Care Group @ Payne's Home

Care Group will be held at Dan & Kimberly Payne's home, this Friday night (February 5th). We will be begin at 7pm.

You should have received an e-mail with their address and phone number. Didn't receive the e-mail? Contact Jessica at jessica[at]sgcsc.org or 864.346.2361.

We look forward to seeing you there!!!

Care Group Location CHANGE

This Friday (January, 29th) the Singles Care Group will be meeting at Wendy C’s house. Please check your e-mail for directions and parking instructions.

Didn’t get the e-mail? Please e-mail Jessica at, jessica[at]sgcsc.org.

Parenting Seminar

What!?! Why is there information about the Parenting Seminar on the singles blog? As Matt mentioned in care group, we would like your help. We are looking for babysitters!
Many families in the church will not be able to find childcare for this event. Would you consider volunteering to watch someone’s kids? This will enable both parents to attend. The classes are on Sundays from 3 – 5pm.
Class Dates:
February 28
March 14
April 11
April 25
May 23
June 13
June 27

Want to help, but don’t know who to ask? Click HERE to e-mail the church. We will gladly find a family for you.

Update on Haiti Relief Efforts

Below are some quick bullet points on developments in Haiti
1. Relief has begun getting into Haiti via the Dominican Republic (DR) 
What a unique, but powerful example of what it means to be a part of a ‘family of churches’. Al Pino (pastor in our Miami church) has been working with our contacts in the Dominican Republic (DR,) who we found out already had medical clinics in Port-Au-Price (PAP), to get additional resources to them to fund their work there. Thanks to the SGM Disaster Relief Fund we have already been able to get over $25,000 to them to continue their work in that area.  We are now looking over strategies to utilize these routes to get additional aid into the country, as well as specific help, for the churches/orphanages that we relate with in Haiti.

2. Doors continue to open each day.  Marlaine Alix was able to leave earlier this week to travel into Jacmel, Haiti via the DR to start an initial assessment of the needs there and to determine what we can do to further help them. She will be working her way back to Florida so we can continue to assess what the best next steps are soon. Both Daniel and Marlaine hope to travel there the first part of next week to begin evaluating local resources in the areas around the churches/orphanages that were hit. The churches in the DR have graciously offered to assist in whatever ways that they can in the initial response in Haiti. So, we are currently working to get those two groups in contact with one-another to coordinate their work. While Daniel and Marlaine are in Haiti, we are shifting our primary contact with them to their daughter Vanessa who will help us coordinate any efforts stateside as well as assist us in gaining a better idea of what is going on.
We have learned that most of the churches there, that did have buildings, were hit pretty hard during the earthquakes. At this time, it is difficult to get a clear picture of what exactly this looks like but it is not hard at all to quickly pray for those whose lives were completely changed in such a short time. In addition to the destruction of the church buildings and the loss of some church-members lives, many of the church members have lost their homes, loved ones and their livelihood.

3. What’s next?  This is a common question and one that we hope to be able to answer more clearly as we gather information on what is actually happening on the ground from our contacts. We are trying to sift through a myriad of information as it comes in rapid-fire succession from Haiti, the DR and other sources.
Please pray for wisdom to be able to sort through everything and determine the right course of action to pursue.

Right now we are mainly focused on directing our attention on the following

a. Offering what care we can to the leaders we have been working with in Haiti
b. Getting resources to the DR for their work in PAP
c. Pursuing opportunities to get additional relief into Haiti (targeting areas with churches/orphanages)
d. Assessing what the condition of the churches/orphanages is currently
e. Support for those who are there
f. Considering what long term impact we can have that would best serve the churches

4. What can our church do? – The fact that so many of you think and respond this way make it such a joy to serve these hurting people. Please focus people’s attention on two things right now: Pray, Give to SGM Relief Fund.

a. Prayer. Pray for all of those whose lives have been affected by this. Pray for protection from disease as well as protection from the violence that has resulted from the food, water, clothing and housing shortages. Pray for on-going funding and wisdom in the decisions that lie ahead. And lastly, pray for strength for those serving in that region.

b. Giving to the SGM Relief Fund. This allows us to quickly get needed resources into affected areas via the most direct means possible. It also offers us flexibility in getting resources into the country when there really are no other direct routes for now. Many larger and more experienced relief organizations are struggling to get resources in there right now, so we are being mindful of our role in the long term rebuilding efforts in that nation as well as in serving the churches in that region.  Although many would like to donate food or other good directly, it is difficult for us to manage the logistics of this and it is more expedient to work through funding local contacts to distribute relief and care.

5. Are we planning to send teams into Haiti? – This is a great question that helps confirm that our folks are really seeking to care for one-another in deed as well as in prayer and giving. Right now, this is not the most strategic way that we can support them at this time and right now, we are not able to send teams into Haiti. There are a number of factors being considered in this regard as we continue to monitor the situation on the ground and look at what we can do to best serve the people of Haiti.  In the days ahead, we will be trying to determine how we can best set our churches up for success in that nation. Pray along with us that God’s kingdom would come in the hearts and lives of the Haitian people. Since this is a part of an ongoing work in that nation, we will continue to re-evaluate the situation to see if we can be of help by sending service teams.

e-News

We’re trying out a new form of communication this week. Instead of sending you multiple e-mails, filling your inbox, and generally confusing you with data; we’ve decided to try out an e-Newsletter. Check your inbox! You should have the first ever SGC Singles e-News waiting for you. Please let us know if it serves you and what you think! We’re always open to ideas and suggestions.

