Grace Point Church of God Grace Point Views and News

APRIL 2012 VOLUME 5 ISSUE 1

Coming Alongside By: Pastor George

Special points of inter- n Sunday, est: January 29, immediately  Two Cartoons O following our Sunday morning worship  service at Grace Point, I News about the began a journey that had Newsletter me bound for Rome via Berlin. Berlin is the  A picture of some home base of Patrick and wonderful folks! Jamie Nachtigall, Re- gional Coordinators for Church of God Missions in Europe and the Middle East. Essentially Patrick and Jamie work with and oversee all of the na- tional Church of God leaders in all of Europe and the Middle East. They organizie and equip the churches under their care for more effective ministry. Gary and Belinda Kendall, with Pastor George (Continued on page 2) at the Roman Coliseum.

By: Emmy Schultz Never Too Old Inside this issue: God’s kingdom will en- goods in a farmer’s mar- courage you to be useful ket to support missions. 3 in God’s kingdom, no Soon they gathered a More than One Cross matter what your age. group of like-minded seniors and things began What a Friend we have 5 to snowball. It all began with one in Jesus At first we were meeting memorable saint, Olga 7 in the church and later Finding Paradise Itterman, who was an A congregation of moved the production to avid promoter for mis- pincushions! the home of Martha and 9 sions and was known for Young Adult Update Rudi Zander. We met distributing tracts and weekly to unravel wool, t is amazing what speaking to people about knit, hammer, bake and Through the Ages 10 some of our seniors their need for a Saviour. to do whatever else was have accomplished Together with Lily needed. since they retired. Zander, they started knit- IPerhaps this article of ting gloves, socks and When the Zanders trav- how they invested in hats and selling baked (Continued on page 4) GRACE POINT VIEWS AND NEWS Page 2

Coming Alongside (cont.) (Continued from page 1)

I was invited to Berlin to team light of an uncharacteristic and Mark Winkelhöfer, Pas- up with Patrick in facilitating cold snap and snowstorm – tors of the Torstrasse Church a seminar for the Church of the Romans had not seen of God, a church that is also God in Rome on “Organizing snow in their city for nearly experiencing significant tran- “the City in A Growing Church.” Patrick thirty years! (I was happy to sition. I spent several days had visited Grace Point in the have been able to bring a little with Jürgen and Mark, com- which I live spring of 2011 while leading a something from home with ing alongside of them in seminar here in western Can- me!). Though the weather preparation for their re- ada. During his stay, he in- was cold, the climate inside visioning process. The Ham- and serve is quired about our journey as a the church and amongst the burg church has a storied past, church and ultimately asked church family at Rome was and yet, it has come to a place me if I would ever be willing very warm and welcoming. where it is time for them to largely to assist him with the semi- Pastor Daniele Santonocito reinvent themselves as they nars he leads in Europe. Al- and his team later said that enter into the next chapters of ways ready for a bit of adven- they found the seminar very their story. One of the excit- post- ture, I quickly said “Yes!” helpful for the next steps in ing developments with regard After a day of acclimatizing their journey as a community to the Hamburg church’s and planning in Berlin, Pat- of faith. process is that they have in- Christendom rick and I jumped on a plane vited Pastor Egbert to consult and flew to Rome. There we After returning to Berlin and with them and coach them for met up with Gary and Belinda enjoying an afternoon of one week this spring. It’s our ... Kendall, Pastors of the Indian sightseeing in that grand city hope that we, as Grace Point Creek Community Church in that has experienced so much Church, can continue to be an Olathe, Kansas. Together we transition and transformation encouragement to them and a planned and hosted a week- these last decades, I jumped resource they can tap into in end seminar for our sister on a train headed for Ham- their unfolding journey. church in Rome. The seminar burg, Germany, where I met was well attended even in up with Jürgen Oppenheim (Continued on page 8)

