Weekly Update | March 10, 2022
Weekly Newsletter 03/10/2022
Peace to you!
“So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.” (Rom. 14:19)
I’ll share some personal lessons that God has taught me over the past couple of weeks…
1) Compassion – God has truly been teaching me how to feel the pain of others, to sympathize, to worry, and as a natural reaction to seriously pray for others’ struggles (speaking of the war in Ukraine). A lot of tears have been shed especially for our brothers and sisters in the faith. “If one member suffers, all suffer together…” (1 Cor. 12:26)
2) Citizenship – It has been becoming clearer and clearer to me the reality that our citizenship is in heaven (Phil. 3:20). We are citizens of heaven, above all. If my identity is determined only by my nationality, then I am without Christ! I look at other brothers and sisters with fresh eyes. They are truly brothers and sisters for whom Christ suffered, and we are one body!
3) Organic outreach – The strength with which people are spreading around various information shows us that we are all natural evangelists. How wonderful would it be if all this energy was used to spread the Gospel! Lord, humble us toward evangelism! “…Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel!” (1 Cor. 9:16)
4) Gospel of injustice – Now more than ever we’ve all focused on one word – “justice” or “injustice.” And this is evidently explainable because people are dying. A war cannot leave this question by the wayside. But this is what bothers me, that we’ve forgotten that God has dealt with us unjustly – He showed us mercy and love. I’ve really begun to understand this side of the Gospel. I honestly hope that you would also be freshly humbled by God’s injustice toward Jesus Christ in order to not justly repay us for our sins (Is. 53).
It is necessary for us to talk about unity more often and more persistently. We can confidently say that the war in Ukraine is creating many points of tension between people. That which is supposed to be uniting people to focus on the grief, need, and fulfilling that need, has brought some to hardening and hostility. This is absolutely unacceptable between brothers and sisters! Beloved, we are children of one God, and our citizenship is in heaven.
From the face of the elder board, I strongly ask you to seriously devote yourselves to prayer for the nations of Ukraine and Russia. If hardening or hatred has already happened in your heart, you won’t be able to pray. This is a good check for your spiritual condition. Although we don’t merely pray to check our heart, but that God would, firstly, save sinners through these difficult circumstances, secondly, send peace, safety, food, and shelter to those in need in Ukraine, thirdly, strengthen the church in Ukraine and Russia to use this time to serve their neighbors, preach the Gospel, and be a witness of God’s grace and mercy, and fifthly, that we, residing in America, would devote more and more time toward prayer, the Word, and service to our neighbors, instead of social media or other news outlets.
From the face of the elder board, I want to encourage you to financially participate in the needs of the saints suffering from the war in Ukraine. We are offering and will offer help only through local churches and through pastors that we know and trust. You can use the link below. Also, please try to share the link with your friends: https://gfchurch.com/ukraine/
The Scripture memory text for the next few weeks is – Proverbs 16:1-3
The plans of the heart belong to man,
but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,
but the Lord weighs the spirit.
3 Commit your work to the Lord,
and your plans will be established.
Important announcements:
1) Dear Kairos participants! Due to the present situation in Ukraine our main course facilitator from Moscow is not able to travel to the US at this time. After much prayer and consideration of all the options we have decided to postpone the upcoming course. We apologize for the inconvenience this cancelation might have caused. The refund will be processed automatically to the same account. Thank you for your desire to participate. Continue to pray for peace in Ukraine and for the right time to run Kairos at our church. Blessings!
Psalm 145:10-13 “10 All You have made will thank You, Lord; the[e] godly will praise You. 11 THEY WILL SPEAK OF THE GLORY OF YOUR KINGDOM and will declare Your might, 12 INFORMING ALL PEOPLE OF YOUR MIGHTY ACTS AND OF THE GLORIOUS SPLENDOR OF YOUR KINGDOM. 13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom; Your rule is for all generations. The Lord is faithful in all His words and gracious in all His actions.”
2) VBS volunteer sign-ups continue – Please look at the summer as an opportunity to serve and be part of spreading the Gospel! https://mygracefamilychurch.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/1159506
Below are the services and meetings for this weekend:
Today, Thursday (7:30 PM) – Bible Study (Proverbs) for the whole church. (There will be no Children’s Bible School today)
Sunday services:
- – Worship Service in Russian at 9:00 AM
- – Worship Service in English at 11:15 AM
- – Meeting for small group leaders and their helpers at 6:00 PM
As previously, due to the restrictions and orders from the health department, we remind you:
- – Keep social distancing and wearing masks in public places
- – Wash and sanitize hands more often
- – If you have flu-like symptoms, were in contact with a person with COVID, or are in the “high-risk” group, then we ask you to stay home
Elders of GFC