Hi church family.
My heart is overflowing with thankfulness and joy. I received the final tally for the 'Thank You Envelopes' fundraiser. And it's even MORE than we announced last Sunday.
In scripture it says 'the just shall live by faith' (Romans 1:17.) In Hebrews 11:6 we read 'without faith it is impossible to please God.' This past month our church flexed again "our faith muscle" as we stepped out in faith to raise funds beyond what we need for ourselves, trusting God to provide abundantly so we can share with those in need.
|
|
|
It was about 3 months ago God impressed it on our leadership that we need to look outward, not only inward when doing fundraising.
This led us to commit to giving away 'half of what we raise' this year to 3 charities. One locally and two overseas - to support them in their relief work for the needy and broken.
1.) No Limits, Perth
2.) Genesis Hope Flood Relief, South Africa.
3.) IJM, Ukraine
Pictured below - a display of the thank you envelopes we received with 'messages of thanks to the Lord.' |
|
Over the course of 5 weeks, we received 106 envelopes with written messages of thanks on them. We displayed most of these last Sunday while also receiving a new batch that same day.
Many others gave envelopes without messages, yet containing donations in support of this project. We also received a few direct deposits without envelopes. The accumulative of all the above by our church brought us to this amazing result;
The total (new record) amount raised by our church is $28,334 which is $11,099 (+64%) more than the year before. We received some monies earmarked only for the 3 charities which brought their total to $14,917. Our church will round up the amount to $15,000 meaning each of the 3 charities will receive an amount of $5,000 each. Grace church received $13,334 to help with our budget & building fund. ($28,334 - $15,000)
|
|
I want to highlight again that the above things matter to God. He smiles on his church when our focus is 'Kingdom minded' and 'Kingdom advancing' - not inward-looking and self-focussed.
Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33
We will be letting the 3 charities know about the monies raised for them and make arrangements to pay it over to them. I will update you as we hear back from them on our church FB page and next week's eNewsletter.
The sermon for this Sunday is going to be a great encouragement for all of us who feel the aches of getting older, have experienced pain and disease, and who've lost loved ones.
In 2 Corinthians 5 the apostle Paul writes to us about living life in our 'temporary tents' (earthly bodies) compared to the blessing of our heavenly homes (glorified bodies.) This sermon will touch on the difficult topic of 'making sense of suffering and death.'
|
|
|
Hebrew Music Festival.
A year ago some folks remarked how they miss the excitement we enjoy over Christmas time with the Carols Weekend. Someone even suggested we do 'Christmas in July' so we don't have to wait 12 months before we get to celebrate and sing again with such a special occasion. I reflected on this a lot, spoke to our church council and with many other key folk - and prayed. The conclusion of all this reflecting, networking and praying is that things are now in place for our church to host a mid year themed music festival starting this year. It'll be an exciting evening containing 'praise & worship songs' interwoven with items and fitting, well-known tunes that relate to the theme.
|
|
We are going to start of this year by hosting a Hebrew Music Festival. Next year we could change the theme to e.g. a 'cowboy and country theme.' Another year it could be 'celtic' or something completely different. It'll be an opportunity for folk to come together and rejoice in the goodness of God. It's also an opportunity to invite friends along.
We will also use this mid year event to draw in more of our young musicians and team members to help them grow in the craft of putting on music festivals.
Of course we always include an element of food at these festivals. We want to keep it simple and easy to do, so thought that for this year we could make things like 'warm soup and bread' which suits the Hebrew (Bible) theme. Let us know if you can help out in this regard. Being the cooler time of the year, hot drinks like coffee, hot chocolate and milo will also work well. As a thank you for the food, we'll invite attendees to make a donation in support of the upcoming Broom Missions Trip taking place in August.
The music festival (concert) will be a ticketed ($15 p/p) which will help us cover the cost of putting on this event; venue hire for weekly band practises and then the big event on Saturday 30 July, session musicians we need to hire (drums and percussionist,) sound engineer, decor, equipement needed, advertisement etc. Church Council agreed that proceeds from this event can be kept to fund putting on more such festivals and to help maintain and purchase equipment needed for these events. Like we do every year at Carols, we will also be recording a themed promo song and releasing it as music video that people can share on social media.
We are planning to host two shows on Saturday 30 July. Our church is 600+ strong and can easily fill the ECU auditorium twice over (capacity 365). We'll give the church 3 weeks to purchase tickets whereafter we'll open it to the public, advertising it to the broader community from the 1st July.
The link to get your tickets can be found here:
https://www.trybooking.com/CAHYF
'Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:19-20
Please note. There will be no church at ECU on Sunday 31 July as ECU has an Open Day. We want to encourage everyone to make the effort to come along to this event instead - in the place of the Sunday service. We will still be uploading a special recorded service that folks can watch online that Sunday morning.
|
|
Pictured above: a group of our Young Adults joined our friends from Lifestreams Church at State Youth Games in Bunbury last weekend! You can see more pics on our church FB page. We'll also get a short update on Sunday regarding this exciting event, and more upcoming youth/young adult events our young folk can sign up for. Youth is on again this Friday night 10th June.
Please pray with us for the leaders meeting our church council and some point ministry leaders are attending after church on Sunday. This meeting is being led by Mike Sims from Reach Australia as we look at church strategy matters and the recent NCD survey our church undertook. I will also be attending a 4 day intensive next week with some other pastors hosted by Reach Australia.
