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Greetings GraceLife!

We learned from Pastor Joe about “The Wilderness Workshop” of our lives as he continued with Week 34 in the series The Life of David: A Sinner Loved by God.  Looking at 2 Samuel 1:17-27, we saw that David reacted charitably to Saul at the news of his death although Saul was the source of so much hardship (wilderness) in David’s life over many years.  He exalted Saul (and Jonathan) to the people of Israel with unselfish regard for his own position.  What was going on?

God used the literal “wilderness” – years of living in caves, years on the run for his life – to shape David into the man and leader God planned him to be.  We have and/or we will face wilderness times in our lives.  Rather than lamenting and giving ourselves up to anguish, remember that God is using this wilderness to form the person He wants you to be, a person in the likeness of His Son.   If you missed this message or want to listen again, please visit the "Messages" tab on our website.

Thank you to all who joined us for our First Sunday Luncheon this past Sunday!! It was a wonderful blessing to enjoy food and fellowship with you!  Special thanks to those who served, who helped in ANY way, and who brought a dish to share!   

This Week at GraceLife!

August 4th (Tuesday)

  • Recovery Church at Mount Lockwood: Food served at 6:30 PM; meeting runs from 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM.
  • Leadership Development Series: 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM in the Mount Beneva Auditorium/Sanctuary. Week 4 of Gil Jones’s 4-week series on serving God and one another.
  • Note: Tuesday Evening Adult Bible Study remains on break.

August 5th (Wednesday)

  • Sisters in Prayer: 7:00 PM at Mount Beneva Fellowship Corner.
  • "Captivating" Women’s Home-Based Study:  Meeting this week!  Contact Connie Daidone for details. 

August 6th (Thursday)

  • Ladies’ Bible Study ("Women of the Old Testament"): Led by Beth Lawson, 10:15 AM – 12:00 PM, Mount Beneva Gym Classroom 201B/C.
  • Deep End Dinner & Bible Study: 7:00 PM at Mount Lockwood.

August 7th (Friday)

  • Foundations Gathering: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM at Mount Beneva, Room 106. (Note: This is the last of this 4-week class led by Jeff Lawson & Mike Hamel for Palm Sunday baptisms). Childcare is available.

August 8th (Saturday)

  • Men’s Bible Study: 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM in Mount Beneva Gym Classroom 201B/C. Join us for learning and fellowship!

August 9th (Sunday) at Mount Beneva

    • 8:15 AM – 8:30 AM: Open Leadership Prayer Time (Room 106)
    • 9:00 AM & 10:30 AM: Worship Services (Auditorium/Sanctuary); Baptisms will be celebrated at each service – what a joyous occasion! 
    • 10:15 AM – 11:30 AM: Adult Christian Education Class ("Biblical Love" taught by Jeff Lawson & Mike Hamel in Gym 201B/C) will NOT meet this Sunday in order for all to be able to celebrate our baptisms!   GL Students Class will meet in the Gym Loft.
    • 10:45 AM – 11:30 AM: GL Kids Classes (Infant–5th Grade, Children's Wing)
    • 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM: GL Students Evening Gathering (Gym Loft, Grades 6–12)
  • Please note:  Miriam Grady, one of our supported global missionaries, will be visiting us this Sunday!  Let us give her a warm GraceLife welcome!

August 10th (Monday)

  • GraceLife Recovery at Mount Lockwood: Meets every Monday! Pizza is served at 6:30 PM, and the meeting starts at 7:00 PM. A food pantry is available for meeting attendees starting at 7:45 PM.

Looking Ahead

  • August 13th (Thursday) – Kairos Cookie Warriors Needed: We are collecting 30 dozen home-baked cookies for a 1-day Kairos Prison Ministry. Sign-up sheet available in the lobby!
  • August 23rd (Sunday) – Church Family/Congregational Meeting:  Please join us at 11:40am in the MB Auditorium/Sanctuary to finalize terms of call for Pastor Joe and Pastor Keith as we move forward together toward transitioning membership in our Presbytery.  

Stewardship Thoughts

Stewardship includes faithfully managing the seasons God allows us to walk through – including the wilderness.  The wilderness is not wasted time; it is God’s workshop where He shapes the character of those He entrusts with greater responsibility.  The wilderness cultivates humility by reminding us that our dependence is on God rather than on our own strength.  In the wilderness, God strips away self-sufficiency so that we learn to trust His provision and His timing.

Ministry Highlights & Ongoing Opportunities

Christian ministry is often marked by recurring “wilderness seasons” – times of testing, waiting, pruning, or apparent isolation that God uses to prepare, refine, and redirect His servants.  Consider these attributes of wilderness seasons:  they are places of preparation; they teach dependence on God; they expose the heart; they develop endurance; they refine our calling; they cultivate compassion; and, they prepare us for greater fruitfulness.

Here are some of our local ministry needs that may be calling you:

  • GL Students Ministry (Grades 6–12): Join us in the Loft (upstairs Mount Beneva Gym) Sundays from 10:15 AM – 11:30 AM for Sunday School, and 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM for our evening gathering!
  • Handyman Need: GraceLife needs a skilled handyman for approximately 4 hours of service every other week. Contact James Horne at james@gracelifesrq.com.
  • Volunteers Needed:
    • Hospitality Ministry: Assist with coffee/donuts for morning services or First Sunday Luncheon prep/clean-up. Reply to this email to sign up!
    • Children's Ministry: Caregivers and teachers needed on Sunday mornings. Stop by the Connection Center or contact Jackie.
    • Greeters & Connection Center: Welcome team members needed for both 9:00 AM and 10:30 AM services. Stop by the Connection Center to serve!

Sunday Mornings at Mount Beneva

  • Parking: Please let us know of any parking issues you may have.
  • Lobby & Greeters: Greeters are available to welcome and assist you. Visit the Connection Center for questions, sign-ups, books, t-shirts, and nametags.
  • Hospitality: Enjoy complimentary coffee, tea, and pastries refreshed throughout the morning. Please bring only lidded beverages into the auditorium/sanctuary.
  • Leadership Prayer: Open prayer time in Room 106 from 8:15 AM – 8:30 AM.
  • Worship Services: Held in the auditorium/sanctuary at 9:00 AM and 10:30 AM.
  • Christian Education: 10:15 AM – 11:30 AM for Adults and GL Students; 10:45 AM – 11:30 AM for GL Kids.

Group Prayer Opportunities

  • Leadership Prayer Time: Sundays from 8:15 AM – 8:30 AM in Room 106.
  • Sisters in Prayer: Wednesdays at 7:00 PM at Mount Beneva Fellowship Corner.
  • Prayer Chain Requests: Submit requests via Prayer Request Form, email, text, or verbal request to leadership or the Admin Team.

Ways to Give

  • In-Person: Cash or check during Sunday worship services.
  • Bank Bill Pay: Set up recurring or one-time giving through your bank.
  • GraceLife App / Website: Click "Give" (redirects to Tithely) to give online.