Dear Grace Family,
These announcements and prayer requests are being sent out every Thursday to inform us of what is happening in and the needs of our church. Please send any announcements or prayer requests to office@gfccsf.org by Tuesday evening.
Grace and peace, The Session and Staff of GFCC
Announcements for the week of 01/13/25
Join Us for Sunday Worship, January 19 at 10:00 AM
Pastor Al will be preaching from Exodus 20: 22-24; 21:1; 23:14-19. “ Order, Not Chaos: Laying Down the Law…of Love”
We Welcome Joy Kreider
Joy will be sharing briefly about Deliberate Dialogues during the service. If you wish to hear more about Joy’s ministry, you will have the opportunity to do so in the courtyard after coffee hour. A light lunch will be provided.
About Us — Deliberate Dialogues
Last Week, Pastor Paul preached on “Listen In”
What is God’s Posture Toward These Words?
Belonging
Committed to Us
Sacrificial Love
Attention
Affection
Pursuing Connection
1/12/25 Sermon Slides
If you want to re-listen to Pastor Paul’s sermon (and any other previous sermons), you can do so on our church’s website.
Sermons | GFCC (gfccsf.org)
Congratulations to Rev. DR. Paul Conti
Paul successfully defended his doctoral dissertation on Tuesday. Praise be to God who has guided Paul through his studies….Yay!
Special Offering to Give Aid and Relief for the Los Angeles Wildfires
We all have been watching the news of the devastating fires that have led to the loss of lives and property in southern California. Many of us have loved ones or know of people who have lost everything in the fires.
In response, we will be taking $5,000 immediately from our church’s general fund to send to Covenant World Relief and Development of the Evangelical Covenant Church. As you may remember, we sent funds to CWRD in 2023 for the work in the aftermath of the Syria-Turkey earthquake.
In the next weeks, we will all have the opportunity to personally give to this relief aid.
If you have any questions, please contact Pastor Al.
Los Angeles Wildfires
Navigating Transitions With Faith & Resilience, January 17-18, 2025
Sponsored by the Center For Asian American Christianity
In a time of rapid social and generational change, how can Asian American Christians find resilience, purpose, and connection? The Navigating Transitions conference offers a unique opportunity to explore how faith and mental health intersect within the distinct experiences of Asian American Christians.
Topics include: Trauma, perfectionism, relational disconnection, inter-generational dynamics and elder care.
Register Here: https://ptsem.edu/academics/centers/center-for-asian-american-christianity/2025-mental-health-conference/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
Please let Pastor Paul know if you are interested in being part of a viewing party.
Beyond 15 Minutes: Justice, Lament, and a Call to Faithful Gospel Witness
Thursday, January 23 and Thursday, February 27, 6:00AM - 7:15AM (Sponsored by INFEMIT - International Fellowship for Mission as Transformation)
At the fourth Lausanne International Congress, the theme of justice was given 15 minutes. In a world fraught with unjust wars, genocide, forced displacement, poverty, human trafficking, corrupt leadership, and state-sanctioned abuse, we are compelled by the good news of Jesus to go “beyond 15 minutes.” Register for a two-part gathering to lament, discuss, and strategize together to bear faithful witness to the gospel in these troubling times.
Contact Pastor Al with any questions.
Meeting Registration - Zoom
Love Feast and Family Meeting, January 26
We will continue our pattern of having our monthly Love Feast of eating together and having extended fellowship time. That Sunday will also be our quarterly family meeting when we will be updated in all aspects of our life together.
Denomination Day Sunday, February 2
Our denomination, Cumberland Presbyterian Church (CPC), was founded on February 4, 1810. Sunday, February 2 will be celebrated as Denomination Day Sunday. On Denomination Day Sunday, CPC takes a special offering for the Historical Foundation of the CPC. The money will help fund the conversion of fragile and deteriorating analogue media to digital formats.
If you would like to know more about this project and are interested in making a special offering to the Historical Foundation, please use the provided link:
Denomination Day
The Young Messiah Movie Night, Wednesday, February 5, 6:00PM to 8:30PM
Pastor Al mentioned The Young Messiah during his sermon last Sunday. He is inviting the congregation (friends and family also) to watch this movie in our church courtyard.
The Young Messiah is a 2016 biblical drama film based on the novel Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt by Anne Rice. The film revolves around a fictional interpretation of a seven-year-old Jesus who tries to discover the truth about his life when he returns to Nazareth from Egypt.
“Movie” food and snacks will be served during the movie so there is no need to eat dinner before coming.
For those who wish to discuss the movie afterwards, we will also have an opportunity to stay a little longer.
Contact Pastor Al with any questions.
Cultivating Creation Care Communities, Saturday, February 15, 9AM - 3PM
Have you ever longed to see your church respond to the climate crisis with prophetic imagination? Would you like to be part of a community moving from despair to hope? If so, come join Rev Dr. Ben Lowe and other experienced creation caregivers for an action-focused workshop empowering Bay Area churches to birth and nourish Creation Care Communities.
eventbrite description
Rev. Dr. Ben Lowe Will be Preaching on Sunday, February 16
Ben is the Executive Director of A Rocha USA. A Rocha USA is part of a worldwide family of A Rocha organizations spanning more than 20 countries, with a 40-year history of caring for creation. Our name means ‘the rock’ in Portuguese (our first initiative was a field study center in Portugal). Our global vision is to see a world where nature flourishes as people live equitably and sustainably.
Ben Lowe
An Invitation to Praise the Lord
"It is good to praise the Lord." (Psalm 92:1). You are invited to lead us in a prayer of adoration in the upcoming weeks. Here is the link if you would like to participate. We only have sign-ups until the beginning of Lent, but we will post more later on as we move forward with our planning.
Please reach out to worshipcoordinator@gfccsf.org if you have any questions.
Ministry Partners Update
Rise University Preparatory Church Supporter Open House, Thursday, January 23 at 5:30PM - 6:30PM (Brian Chinn is the Ministry Liaison)
Join other churches to pray for our scholars, families and communities. Come see how our Bay Area churches join together in supporting God’s work in the Bayview Hunters Point and beyond. See Brian Chinn with any questions.