Don’t have it yet? You can also view it online: http://mim.io/12f12

Haiti Disaster Relief

In response to the devastating earthquake that occurred in Haiti on Tuesday, Sovereign Grace Ministries has opened a Disaster Relief fund to help deliver food, medicine, and other needed aid there. We will distribute the funds we raise primarily through existing ministry contacts we have on the island—both in Haiti and the Dominican Republic—who are already involved in relief efforts.

If you want to join us in our support of these efforts, you can donate to the Disaster Relief fund on our website or by calling 800.736.2202. On behalf of our friends in Haiti, thank you for considering this opportunity to give.

Regardless of your ability to make a donation, please join us in praying that those affected by the earthquake would receive aid quickly, and that despite these hardships the gospel would continue to go forward in that nation.

Gift Wrap Pics

Here are some pictures from our Singles Gift Wrap Outreach and our Singles Christmas Party.



Thank you again for all your help. Both events were a huge success!

Bows, Gingerbread, & 2010

5th Annual Toys R Us Gift Wrap!

This Saturday

9am – 3pm

Toys R Us (Haywood Rd.)

Wear a red shirt and Santa hat. We’ll see you there!

2nd Annual Gingerbread Contest (and Christmas Party too)

This Saturday evening

6pm – 9pm

Bring $5 & a wrapped gift for the gift exchange.

Registration Is Open!!!

Registration for the Next 2010 conference is open. Join us as we worship the Savior, listen to some great speakers, fellowship, and make a lot of memories.

Register for Next HERE.

Care Group Location Change

This Friday night our Singles group will be meeting at 7:00pm at Wendy C's house.

It should be a great time together to fellowship, worship and apply God's Word to our lives practically.

Need directions? Check your e-mail (Matt R. sent out a link) or contact the church office, 864.346.2361.

Next Is Back!

The Next Website & Blog are up and running. What is Next? It’s a conference that we are very excited about. For more information, click the links below…

Next 2010

Next Blog

Promote Next on your blog or website…

Caregroup @ The Rawlings' house tonight

Hey Caregroup!

I am looking forward to seeing you all tonight at our Singles Caregroup. In case you were wondering, yes, we are meeting and we will be back at my house tonight.

I know it was only a couple of weeks ago since I got to be with most of you but I missed you last week and I’m anticipating a great time worshipping together with you and hearing how God has been at work in your life lately.

Please don’t be discouraged by the colder weather and early onset of night-time these days – it will be sure to be warm and bright inside our cozy little abode!
I’m looking forward to seeing you all.

Your bro,
-Matt

Care Group @ Payne’s

Hey Care group,

This week we will be meeting at the Payne’s.

I hope all is well and you are able to make it Friday at 7:00 pm

Your bro,

Matt

Daylight Savings Ends

Daylight Savings ends this Sunday.

Don't forget to set your clocks back one hour.

Calling All NEXT Memories

Do you have a memory from Next 2009? The Next Staff wants to hear it! And they want to share it with others.

If you attended Next 2009, you know that there’s no substitute for being there. How did God meet you? Was it worshiping passionately (and loudly), listening to Joshua Harris or C.J. Mahaney preach about Christ, talking at midnight over coffee, or praying in the morning with your community group (and more coffee)? If you had a couple of sentences to broadcast to the world, what would you say?

Let Next be your megaphone. Send two or three sentences to next[at]sovgracemin[dot]org. They  may even use them in announcing Next 2010 (but they’ll ask permission first).

They’ll send more info about Next 2010 over Thanksgiving. In the meantime, mark May 28–31 in your planner, iPhone, huge wall calendar, iCal, back of an envelope, or whatever you use to remember stuff.

Desserts Galore!!!

For our meeting THIS week, I’d like to ask that everyone make a significant effort to make it out on time at 7:00pm.  Not only does it honor your fellow care group members and allow more time for fellowship, it will also give us time to have a Dessert Bar. To facilitate the Dessert Bar, we will get started on time and end earlier than we normally do to allow plenty of time to feast on home-made sweets and sumptuous treats afterwards.

So, in addition to being at our place at 7:00pm next Friday night, I’d like to ask that everyone please bring a home-made Dessert to share with the group.  If everyone brings something, I’m sure the table will be full of decadent treats for us all to take our time sampling. 

Forget Whitman’s – this is going to be a great Singles Sampler! I’m already looking forward to it…

Your bro,

-Matt

We Need You!

The Winter Wonderland Event is coming soon (56 days to be exact)! Would you like to be a volunteer? There are many ways to serve and we would love your help.

Volunteer Sign-up is THIS SUNDAY!!! Look for the Winter Wonderland table in the "lobby".

No CARE GROUP!!!

