A New Sunday Schedule begins 8/4 with Sunday morning Discipling Communities options at 9:00am, Coffee & Connection at 10:00am, and one worship service with Nursery, Toddlers, and Children’s Church at 10:30am. Take note and spread the word!

GC Women invite you to share in welcoming International Workers (IW’s) that will be making Toccoa their home over the next year (8 families). Help in assembling “Welcome Baskets” to give to them at a “Welcome Brunch” in August. Ideas for baskets are posted on the GC Women’s bulletin board. Contact Karen Beall for more information.

FACT Summer Schedule begins Sunday, 6/2. We will again be simplifying during our brief and busy summer with one worship service at 10am (with Nursery, Toddlers, Children’s Church) and Coffee & Connection available before and after. Sunday School Communities and the Sunday Evening Gathering will take a hiatus. We encourage you to use that extra space and invest in building relationships with people in your neighborhood by exercising biblical hospitality. Wednesdays will include prayer meetings and OnDeck Youth. Even as we trim back on official programming, connecting, growing, and engaging doesn’t stop. Make use of RightNow Media, gather with others for food and prayer, find ways to be present in our community, and love as Jesus loves.

30 Days of Prayer for Muslims is May 6 through June 4, 2019. Booklets with daily readings that focus on various people groups and geographical areas of the Islamic world are available in print or PDF format for a nominal charge at 30daysprayer.com/booklets. Each day’s focus includes prayer points. It also features informative background articles and resources for involvement. View the related Monthly Prayer Focus here.

Holy Week Schedule as we remember Jesus’ death and celebrate His resurrection. We invite you to be part.

• Palm Sunday - April 14 - 9am Worship Service and regular Sunday Schedule

• Day of Prayer & Fasting - Tuesday, April 16 throughout the day

• Good Friday Service with communion - April 19 - 7pm

• Children’s Easter Celebration - Saturday, April 20 - 2 to 3pm

• Easter Sunday Worship Celebrations - 9am & 10:45am - with Coffee & Connection (and special snacks) in between.

• There will be NO Sunday School Communities or Sunday evening activities on Easter Sunday.

• Church Offices will be closed on Monday, April 22, in observance of Easter.

A Toccoa Life Drive is underway to collect items to assist mothers in crisis for the next 3 Sundays. Place wipes, diapers (up to size 5), and infant and children’s clothes up to size 5 (gently used, no stains) in the cradle outside the sanctuary. Helpful larger items include infant swings, bouncy seats, new car seats, and cribs. Thanks for helping this vital community ministry!

The 2019 Spring Women’s Retreat is March 22 (4pm) through March 24 (noon) at Ridgecrest Conference Center outside of Asheville, North Carolina. This weekend is an opportunity to get away and reconnect with the Lord. Join with women from all over the South Atlantic District to experience more grace, beauty, and growth. Check out the details below, and then visit the Bulletin Board near the water fountain to sign up. A registration deposit of $50 is due by March 1 to secure your spot.

For Your Information:

• Retreat is for two nights with five meals. (Rates below.) You may attend without an overnight; there is a minimum charge.

• We suggest that you signup with your church. Please make sure you have your name and preferred roommate(s) clearly written using the Room Signup Sheet provided.

• There is a non-refundable deposit of $50.00.

• If you make your own reservation, please call (800-588-7222).

Keynote Speaker: Heather Smith

Heather Smith writes: Using the “only” Psalm as a springboard (you will have to wait until the retreat to find out which one it is) and some Old Testament characters as examples, this retreat is going to be extremely practical. Through Biblical teaching and interaction we will examine how biblical rest and refreshment may be different than we imagine, bring God into our pressures and prayers, and discover how we can live a powerful life of worship in the day to day. I can’t wait to be with you! You won’t want to miss this year’s messages!

Events:

Sessions 1,2,3,4

• Keynote Speaker: Heather Smith ~ Pastor’s wife, mother, & conference speaker

• International Worker Speakers

• Special message from one of our own

All Pastors’ Wives & all Local Leaders of Women’s Ministries will be hosted on Saturday noon for LUNCH. (Please RSVP writing how many will attend on the Room Signup Sheet.)

