Dear prayer partners,

The news in the Morgunblad – Iceland’s national

newspaper – was sobering. A Gallup Survey reports that

Iceland is among the top ten countries in the world with

the highest percentage of those who classify themselves as

“atheists” (10%). In addition, the number of people who

describe themselves as “religious” fell from 74% in 2005 to

57% in 2012 – a drop of almost 17%. How are we to interpret this?

We’re asking you to pray for us, and all of those Icelanders

who are trying to follow Christ, in the midst of this very

pessimistic atmosphere, that we might live the gospel we

profess. The good news is that God is at work. So I don’t

believe for a minute that the latest Gallup Survey shows

that God is losing. I believe that it’s a wakeup call to the

church. We need to see that it is time for us to operate

“under the radar” building disciples, being used of God to

bring new life to dying churches and taking part in God’s

work of planting new, fresh expressions of the body of

Christ. Our task is to show people that we care before we

share with them what we know.

We need you to continue to pray for us! We are struggling

against many things as we seek to work with a small

struggling church on the outskirts of Reykjavik, are

involved with trying to encourage a cross-denominational

discipling movement, lead Bible studies and teach this

coming fall. We need you to stand with us in prayer

against the powers and the schemes of the enemy even as

Christ leads us forward in his work.

Thanks once again for your prayerful part!

Your friends in Christ,

Greg and Betsy

August 26, 2012

SERMON SERIES – “Life In the Spirit” – A Study in Romans 8

How can we know that we are truly loved by God and are a part of His family? How can we experience the active presence of God in our lives? How can we find victory over the constant battle with sin? God has given us hope for an answer to all these questions and more – the Holy Spirit. As followers of Jesus we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, and it is the presence of the Spirit that makes all the difference as we seek to walk with God. We will turn to Romans 8, one of the most powerful and encouraging chapters in all the New Testament, to help us understand what “life in the Spirit” is really like. Careful study of this chapter can bring great clarity and empowerment as you seek to live as a Spirit-filled follower of Jesus - we hope you will join us!

August 5 Freedom in the Spirit Romans 8:1-4 August 12 Victory in the Spirit Romans 8:5-13 August 19 Witness of the Spirit Romans 8:14-17 August 26 Glory in the Spirit Romans 8:18-30 September 2 Security in the Spirit Romans 8:31-39

ONGOING OR UPCOMING EVENTS

STATS . . .

Attendance 675

GIVING . . .

Weekly Budget Last Week’s Giving $32,234 $18,355

YTD Budget YTD Giving $257,873 $184,759 (includes online through 7/31)

Let’s come together September 12 to kick of children’s and youth ministry as a family. Hear how the Life Development strategy con-tinues to be our focus for your family. Everyone is invited to meet ministry leaders, enjoy snacks, and play games together.

If you will participate in the shaving cream war wear appropriate

clothing and bring extra towels and clothes.

Have you ever noticed that there are people in the world who are different than you? Have you ever worked with, lived with, or given birth to people who are different than you?

If so, you may find yourself puzzled by their behavior and positive that if they were only more like you, getting along would be so easy!

Why not join us on September 23rd and 30th (note date change) and we will offer some strategies to help you get along better with those puzzling personalities?!

A WEEK AT A GLANCE...

Sunday 8/26

8:30am Exaltation 9:45am CrossWalk 1 9:45am GP Summer Authors’ Forum 9:45am Rainbow Class 9:45am Nursery-High School 11am CrossWalk 2 11am Nursery-Grade 4 11am Search Team Luncheon and Debrief

Monday 8/27

7pm Men’s Study - Experience the Land and the Book 7:30pm Because of His Love Study and Service Project