“George, I don’t care what they do in Rome. You

take it off or go sleep on the couch!” Page 3 VOLUME 5 ISSUE 1

More Than One Cross By: Bill Holmes

f there is a definitive Christianity has symbols such This cross has an symbol of the crucifix- as water, which represents additional small bar ion of Jesus it would be renewal, cleansing or purity; near the top. It the cross. A symbol is fire represents the Holy Spirit represents the Ian object that represents and light. A fish was also a plaque that was at- something else by association, secret symbol used by first tached to the cross resemblance, or convention. century Christians. Its key is above Jesus with the inscrip- To some people, a symbol is the Greek word for fish, Ich- tion “This is Jesus, King of just a thing that has no power tus, which acts as an acronym the Jews.” It is generally or value in a post-modern for the Greek phase “Iesous known as the Patriarchal world and should be rejected Christos Theou Huios So- Cross. ter” (Jesus Christ, Son of as an anachronistic artifact of A variation on the God, Saviour). Although the a bygone era. This is espe- Patriarchal Cross is fish symbol is still used by cially true if it is a Christian known as the East- some people, the cross is symbol. ern Orthodox Cross. probably the most widely It has a slanted cross- In some ways symbols are recognized symbol of the bar near the base representing similar to traditions. They are Christian Church. The cross, the wood to which Jesus’ feet seen by many people as being as a symbol of our faith, came were nailed. It is primarily trivial and can be easily re- into use as early as the second used by the Eastern Orthodox vised, and frequently dis- century. At Grace Churches. missed as irrelevant. This Point, as with most appears particularly common Protestant denomi- This Celtic Cross in Canadian society. Recently nations, we use the originates from the it was suggested that the sym- empty cross. It is a regions of Ireland bol of our country should be powerful symbol and Great Britain. changed from the beaver to demonstrating Jesus’ victory Some believe this the polar bear. After all, the over death and His resurrec- symbol was a combination of beaver is just a small busy tion. However, there are other a pagan sun and the cross, but and frequently irritating ro- crosses that are either histori- with the cross or Christianity dent, whereas the polar bear cal or represent other Chris- having supremacy. Others say represents power and tian faiths/traditions. the ring was simply added to strength. The ensuing uproar strengthen the cross because This cross is was rather amusing because the Celtic people had this known as Chi in Canada that is what we do tendency to build really mas- Rho or the War- – we change symbols. It has sive crosses that would break riors’ Cross. It become our tradition – we easily. Grace Point Cross consists of the change our flag, we change first two letters of our national holiday from The Jerusalem the Greek word for Christ, Dominion Day to the insipid Cross, also “Xpistos”. It was similar to a Canada Day, we change the known as the pagan emblem used by the words of our National An- Crusaders' Roman Calvary. Constantine them. Cross, consists chose this symbol before the of a large cross surrounded by For Christians, we only have Battle of Milvian Bridge. The four smaller crosses, one in a few symbols, and traditions. day before the battle he saw each quadrant. It was given to They are less subject to revi- this image in the sun and took the armies of the First Cru- sion because they are not it as a sign from God. He won sade by Pope Urban II. The simply based on the notions the battle and became more four smaller crosses are said and whims of people but on accepting of Christianity. to symbolize either the four God-given truths. Later, Constantine became the first Christian Roman Em-

peror. (Continued on page 6) Page 4 VOLUME 5 ISSUE 1

Never too Old (cont.)

We needed

Back: Erich Schultz, Willi Thom, Siegfried Mueller, Ida Rutsch, Ruth Mueller, Maria Hill, Hedwig Ciesielski, Else Siewert, Ilse and Horst Zado a new Centre: Lotte Rutkowski, Dora Thom, Margot Riebandt, Martha Zander, Grimhilde Kadach, Ruth Breitkreutz Front: Emmy Schultz, Trudy Wollin project when (Continued from page 1) Sometime later we came into The pincushions flew off the contact with Mina Schieck, a shelves like hotcakes. We elled to Europe on vacation, former missionary from India gave one to each new bride at I received a they met Brother Pechmann, a involved with Helping Hands, her church shower and also to man who was involved in an Sahakarini missions group, visiting Pastor’s wives. In organization called Kinder- out of Camrose. We were so four years we raised $11,000 mushroom... hilfswerk (now known as happy to be able to begin sup- by just selling pincushions! GlobalCare). Together with porting some of their projects. We also raised plants in our well-known evangelist and We needed a new project greenhouse, did crafts, and visionary, Erich Gajewski, when I received a mushroom baked pies, doughnuts and they initiated various projects shaped pincushion as a gift. various traditional yeast in poverty stricken countries, We decided this would be a cakes. We took orders for including digging wells for perfect item to make and sell doughnuts and had a real as- water and finding sponsor- to raise funds. My husband, sembly line on bake days, ships for underprivileged chil- Erich, was a carpenter and baking as many as 50 dozen dren. They built schools and was able to construct wooden doughnuts in one day. And daycare homes where the bases and stems for the mush- we sold them all! We also children would be fed, rooms. Several of us had made kleenex houses, wool- clothed, educated and taught worked at a knitting mill and len cats and dogs, and cro- God’s word. Supporting had vast quantities of wool cheted blankets. We enjoyed KHW/GlobalCare soon be- and discarded cuts from getting together, but it was came our prime goal and we sweaters which we unrav- not always easy work. There had renewed enthusiasm for elled. Then we used the wool was the baking, transporting our work. and re-knit for our purposes. (Continued on page 8) GRACE POINT VIEWS AND NEWS Page 5