TIME WITH ABBA – music & meditation on Saturday afternoon & 24-hour Prayer Room – for personal use and/or to request prayer

SPECIAL OFFERINGS: Outfit Fund, Paradise Mountain Ministries, Mercy Fund, and National Project ~ one offering per session

SILENT AUCTION is for the Outfit Fund. We ask for your lovely handcrafted items, paintings, antiques, gift baskets, handmade greeting cards, handmade clothing items, etc.

FREE TIME Saturday afternoon FOR ALL TO ENJOY – time alone, time with friends, time in nature, at the Cloud Coffee Shop (on campus) and/or shopping in local nearby stores.

Retreat Rates:

ADULT RATES for 5 meals & 2 nights:

• 1-person room - $273.00

• 2-person room - $174.00 per person

• 3-person room - $147.67 per person

• 4-person room - $134.50 per person

Mothers with babies are welcome. Teens are welcome and have special rates when under the age of 18. The following information may be of help: Youth under 18 have free lodging & a meal plan. (5 & under with mother – free); (ages 6-11 $35.00 for 5 meals); (ages 12-17 $52.00 for 5 meals)

Further clarification: a mother with 2 children will be charged $273.00 for her room, but if another mother or adult is in the room with them, each adult in the room will be charged $174.00. Youth under 18 have no room charge.

To all who mourn in Israel, He will give a crown of beauty for ashes, joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness they will be like great oaks that the LORD has planted for His own glory. Isaiah 61:3

During the season of Lent, we are designating Tuesdays as a day of prayer and fasting. We invite your for forego your mid-day meal and spend time on Tuesdays in prayer for the revival of our passion for Jesus as disciples and the Spirit’s renewal of our church, community, region, and nation. It’s not about our own ability or righteousness, but God’s grace in freeing us to refocus on Him. The church Prayer Room will be available throughout the day for you to come and pray.

Lent is the 40-day period that begins on Ash Wednesday (3/6) and concludes on Holy Saturday (4/20). It has been a time for reflection and renewal by Christians for centuries in preparation for Easter. Through repenting, praying, fasting, giving, and serving others, we draw closer to Christ by identifying with His journey to the cross and remembering the ultimate expression of love. “It is a time of returning to God” (Henri Nouwen). This year, seek God with all your heart and experience renewal. Learn more and find resources here.

This year's annual Family Festival of Nations is February 24 - March 3, 2019. It's a full week of celebrating what God is doing around the world, hearing how God is using the skills of people just like you and me to awaken peoples to the saving grace of Jesus Christ, and discovering ways we can be part of the Great Commission.

Have you awoken to what it means to live in His Kingdom now so that this Kingdom will come in fullness when He returns? It means that we wake up to the reality of the kingdom of God and the tension that exists between the now and not yet. The Kingdom that Jesus promised (that we read about in the Scriptures) is a Kingdom that is eternal, but hasn’t fully happened yet. Jesus is at work in these days and wants us to join him. This idea is rooted in Matthew 24:14 and is what first “awakened” the movement known as the Christian & Missionary Alliance.

And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

It means we wake up to kingdom living which, based off of Matthew 24 and 25, means a call to always be ready by living in love with and anticipating the Coming King (Matthew 24:42-25, 25:1-13), always be investing what He has put into your hands into those things that will be eternal (Matthew 24:45-47, 25:14-29), and always be serving because the Kingdom is love and people are precious (Matthew 24:48-51, 25:31-46).

“My Kingdom has come here on earth, and it’s going to spread to all peoples. Amid challenges and opposition, those transformed by the good news of this Kingdom will spread it to all people. Please wake up to this reality! I want it to be good for you when I return because you’ll be found living out My Kingdom ways and welcoming the day of My coming.”

You're invited to be part of this year's Family Festival of Nations. There's lots of ways to participate. Check it out below, and we hope you will choose to live purposefully for the sake of Jesus.

