The Church News for 10 September 2023

The Grace Missionary Church Office distributes the Church News for 10 September 2023.
Have a blessed week ahead.

BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES

Below is a list of our members and adherents celebrating birthdays and anniversaries during the coming week. If you are also celebrating your special date during this period and your name is not listed, please visit our “Birthdays / Anniversaries” page to update your information.

Prayer Meeting and Bible Studies:

On Wednesdays, we meet in the Sanctuary for our weekly midday Bible Study at 11:00 AM and, later, our Prayer Meeting session starts at 7:00 PM on ZOOM. The evening Bible Study begins at 8:00 PM and is shared on ZOOM and YouTube.

Youth Meetings

Grace Youth Ministry (GYM) is currently on a break. However, Youth In Praise (YIP) and Teens In Praise (TIP) will resume on September 30, 2023.

Sunday School Activities

Sunday School classes for all age groups meet from 8:00 a.m. to 8:55 a.m. each Sunday.

• The Freedom in Christ group meets in the Board Room at 8:00 a.m. with lessons facilitated by Sister Diana Reynolds. All are invited.
• Regular Adult Sunday School classes continue in the Annex with Sister Paula Blake.

Sunday Service

Our Worship Services continue in a face-to-face format from the Sanctuary each Sunday at 9:00 AM. It is shared via ZOOM and live-streamed on our YouTube Channel. Our speaker for this Sunday is Elder Paul Simpson.

We welcome your feedback regarding our Bible Studies and Sunday Services. Your comments will help us to grow and serve you better. So call or email the office or any of the Elders or Deacons, or email us via our website using our contact page. In addition, you may complete an online survey on our Polls page. We greatly appreciate your feedback.

Membership and Baptism

We ask anyone desirous of Baptism or Membership, please indicate your interest to the Church Office, or speak directly with Reverend Mark Dawes.

GMC Connect Card

The GMC Connect Card is available on our Membership Page and from our Team of Ushers. We invite you to complete and submit the card to help us to get to know you better. This will help us to provide the spiritual support you may need from time to time.

Members’ Milestone Recognition

The Membership Department wants to recognize and celebrate with our members with upcoming Milestone Birthdays or Wedding Anniversaries. If you have one such special event, please share it with Sister Dawn Ashley- the Social Support Officer or a member of the Church Office Team.

Church Photo Directory

Efforts continue to develop a Church Photo Directory here at GMC, to help our members recognize and get to know each other. This is a part of our drive to facilitate caring relationships within our fellowship. For those who wish to participate, we ask that you kindly email to the Church Office, a recent photo ( a selfie will also work), that represents you. GMC’s email address is gracemis@cwjamaica .com. Those without electronic access may send or hand deliver photos to the Church Office Team.

Other Announcements

The Thanksgiving Service for the Life of Ms. Ann Bennett, Sister Yvonne Wright’s sister, is scheduled for Thursday, September 14, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. here at GMC.

Mr Ashley Bennett, Sister Wright’s brother, passed away during last week. He was ill and in hospital. Our additional condolences to the family.

We continue to offer support through our prayers and words of encouragement to our members and adherents who have recently lost loved ones. May the peace and comfort of our Lord be yours.

We also remember our brethren who are not well or are recuperating, at this time. Let us keep surrounding them with our prayers and words of encouragement:

• Reverend Garnett Roper
• Brother Leonard Bowerbank
• Brother Lloyd Trusty
• Sister Mary Gray
• Sister Sandra Simpson

Prayer Emphasis – 40 Days of Prayer for Children & Youth

Our Prayer Initiative runs from August 13, 2023, to September 21, 2023. Several activities have been organized, through Corporate and Individual times of seeking the Lord. You are invited to join us for this season of prayer. The activities include:

1. A Prayer Chain
   A 24-hour schedule during which you are invited to commit to praying each day during a selected timeslot.
2. Prayer Meetings
   Our scheduled Wednesday Evening meetings will, during this time, include intentional prayer for our Children and Youth.
3. Prayer & Fasting on Thursdays
   The GMC Sanctuary will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. each Thursday to facilitate those wishing to pray there during the day, at their convenience. (On Thursday, September 14^th, the Sanctuary will only be available between the hours of 8;00- 9:00 a.m. and 1:00-4:00 p.m.)
4. Early Morning ZOOM Prayer Meeting
   The last of the Morning Prayer meetings will take place on September 12, 2023 @ 5:00 a.m. The Online Link is below.

Prayer Focus points have been circulated for your guidance and the Online Link to the Zoom meetings is available.

The Greater Grants Pen Ministers’ Fraternal meets virtually for prayer on the first Monday of each month. As we increase our prayer levels at GMC, those of us who can are encouraged to plan to participate. The Church Office will share the link when provided.

There will be a Breakfast Meeting of Grace Men’s Fellowship on Saturday, September 16, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. in the church Annex. All our men are invited. To help us plan, you are asked to kindly confirm your attendance with the Church Office by Wednesday, September 13, 2023.

Elder John Roomes has been invited to the World Evangelistic Alliance’s Future of the Gospel Forum in Istanbul, Turkey, where he will represent the Evangelistic Association of the Caribbean (EAC). He is seeking the prayerful partnership of the GMC Membership to assist with the purchase of roundtrip tickets (US$1,500) to the Conference. Please reach out to Elder Roomes at 876-832-5973 for further details as to how you can help.

First Missionary Church invites you to their 95^th Anniversary Service on Sunday, September 17, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. at 58 East Street, Kingston under the theme “Celebrating God’s Goodness…Offering Hope“.

GMC will host a Missions Conference here at 7 West Avenue on Saturday, October 7, 2023. Please register your interest in participating with the Church Office. Tel: 876-969-0413; email:gracemis@cwjamaica.com.

Prayers

Please continue to pray for God’s healing touch for our members who are at this time recuperating. Also, please remember to pray for the “Sick and Shut-Ins” and those classified as vulnerable. In addition, remember to stay in touch with each other during our time of isolation and separation.

Resumption of Church Activities

We continue to observe the following protocols for your safety and comfort when we meet:

1. Hand Washing and Sanitization.
2. Mask Wearing in enclosed spaces (highly recommended, but not mandated).
3. Maintaining Physical distance (highly recommended, but not mandated).
4. Remaining at home if you are feeling unwell.

Also, please remember to pay very close attention to the periodic updates and advisories issued by the Health Authorities.

Please remember to call and pray with one another. Also, keep safe, practice social distancing, wash hands, and clean surfaces regularly.

In addition, remember to wear your masks, sanitize, and maintain 6 feet physical distance. Also, let us keep in touch and encourage each other, especially during these very challenging times.