What a Friend We Have in Jesus By: Miranda Snook it that I hadn't grasped while over-interpreted this light- And this is reading the words on a page. heartedness, like in some of It enabled me to feel more the more serious scenes where connected to characters such his smile seemed a little out THE story, as the disciples, to fully ap- of place. But for the most preciate that the Bible is his- part, I found myself changing tory, not simply literature. my thinking a little bit about what Jesus was and is like. I I also appreciated that the the story had always imagined Him as filmmakers used the words of loving, certainly, but often in the Bible, so I didn't have to a more solemn way. Now I worry as much about whether see that if God made us in His on which such and such event or state- own image, and we laugh and ment was an embellishment smile and joke, why shouldn't or not. True, there are still all of Jesus? Of course He is solemn different ways in which the at times, but He is also joyful actors can interpret their and gentle and compassionate given roles, but having the history ... and friendly. As Ecclesiastes Biblical text as the script went says, there is a time for every- ecently I watched a long way towards making thing, including laughing and a film from the the depiction as accurate as dancing! (3:1, 4, NIV) Visual Bible series possible. Don't get me wrong, produced by GNN I do enjoy reading and watch- So as I grow in my relation- RInternational called ing Biblical historical fiction ship with God, I will go for- ``Matthew's Gospel``. It is a as well, but those mediums ward with the deeply rooted 265 minute dramatic portrayal must be approached differ- knowledge that He is both my of the book of Matthew, using ently. Watching this film was Lord and God and Saviour solely the words from the more of a spiritual growth or and my friend. Not simply New International Version of devotional experience rather because of what He's done for the Bible. I would like to than pure entertainment. me, but because of the kind of share my experience of relationship He wants with Finally, the thing that struck watching it because it blessed me. It's amazing! Truly, me the most about this film me in a few different ways. “What a friend we have in was the way the actor por- Jesus.” Personally, I am a visual per- trayed Jesus. I have long be- son. I often learn and under- lieved in Jesus' holiness, stand things better when they righteousness, truth, love, and are visually represented in many other aspects that most some way. Therefore, this Christians are familiar with movie was a great blessing to from the Bible. And this actor me because of its visual de- certainly portrayed those as- piction of the true events of pects. But as he interpreted the Bible. Although I do have his role, he also chose to a good imagination, there is really bring out Jesus' friend- something a little different liness. He was so often smil- about watching a story come ing and lighthearted with his to life before your very eyes. disciples and those listening And this is THE story, the to his teaching, laughing often story on which all of history and even teasing them. I hangs. Though I have read could just feel compassion Matthew's gospel before, and life oozing out of him to watching this film helped me everyone around. In some understand certain aspects of instances I think he may have Page 6 VOLUME 5 ISSUE 1

