Weekly Update | May 26, 2022
Weekly Newsletter 05/26/2022
Glad to greet you.
Dear church, the brothers from the elder board are grateful for your prayers. The elders had an opportunity to go on a prayer retreat where we read and studied the epistle of James and prayed for the church, ministries, and each other. This was a very valuable time for us as a team since unity comes not when we all do the same thing but from understanding that we have one faith, one hope, one body, one Lord, one Spirit, and one God and Father of all.
Here are a few observations from the time we spent in the word: the climax or culmination of the epistle of James is in 4:6-10 where James explains the core of Christian life – humility and repentance. And verse 6 is the key to understanding everything – God gives grace. This is the only verse in the whole epistle that mentions God’s grace. This is the culmination that explains how a Christian must fight for purity, overcome temptation, make correct decisions, etc. Without God’s grace this is impossible. But God’s grace is given to the humble. The humble live lives of repentance. In James 4:7-10 there are 10 imperatives (it is the biggest concentration of imperatives in the whole Bible) that help us understand a life of repentance.
There is one more thing we’re grateful for – Joseph and Oksana Sheremet have successfully returned to Sacramento. A reminder, the church sent Joseph to Poland to serve refugees from Ukraine. A lot of work was accomplished in these two months, and he will soon share how they were able to be partakers of the work of the gospel.
Please continue supporting the churches working among the people who have suffered from the war in Ukraine: https://gfchurch.com/ukraine/
The Scripture memory text for the next few weeks is – Psalm 139:19-24
19 Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God! O men of blood, depart from me!
20 They speak against you with malicious intent; your enemies take your name in vain.
21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord? And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?
22 I hate them with complete hatred; I count them my enemies.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!
24 And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!
Important announcement: Choir rehearsals have been moved to Wednesdays at 6:30 PM. Nikolay Shipilin invites all those who’ve previously sung in a choir to reach out to him on Sunday and ask how you can join this ministry.
Below are the services and meetings for this weekend:
Today, Thursday (6:30 PM) – The last Kid’s Bible School service before summer break. No church bible-study this week.
Saturday (8:00 – 9:30 AM) – Men’s prayer breakfast and church board meeting (9:30 – 11:00 AM).
Sunday services:
- – Worship Service in Russian at 9:00 AM
- – Worship Service in English at 11:15 AM
Upcoming events:
- – Next Saturday, June 4th (10:00 AM) – Church picnic (details in photo below).
- – Next Sunday, June 5th (5:00 PM) – Baptism and church fellowship.
On behalf of the elders of GFC
