fellowship singing praises to our Lord. Together we enjoyed food, games and our favorite stories.

y el poder ayudar a alimentarlos con Gotas de Gracia, a través de un fin de semana de diversión; Fue un cambio de vida no solo para ellos sino también para la mayoría de los voluntarios.

Usted también puede “Amar Bien con Gotas de Gracia.” Por lo tanto, si desea participar en el campamento del próximo año 2020, ¡Por Favor llame al 509-248-7940 para estar conectado!

– Ali Hildebrand

“Bienaventurados y Bien favorecidos [oh Señor] aquellos que habitan en Tu casa y Tu presencia; Ellos estarán cantando tus alabanzas todo el día.” – Salmos 84:4 Por favor conozca y dele la bienvenida a nuestra hermana Patricia Ovalle, quien se bautizó el Domingo 9 de junio y es un nuevo miembro de nuestra iglesia y también del grupo de alabanza. Ella junto con su familia se mudaron de Chicago a Yakima. Queremos que las personas se sientan bienvenidas en nuestra Iglesia y comunidad, y que puedan sentir el verdadero Amor de Dios y de su hijo Jesucristo a través de nuestros hermanos y hermanas. Dios le ha dado a Patty el don de alabarle en su santuario cada domingo en el servicio de español.

Nuestro deseo es seguir apoyando a familias que nos visitan de otras ciudades y que están buscando una oportunidad de establecerse aquí en nuestro valle.

DÍA DE CAMPO FAMILIAR El sábado 1 de junio, algunas de nuestras familias compartieron un día de campo en CAMPBELL FARM de 8a-8p. Tuvimos una maravillosa comunión cantando alabanzas a nuestro Señor. Juntos disfrutamos la comida, los juegos y nuestras historias favoritas.

“1 !!Mirad cuán bueno y cuán delicioso es Habitar los hermanos juntos en armonía! 2 Es como el buen óleo sobre la cabeza, El cual desciende sobre la barba, La barba de Aarón, Y baja hasta el borde de sus vestiduras; 3 Como el rocío de Hermón, Que desciende sobre los montes de Sion; Porque allí envía Jehová bendición, Y vida eterna.” – Salmo 133:1-3 Trabajando Para Su Reino – Pastor Alex Rule

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil [of consecration] poured on the head, coming down on the beard, Even the beard of Aaron, Coming down upon the edge of his [priestly] robes [consecrating the whole body]. It is like the dew of [Mount] Hermon Coming down on the hills of Zion; For there the LORD has commanded the blessing: life forevermore.” – Psalm 133:1 Working for His Kingdom – Pastor Alex Rule 6

Ya k i m a G r a c e . c o m

Grace of Christ Presbyterian Church

Worship Ministry Welcome New Grace Partners! Nine people joined our church on June 2 after attending the Pizza with the Pastor: Next Steps class. We celebrated our new Partners with a cake reception between services on Sunday, June 9. That same morning Patty and Terry were baptized. It was a special day and we are excited to welcome them to the Grace family!

Chris Martin

Terry Behme

Alison Campbell

Joe Campbell

David Hurst

Becky Nixon-St. John

Patty Ovalle

Carrie Sharp

Song Slaven

Great Hymns of the Church

Psalm 46

Surely one of the great hymns of the church is “A Mighty Fortress is Our God.” The words and music were written

by Martin Luther, probably between 1527 and 1529. The words paraphrase Psalm 46. This hymn is often sung on Reformation Sunday, which is the Sunday closest to October 31, since it was on that day in 1517 that Luther tacked up his 95 Theses on the Castle Church door in Wittenberg, Germany, providing the impetus for the Protestant Reformation and earning this hymn the title “The Battle Hymn of the Reformation.”

1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells.

5 God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.

6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; He lifts His voice, the earth melts.

7 The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

8 Come and see what the LORD has done, the desolations He has brought on the earth.

9 He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth.

He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; He burns the shields with fire.

10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

11 The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

490 years later, Protestant Christians still sing this hymn because it celebrates the sovereign power of God over all earthly and spiritual forces. Also, Luther’s character traits of boldness, confidence and defiance in the face of opposition are on full display.

Like any good hymn, “A Mighty Fortress” gives us lessons in theology and doctrine – what we believe and why we believe it. We praise God for the redeeming work of Christ and His Providence in bringing forth Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation, which recovered the Gospel delivered to us by Christ and the Apostles.

