Grace Weekly, March 17

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.  Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matt. 5:11-12

 Happy St. Patrick’s Day! St. Patrick was the Patron Saint of Ireland. In the 5^th Century he sought to evangelize Ireland and led many to Christ.  While he had the satisfaction of seeing scores of people find new life in Jesus, St. Patrick also experienced persecution. He was arrested, beaten, and imprisoned for his actions.

 Grace Received Great news! Today, after 8 months of unemployment, Michael Colley got a job – with benefits! Praise God for this gift and answer to prayer.  One of my favorite places in our building is the prayer room which was established last year.  If you haven’t been in there yet, it is located behind the sanctuary platform on the north side of the building.  You can access it from the hallway around the sanctuary on the side of the building where the rooms have recently been remodeled for adult Sunday School.  This week Linda Shipes has been painting some scriptures on the walls of this beautiful space that is perfect for connecting with God.  Whether there or your own place of prayer I hope that you have positioned yourself in the stream of God’s grace today.  

 Grace Shared Last Saturday I visited a man from Grace who has been going through a difficult time with some serious physical ailments. It was a blessing to hear how members of his Sunday School class and other friends from Grace had sent cards, called, and been there to pray for and encourage him.  Today I had lunch with Dr. Dan Meyer. He’s a professor at APSU and attends Grace with his wife Pam.   Among other things, we talked about the 2:42 group they attend and when we hit that subject, he lit up! Strong relationships are being built there with Jesus-followers of a different generation and as this group is growing closer to God, they are also growing closer to each other.  They are sharing life, sharing love, sharing grace.  

 Grace Extended Tonight at 5:30 a group will be meeting to strategize about our involvement in the Relay for Life, a national effort to raise money for cancer research.  Tomorrow afternoon one of our teen service groups will be serving dinner at the Salvation Army while a group of adults will be serving concessions at a Predators game in Nashville to raise funds for the mission trip to Peru.  All over Clarksville (and beyond) Grace Nazarenes are taking up the towel and basin in an attitude of service. I like it!!!!

Remodel update: The new nurseries are being painted this week. The drywall crew has almost completed hanging the sheetrock and they are hard at it taping, mudding, and will soon be sanding.  It looks like our completion date will be within the first week of May! Thank you all for your patience and cooperation as we have had to adapt during this project.

Looking Ahead:

April 1 – 7:00 Maundy Thursday Service

April 2 – 7:00 Good Friday Service

April 4 – EASTER – Sunrise service at 6:00, worship services at 8, 9:30, & 10:45. Baptisms at 10:45 service.

April  18 & 25 – Church Elections

May 23- PM Service to Honor Graduates June 1-6 TN District Campmeeting at Camp Garner Creek (Sunday June 6 motorcycle ride starts at 2:00, goes to Dickson for final service of Campmeeting, then back home) 

June 4-5 GRACE YARD SALE (proceeds go to our benevolence fund)

June 7-11 – Preteen Camp

June 12-16 Sr. High Camp

June 16-20 Jr. High Camp

June 19-30 – Mission Trip to Peru

June 21-25 Middler Camp

June 27 – Celebration of Freedom Service

June 28-July 1 Primary Camp

July 11-18 – Teen Mission Trip to KY

July 26-31 – VBS