passage of Scripture which serves as a personal theme and anthem. It shows 2 Peter 3:8 — “Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” In the apostle’s words,

grace is shown to be something which has a continual, progressive impact in our lives. Through the Holy Spirit which inhabits us at salvation (see Ephesians 1:13 and John 3:3), believers receive an inner-energizer which empowers them to live differently from the world. Grace isn’t a salvation only type of thing. We aren’t saved by God’s goodness and expected to live good lives through our own strength. God’s grace is an ever-present help throughout our faith journeys. Service In my years as a minister, I

have known of several people who have quit on church. Oftentimes, I hear of burnout and fatigue. Some feel as if church made their lives too busy. They enjoy sleeping in on Sundays, and they rationalize that they can worship God in their own way, from any location. There are numerous reasons which

contribute to such a condition. Some are bad at prioritizing their personal lives; thus, church becomes the proverbial straw that breaks the camel’s back. Others struggle with people pleasing, so they do too much. Finally they give up in exasperation. A great number serve and work out of their own abilities. They never learn the secret of grace. Through His inner-presence, the Lord has given each a special spiritual ability (see Romans 12:6-8). When we learn to appropriately prioritize our lives, and to serve through the gifts which God’s grace has given us, we can have power to serve efficiently and effectively for His Kingdom. Sustainability Life often seems like

an unending pattern of trials, temptations, and testings. Sure there are seasons of relative ease and enjoyment, but life on a fallen planet can be difficult. I once heard one say, “At best, life is tough.” Fortunately, believers have grace to help them thrive. In the midst of all of his troubles, Paul said, “By God’s grace I am what I am” (1 Corinthians 15:10). During your darkest seasons of life, God’s personal presence in your life can give you the strength to endure.

Three Works of GraceAs a young Christian, I was

familiar with the word “grace.” It was one of the first Bible terms I learned. I heard of it in songs, and it was at the center of some of my first memory verses. A short definition gave me an understanding of the virtue. I heard a preacher say that grace was God’s “unmerited favor.” I could repeat this description quickly, if discussions about the subject took place in a Bible study. Despite my understanding of

grace, I made a mistake which many make in relation to the virtue. It was one which many believers make. I assumed that grace was something relegated to the realms of salvation. I wasn’t aware of the way in which it has impact on the entirety of the Christian life. In time I discovered, as Charles Spurgeon once noted, that the totality of one’s spiritual journey is “all of grace.” Indeed, the Lord’s underserved kindness is the basis of salvation (see Ephesians 2:8), but it has made other aspects of Christian living possible as well. Sanctification In my office, I have

a sign which displays my life verse — the

AWANAKids represent the greatest

opportunity to make a long-term impact in our world for Christ. Through our AWANA program, we have established a welcoming, supportive environment where kids, from every background and cultural setting, learn how a personal relationship with Christ affects their everyday lives. It’s the mission of AWANA to help reach kids, equip leaders and change the world for God.This year we have over 100

clubbers enrolled in the AWANA program, representing over 75 families. Over 40 volunteers commit weekly to walk side-by-

side with these clubbers to help them know, love and serve Jesus Christ. The Scripture-based programs and exciting games offer a fun, proven approach for early evangelism and discipleship.If you have a love for children

and are looking for a place to plug in, I encourage you to join us on Wednesday nights. AWANA is for ages 2 to 6th grade and meets on Wednesdays in the Family Life Center Gymnasium from 6:00pm to 7:30pm. There are a number of areas to get involved, including game time helpers, memory verse listeners, nursery workers, registration desk helpers and substitute teachers. We

need you to help us play an active role in our ch i ldren’s faith journey. We’re excited and looking forward

to all that God has in store for us through AWANA in the new year.

Sunday School 347 Morning Worship 386 Evening Worship 172 Wednesday Ministries NA

Weekly Required $ 25,923.08 Weekly Received $ 38,861.94 YTD Required $ 1,062,846.28 YTD Received $ 1,032,511.87 YTD Percentage 97.14%

UpwardUpward Practice will be Jan, 12 at 5:30 pm. The first game day is Sat, Jan 21.

PrimeTime choirPrimeTime Choir will resume on Thu, Jan 19 at 10:00 am in the choir room.

Quarterly Business MeetingOur Quarterly Business will be on Sun, Jan 15 at 7pm in the Fellowship Hall.

Student Parent MeetingOur Student/Parent meeting for the youth will be on Sun, Jan 29 at 12:15 pm following moring worship in the Fellowship Hall.

Winter Bible StudyOur Winter Bible Study will run on Sunday nights at 5:30 pm until Jan 29.

Adult Sunday SchoolMid-Week Adult Sunday School will meet in the Parlor at 6:00 pm. If you don’t have a Wed night ministry obligation or can’t make it to Sunday School come join us in the Parlor. Jay Grigg will teach the Sunday School lesson for the coming Sunday.

Latvia Mission TripWe are planning a mission trip to Latvia to assist Pastor Kaspars and Misija Draudze (Mission Congregation) with their annual Vacation Bible School. Possible dates of our trip will be Jul 28-Aug 6. We need individuals to help with teaching children, setting up & taking down materials, cooking, and canvassing. If you have interest, contact Jack Newell at (580)585-1582. We will host an informational meeting in early 2017.

East Asia Mission TripAnyone interested in a prayer walking team in East Asia in the spring of 2017 please contact Jack Newell.

Wednesday Fellowship MealsMenu for January 18

Cod fish, french fries, veggies, garlic toast, salad bar, & dessert. Adults $5.00, Kids (5-12) $3.00, (under 5 free) $20.00 Family Max (5 or more people)