It is not too late!

It is not too late for your group to get involved in 25 Days Beyond. Help Grace Community celebrate our 25th Anniversary by investing your group's time, talent, & treasures "beyond" the walls of where you meet. There are at least 11 opportunities still available where you and your group can invest your lives, tonight, this weekend, and all throughout November 25th. Check them out on this website. What ever you do, don't let this opportunity to get involved pass by your group.

Growing?

How is everyone doing in your small group? Really? In an honest evaluation, would you say each individual is whole heartedly pursuing their relationship with Jesus? Are they closer, more connected, more intimate with God than six months ago? Would you like some help in creating the best environment for that to occur in your group? This Saturday, group leaders will meet for our workshop Shepherding your Small Group 201. Maybe you've taken this before (it is even more helpful the second time.) Maybe this would be your first time. (We ask all leaders to take this workshop.) Either way, it is a great way to get your group on track and learn how to create the perfect environment for spiritual growth to occur. Do not miss out on this opportunity. Bring someone from your group along. Register by sending an email to training@gracegroups.net . Saturday, November 7th, 8:30am-12:30pm at Grace.

Last Chance

If you have been putting off getting your ticket to the GroupLife Conference, now is the time! Ticket prices double after this Sunday. If you are a Grace attender you can still get tickets for $20 this weekend. After Sunday that cost will be $40. Tickets for non-Grace attenders are $69 currently.

The conference will be very interactive this year. The program guide is online and can be downloaded before you attend at this link.
You can interact with other conference attendees and with the speakers through
Facebook -www.facebook.com/grouplife
Twitter -www.twitter/grouplife
and email during the conference.

I hope that all of you will be able to attend next Saturday. See you there.

David Johnson says...

David Johnson wants to talk about "Spiritual Growth for Real People"

David is Senior Pastor at Church of the Open Door in Maple Grove, Minnesota. An inspiring speaker, he is devoted to helping people realize the fullness of God's life in them—seeing the transformation power they have available to become more like Him and change the world.

Is real growth possible? Can we live like Jesus in the 21st century? More importantly, can we really grow and change? David will help us rethink spiritual formation - what it is and what it is not - and model why growth is not only possible, it's necessary.

If you desire spiritual transformation in your own life or in the lives of those around you, then the GroupLife Conference is designed to help you achieve that goal. Each of the 7 speakers will be teaching us how to grow in our relationship with Jesus and how to help those around us experience transformation as well. Don't miss this opportunity to invest in your own life. Saturday October 24th, 9:30am-4:30pm. Tickets for Grace Attenders is only $20 and available at the GroupLife Table Sunday after services or in the Small Groups Office.

What Mark Goodrich is Reading...

I am always interested in what new things the folks in leadership at Grace are learning. So when one of the Pastors, Elders, or Directors talk about what they are studying or what they are reading, I start taking notes. Mark Goodrich, our Pastor of Connecting and Serving, recently talked about "The Prodigal God"; a book which give a whole new insight to Luke 15 and one of Jesus' most famous stories. Some of us recently heard Timothy Keller, the author, speak. He shook up our take on this parable. Check out what Mark has to say at this link.

Mindy Caliguire says...

Mindy Caliguire wants to tell you "Why You Need a Healthy Soul."

Mindy is the founder of Soul Care, a spiritual formation ministry serving the church. A frequent speaker , she is the author of books including, Discovering Soul Care, Spiritual Friendship, and Write for Your Soul.

Mindy says that real growth, real change starts with us. We don't need to be perfect, but we do need to be working on our own heart and life in order to help others do the same. In her session we will learn practical ideas to help us move toward soul health.

If you desire spiritual transformation in your own life or in the lives of those around you, then the GroupLife Conference is designed to help you achieve that goal. Each of the 6 speakers will be teaching us how to grow in our relationship with Jesus and how to help those around us experience transformation as well. Don't miss this opportunity to invest in your own life. Saturday October 24th, 9:30am-4:30pm. Tickets for Grace Attenders is only $20 and available at the GroupLife Table Sunday after services or in the Small Groups Office.

Mission Families

Dear Grace Group Leaders
The Missions Task Force is putting together Christmas boxes for the Missionary Families overseas. We wanted to give your group an opportunity to bless one of our own Missionary Families this year. We have sent a letter to them and asked for ideas of items that would bless them and have gotten a great response. Would your group put together a gift box as a personal outreach to part of the Grace family overseas. During the next few weeks your group could collect some or all of the items that are on the list. The Missions Task Force will fill in the gaps. A Christmas card or letter from your group would be a personal touch that is really appreciated. Grace will mail the boxes at the end of October in order to reach all destinations by Christmas. Please email me right away to let me know that your group is going to participate. If there is a certain Missionary or Missionary family you know that your group would like to adopt for this blessing, please mention their name in the email. You have no idea how exciting it is for our overseas Missionaries to receive a gift from Home. We have only a few weeks to put this together and would love for all our Missionaries to feel that they being thought of at this time of year by the Grace family.

Thank You and God Bless You
Wendy Burner