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Greetings GraceLife!

Here’s a little different format, starting with events for your planning this week and a little beyond…  

Feb 24th – Adult Bible Study at MB, 7pm, Room 105

 Feb 25th – Sisters in Prayer (MB Fellowship Corner) and BLAZE Youth (MB Loft), 7pm

 Feb 26th

  • Women’s Bible Study at MB, 10:15am - noon, Room 105
  • Deep End Dinner and Bible Study at ML, 7pm

Feb 28th – Saturday Men’s Bible Study at MB, Gym Classroom, 201C (Note this NEW location!), 8-9am

 Mar 1st– at MB

  • 9am worship service, including celebration of the Lord’s Table
  • 10:30am worship service, including celebration of the Lord’s Table 
  • 10:15 – 11:30am -- Adult Christian Education (CE) and BLAZE Youth classes
  • 10:45 – 11:30am -- GL Kids -- infant-5th grade classes
  • 11:45am – 1:00pm – First Sunday Luncheon, Gym
  • 4:00 – 6:00pm – BLAZE Youth  

Mar 15th – Monthly Prayer Meeting, 4-5pm, Auditorium/Sanctuary, MB

Mar 22nd – Easter Children’s Event, 2-4pm, Gym at MB

Mar 29th – Palm Sunday Baptisms at MB

Apr 3rd – Good Friday service at MB, 6:30pm

Apr 5th – Resurrection Sunday!

  • Easter sunrise service, 6:30am
  • Easter worship services at 9am and 10:30am

Sharing a few thoughts – 

Last Sunday, Pastor Joe’s message, based on 1 Samuel 22:6-22),  #15 in the series of the life of David, “A Sinner In Love With God”, “Lessons from Nob”, we were reminded that in the times we find ourselves in truly miserable circumstances, we are not to wallow in the “why are you allowing this to happen, oh God?”, but instead we are to run to our King, Christ Jesus, who calls us to “stay with Him” for He will keep us and care for us. 

Please note –  The phone number formerly used by Mt Beneva folks at Faith, 941-955-7074, is no longer in service.  If you need to contact us by phone, please use 941-961-0290.  

More event/activity details –

Feb 24th – Our Adult Bible Study at MB meets 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 source. Tonight we will be focusing on Judges 6 and will be seeking to glean rich truths from that chapter with regard to another judge, Gideon.  He is a man that God utilizes for His glory in spite of Gideon’s great weakness.  Looking forward to covering pages 67-71 in Tim Keller’s study guide.

Feb 25th

  • 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. 

Feb 26th  

  • Women’s Bible Study at MB, 10-15am - noon.  This study of Ephesians is led by Beth Lawson and meets in Room 105.  No need to sign up, just join us!  
  • Deep End Dinner and Bible Study at ML, 7pm.

Feb 28th – Saturday Men’s Bible Study at MB, Gym classroom 201C, 8-9am, led by Lewis Rosove.  (Note new location!)

Mar 1st 

  • Please come join us this Sunday for a morning of prayer and praise, worship and fellowship!  
  • This Sunday, we’ll be celebrating the Lord’s Table at both services!
  • Also this Sunday, we’ll be enjoying food and fellowship at our First Sunday Luncheon, in the Gym, from 11:45am - 1:00pm.  Entree will be pizza!  Please bring a side dish to share if you can.
  • More details provided in paragraphs below.   

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 sign-ups, books, t-shirts and more. Visit the Connection Center with questions!
    • Nametag requests continue to be processed. Nametags can be located in the drawers by the sitting area.  
    • Coffee, snacks and pastries are provided for your enjoyment and are refreshed throughout the morning by our hospitality team. Please enjoy your food in the lobby and bring only lidded beverages into the auditorium/ sanctuary.  Thank you!
  • 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 our BLAZE Youth in the Loft;  and from 10:45-11:30am for Children in the children’s wing in the main building.  Our Adult CE classes currently offered are:
    • Sermon on the Mount led by Mike Hamel (Gym classroom 201B)
    • Biblical Love led by Jeff Lawson (using Charity and its Fruits by Jonathan Edwards as a secondary source).  (Gym classroom 201C)
  • 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.

Looking further ahead…

March 15th, 2026 

Our next Monthly Prayer Meeting will be held on March 15th, from 4-5pm, in the MB Auditorium/Sanctuary.  Please join us as we lift up praises and prayers to our Heavenly Father!  You may choose to offer prayers vocally or just pray silently with us.  We would love to have you with us.

March 22nd, 2026

A fun Easter event for GLKids will happen on March 22nd, from 2-4pm, in the MB Gym!  More details coming soon!  

March 29th, 2026 (Palm Sunday)

We are happy to report that our Palm Sunday baptism sign-ups have exceeded our expectations and our capacity is filled!  We hope you will be able to join us to share in this amazing celebration of God’s Grace as His Kingdom grows at GraceLife!  

April 3rd, 2026 (Good Friday) and April 5th, 2026 (Resurrection Sunday – Easter!)

We are planning a Good Friday service for April 3rd, starting at 6:30pm at MB.  Then, on Easter Sunday at MB, we will offer a sunrise service at 6:30am in addition to our 9am and 10:30am worship services.  While our Hospitality team will be providing pastries/coffee on Easter Sunday as we normally do, we are not planning for a separate food event.

We continue to observe the season of Lent (a 40-day season of introspection, repentance, and spiritual discipline leading up to Easter). Pastor Keith is providing (through our website email) reflections during this season to help us ready our hearts for Easter.

Stewardship Thoughts 

A prayer for stewardship in troubled times… Lord, in this difficult season, help me to trust You.  Teach me to worship not only when life is easy but when it is uncertain or worse.  Show me how to steward what You have placed in my hands – my time, my resources, even my suffering.  Let my faithfulness honor You, and let my worship rise from a heart that chooses You, no matter the circumstance.  Amen.

Ministry Spotlight

A prayer for missionary support in challenging times… Lord, thank you for those who go where many cannot.  In seasons of hardship, guard my heart from shrinking back.  Teach me to worship You not only with words, but with faithful support of Your mission.  Strengthen those who serve, and use my partnership to sustain their courage and advance Your gospel.  Amen.

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 10:15-11:30am
  • 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!

Weekly Prayer Meetings

We are a praying church!  Each Sunday, from 8:15-8:45am, at MB, there is an opportunity to gather in prayer with our leadership in Room 105.  No sign-up is required, just come join us as we prepare our hearts to worship Him.

Other Group Prayer Opportunities

In addition to our Weekly Prayer Meetings on Sunday mornings and Monthly Prayer Meetings, 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 do I request prayer for myself or others?  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 prayer 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 OR sign up at the lobby’s sign-up table (by the seating area) 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 now!) 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 identified a few Sunday morning transportation needs within our GraceLife family and  now seek those would consider providing a ride to those in need.  Some ride needs could be met by multiple people, while others could be met by a single provider.  A sign-up sheet is available in our lobby at MB for your information.

If you have a current need for or ability to provide for transportation, please email dreama@gracelifesrq.com. Thank you.

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. 

Reminder

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