Grace Church Latest News

Dear Grace Family ~
We are so thankful for God’s many blessings and to be celebrating Christmas in our new building.  Christmas weekend will mark one full month already! 

As 2011 comes to an end, our focus remains on the future opportunities God prepares for us to reach the lost and care for every believer.  Thank you for your overwhelming generosity this year, and in years passed – and your continued faithfulness to the Lord. 

If you were planning to give a financial gift to be reflected on your 2011 year end contribution statement, you have three options:

*  Place your gift in one of the offering boxes this weekend or by Saturday, Dec. 31^st.
*  Mail your gift to the Church office – it must be received on or before Saturday, Dec. 31^st
    (mail to: 6969 Sheridan Blvd • Arvada, CO • 80003)
*  Go to our website and give online – click on Give Online button to be directed to PayPal

We hope to see you – your family and friends at one of our Christmas services –

            Friday – Dec. 23^rd at 7:00pm
            Saturday – Dec. 24^th at 8:00 | 9:45 | 11:30am

 To date, we have received $256,000 in commitments to reach the $900,000 goal.  If you haven’t made a commitment, there is still time before the year is over.  Stop by the Bookstore downstairs for a commitment form or contact the Finance Office for details.

We hope you have a wonderful time with family and friends over this Christmas holiday.

May God bless you and your family,
The Elders of Grace Church

Dear Grace Family ~ Wow! What an unbelievable miracle this past weekend was – seeing 2500 people in our new building, with room to fellowship and hang out, gave me goose bumps. It was so great to see 24 people come to know Christ and it was a wonderful reminder of your faithfulness to bring the lost to church with you; thank you for being the most faithful and sacrificial church on earth.

I encourage each of you to come back this weekend as we continue our practical look at the Book of James.  We will learn how God’s word teaches us to Turn Temptation Into Triumph.  This is a subject every one of us deals with daily – and it can either make us more reliant upon God’s word, or cause us to abandon everything we know to be right – for a moment of foolishness.  I am looking forward to getting back to some sense of normality in our new Worship Center.  Now we have room to accommodate anyone you want to invite to church. If you ever find the parking lot full, we have permission from Wal-Mart to park on the south side of their lot.  

As we made our move into the facility this past weekend, I noticed that many of us felt a great sense of relief, and rightfully so; however, the project is far from over and there are still inconveniences.  Due to weather conditions that will begin tonight, the bridge from 69^th will not be completed – so prepare to enter from and exit onto Sheridan … and be patient.  If there is not room to park in our lot, you may park at Wal-Mart – there will be a shuttle available to and from the church.

We must also remember that our commitment to fund this project is still critical to the existence of the ministry.  As I have said on many occasions, “The preaching time will not be used as a call to fund the building” – all of us are called by God to be faithful and sacrificial givers. II Corinthians 9:6-8 commands each of us to remember our commitments and cheerfully fulfill.  As a fellow giver, I want you to know that this has been an exciting journey of faith and I believe our brightest days are ahead.  We all love this ministry and the incredible work we are doing together around the world – and this is the only reason I am sending you this reminder.

God has provided and He will continue to bring a harvest of souls and change lives, using each of us to be His hands and feet.  Thank you for making this past weekend a breathtaking event for all of us, and me especially.  Nearly 23 years ago I dreamed that God would raise up a body of believers who would love the good news of the gospel and care more about others than they do themselves.  He has done it and He has been so gracious to give us a nice new facility to continue this calling together.

I love you all and want to thank each of you who participated in giving and praying for this miracle.  Now let’s see what God will do in the days, months and years ahead.  He is faithful always!

In Christ alone,
Pastor Rick

Join us Thanksgiving Weekend in God’s New Worship Center!

Saturday @ 5pm

Sunday @ 9 or 11am

Dear Grace Family ~
In Joshua 3, the nation of Israel faces an enormous obstacle as they stare at the Jordan River in flood stage with no clear way of crossing. Then God tells them to go and He is very specific. He tells them to send the priests to take the sacred Ark of the Covenant and cross the Jordan; but instead of drowning the faithful, he does a miracle and stops the water up-stream. The most amazing part of this story is how the priests had to actually step off the river’s edge in faith before God came through in a big way.

Over the past few weeks, we have faced a similar enormous obstacle with the construction project.  We needed to step out in faith and pray that God would come through in a big way.  Here’s what we faced.

1. In order to obtain our Certificate of Occupancy, the city requirements are that all phases of the project must be complete.  For us, this means finishing the parking lot, landscaping, new driveway to 69^th Avenue, and an acceleration lane on to Sheridan Boulevard.  Based on the original construction schedule, these projects would have been completed this summer; however, due to the schedule delays we experienced, these projects must now be completed late this fall or during the winter.  Depending on how cold it gets and the amount of snowfall in the next several months, we risk not completing these projects until next spring resulting in an even longer delay until we can use the building.  There is an option that allows us to move into the building before these projects are done.  But to use this option, we would be required to set aside 150% of the cost of the remaining projects to assure the city that we would get the projects completed.  In the short-term, this would require more money than what is in the construction budget, but would allow us to move into the building sooner.
2. Our construction loan agreement calls for us to begin repayment once the project is complete.  The bank that is financing the project is increasingly concerned with the schedule delay since our repayments were to begin last spring.  We are preparing a revised repayment schedule with the bank based on the completion option we work out with the city.

