PAGE 2

GRACE PRESS

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!

Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?

I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”

(Isaiah 43:18-19)

A new year has arrived, and Grace Presbyterian Church begins a new year of ministry. What will this

new year bring? What can we expect? What surprises will God give to us as we seek to do His will,

advance His kingdom, and proclaim Good News in word and deed? I can’t help but wonder as we embark

upon 2018 together what joys, challenges, changes, and “new things” will “spring up.”

However, for us to discover God’s “new things,” we must not “dwell on the past.” Often what keeps us

from discovering God’s new things is our default to long for the “glory days” of the church. We remember

what it was like to have our Sanctuary full of worshipers. We remember the Sunday School classes full of

children and youth groups bursting with enthusiastic teenagers. We remember when the church was the

center of community life.

It’s great to remember God’s work of the past but to dwell on these things and long for those days dis-

tracts us from what is now. There are wonderful ministries at Grace Presbyterian that God has sprung up.

Grace has an amazing ability to connect with the people of our neighborhood, meeting their needs for

nourishment and provision on so many levels.

While God is always doing new things, it is our job

to perceive it as it springs up in the wilderness of our

desires. Isaiah understood that God’s people need to

be constantly on the watch for God’s new work. Even

during wilderness experiences God is “making a way” to

quench thirsty souls.

This new year will be a year of discovery for Grace Pres-

byterian Church to explore where God is making a way

in the wilderness of thirsty souls here in Vista. Only the

“Living Water” of Christ will satisfy what people are truly thirsting to drink. But that is going to be different

than we have known in the past. This year we will work intentionally on discovering God’s plan for Grace’s

future. We will explore together where it is that God is springing up a fountain of “Living Water” for all to

drink their fill and be eternally satisfied! However, we all need to be in prayer, Bible study, and conversa-

tions with each other, sharing together how we’re perceiving God’s new things.

May God bless your New Year with Peace,

Pastor Mike

Reflect ion from the Pastor

PAGE 3

JANUARY 2018

To paraphrase the words of John R. Frank in his article in Fearless Generosity, “Fear of ambi-

tious generosity requires true faith in our powerful God who defeats this enemy and gives

us hope to be successful.”

Frank went on to write, “Pastor Bill Hybels told the members of Willow Creek Community

Church ‘Vision is a picture of the future that produces passion.’ What a wonderful quote. We as

people move forward because God gives us passion for the future of our ministry, our church,

and our impact. Vision will dispel fear immediately as it moves our focus from what can stop us

(fear) to our possible future (vision). We must believe God can do immeasurable more.”

It seems to me that this is where we stand as we begin this New Year. We need confidence in

fighting off fear and surrounding ourselves with vision. Confidence to step up to fulfilling our

more than half-a-million dollar budget and begin building reserves for the future through gifts to

the new Endowment Fund.

Think about it. Can we become Fearless? With the programs we have, we seem to be Fearless!

This year our giving must also defeat that fear.

Finance Committee Report

PAGE 4

GRACE PRESS Creciendo Juntos

The new school year began with nine students returning and welcoming eleven new students to the after school program from Foothill Oak Elementary.

Volunteers and students enjoyed a fun day of activities and “goodie” bags were given to each student, sponsored by the volunteers.

A perfect way to end the school semester of 2017.

Christmas Highlight

Fall 2017

Creciendo Juntos Grace After School Program

Be the reason someone SMILES today!

Jan. 2018/ Issue 1

Volunteers Needed!

New semester begins

Jan. 10-11, 2018

We need your

help. Please consider

volunteering one day a week and touch a life of a

child today. Contact

Maria Haigh for further details at 760.880.0455

PAGE 5

JANUARY 2018Grandparents@Prayer

.

