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 01/20/25
Join Us for Sunday Worship, January 26 at 10:00 AM
Pastor Al will be preaching from Exodus 23: 20-33 “God, Idols, and Nationhood: Toward a Just Theology of the Promised Land”
Last Week, Pastor Al preached on “Order, Not Chaos: Laying Down the Law…of Love”
How are the laws of the covenant relevant for us today?
Law and Order
Law and God
Law and the Poor
Law and Creation
Law and Self
1/19/25 Sermon Slides
If you want to re-listen to Pastor Al’s sermon (and any other previous sermons), you can do so on our church’s website.
Sermons | GFCC (gfccsf.org)
Grateful for Joy Kreider Last Sunday
We were blessed by hearing about Joy’s work with those who have suffered trauma. Let’s continue to pray for her Deliberate Dialogues ministry.
Love Feast and Family Meeting on Sunday
After our church service, please plan on staying for our Love Feast and Family Meeting.
Spiritual Formation Spaces
Beginning the week of February 10, we will offer five groups that explore Richard Rohr’s book, Falling Upward. There are daytime and evening options. Groups will be limited to 10. The schedule will be every other week.
Here are the small group offerings:
Shane - Tuesday evenings, host at church, 7PM Shane Group at Church
Robert and Margie - Wednesday daytime, 10:30-Noon Chiang Group
Albert and Cindy - Wednesday evenings, 7PM Jew Group
Paul and Ellen - Thursday evenings, 7PM Conti Group
Please contact the church office if you have any questions about signing up for the small groups.
View Pastor Paul’s Invitation to Join the Falling Upward Spiritual Formation Groups
Pastor Paul Video
Please obtain your own copy of Falling Upward. The book is available from Amazon.com, but you can purchase from your favorite bookstore or vendor. Please note that Falling Upward is a hardback book. If you see it in paperback, it is the Companion Book.
Falling Upward on Amazon.com: Books
If you have any questions, please contact Pastor Paul.
Deeper Dive - Reflecting on the Sunday Experience
Beginning on Tuesday, February 18th, we will offer “A Deeper Dive,” a time to
revisit the previous Sunday’s worship experience.
This space will be on Zoom every Tuesday evening, 7:00-8:15pm.
Please contact the church office for the Zoom link.
No sign-ups are needed.
Contact Pastor Al if you have any questions.
Book Discussion Group: Widening God's Mercy: Sexuality in the Biblical Story by Richard B. Hays and Christopher B. Hays
Starting Sunday, February 2nd, there will be a weekly Zoom book club to explore Widening God’s Mercy: Sexuality in the Biblical Story by Richard B. Hays and Christopher B. Hays. We’ll cover 1-2 chapters each week as we journey through this important work.
Book: Widening God’s Mercy: Sexuality in the Biblical Story
Start Date: Sunday, February 2, 2025 (continues weekly on Zoom)
Time: 5 PM Pacific / 7 PM Central / 8 PM Eastern
Co-authored by renowned New Testament scholar Richard Hays and his son, Old Testament scholar Christopher Hays, Widening God’s Mercy explores how God’s grace has expanded to include all people in the covenant community.
Richard Hays, once opposed to LGBTQ+ inclusion, offers a new perspective in this important work, acknowledging past missteps and sharing a powerful message of grace.
This weekly Zoom-based discussion group will offer Cumberland Presbyterians a unique opportunity to engage with this profound rethinking of scripture and sexuality. As we explore faith, sexuality, and the expansive nature of God’s grace, we hope to build community and ultimately embrace a more inclusive understanding of God's love.
You can find Widening God’s Mercy at most bookstores or online retailers. If you’re looking for a digital or audio version, it’s available on platforms like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Yale Press.
To join our inaugural session, please email welcomingcps@gmail.com.
If you have any questions, please contact Pastor Al or Pastor Paul.
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. You can give online or drop a check (indicate that the check is for the LA fires) in our offering
If you have any questions, please contact Pastor Al.
Los Angeles Wildfires
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 a few weeks ago. 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
In addition, we will be having a joint worship service with Redeemer Community Church on February 16.
Community Events
“The Waiting Period” - A Performance by Brian Copeland, Saturday, February 22
Caroline Kennedy’s sister is on the board of the Mental Health Association of Alameda County. The organization is sponsoring Brian Copeland’s biographical dramedy about depression. Brian Copeland was a host on San Francisco’s KGO radio and TV.
The 'Waiting Period' in the title, refers to California's mandatory ten-day waiting period before Copeland could bring home the gun he had purchased for the purpose of ending his life.
If you are interested, use the link:
The Waiting Period with Brian Copeland Tickets, Sat, Feb 22, 2025 at 7:00 PM | Eventbrite
If you have any questions, contact Caroline.
Ministry Partners Update
InterVarsity Update from the Gutierrez-Graczaks (Robert Chiang is the Ministry Partner Liaison)
“Over sabbatical, as we spent time reflecting on how God has been at work, we were reminded of God’s faithfulness in ministry in Reno, St. Louis, and now San Francisco….”
Read the rest of their Transitions to Expand Ministry newsletter:
New Transition for Our Family
Langham Partnership’s Year in Ministry Update (A recipient of our Alternative Gifts)
God moved in remarkable ways around the global church last year. Although numbers will never tell the full story, they help illustrate everything God has done.
We want to celebrate that with you — and thank you for the key role your support played — so we put together these snapshots of Langham’s work over the past year. Thank you for partnering with us to strengthen the global church
The year in ministry (of interest in this link is a story about Rico)
Rico, a pastor, professor, author and editor in the Philippines, received his PhD with Langham’s support. He’s helping Filipino church address a lack of theological training and biblical resources that speak directly to their culture.