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Steve Luxa
Pastor
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| GracePoint Blog |
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GracePoint now has its own blog! A blog is a simple communication tool that can be used and accessed by anyone. Steve, Ryan and others will post comments to the blog that anyone can read. We will highlight everything from the ministries at our church, to theology, to politics to culture. Anything is game! http://gracepointne.blogspot.com/ |
| Membership Classes and Baptism |
| If you still need to sign up for the Membership Class on Sunday May 18 or are interested in getting baptized on Sunday June 8, please contact Michele D'Agostino at mdagostino27@aol.com. |
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Message from Steve
It's official! GracePoint Community Church is on the book, in the maps, and on the clock OFFICIALLY as of May 1st when we incorporated as a church. This is quite a milestone and quite an accomplishment for us because it culminates our two and a half year effort to launch and stabilize ministries, operations, and a church.
As I look back, I see God's fingerprints all over that whole effort as he sustained us, guided us, and oversaw the whole process of launching and stabilizing this church. He providentially moved us and guided us to be who we are and where we are right now. And in that moving, I also see how he rallied and used so many people to make GracePoint a reality. God used our abilities, gifts, input, strength, encouragement, prayers, and efforts to make the dream of a church in the Andover area into the reality of GracePoint Community Church. So thank you for making yourself so available to be used by God and leveraging what God has entrusted to you to make GracePoint what it is. Thank you for using your gifts in our community of faith. Thank you for spending your time on tasks and people at GracePoint. Thank you for praying in our behalf. Thank you for providing your ideas and input into the bylaw development. Thank you for hanging in there and making GracePoint a reality.
But God has just gotten started with what he wants to do with us in this area of the world, so we're just getting started. We've only come upon the next leg of the race, the next act in the drama, the next chapter in the book. We're in Chapter 2 where I believe with every fiber of my being that God is calling us to pursue being a growing movement of people being changed by God to reshape our world with the love of Christ. Chapter 2 is all about us seeking to join this multi-generational and multi-national movement of people whom God has raised up to advance his kingdom, bringing the up there in heaven down here to the realities of earth. It is all about personally experiencing the life-change of living in the power and presence of God through Christ and then turning around and reshaping our world with that changed life. If you want to hear more about it or catch up on what we've been saying about it, check out my messages under Chapter 2 at www.gracepointne.org/message-series.htm. So whether this has been our present effort or a brand new one, GracePoint now targets being a growing movement of people being changed by God to reshape our world with the love of Christ.
As we continue to ramp up toward reaching that Chapter 2, there are some necessary elements as a new church. First, there's a membership to fill, which begins with membership classes on May 10th and May 18th and ends with an interview insuring membership requirements are met. Next, there are baptisms to do out of following Christ and to become a member at GracePoint, so there will be a very short orientation on June 1st after the service with the actual baptism being on June 8th. Finally, there is our first business meeting on June 15th to vote on the nominees for the elder board and the nominating committee.
So celebrate because God has brought us to Chapter 2. And participate in the membership, baptisms, and business meeting as you are able. Why? Because we're moving toward being a growing movement of people being changed by God to reshape our world with the love of Christ.
Looking forward to Chapter 2 with you,
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Outreach Update
Place of Promise, Lowell Ma. Celebration Dinner
For the past few months our church has begun partnering activities with Place of Promise, an aptly named and wonderful Christian agency in Lowell. POP has two homes in Lowell, one for men and one for women and children. Loving Christian care is provided for people who are often homeless, hooked on drugs, or in hopeless situations needing medical attention. Recently, our church helped to fund the organization's 14th anniversary dinner at a church in Wakefield. Over 150 people, many former residents and interested community supporters turned out for the dinner. We also provided a number of workers from our church who helped set up for the dinner, serve the meals and clean up the church hall after the banquet. POP is so thankful for our partnership and support.
There are many opportunities for our life groups, our youth, for families and for individuals to get involved with Place Of Promise. There are work projects that need to be done such as purchasing and laying new carpet. They welcome persons who want to come in some evenings and teach a Bible Study. POP also sponsors a two week VBS during the summer where they reach out into their Lowell neighborhood to invite people, and they could use help from youth, families and adults. If you would like more ideas or want to coordinate something with this organization, Craig Utley can supply you more information. Also anyone form the Outreach Team will be happy to come to your life group to explain some of the opportunities. Outreach Team members are Colleen Young, Kim Wilkinson,Craig Utley, Emily Roth, Ryan Phelps, and Bob Givens.
Moldova Orphanage - "Face of A Child Project"
We have the privilege to be used by God as a primary sponsor for the Tocuz orphanage in Moldova, the former Russian state now the poorest country in Europe. Rather than deliver supplies to them in January as we have the past two years, we will send a team of people from our church sometime this fall to Moldova to deliver the items we collect over the next few weeks. There are approximately 100 children who live at the orphanage. We are purchasing active wear for them - things like tennis shoes, sweat suits or warm up suits, socks and other items for them to wear and use. The Outreach Team will be purchasing and adding toiletry items to the bag and will also pay all the shipping costs this year.
All of you have proven to be such giving people over the past two years. Thank you all for being so reponsive and so supportive of these children. Last year when our team arrived at the orphanage there were pictures of all of you hanging on the walls. They receive so little from the government of Moldova for their care, something less than $100 per year per child, and they so appreciate the love and care we show to them Many of these children pray regularly for us and for our church!
If you haven't yet selected a child and would like to do so, please see or contact Colleen Young or Kim Wilkinson. All items need to be purchased new and returned to the church on May 18. We will then arrange shipment to Moldova, and our team will personally distribute the items this fall. If you are interested in going on this Missions trip, please contact Colleen or Kim. |
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Financial Update
Below is an update on our financial status through April 2008.
(YTD: May 2007 - April 2008. The new fiscal will year begin on May 1, 2008.)
YTD Budget: $398,304
YTD Giving: $286,364
YTD Difference: - $111,940
Average January Attendance: 96 (includes KidsTown) | |
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