1. Art and Diseño

4:30-6:30pm Curbside Cuisine
Pick-Up
Office Closed
9:30am Takin’ It to the Streets
28
9:30am Takin’ It to the Streets
GRAND OPENING!
February 7 & 8
Saturday
4:30 PM
Sunday
8:45 & 10:45 AM
Sunday
Service Times
8:45 AM
Adult Sunday School
23
Jr. & Sr. High School
5pm YAM - Young Adult Ministry
1:45pm Oakwood Village Service
Children’s Program
8:45 & 10:45 am
SUNDAY SERVICES
22
5pmYAM - Young Adult Ministry
10:45 Costa Rica Team Mtg
16
SUNDAY SERVICES
8:45 & 10:45AM
15
5PM YAM - Young Adult Ministry
8:45 & 10:45am
10:30am Takin' It To the Streets Sierra Ridge Memory Care
6:30pm Jr. & Sr. High Youth Grp
5:30pm Jr & Sr. High Leaders
Mtg
5:30pm WNL
EV
9am Sewers & Rippers
9:30am Women’s Bible Study
10am Grief Share (Women)
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26
25
24
6:30pm Jr. & Sr. High Youth Grp
5:30pm Jr & Sr. High Leaders
Mtg
9am Men’s Bible Stdy
9am Sewers & Rippers
5:30pm WNL
10am Grief Share (Women)
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19
G
N
I
H
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Y
R
E
Office Closed
17
18
9:30am Women's Bible Study
6:30pm Jr. & Sr. High Youth Grp
5:30 Jr. & Sr. High Leader's Mtg
7pm Prayer Meeting for
5:30 NO WNL
6pm Life Skills - Phase 2
9:30am Women's Bible Study
9am Sewers & Rippers
9
GRAND OPENING
SUNDAY SERVICES
8
5pmYAM - Young Adult Ministry
Super Bowl Student Fundraiser– Party
Tray pick-up after each Service
2
SUNDAY SERVICES
8:45 & 10:45AM
1
Sun
9am –PM
MY BEST FRIEND'S CLOSET
21
Office Closed
10:15am Takin’ It to the
Streets-Worship at Auburn
Oaks Care Ctr
MARRIAGE EVENT
2PM - 8PM
Office Closed
13
10am Grief Share (Women)
3pm Gathering Inn
12
11
6:30pm Jr. & Sr. High Youth Grp
5:30 Jr. & Sr. High Leader's Mtg
5:30 WNL
3
10
9am Sewers & Rippers
9am Men’s Bible Stdy
5
10am Grief Share (Women)
5:30pm Kairos Course
6
9:30am Women's Bible Study
4
Wed
Tue
AWAKEN LOVE
14
GRAND OPENING
Saturday Service
4:30 PM
9:30am Takin’ It to the Streets
Office Closed
7
Sat
Fri
Thu
2 015
FE B RUA RY
Mon
12
LOVE
Changes
& Nursery
10:45 AM
Adult Sunday School
Children’s Program
& Nursery
3-22
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Be a better Implementer!
Have you ever been hurt because you didn’t know
something? I remember when I was a kid and I was at
my neighbor’s house and touched an electric fence he
had put up around the pasture. I didn’t know how
electric fences worked and the shock smacked me
pretty good. I also remember when I opened my first
checking account. I was in college and the first couple
of months I bounced several checks because I didn’t know how the
whole system worked. I took money out of the ATM because I didn’t
know that it would take time for checks to clear my account. I remember the confusion and overdraft fees I had to pay (as a poor college
student they really hurt). Our parents used to tell us, “What you don’t
know can’t hurt you.” Well, sorry moms and dads, sometimes ignorance is not blissful. Sometimes it can be down right painful.
My first trip to Africa really nailed the point home when I realized that
there are simple things in life we really need to know! Kenya had a
corrupt government for over 25 years. The corrupt President did not
care for the needs of his people. When he stands before the Lord he
is going to have to give an account for his neglect and abuse of the
people entrusted to him. Educating his people was one of the areas of
neglect. He made basic education costly. As a result the average
Kenyan could not afford to send their children to school. The people
remained ignorant of basic information, things we learned before the
fifth grade—how to properly wash your hands and brush your teeth,
how to not spread germs to our food or to others, how to figure out
whether you had the flu or malaria. Basic information that if you do not
know can hurt you.
s
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Auburn Grace Community Church
Wom
“ Bu ilding a fa m ily of be liev e r s th at kno w C hr ist and m ak e H im kn own. ”
3 1 2 6 O l ym p i c Wa y
M A I L I N G : P. O . B o x 6 4 4 6
I'm not Wonder Woman.
I know, you're shocked, but here's the
thing, and I'll whisper it so no one else
will hear: You're probably not Wonder
Woman either. Or Superman. Or one of
the Incredibles. But if you're anything
like me, I'm guessing you already know
that.
Perhaps donning a Super suit has
zapped your strength and focus,
too? It's no mystery why we're tired,
distracted, and confused. We reach for
more than we can lift. We take on too
much. We tell ourselves, "I can do
this and that, and that . . . and that . . . "
We twist and strain to make it work, so
we can do it all, so we can fly.
Well, I've decided to hang up my Super suit, boots, cape, and all. Here's
how it began: I was offered a job with
an organization I love. The proposed
job was centered around tasks I enjoy
and would utilize skills God has spent
years honing and developing in me. To
top it off, the job's focus was one I'm
passionately tuned into--spiritual development--a perfect fit. Oh, how I wanted
to clip on my Wonder Woman cape and
take off with it!
But I knew better, so instead I prayed.
And prayed. I talked with friends about
it and consulted my husband. I analyzed the job and charted the daily,
monthly, and yearly responsibilities as
well as the time it would take to fulfill
each one.
I worked hard to fit it in. I noted how
well it complimented my existing ministry--and carefully ignored how it could
serve me.
For months I prayed and couldn't
gain clarity on whether to take it or
not. I had no peace to accept it, but
was afraid to close the door and miss
the opportunity. I strained to hear God's
direction with one ear, while entertaining my desires with the other. Finally, God graciously spoke. "This will
draw you away from what I've called
you to do. Focus and finish what I've
entrusted to you!"
And a truth, previously submerged in
the soupy mix of sincerity and secret
hopes, bubbled up and broke free:
God is sovereign and I am not.
The sweet, familiar truth swept through
my mind like a cleansing breeze. It anchored my heart and altered my perspective. It changed everything. Perhaps it will for you, too.
things beyond
planned for me.
what
God
No. I want God's agenda, not mine.
God’s plans eclipse more than what my
puny brain can imagine and hold more
promise than my polluted heart can
hope for. Because God reigns as King,
I will rest in the shade of His sovereign
care.
Because God is sovereign:
I'm not Wonder Woman. And I no longer want to be.
* We don't have to carve out a future
for ourselves. Ephesians 2:10
What about you?
* We don't have to act out of fear, insecurity, or ambition.
A u b u r n · CA · 9 5 6 0 4
has
We b s i t e : w ww. a u b u r n g r a c e . c o m
Email: [email protected]
PASTOR
Phil Sparling
Used by permission: Bethany Macklin
Ministries
STUDENT MINISTRIES PASTOR
Steve West
ASSOCIATE/WORSHIP PASTOR
Lorin Miller
* We don't have to try so hard, do so
much, or suffer such disappointment.
No, we don't have to do any of those
awful, heavy, deadening things.
ADMINISTRATIVE PASTOR
Dave Wickstrom
We don't have to be Wonder Woman,
Superman, or one of the the Incredibles.
