Only five days into the new year, but at Gracepoint, it feels like so much has happened already! We had a memorable New Year's Eve Watchnight Service where we heart testimonies from Austin, Taiwan, as well as the personal Deuteronomy 8 reflections from several brothers and sisters (our own Ray included). We were able to spend the last hours of 2008 reflecting on the year, and as we prayed and repented, we received the new year with a clean slate, full of hope and newness through God's grace!
January 1st, we kicked off the year with Mandoo Making Madness (만두 is Korean for dumpling) and Yut Nori (윳노리) with all the folks here from Koinonia, Kairos and the Austin team.
Yesterday was the first Sunday of the year, and Pastor Ed gave a message based on our church's key verse for 2009 (1 John 1:3-4). 1 John 1 is like our key chapter for the year.
I've committed to memorizing the chapter; anyone down (or up?) for the challenge with me? I encourage everyone to listen to the message via
podcast, as it was the perfect message to start off the year.
We also started off our Advanced Course 101 camp, which people are finding...challenging...and exciting! :)
In the midst of the excitement of getting drilled and grilled on the course material, we also sent off our Cambodia Winter Mission Team - please remember to pray for them. Our very own Steven Chua and Wynn Susilo are on the trip.
That's it for the mini-recap of things happening around these parts.
I encourage everyone to start of the new year spiritually engaged. Try picking a key verse for 2009, or a key word you want to focus on, and write out your prayer request for upcoming retreats (class discipleship and church-wide). Read a good book. Call up an old friend. Call up a new friend!
See you guys soon!
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Posted By emmeline to
Gracepoint Fellowship Church :: Koinonia Berkeley HG 7 [R.E.D.] at 1/05/2009 12:03:00 PM