– Duncan McRayde 7

Ya k i m a G r a c e . c o m

Grace of Christ Presbyterian Church

Mission Ministry “Equipping disciples to love and serve our neighbors” Grace of Christ is a missional church distributing DROPS OF GRACE locally, nationally, internationally and globally.

Loving in the name and power of Christ, Grace of Christ truly has a world-wide impact, changing lives for His Kingdom.

Please enjoy this pictorial highlighting a few of Grace’s twenty-plus mission partners and Mission Organization Partners.

Clothing Exchange Loving Our Neighbors.

In addition to supplying clothing and other items to area families, Grace’s Clothing Exchange ministry covers our valley with prayer. Many seek prayer for their children and families.

Project Mercy

Two young Ethiopian mothers "baby wearing" their children. By doing so, mama can soothe, feed, and keep baby close while performing the rigorous daily tasks.

Taye Babeker Tirfea, a Project Mercy graduate, recently spent time visiting Yakima and running races throughout Washington state. While in Yakima, Taye took first place in the Yakima River Canyon Half Marathon, setting the course record with a time of 1:07:58. Taye also spent time with Grace of Christ's Youth Group (who are planning a mission trip to Ethiopia and Project Mercy) and attended church at Grace.

8

Ethiopia suffers from low levels of literacy, especially for women. Here, kindergarten aged girls tentatively embark upon the first steps of their education which will drastically alter their life paths. In 1991, Project Mercy opened the Medhane-Alem School in Yetebon, a kindergarten and primary school, initially serving 358 students. Today, the school serves over 1,600 students.

Ya k i m a G r a c e . c o m

Grace of Christ Presbyterian Church

Mission Ministry

Yakima Union Gospel Mission

“Climbing Out of Homelessness” unites recent graduates of addiction recovery with local outdoor enthusiasts, donors and professional mountaineers to train, persevere and ultimately climb Mt. Rainier, together. This innovative approach was the brainchild of Mike Johnson, the new YUGM director. Yakima community members have joined with men and women from Yakima UGM New Life addiction recovery program to form mountain climbing teams whereby – like recovery – members must practice hard work, discipline, and learn to trust and support one another. According to the team, they exercise together, hike together and rely upon each other. Summer 2019 Climbs include: Mt. Aix and Mt. Adams in preparation of summiting Mt. Rainier in August.

Orcas Encampment 2019

Mentors and boys explore the beach on Jones Island. A group of yachts and small boats ferried the campers to this State Park island.

Two boys share early morning time together, quietly talking and reading before their cabin mates awake.

Staying at an Anacortes church our first night, we gather into the sanctuary as Greg begins our first lesson.

Mentors, boys, and teachers listen as we finish our final lesson on Friday morning after breakfast.

9

Ya k i m a G r a c e . c o m

Grace of Christ Presbyterian Church

Student Ministry — Thomas Sudbury

Where did the summer go?

Summer has been going by so quickly! In a few short weeks students will be back to school! Now is a great time to sit down with your child and talk to them about the upcoming year. It can be a time to share why they are excited or anxious, to plan what they will focus on this year, and to hear what it was like for you during your time at school.

Philippians 4:6-7 teaches us this: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Think about starting off this upcoming school year soaked in prayer.

Camp was a blast! Looking forward to fall/winter camps!

This summer was amazing! God had really placed it on the hearts of our youth to be involved in camp at a number of levels. We had campers attend each of the Mid-High, High School, and Water Ski camps. Grace of Christ High School students volunteered at the primary and junior camp, and several students served as SHIFT (Leadership Development) and summer staff roles. Since camp was so influential in my life and ministry, I am thankful for the opportunities made available for all of these youth!

This year’s camp verse was Matthew 28:16-20. These kids are living out the great commission, going and making disciples, growing in their faith, observing all that Jesus has commanded, and developing relationships that will last a lifetime.

A special thanks to all who donated to our fundraisers to make camp possible! Whether you gave at a church service, donated to the car wash, or felt called to sponsor a child, we are so thankful that you played a crucial role in their spiritual development this summer! Praise God! Remember that Fall and winter camps are coming up!

Slamquest is October 25-27 and The Blast is January 31-February 2.

There are still a few pool parties left!

Make the most of the last days of summer and join us for a pool party. Middle School Youth Group will be at Jake and Carla Kupp’s house on August 14 and August 21.

High School youth will be at Hamilton and Carol Licht’s on August 14th. Eric and Nancy Gustafson will be hosting us on August 21st!

