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GRACE PRESS
“The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; Those who live in a dark land, the light will shine… For a
child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name shall
be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:2, 6)
Don’t you just love all the light displays at Christmas! I love how they illuminate our evenings with
joy. Light decorations in our neighborhoods during Advent remind us of God’s magnificent work of
salvation. They
remind us of a
star that points to
the fulfillment of
God’s promises in
Christ.
However, Advent
is about waiting, watching, and expecting the coming of Christ. Isaiah was prophesying at a time when
the people of Israel walked in darkness, and were oppressed by the Assyrians. He was able to bring a light
of hope to the people that the current darkness would be lifted by God and his light would shine! Isaiah
was prophesying about a Godly event that would rescue his contemporaries, but like all prophesies, he
was also looking far into the future at the coming of the Messiah. “For a child will be born…” God gave him
a glimpse of a future redeeming event like no other, the coming of a “son” who will be like “a light shining
in the darkness.”
Of course, we know that this prophesy was fulfilled in the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ
our Lord. His coming into our shadowy world saves us from our destructiveness, our sin, our self-ab-
sorbed, self-centered lifestyles. He saves us unto eternal life, free from darkness.
However, we also know that Jesus continues to save us. Sins power goes deep into our souls. Darkness
permeates every level of society and culture. We live in a world that seems at times out of control and
headed toward destruction. All one must do is listen a few seconds to the news media these days to verify
this truth, but the promise of God is that the Christ is a Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father,
Prince of Peace. Jesus welcomes us to enter His counseling office to get Godly advice and direction.
Jesus is a mighty and powerful God who can heal us, calm the storms, end wars and conflicts, restore our
lives after destruction. Jesus is like a loving father to us who knows what’s best for everyone. Jesus is the
ultimate authority on peace and the source of peace even during pandemonium.
This Christmas, while we wait for change, while we look forward to a transformed society that is more
Christ-like, respectful and valuing of human dignity, let us keep Christ at the center. Let’s remember that
he is our light that shines in the darkness of our despair, the darkness of our brokenness and transforms us
into his light.
That’s why I love to put up lights around and in my house. That’s why I like to bring gifts of love and grace
to people throughout the year but especially at Christmas. It’s a time for all of us to affirm that the “light
of the world” has come and will come again to set us free by illuminating the path to truth and salvation,
mercy and grace, love and joy!
Have a most blessed and Merry Christmas!
Pastor Mike
Reflect ion from the Pastor
PAGE 3
DECEMBER 2017
As the old saying goes, “Pastor Mike hit the nail on our heads” with his Stewardship Sermon
Series and the response so far indicates we are with him all the way.
It was heartwarming to the committee members when so many of our congregation sought
them out after church the last two weeks for more information about the Pooled Income and
other ways major contributions toward the future of our church can be managed.
As Patrick Ryan explained in the Minute for Mission, interest now being paid by these funds is
much higher than current bank and deposit certificates now pay, all-the-while accumulating
principal income in the Endowment Fund Grace Church has begun.
The bright green commitment cards on the second Sunday showed a positive response to sup-
porting our 2018 budget.
If you have missed the past few Sundays, be sure to pickup a copy of the budget plan and the
commitment cards. You will want to be an active participant in these programs.
What does your heart say? Has the idea of increasing your support by a percentage of your
income appealed to you? Or maybe you have a formula of your own? Continue to pray about it
and let me know.
Finance Committee Report
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GRACE PRESS Tis the Season. . . to Celebrate His Birth!!
Join us for Caroling Wednesday, December 6!
Meet at the church at 5:30,
then we’ll travel together to Arcadia Place. Hot chocolate, coffee, cookies will await us back at church.
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DECEMBER 2017November Session Highl ights
In Presbyterian Churches, the Session is the church council. GPC’s Session meets on the fourth
Tuesday of each month. The following actions were taken at the November meeting:
Associate Pastor Eliecer Barrantes’ report highlights:
• First Saturday each month is Men’s Meeting. This month we watched and discussed “War
Room.”
• First Tuesday each month is Leaders Meeting for prayer and planning.
• November 11th was last of Discipleship Training. Spiritual growth and personal commit-
ment were experienced by those in attendance.