Generation G: Leaving a Spiritual Legacy

(or Hot Topics on Grandparenting) -by Gramma Pat Whisler

Do you make New Year’s Resolutions? Let’s say yes and make it be a real intentional effort of praying for our grandchildren and their parents in 2018. We know that each time a child is born a grandparent is born too. A special responsibility is also born; to guide these children to a faithful life in God, their Father, Jesus Christ, their brother and the Holy Spirit, their soul. We have been given this sacred trust from our Father to be their prayer warriors and ask Jesus to do great things in their lives

that will lead them to a life of eternal years. How do we do that? Simple, Pray. God’s Word: Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live. -1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 (The Message) This month’s GP Hot Topic: I N T E N T I O N A L P R A Y E R Please allow me to borrow and rearrange the song “The Prayer” to allow us as grandparents to pray intentionally for our grandchildren. If you know the song let the music play in you mind as you pray. Let us pray…

A c t i o n : You just did it; Now, do it again.

A t h o u g h t : If I had known how wonderful it would be to have grandchildren, I'd have had them first.

I pray you’ll be their eyes And watch them where they go

And help them to be wise In times when they don’t know.

Let this be my prayer

When they lose their way Lead them to a place

Guide them with your grace To a place where they’ll be safe.

I pray they’ll find your light And hold it in their hearts

When stars go out each night Let this be my prayer.

When shadows fill their day

Lead them to a place Guide them with your grace

Give them faith so they’ll be safe.

We ask that life be kind And watch them from above We hope each child will find

Your eternal love.

Let this be our prayer Just like every child

Needs to find a place Guide them with your grace

Join our Grandparents@Prayer meeting on January 28 in room 10 a half hour before the traditional service begins.

When shadows fill their day Lead them to a place

Guide them with your grace Give them faith so they’ll be safe.

I ask that life be kind

And watch them from above I hope each grandchild finds

Your eternal love.

Let this be my prayer Just like every child

Needs to find a place Guide them with your grace

Give them faith so they'll be safe.

-based on “The Prayer” sung by Celine Dion and Andre Bocelli/Josh Groban

The new school year began with nine students returning and welcoming eleven new students to the after school program from Foothill Oak Elementary.

Volunteers and students enjoyed a fun day of activities and “goodie” bags were given to each student, sponsored by the volunteers.

A perfect way to end the school semester of 2017.

Christmas Highlight

Fall 2017

Creciendo Juntos Grace After School Program

Be the reason someone SMILES today!

Jan. 2018/ Issue 1

Volunteers Needed!

New semester begins

Jan. 10-11, 2018

We need your

help. Please consider

volunteering one day a week and touch a life of a

child today. Contact

Maria Haigh for further details at 760.880.0455

PAGE 6

GRACE PRESS Missions Updates

• Mission Outreach Team - Come

join us!

Mission outreach opportunities are

vital for a healthy church. Our vi-

sion and mission statements declare

this. Our desire is to be the hands

and feet of Christ by partnering with

established mission projects here in

North County, throughout California,

the country and Baja California, and

throughout the world. The partici-

pants of the 2017 Costa Rica mission trip have formed the Mission Outreach Team and invite all who

are interested to join us. Currently, we have opportunities with Operation HOPE Vista, Camp Pendle-

ton resale store, Baja relief trips with other churches within our Presbytery, and our partner church in

Tres Rios, Costa Rica, la Iglesia Lluvia de Bendiciones.

To this end we will establish a fundraiser calendar involving a variety of opportunities scheduled

throughout the year. All money raised will be used to fund both local and international outreach trips.

This group will be under the umbrella of the Mission Committee.

The desire of the group is to continue the vocabulary of missions within our church and provide a

variety of opportunities to all. Please join us.

• The Ultimate Multicultural Experience

Pastor Edwin & Jacquelin Lopez from, Iglesia Lluvia de Bendiciones, our partner church in Costa Rica,

will be visiting us this month. Their stay is from January 15 through February 1st. We still have a few

days open for hosting them in your home. If you are unable to host, perhaps you would like to pro-

vide gift cards for local restaurants and recreation opportunities. Maybe you would like to take them

to the zoo or Safari Park, Legoland, etc. Spending time with Pastor Edwin & Jaquelin or contributing

to their visit will make this experience truly unforgettable. Please contact Pastor Eliecer Barrantes

through the church office or at eliecer@gpcvista.org.

