GFCN Weekly Update: May 2012

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

GFCN Weekly Update for Wednesday, May 30, 2012

This Wednesday morning started with this reminder from God's Word...“Take my side, God—I'm getting kicked around, stomped on every day. Not a day goes by but somebody beats me up; They make it their duty to beat me up. When I get really afraid I come to you in trust. I'm proud to praise God; fearless now, I trust in God. What can mere mortals do?” Psalm 56:4 MSG
"I TRUST IN GOD." I rejoiced upon hearing of an incredibly good report from Victor yesterday, I lifted a number of needs to the Lord and in the midst of each prayer, these words echoed. "I TRUST IN GOD." This trusting is not for just when things are going well, and smooth, but even more so when things are not going the way that I would like or anticipated. This is my motto for today..."I TRUST IN GOD."

It is the last days of May, schools are finishing their yearly schedules, graduations are completed and summer is on the doorstep. "Summertime, and the living is easy"...says the Gershwins. Summertime is when our schedules are not typically normal, we travel, enjoy the great outdoors, head to the beach, go up to the mountains, and move to a different beat in our lives. During this summer 2012, don't forget to include God and the church in your schedule. When traveling, make time for worship. When home, make it a priority to be in church. We will have services every Sunday during the summer months, so if you are traveling or staying home, plan to be in worship. Come enjoy Summer Sundays in the South. Don't let the easy living of summertime, turn in to disregard for the things of God.

During June we will have a special guest speaker with more than 70 years of ministry experience as Pastor Milton Harrington shares God's Word with us on June 3. We will celebrate Father's Day on June 17 and recognize the important influences that dads have on our lives. We will have a special concert by our one and only Michael Jackson as a part of the Father's Day celebration. A free-will offering will be received for the Jacksons. We will interview, meet and greet, a new potential youth pastor and his wife on June 16-18, and they will be in attendance on June 17.

Graduation 2012 Video is available here for viewing.

Fam Jam, a family Vacation Bible School will take place this Sunday June 3 - Wednesday, June 6. An evening meal will be served each evening will the cost of $2.00 for adults and $1.00 for each child. Make your plans now to be a part of this outreach event.

To download a sign up sheet for registration or meals click here.

Summer Special Events

Family Picnic in the Park

Children’s Ministries is sponsoring Family Picnic in the Park on the first Sunday of each month during the summer. Bring your lunch, your games and your family for a time of fellowship and fun. 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM. Sunday, June 10, July 1, August 5 and September 2 are the scheduled dates. Any questions contact Pastor Brenda @ 864.233.4890 ext. 17 or by email bturner@greenvillenaz.org

Children’s Summer Camps

Middler Camp - July 8-11
Completed 3rd and/or 4th grade
Primary Camp - July 12-14
Completed 1st or and/or 2nd grade
Pre-Teen Camp - July 16-20
Completed 5th and/or 6th grade

All camps take place at the South Carolina District Nazarene Camp located near Batesburg, S.C.

All Church 4th July Picnic

Hot dogs, chips, baked beans and ice cream to eat. Horseshoes, Corn-hole, Volleyball, and other games to play. Bring your friends and enjoy an evening of good food, fellowship and fun. Beginning at 5:00 PM on July 4th at The Bridge Student Center.

ADDITIONAL NEWS ...

Holland Webb, presently serving in Guatemala has announced that he is taking a new position and will be moving back to the United States in June of this year. In this recent email, Holland said, "We are wrapping things up and preparing to move. I have accepted a job in Fairfield, Iowa, and we will relocate there in June." Please keep Holland and the family in prayer as they relocate.

Support for the disabilities project in Guatemala will continue, and any gifts designated toward this project will be promptly forwarded. Holland reminds us in his recent email, "Some people have very generously supported our project for children with disabilities here in Guatemala. That will be continuing. You can (should! must!) continue to support that ministry through the First Church of the Nazarene in Greenville at 1201 Haywood Road Greenville, SC 29615 with a note either saying Guatemala or my name, just as you have been doing. Those children will need regular, faithful support now more than ever."