PASTOR OF BODY LIFE
Greg Hummel
CHILDREN’S DIRECTOR
Sue Smead
ELDER BOARD
Tom Bowen, Bob Churchwell,
Lorin Miller, Kent Smead,
Phil Sparling, Hal Wallace
DEACONS:
Greg Hummel - Head Deacon
Steve and Becky Brown
Melanie Felce
Al and Pat French
Mike and Lorraine Keeffe
Rod and Donna Lee
Gwen Smith
Because God is sovereign:
* We can rest knowing He's in control,
ruling in every circumstance, every
opportunity, every set back. Job 42:2
* We can trust that the plan God has
mapped out for us is good, profitable,
best. That His plan--and no other--will
glorify Him, and satisfy us. Ephesians
3:20
* We can live the life He planned for
us. Not the life others think we ought to
live, nor the life dictated by ambition.
No, we can live the life tailored for us by
the Creator who knows our heart and
mind. Psalm 139:16
We can be who God created us to be
and find satisfaction in the things He
created us to do.
So this year is going to be different. I'm
not going to let the misdirects of desire
derail me. I won't allow this next year to
be shackled by fear and insecurity. I
refuse to expend another drop of
energy donning a cape to reach for
So I let it go.
Women's Ministries will be hosting a
free ladies clothing boutique at Auburn Grace on Saturday, February 21
for our AGCC ladies and our community. Bring a neighbor or friend and
shop anytime between 9:00 am and
1:00 pm. Enjoy fellowship, a cup of
tea, and pick out an outfit or two with
not cost to you. Clean out your closet
set aside your gently-used clothing
and accessories to donate for the
boutique. Specific days and times
that donated clothing will be accepted
the week of the event will be listed in
the bulletin and communicated in
other ways soon! Any clothing items
remaining after the event will be gifted to Acres of Hope and Mercy Ministries. For more information contact
Peggy McCray at 530-906-1751 or
[email protected].
Ambassadors of Grace
Hal and Mary Gail Wallace
[email protected]
Encouragers For Single Women/Grief Share
Francis Talley Hale
Wanda Peabody
[email protected]
[email protected]
Facilities
Gary Sparling
[email protected]
Family Ministries
Kent Smead
[email protected]
Hospitality
Wendi Milka
Bridget Uhler
Barb Weidemann
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Impact-Missions
Lawrence Buren
Aaron Klein
Lorin Miller
Mike Robinson
Phil Sparling
Bridget Uhler
[email protected]
Men’s Ministries
Aaron Klein
Danny Klein
Dave Wickstrom
Lynn Gomer
Judy Jenness
Rhoda Staurseth
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Rhoda Staurseth
2
[email protected]
Student Ministries
Meredith Jordan
[email protected]
Wednesday Night Live-Food
Jeff Grady
[email protected]
Women's Ministries
[email protected]
Audio Technology
Lorin Miller
[email protected]
Visual Technology/Webmaster
Kevin Kurtz
[email protected]
AGCC Administration
Office Manager - Starla Miller
Children‘s Director - Sue Smead
Facilities Coordinator - Lori Halbert
Creative Arts - Pamela Marich
Receptionist - Barbara Sparling
Bookkeeper - Kristin Davis
Orphan Care/Adoption Support
Aaron and Cacey Klein
Danny and Bonnie Klein
Lance and Tiffany Soderman
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Sewers & Rippers
Bethany Macklin
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Kitchen Keepers
Diane Custer
Prayer & Praise Ministry
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
11
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Continued on Page 10 Continued from Page 1 - Be A Better Implementer
But what is so impressive about the Kenyans is that they
change! Almost immediately we can see modifications
being made in their life practices. This shows that they
really do want to improve their lives. It shows that they
may be ignorant, but not stupid. This is part of the reason making the trip around the world to spend time with
them is so rewarding. They are terrific implementers!
They see change is needed, they learn how to make the
alterations, and then they actually apply the changes to
their lives! This is where they teach us! We tend to be
slow at change, slow at implementing new habits or attitudes into
our lives even when we know they are good for us.
We in America are blessed in so many ways but we tend to be
weak, not in knowledge, but in implementation. I tend to be a slow
implementer. I know I could improve my life if I tweaked a few
things here and there. But I have difficulty implementing new disciplines in my life, and at times I suffer the consequences of my
stupidity (remember, stupidity is defined as knowing the right
thing to do and choosing not to do it). Africa challenged me to
become a better implementer!
This winter let’s all pick one area of our life and implement a
change for the better. A change we know we should make. Maybe it will be in the area of a relationship, or in the area of our spiritual life, or in our finances. Maybe there is an attitude we know is
not pleasing to God and has caused hurt; let’s change it! With the
Holy Spirit’s help any change is possible. Go for it!
We have taught the Kenyans much, now I see that they have also
been my instructor as well.
I love being your Pastor, See you Sunday!
Pastor Phil
Sewers &
Rippers
Home At Last!
Home! Home at last! On January 6, we moved into our church Worship Center. As we have grown in numbers (42 ladies at our last meeting), we are so grateful to be in the Worship Center where we have plenty of
room and can enjoy being all together in one room.
Our concerns as to how we would have enough readily accessible storage space
were taken care of in the most amazing ways! Jack Crowley built shelves in our closet on
the second floor that hold our bolts and bolts of fabric upright, just as they are in a fabric
store (see picture). How handy for the ones who make the kits for the quilt makers to take
our new small cart (‘Little Girl’), ride the elevator up, shop for the fabric needed for the day,
and ride the elevator down. How easy and what fun!
Many thanks to Gary Sparling and his helpers who took an ordinary cart
and created on extraordinary one that holds all our machines. Two cabinets, one on each end of the cart , contain much of our necessary supplies. ‘Big Girl’ as this cart is called by the ladies, is conveniently stored in
the closet right off the Worship Center. ‘Built to order’ shelves in our
shed provide additional storage. We praise the Lord for His wonderful
provision.
Getting the Worship Center ready for our
Tuesday meetings is a major task. We are so
grateful to the men who faithfully set up and
take down each week.
We are very happy to be together again. We welcome with
open hearts the new ladies who have joined us. We praise the
Lord for Marilyn Rose, Star Stephenson, Fran Nelson, Lisa
Pierce, Juanita Stone, Margie Cruz, Bobbi Andrews, Sue
Swaim, Rose Mockel, Deborah Janssen, and Ann Reeves. Any
ladies interested in joining us are invited to be a part of our
Tuesday mornings. We meet from 9 am to 1 pm.
If you are unable to spend the whole time with us, come
when you can and leave when you must.
We love serving our awesome God!
Rhoda Staurseth
Summarizing Our Stewardship
2014/15 Year-To-Date Total Giving $734,349
Not to us Lord, not
to us but to
Your name be the
glory!
Difference: +/- : $-86,241 / -10.51%
Psalm 115:1
July 2014—June 2015
Budget As of 1/27/15
2014/15 Year-To-Date Total Need
$820,590
Thank you for your generosity
in the support of God’s work!
10
3
Gracetown Round Up
The amazing construction of Gracetown is actually all done now and we’ve been paintin’ the town, fixin’
fer our Grand Opening on February 7 and 8! So, come on down and sit a spell, grab a ‘hoedown hot
dog’ and check out the newest town in the region! If yer needin’ a bank, we got it; a hotel, general store,
postal service, doc, feed or seed, we got ya’ covered! Even have a train to bring ya’ in and take ya’
back if your hoss is lame!
