Opening the Book of Faith
Sunday, July 6th, 2008On Sunday July 6th at GPS we launched into a two month series “The Old Testament Today: Hearing the Story, Living into the Promises of God’s Word” We recognized our need to share with others how scripture has impacted us - over the years, or recently. Questionnaire’s were handed out in church that asked: What is an early memory you have of someone sharing scripture with you, What is a favorite bible story or passage, What would you want others to know about how the Bible has impacted you?
You are invited to share your answers here. Click on comments and post away. Thanks for sharing.
FASTER PASTOR RACE POSTPONED!
Tuesday, July 1st, 2008DUE TO THE WEATHER FASTOR PASTOR RACE HAS BEEN POSTPONED UNTIL AUGUST 6TH!
Join us then for a tailgate at the
CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD!
Monday, April 7th, 2008At GPS on Sunday we talked about calling on the name of the Lord. We looked at the great examples in the book of Psalms as the writers often called on the name of the Lord - Psalm 18 verses 1-3 “1 I love you, Lord; you are my strength. 2 The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. 3 I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and he saved me from my enemies.”Out of despair, they called on the Lord. In their praise, they called on the name of the Lord. We have much to learn by reading these words and simply hearing how their stories and the ways in which they called on the Lord are similar to our stories and how we can and should call on the Lord. So, as any good Pastor would do, I assigned homework. I invited you to join me as we read the book of Psalms. Jump around, picture the images they paint for you, hear their words and connect them to your story. Their God is your God!Then, take some time to be still with God, pull out a pen and paper and write your psalm. Whether it chronicles your life, a great joy or struggle you have lived through, or just your week, your day or even the hour you write it - write and call on the Lord!You can post your psalm here. Psalm 105:1-2 “1 Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. 2 Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts.”Share what God has done in your life, by posting you psalm here!
GPS IN 2008…
Tuesday, November 6th, 2007
GOD’S MISSION FOR GPS+: To Build Authentic Relationships with God and One Another
GOD’S VISION FOR GPS+: Build relationships that transform lives, which will transform the world with God’s Grace, Jesus’ Love, and the Power of the Holy Spirit!
WHAT GOD HAS DONE THROUGH GPS IN THE PAST YEAR…
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78 shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child (sent through Samaritan’s Purse to kids around the world)
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6 mobile food pantries (partnering with the Mobile Food Pantry - we give out 10,000 lbs. of food each time to 200 families)
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Baskets of Hope (For $25 we can give a family a full Thanksgiving and Christmas basket with
Turkey and all the fixins’) -
Meals at Carpenter’s Place (every other month we provide a huge hot meal for homeless men and women)
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Meals at Boys and Girls Club (last spring it was once a month, this fall twice a month, and in January we will go once a week to provide a pizza dinner to the kids at the Carlson Boys and Girls Club - many of whom are there from 3:00-9:00 each night)
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Over 500 volunteer hours – Faith In Action (On October 14th we cancelled Sunday Morning Worship and landscaped and painted the Boys and Girls Club and the Harlem Community Center - when we come together for 4 hours of work God can do a BIG thing!)
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We have offered Two free movies,1 free Easter Egg Hunt, 1 free week long Vacation BibleSchool, 1 free Trunk or Treat for the youth in our community
GOALS FOR 2008…
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Sponsor more than 6 mobile food pantries through the Northern Illinois Food Bank (we did 6 in 2007) Each food pantry costs $650 and we spend $150 to provide a hot dinner every time we do it.
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Raise $4,000 to serve 40 meals at the Boys and Girls Club (once a week while they are open – not summer) We currently have $1,500.
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Have 12 small groups of 8 meeting monthly. These groups are a place to connect, to build those authentic relationships. We are more committed to our faith when we are in relationship with others who are committed to their faith. It is easier to pray and read the bible when we know others are doing it with us. Worship is more meaningful when we come in and know the names of people sitting next to us.
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Mission and Ministry through small groups: Have those small groups join three other groups for a day of service in the community every other month (3 groups of 32 people serving 6 times a year – even if each service project were only two hours, that would be 1,092 hours of service!) WHAT CAN GOD DO WITH 1,092 hours of our time and resources? If 32 people could give $20 each we would have $640 dollars ($10 short of sponsoring a mobile food pantry – Pastor Rob will give the other $10)
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Increase our average Sunday Worship Attendance 25% from 165 (current 2007 average) to 206. So far in 2007 we have had 8 Sundays with over 200 in worship (Nov. 4th was #8), our average in 2006 was 136, Easter in 2007 was 360.
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Increase our Sunday Morning Offering from an average of $10/person to $20/person GOAL FOR 2008, 206 people in worship with an annual offering of $214,240 ($4,120/week –current average is $1,600) We have a long way to go on this goal, but it is exciting to think of what God could do if we would give $214,240. This far exceeds our budget, our expenses, it frees up more resources to do more ministry. I challenge you – what is your average, can it be raised?
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Increase our Sunday School Class of 4 year olds through fifth graders from 11 to 40 (increase of 300%). We live 2 miles from the ShowPlace our 6 house radius has 12 kids with 3 on the way. This area is full of young families who are not connected to a church – how do we invite them and get them involved at GPS?
WE CONTINUE TO CELEBRATE:
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Worship is happening in a movie theater – how crazy is that?
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Lives are being transformed.
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Families are worshipping together.
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We have done 6 adult baptisms and 3 infant baptisms – people want to more, they want to be committed to faith in Jesus Christ!
GOD IS CALLING AND LEADING GPS TO CONTINUE TO BE A FAITH COMMUNITY THAT IS GROWING AND THRIVING AS MORE AND MORE PEOPLE HEAR THE CALL TO SERVE AS THE HANDS AND FEET OF JESUS CHRIST IN ALL THAT WE DO!
God is doing a good new thing through GPS. Come and be a part of it! Pastor Rob James
Welcome!
Tuesday, August 28th, 2007Welcome to GPS’s new home on the web. Hopefully the new design is easier for you to use. You can look forward to more frequent updates about church events. Take a look around and let us know what you think!
