The Church News for 6 August 2023
The Grace Missionary Church Office distributes the Church News for 6 August 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.
August 6th
Paulette Dixon
Kadian Ingleton
Stephen Rampair
Andrew Richards
Michelle Shand-Forbes
Charmaine & Glendon Newsome – Anniversary
August 7th
Charmaine Blake
Sonya Ebanks
Kevin Forbes
Clintoni Laing
August 8th
Marlon Jarrett
August 9th
Joy Crooks
Dermot Haughton
Sonia Lee Franklyn
Valerie & Michael Smellie – Anniversary
August 10th
Sandra Wilson (o/s)
August 11th
Racquel Barrett
Grace Crosby-White
Marguerite Guthrie
August 12th
Jaden Dunbar (o/s)
Julie & (Pastor) David Biberstein – Anniversary
Deborah & Conrad Stewart – Anniversary
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 starts at 8:00 PM and is shared on ZOOM and YouTube.
Youth Meetings
Grace Youth Ministry (GYM), Youth In Praise (YIP) and Teens In Praise (TIP) are on break for the summer.
Sunday School Activities
Sunday School classes will break for the month of August and resume in September 2023.
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 Reverend Mark L. Dawes.
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 who have 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.
Other Announcements
Our heartfelt condolences go out to Brother Jeremy Richards and his family on the passing of his Dad, on Friday, August 4, 2023.
Sister Yvonne Wright is grieving the loss of her sister Mrs Ann Bennett-McKenzie, who passed away on Friday. She is also requesting prayer for her brother, Mr Ashley Bennett, who is seriously ill in a hospital in Vancouver, Canada.
The Thanksgiving Service for the life of our Sister Lucille Alexander will be held at the Emmanuel Missionary Church, Ward Avenue, Mandeville on Saturday, August 12, 2023, at 11:00 am. Interment follows in Asia, Manchester.
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 Doreen Bourne (the mother of GMC Member Sister Denisha Bourne).
Prayer Emphasis
Grace Missionary Church is seeking to further augment prayer in our Fellowship during the period August 13, 2023, to September 21, 2023. A number of activities have been organized around 40 days of prayer for our Children & Youth, through Corporate and Individual times of seeking the Lord. Please join us in prayer in this season.
The activities include:
- A Prayer Chain
A 24-hour schedule is available at the Ushers’ table, where all are invited to stop by and indicate by Name and Contact Number, the timeslot in which you will commit to pray each day. - Prayer Meetings
Our scheduled Wednesday Evening meetings will, during this time, include intentional prayer for our Children and Youth. - Prayer & Fasting on Thursdays
The GMC Sanctuary will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 pm each Thursday to facilitate those wishing to pray there during the day. - Early Morning ZOOM Prayer Meeting
Morning prayer meetings have been scheduled for the following dates @ 5:00 AM.- August 15, 2023
- August 29, 2023
- September 12, 2023
Further details may be had from our Prayer Coordinator, Deacon Arlene Burton.
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 are asking 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.
Upcoming MCAJ Events
NMYM Camp 2023 is on now! Our GMC/Rae Town Campers will attend Camps 2-5, and we ask that you pray specifically for a great time of fun, their safety and spiritual upliftment as they participate this year.

Help Needed
A reliable live-in caregiver is urgently needed for a female senior citizen. Interested persons are asked to contact the GMC Church Office for further details.
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:
- Hand Washing and Sanitization.
- Mask Wearing in enclosed spaces (highly recommended, but not mandated).
- Maintaining Physical distance (highly recommended, but not mandated).
- 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.