More Than One Cross (cont.) (Continued from page 3) were crucified naked. It was With the pain and effort re- gruesome and completely quired for each exhaled Gospels or the four directions humiliating. They reserved breath, the person soon re- in which the Word of Christ crucifixion for only the worst tained too much carbon diox- spread from Jerusalem. Alter- criminals, with the vilest one ide. When no longer able to natively, all five crosses can in the middle. lift himself, he would quickly symbolize the five wounds of die. To hasten the death of Christ during the Passion, the It was customary for the con- their victims, the Roman sol- Pentateuch and presumably, demned to carry the crossbar diers would break the legs, the first five Christian from the flogging post to the not allowing them to push off Churches. site of crucifixion. He was with their nailed feet and suf- then thrown to the ground on focation would soon follow. his back with arms out- The True Cross - stretched on the crossbar. The cross is not simply a probably Tapered iron spikes ( about 5 symbol, but rather it is an to 7 inches long ) were driven instrument by which Christ into and through his wrists/ triumphed over death and hands. The Greek word saved us from sin. According Crucifixion "cheir" includes the hand and to Colossians 2:15 “having wrist. There is a dispute disarmed the power and au- among experts if nails thorities, He made a public was designed through the hand will support spectacle of them, triumphing the weight of the body, al- over them by the cross.” At to be a slow though most people accept it this Easter season, the empty is possible. The soldiers then cross represents the fact of hoisted the crossbar onto the Jesus’ resurrection, the very death with vertical centre pole and nailed foundation of our faith. As the person's feet to the front C.S. Lewis, author of the Many people believe this is of it in a position so that his Chronicles of Narnia wrote: maximum pain. the shape of the cross upon knees were bent. Nailing the which Jesus was crucified. It feet to the upright reduces “Something new had ap- is called a Tau Cross. strain on the wrists/hand by peared in the universe: as transferring most of the new as the first coming of The Catholic, Anglican and weight onto the lower body. organic life. This Man Lutheran Churches usually The nails through his wrists (Jesus), after death, does use a cross that includes a pierced the median nerve causing wave after wave of not get divided into figure of Christ to emphasize “ghost” and “corpse”. A that Jesus is the focus rather intense pain to shoot up his new mode of being has than the cross. For Protes- arms. tants, the empty cross reminds arisen. That is the story. us of God`s act of love by Death could be due to blood What are we going to sacrificing His son at Calvary. loss, infections and/or dehy- make of it?” Jesus is “the Lamb of God dration. Some have suggested who takes away the sin of the that death was usually due to world.” asphyxiation. As he hung, his lungs were hyper-expanded Crucifixion was designed to and he could not exhale. Each be a slow death with maxi- time the criminal wanted to mum pain and suffering in an properly exhale, he would attempt to persuade people have to push up with his not to commit crimes. To em- nailed feet to take the pressure phasize vulnerability, victims of gravity off his rib cage. GRACE POINT VIEWS AND NEWS Page 7

Finding Paradise in Paradise Valley, Alberta By: Heidi Killiam

cession at the arena. Working church? I began to think how reetings from at the arena has given me the Paradise, Paradise often we do this to God in our opportunity to work with lives. We walk past Him, Valley Alberta some amazing people and to that is. In case you brush Him off or ignore his G develop some new friend- voice. We do not mean to don’t know me, I have at- ships. Unfortunately, I think tended Grace Point Church ignore God, but in our busy my efforts at the arena have lives, we frequently have a for close to four years. Dur- killed my love for hamburg- ing this past summer I was an tendency to stroll past Him. ers. He wants to speak to us, teach intern at Grace Point, mostly assisting Pastor Craig. Pres- us and whisper His love in One of the first lessons I our ears, but we are so con- ently, I am attending Van- learned was if you do not guard Bible College and am sumed with our activities that wave at cars or people walk- we do not let Him in. I won- in my third year. To fulfill ing by, you may get a phone course requirements, I needed der how many times God has call asking why you did not asked Himself, why is he/she to complete another intern- wave. Just kidding, but that is ship. I decided it should be in rejecting me? the on-going joke within the “But not Tim a small town called Paradise Valley. The first For the last three Heidi week I Horton’s , months this little was here, town has been my I was home. I will be given the the men returning to Ed- opportu- monton in a few nity to weeks. Although it lead the meet at the will be great to junior return to family high Bi- garage and friends, I will ble study. truly miss this little I planned town and the amaz- a walk- and ... ing people I have Heidi hard at work with a new friend. through met. pray sta- tion in the youth room. As I town, and it really is standard was setting the station up I Ministry here is going well. I practice to wave. If a person have connected with the prayed, “God, send the youth refuses to wave, people here you want to come to Bible youth really quickly and am would start to wonder if jumping into what God is study.” I told God if one something is wrong. The rule youth walked away passionate doing in Paradise Valley. For is: once you get past highway a small town, life here is very about prayer, the night would 619 waving is no longer ex- be a success. That night one busy. People are working or pected. This practice of wav- going from one activity to the girl showed up. Pastor Chad ing or greeting showed me was surprised because they next, just like in Edmonton. how important it is for people That was a surprise to me. As had never only had one youth to know that they are seen. A show up. He promised me the in Edmonton, one of the fear people can have is a fear places you will see people lack of youth was not the of being missed. A simple norm and I was given the op- during the week is the coffee hello can mean the world and shop—but not Tim Hortons! tion to cancel the Bible study. remind a person that they are At first I was disappointed The men meet at the garage seen. Can you imagine a life and the women meet at the only one person showed up where no one ever says “hi” and was really close to calling drop-in center. My weekends and acknowledges your pres- have been filled with youth ence when you walk into events and work in the con- (Continued on page 9) Page 8 VOLUME 5 ISSUE 1

