All Church Picnic

Join us for the annual Grace & Peace Church picnic on Sunday, October 14, at 1PM at Warwick Park! It will be a casual time of food, fellowship, and games.

If you can come, please RSVP HERE and sign up for something to bring. Also, feel free to bring yard games and lawn chairs.

For any questions, contact Jo-Lynne Shane or Christine Paster.

WHAT: All Church Picnic

WHEN: Sunday, 10/14/2018 at 1:00pm

WHERE: Warwick Park, 191 County Park Rd, Pottstown, PA 19465

New Fall Women’s Bible Study Series on Titus

Meeting the 2nd Saturday of each month at
West-Mont Christian Academy from 9:00 – 11:00 am.

2016 Titus

All-Church Picnic August 14

All-Church Picnic to be held on Sunday, August 14, 2016Church Picnic
at Warwick County Park from 1:00 – 4:00 pm

Woman’s Bible Study on Proverbs

biblestudyThe next Women’s Bible Study is scheduled for Saturday morning, February 13 at 9am​. The women meet monthly in person and follow with online discussion. They will be discussing the topic of marriage. Contact the church for more details.
Here are some verses to meditate on:

Proverbs 2:10-12, 16-17 When wisdom enters your heart, and knowledge is pleasant to your soul, discretion will preserve you; understanding will keep you, to deliver you from the way of evil, from the man who speaks perverse things… To deliver you from the immoral woman, from the seductress who flatters with her words, who forsakes the companion of her youth, and forgets the covenant of her God.”

Proverbs 3:33 “The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked, but He blesses the home of the just.”

Proverbs 5:18-21 “Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice with the wife of your youth. As a loving deer and a graceful doe, let her breasts satisfy you at all times; and always be enraptured with her love. For why should you, my son, be enraptured by an immoral woman, and be embraced in the arms of a seductress? For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and He ponders all his paths.”

Proverbs 6:23-35 “For the commandment is a lamp, and the law a light; reproofs of instruction are the way of life, to keep you from the evil woman, from the flattering tongue of a seductress. Do not lust after her beauty in your heart, nor let her allure you with her eyelids. For by means of a harlot a man is reduced to a crust of bread; and an adulteress will prey upon his precious life. Can a man take fire to his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? Can one walk on hot coals, and his feet not be seared? So is he who goes in to his neighbor’s wife; whoever touches her shall not be innocent. People do not despise a thief if he steals to satisfy himself when he is starving. Yet when he is found, he must restore sevenfold; he may have to give up all the substance of his house. Whoever commits adultery with a woman lacks understanding; he who does so destroys his own soul. Wounds and dishonor he will get, and his reproach will not be wiped away. For jealousy is a husband’s fury; therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance. He will accept no recompense, nor will he be appeased though you give many gifts.”

Proverbs 7:4-27 “Say to wisdom, ‘You are my sister,’ and call understanding your nearest kin, that they may keep you from the immoral woman, from the seductress who flatters with her words. For at the window of my house I looked through my lattice, and saw among the simple, I perceived among the youths, a young man devoid of understanding, passing along the street near her corner; and he took the path to her house in the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night. And there a woman met him, with the attire of a harlot, and a crafty heart. She was loud and rebellious, her feet would not stay at home. At times she was outside, at times in the open square, lurking at every corner. So she caught him and kissed him; with an impudent face she said to him: ‘I have peace offerings with me; today I have paid my vows. So I came out to meet you, diligently to seek your face, and I have found you. I have spread my bed with tapestry, colored coverings of Egyptian linen. I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. Come, let us take our fill of love until morning; let us delight ourselves with love. For my husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey; he has taken a bag of money with him, and will come home on the appointed day.’ With her enticing speech she caused him to yield, with her flattering lips she seduced him. Immediately he went after her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks, till an arrow struck his liver. As a bird hastens to the snare, he did not know it would cost his life. Now therefore, listen to me, my children; pay attention to the words of my mouth: Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways, do not stray into her paths; for she has cast down many wounded, and all who were slain by her were strong men. Her house is the way to hell, descending to the chambers of death.”
Proverbs 12:4 An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, but she who causes shame is like rottenness in his bones.”

Proverbs 14:1 The wise woman builds her house, but the foolish pulls it down with her hands.”

Proverbs 14:11 The house of the wicked will be overthrown, but the tent of the upright will flourish.”

Proverbs 18:22 The poor man uses entreaties, but the rich answers roughly.”

Proverbs 19:13 A foolish son is the ruin of his father, and the contentions of a wife are a continual dripping.”

Proverbs 19:14 Houses and riches are an inheritance from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the Lord.”

Proverbs 23:31, 33 Do not look on the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it swirls around smoothly…Your eyes will see strange things, and your heart will utter perverse things.”

Proverbs 26:21 As charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to kindle strife.”

Proverbs 27:15-16 A continual dripping on a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike; whoever restrains her restrains the wind, and grasps oil with his right hand.”

Proverbs 30:18-23 “The grave, the barren womb, the earth that is not satisfied with water—and the fire never says, ‘Enough!’ The eye that mocks his father, and scorns obedience to his mother, the ravens of the valley will pick it out, and the young eagles will eat it.

There are three things which are too wonderful for me, yes, four which I do not understand: the way of an eagle in the air, the way of a serpent on a rock, the way of a ship in the midst of the sea, and the way of a man with a virgin.

