Grace Times

Vol. XIX/07 Grace Bible Church, C 930, Sector B Mahanagar, Lucknow, India March 2016

Pulpit Calendar

March 2016

Check-in 15 minutes before services Morning Services at 10 sharp

06 Holy Communion Pastor Kuru 13 Worship Service Ashish Khan HOLY WEEK SERVICES 20 Palm Sunday Pastor Kuru 24 Maundy Thursday at 6.30 p.m. Holy Communion Pastor Raja 25 Good Friday Ashish Khan 27 Easter Sunday Holy Communion Pastor Raja Allipur Grace Bible Church at 10.30

06 Worship Service: Shyam Babu 13 Worship Service: Shyam Babu 20 Worship Service: Shyam Babu 25 Good Friday Service at 1pm Pastor Raja 27 Easter Sunday Holly Communion Service

from the pastor

My Dear People Have you been drawing closer to Jesus? That is the

entire point of Lent. It’s not about meat and fish.

Jesus said that His disciples should “beware of the

yeast of the Pharisees” but was quick to add that

bread was not the issue.

Significantly, the Old Testament too asserts the

spiritual nature of fasting (Isa. 58: 1-14). It also

deplores how people want to finish with holy

observances so that they can go back to what they

do (Amos 8:5).

Giving up something for a period is a discipline.

Such regimens have their value. They are not to be

despised.

However, fasting is more than a regimen for

spiritual-self-improvement. And, it is not to be

regarded as a tool to arm-twist God into doing

something for us. It is a means of drawing close to

God in penitence and humility. The focus is on God.

It is worship-tool: God gets all the attention. So

the question is whether God has been getting more

attention during Lent. Is God getting more of your

time, or only what you can spare Him? Are you

obeying Him more to do His will on earth as it is

done in heaven? Is the goal of your life seeking the

Kingdom/rule of God? Do you make Jesus known or

do you turn yourself into a “secret believer”

claiming that for you “religion” is a private/personal

matter, when you mean that you are embarrassed

to proclaim yourself to be a follower of Jesus?

Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, if you want

to observe Lent right. Celebrate the fact that

Jesus is risen from the dead and He is Lord.

Love,

Kuru

WOMEN’S PRAYER at the Sanctuary

on Saturday, 19th at 5p.m

Sunday School

Will be held during worship services.

Thursdays at 6.30 p.m

03 Prayer : At the Sanctuary 17 Prayer : At the Sanctuary

Thursdays at 6.30 p.m

10 The Eisenbergs’ home 31 The Modwells’ home

WORRY DOES NOT EMPTY TOMORROW OF ITS SORROWS; IT EMPTIES TODAY OF ITS STRENGTH CORRIE TEN BOOM

Income February 29, 2016 Projection

Jan – Feb 2015 February 2015 Jan — Feb 2016 Budget 2016

General Offerings 50,237 29,750 60,570 3,00,000 3,60,000

Donations 4,100 6,830 9,630 50,000 erratic

Pledged Giving 75,325 48,200 1,02,600 5,10,000 6,15,600

2nd Mile Pledges 15,925 16,000 25,700 1,50,000 1,54,000

Lent/Christmas offer. 1,290 30,000

Hindi Services

Designated collections

Sunday School 4,460 2,850 5,232 erratic

Grace Church in Village 12,500 1,000 1,000 40,000 erratic

Medical Aid Fund 69,200

GRAND TOTAL 2,33,037 1,04,630 2,04,732 10,80,000 11,29,600

Birthdays in March

07 Vijay Verma

23 Mary Pearce

24 Tabitha Lugun

31 Eric Francisco

For Pastoral Care contact

Rev J T Raja 995 639 9835 Emeritus Pastor Kuru 4049392

gracebiblechurch.lucknowindia@gmail.com www.gracebiblechurchlucknow.org

Poonam Modwell recovered from viral fever.

Devanshi’s father was in hospitalised due to extreme breathlessness. He is still not keeping well.

Sumitabh singh was suffering from bad cough.

Prabha Prakash was down with cold, cough and fever.

Della singh is battling diabetes.

Martha Khan has high BP.

Jerusha Antin has been anaemic and rather unwell.

Usha Antin bereaved by the death of her nephew and niece.

Pooja Modwell visited her parents.

Jemima Lal and Arpit Prakash have their first board exams.

Nivedita Eisenberg, Srishti Lugun and Aishwarya Thappa have ISC board exams.

Jerusha Antin and Sandy Singh have university exams.

Fizza Philip is confirmed in Reliance Brands Ltd.

Jeba and Pastor Raja have gone South to visit their respective mothers. They will be back on the 22nd.