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 12/30/24
Join Us for Sunday Worship, January 5 at 10:00 AM
Pastor Al will be preaching from Luke 2: 41-52. “Raising Jesus: On Being the Holy Family of Nazareth, Part 2”
Last Week, Pastor Al preached on “Raising Jesus: On Being the Holy Family of Nazareth”
Nurturing the Extraordinary in the Ordinary
Pastor Al PowerPoint Slides from 12/29/24
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)
Degreening of the Church, Sunday, January 12
On Sunday, January 12, after our refreshment time, we plan to take down our Advent/Christmas decorations. If you can stay a little longer on Sunday, please consider helping with this. If you have any questions, please contact Jennifer or Caroline.
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-general 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.
Joy Kreider of Deliberate Dialogues, January 19 (Shane Chao is our Ministry Partner Liaison)
Joy will be in San Francisco for a few weeks in January. She will be worshiping with us on Sunday, January 19. Joy will share briefly about her Deliberate Dialogues ministry during the service. After service, all are invited to a light lunch (in the courtyard) to hear Joy speak more about her ministry.
About Us — Deliberate Dialogues
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.
If you are able to help with making a casserole for the Sunday lunch, please let Jennifer or Caroline know.
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.
Family Refreshment Sign Up
Please consider bringing/making refreshments for our fellowship time after Sunday service. There are many empty slots!
Sign Up for Refreshments After Sunday Service
Thank You to All Who Help to Set Up and Clean Up Each Sunday for our Refreshment Time
Every Sunday, we have a group of people who arrive early to set up and stay late to clean up for our refreshment time.
We extend our gratitude to:
Joel Balzer
Charlotte Chang
Audrey Jai
Elaine Fong-Joe
Jimmy Joe
Melody Lou
Caroline Kennedy
Joyce Kimotsuki
Anna Kwong
Edith Oliva
Laurie Shigekuni
Cristy Sison
Kim Towsley
Jensa Woo
Jennifer Yee
If anyone else would like to help, please let Jennifer or Caroline know.
Session Point of Contact
If you have any questions for the Session or issues that need to be addressed by the Session, you can send an email to session@gfccsf.org. Kim Towsley is the point of contact who will be picking up these emails.
Ministry Partners Update
Jubilee Immigration Advocates (Randy Chang is the Ministry Liaison)
Here is the “December 2024: The Light Shines in the Darkness” Newsletter.
“This past year, Jubilee provided critical immigration legal services to over 1000 individuals who speak 34 languages, from 52 countries…”
https://mailchi.mp/jubileelegal/dec-2024-newsletter123024-lightinthedarkness
ISAAC (Institute for Studies in Asian Church and Culture) (Leni Juarez is the Ministry Liaison)
Christmas Greetings from Melba Padilla Maggay (Chairman)
Dear Friends,
The year past has been truly a challenge on what it means to bring the Good News that the King and his kingdom has come.
Yet, as always, the Word of truth and hope penetrates through the thicket of issues we face in the public square.
Attached is our Christmas greetings.
Every blessing and joy from the Christ-Child,
MPM
Here is ISACC’s fourth quarter newsletter:
“The year 2024 has given us clear signs of where we must be heading as the Lord leads….”
ISACC Fourth Quarter Newsletter
Sunday Agang/JETS Letters of Appreciation for our 2023 Easter Offering to JETS (Dave Williams is the Ministry Liaison)
Dear GFCC,
I bring you greetings! I hope this finds you doing well. Kindly find attached below letters of appreciation from JETS MANAGEMENT and from the Students who benefited from the 2023 Easter gift to JETS.
Sincerely working together in vineyard,
Sunday
Shehu Jude Bulus
Joshua Wisdom Wilfred
Destiny Shunom Bulus
Zechariah JOel Bobby
Reuben Obed
Azhizhi Clementina
David Mark Ayuba
Dominic Isaac Sauri
Fauziya Tanko
Brenda Wong InterVarsity December Newsletter (Cindy Peterson is the Ministry Liaison)
“Thank you so much for your aloha, prayers, and generosity! God continues to surprise me with His love and goodness…. “
Brenda Wong December Newsletter
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.
Cumberland Youth and Family Services (Supported through our Cumberland Presbyterian Church contribution)
Cumberland Youth & Family Services, formerly known as Cumberland Presbyterian Children’s Home, primarily supports youth in foster care, young adults aging out of foster care and single-parent families. Located in Denton, Texas, we provide residential care, counseling and supportive services that aim to uplift and empower youth in foster care, young adults aging out of care and families.
Attached is their latest newsletter.
Cumberland Youth and Family Services November 2024 Newsletter