Last weekend and throughout this past week we asked you to pray for God to work a miracle as we “stepped off the river’s edge in faith”.  God is answering your prayers in a big way and we’re seeing the miracle.  However, we have not completely crossed the river and still have a significant obstacle to overcome.

During the services this weekend, we will provide more details about how God is answering your prayers and what still lies ahead.  There will also be a question and answer time where you can ask your specific questions.  Please plan to attend one of the services so you can hear the details.  We also ask that you continue to pray for this situation and that God will be glorified.  We love you all and believe that God will use this situation to solidify our faith now and for generations to come.

God bless you all!
Pastor/Elders of Grace

Dear Grace Family,
I wanted to personally send a reminder to each of you about the Courageous Relationships series which will begin this weekend. I believe that the condition of all of our families is being attacked, from every side, by three enemies: the world, the flesh and the devil. The enemy seeks to kill, steal and destroy … and if he can destroy your home, he can destroy the church, which ultimately destroys this great nation.

It is critical that you make the month of October “family month”. I mentioned that October is Pastors’ Appreciation Month; and all I want from each of you, is that you make it to church one of the four services every weekend. It would also be tremendous if you could bring a family, who could use God’s powerful word, with you.

Here are a few reminders:

• Go see the movie “Courageous” – check your local listings. I’ll probably be attending the 7pm showing, Friday night at the AMC Promenade 24 – love to see you there!
• Pray for the Holy Spirit to move in the lives of every single person who attends the Courageous Relationships series.
• Seek a peaceful month of loving communication in your homes, whether you have that now or not. It is critical that we take all of our frustrations and give them to the Lord … then come together in the weekend service to find out what God wants from each of us.
• Go to a small group for four weeks. It’s simple and it will change your life. You’re only committing to eight hours this month for small group – which will reform, re-energize, and remind you of God’s purpose for your family. 
• Plan to attend the special Resolution service Sunday, October 23 at 1pm. This 45-minute service will be a time where every family member will get a chance to commit their homes to Christ. A special gift will be given to those who are called to lead in their homes, and we will have a Prayer of Commission – to send us back into our communities to be families of faith.

I cannot tell you how proud I am to be the lead pastor of this church. You are, without a doubt, the most incredible and genuine people in my, and my family’s life; we count it a great privilege to serve you. It is my prayer and desire that God continues developing a healthy and vibrant family in my home as much as He is in yours. God bless you all; and I’ll see you at the movies!

In Christ alone,
Pastor Rick

Dear Grace Family ~
As we mentioned in June, we have an opportunity for you to extend your financial commitment to Adopt A Brick through the end of 2011.  If you have already notified us that you will extend your commitment – thank you!

According to scripture, we all need to participate with sacrificial giving.

Philippians 4:18-19 (NIV)     
…They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.
And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

We should give consistently, without hesitation because it is a privilege.

To extend your commitment …

• Please send an email to:  karenkremer@grace-alone.org
• If your commitment is via ACH or credit card, we cannot process your giving without your written permission.
• If you continue giving via Cash or Check – please use an Adopt A Brick envelope or mark Adopt A Brick on your check (this helps us designate your giving to the correct fund).

If you have not yet committed to give above and beyond your normal giving, you can make a commitment – stop by the Bookstore and pick up an Adopt A Brick envelope with all the details.

Join us as we pray for God’s provisions through His people here at Grace. We believe, by faith that God is going to work in miraculous ways. We appreciate your faithfulness. Together, this is our chance to do what only God is able to do through us.

God bless,
The Pastor/Elders of Grace

Dear Grace Family ~
Our desire is to keep you updated with the plans for the first weekend in the new building.  We are aware that some Grace members are making plans and scheduling vacations around the opening. The original opening date of July 30 & 31 has been postponed due to circumstances out of our control – weather has caused construction delays.  The builders and crew have worked extremely hard to make up for the nearly “rained out’ month of May. We have also been made aware that all the landscaping must be finished before we can move in.

We will keep you updated on when opening weekend will be.  As all of us desire to be in the new building as soon as possible, we continue to wait patiently on the Lord for His perfect timing!                   

If you have made a commitment to Adopt A Brick – will you extend your brick commitment through the end of the year? If we can all be faithful through the year, this should cover the overage that was created by unseen costs from the city and a variety of other needs.  To extend your commitment, please send an email to karenkremer@grace-alone.org.  If your commitment is via ACH or credit card, we cannot process your Adopt A Brick financial commitment past July without your written permission.

If you have not yet committed to give above and beyond your normal giving, you can still make a commitment – stop by the Bookstore and pick up an Adopt A Brick envelope. I know that God will honor you and take care of your needs because of your faithfulness.

Philippians 4:13-19
I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need. Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account. I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

We cannot wait to see you all this week for the 4^th sermon in the Storytellers series.