Git yer ticket at the station outside a’ town for absolutely nothin’ but a few clicks on the town register,
then ride on in on yer hoss or on the rail. Ya’ might even win the drawin’ for a prize!
th
We’er roundin’ up kids from Preschool to 6 Grade for a time of hootin’ and a hollerin’ praises to the Lord, a little prayer, goofy
games, silly skits, missions moments, pioneer puppets on the Gracetown theatre stage, and more each week! From Gracetown,
they will ride on out with the Gracetown Sheriffs Deputies to their respective ranches for a time of learnin’ ‘bout the Bible, our wonderful Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and gettin’ to know Him even more. Their kin can find ‘em there right after the city folks’ church
lets out. Jest check out the sign pointin’ the way!
See ya’ll there!
We're hollerin' a big thank you to our pardner's who have donated hours and hours of time for our Gracetown buildin' project!
Marco & April Cardelli and Stelian Vilceanu. They are Gracetown heroes! To round out the townsfolk buildin' pardners were
Kris & Tony Brissey, Sharon & Jim Ludwigsen and Pamela Marich
Pictured below: L-R Stelian Vilceanu, Sue Smead, April Cardelli, Marco Cardelli, Chris Brissey, Tony Brissey
Hospitality Ministry
Meet Kathe Beadle
I've been attending AGCC for...8 years.
I came to AGCC because...I was hungry for spiritual truth.
One thing I love about AGCC is...Fellowship with people who are devoted to loving and serving
Christ Jesus. I love that the pastors not only teach the truth of the Bible, but are living examples of
obedience to the Word and an encouragement to each of us.
The ministries I'm involved in are...Ushers and Greeters, Women's Ministries, Prayer Ministry.
I find a lot of joy in...greeting newcomers and helping them to feel welcome. Also encouraging
women in their walks of faith.
If my life was a book, the title would be..."One Day at a Time". I have found that the best way I can follow Jesus is
DAILY. Starting my day in the Word and prayer, then trusting Him to guide me.
Once upon a time...I tried to live according to my own ways. Then Jesus found me and showed me "The Way". Now
I am filled with His joy and peace.
It's not fashionable, but...I love reading my Bible. The more I read and learn, the more I desire to seek and follow
Him. I feel like the woman at the well—filling up on Living Water.
4
Our Missionaries on the Front Line
1st of a series
Auburn Grace supports many
missionaries, some are in the US
and many are in other countries. It
is my desire to inform you about
who we are supporting and
provide you with information on
them and their ministry. This is the
first in the series.
Ed Lewis, CE National
Ed Lewis has served as Executive
Director of CE National since 1985. CE
National is a church effectiveness
ministry. Prior to the role he now has, he
served as a National Director of Youth
Ministries for the Grace Brethren Fellowship of Churches. Ed desires to be a
catalyst to help believers see the need for
moving beyond the norm to reach people
for Christ. His passion is for seeing
churches make “outreach” the engine that
drives ministry. He began on the staff of
CE National as National Youth Director in
September of 1973. Ed also serves as
Executive Director of Urban Hope, a
ministry that CE National oversees in
Philadelphia, PA. He works at locations,
the main office in Winona Lake and the
East office in Philadelphia.
they meet him. Like Jesus, Ed meets
people where they are in life and
proceeds to love and minister to them
from that point.
The inner-city part of Philadelphia that Ed
works in [Kensington], is about 71%
Spanish-speaking or from a Spanishspeaking background. The average
income for a family of 4 is about $17,000/
year. Small apartments rent for $600-700/
month. Often there are 6 or more people
in an apartment. Many single moms live
in the neighborhood.
Ed started the UH ministry with a church
building and two children. He basically
ran a children’s program for about five
years and then added a youth program.
After about another five years they started Sunday morning worship services for
adults. All three parts of the ministry are
growing. The church is now running two
services with a total Sunday morning
attendance of about 200. They have
converts essentially every week. Tuesday
evening they have something like our
WNL, but then the women and men go to
different buildings and have their Bible
studies/program.
At CE National Ed oversees the following
ministries: Momentum—an annual weeklong
youth
convention,
Operation
Barnabas—an annual ministry that sends
out over 100 people to minister in churches inside and outside the USA. He also
has oversight of Urban Hope Training
Center, an inner-city Philadelphia ministry
that trains people in outreach and leadership development. He is a catalyst for
seeing people involved in ministries to
others. He is especially concerned about
the poor and the overlooked.
I first met Ed Lewis last November when
Audrey and I visited him at Urban Hope in
intercity Philadelphia. He now spends
50-75% of his time in Philadelphia with
Urban Hope Ministry. He launched the
Urban Hope ministry nearly 15 years ago.
People just naturally love Ed the moment
With the generous donation from a family,
they have purchased another 2-story
brick building on the block and this will be
Ed baptizing in the Atlantic Ocean
Ed starts each day at Urban Hope with
the staff praying for the people. It was
obvious that the staff know many of the
people they serve very well and pray for
them with passion.
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Ed with staff & volunteers at Urban Hope
used for the SUM [Student Urban
Ministry]. The building will be able to
house 40 students, dormitory style. This
ministry will start in the Fall. Initially with
students from Grace College in Winona
Lake, IN, but they are trying to get other
Christian colleges to have a urban study
curriculum in their Cultural Studies Dept.
and have the students live and work at
Urban Hope for the senior year. With this
building being vacant during the summer,
UH will be able to house up to 100 people
at a time who may want to come and
serve at UH for a weekend, a week or
two, or all summer.
One story from Urban Hope: Orlando
and his wife have been active in the UH
church for about two years. They have
three sons. The oldest two have gotten
into separate fights and killed someone
and are now in prison. The third son, who
is now in the 11th grade, found Jesus
through the UH youth ministry. He is now
getting straight A’s in school and was
invited to speak to the student body about
his experience and what made the
difference. He attributes his success to
knowing Jesus Christ. Orlando was
also invited to speak to the School Board.
We praise the Lord for missionaries like
Ed and our privilege to be one of his
supporters here at AGCC.
Lawrence Buren
ons
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Conversing with Agnostics and Pluralists
has become quite a challenge for a Biblical Christian these days. Having said
that...the following "Big Picture" questions
can provide a helpful framework for your
future apologetic conversations. By keeping your discussions centered on these
questions you can more readily direct
your conversations to the ultimate goal of
sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ in a
rational, logical, reasonable manner. Remember that Romans 1 informs us that
"men know the truth about the existence
of God...they choose to suppress that
truth." Everyone has a worldview and
most are anxious to share it if they feel
safe to do so.
Is there a God? This is the foundational
question. Is there a Creator or are
men and women simply accidents
evolved out of the slimy algae? This
question can open the doors to highlighting the significant differences
between a Theistic and Atheistic
worldview.
Has God spoken? If there is a Creator,
has this God revealed anything to us
about His nature, human nature, His
plans and purposes for creation,
etc.? This second question can open
up some good opportunities to discuss the many reasons for believing
that God has revealed truth, both in
the Bible and in the person of Jesus
Christ.
If there is a God, and if He's spoken,
will we trust Him and obey? This
third question is really the heart of
the matter. If we have good reasons
for believing in a God who has revealed truth, then we can point out
for people that our only appropriate
response is to trust and obey.
Where did I come from? If there is a
Creator, our existence is a result of
His thoughtful action. We are not
accidents, we did not evolve from
nothing to be what we are.
What is my purpose? If there is a
Creator and we are a result of His
thoughtful actions then by default our
lives have value and purpose. We
exist for a purpose because we were
created on purpose.