Never too Old (cont.) (Continued from page 4) gregation and our efforts, we have seen, first hand, the things to the malls and stand- fruit of some of our labours. ing at the display tables to sell In total we were able to do- our wares. nate $84,000 to GlobalCare, $2,300 to Uganda, $38,500 Among the regular helpers to Sahakarini, and thousands were Herta Popke, Zados, of dollars more to various Wollins, Lotte Rutkowski, other causes, just from the Elsie Siewert, Riebandts, simple work of our hands. Ruth Breitkreutz, Popkes, Mary Hill, Herbolds, Thoms, We trust God will continue Ursula Jehn, Schultzes, Her- to bless what we started and bolds, Kadachs and others. to use anyone willing to help make this world a better Through sponsorships by place. many people from our con-

“Yeah, well, my wife knits mushroom pincushions!”

Coming Alongside (cont.) Spirit’s direction, walked next I saw God at work in Berlin, preach a sermon. Neverthe- to the man in the chariot, and Rome, Hamburg, Wolfsburg (Continued from page 2) less the people were warm so he was perfectly positioned and Frilinghoven. It was an and welcoming, and appreci- to share God’s unfolding absolute pleasure and joy to My next stop was a one- ated the time I was able to story. We read, “So Philip be able to engage in the min- week visit with the Church share with them and serve began with this same Scrip- istry of “coming alongside” in of God in Wolfsburg, Ger- them. ture and then used many oth- each location. many. Sebastian Scalogna, ers to tell him about Je- who had interned with us in I concluded my journey by sus” (Acts 8:35). The Ethio- May we, each of us in our the fall of 2010, is now the spending a few days near the pian Official ultimately came respective journeys, look to Associate Pastor of that Dutch border with a child- to faith in Christ and was bap- see where God is at work and church. He invited me to hood friend and his family. It tized because of Philip’s obe- enjoy the ministry of “coming consult with the leaders of was a great way to catch my dience and willingness to alongside”! May you experi- his church as they wrestle breath after several weeks of walk alongside him. ence God work through you with more effectively em- being “on.” as you make yourself avail- powering their leaders and Sometimes we think we are able to Him by being willing moving more toward gift- As I look back on my time called to bring God to bear on to walk alongside where He is oriented ministry, along working with these various the various relationships and working. with tweaking their struc- churches, an image from Acts situations affecting our lives. tures to become evermore 8 comes to mind. It is there Truth is we don’t bring God functional. I was also asked we read how God’s Spirit to bear as much as much as to speak at their Sunday encouraged Philip, the disci- He’s already at work there! morning service on Feb. 12 ple, to walk alongside a char- Our role is to walk alongside and was very glad to be iot where an Ethiopian gov- where God is already at work welcomed with much grace ernment official was reading and to be prepared to bring and kindness – I find it Isaiah the prophet but could clarity by asking questions challenging to order a cof- not make sense of what was and giving explanations as fee in German let alone written. Philip, under the opportunity allows. NEWSLETTER TITLE Page 9

Young Adult Update - Vision Stage! By: Dan Schultz

tools to discover their iden- od is doing build the ministry on. tity and purpose while at the great things at We identified 3 priorities: same time empowering them Grace Point to serve in GPC, especially Church and the 1. to help facilitate rela- within their spheres of influ- G tionships with peers, young adults want to be a ence and the greater commu- part of the excitement. Re- 2. deepening those peer nity. cently the group has been relationships and meeting to figure out what Our conversation will con- He has in store for us in the 3. develop a mentoring- tinue as we seek God’s will future. type relationship with and His direction as we seasoned Christ fol- strive to put our purpose During our team meeting lowers. puzzle together. We would on Mar. 18, we discussed love to have you pray with some of the foundational Our focus and desire is to us and for us. Thank you! values we would like to equip young adults with