• Sunday, November 12 service was entirely dedicated to 1 Thessalonians 5:17 “pray with-
out ceasing.”
• Sunday, November 18 service was dedicated to thanking God for what He has done so
far in our church and will continue to do.
• Last Sunday of each month is a bilingual service open to all.
• Visitations were made to come alongside those hurting, both members and visitors.
• Preparations are underway to bring Pastor Edwin and Pastor Jackie from Costa Rica in
January.
• January 28th is the celebration of the 2nd Anniversary as a Spanish Language Service.
Highlights from specific committee reports include:
• Finance - The committee shared current financial information for session review- Year-to-
Date through October 2017, Income - $483,030, Expenses - $534,410.
• Fellowship - December events include Christmas Caroling on Wednesday, December 6th,
Meet at church at 5:30pm. Sunday December 31st, 5th Sunday is an all-church potluck
following the combined bilingual service.
• Worship - Sign-ups are available for lighting of Advent Candles each Sunday of Advent.
Services for December 24th will be a combined 10 am English Service in main sanctuary.
Spanish-language service 10:30am in Room 11. Christmas Eve Candlelight Service - 7 pm,
main sanctuary. Service for Sunday, December 31st will be a 10am 5th Sunday combined
bilingual service, followed by all-church potluck in the Fellowship Hall.
• Mission - Cable Foundation Grant: We are still waiting to hear their decision. Letters were
to go out the last week of November. Nothing has been received as of this printing. Our
partnership with the Marine Corps Toys for Tots continues this year in a different format.
Felipe Huguet will present details Sunday, December 3rd and you can read his note on
page 13. Proposal was received by session for the formation of Mission Outreach Team.
Please see below for action taken.
A motion was approved to accept Mission Committee proposal of the formation of the Mission
Outreach Team, open to all who are interested. Details are available from committee members
and will appear in the January newsletter.
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GRACE PRESS Celebrating God’s Indescribable Gift (Christmas Joy Offering)
Every year during this time, we turn our eyes toward
Bethlehem and anticipate the birth of Jesus Christ.
Through Him we receive the indescribable gift of God’s
grace. This year, we take time during the Advent and
Christmas season to consider the gratitude we feel.
It’s out of this gratitude that we turn to support church
leaders who dedicate their lives in service to Christ and
the church. It’s out of youthful wonder that students at
Presbyterian-related racial ethnic schools and colleges
look forward to a life of faith, worship, and Christian
leadership.
With Christ at the center this holiday season, we can follow in his example of servant leadership by
serving our brothers and sisters in faith. Through the Christmas Joy Offering, we are able to support
those in our community and give them the gift of hope.
Funds from the Christmas Joy Offering help the Assistance Program of the Board of Pensions provide
critical financial assistance to eligible workers in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and their families, and
to qualifying retired church workers and their families.
The Christmas Joy Offering also supports the education and development of our future leaders at
Presbyterian-related racial ethnic schools and colleges. These schools are dedicated to creating op-
portunities and environments for racial ethnic students built on a foundation of Christian values. The
Offering benefits Menaul School and Presbyterian Pan American School, two secondary schools that
ready students for a path of higher learning, as well as Stillman College, where graduates are prepared
for lives of leadership and service.
By giving to the Christmas Joy Offering, we can share in the hope of Christ and celebrate his leader-
ship by providing support to our church workers, racial ethnic young people, and their families.
Please give generously:
• Through your congregation
• presbyterianmission.org/give/christmasjoy - Be sure to write Grace Presbyterian Church - Vista in the box provided.
To learn more about the Christmas Joy Offering, please visit:
• Assistance Program of the Board of Pensions: www.pensions.org, click on Plans & Programs
• Presbyterian-related racial ethnic schools and colleges: www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/resc/ From this page, you can also link to the institutions supported.
PAGE 7
DECEMBER 2017Grandparents@Prayer
Generation G: Leaving a Spiritual Legacy
(or Hot Topics on Grandparenting) -by Gramma Pat Whisler
Join our
Grandparents@Prayer meeting on December 31 in room 10 a half hour before the traditional service begins.
