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Sundays at 10am.
From Eliza’s Desk
This week I pulled out an old t-shirt that has images of a saltshaker and a lightbulb and says, “be these.” It’s a reference to Matthew 5:13-16 where Jesus says to those he’s teaching, “You are the salt of the earth… you are the light of the world.”
Salt is one of the oldest, most universal spices. We can always tell when something has too much or little salt. It requires the right balance to add the best flavor to particular dish it is being mixed into. Salt is a distinct flavor that has impact wherever it is mixed in.
Jesus says, “if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?” (v 13). As followers of Jesus, we are meant to be distinct, to have a unique flavor, in whatever context we live so that we can have an impact on those around us. If we lose our distinct flavor, we are like salt that is no longer salty.
We are the salt, but we are also the light. Salt is mixed in to have impact while light stands out to have impact. Light illuminates everything around it. It clears away the darkness. Like salt that loses its flavor or is never mixed into the food, a light has no impact if it is covered up.
Jesus says, “let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (v 16). Our light—our distinct way of living in the world—should not draw attention to ourselves. Instead, by the impact of our light, we can point others to God.
So how do we be these?
We can be these by being like Jesus. Spend time with Jesus learning how Jesus lived and calls us to live so that we can have an impact in the world like salt and light.
This Week’s text
Acts 4:23-31
23 On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. 25 You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: “‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 26 The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed one. 27 Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 28 They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. 29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
75th Anniversary of GEECC
Our church is creating a custom cookbook, to commemorate 75 years, featuring favorite recipes from our members! Please submit your favorite recipes so you can be represented in our cookbook. You can submit online or bring hardcopies into the office. Please submit by June 30th! Find all info about the church cook book HERE.
We are also asking you to upload pictures and stories that you have from over the years at GEECC. You may upload these things HERE or bring them into the office.
We are excited to start celebrating with you!
Fundraiser for The Ark Preschool
Where: Barone’s
75 Pennsylvania Ave, Glen Ellyn
(630) 858-0555
bpizza.com
When: Tuesday, May 18, 2021
11am-9pm - lunch or dinner!
Carry Out, Delivery, and Dine-in
***Be sure to mention The Ark Preschool fundraiser when you order. The preschool will receive 20% of the cost of your meal! For online orders, type “Ark” in the comments.
THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING!!
Sunday Morning Children’s Ministries
We look forward to welcoming you and spending part of your Sunday morning with your children! Our children’s check-in desk opens at 9:45 am and we currently offer three different classes: Nursery (birth to young 2s), Preschool (2s through preK); and Elementary (Grades K-5). For visitors or those who have not yet returned to in-person attendance, please consider pre-registering at https://rsvp.church/r/PVqdCJjl. (This helps us with supply planning and speeds up the check in process.)
Preschoolers Jump for Excitement Because God’s Way Is Perfect!
Have you ever thought about how many decisions you make in a day? According to some reports, the average adult makes up to 35,000 choices per day. Wow! Just imagine how challenging that must be for a preschooler who is having trouble deciding between the red shirt or the blue shirt! For the second Sunday of May, the story focus is “I should go God’s way.” We will hear the story of Jonah (Jonah 1:1-3:10) and some of the choices he made. Preschoolers will learn about what happened to Jonah when he decided to go his way instead of going God’s way. They will hear how Jonah eventually decided, that God’s way is perfect so that was the way he should go. Encourage your child to memorize this month’s verse: “God’s way is perfect” (2 Samuel 22:31 NIrV).
K5 Sunday and Club 5/6 Students Focus on Running with Commitment
Last week learned that we need a plan to succeed and that to succeed in living God’s way we need to 1. Hear God’s Word; 2. Pray to God; Talk about God to others; and Live God’s way. In week two, we head to Matthew 7:24-29, where we can read a parable Jesus told at the end of the Sermon on the Mount. Two builders took two different approaches to build their homes. One house was built on a solid foundation, the other on shifting sand. The message is clear: a solid foundation in life starts with hearing and doing what Jesus says. Bottom Line: Practice hearing from God. We can’t do what God says until we know what God says. Discovering more about that starts with listening to God. We pray that kids will learn the faith skill HEAR and find how they can navigate and personalize God’s Word. Key Question: How can you hear from God? When kids first hear that they should learn to hear from God, they might have some questions. Especially when God doesn’t speak audibly, how can they hear from God? We hope kids wrestle with this idea and learn that hearing from God might not be as tricky as they might have thought. This month’s memory verse is: “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” 1 Timothy 4:8 NIV. Commit to practicing faith by reading God’s Word, praying to Him consistently, talking about Him with friends, and living out that faith every day.
Movie in the field
(7-9pm)
Bring your blankets and pillows, pick a spot in the field, and settle in for a movie night.
Hi League: May 14
Jr League: May 21
Confirmation Sunday—May 23
Mark your calendars to support our students who are being confirmed!
Parent gathering—May 24 | 7pm
We will meet to discuss some exciting things coming up that you won’t want to miss. We will be talking about summer plans, a vision for the fall and some proposed changes, and UNITE 2022. UNITE is the Covenant’s huge summer youth conference that happens every 3 years (formally known as CHIC). Getting our students there takes lots of planning and fundraising ahead of time that requires the participation of all students who plan on going as well as their parents.