Continued on Page 7...

PAGE 7

JANUARY 2018Mission Updates continued. . .

• United Methodist Church of Vista Outreach

Grant (Cable Grant)

The first week in December we received noti-

fication that we did not receive the funds we

requested. As the letter states, where they did not

award us the money at this time, they would like

to partner with us on outreach and special proj-

ects. Building relationships is important. To the

right is a copy of the letter. Thank you all for your

prayers. God has plans.

• SAVE THE DATE for Operation Hope Vista’s

15th Annual Spring Into Hope event. Watch

bulletins and blasts for updates.

Spanish Ministry Greet ings!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Spanish service of Grace Presbyterian Church!!Continued on Page 7...

PAGE 8

GRACE PRESS Missions: InterVarsity

Continued on Page 9...

PAGE 9

JANUARY 2018Missions: InterVarsity continued. . .

Continued on Page 9...

PAGE 10

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 31

12pm Telecare

If you have a birthday or anniversary in January 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: Bible Study

W E D N E S D A Y S

10am: Staff Meeting

1pm: Knitting Ladies

2pm: Creciendo Juntos (Tutoring)

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

2pm: Creciendo Juntos (Tutoring)*

* no 1/4

6pm: Hand Bell Choir

7:30pm: Choir Rehearsal

FRIDAYS

10am E & L10:30am PWC Luncheon6:30pm Spanish Min. Leader Mtg.

10am E & L6:30pm Worship Committee

10am Ordination of Officers

10am E & L5:30pm Telecare7pm Deacons

7pm Marriage Workshop

8:30am PEO

1pm Finance Comm.

1 Steven Solano

5 Deborah Barrie

6 Claudia Bossaler

Scott Huston

Jake Woolsey

9 Pierre Domercq

Chad Woolsey

10 Bill Eldridge

13 Patrick Ryan

14 Eliecer Barrantes

Debbie Woodward

15 William Dyer

18 Jean Compton

Pauline Lawhead

21 Mary Poston

22 John Earnest

23 Jeremiah Elliott

Samuel Elliott

Denise Stockman

25 Mateo Barrantes

Mary Forbess

Albina Lumetta

29 Jan Patterson

1 John & Letty Calhoun (10 years)

5 Roger & Elaine Corley (38 years)

15 Eliecer & Abby Barrantes (13 years)

25 Ken & Sue Bouchard (26 years)

25 Randy & Terry-Jeanne Sawyer (39 years)

Office Closed

Office Closed

9am PWC Board10am E & L Circle6:30pm Session

8:30am Grand.@Prayer

10am WallDedication

8:30am PEO 4pm Personnel

9:30am PEO Book Club

PAGE 11

JANUARY 2018

Alice Nolf

Anna Weintre

Bill Greenway

Bob Wilson

Carol Lewis

Cathy Medlyn

Chad Woolsey

Charlotte Damon

Colbie Kelley

Debbie Barrie

Denise Stockman

Dick Woolsey

Dodie Bumgardner

Ed Neuman

Edna Murray

Elizabeth Apollo

Elizabeth Bostian (Son)

Elizabeth Johnson

Erin Eldridge

Fanny Aliaga

Gil Gordon

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

Shane Ogard

Shirley Casperson

Taryn Johnson

Terry Breen

Terry-Jeanne Sawyer

Thomas Family

Trisha Roest-Sinatra

Ward Family

William Story

Yvonne Jones

PLEASE PRAY FOR:

Punch/Coffee Flowers

January 7 Deacons Helen Frederick

January 14 Deacons Lucy Dickson

January 21 Deacons Available

January 28 Deacons Chuck Enger

Punch/Coffee Service and Flowers for January

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: info@gpcvista.org

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.