GFCN Special Update, May 25, 2012 - GRADUATION!

Congratulations to all 2012 graduates! It is an accomplishment that required hard work, perseverance and learning. From college to high school, to junior high, to elementary and to kindergarten. The first graduation celebration that most experience is graduating from kindergarten. Congratulations to the 2012 class of SLC (Sonshine Learning Center), a ministry of Greenville First Church of the Nazarene. Pictured below is the class of 2012! Congratulations to each one and to their families!

Sonshine Learning Center has an enrollment of more than 220 children who are learning, growing and becoming. The spring program, which included graduation, was well done and we celebrate all of hard work of the administrators, teachers, students and parents of SLC! Pictured below is the entire group presenting their spring program. Well done!

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

GFCN Update for May 23, 2012

Scripture for the day - “Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us. Strength is for service, not status. Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, "How can I help?” Romans 15:2 MSG

How can I help? What an interesting question. Not --"What is wrong?" "How do you feel?" "How are you?" but, "How can I help?" How would you respond if asked this question? Would you be willing and able to tell someone what is needed and how they could help you? Would you be willing to help if asked? What parameters or limitations would you set. I would help, but .... I would help if only .... I don't need help, but .... Notice that the scripture also says, "Strength is for service, not status." So let's find a way to serve each other today. How can I help?

Sunday, May 27, we celebrate our graduates and focus on Psalm 139:1-6. We will focus on the fact that we are an "open book to God." and we are surrounded by His presence and power.

May 27 is also Memorial Day weekend and we pause to remember those who served and died in service to our country. For those who have had loved ones die in service to our country we say, "Thank you! We will never forget their sacrifice!"

Tomorrow, on Thursday, of this week, May 24, SLC (Sonshine Learning Center), a ministry of Greenville First Church of the Nazarene, with more than 220 children each day, will hold their spring program and Kindergarten (K-5) graduation. Children and parents who are a part of this daily ministry will be present and celebrate. Everyone is invited to be a part and celebrate with them. Thursday, May 24, 2012 at 7:00 PM in the Worship Center. Congratulations to the K-5 class of 2012!

News from the past week ...

The Spring Share - Yard Sale, Bake Sale, Silent Auction and Breakfast is now history and a success. More than $2000 was raised to assist local compassion and international mission needs. Thank you to all who attended, bought, shared, gave, assisted and cleaned up! The photo to the left shows the last survivors as the final strokes of the clean up were completed. Thank you all !!

The children's musical was presented on Sunday, May 20. The title of the musical was "Let's Worship Him!" The children led us in worship and participated all during the service. A special THANK YOU to all their leaders and those who assisted in the presentation! "Thank you for leading us in worship and doing your musical so well! Well done!"

Congratulations to those elected to the church board and to the Auxiliary positions during the recent elections.
Church board elected - Cindy Alsip; Andri Angrino; Bill Golliher; Dan Middleton; Jose Renteria; and Franciso Rojo.
Auxiliary elected - Nancy Hicks- NMI President; Curtis Turner- SS Superintendent; and Rachel Hazel -NYI President.

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES 2012

Maggie Edwards; Joseph Godby; Nathanael Greene; Heather Leigh;

Merari Lopez; Alex Uram Rob Vereen

This Sunday- May 27, 2012, 9:30 AM is our GRADUATION SUNDAY celebration! Each graduate will have a display table in the Haywood Road Foyer and will be available for questions and answers, for pictures and to receive your congratulations and gifts! Graduation Sunday bulletin download (.pdf) is available by clicking here.

Fam Jam, a family Vacation Bible School will take place on Sunday June 3 - Wednesday, June 6. An evening meal will be served each evening will the cost of $2.00 for adults and $1.00 for each child. Make your plans now to be a part of this outreach event.

To download a sign up sheet for registration or meals click here.