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. If you have an announcement or prayer request that you want to be included in next week’s email, please send it to office@gfccsf.org by Tuesday night.
Grace and peace,
The Session and Staff of GFCC
Announcements for the week of 05/27/24
Join Us for Sunday Worship, June 2 at 10:00 AM
Pastor Al will be preaching from Luke 17: 11-19. “Thank you, God: The Healing Quality of Gratitude”
For our Spiritual Exercise:
Gratitude. Saying thanks. As our spiritual exercise this week, we will be writing Thank You notes. Is there a person or persons whom you simply need to thank for helping you in a time of need or giving you a gift or just being a positive, godly presence in your life? Is it a family member? A friend? Perhaps you want to say thank you to someone who has already passed away. Or perhaps you would like to write a Thank You note to God. Take these next few days to think about this and come prepared to write a short note. Postcards and pens will be provided.
This Is Us Quilt
Irene Fong will be assembling a “This is Us” quilt for our church. During our Love Feast, we all had the opportunity to individually choose a “quilt square” (crumbs) and choose a word or two that God has put on our heart.
We want everyone to have a chance to be a part of the quilt - everyone from as young as Ava Juarez to our brother, Robert Everett. Irene will have squares available on Sundays through June. If you are unable to come on a Sunday and would like to participate, please email the church office (office@gfccsf.org) or call the office (415-703-6090) and we will make arrangements for you to contribute to the quilt.
Quilt squares
Irene and quilt squares
Joint Refreshment Time with the First Mennonite Church of San Francisco, Sunday, June 2
Our congregation will be joining the First Mennonite Church of San Francisco (across the street on Dolores St.) for their refreshment time on June 2. Please plan on walking over together to the First Mennonite Church after our church service. We get the opportunity to meet our neighbors.
Nominating Committee (Nom-Com) 2024 - To Be Submitted by Sunday, June 2
The Nominating Committee is accepting nominations for the Session and the Nom-Com.
The Session currently consists of Margie Chiang, Irene Fong, Kim Towsley, Shane Chao, Mike Peterson and Albert Jew. Mike and Albert will be ending their terms in 2024.
The Nom-Com consists of Shane Chao, Kim Towsley, Howard and Audrey Jai, Sharon Jung-Verdi and Heidi McLaughlin. Sharon’s and Heidi’s terms end in 2024.
Nominations can be submitted to the Nom-Com via email nomcom2024@gfccsf.org or in writing. Please include a brief explanation for why you believe the candidate(s) you nominate would be good Session or Nom-Com members.
Lisandro and Patty Restrepo are the Guest Speakers on Sunday, June 9
Patty and Lisandro Restrepo have lived with their son Samuel in Mexico for over 2 decades, serving vulnerable peoples through Serve Globally.
Recently relocated to Leon, Guanajuato, they support a vulnerable community where a church with an integrated approach for sharing the Good News is being planted.
They also provide support for MAEM (Ministering to the Abused and Exploited in Mexico) ministry at a national level, as well as advise other emergent holistic ministries in the central area of Mexico. They also reach out to meet the deep needs of migrants in Mexico.
Our church will have the opportunity to hear from them.
Stott-Bediako Forum on Transformation Revisited: Mission and Gospel Imagination, July 15-17, Rionegro, Colombia
We are excited that Pastor Al will be leading a group of us to go to Colombia to attend the forum. As there will be expenses for the group, we invite the church to help with the travel costs. You can contribute by giving online (Colombia Trip) or dropping a check in the offering box with the notation of “Colombia Trip” on the check.
If you have any questions, please contact Pastor Al.
Church Retreat, Friday, September 27 to Sunday, September 29
Please be sure to set this weekend aside and put it on your calendars. More information will be forthcoming!
BK Woodson, Sr. will be our retreat speaker. Brian K. Woodson, Sr. is the founding pastor of Bay Area Christian Connection in Oakland. His resume is too long to list here so you can get to know him better at our retreat.
One note, he is the author of Purplynd (which is in our church library).
Pictures from the Session Retreat at San Damiano (May 9-11)
Group Picture
Eating Together
Session Painting
Finished Artwork
The Elements
Serving Communion
Covid Among our Congregants
We have been made aware that a few people in our congregation have covid. As covid protocols have been relaxed in San Francisco, we do want to continue to care for each other by being sensitive to the possibility of spreading covid.
We want to remind each other of the following:
While masks are no longer required during our services, we are mask-friendly and fully support visitors and congregants who choose to wear masks for their own personal protection.
If you suspect you have covid, please test.
If you do have covid, please let the church staff (office@gfccsf.org) or, at least the people who you had close contact with, know.
Check CDC guidelines to determine length of isolation (staying at home)
Stay up to date with your vaccinations
As many of us will be traveling during the summer months, please take extra precautions.
Photos of our Congregation
Our church has been making its presence known via our website and Facebook. Pictures taken during our service and events are often displayed there, but only with your permission. If you have never signed a SOCIAL MEDIA AND PHOTOGRAPHY POLICY AND AUTHORIZATION FORM, please let Jennifer or Caroline know and we will get a form for you to either opt in or out.
Or, if in the past, you have opted out, but now wish to opt in, please let Jennifer or Caroline know.
Sign Up to Be a Scripture Reader - 1 More Slot Left
We are in need of scripture readers during Sunday Service. Please consider serving our congregation by leading up in Scripture reading.
Scripture Reading Sign-Up
Good Samaritan Fund
The Good Samaritan Fund was established to help with the monetary needs of the people of our congregation and its friends. Several gifts have recently been made and we would like to replenish the fund.
If you are led to give to this fund, you can do so by going to the online giving portal and choosing the Good Samaritan Fund.
Refreshment Sign Up - No one has signed up for the month of July
There are many available slots during the summer months to bring refreshments. Please consider signing up.
Sign Up for Refreshments After Sunday Service
Ministry Partners Update
Infemit Conversations - Check Out the Latest Podcast
In this episode, we feature a conversation that we had with Zenzile Molo and Wendy Lewin, along with members of the INFEMIT community. Join us as we listen and learn about Corporate Listening and Discernment: Nurturing a communal imagination for transforming and transformative mission. This conversation connects to the theme of our next Stott-Bediako Forum, Transformation Revisited: Mission and Gospel Imagination.
Listen to the podcast.
Missionary Messenger Magazine for Spring 2024
Our denomination, Cumberland Presbyterian Church, publishes a quarterly magazine about our Missionaries. Our friend, Justin Richter, has written several articles for the magazine.
Missionary Messenger