If there is a God, is He loving? If our
Creator is by nature loving and desires the best for us evil can be difficult to explain. Keep in mind that
every religious construction must
answer
this
same
question.
(Everyone does, but other than
Christianity, their answers leave
much to be desired).
What happens when you die? If our
Creator has a thoughtful purpose for
our existence He certainly has ac-
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Stud
A lot has been happening in Student Ministries here at Auburn Grace!
Last month, 57 students went to Truckee for our annual High School Winter Camp. We were blessed to get to know our
guest speaker Coach Joey Montoya from Placer High School and his wife Megan and daughter. Joey shared his life stories
and challenged us through the Gospels to know that Jesus pursues us and is always with us, even in the storms of life. We
are praising God that a student gave his life to Christ and many others renewed their commitment to Him. We had incredible
student-led worship and of course, tons of fun! Even without snow! We didn't get a lot of sleep, but we made a lot of memories.
Our Young Adult Ministry went to Soda Springs for its annual YAM Winter Retreat. Over 20 people enjoyed building friendships, hiking, hanging out and worshiping together. Guest speaker Peter Nelson taught on the idea of being exiles in this
world. It was another great weekend of being spiritually challenged and refreshed.
counted for your eternal state.
For more helpful tips on engaging in
apologetic conversations, I encourage
you to explore the Christian Ministries
International and Stand to Reason
websites.
Pastor Dave
CHECK OUT WHAT'S COMING UP!
A Special Note from Acres of Hope
I wanted to touch base with you on a couple things. First of all, God has blessed me with a new job! I am now the Interim Development
Director for Acres of Hope. So excited to be working with such a wonderful organization. That being said, I wanted to make sure the
church knew how much the gift cards were appreciated by the Acres’ moms. The cards provided them the opportunity to personally shop
for their kids (a learning experience for them) and provide special gifts from their mom. We might have missed our “Christmas Thank
You” window of opportunity. However, I just had to share those pictures. They really touched my heart.
Again, just wanted to make sure that those that contributed the gifts cards realize how much their generosity was appreciated.
Have a great day!
Regards,
Diane Maze
8
Curbside Cuisine Fundraiser
Want a hot, delicious BBQ tri-tip or chicken dinner with all
the fixins? Student Ministries will be selling meals to feed
2-3 people for $30. Pre-orders required. Meals are
cooked from scratch by master chef’s Mike Papera and
Pastor Steve West, with the students' help. Meals will be
ready for you to pick up at the church on Saturday,
February 28. All proceeds go towards students' cost of
events (such as Hume Lake Christian Camp) or mission
trips (such as Costa Rica). Help support our young
people! Look for an order form at church on Sundays or
contact Meredith Jordan (Student Ministries Admin) at
530-823-8330 or [email protected].
5
Back by popular demand!
Rent-a-Kid will be available
in March and April!
Do you have any jobs around the
house or yard that need to get done
during March and April? Responsible,
hardworking students will be available
for you to hire for the job! Look for
more details coming soon...
Auburn Grace Community Church
Grand Opening!
A Valentine’s Day Marriage Event
Some thoughts on the Grand Opening:
Awaken Love -The Song of Solomon
I just sat down at my desk having watching a concrete pumper truck dispatch the last of many yards of concrete to finish our
Atrium patio. Anchoring the patio is a stunning three tiered fountain which I suspect will entice families to its sound and
ambiance for many years to come.
– Saturday, February 14
2:00 PM - 8:00 PM
When you get right down to it, the Bible is the world’s greatest love story. Every page is rooted in the
story of God’s love for the people he created. But God not only longs for us to experience His love
but for us to experience deep and genuine love in our marriages. In fact, the intimacy and committed
love in a marriage should be a reflection of God’s love in our lives. One entire book of the Bible is
devoted to romantic love between and man and woman. This is the Song of Solomon.
God cares deeply about the love in your life. Whatever people believe or don’t believe about the
Bible, God has a plan for relationships. We invite you to come and spend the day with Auburn Grace
Family Ministries as we explore what the Bible has to say about this subject. Not what we assume it
says, not what we want it to say, but what it actually says.
We will begin our time together with a fantastic movie from City on A Hill entitled “The Song”. This
compelling feature film will be unpacked in a fantastic DVD study by Pastor Kyle Idleman. Couples
will be challenged to examine specific areas of their relationship. A wonderful catered meal and
couples photos taken in the Atrium by a professional photographer will round out our time together.
Register on line at auburngrace.com. Follow the link from the Home Page.
As is true with any "HOME", the Auburn Grace Community Church Facility will always have maintenance projects to keep us
busy, but as of this writing, the remodel of our physical plant is nearly complete. As I reflect upon the difference that one year
makes in any life, I most admit I am amazed at how wonderful our project turned out. The Lord certainly receives all the glory.
We have said all along that the whole point of the remodel was to create an environment that could be used to make the name
of Jesus Christ more famous in our community and around the world. My prayer is that the Lord will use this "place" to do just
that for many years to come.
We left the building the first Sunday in June to spend the summer at our temporary home across the highway returning in early
October to a building that was perhaps eighty percent remodeled. Lots of work remained for Wells Construction to complete,
but much more needed to be finished by our church community. I long ago lost track of the countless volunteers who contributed their time, talent and treasure to complete this project. On behalf of the Elders, Pastors and Staff, I simply wanted to say
thank you! Your generosity in innumerable ways allowed this project to stay within its financial boundaries and we now have a
physical plant that can be used to equip the saints for Kingdom work for many years to come.
Please join us for a Grand Opening Celebration on Saturday the 7th and Sunday the 8th of February as we give pause to
thank the Lord for His abundant blessings. The Saturday and Sunday services will mirror one another, offering the exact same
music and message. Nursery through 6th grade will offer the same programs and teachers both days. Beginning on the 7th
you may drop off your Nursery—6th graders at the new Atrium kiosk using Kid Check. They will then engage in their own
worship component as a corporate group in their new children's room before dividing into age appropriate classes. Junior High
through Adults will meet in the Worship Center on Saturday, but will have Sunday School options on Sunday the 8th.
One last thing...plan to join us in the Atrium after the service on Saturday afternoon for FREE FOOD! INVITE A
FRIEND!
Pastor Dave
Increase Intimacy
Fight Fair
Psalm 139:1-5
James 1:2-4
O LORD, You have searched
me and known me.
You know when I sit down
and when I rise up;
You understand my thoughts
from afar.
You scrutinize my path
and my lying down,
And are intimately acquainted
with all my ways.
Even before there is
a word on my tongue,
Behold, O LORD,
You know it all.
You have enclosed me
behind and before,
And laid Your hand upon me.
Consider it all joy,
my brethren,
when you encounter
various trials, knowing that the
testing of your faith
produces endurance.
And let endurance
have its perfect result,
so that you may be perfect
and complete,
lacking in nothing.
Rediscover
Romance
Cultivate
Commitment
Psalm 51:12
Joshua 24:15
Restore to me the joy
of Your salvation
And sustain me
with a willing spirit.
If it is disagreeable in your
sight to serve the Lord,
choose for yourselves today
whom you will serve:
whether the gods which your
fathers served which were
beyond the River,
or the gods of the Amorites
in whose land you are living;
but as for me and my house,
we will serve the Lord.
Looking
Back...
Finishing the courtyard ew fountain
6
The week of our return! Amazing!
The Courtyard in process
Kent Smead in charge
7
Our first Sunday back in our church
Auburn Grace Community Church
Grand Opening!