This is the way of an adulterous woman: she eats and wipes her mouth, and says, ‘I have done no wickedness.’

“For three things the earth is perturbed, yes, for four it cannot bear up: For a servant when he reigns, a fool when he is filled with food, a hateful woman when she is married, and a maidservant who succeeds her mistress.”

Proverbs 31:10-31

“Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. The heart of her husband safely trusts her; so he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil all the days of her life. She seeks wool and flax, and willingly works with her hands. She is like the merchant ships, she brings her food from afar. She also rises while it is yet night, and provides food for her household, and a portion for her maidservants. She considers a field and buys it; from her profits she plants a vineyard. She girds herself with strength, and strengthens her arms. She perceives that her merchandise is good, and her lamp does not go out by night. She stretches out her hands to the distaff, and her hand holds the spindle. She extends her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household is clothed with scarlet. She makes tapestry for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple. Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land. She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies sashes for the merchants. Strength and honor are her clothing; she shall rejoice in time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness. She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: ‘Many daughters have done well, but you excel them all.’ Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.”

All Church Activities are Cancelled for Sunday January 24 2016

church-in-winterDue to the weather conditions and expected cleanup on Sunday, we are cancelling all Church activities. There will be no Sunday School, public Worship, Kids Club, Youth Group and Adult Sunday Evening Study.

See you next week!

Missions Awareness Night January 23, 2016 – CANCELLED

globeThis event is cancelled due to snow and will be rescheduled to a later date.

Youth Group and Parents are invited for an evening of missions. There will be a meal of beans and rice, a short devotional and fellowship as we discuss what part RESOLVE plays in missions. Included is a discussion our upcoming Mission Intensive this summer.

Time:  5PM-8PM

Location: Walsh Home

10 Year Celebration Video

Grace & Peace celebrated 10 years as a church on 11/14/2014. The following video was viewed at this celebration. For Full screen, watch on youtube directly. Enjoy.

Celebrate with Us

Celebrate our 10th year as a church! Grace & Peace is celebrating 10 years as an official church in the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). Our celebration is on November 14th at Shady Maple Banquet Hall in East Earl, PA.

Please RSVP by October 26, 2014!

To sign up,  fill out this form. The form and check can be returned to Karin Rhoads.

A video will be shown at this event to describe our church and the growth that has taken place over over that past 10 years. The following is a trailer for the video to be shown at the event on November 14th.

Presbyterian History In America-A Sunday School Class

log college

The Log College for Training Ministers in the 1700s.

Why study Presbyterian history? We all know the axiom that “those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it” but that is not why we plan to study Presbyterian history this fall. While we do not desire to repeat mistakes from the past, for Christians there are many more benefits to studying church history.

We will begin a study of Presbyterian history in America beginning this on Sept 7, 2014 beginning at 9:15AM (our normal Sunday School time). 

It is sad how little people know of history in general but certainly about Church history specifically. I have run into folks with no idea of the difference between the Roman Church, the Protestant Church or the Eastern Church, let alone the differences between various denominations. Whether worshipping in denominations or independent churches, many lack a sense of connectedness to the historical church as if the modern church was just dropped in place with no connection to the past.

The purpose of this study is several fold:

  1. To understand the roots of our own denomination,  the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) and its place in the universal (i.e. catholic) church.
  2. To strengthen our knowledge of the Scriptures as understood by Presbyterians (and other Christians) since the Reformation and back to the early church.
  3. To develop a deeper knowledge of the body of Christ and Jesus Christ who reigns supreme over his church and to understand how the Holy Spirit continues has worked in the church through the ages (despite human sin).
  4. To learn what the Church’s role in American history may teach 21st century Christians.
  5. To learn about the lives and traditions of Christians who have come before us.

The purpose of this study is not to create pride in ourselves our our denomination (the history of our church and its divisions does not lend itself to boastfulness)  as our only hope is found in Jesus Christ. I expect of have some fun and work through this history together.

Here is a rough outline of the first half of this study.

Please Note: This outline is expected to be improved/changed as we move through this study

Outline of Presbyterian Church History in America

Introduction and Background

  • Discussion about various backgrounds represented in our own congregation
  • Review of key events in the 16th Century leading up to settlement in America.
  • Reformation/Reformers
  • Calvin’s establishing Protestant/reformed Church. Polity, Offices, Songs, Lord’s Supper.

Early Colonial Period

  • From Knox to America
  • Early Settlers and Francis Makemie
  • A brand new Church in the new world
  • The adoption of Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms

Young Church and Revival

  • Difference between the Northern Puritans and the Scotch Irish in the Atlantic states
  • The immigration of Scotch Irish and its influence on the Church
  • Revival, Log College and the Tennants
  • New Light/Old Light Division

The Church and Revolution

  • The college of New Jersey
  • Witherspoon, Presbyterians and the American Revolution
  • The First General Assembly Meets

To Be Continued…

 

Youth Service Ian’s Boots

ianboot1In their most recent service project, several members of the Grace & Peace youth group spent their summer vacation working at Ian’s Boots, an organization that provides shoes to those in need. The youth group has served several times at this ministry and it was good to get back to start off the Summer season on June 24.

The youth tagged, sorted and scanned shoes into the computer system to prepare the shoes for future shipment.

The purpose of Ian’s Boots is to spread the faith by providing shoes and winter boots to those in need. For more information see the Ian’s boots website.

WPE