Summer '09

Mark's summer series '09 has begun. This past Sunday Mark Norman began his nine week teaching on the Book of Psalms. Many of Grace's small groups will be meeting this summer to discuss the weekend messages, and exploring how to apply the teaching to our everyday lives. Mark is supplying ideas and questions for the group to discuss during their time together. If your group would like to participate or if you know someone who would like to start a sermon based group to follow along with the series, click here to get the resources provided for small groups. If your groups has any questions for Mark Norman about the Psalms, feel free to email us at psalms@gracegroups.net and we will do our best to answer you right away. Your question might even make it into the next weekend message.

Group Volleyball

The Picnic Team has raised the challenge for Grace Groups to show their group spirit and skills by signing up for the Volleyball Tournament that will be held during the picnic on June 6th. Is your group up to challenge. In the spirit of some friendly competition, ask another group if they want to take you on. If a Grace Group walks away as the winner of this tournament, I promise, there will be prizes for your group. Sign up and show everyone that Grace Groups can take it to the net. Contact Becky in the church office to register your group.

Summer Plans

Summertime is just around the corner. I am excited to tell you that over 80% of our GRACE Groups have chosen to continue meeting during the summer. Group members are telling us that their group is playing such a key role in their spiritual growth that they could not imagine going without the group's regular support and fellowship for that long.

Summer is a great time to ask someone other than the regular leaders if they would step up and facilitate the discussion for a few weeks. Many groups decide to give the regular host a break and meet at someone else's home or an outdoor location for the summer.

Last year about a fifth of our groups decided to become sermon based for the summer and followed along with the weekend messages at Grace. Last year we spent the summer in Proverbs. This summer our series will be "Selected Psalms for Summer." (Say that fast 5 times.) We will provide small group handouts on the GRACE Groups website for the group leaders and participants in case your group would like to do that for the summer. This new series begins with Mark Norman on May 31st.

Will you drop me a line at michael@gracegroups.net and let me know what your group is up to this summer? I enjoy hearing the ideas that groups come up with to mix it up for the summer. Let me know if think the sermon based supplements are a worthwhile idea. We would like to know if anyone is using the materials. Thanks for being such great leaders and caring for your group in extraordinary ways.

It is my privilege to serve with you,
Michael

Spring Service Day

One of the biggest most important days in the life of Grace Community is our annual service day when hundreds of us come together on a Saturday Morning and reach out into the surrounding community to show the love of Jesus by serving our neighbors. Building Bridges Spring Service Day is Saturday, April 25th. Our hope is that every Grace Group will serve together that day by taking part in one of the following volunteer opportunities: (and if not your whole group, maybe a few of you.) Please choose one and register today.

To help with a project or to get even more information:
Check out http://www.uservecentral.com/BuildingBridges.html

Howard County

Cedar Lane Walk for Our Stars: Cheer on the walkers from Cedar Lane School (for students with special needs) as they raise funds to purchase much-needed equipment for the school.

Grace Clothes Closet Clothing Drive and Sort: Collect and sort donated clothing at Grace that will be distributed to people in need.

Grace Clothes Closet Clothing Giveaway: Serve at a community outreach clothing giveaway at an apartment building in Columbia. Volunteers are needed for transportation, set up & clean up, and during the giveaway.

Howard County Food Bank: Collect and sort donated food items at Grace to be transported to the Food Bank.

Public Servant Appreciation Donations:
Donate treats to Police and Fireman in Howard County
Organize food trays to be delivered
Deliver food trays

Deep Run Elementary School: Landscaping projects
Laurel Woods Elementary School:
Painting several interior offices
Painting the exterior of a portable classroom
Landscaping/gardening projects
Work with students to complete a craft project for them to take home

Swansfield Elementary School:
Painting the cafeteria
Landscaping in front of school
Reducing the size of the playground. This is a heavy-duty work project.

Baltimore City

MetroKidz Clothing Giveaway: Distribute clothing at Charm City Church in Baltimore

MetroKidz Neighborhood Beautification: Pick up trash in neighborhoods near Charm City Church

Samuel B. Morse Elementary School: Paint the cafeteria of this Baltimore City school.

The Samaritan Women: Assist in the creation of garden plots for a community garden and with other landscape/garden projects.

Touch the World

Is your group looking for new ways to grow in their compassion for the world and take practical steps together in extending grace to the nations? On Sunday April 26th, after the 11:15 service, there will be a reception for Dave and Sandy Blank who represent us in South Asia. Bring your group and come hear how God is moving in Asia and help us to encourage and pray for the Blanks. This is a great opportunity to become engaged in God's work to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:9)! All are welcome, but we do need a count so we can prepare for a light lunch. Please RSVP to Mark or Anna Ruby at markannaruby@msn.com by April 19th. Hope to see you there!

Leader Training Workshops

Since we are having an extra New Groups Launch this spring, we will also have an extra edition of the Leader Training (Shepherding) Workshops. If you have not had the opportunity to take part in either 101 or 201, please join us for these offerings. We are doing 101 at a special time and in a little different format. We will hold this workshop on Sunday Night, April 26th, 7-9pm for a special 2 hour edition of 101. Then on Saturday May 30th, 8:30am-12:30 pm, we will have the 201 Workshop.

These workshops are for you if you are starting a group or have been leading a group for years, but would like to learn how to better create the right environment in your group so that it's members are guaranteed to grow. Is there someone in your group who you would like to see take some more responsibility. This would be a great way to help equip them for the challenge.

Groups are about building a community of believers who take care of each other in so many ways. They are also an environment where everyone encourages each other to continue to pursue a closer relationship with God. Those are two things that we explore in depth in Leader Training 101 and 201. You can register by emailing Cynthia at workshop@gracegroups.net . Please invest in your group and yourself by joining us for the Shepherding Workshops.

Reaching Every Man

Reaching Every Man is about building a ministry that touches every man in our church. Reaching Every Man is a four hour workshop that will help you look at your relationship to other men in a whole new light. Any man with a vision to help men walk more closely to Jesus should not miss this workshop. Mentors, small group leaders, team leaders, anyone who leads or ministers to men in the church will greatly benefit from this time of training. Come get equpped and encouraged on Monday, March 23rd, 5:30-9:30pm at Grace Community Church.

To register go to www.wacmm.com/wacmm-u.html


Registration is $45 and includes pizza dinner, training materials, and a copy of the book "No Man Left Behind." The Grace Mens' Ministry believes this is so important for you to attend that they will refund $20 to any man from Grace who registers and attends the March 23rd workshop.
Any questions contact Steve Girard at 240-553-1090 or steve.girard@gcconline.org