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Greetings GraceLife!

Sunday’s message was powerfully convicting and encouraging.  Pastor Joe unwrapped important truths from 1 Samuel 30:21-31 and titled it “Exhausting Baggage”.  This sermon is #31 in the series “A Sinner in Love with God”, examining what we can learn from the life of David.   Scripture tells us that, when David and his men of 600 left to pursue the Amalekites who had destroyed Ziklag and had taken their wives and children, 200 were too war-weary to continue, so were left to guard supplies and baggage.  Aided by an abandoned Egyptian slave, David and the 400 defeated the Amalekites, rescued wives and children, and recovered all the spoils they had taken from the Philistines and land of Judah.  When the victors returned to those 200 exhausted men, “worthless and wicked” fighting men refused to share the spoils with those who had been left behind.  David, however, reminded them that their victory was the Lord’s and not their own, thus nothing was “theirs” to withhold.  David not only shared with the 200, but to many others.   Please listen or re-listen to this message in its entirety through our website (select “Messages”) to learn more about this passage and what guidance it provides to us. 

Here is a quick look at events coming up this week and a look ahead as well.  

June 23rd – Tuesday evening Adult Bible Study at MB, 7-8pm, Gym 201B/C (note location change).  Tonight we continue our study in Judges 17:1-6, one of the most penetrating passages in the book of Judges.  Through the life of one man, Micah, the Holy Spirit exposes the spiritual condition of an entire nation.  Rather than merely asking “How could Israel become so corrupt?”, the passage presses us to ask a far more searching question:  “Where might the same seeds exist in my own heart?”  Please join us tonight for more!  

June 24th (Wednesday)

  • Sisters in Prayer at MB, 7pm, Fellowship Corner; no meeting of BLAZE Youth, but new Student Ministry schedule coming!  
  • Our Women’s home-based Bible Study, “Captivating”, will meet this week.  See Connie Daidone for details.   

June 25th (Thursday)

  • Ladies’ Bible Study, led by Beth Lawson, continues its new series “Women of the Old Testament”, from 10:15am - noon, MB Gym classroom 201B/C!
  • Deep End Dinner/Bible Study at ML, 7pm. 

June 27th – Saturday Men’s Bible Study at MB, Gym Classroom, 201B/C, 8-9am.

June 28th  (Sunday) at MB

  • 8:15 – 8:30am – prayer time with our leadership in Room 106
  • 9am worship service in Auditorium/Sanctuary
  • 10:30am worship service in Auditorium/Sanctuary
  • 10:15 – 11:30am -- Adult Christian Education (CE) class in the Gym classrooms; BLAZE Youth classes in the Gym Loft
  • 10:45 – 11:30am -- GL Kids -- infant-5th grade classes
  • 4-5pm – Monthly Prayer Meeting in the Auditorium/Sanctuary.   Please come join us to lift up praises and prayers to our Almighty God!  In recognition of this nation’s 250th anniversary coming up on July 4th, this month’s prayer meeting will focus on prayers for our nation and its leaders.  
  • 4-5pm – BLAZE Youth in the Gym Loft  

Reminder!  If you attend our 9am worship service, we hope you’ll consider joining our Adult Christian Education (CE) class held in Gym classroom 201B/C from 10:15 - 11:30am.  Jeff Lawson and Mike Hamel lead this class of “Biblical Love”.  Come learn with us!    

Looking a little further ahead…!   

July 5th – No First Sunday Luncheon due to July 4th holiday weekend.

July 14th (Tuesday) – Leadership Development series begins!  As our new Director of Connections, Gil Jones is offering a 4-week course/series to guide our GraceLife family to better serve both God and each other.  Do you feel called to serve but don’t know how to do so?  Gil is available between Sunday morning services in our Lobby (“Center Post”) to discuss and answer your questions!  The course will be held in Mt Beneva’s Auditorium/Sanctuary, from 6:30-8pm.  

July 16th (Thursday) and July 18th (Saturday) – Day4Hope (D4H) – We need volunteers to support this event, both in the planning leading up to July 18th as well as the “day of”.  Please reach out to Cean Cerny or speak with someone at the Connection Center if you’ll be able to help.  You can sign up to help through the following link Day4HopeVolunteers2026 or sign up in the Lobby at MB.  Please note:  both the July 16th packing event (starting at 10am) and the July 18th distribution event (9am - 1pm) will be held at Light of the World Church, 3809 Chapel Drive, Sarasota, FL, 34234.  

