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Greetings GraceLife!

Despite this past Sunday’s cold (for Florida) temps and blustery conditions, we were joyful that so many of our GraceLife family were able to gather for worship, prayer, praise, and fellowship.  It’s worth our note and gratitude that each week Pastor Joe, Pastor Keith, our Worship Director Chris and worship team members, plus so many others bless us with their spiritual gifts as we give glory to God and rejoice in His Word, thanking Him for our salvation through the sacrifice of His Perfect Son, the unblemished Lamb of God, Jesus Christ!  Praise be to God!

For your planning… 

Jan 20th – Adult Bible Study at MB, 7pm, Room 105.

Jan 21st – Sisters in Prayer (MB Fellowship Corner) and BLAZE Youth (MB Loft), 7pm

Jan 22nd -- Deep End Dinner and Bible Study at ML, 7pm

Jan 24th – Saturday Men’s Bible Study at MB, Room 105, 8-9am

Jan 25th – at MB

  • 9am worship service
  • 10:30am worship service
  • 10:15 – 11:30am -- Christian Education (CE) classes
  • 4-5pm Monthly Prayer Meeting, Auditorium/Sanctuary.

Looking ahead…

Feb 1st – Mark your calendars for this!

  • Celebration of the Lord’s Table at both 9am and 10:30am services.
  • Congregational Meeting to provide a wrap-up of 2025 and review our budget and plans for 2026!
  • First Sunday (bring-a-side-dish if you can!) Luncheon, 11:30am – 1pm, MB Gym! 

Mar 29th – Palm Sunday Baptisms

More details follow…

Through the week –

Jan 20th -- Our Adult Bible Study at MB is now held on TUESDAY nights, 7pm, in Room 105! Study leader Jeff Lawson’s focus is the book of Judges, using Tim Keller’s “Judges for You” as a secondary resource. Tonight we will be looking at  Judges 3:7-31 and pages 41-46 of Tim Keller’s book.  Please remember that the reading is a suggestion only, not a requirement!  We’d love for you to join us regardless.  

 Jan 21st -- Our Sisters in Prayer and BLAZE Youth continue to meet on Wednesday nights at MB, 7pm. SIP meets in the Fellowship Corner; Youth meets in the Gym Loft. 

 Jan 22nd -- Deep End Dinner and Bible Study at ML, 7pm.

 Jan 24th – Saturday Men’s Bible Study at MB, Room 105, 8-9am, led by Lewis Rosove. 

Sunday Mornings at Mount Beneva

  • Parking – Please let us know of any parking issues you may have.
  • Lobby
    • Greeters are available to assist you with bulletins/programs, sign-ups, books, t-shirts and more. Visit the Connection Center with questions!
    • New nametag requests continue to be processed each week. Nametags can be located in the drawers by the sitting area.
    • Coffee, snacks and pastries are provided for your enjoyment and refreshed throughout the morning by our hospitality team. Please enjoy your food in the lobby and bring only lidded beverages into the auditorium/ sanctuary.
  • Worship Services are held in the auditorium/sanctuary at 9 and 10:30 am. 
  • Christian Education classes are held from 10:15-11:30am for Adults (in the Gym classrooms) and from 10:30-11:30am for Youth and Children (Youth in the Gym Loft and children’s classes in the children’s wing in the main building).
  • Connect Cards can be found under the seats in the auditorium/sanctuary. Use these to provide contact information, request contact from us, or ask for prayer.

Sunday Morning Adult Christian Education

We have two adult CE classes currently available. We’d love to have you join us from 10:15-11:30am in the Gym classrooms for a deeper dive into God’s Word.  We speak to God in prayer; He speaks to us through His Word.  You may participate in either of these classes; no registration or qualification needed; just “show up”! 

  • Sermon on the Mount led by Mike Hamel
  • Biblical Love led by Jeff Lawson (using Charity and its Fruits by Jonathan Edwards as a secondary source)

Blaze Youth Student Ministry

Students in grade 6-12 are invited to join us in the Loft (upstairs MB Gym) during our weekly meeting times.

  • Sunday mornings 10:30-11:30am
  • Sunday evenings 4-6pm
  • Wednesday evenings 7-8pm

Use this link to join the group so you don’t miss out on any of the fun!

Monthly Prayer Meetings

We are a praying church!  Please plan to join us on January 25th, from 4-5pm, in the Auditorium/Sanctuary at MB, for our monthly prayer meeting where we lift up prayer needs as well as praises to our Lord God through Jesus Christ.  No need to sign up, just come and be with us in prayer.  

Other Group Prayer Opportunities

We also have a prayer chain here at GraceLife, a way for many to pray for the needs of those in our GraceLife family.  How does it work?  You may submit your requests for prayer through our Connect Cards, email, note, text, or verbal request to our leadership or member of our Admin Team, or to Cindy Lanoue-Foster or to me (Dreama).  We’ll then post your request for distribution to those who have indicated their desire to be part of our prayer chain.  How do I become part of the prayer chain?  Just indicate to a member of our Admin Team that you’d like to be part of the prayer chain and we’ll make that happen.  Prayer is powerful and we are privileged to pray for one another.    

Greeting Card Ministry

Brenda Castleyoung and Betty Tucker (with others welcome) create beautiful greeting cards for various occasions. While Brenda and Betty usually meet for card-making on Tuesdays at 11am at MB, Room 105, the day/time is flexible. If you’d like to participate in some card-making and fellowship, please call Brenda (443-254-5422) for meeting times and days. 

Also, if you have cards you’d like to donate for repurposing, you may leave them at the Beneva office in a bag/container marked for Brenda. Thank you to those who continue to donate cards!!

Ride Share Ministry

We have begun an effort to pair up those in need of a ride on Sunday mornings with those who can provide a ride. There is a sign-up sheet in the Mount Beneva lobby.

If you have a current need for transportation, please email dreama@gracelifesrq.com.

Hospitality Ministry

Volunteers are needed for the hospitality team! Please respond to this email if you are interested in helping prepare/serve food for our fellowship times!

Children’s Ministry (Nursery)

Volunteers are also needed for our growing Nursery on Sunday mornings! We’re looking for volunteers with servant hearts to help care for our youngest members of the GraceLife family. If you’re interested in serving in the Nursery, stop by the Connection Center or contact Jackie. 

February 1st, 2026

On February 1st, we’ll be celebrating our Lord’s Supper at both our 9am and 10:30am services. Then, after the 10:30am service, our First Sunday Luncheon will be held in our MB Gym. Please plan to bring a side dish if you can. We’d love to have you sign up to join us (either add your name to the luncheon list in the lobby or sign up online). In conjunction with the luncheon, our leadership will conduct a Congregational Meeting to provide a wrap-up of 2025 and to review our budget/plan for 2026! Mark your calendars; you won’t want to miss this!

March 29th, 2026 (Palm Sunday)

Baptisms are an outward sign of an inward change.  If you’d like to be baptized on Palm Sunday, please sign up in our lobby or speak with someone at the Connection Center. 

April 5th, 2026 (Resurrection Sunday – Easter!)

It’s not too early to begin to prepare our hearts for the celebration of our Lord’s victory on the cross.  Stand by for upcoming details of our Holy Week events.   

Reminder

Please identify your giving recipient as “GraceLife Sarasota”. If you have questions, please contact Randy Coryell or Dan Deems.