We are so thankful for all of the families who have opened their hearts (and pools) to us this summer! Thanks John, Joann, Jake, Carla, Eric, Nancy, Hamilton, and Carol for making this a possibility! All parties start at 5:30pm and end at 7:30pm. Middle school students have the option to meet at the church to catch a ride. Van rides home are provided for both Middle and High School Youth Groups.

International Water Fight Day!

Reminder: Be at Grace of Christ Church on August 7th, at 5:30pm for the best water fight you have ever experienced!

Middle and High School students will be competing in many water themed games and have a great time together in fellowship and friendly competition. This is a day your child will not want to miss!

10

Ya k i m a G r a c e . c o m

Grace of Christ Presbyterian Church

Children’s Ministry — Melissa Gray

D2 – Donuts & Discipleship Sunday Mornings @10am August Memory Verse

Not to us, but to your name goes all the glory for your unfailing love and faithfulness. Psalm 115:1

Incoming 4th and 5th grade students, don’t forget about our Final SUMMER D2 Adventure at the Meadowbrook Fun Center. Bring a sack lunch and your super summer attitude as we play a rousing round of miniature golf from 10am-12pm on August 15. Students will need transportation to and from the event. Don’t forget to turn in your permission slip to Melissa before the event!

THANK YOU for an AWESOME week at ROAR VBS this summer!

We are Digging Into the heart of God this summer as we explore what it means to reflect God’s heart in our everyday lives!

August 4: August 11: August 18: August 25: September 1:

God is welcoming!

God is surprising!

God cares about the details.

God is miraculous.

God is encouraging.

Summer is a great time to bring a friend with you on Sunday morning!

Bring a friend and receive an extra token for you and your friends at the student store. Come join the fun all summer long at Grace Kids with awesome Bible lessons, games, music and more!

11

Because of your wonderful generosity, over 150 kids from our church and community were able to experience the fun of VBS and have an amazing opportunity to grow closer to Jesus! Whether you donated snacks, supported VBS scholarships, volunteered during the week activities, or prayed for this program, I want you to know how very GRATEFUL I am for supporting kids at Grace! This event may only last a week, but the impact can last a lifetime!

THANK YOU! The children collected water and snacks for the fire department all week long during Vacation Bible School.

We were able to give these generous donations to the Yakima Fire Department at our closing ceremony on the final day of VBS! What a fabulous opportunity to join together with the children to give back to our community and pray for our local fire fighters!

Ya k i m a G r a c e . c o m

w

w

.y

ak

imapresc ho

R E G I ST E R

ol

.c

o m

Grace of Christ Preschool

w

Grace of Christ Presbyterian Church

— Alli Weide 509.248.7940, ext. 119 Alli@YakimaGrace.com www.yakimapreschool.com

IT’S PRESCHOOL TIME

REGISTER ONLINE www.yakimapreschool.com Register now for the 2019-2020 School Year! Classes Start September 3!

In all our classes, we focus on development of fine motor skills, strength & postural stability, writing readiness, and Biblical appreciation and understanding. We incorporate the Learning Without Tears handwriting and school readiness curriculum in all our classrooms and teach Social Emotional Learning through Second Step and Positive Discipline.

2 DAY PRESCHOOL This class is designed for potty-

trained children age 2.5 and up with no previous preschool experience. Students will participate in Chapel and Music once a week. Must be 2.5 years old by September 1st.

3 DAY PRESCHOOL This class is designed for children age 3 and up with no previous preschool experience. Both the 2-day and 3-day classes will focus on pre-instructional learning through sharing, play, singing, imitation, prewriting, and socialization. Students will participate in Chapel and Music once a week. Must be 3 years old by September 1st. *Please note, this class is currently full. We are accepting children for our waitlist.

Curriculum Focus for 2-Day & 3-Day Preschool Literacy: Build uppercase letters (Learning Without Tears - wooden shapes & playdoh). Trace uppercase letters on a slate (Learning Without Tears - Wet, Dry, Try). Coloring and prewriting activities.

Math & Numbers: Introduction to 1-10 through counting, coloring, song. Sorting by size and color. Comparing objects, building & puzzles.

PRE-KINDERGARTEN This class is designed for

children ages 4 and up with at least 1 (one) year of preschool experience. Pre-K focuses on helping children prepare for Kindergarten or our Kindergarten Prep class. Students will participate in Chapel, Music, and P.E. once a week. This class spreads out the learning over five days instead of four

12

and offers a slower pace of work more suitable for slightly younger children or those still developing their grip and ability to form letters and numbers. Must be 4 years old by September 1st.

Curriculum Focus for Pre-K Literacy: Imitate, trace, and copy uppercase and lowercase letters. Begin to write and identify first name.