Remember also the New Members Luncheon we're hosting on Sunday 19th June. This is for everyone who want to find out more what membership at Grace Church involves, who we are as a church and our denomination. The lunch is provided free and with love by our Hospitality Team. Please let Cecile know if you would like to attend this event at cilav@bigpond.com
|
|
|
Dates to note:
Sunday 19 June - Lord's Supper & New Members Luncheon
Sunday 26 June - Youth Led Service
Sat - Sun, 1-3 July - Youth Camp
Saturday 30 July - Hebrew Music Festival
God bless you all.
Pastor Joe
|
|
|
Or via Direct Deposit / Internet banking:
National Bank
Grace CRC account
bsb: 086136
acc: 587361939
|
|
2022 GRACE YOUTH CAMP•
It's closing in at that time of the year!
Grace Youth Camp
Hop on the link and grab your spot for a camp not to miss!
Nothing better than spending a weekend with friends around God's word.
https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/902350
|
|
|
Duty/Tea
12 June
Van Schalkwyk Family
(Thinus & Welma)
Van Staden Family
(Jaco & Alana)
Van Tonder Family
(Jan & Annelee)
Tea Leader: Heather Krop
19 June
Tarbie v Tonder
Van Wyk Family
(Pieter & Michelle)
Van Zyl Family
(Gideon & Mariana)
Van Zyl Family
(Ockert & Frenene)
Tea Leader: Monique J V Vuuren
Music Team
12 June
Joe Vermeulen
Petro Bekker
Ané Jansen
Karla v Blerk
Christo Scheffer
Elizabeth Jansen
Rudie Crous
Laetitia Seymore
19 June
Petrie Viljoen
Alan Rudman
Anna-Carin Brink
Karla v Blerk
Sharan Bruce
Joe Vermeulen
Marina Rautenbach
Elizabeth Jansen
Rudie Crous
Hildeleen Jordaan
Sound
12 June
Setup: Ben Tampubolon
Mixing: Byron Keno
19 June
Setup: Jacques Moore
Mixing: Adri J V Vuuren
|
Greeters & Connect:
12 June
Sanet Rudman, Karin Conradie, Theunis de Bruyn
19 June
Innis & Marilet Cloete, Alicia Botha
Laptop
12 June
Elijah Thomson
19 June
TBA
Trailer
12 June
Francois Coetsee
19 June
Shannon Farren
Kids@Grace
12 June
Jnr Kids@Grace
Teacher:
Sheila Button
Helpers:
Lauren v Niekerk
Lucinda Boer
Amy de Beer
Kids@Grace
Big Group:
Lizanne Heyns
Year 1-2
Carmen Martins
Year 3-4
Zoe Clarke
Year 5-6
Lizanne Heyns
19 June
Jnr Kids@Grace
Teacher:
Ilanie Rensburg
Helpers:
Emile Rensburg
Mariette du Preez
Alex Thompson
Kids@Grace
Big Group:
Charnè Vermeulen
Year 1-2
Kristine Ray Del Val
Year 3-4
Charnè Vermeulen
Year 5-6
Angelique Malan
|
|
|
Happy Birthday!
9 June: Sandra Venter, Mackyla Jacobs
10 June: Lulu du Plessis, Nikki J V Vuuren, Sheena Thompson
11 June: Christoff V D Schyff
13 June: Walter Branford
14 June: Meila Hoffmann, Malanie Walker
15 June: Lomar Sloane, Winnefred Viljoen
16 June: Minette V D Schyff, Anneke V Jaarsveldt, Mariana v Zyl
|
|
|
Giving:
Internet banking:
National Bank
Grace CRC account
bsb: 086136
acc: 587361939
*Please write ‘donation’ or ‘tithe’ in the description.
|
|
|
Second Offering:
12 June
Mission Support Group
https://bit.ly/giving_grace_church
Grace Church Debit Order Form;
bit.ly/church_debit_order_form
|
|
|
|
Sunday Service Times: 9:30am
Venue:
ECU Auditorium
(Edith Cowan University)
Building 32
Joondalup
Pastor: Joe Vermeulen
Staff: Andrea Vorster, Cecile Vermeulen,
Alex Thompson, Lizanne Heyns, Byron Keno, Christo Scheffer
Office: admin@gracecrc.org.au
Postal: 27 Norcia Way, Ellenbrook, WA, 6069
|
|
|
Church Council:
Joe Vermeulen, Tian Kotze,
Roy Ray Del Val, Alex Thompson,
David Pieterse, Gideon Kirsten,
Nico Botha, Hans Boer.
Finance Committee:
Tian Kotze, Leon Lorenzen,
Nico Claassen, Andrea Vorster
Church Council Portfolios:
Joe Vermeulen: Lead Pastor, Sunday services, Prayer, Staff
Alex Thompson: CC Clerk, Youth, Young Adults, Missions
David Pieterse: Welcome, Greeters, Connect
Nico Botha: Trailer, Sunday setup team, Outreach
Tian Kotze: Finance committee
Hans Boer: Pastoral care, Diaconate
Roy Ray Del Val: Small Groups
Gideon Kisten: Chuch Building & Building Fund
Cecile Vermeulen: Admin office, Women of Grace, Sunday tea/coffee, Hospitality
Lizanne Heyns: Kids Church
Christo Scheffer: Youth
|
|
|
|
|
|
