Greetings GraceLife and Happy Veterans Day!

Whether you have been based at Mount Lockwood or at “Mount Beneva”, we hope to bring you info you can use.  The format is a brief list of events of the week and beyond for easy review, then more detailed content if you’re interested!  (Note:  ML is Mount Lockwood; MB is Mount Beneva.)  Here we go!
 
Nov. 12th – Bible Study, Sisters in Prayer, BLAZE Youth at MB, 7pm
 
Nov. 13th – Ladies’ Bible Study at MB, 10:15am – noon; Deep End, Dinner/Bible Study at ML, 7pm
 
Nov 15th – Men’s Bible Study at MB, 8am
 
Nov 16th – NEW Christian Education (CE) class time!  Beginning this Sunday at MB, our CE classes for ALL ages will meet from 10:30 – 11:30am.  Then, from 4-6pm, our BLAZE Youth group will meet at MB in the Loft.
 
Nov 23rd – Decorating our MB Auditorium/Sanctuary/Lobby for the Advent and Christmas season immediately after our 10:30am worship service concludes.  Later that Sunday, we’ll gather for our Monthly Prayer Meeting at MB, 4-5pm, in the Auditorium/Sanctuary.  
 
Nov 24th – Food Pantry at ML could use extra help on the Monday before Thanksgiving (9am setup; 11am start)
 
Dec 7th -- First Sunday Luncheon at MB, after 10:30am worship service.  Sign up to attend and bring a side dish if you like!
 
Dec 13th – Women’s Christmas Luncheon at MB, 11am.  Sign up to attend! 
 
That’s it!  Read on for more detail if you like, or proceed with the rest of your day!
 
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Last Sunday we worshipped together for the first time as our newly merged Faith and GraceLife as we became the new GraceLife, with a worship site at 1201 N. Beneva Rd (Mount Beneva) and a community outreach site at 1801 N. Lockwood Ridge Rd (Mount Lockwood).  At both the 9am and 10:30am services (at Beneva), we enjoyed blended roles throughout the services, from our pastors, the worship teams, plus the Connection Crew, Hospitality, and many other support teams.  Of course, we will work to improve all aspects of our services as we move forward.     
 
What you may notice about Sunday mornings at Mount Beneva…
  • More worshippers – praise God!
  • Parking lot assistants to help ensure safety
  • The Lobby is the place for:
    • The “Connection Crew” (Greeters to assist you and Connection Center for bulletins/programs, sign-ups, books, t-shirts,…)
    • New name tags are available in the corner so labeled, where someone is available to assist you.  A Lost and Found is in the same corner.
    • Coffee, snacks, plus some pastries are provided for your enjoyment.  They will be refreshed throughout the morning.
  • There are two services in our Auditorium/Sanctuary – one at 9am and one at 10:30am; Christian Education (formerly known as Sunday School) is held from 10:30 – 11:30am.  Adult CE classes will meet in the Gym; Youth CE classes will remain in the Loft; Children will be in the Children’s Wing.
  • During the worship services, you’ll find Connect Cards in the under seat bin of the chairs.  Please use these for most any information about yourself you want to provide (contact info, interests, prayer needs,…)
Please note:  Our previous websites are now one!  Thanks to our Admin Team, both Lockwood and Beneva information is available to you in one website!  Explore at gracelifesarasota.com!  (If you attempt to access faithsarasota.org, you will now be re-directed to the new GraceLife website.)    
 
Usual Wednesday evening activities at Mount Beneva (starting at 7pm) this week (November12th) will include the Adult Bible Study in Room 105, our Sisters in Prayer in the Fellowship Corner, and our Youth in the Gym Loft.  For the Adult Bible Study time, Elder Jeff Lawson will continue a series based on Kevin DeYoung’s book “Taking God at His Word”. Last week we expounded a little bit about the magnitude of what implications John 10:35 should have for our lives. This week we will explore that verse a little more by doing a fun exercise… please list as many biblical images of the Word of God that you can. For example…the ‘sword of the Spirit’ (Eph 6:17; Heb 4:12) and then explain its meaning to you. Looking forward to rich fellowship!
 
A Ladies’ Bible Study/Grace Group will meet this Thursday, November 13th, 10:15am – noon, in Room 105, at our Beneva campus.  The focus of the study is the book of Psalms and is led by Linda Swartz. 
 
Later Thursday, November 13th, the Deep End/Grace Group will meet at 7pm for dinner and study at our Lockwood campus, led by Cindy Lanoue-Foster.
 
Our Men’s Saturday Bible Study/Grace Group will meet Saturday, November 15th, from 8-9am in Room 105, at our Beneva campus.  Lewis Rosove leads this study based on “The Screwtape Letters” by C.S. Lewis. 
 
NEW TIME!!!  This Sunday, November 16th, we’ll offer two adult Christian Education (CE) classes, from 10:30 – 11:30am, in the Gym, at Beneva:
  • Elder Jeff Lawson’s class will continue to study “The Power of Love in the Christian Life” with reference to Jonathan Edward’s “Charity and Its Fruits”.
  • Elisha Fowler’s class will continue a study of the Sermon on the Mount.
 
Calling all students 6th – 12th grades!  We have a student ministry program just for you.  We meet during the Christian Education hour Sunday mornings from 10:30-11:30, then we meet again from 4-6pm Sunday evenings, and if that is not enough time together, we meet mid-week Wednesday evenings to grow in our walk with Lord from 7-8pm.  You can also join this GraceLife group by clicking this link. https://gracelife-sarasota.churchcenter.com/groups/unique/blaze-youth
 
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One in our GraceLife family creates greeting cards for various occasions.  If you’d like to participate in some card-making and fellowship (dates/times still to be determined), please call Brenda Castleyoung, 433-254-5422.  Also, if you have cards you’d like to donate for re-purposing, you may leave them at the Beneva office in a bag/container marked for Brenda.  Thank you!
 
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Beyond this week, here are some upcoming events for your planning purposes.  Another great way to learn more about events is to visit our website gracelifesarasota.com and select EVENTS and choose Calendar or Featured Events.  Check it out!  
 
Nov 23rd – A reminder… We will be decorating our MB Auditorium/Sanctuary/Lobby for the Advent and Christmas season immediately after our 10:30am worship service concludes.  Later that day, we’ll gather for our Monthly Prayer Meeting at MB, 4-5pm, in the Auditorium/Sanctuary.  
 
November 24th – Pre-Thanksgiving Food Pantry could use your help!  Preparation begins at 9am; distribution starts at 11am, Mount Lockwood.  
 
November 27th – Happy Thanksgiving!
 
December 7th – First Sunday Luncheon (at Mount Beneva) with our new GraceLife Sarasota family!  Sign-ups available this Sunday.
 
December 13th – Our first “merged” Ladies Christmas Luncheon!  Sign-up at the Connection Center.   
 
Also on December 13th, through our Missions Committee, we’ll be serving the needs of our community on behalf of the Salvation Army’s Christmas Bell-Ringing campaign.  One 2-hour shift remains available from 1-3pm at the Publix on Fruitville (5391 Fruitville Road).  
 
As we begin to plan for our seasonal giving and support, Operation Christmas Child provides opportunities to show God’s love to children and by association to those who would otherwise not hear of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Please remember that Operation Christmas Child donations are due November 23rd.  If you have questions, please contact Melissa Rothenbach.   
 
Please note:  Our finances will be equitably shared for the remainder of this calendar year, leading to a merged system for 2026.  You may continue to provide tithes and offerings in the manner you are accustomed through 2025.