Introduction to letter sounds and lowercase letters.

Coloring and prewriting activities.

Math & Numbers: Begin to write and identify numbers 1-20.

Sort by size, color, attribute, and use. Compare objects.

Build simple objects and tall towers with blocks. Complete a simple AB pattern (example: blue, red, blue, red...).

KINDERGARTEN PREP (FORMERLY KNOWN AS PRE-K) This class is designed for children age 4.5

and up who have completed Pre-K, children who do not meet the cutoff for Kindergarten, or those wanting to wait an additional year before entering Kindergarten.

Enrollment in this class is contingent upon assessments given by the teacher. Students in this class participate in Chapel, Music, and P.E. once a week. Must be 5 years old by December 31.

Curriculum Focus for K-Prep Literacy: Imitate, trace, and copy uppercase and lowercase letters. Write and identify first and last name. Learn letter sounds, word families, and some sight words. Coloring, prewriting, and writing activities.

Math & Numbers: Write and identify numbers 1–25.

Recognize numbers 1–20 in any order. Sorting by attribute and number. Building complex structures with blocks. Can complete more complex patterns.

Friday Option – Fun Friday! Fun Friday is an optional day limited to 10 Kindergarten Prep students. This class offers children the opportunity to take part in special projects that are harder to do in a large classroom setting.

Students will perform science experiments, cook & bake, make art projects, and have fun exploring nature.

Ya k i m a G r a c e . c o m

Grace of Christ Presbyterian Church

Hospitality Ministry

Linda Sorenson

Linda Mathews

SHOWING HOSPITALITY BY WORSHIPING WITH OTHERS

Hospitality is welcoming others and inviting them to be a part of the family. What better way to honor the LORD than by showing hospitality in extending an invitation to others to worship the LORD?

AUGUST HOSPITALITY MINISTRY TEAM GET-TOGETHER

A special training evening is planned for the Hospitality Ministry Team (HMT) volunteers. A fun evening has been planned including dinner and some time of fellowship.

The evening will also include a presentation about the recent church safety upgrades and how to address people who may display challenges with mental health issues. Safety is every congregant’s responsibility, but hospitality volunteers are often in a position of first contact with various people who come in and out of the church building. All hospitality volunteers are crucial participants in the safety and security of the church on Sunday mornings. The Church Safety Committee meets on a monthly basis to develop a comprehensive plan encompassing the many facets of church safety and security. The Safety Committee seeks to partner with staff, elders, deacons, and hospitality volunteers, as all play a key role in the overall plan.

Working together, with each one doing a small part, we can accomplish this challenging task.

So, if you are one of the wonderful volunteers who serves on the Hospitality Ministry Team (YES, that means ALL ushers, greeters, parking-lot greeters/security, Welcome Center workers, refreshment Servers, Celebration Team, Sanctuary Guild, and events workers), please mark your calendars for Wednesday, August 14, from 6-8pm in the Garden Room for some fun and an informative evening! Sign up at the Welcome Center, on your connect card, or call the office to let us know you are coming so we can plan for the meal. Please also let us know if you need childcare. We’ll be done before the sun sets so you’ll be home before dark. Consider carpooling with a friend for extra fun!

TIME TO PICNIC!

What a joy it is when we gather together as a church family and celebrate the LORD’s goodness! Mark your calendars for Sunday, Sept. 15 for a Fun-tastic All-Church Picnic! Last year’s event was epic! Don’t miss out on this year’s event. There is something for every age group. Watch for more details in the next Grace Alive publication and elsewhere, as the date gets closer.

13

Our church has been a participant and supporter of the Yakima Union Gospel Mission (YUGM) since its inception many decades ago. One of the ways we support the mission through handson ministry, is by providing one worship service each month throughout the year. The HMT executive board took a turn at leading the service in June. Although some of us may have felt a bit intimated initially, we were blessed and encouraged as we met with the residents at the mission. Music, a personal testimony, and corporate and individual prayer with various residents comprised the simple service. We encourage every member of our church family to attend a service any third Friday of the month, 7:30-8:00 pm. Call Alex Rule at the church for more information on which group is serving when.

Meet David Hurst.

He has been serving as a parking lot greeter/security person for several months and recently became a covenant partner of our church.

David Hurst Meet Chris Martin another regular volunteer serving in the parking lot. Chris also helps by transporting kids to and from church so they can participate in the Grace Kids program.

He sticks around a bit longer on Sunday mornings to help cover a shift in the parking lot.