Care group has been CANCELED for this Friday night. That’s right, NO CARE GROUP this week! All of our care group leaders are attending the Small Group Leader’s Conference this weekend.

Snack Schedule

10.02 Barry, Katie, Ryan M
10.09 Laura, Jessica B, Josh R
10.16 Cherith, Willy, George
10.23 Courtney, Jessica R, Hannah
10.30 Josh P, Michele, Brooke
11.06 Seth, Wendy A, Sarah
11.13 Cesar, Susanna, Emily
11.20 Jenna Beth, James, Barry
11.27 No Care Group
12.04 Ryan M, Christa, Laura
12.11 Jessica B, Josh R, Cherith
12.18 Willy, George, Courtney
12.25 No Care Group
01.01 Jessica R, Matthew, Josh P
01.08 Michele, Brooke, Seth
01.15 Sarah, Cesar, Susanna
01.22 Emily, Jenna Beth, James
01.29 Barry, Katie, Ryan

Christa C will e-mail you the week you are scheduled to bring snack.

Picture Courtesy of Petr Kratochvil

the Cross too simple, my Sin too complex?

The cross seems too simple to me at times and my sin too complex.
It seems too easy of a remedy and my sin so awful. Surely it is foolish to believe so naïvely.
Surely my heinous sin cannot be forgiven by merely believing and trusting in the Gospel and the sacrifice of the Cross of Christ – this is too difficult to trust in completely…

Surely I must do something, surely I must atone – after all, I have been saved already and I knew better when I sinned this time. I am ashamed now – I just want to hide my face from Him because I do not want Him to see my guilt. At other times, I want to pretend as if I didn’t sin and that His wrath isn’t against sin and try to claim that my sin really doesn’t matter and that it doesn’t make a difference, because, after all, I’m saved aren’t I.

But, still trying to carry my sin and feeling that the weight of sin is still upon me, I only feel more distant from God and begin to doubt that God’s forgiveness is really for me or that I can ever really be the recipient of His love, because my sin is too great and my heart too hard.

Then, in the cool of the day, He comes looking for me and in my shame I hide and try to cover my nakedness with clothes I have crafted on my own, thinking He cannot see that I am naked through these leaves that I have pieced together. I do not want Him to find me and I want desperately to hide my face, so that I do not have to look into His all-knowing eyes – I do not want to experience His wrath, His disappointment and most of all, I do not want to feel this shame that I am trying to avoid at all costs. Yet, I truly have sinned and I am dirty and defiled, naked and wretched and I crouch in shame. The foul odor of my body of sin gives my whereabouts away – not that He needs such help finding me...

Soon, I hear His footsteps stop in front of my trembling, lowered head. I dare not look up, as a scared child hiding beneath the sheets, hoping that these leaves will cover me – yet, they are no camouflage at all. He is not distracted nor does He turn aside. He turns to me and then, when I deserve His wrath, He gently lifts my head with His hand and He dresses me in His Son’s own magnificent clothes of righteousness and then He speaks to me and says that He does not excuse my sin and that His wrath truly does burn against it and it would have raged against me as well - that my sin made all the scourging, the desertion, the beating, the mocking, the thorns, the bitter nails of the Cross, the gradual draining of blood from the body and the final heaves of the painful death of His Son necessary. Yet, instead of me, all of His righteous fury has burned fiercely against His Son once and for all time, and now He looks at me with forgiveness, kindness and love.

Now, I must trust the Cross and Jesus’ sacrifice alone – it is my only hope and I cannot pay for the punishment my sins deserve. No amount of condemnation or guilty feelings, no attempts at self-atonement and no false attempts at concealing or minimizing my sin will do. I must simply trust wholly and completely on what I was, and am, most undeserving of – the giving of God’s Son for me. So simple and yet so hard – it means I must die and I must put away any hopes of trust in myself. It means I must stop hiding, lay aside these feeble leaves I have strung together with my ugly threads of pride and come out into the plain light of the garden - naked, poor, wretched and dirty. I must come to Him humbly and plainly acknowledge all of my sin and ask Him for mercy for it all and in every part, because only His blood can wash me truly clean and only His clothes will be able to remove my shame.

It is difficult to trust the simple truth of Christ’s atoning sacrifice for me, when I keep trying to cover my sin and pick up my own ragged clothes of pride again. Still, the simplicity of the Gospel of Christ demands that I lay aside my pride and any attempts to earn salvation. It demands that I come humbly to the Rock of Ages for Him to dress me.

Yes, it remains hard at times to trust the simple message of the gospel, yet trust in the Gospel and the Cross of Christ alone I and we all must do with all that we are - for the Gospel truly is our only hope… and what a glorious hope it is indeed! Washed in His blood, clothed in His righteousness and trusting in Him alone, we will not be ashamed.

Embassy Suites

Sunday, September 13th

Sovereign Grace Church will be meeting at the Embassy Suites on Sunday, September 13th at 10am. The Embassy Suites is located on Verdae Blvd. near the intersection of Woodruff Rd. & Roper Mtn. Rd. We will return the the Marriott on the following Sunday. Click HERE for maps and directions.