The branches of the Christmas tree and its ornaments can remind us of the character building that God performs on each of us as we
• parent our kids, • grandparent our grandchildren, • live among our friends and relatives and • interact with the world.
Let us give our grandchildren this spiritual view that represents the everlasting life adorned with the ornaments of the fruit of the Spirit in the way we each live our lives.
REMEMBER THE GREATEST AND MOST LASTING GIFT WE CAN GIVE OUR GRANDCHILDREN IS THE GIFT OF A PRAYING GRANDPARENT.
.
PAGE 8
GRACE PRESS Local Missions: Chaplain Richard Phi l l ips
Chaplain Richard Phillips NOVEMBER 7, 2017
4890 Pointillist Ct, Oceanside, CA 92057 [email protected] (760) 631-7764
PHILLIPS Healthcare Chaplains Ministry Association
Donate To Ministry
HCMA (acct# 479) 101 S. Kraemer Blvd Suite 123A Placentia, CA 92870 www.hcmachaplains.org
Some patients I encounter are suffering great hopelessness in their circumstances to the point that dying seems more attractive than living. Such was the case of a lady I met who told me of recent events that led up to her being in the hospital. Listening carefully to her story, I learned that her much loved husband had been a career military man and then was employed in a government agency doing his job well and providing well for her. But he developed cancer and after many ineffective treatments was enrolled in Hospice care. She was the primary caregiver 24hrs a day with minimal help. She described in detail how difficult it was for her to take care of her husband, especially as the cancer spread. I admired and affirmed her heroic care of her husband. But he died not too long ago, and she was emotionally and physically exhausted with prolonged grief. She also stated she was mad at God for letting her husband suffer like that. Being deeply depressed and not knowing how she could carry on, she became suicidal and planned to take her life. One morning she wrote a note to her loved ones, got dressed, cleaned her house, put on her makeup and went out to follow through with her plan to drown herself. Not being a swimmer and with weights in her pockets, she assumed that she would sink quickly in the deep water, but God had other plans for her and she floated on top of the water. Before long she was rescued and brought to the hospital.
I listened intently, and was praying for God’s wisdom to help. We had a good and positive conversation. I sensed God giving me words that would guide her back to His arms of love and grace. She agreed that God must have been the one preventing her from sinking and rescued her from death. We discussed how God sympathizes with our struggles even to the point of Christ suffering that horrible cross. We joined hands to pray about God giving her the faith to hope for the future and trust in Him. Some compassionate words were shared, a Bible given with a card of prayers and a devotional booklet. She smiled warmly and said that my visit had helped a lot.
SCRIPTURE: I will lift up my eyes unto the hills; From where shall my help come? My help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1-2
Prayer: Oh Lord help this dear lady and any of us to find courage, hope and faith in You to carry on in Your strength with victory for Your glory.
Praises to the Lord for giving very fruitful
ministry at the hospital to many people in need of God’s comfort, love,
truth and hope in Christ. Glory to our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ.
PAGE 9
DECEMBER 2017Local Missions: Chaplain Carolyn Westbrook
Chaplain Richard Phillips NOVEMBER 7, 2017
4890 Pointillist Ct, Oceanside, CA 92057 [email protected] (760) 631-7764
PHILLIPS Healthcare Chaplains Ministry Association
Donate To Ministry
HCMA (acct# 479) 101 S. Kraemer Blvd Suite 123A Placentia, CA 92870 www.hcmachaplains.org
Some patients I encounter are suffering great hopelessness in their circumstances to the point that dying seems more attractive than living. Such was the case of a lady I met who told me of recent events that led up to her being in the hospital. Listening carefully to her story, I learned that her much loved husband had been a career military man and then was employed in a government agency doing his job well and providing well for her. But he developed cancer and after many ineffective treatments was enrolled in Hospice care. She was the primary caregiver 24hrs a day with minimal help. She described in detail how difficult it was for her to take care of her husband, especially as the cancer spread. I admired and affirmed her heroic care of her husband. But he died not too long ago, and she was emotionally and physically exhausted with prolonged grief. She also stated she was mad at God for letting her husband suffer like that. Being deeply depressed and not knowing how she could carry on, she became suicidal and planned to take her life. One morning she wrote a note to her loved ones, got dressed, cleaned her house, put on her makeup and went out to follow through with her plan to drown herself. Not being a swimmer and with weights in her pockets, she assumed that she would sink quickly in the deep water, but God had other plans for her and she floated on top of the water. Before long she was rescued and brought to the hospital.