Tuesday 8/28

7pm Worship Team Rehearsal

Wednesday 8/29

7pm Praise & Prayer Gathering 7pm Youth Leaders Meeting

Thursday 8/30

Friday 8/31

7:30pm Addictions Victorious

Saturday 9/1

THE FELLOWSHIP FUND AND FOOD BANK. The Fellowship Fund is for members and friends of Grace Point who find themselves in sudden financial need. We designate the first Sunday of the month for this extra offering. If you would like to give to this fund, please be sure that your offering is clearly marked “Fellowship”. You may also want to make the first Sunday of the month the week you contribute canned goods and other food items to the shopping cart in the foyer. All of this food goes to the Christian Care Ministry food bank in Langhorne. ARE YOU A COMPASSION SPONSOR? Many of our children in Bolivia created beautiful cards to give their sponsors. Please visit the foyer area at the Commons front doors to pick up your card. YOU ARE INVITED TO JOIN OUR CROSSWALK WORSHIP TEAM. If you are a drummer, keyboard player, lead guitarist, string player or instrumentalist, plan to contact Darrell Benjamin at dbenjamin@gracepointpa.org to let him know of your interest. WHAT SONG WAS THAT? During the Worship Services we'll be posting the song title and author information in the bottom left corner of the screens. That way you can look-up the worship song, purchase it, download it, and enjoy it throughout the week. TRY THE NEW FPU (FINANCIAL PEACE UNIVERSITY). The Generous Church Team of Grace Point is offering a new format of FPU starting in just a few weeks. The preview class, which is open to anyone who wants to check it out, will be held on Sunday, September 2 and again on September 9 at 10:55am in Rooms A5/6. The course will then continue from September 23 to November 11 on Sundays from 10:55 to 12:25. Please save the dates and if you have questions or just want to let us know that you plan to attend, please email: Kbrown@StuckertYates.com. Or you can enroll online at http://www.daveramsey.com/fpu/home. Materials will be distributed to those who enroll at their first class. NURSERY PAGING. If your child in the nursery needs you during the Worship Services, we'll post a three-digit number in the bottom right corner of the screen. These numbers match those on your check-in sticker label. GIRLS CHOIR BEGINS-September 9. All girls in grades 6-12 are welcome! We meet in rooms A1/2 on Sunday evenings from 6-7:15pm. We perform 2-3 times in the fall and again in the spring. The choir also participates in outreach community ministries. Our goal is to share the gospel of Christ through music. For further infor- mation, please contact Shelly Garie at gariehenry@verizon.net.

NEED PRAYER? Please approach anyone wearing the button. They would be happy to pray with you at

the end of each worship service or in the hallways. OUR STEPHEN MINISTERS are trained to care for, encourage and pray for you. To inquire about having a Stephen Minister, pick up a confidential referral form at the bulletin board in the foyer. ADDICTIONS VICTORIOUS meets Friday nights at 7:30pm. For info, check out the brochure on the Welcome Center or contact David Woodward at 215.295.1206 or wddav5@aol.com. DivorceCare is a Christ-centered, biblically based way to deal with the pain of the past and rebuild for the future. DivorceCare resumes on Tuesday evenings at 7pm begin-ning September 4. Participants may join at any point in the cycle. For info contact Ana Maria Wall at 215.208.8231 or pick up a brochure at the Welcome Center. GriefShare is a seminar and sup-port group for people grieving the death of someone close. GriefShare resumes at Grace Point on Thursday evenings at 7pm beginning September 6. For more info contact Paz Shroyer at 215.500.9165 or pick up a brochure at the Welcome Center.

GENERAL INTEREST

How can I

PRAY

for you?

DAILY BREADS for the fall months are available for pick up at the Welcome Center. ARE YOU A FAN? You can find Grace Point on Facebook. Just go to facebook.com/GracePoint and click the “Like” button. You’ll receive updates and information related to Grace Point and our ministries. Not on Facebook? Join our GP News email list. Send an email to gpnews+subscribe@gracepointpa.org to be added to the list! WE ARE CREATING A SAFETY TEAM to ensure a secure environment for our children during the 2nd and 3rd Sunday services and Wednesday evenings whenever there are children’s activities. If you are interested in serving, please contact Sam Pritchard at hamnsannah@gmail.com.

Grace Point Summer Authors’ Forum

This summer each Adult Bible Elective at 9:45am will feature a book that one of the authors from Grace Point has written.

We encourage you to make the Adult Bible Elective part of your summer worship experience at Grace Point.

August 26 Esther Hughes One Day: The Difference a Day Can Make and Psalms and Prayers for People Affected by Cancer

CARE MINISTRIES

TOGETHER SUNDAY

WORSHIP TOGETHER AS ONE CHURCH FAMILY followed by an All-CHURCH PICNIC

LAUNCH, TOGETHER, THE MINISTRY YEAR!

Here are the details: Date: Sunday, September 16 Time: 10:30 AM Place: The Grace Point property Bring: Blanket or chairs to sit on. A side dish or dessert in a disposable container. Non-perishable food item to be donated Signup: On the bulletin flap Childcare: Nursery through Preschool