Finding Paradise (cont) (Continued from page 7) neighbour. She was not at the dren of our church to be in- service so the pastor asked for volved in such activities. We it a night. I felt this tug in my someone to stand in for her. give them their own space and heart to continue the night as I He practically jumped out of songs to worship, but I loved had planned. We went ahead his chair. All the prayers were to see them join in on the with the night and while I was simple but powerful. This worship and prayer with the praying, God showed me he scene occurred a third time adults. … the pastor had answered my prayer. God and this time a younger child had sent the one girl and three stood in for someone and was I am looking forward to what asked the youth leaders for prayer that anointed while the older boy else God has in store while I night. At this point the truth prayed. I was astonished at am in Paradise Valley. The children to that every individual is impor- their faith, excitement and lessons I have learned are tant to God really hit home. simple prayers. I felt the wor- valuable and have given me take an ship before God was particu- an idea of what ministry in a During one of the evening larly amazing because of what small town is like. I have an- services, the pastor decided to these boys had done. other year of college. My time instrument anoint all those who were sick in Paradise Valley has con- and to pray over them. One of Three weeks earlier the wor- firmed that I am called to do from the the boys (10 yrs old) was the ship pastor had asked the chil- ministry in a small town. God first to shoot up his hand. He dren to take an instrument has been so good to me. front and requested prayer for his mom from the front and to join in as she had bronchitis. His on worshiping God. The shak- mom came forward, and they ers, drums, recorders, and to ... gave the boy the oil to anoint bells were all off beat but the her. He was also given the worship was beautiful. Be- opportunity to pray for her. tween these two examples of His simple prayer was short, children praying and worship- but I realized he said all that ing God, I was reminded how was needed. A little while we are to approach God. I was later he shot his hand up again also reminded how important Paradise Valley Church and requested prayer for his it is to find ways for the chil- Grace Point Church of God

New and Improved Newsletter, by Lewis Mehta 720—62 Street SW Edmonton, Alberta Over the course of the next number of months, the online presence of the Grace Point Newsletter will be undergoing a revamp. Visitors to the Grace Point website may have noted the presence of a direct link on T6X 0G3 the main webpage. It will take you to all current and previous editions of the Newsletter that are available Phone: 780-466-8290 for download. Part of the revamp will involve embedding the most current edition right into the site. This [email protected] will allow website visitors to read the Newsletter online - an added convenience for those who may wish to Making more and read an article but don't want to download the entire document. We have also begun to plan for an improved better Christ online presence for the Newsletter in the form of a blog. A blog format provides the opportunity of online followers readers to access timely Church stories, articles and reflections on current topics. It will also potentially allow readers to participate - through the sharing of your stories and testimonies. Comments can also be left directly onto articles, and open dialogues with authors can be had. With such an increasing demographic of young families, this will allow the Newsletter to reach a greater number of readers, keeping them engaged We are on and informed with the Church body. the web — A special shout-out of thanks to Randy Jenne who has done a terrific job on the website these past years and continues to maintain it well, always keeping it up to date - even while he is currently away in the trop- Gracepointchurch.ca ics!

Through the Ages By: Jon Snook ave you ever con- ference in this world. lessons of what God is doing sidered the value among us! One could argue whether this of recorded his- is vanity at play, or whether it With this newsletter, there is tory? We benefit is a deeper longing to pass on great hope of what it might Hso greatly by the progress of our experiences for the sake of become. But its full potential generations before us. As others. Regardless of the mo- can only be reached with the Christians, we often refer to tive, there are certainly bene- active endorsement of every- the Bible and ask, "What was fits to recording history - and one in this church. The news- the early church doing?" And especially Church history! letter can be used to publish in politics we frequently re- Being able to look back and and record all of our stories, member lessons of the past. celebrate where we've been - updates, and prayer requests. Truly we benefit from stand- to recognize a long-standing Be it one line, several para- ing on the shoulders of giants- tradition of God-fearing peo- graphs, or even a cartoon, con- - in no small part because ple, to have a clear idea of tributions of all sorts are wel- those giants recorded lessons where we've come from, al- come and encouraged. Have from which we can study and lows us to move forward in your contributions read by the learn. confidence and unity. We whole church community, and Records take many forms. In know that we are a part of be remembered in the Chroni- Old Testament days, kings something bigger and can cles of Grace Point (I believe a would keep annals, or chroni- track the work of God in our copy of each newsletter will cles, of their time on the church over time. be added to a compilation that throne. Today, many of us will be kept in the library!) What a testimony it is to have turn to Facebook or Twitter to a church history! Well, at So how are we remembered? publish our experiences. Grace Point Church, our his- What stories, anecdotes, and Based on the nature of the tory takes the form of this lessons will we pass on for our record, this type of media can newsletter. This newsletter is children and grandchildren to vary quite dramatically. How- a record of where we've been. read? Largely that is up to ever, the function is the same. To be able to look back and you! There is a longing inside each remark about events and min- of us to be known. We want Bill Holmes, the editor can be istries, birthdays, marriages, others to bear witness to our reached in person at church, or and children- what an opportu- having lived and made a dif- by email at nity to share the joys and the [email protected].