A Valentine’s Day Marriage Event
Some thoughts on the Grand Opening:
Awaken Love -The Song of Solomon
I just sat down at my desk having watching a concrete pumper truck dispatch the last of many yards of concrete to finish our
Atrium patio. Anchoring the patio is a stunning three tiered fountain which I suspect will entice families to its sound and
ambiance for many years to come.
– Saturday, February 14
2:00 PM - 8:00 PM
When you get right down to it, the Bible is the world’s greatest love story. Every page is rooted in the
story of God’s love for the people he created. But God not only longs for us to experience His love
but for us to experience deep and genuine love in our marriages. In fact, the intimacy and committed
love in a marriage should be a reflection of God’s love in our lives. One entire book of the Bible is
devoted to romantic love between and man and woman. This is the Song of Solomon.
God cares deeply about the love in your life. Whatever people believe or don’t believe about the
Bible, God has a plan for relationships. We invite you to come and spend the day with Auburn Grace
Family Ministries as we explore what the Bible has to say about this subject. Not what we assume it
says, not what we want it to say, but what it actually says.
We will begin our time together with a fantastic movie from City on A Hill entitled “The Song”. This
compelling feature film will be unpacked in a fantastic DVD study by Pastor Kyle Idleman. Couples
will be challenged to examine specific areas of their relationship. A wonderful catered meal and
couples photos taken in the Atrium by a professional photographer will round out our time together.
Register on line at auburngrace.com. Follow the link from the Home Page.
As is true with any "HOME", the Auburn Grace Community Church Facility will always have maintenance projects to keep us
busy, but as of this writing, the remodel of our physical plant is nearly complete. As I reflect upon the difference that one year
makes in any life, I most admit I am amazed at how wonderful our project turned out. The Lord certainly receives all the glory.
We have said all along that the whole point of the remodel was to create an environment that could be used to make the name
of Jesus Christ more famous in our community and around the world. My prayer is that the Lord will use this "place" to do just
that for many years to come.
We left the building the first Sunday in June to spend the summer at our temporary home across the highway returning in early
October to a building that was perhaps eighty percent remodeled. Lots of work remained for Wells Construction to complete,
but much more needed to be finished by our church community. I long ago lost track of the countless volunteers who contributed their time, talent and treasure to complete this project. On behalf of the Elders, Pastors and Staff, I simply wanted to say
thank you! Your generosity in innumerable ways allowed this project to stay within its financial boundaries and we now have a
physical plant that can be used to equip the saints for Kingdom work for many years to come.
Please join us for a Grand Opening Celebration on Saturday the 7th and Sunday the 8th of February as we give pause to
thank the Lord for His abundant blessings. The Saturday and Sunday services will mirror one another, offering the exact same
music and message. Nursery through 6th grade will offer the same programs and teachers both days. Beginning on the 7th
you may drop off your Nursery—6th graders at the new Atrium kiosk using Kid Check. They will then engage in their own
worship component as a corporate group in their new children's room before dividing into age appropriate classes. Junior High
through Adults will meet in the Worship Center on Saturday, but will have Sunday School options on Sunday the 8th.
One last thing...plan to join us in the Atrium after the service on Saturday afternoon for FREE FOOD! INVITE A
FRIEND!
Pastor Dave
Increase Intimacy
Fight Fair
Psalm 139:1-5
James 1:2-4
O LORD, You have searched
me and known me.
You know when I sit down
and when I rise up;
You understand my thoughts
from afar.
You scrutinize my path
and my lying down,
And are intimately acquainted
with all my ways.
Even before there is
a word on my tongue,
Behold, O LORD,
You know it all.
You have enclosed me
behind and before,
And laid Your hand upon me.
Consider it all joy,
my brethren,
when you encounter
various trials, knowing that the
testing of your faith
produces endurance.
And let endurance
have its perfect result,
so that you may be perfect
and complete,
lacking in nothing.
Rediscover
Romance
Cultivate
Commitment
Psalm 51:12
Joshua 24:15
Restore to me the joy
of Your salvation
And sustain me
with a willing spirit.
If it is disagreeable in your
sight to serve the Lord,
choose for yourselves today
whom you will serve:
whether the gods which your
fathers served which were
beyond the River,
or the gods of the Amorites
in whose land you are living;
but as for me and my house,
we will serve the Lord.
Looking
Back...
Finishing the courtyard ew fountain
6
The week of our return! Amazing!
The Courtyard in process
Kent Smead in charge
7
Our first Sunday back in our church
ons
i
t
a
s
r
s
e
t
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c
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ologetic
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Big
Conversing with Agnostics and Pluralists
has become quite a challenge for a Biblical Christian these days. Having said
that...the following "Big Picture" questions
can provide a helpful framework for your
future apologetic conversations. By keeping your discussions centered on these
questions you can more readily direct
your conversations to the ultimate goal of
sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ in a
rational, logical, reasonable manner. Remember that Romans 1 informs us that
"men know the truth about the existence
of God...they choose to suppress that
truth." Everyone has a worldview and
most are anxious to share it if they feel
safe to do so.
Is there a God? This is the foundational
question. Is there a Creator or are
men and women simply accidents
evolved out of the slimy algae? This
question can open the doors to highlighting the significant differences
between a Theistic and Atheistic
worldview.
Has God spoken? If there is a Creator,
has this God revealed anything to us
about His nature, human nature, His
plans and purposes for creation,
etc.? This second question can open
up some good opportunities to discuss the many reasons for believing
that God has revealed truth, both in
the Bible and in the person of Jesus
Christ.
If there is a God, and if He's spoken,
will we trust Him and obey? This
third question is really the heart of
the matter. If we have good reasons
for believing in a God who has revealed truth, then we can point out
for people that our only appropriate
response is to trust and obey.
Where did I come from? If there is a
Creator, our existence is a result of
His thoughtful action. We are not
accidents, we did not evolve from
nothing to be what we are.
What is my purpose? If there is a
Creator and we are a result of His
thoughtful actions then by default our
lives have value and purpose. We
exist for a purpose because we were
created on purpose.
If there is a God, is He loving? If our
Creator is by nature loving and desires the best for us evil can be difficult to explain. Keep in mind that
every religious construction must
answer
this
same
question.
(Everyone does, but other than
Christianity, their answers leave
much to be desired).
What happens when you die? If our
Creator has a thoughtful purpose for
our existence He certainly has ac-
s
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r
t
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e
Stud
A lot has been happening in Student Ministries here at Auburn Grace!
Last month, 57 students went to Truckee for our annual High School Winter Camp. We were blessed to get to know our
guest speaker Coach Joey Montoya from Placer High School and his wife Megan and daughter. Joey shared his life stories
and challenged us through the Gospels to know that Jesus pursues us and is always with us, even in the storms of life. We
are praising God that a student gave his life to Christ and many others renewed their commitment to Him. We had incredible
student-led worship and of course, tons of fun! Even without snow! We didn't get a lot of sleep, but we made a lot of memories.
Our Young Adult Ministry went to Soda Springs for its annual YAM Winter Retreat. Over 20 people enjoyed building friendships, hiking, hanging out and worshiping together. Guest speaker Peter Nelson taught on the idea of being exiles in this
world. It was another great weekend of being spiritually challenged and refreshed.
counted for your eternal state.
For more helpful tips on engaging in
apologetic conversations, I encourage
you to explore the Christian Ministries
International and Stand to Reason
websites.
Pastor Dave
CHECK OUT WHAT'S COMING UP!