Ya k i m a G r a c e . c o m

Chris Martin

Thank you David and Chris for your faithful and regular service!

Grace of Christ Presbyterian Church

Grace of Christ Presbyterian Church

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

9 South 8th Ave Yakima, WA 98902 (509) 248-7940

AUGUST CALENDAR OF EVENTS Sun, August 4 Mon, August 5 August 5-9 August 12-16 Mon, August 5 Mon, August 5 Wed, August 7 Fri, August 9 Sat, August 10 Sun, August 11 Mon, August 12 Tue, August 13 Tue, August 13 Wed, August 14 Wed, August 14 Mon, August 19 Wed, August 21 Sat, August 24 Sun, August 25

Communion Sunday All Morning Sanctuary Personnel Meeting 11:00am Library Childcare Closed / OPEN on Sundays!

Childcare Closed / OPEN on Sundays!

Worship Ministry Team 5:00pm Library Living Waters for the World Meeting 5:30pm Fireside Room Foundation Board 7:00am Library Church Safety Team Meeting 10:00am Library Prayer Shawl Ministry 1:00pm Garden Room Bags of Hope Kick Off: Adams Elementary All Morning Sanctuary Business Ministry Team Meeting 4:00pm Library Mission Ministry Team Meeting 4:00pm Adult Ed Room Prayer & Healing Service 6:30pm Chapel Foundation Board 7:00am Library Hospitality Team Get-Together 6:00pm-8:00pm Garden Room (RSVP for Dinner!)

Preschool Teachers Back! / Classroom Set-Up 9:00am - 2:00pm GROW Student Leader Meeting 5:00pm Gym Prayer Shawl Ministry 1:00pm Garden Room Bags of Hope Dedication: Adams Elementary All Morning Sanctuary

Everyone Committee

Committee Committee Committee Committee Knitters Everyone Committee Committee Everyone Committee Everyone

Committee Knitters Everyone

SEPTEMBER

Mon, Sept 2 Tue, Sept 3 Sun, Sept 15

Labor Day / Church Closed Preschool Starts this Week!

Kick Off Sun / One Service & Family Picnic

All Day Entire Church Preschool 10:00am - 1:00pm Sanctuary / North Lawn Everyone

Grace Alive is available in a PDF format on the church web page www.YakimaGrace.com. For inquiries, submissions, omissions, and corrections, contact Ericka in the church office 248-7940 x 100. ericka.clark@yakimagrace.com

14

Ya k i m a G r a c e . c o m

Grace of Christ Presbyterian Church

Weekday Events MON TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) Overeater’s Anonymous Al-Anon Divorce Care

10:00am 12:00pm 5:15pm 6:30pm

TUE SOZO Prayer All Staff Check-In Meeting Gracia de Cristo Music Rehearsal Gracia Men of Courage

9:00-11:30am 10:00am 5:30-7:00pm 7:00-8:00pm

WED Gracia Women of Prayer Student Swim Parties

5:30pm 5:30pm

Adult Ed Adult Ed Adult Ed Lounge Prayer Room Lounge Sanctuary Sanctuary

Everyone Everyone Everyone Everyone SOZO Team All Staff Gracia de Cristo Music Team Men

Adult Ed Women Meet at Church 5pm Students

THUR SOZO Prayer

5:45pm - 9:15pm

FRI SOZO Prayer

9:00 - 11:30am

Prayer Rm Everyone Prayer Room SOZO Team

Sunday Services and Events SUN Grace Contemporary Worship

9:00am

Sanctuary Everyone

11:00am

Sanctuary Everyone

Gracia de Cristo

1:00pm

Sanctuary Everyone

Going Deeper: Genesis

9:30am

Adult Ed Adults

Golden Circle

10:15am

Grace Kids

9:00 & 11:00am

Youth reFUEL

9:00am

Grace Traditional Worship

(Led by Temple Choir) (Worship in Spanish)

Room 103 Adults KidZone Wing 3yrs-5th grade Youth Rm & Gym 6th-12th grade

Announcements COOKIES FOR SUNDAY!

Thank you for bringing cookies, crackers, fruit, or quick breads for all to enjoy during our fellowship hour on Sunday.

See dates you can contribute – last names beginning with…

Sunday,

15

Ya k i m a G r a c e . c o m

Aug 4 Aug 11 Aug 18 Aug 25

T - Z A- F G-M N-S

GRACE OF CHRIST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 9 S 8TH AVENUE YAKIMA, WA 98902 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID YAKIMA, WA PERMIT NO 59