I listened intently, and was praying for God’s wisdom to help. We had a good and positive conversation. I sensed God giving me words that would guide her back to His arms of love and grace. She agreed that God must have been the one preventing her from sinking and rescued her from death. We discussed how God sympathizes with our struggles even to the point of Christ suffering that horrible cross. We joined hands to pray about God giving her the faith to hope for the future and trust in Him. Some compassionate words were shared, a Bible given with a card of prayers and a devotional booklet. She smiled warmly and said that my visit had helped a lot.
SCRIPTURE: I will lift up my eyes unto the hills; From where shall my help come? My help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1-2
Prayer: Oh Lord help this dear lady and any of us to find courage, hope and faith in You to carry on in Your strength with victory for Your glory.
Praises to the Lord for giving very fruitful
ministry at the hospital to many people in need of God’s comfort, love,
truth and hope in Christ. Glory to our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ.
PAGE 10
GRACE PRESS Missions: Operat ion HOPE-Vista Newsletter
Continued on Page 11...
PAGE 11
DECEMBER 2017Missions: Operat ion HOPE-Vista Newsletter cont.
Continued on Page 11...
PAGE 12
GRACE PRESS Grace Youth in Act ion
Continued on Page 13...
Grace Presbyterian Neighborhood Church is blessed with active, caring and giving young teens
and young adults. Here are a just a few of the highlights:
Laura Castillo, Costa Rica Mission Trip team member. - Attended InterVarsity Christian Fellowship
camp on Catalina Island.
11/11/17 A weekend in Catalina where students of all faith backgrounds can explore more of who
Jesus is and if He is worth it. Thank you so much for your prayers and generosity to make events
like this happen! We had over 100 students from San Diego go to Fall Con and at least 15 students
make decisions (2 from North County!!!), still getting the update on that, but lives were changed and
students were sent back to their campus' in community, ready to walk with Jesus and grow in their
faith in Him.
InterVarsity Christian Fellowship Leaders, Josh & Ariel Byrd
PAGE 13
DECEMBER 2017Grace Youth in Act ion cont.
Continued on Page 13...
Lilly & Lupe Castillo, members of the Costa Rica Mission
Team - Fallbrook High Key Club served food for Fallbrook
Kiwanis at recent street fair.
Steven Solano- member of the Costa Rica Mission
Team - Completed his first year with the El Camino
High School marching band.
NRC: Adopt-a-Chi ld for Christmas
Thank you for your generosity in providing Hams and Turkeys to our neigh-
bors at Foothill Oak Elementary School for Thanksgiving. We provided 36
Hams and 10 Turkeys!! Christmas is coming quickly and we want to share joy
once again to the most needy. We are selecting 50 needy local families and
have opportunities for you to “adopt” the children for Christmas and provide
them with toys and presents!
I will be on the patio, starting Sunday, the 3rd, with a table and the names of children available to “adopt”
this Christmas time. Thank you for Grace’s willingness to give back to our community and share the
love of Jesus with these children again this year. We will also be providing each of these 50 families
with a food bag and a turkey or ham for their Christmas dinner. Please see me on the patio or call me
at the Church should you feel led to help out!
Blessings, Felipe Huguet
PAGE 14
GRACE PRESS
1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
12pm Telecare3pm Tom Knox Memorial
If you have a birthday or anniversary in December and your name does not appear above,
please contact the church office at 760-724-0077 to update our records. Thank you!
8am Men’s Breakfast (English) 5pm Men’s Group (Spanish)
SUN MON TUE WED THUR FRI SAT
6:30pm Missions Committee
WEEKLY SCHEDULE
S U N D A Y S
9 & 10:30am: Worship Services
9 & 10:30am: Adult Studies
10:30am: Spanish Service
10:30am: Children’s Sunday
School
M O N D A Y S
7pm: AA meeting
T U E S D A Y S
5:15pm: Soup Kitchen
7pm: Men’s Bible Study
W E D N E S D A Y S
10am: Staff Meeting
1pm: Knitting Ladies
5:30pm G In G Dinner
6:30pm Kids Bible Club
6:30pm Spanish Bible Study
7:30pm Worship Band Rehearsal
T H U R S D A Y S
10am: Bible Study
6pm: Hand Bell Choir (no 12/28)
7:30pm: Choir Rehearsal (no 12/28)
FRIDAYS
10am E & L10:30am PWC Luncheon6:30pm Spanish Min. Leader Mtg.