July 20th-24th (M-F) – Vacation Bible School!  This summer, we will be offering an exciting VBS to GLKids AND children of Living Hope Church!  Of course, we need YOUR help!  Volunteer sign-up sheets are now available in our MB Lobby, along with a flyer providing more details about this wonderful opportunity to serve.  (Sign-ups are also available online – see just below.)  Volunteers are needed from 8am - 1pm.  

August 2nd (Sunday) – Our Next First Sunday Luncheon!  Be sure to mark your calendars and plan to join us in the MB Gym after the10:30am worship service!

August 9th (Sunday) – Our Next Baptisms!  We are excited to bring you another opportunity to make a public profession of your decision to accept Jesus as Lord of your life!  Sign-ups are available through our website or through sign-up sheets in our Lobby on Sunday mornings.  Preparation for your baptism will include meeting with GL leadership, so please sign up early so that we may begin the process with you!

More detail about tonight’s 7pm Bible Study at MB

Together we’ll consider questions such as:  

  • What modern idols compete for my ultimate affection?  

  • What blessings from God am I tempted to use for myself rather than for His glory?  

  • Has familiarity with Christian language ever hidden areas of practical disobedience in my life?

Judges ends with the sobering statement, “Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”  Tonight we’ll examine how subtle that temptation remains for every believer and why our only hope is found in Christ, our true King, who not only reigns over His people but, by His Spirit, transforms our hearts to delight in doing what is right in His eyes rather than our own.

Stewardship Thoughts 

Stewardship means recognizing that resources ultimately come from God.  It includes caring for the whole community, those who serve in support roles as well as those who are “front line”.  It practices generosity instead of accumulation, requires leadership with justice, and extends beyond material wealth.  In short, stewardship is faithfully managing what God entrusts to us so that others are cared for, contributions are honored, and blessings are shared rather than hoarded. 

Ministry Spotlight

Ministries include both visible and unseen service; ministry is one mission with different assignments. Exhaustion does not remove someone’s place in ministry.  David’s response reminds us that ministry can include making room for people who cannot currently carry on at the same pace as others, perhaps due to burnout, family care needs, illness, or personal struggles.  Ministry is not only for those who can keep advancing at full strength; ministry also honors those who sustain, support, rest, recover, and remain faithful in quieter seasons.        

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 4-5pm

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 (paper or QR Code), 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 and we’ll make that happen.  Prayer is powerful and we are privileged to pray for one another.

In addition to seeking volunteers for upcoming events, we also have on-going needs for volunteers in the following ministries…

  • Hospitality Ministry – Volunteers are needed for the hospitality team! This may include presenting coffee/donuts for our 9am or 10:30am worship services, or helping with the First Sunday Luncheon, especially clean-up.  Please respond to this email if you are interested in helping prepare/serve food for our fellowship times!  

  • Children’s Ministry – We are so blessed that our Children’s Ministry continues to welcome more and more children to GraceLife!  That means that more and more volunteers are also needed for 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 our Children’s Ministry, please stop by the Connection Center or contact Jackie. 

  • Greeters and Connection Center –

    We are seeking more volunteers to serve as Greeters and at the Connection Center for both the 9am and 10:30am Sunday morning worship services.  Whether it’s a first-time visitor to GraceLife or a member of our GraceLife family, we want each person who enters our Lord’s house on Sunday morning to be warmly welcomed, to be assisted as needed, and to be, frankly, surprised at the evidence of abundant love at GraceLife.  If you are interested in serving in this way, please stop by the Connection Center and let us know.  

More about our Sunday Mornings at Mount Beneva

  • Parking – Please let us know of any parking issues you may have.  
  • Lobby
    • Greeters are available to welcome and assist you.  Also, visit the Connection Center with questions, or for sign-ups, books, t-shirts and more!  
    • 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!
  • Open prayer time with our leadership is available to you, Room 106, 8:15 – 8:30am.
  • 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 have been merged into one (Better Together!) and are continuing the “Biblical Love” study.  The merged class meets in Gym classroom 201B/C.  Jeff Lawson and Mike Hamel share in teaching the class.

Connect Cards can be found in the auditorium/sanctuary and at the Connection Center.  Use these to provide contact information, request contact from us, or ask for prayer.  

Reminder

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