Grace Presbyterian Church
1090 N Davis Ave
Weed, CA 96094
Pastor: Jim Howe
Phone: (530) 938-
Fax: (530) 938-
Email: gracepc@snowcrest.net
Pastor Jim’s Blog:
http://northwestspirituality.blogspot.com
Pastor Jim’s Parish Scroll Message will appear here each month.
November 2009
The Work of the Church is Yours
Nicky Gumble tells a story in Alpha of a pastor who was approached by an angry member of the congregation. He said, “Our friends needed help. I came to the church several times and called to see if I could reach any of the staff, but got no where. Finally, I had to do it myself. Isn’t the church here to help with need like this?” The pastor responded, “Yes of course. And it sound as if the church did meet the need.” This story illustrates the truth of Scriptures lesson:
"Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the
evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s
people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ." (Ephesians 4:11-
Pastors and teachers were given by the Christ to equip the people of God to do God’s work. The work of the church is your work. Do you want to reach out to the community? Then are you inviting your friends into your home, over to dinner, or starting an Alpha group in your home? Are you praying for your pastor, church and its outreach? Want a vital Sunday school in your church? Then are you willing to teach a class? Want a choir… then join the choir. Want a more praise music… then join the praise team. Sally Wilson shared something from the church they attend in the winter. She pointed out that if everyone does just a little work, then the work of the church will be done well and with joy.
There is something for everyone to do:
We need intercessors to pray consistently for the mission of parish. We need people to help with maintaining our facilities. We need scripture readers, elders, deacons, musicians, youth leaders, vacation bible school leaders, college ministers, cooks to make cookies, greeters, ushers, people to run the sound, people to run the video projector (in Weed), people to volunteer in the office, people to distribute invitations , people to help design worship, people to lead small groups in homes, people to serve in mission, people to organize a Parish mission trip, people to perform in dramas, people to help with our stewardship drives and much, much more.
You are needed and you have a place in the mission of the Parish of the Siskiyous. It takes the whole church to fulfill our mission of sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with our neighbors and world.
November is a good month to renew your commitment to the mission of the church. Speak to your pastor or his assistants Gerry Watson or Jim Tyhurst about your willingness to serve.
November 1st is our combined worship service in Weed at 10 am. This is great time to enjoy worshipping God together.
Other highlights for the month are the Nov. 8 Congregational meeting for the purpose renewal the pastor’s terms of call, voting on the pastor’s mileage allotment for the remainder of the year, and nominating new officers after worship. Finally, there is a special Stewardship Sunday, Nov. 21, with our special speaker from Nevada Presbytery, Rev. Rolfe J. Granath. Grace will be having a light buffet and McCloud will be having a Thanksgiving dinner. Also McCloud will be hanging the greens in the sanctuary after worship on Nov. 29.
There is something special to be looking forward to on December 20 at 3pm. The Parish will have a combined Christmas program with a full choir singing “Glad Tidings” and Sonny Salsbury will be with us to lead caroling and special music. Mark your calendars now and join the choir in your church!
Blessings, Pastor Jim Howe