10am Service10:30am Spanish7pm Candlelight
10am E & L6:30pm Worship Committee
10am E & L1pm Finance Comm. 5:30pm Telecare6:30pm Session7pm Deacons
10am Christmas Service for Gift & Food Distrib.
3pm Personnel Committee5:30pm Caroling
Office Closed
31
9:30am Grand@Prayer10am Bilingual Service
9am PWC Board10am E & L
8:30pm PEO
2 Jackie Bynagte
3 Phil Damon
Les Long
10 Mary Thomas
12 Mariana Barrantes
19 Shirley Casperson
19 Soon Ok Jun
3 Bill & Rita Sinatra (52 years)
11 Gary & Amy Marchetti (44 years)
14 Gary & Karin Eldridge (49 years)
16 HJ & Soon Ok Jun (55 years)
18 Travis & Desiree Wilson (19 years)
22 Juan Salazar
22 Molly Wilson
23 Tom Bryan
William Story
27 Paulina Cooley
29 Annie Atcheson
Carol Lightner
PAGE 15
DECEMBER 2017
Alice Nolf
Bill Greenway
Bob Wilson
Carol Lewis
Cathy Medlyn
Chad Woolsey
Charlotte Damon
Colbie Kelley
Debbie Barrie
Denise Stockman
Dodie Bumgardner
Ed Neuman
Edna Murray
Elizabeth Johnson
Erin Eldridge
Fanny Aliaga
Grigorii Kirillov
Judy Woolsey
Knox Family
Letty Calhoun
Marilyn Lee
Mark Compton
Martha Kost
Maxine Fox
Mori Family
Neil Kirkland
Pauline Whiting
Phil Damon
Richard Tauber
Rich Yates
Rita Sinatra
Ron Ward
Shane Ogard
Shirley Casperson
Taryn Johnson
Terry Breen
Terry-Jeanne Sawyer
Thomas Family
Trisha Roast-Sinatra
Weintre Family
William Story
Yvonne Jones
PLEASE PRAY FOR:
Punch/Coffee Flowers
December 3 Deacons Janet Arris
December 10 Deacons Nancy Tiburski
December 17 Deacons Poinsettias
December 24 Deacons Poinsettias
December 31 Deacons Juliet Fault
Punch/Coffee Service and Flowers for December
Prayer Update: Thank you for the ongoing prayers, as well as cards, calls and messages for Mark
during his cancer journey. Please continue to pray for continued healing, pain management and
positive results from the pathology reports. -Jean Compton
Church Staff
G R A C E P R E S B Y T E R I A NC H U R C H
1450 E. Vista WayVista, CA 92084
Phone: 760-724-0077
Fax: 760-724-2534
E-mail: [email protected]
www.gpcvista.org
Address Service Requested
W H E R E G O D ’ S F A M I L Y G R O W S
GRACEPRESBYTERIAN
NEIGHBORHOOD CHURCH
facebook.com/GPCVista
Interim Pastor/Head of Staff Rev. Dr. Michael Wallman
Associate Pastor of Hispanic Ministries Rev. Eliecer Barrantes
Director of Church Operations Christie Elliott
Bookkeeper Albina Lumetta
Secretary Veronica Campos
Bridge Ministries Director Felipe Huguet
After School Program Director Maria Haigh
Chancel Choir Director Jayne Parker
Organist Frances Hummel
Hand Bell Choir Director Pat Sexton
Facilities Jim Aliaga
GRACE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IS A CONFESSING CHURCH, and we believe:
That Jesus Christ alone is Lord of all and the way of salvation.
That Holy Scripture is the triune God’s revealed Word,
the Church’s only infallible rule of faith and life.
That God’s people are called to holiness in all aspects of life.
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