God bless,
The Pastor/Elders of Grace

Hey everyone!
If you missed church last weekend, we wanted to make sure you heard about the exciting new opportunities that will be happening in the youth ministry – as we near our opening weekend for our new building!

Changes for High School, Middle School and Youth Small Groups

• Beginning Sunday, June 5^th, our High School ministry, The Summit, will be meeting upstairs from 6:00-8:00pm, allowing more time for students to fellowship with our amazing volunteer staff and allow for an evening without the stress of school activities. We believe this will create a healthier youth ministry; and it is our hope that more students will be able to bring their friends to hear the gospel – as Sunday nights will give opportunities to have bigger and better outreach events!
• Beginning Wednesday, June 1^st, our Middle School ministry, The Trek, will meet from 6:30-8:00pm – as many of our younger students cannot stay until 9:00 on a school night.
• High School small groups will all meet at the church on Wednesday nights, from 6:30-8:00pm, in the downstairs classrooms. There are many avenues we are currently pursuing … all with the hope that Wednesday night small groups will give more students the opportunity to grow deeper in their relationship with Christ. They will also have the unique opportunity to serve the Middle School – before or after their group time.

We are very eager to begin seeing a growth in our ministry and believe this is a GREAT change that will provide an atmosphere for life change. We are honored to serve the Lord and give Him all the glory for all the blessings He has given our church this year!

Volunteers Needed
In order for this vision to really soar, we are in need of more volunteers! If you have a heart to serve the Lord in the youth ministry, reply to this email or give me a call and try it out. We are currently looking for help in the following areas: small group leaders for Middle School and High School, security team, multi-media, behind-the-scenes help and mentors – to listen to the “ups and downs” of a student’s life.

Outreach
Our heart for making these adjustments is to really provide the High School ministry the opportunity to foster and create healthier relationships with the Lord and to connect with our volunteer staff. We will be able to narrow our focus on Sunday Nights to provide more of an outreach night where students know the Gospel will be given in a relevant way. Sundays will also allow students to bring their friends to youth group rather than fight the school activity schedule. High School small groups on Wednesday nights will provide the opportunity for students to go deeper in their relationship with Christ and our hope is to bring as many kids as we possibly can to that place where Christ is their priority before graduation.

If you have any questions at all about the exciting news for the Youth Ministry at Grace, please contact me. Thank you for your continued support of our youth and making sure they are moving towards leading this church!

In Christ,
Peter Bailey
Pastor of Youth Ministries
720.895.9027

Dear Grace Family ~
SAVE THE DATE – our first weekend in the new facility will be July 30^th & 31^st – Praise God – it’s actually going to happen!  It’s going to be an incredible weekend of celebration; and we know you’ll bring your friends and family to enjoy this special service.

We have a few challenges left; but we believe God will see us through. To date, we have 365 families who have committed $235,052 through July.  We have already received $180,510 of the total commitment!   These figures are very encouraging, however we have seen the current building commitment from 2009 decrease; and the financial need to fully complete the building is still $200,000 short. Due to this deficit, some of our ministries will not be fully equipped to function effectively. Please know that this is not a veiled attempt to guilt you into participating – it is simply a fact we cannot ignore.

We have made sacrificial commitments to Adopt a Brick and that’s all we are asking from each of you.  Please know and understand our hearts – in a church that refuses to guilt you into giving and doesn’t even pass a plate, we are simply asking you to honor the Lord by giving back to Him a portion of all He’s given to you. (Philippians 4:10-19)

Join us and participate in this challenge.

• For those who have committed until July, please consider continuing your current sacrificial “brick” commitment through the remainder of 2011.
• If you have not made a commitment, you can pick up an envelope in the Bookstore with all the details.  You can give a one-time or monthly gift – a simple way to give is through ACH (direct giving); the forms are included in the Adopt a Brick envelope.
  You can also contact Karen @ 720.895.9013 or send an email.
• Pray for God’s provisions through His people here at Grace.
• Believe, by faith, that God is going to work in miraculous ways. We know He will, without a doubt, because He has never let us down in 22 years – His track record is perfect.

We know that God is going to bless all of us – in ways we cannot even begin to comprehend.   Last weekend we had over 2500 in attendance for five services and 53 decisions for Christ. You are such an incredible church and your faithfulness this Easter just tells us that we are going to see a “harvest of souls” in the future that will bring God pleasure and glory like never before. Thank you for being faithful!

In Christ alone,
The Pastor/Elders of Grace 

March 27th was the deadline for turning in the commitments for Adopt a Brick; however, we have received calls and emails asking if it’s too late to make a commitment.  We are happy to say – “No, it’s not too late!”

Some of you have mentioned that you are waiting to receive your tax refund.  Please fill out a commitment form and turn in as soon as possible.  Once you receive your refund, you can give your financial commitment using the Adopt a Brick giving envelope.

If you still need a form, you can pick up an Adopt a Brick envelope in the Bookstore during any weekend service.  Whether your commitment is one-time or 4-month, please turn in your form as soon as possible and turn in your financial commitment when you can.

Thanks for your generosity and support!

In Christ,
The Pastor/Elders of Grace