Last Sunday’s services were so powerful. God is clearly at work in us. In each of the services, I watched you commit to our mission and ministry here at GRACE Church Bethlehem: An ECO Presbyterian Community.
You walked down the aisles and made your commitments – newcomers to the church and longtime members, men and women, all generations – young children and great grandparents. So many people kept coming with their gifts. I am so grateful for your generosity. Your 2019 commitments made for a very strong start. As of Sunday, we have already received pledges equal to 90% of last year’s total pledges.
If you made your commitment on Sunday, thank you! If you have not made your commitment, please join us now. You can make your pledge right now byclicking here. Or you can return your card this coming Sunday or mail it to the church offices. What an exciting season in the life of our church.
Please continue to pray for our people as they are led to give. Your gifts and God’s faithfulness give me and the Session the confidence to move forward with our vision and growth in our ministries. They truly shape our ministry and mission for 2019. Your giving makes a difference. I can’t wait to see all that God will do in and through us in 2019.
Sunday, I will wrap up the 40 days series with “Made For Mission.” We will be looking together at God’s call on us to share the good news of Jesus Christ.William Temple, the Archbishop of Canterbury early in the 1940’s said that “The Church is the only organization that does not exist for itself, but for those who live outside of it.” What does it mean for us to “be” the church rather than just go to church?
Don’t miss Sunday. We will baptize 5 children and one adult. What a joy to welcome the newest children of our community and promise together to tell them the good news of Jesus Christ. And what a joy to have a new mother profess her faith in Jesus Christ. We will also recognize our veterans in the services and present them with a small gift. I am so grateful to all of you who have served our country to preserve the freedoms we enjoy each and every day. So often, our armed forces protect us and our freedoms at their own risk.
Last… I hope you won’t miss the chance to dream with us about GRACE’s future and our future campus. Please sign up for a GRACE VISION GATHERING where you will interact with our architects. Click here to sign up.
I can’t wait for Sunday.
Your pastor and friend,
Dr. Marnie Crumpler, Senior Pastor