SPECIAL PROJECT

This year's special project is raising money to purchase supplies for Adventure Camps in Uruguay, South America.

Outdoor Adventure Camp is dedicated to providing outdoor adventure experiences in English for youth ages 12 to 18 years old and give them the opportunity to explore the natural beauty of Uruguay. The students get diverse, creative and practical opportunities to learn and practice the English language through activities that teach youth to grow in the following areas: Leadership Development, Problem Solving Skills, Healthy Self-Esteem and Team Dynamics. Each of these skills are valuable assets to become a better well rounded successful citizens.

Each camp lasts about a week and can include activities such as kayaking, canoeing, rock climbing or a bouldering gym, hiking, group dynamic games, backpacking, and overnight camping. Most students do not have access to the resources necessary to do these types of activities .

Resources that these funds will go toward include tents, sleeping pads, camping/cooking supplies, and rock climbing equipment (harnesses, helmets, ropes, carabiners, and other necessary equipment).

Be part of this project by placing coins, dollars, or checks in a collection can. They're available in the front foyer. Bring your cans back on Sunday, March 3 at 9am where we will collect them as part of the Closing Celebration of Family Festival of Nations week.

SCHEDULE

Sunday, February 24
   Worship Service -- 9AM / Sanctuary
   Evening Service and Children's Program -- 6PM

Monday, February 25
   Meal and Fellowship -- 6:15-6:45PM / Family Life Center
   Family Fun Night -- 7:00PM / FLC

Tuesday, February 26
   Meal and Fellowship -- 6:15-6:45PM / FLC
   Adults/Youth -- 7:00PM / Sanctuary
   Children -- 7:00PM / GC Kidz Club

Wednesday, February 27
   Youth-Sponsored Fundraiser Dinner for Missions -- 6:00PM / FLC
   Adult/Youth -- 7:00PM / Sanctuary
   Children -- 7:00PM / GC Kidz Club

Thursday, Februrary 28
   Meal and Fellowship -- 6:15-6:45PM / FLC
   Adult/Youth -- 7:00PM / Sanctuary
   Children -- 7:00PM / GC Kidz Club

Friday, March 1
   Meal and Fellowship -- 6:15-6:45PM / FLC
   Adults -- 7:00PM / FLC (Prayer for the World Focus)
   Children -- 7:00PM / GC Kidz Club
   Pie Night -- 8:15PM / FLC

Saturday, March 2
   Men’s Breakfast -- 9AM / TFC Dining Hall ($6.75/person)
   Women’s Brunch -- 9AM / Fellowship Hall

Sunday, March 3
   Closing Celebration Service - 9AM / Sanctuary
   Festival of Praise Potluck -- 11AM / FLC   
   NO Sunday School Communities or Evening Activities  

MEALS & FOOD

To help you participate, each evening (Monday through Friday) there will be a meal served from 6:15-6:45pm in the Family Life Center on a voluntary donation basis to help defray the cost. The proposed menu for the week is:

• Monday (2/25): Chicken Pot Pie

• Tuesday (2/26): Chili and Soup

• Wednesday (2/27): Chicken Curry (Youth Sponsored Fundraiser Meal)

• Thursday (2/28): Pancake & Bacon Supper

• Friday (3/1): BBQ Sandwich

Please use the form below to make reservations so we can be adequately prepared. There will be peanut butter and jelly available each evening for the "picky" eaters among us.

On Saturday there will be a Men's Breakfast at Toccoa Falls College Dining Hall at 9am ($6.75/person inclusive) and a Women's Brunch at 9am in the Fellowship Hall at First Alliance. Parents are encouraged to bring their kids to both of these events. Babysitting will be provided for the Women's Brunch for infants and toddlers. Please use the form below to sign up for the Women's Brunch. 

The Family Festival of Nations will conclude with a Festival of Praise Potluck Meal on Sunday, March 4 following the morning service. Please bring the following based on your last name:

• Last Name A - H: Main dish* & salad

• Last Name I - P: Main dish* & vegetable

• Last Name Q - Z: Main dish* & dessert

*If possible, bring international fare!