A Special Note from Acres of Hope
I wanted to touch base with you on a couple things. First of all, God has blessed me with a new job! I am now the Interim Development
Director for Acres of Hope. So excited to be working with such a wonderful organization. That being said, I wanted to make sure the
church knew how much the gift cards were appreciated by the Acres’ moms. The cards provided them the opportunity to personally shop
for their kids (a learning experience for them) and provide special gifts from their mom. We might have missed our “Christmas Thank
You” window of opportunity. However, I just had to share those pictures. They really touched my heart.
Again, just wanted to make sure that those that contributed the gifts cards realize how much their generosity was appreciated.
Have a great day!
Regards,
Diane Maze
8
Curbside Cuisine Fundraiser
Want a hot, delicious BBQ tri-tip or chicken dinner with all
the fixins? Student Ministries will be selling meals to feed
2-3 people for $30. Pre-orders required. Meals are
cooked from scratch by master chef’s Mike Papera and
Pastor Steve West, with the students' help. Meals will be
ready for you to pick up at the church on Saturday,
February 28. All proceeds go towards students' cost of
events (such as Hume Lake Christian Camp) or mission
trips (such as Costa Rica). Help support our young
people! Look for an order form at church on Sundays or
contact Meredith Jordan (Student Ministries Admin) at
530-823-8330 or [email protected].
5
Back by popular demand!
Rent-a-Kid will be available
in March and April!
Do you have any jobs around the
house or yard that need to get done
during March and April? Responsible,
hardworking students will be available
for you to hire for the job! Look for
more details coming soon...
Gracetown Round Up
The amazing construction of Gracetown is actually all done now and we’ve been paintin’ the town, fixin’
fer our Grand Opening on February 7 and 8! So, come on down and sit a spell, grab a ‘hoedown hot
dog’ and check out the newest town in the region! If yer needin’ a bank, we got it; a hotel, general store,
postal service, doc, feed or seed, we got ya’ covered! Even have a train to bring ya’ in and take ya’
back if your hoss is lame!
Git yer ticket at the station outside a’ town for absolutely nothin’ but a few clicks on the town register,
then ride on in on yer hoss or on the rail. Ya’ might even win the drawin’ for a prize!
th
We’er roundin’ up kids from Preschool to 6 Grade for a time of hootin’ and a hollerin’ praises to the Lord, a little prayer, goofy
games, silly skits, missions moments, pioneer puppets on the Gracetown theatre stage, and more each week! From Gracetown,
they will ride on out with the Gracetown Sheriffs Deputies to their respective ranches for a time of learnin’ ‘bout the Bible, our wonderful Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and gettin’ to know Him even more. Their kin can find ‘em there right after the city folks’ church
lets out. Jest check out the sign pointin’ the way!
See ya’ll there!
We're hollerin' a big thank you to our pardner's who have donated hours and hours of time for our Gracetown buildin' project!
Marco & April Cardelli and Stelian Vilceanu. They are Gracetown heroes! To round out the townsfolk buildin' pardners were
Kris & Tony Brissey, Sharon & Jim Ludwigsen and Pamela Marich
Pictured below: L-R Stelian Vilceanu, Sue Smead, April Cardelli, Marco Cardelli, Chris Brissey, Tony Brissey
Hospitality Ministry
Meet Kathe Beadle
I've been attending AGCC for...8 years.
I came to AGCC because...I was hungry for spiritual truth.
One thing I love about AGCC is...Fellowship with people who are devoted to loving and serving
Christ Jesus. I love that the pastors not only teach the truth of the Bible, but are living examples of
obedience to the Word and an encouragement to each of us.
The ministries I'm involved in are...Ushers and Greeters, Women's Ministries, Prayer Ministry.
I find a lot of joy in...greeting newcomers and helping them to feel welcome. Also encouraging
women in their walks of faith.
If my life was a book, the title would be..."One Day at a Time". I have found that the best way I can follow Jesus is
DAILY. Starting my day in the Word and prayer, then trusting Him to guide me.
Once upon a time...I tried to live according to my own ways. Then Jesus found me and showed me "The Way". Now
I am filled with His joy and peace.
It's not fashionable, but...I love reading my Bible. The more I read and learn, the more I desire to seek and follow
Him. I feel like the woman at the well—filling up on Living Water.
4
Our Missionaries on the Front Line
1st of a series
Auburn Grace supports many
missionaries, some are in the US
and many are in other countries. It
is my desire to inform you about
who we are supporting and
provide you with information on
them and their ministry. This is the
first in the series.
Ed Lewis, CE National
Ed Lewis has served as Executive
Director of CE National since 1985. CE
National is a church effectiveness
ministry. Prior to the role he now has, he
served as a National Director of Youth
Ministries for the Grace Brethren Fellowship of Churches. Ed desires to be a
catalyst to help believers see the need for
moving beyond the norm to reach people
for Christ. His passion is for seeing
churches make “outreach” the engine that
drives ministry. He began on the staff of
CE National as National Youth Director in
September of 1973. Ed also serves as
Executive Director of Urban Hope, a
ministry that CE National oversees in
Philadelphia, PA. He works at locations,
the main office in Winona Lake and the
East office in Philadelphia.
they meet him. Like Jesus, Ed meets
people where they are in life and
proceeds to love and minister to them
from that point.
The inner-city part of Philadelphia that Ed
works in [Kensington], is about 71%
Spanish-speaking or from a Spanishspeaking background. The average
income for a family of 4 is about $17,000/
year. Small apartments rent for $600-700/
month. Often there are 6 or more people
in an apartment. Many single moms live
in the neighborhood.
Ed started the UH ministry with a church
building and two children. He basically
ran a children’s program for about five
years and then added a youth program.
After about another five years they started Sunday morning worship services for
adults. All three parts of the ministry are
growing. The church is now running two
services with a total Sunday morning
attendance of about 200. They have
converts essentially every week. Tuesday
evening they have something like our
WNL, but then the women and men go to
different buildings and have their Bible
studies/program.
At CE National Ed oversees the following
ministries: Momentum—an annual weeklong
youth
convention,
Operation
Barnabas—an annual ministry that sends
out over 100 people to minister in churches inside and outside the USA. He also
has oversight of Urban Hope Training
Center, an inner-city Philadelphia ministry
that trains people in outreach and leadership development. He is a catalyst for
seeing people involved in ministries to
others. He is especially concerned about
the poor and the overlooked.
I first met Ed Lewis last November when
Audrey and I visited him at Urban Hope in
intercity Philadelphia. He now spends
50-75% of his time in Philadelphia with
Urban Hope Ministry. He launched the
Urban Hope ministry nearly 15 years ago.
People just naturally love Ed the moment
With the generous donation from a family,
they have purchased another 2-story
brick building on the block and this will be
Ed baptizing in the Atlantic Ocean
Ed starts each day at Urban Hope with
the staff praying for the people. It was
obvious that the staff know many of the
people they serve very well and pray for
them with passion.
9
Ed with staff & volunteers at Urban Hope
used for the SUM [Student Urban
Ministry]. The building will be able to
house 40 students, dormitory style. This
ministry will start in the Fall. Initially with
students from Grace College in Winona
Lake, IN, but they are trying to get other
Christian colleges to have a urban study
curriculum in their Cultural Studies Dept.
and have the students live and work at
Urban Hope for the senior year. With this
building being vacant during the summer,
UH will be able to house up to 100 people
at a time who may want to come and
serve at UH for a weekend, a week or
two, or all summer.
