GBC Community Update: Live in community

​Good morning!  While the official start of fall is still coming up, to most of us fall has arrived. School started today for many, fall activities resume and so the new adventure begins. What are you excited about this fall?  Not sure? Find something!  There are SO many opportunities out there to serve, to grow, to experience God and to let your light shine. 
 
 
Reminder: Sunday services change to 10:30am this Sunday
As a reminder, this Sunday our service times are changing to 10:30am.  Set you alarms so you can be here for our fall kickoff. As a reminder, we’ve moved our service up to allow for more relevant content as well as having time for community building afterwards.
 
 
Ministry Fair and Lunch on the Lawn
As part of our fall ministry launch on Sunday we’ll be having a Ministry Fair in the Side Auditorium.  You’ll have the chance to connect with a variety of GBC ministries and find out what’s going on, how you might pray and serve there too.
In addition, we’ll be having our always-popular ‘Lunch on the Lawn” This BYOL (bring your own lunch) event is a chance to connect with you church family and build community. Bring some food, a blanket or lawn chairs and we’ll provide the drinks. In case of rain we move indoors.
 
 
Summer thoughts to keep you on the journey: Live in community with others
This is the last of the summer thoughts I’m going to be sharing. The last thing I want to share is the importance of being in community as a church family.  Whether you are attending services here in person or are part of the livestream congregation, there can be a pull in these increasingly polarized times to withdraw emotionally. Allow yourself, as best you can, to feel the loss of community, the sadness of either not meeting in person or the lament of the changes in our society.  With these vulnerable feelings, communicate your longing and pain to those you miss or those who are on the journey with you. Whether by meeting together, sending a letter, making a phone call, sending a text, or having a video chat, let those close to you—or those you realize are closer than you thought—know that their connection is a significant part of your life. Perhaps you can send a card or note or simply send a text that expresses your heart for connection. That expression of relational need will itself be life-giving and will, hopefully, be received and returned. As Paul says, “For I long to see you…that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine” (Rom 1:11–12). Paul expresses his longing for mutual connection and there is mutual encouragement even in his expression of that desire.  Live in community with others no matter what that looks like!
Oh yes, and come out to Lunch on the Lawn Sunday too!
 
In His grip,
Chris