One story from Urban Hope: Orlando
and his wife have been active in the UH
church for about two years. They have
three sons. The oldest two have gotten
into separate fights and killed someone
and are now in prison. The third son, who
is now in the 11th grade, found Jesus
through the UH youth ministry. He is now
getting straight A’s in school and was
invited to speak to the student body about
his experience and what made the
difference. He attributes his success to
knowing Jesus Christ. Orlando was
also invited to speak to the School Board.
We praise the Lord for missionaries like
Ed and our privilege to be one of his
supporters here at AGCC.
Lawrence Buren
Continued on Page 10 Continued from Page 1 - Be A Better Implementer
But what is so impressive about the Kenyans is that they
change! Almost immediately we can see modifications
being made in their life practices. This shows that they
really do want to improve their lives. It shows that they
may be ignorant, but not stupid. This is part of the reason making the trip around the world to spend time with
them is so rewarding. They are terrific implementers!
They see change is needed, they learn how to make the
alterations, and then they actually apply the changes to
their lives! This is where they teach us! We tend to be
slow at change, slow at implementing new habits or attitudes into
our lives even when we know they are good for us.
We in America are blessed in so many ways but we tend to be
weak, not in knowledge, but in implementation. I tend to be a slow
implementer. I know I could improve my life if I tweaked a few
things here and there. But I have difficulty implementing new disciplines in my life, and at times I suffer the consequences of my
stupidity (remember, stupidity is defined as knowing the right
thing to do and choosing not to do it). Africa challenged me to
become a better implementer!
This winter let’s all pick one area of our life and implement a
change for the better. A change we know we should make. Maybe it will be in the area of a relationship, or in the area of our spiritual life, or in our finances. Maybe there is an attitude we know is
not pleasing to God and has caused hurt; let’s change it! With the
Holy Spirit’s help any change is possible. Go for it!
We have taught the Kenyans much, now I see that they have also
been my instructor as well.
I love being your Pastor, See you Sunday!
Pastor Phil
Sewers &
Rippers
Home At Last!
Home! Home at last! On January 6, we moved into our church Worship Center. As we have grown in numbers (42 ladies at our last meeting), we are so grateful to be in the Worship Center where we have plenty of
room and can enjoy being all together in one room.
Our concerns as to how we would have enough readily accessible storage space
were taken care of in the most amazing ways! Jack Crowley built shelves in our closet on
the second floor that hold our bolts and bolts of fabric upright, just as they are in a fabric
store (see picture). How handy for the ones who make the kits for the quilt makers to take
our new small cart (‘Little Girl’), ride the elevator up, shop for the fabric needed for the day,
and ride the elevator down. How easy and what fun!
Many thanks to Gary Sparling and his helpers who took an ordinary cart
and created on extraordinary one that holds all our machines. Two cabinets, one on each end of the cart , contain much of our necessary supplies. ‘Big Girl’ as this cart is called by the ladies, is conveniently stored in
the closet right off the Worship Center. ‘Built to order’ shelves in our
shed provide additional storage. We praise the Lord for His wonderful
provision.
Getting the Worship Center ready for our
Tuesday meetings is a major task. We are so
grateful to the men who faithfully set up and
take down each week.
We are very happy to be together again. We welcome with
open hearts the new ladies who have joined us. We praise the
Lord for Marilyn Rose, Star Stephenson, Fran Nelson, Lisa
Pierce, Juanita Stone, Margie Cruz, Bobbi Andrews, Sue
Swaim, Rose Mockel, Deborah Janssen, and Ann Reeves. Any
ladies interested in joining us are invited to be a part of our
Tuesday mornings. We meet from 9 am to 1 pm.
If you are unable to spend the whole time with us, come
when you can and leave when you must.
We love serving our awesome God!
Rhoda Staurseth
Summarizing Our Stewardship
2014/15 Year-To-Date Total Giving $734,349
Not to us Lord, not
to us but to
Your name be the
glory!
Difference: +/- : $-86,241 / -10.51%
Psalm 115:1
July 2014—June 2015
Budget As of 1/27/15
2014/15 Year-To-Date Total Need
$820,590
Thank you for your generosity
in the support of God’s work!
10
3
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'
en
Auburn Grace Community Church
Wom
“ Bu ilding a fa m ily of be liev e r s th at kno w C hr ist and m ak e H im kn own. ”
3 1 2 6 O l ym p i c Wa y
M A I L I N G : P. O . B o x 6 4 4 6
I'm not Wonder Woman.
I know, you're shocked, but here's the
thing, and I'll whisper it so no one else
will hear: You're probably not Wonder
Woman either. Or Superman. Or one of
the Incredibles. But if you're anything
like me, I'm guessing you already know
that.
Perhaps donning a Super suit has
zapped your strength and focus,
too? It's no mystery why we're tired,
distracted, and confused. We reach for
more than we can lift. We take on too
much. We tell ourselves, "I can do
this and that, and that . . . and that . . . "
We twist and strain to make it work, so
we can do it all, so we can fly.
Well, I've decided to hang up my Super suit, boots, cape, and all. Here's
how it began: I was offered a job with
an organization I love. The proposed
job was centered around tasks I enjoy
and would utilize skills God has spent
years honing and developing in me. To
top it off, the job's focus was one I'm
passionately tuned into--spiritual development--a perfect fit. Oh, how I wanted
to clip on my Wonder Woman cape and
take off with it!
But I knew better, so instead I prayed.
And prayed. I talked with friends about
it and consulted my husband. I analyzed the job and charted the daily,
monthly, and yearly responsibilities as
well as the time it would take to fulfill
each one.
I worked hard to fit it in. I noted how
well it complimented my existing ministry--and carefully ignored how it could
serve me.
For months I prayed and couldn't
gain clarity on whether to take it or
not. I had no peace to accept it, but
was afraid to close the door and miss
the opportunity. I strained to hear God's
direction with one ear, while entertaining my desires with the other. Finally, God graciously spoke. "This will
draw you away from what I've called
you to do. Focus and finish what I've
entrusted to you!"
And a truth, previously submerged in
the soupy mix of sincerity and secret
hopes, bubbled up and broke free:
God is sovereign and I am not.
The sweet, familiar truth swept through
my mind like a cleansing breeze. It anchored my heart and altered my perspective. It changed everything. Perhaps it will for you, too.
things beyond
planned for me.
what
God
No. I want God's agenda, not mine.
God’s plans eclipse more than what my
puny brain can imagine and hold more
promise than my polluted heart can
hope for. Because God reigns as King,
I will rest in the shade of His sovereign
care.
Because God is sovereign:
I'm not Wonder Woman. And I no longer want to be.
* We don't have to carve out a future
for ourselves. Ephesians 2:10
What about you?
* We don't have to act out of fear, insecurity, or ambition.
A u b u r n · CA · 9 5 6 0 4
has
We b s i t e : w ww. a u b u r n g r a c e . c o m
Email: [email protected]
PASTOR
Phil Sparling
Used by permission: Bethany Macklin
Ministries
STUDENT MINISTRIES PASTOR
Steve West
ASSOCIATE/WORSHIP PASTOR
Lorin Miller
* We don't have to try so hard, do so
much, or suffer such disappointment.
No, we don't have to do any of those
awful, heavy, deadening things.
ADMINISTRATIVE PASTOR
Dave Wickstrom
We don't have to be Wonder Woman,
Superman, or one of the the Incredibles.
PASTOR OF BODY LIFE
Greg Hummel
CHILDREN’S DIRECTOR
Sue Smead
ELDER BOARD
Tom Bowen, Bob Churchwell,
Lorin Miller, Kent Smead,
Phil Sparling, Hal Wallace
DEACONS:
Greg Hummel - Head Deacon
Steve and Becky Brown
Melanie Felce
Al and Pat French
Mike and Lorraine Keeffe
Rod and Donna Lee
Gwen Smith
Because God is sovereign:
* We can rest knowing He's in control,
ruling in every circumstance, every
opportunity, every set back. Job 42:2
* We can trust that the plan God has
mapped out for us is good, profitable,
best. That His plan--and no other--will
glorify Him, and satisfy us. Ephesians
3:20
* We can live the life He planned for
us. Not the life others think we ought to
live, nor the life dictated by ambition.
No, we can live the life tailored for us by
the Creator who knows our heart and
mind. Psalm 139:16
We can be who God created us to be
and find satisfaction in the things He
created us to do.
So this year is going to be different. I'm
not going to let the misdirects of desire
derail me. I won't allow this next year to
be shackled by fear and insecurity. I
refuse to expend another drop of
energy donning a cape to reach for
So I let it go.
Women's Ministries will be hosting a
free ladies clothing boutique at Auburn Grace on Saturday, February 21
for our AGCC ladies and our community. Bring a neighbor or friend and
shop anytime between 9:00 am and
1:00 pm. Enjoy fellowship, a cup of
tea, and pick out an outfit or two with
not cost to you. Clean out your closet
set aside your gently-used clothing
and accessories to donate for the
boutique. Specific days and times
that donated clothing will be accepted
the week of the event will be listed in
the bulletin and communicated in
other ways soon! Any clothing items
remaining after the event will be gifted to Acres of Hope and Mercy Ministries. For more information contact
Peggy McCray at 530-906-1751 or
[email protected].
Ambassadors of Grace
Hal and Mary Gail Wallace
[email protected]
Encouragers For Single Women/Grief Share
Francis Talley Hale
Wanda Peabody
[email protected]
[email protected]
Facilities
Gary Sparling
[email protected]
Family Ministries
Kent Smead
[email protected]
Hospitality
Wendi Milka
Bridget Uhler
Barb Weidemann
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Impact-Missions
Lawrence Buren
Aaron Klein
Lorin Miller
Mike Robinson
Phil Sparling
Bridget Uhler
[email protected]
Men’s Ministries
Aaron Klein
Danny Klein
Dave Wickstrom
Lynn Gomer
Judy Jenness
Rhoda Staurseth
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Rhoda Staurseth
2
[email protected]
Student Ministries
Meredith Jordan
[email protected]
Wednesday Night Live-Food
Jeff Grady
[email protected]
Women's Ministries
[email protected]
Audio Technology
Lorin Miller
[email protected]
Visual Technology/Webmaster
Kevin Kurtz
[email protected]
AGCC Administration
Office Manager - Starla Miller
Children‘s Director - Sue Smead
Facilities Coordinator - Lori Halbert
Creative Arts - Pamela Marich
Receptionist - Barbara Sparling
Bookkeeper - Kristin Davis
Orphan Care/Adoption Support
Aaron and Cacey Klein
Danny and Bonnie Klein
Lance and Tiffany Soderman
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Sewers & Rippers
Bethany Macklin
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Kitchen Keepers
Diane Custer
Prayer & Praise Ministry
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
11
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
4:30-6:30pm Curbside Cuisine
Pick-Up
Office Closed
9:30am Takin’ It to the Streets
28
9:30am Takin’ It to the Streets
GRAND OPENING!
February 7 & 8
Saturday
4:30 PM
Sunday
8:45 & 10:45 AM
Sunday
Service Times
8:45 AM
Adult Sunday School
23
Jr. & Sr. High School
5pm YAM - Young Adult Ministry
1:45pm Oakwood Village Service
Children’s Program
8:45 & 10:45 am
SUNDAY SERVICES
22
5pmYAM - Young Adult Ministry
10:45 Costa Rica Team Mtg
16
SUNDAY SERVICES
8:45 & 10:45AM
15
5PM YAM - Young Adult Ministry
8:45 & 10:45am
10:30am Takin' It To the Streets Sierra Ridge Memory Care
6:30pm Jr. & Sr. High Youth Grp
5:30pm Jr & Sr. High Leaders
Mtg
5:30pm WNL
EV
9am Sewers & Rippers
9:30am Women’s Bible Study
10am Grief Share (Women)
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26
25
24
6:30pm Jr. & Sr. High Youth Grp
5:30pm Jr & Sr. High Leaders
Mtg
9am Men’s Bible Stdy
9am Sewers & Rippers
5:30pm WNL
10am Grief Share (Women)
20
19
G
N
I
H
T
Y
R
E
Office Closed
17
18
9:30am Women's Bible Study
6:30pm Jr. & Sr. High Youth Grp
5:30 Jr. & Sr. High Leader's Mtg
7pm Prayer Meeting for
5:30 NO WNL
6pm Life Skills - Phase 2
9:30am Women's Bible Study
9am Sewers & Rippers
9
GRAND OPENING
SUNDAY SERVICES
8
5pmYAM - Young Adult Ministry
Super Bowl Student Fundraiser– Party
Tray pick-up after each Service
2
SUNDAY SERVICES
8:45 & 10:45AM
1
Sun
9am –PM
MY BEST FRIEND'S CLOSET
21
Office Closed
10:15am Takin’ It to the
Streets-Worship at Auburn
Oaks Care Ctr
MARRIAGE EVENT
2PM - 8PM
Office Closed
13
10am Grief Share (Women)
3pm Gathering Inn
12
11
6:30pm Jr. & Sr. High Youth Grp
5:30 Jr. & Sr. High Leader's Mtg
5:30 WNL
3
10
9am Sewers & Rippers
9am Men’s Bible Stdy
5
10am Grief Share (Women)
5:30pm Kairos Course
6
9:30am Women's Bible Study
4
Wed
Tue
AWAKEN LOVE
14
GRAND OPENING
Saturday Service
4:30 PM
9:30am Takin’ It to the Streets
Office Closed
7
Sat
Fri
Thu
2 015
FE B RUA RY
Mon
12
LOVE
Changes
& Nursery
10:45 AM
Adult Sunday School
Children’s Program
& Nursery
3-22
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Be a better Implementer!
Have you ever been hurt because you didn’t know
something? I remember when I was a kid and I was at
my neighbor’s house and touched an electric fence he
had put up around the pasture. I didn’t know how
electric fences worked and the shock smacked me
pretty good. I also remember when I opened my first
checking account. I was in college and the first couple
of months I bounced several checks because I didn’t know how the
whole system worked. I took money out of the ATM because I didn’t
know that it would take time for checks to clear my account. I remember the confusion and overdraft fees I had to pay (as a poor college
student they really hurt). Our parents used to tell us, “What you don’t
know can’t hurt you.” Well, sorry moms and dads, sometimes ignorance is not blissful. Sometimes it can be down right painful.
My first trip to Africa really nailed the point home when I realized that
there are simple things in life we really need to know! Kenya had a
corrupt government for over 25 years. The corrupt President did not
care for the needs of his people. When he stands before the Lord he
is going to have to give an account for his neglect and abuse of the
people entrusted to him. Educating his people was one of the areas of
neglect. He made basic education costly. As a result the average
Kenyan could not afford to send their children to school. The people
remained ignorant of basic information, things we learned before the
fifth grade—how to properly wash your hands and brush your teeth,
how to not spread germs to our food or to others, how to figure out
whether you had the flu or malaria. Basic information that if you do not
know can hurt you.