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Elixir Brew Co. (Downtown Buford)
Sunday Worship (10am)
www.goodnewschurchga.com
Good News Family & Friends,
I love Thanksgiving. I think I love it because it's all about being thankful, spending time with family and friends, and I don't have to deal with the stress of shopping for gifts. For the past seven years I've kept a "Gratitude Journal." From Thanksgiving to Thanksgiving, I've made it a point each day to write something down (in a Notes page on my iPhone) that I'm grateful for, and I challenge myself not to repeat something I've already written.
My purpose in keeping the journal is to develop a greater lens of gratitude in my life, and my challenge in not repeating is to force me to pay closer and closer attention to the things that I probably take for granted. This practice / spiritual discipline of gratitude has made a huge difference in my life. The really overwhelming part though is when I print everything I've recorded for the past year, and then spend Thanksgiving morning reading back over everything I've written down. This year, it'll be nearly 50 pages of gratitude reflections. I can't describe the overwhelming sense of gratitude I have when I read back through my gratitude journal each year. It's unbelievable the things that I would have sworn I'd never forget, until I discover I did. And then I'm all the more thankful that I wrote them down.
All that to say, this Thanksgiving, I hope you have an opportunity to rest, refresh, and reflect on the abundance of blessings that God so freely and undeservedly bestows upon us every single day, and maybe let it be a catalyst for gratitude that will continue on throughout the year.
On a different note... If you're looking for an outstanding (free) Christmas concert, come join Laura & me THIS Sunday, Dec. 1 (7pm) at the Peter Mayer Christmas concert. For a link to a music sample and details, scroll down to the announcement below.
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SUNDAY WORSHIP
This upcoming Sunday, December 1st, we're kicking off a mini-series titled, "Christmas Reflections." In other words, we have no idea what we'll be preaching on these next few weeks, but it will have something to do with Christmas. :) Also... be thinking about a good news highlight from your week and/or a Bible verse of encouragement that you might be willing to share.
LUNCH AFTER CHURCH: Patricia Escobar has taken home our gigantic caldron and plans to return it on Sunday filled up with her especial "Columbian Soup." So, make plans to stay and enjoy Patricia's soup, a beverage, and good conversation!
To access Drue's sermon audio, notes, and slides from this past Sunday, click here.
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
NEW! 2024 GIVING STATEMENTS (emailed on November 26 at 12:32am)
If you've made financial contributions to Good News Church GA this past year, check your email for your up to date giving statement. If you don't see the email, check your Junk folder. This may be a helpful resource as you consider any additional year end contributions. NOTE: The giving statements mistakenly include a logo (APC) that is unrelated to Good News Church GA. Drue is the Treasurer for the APC (American Presbyterian Church), which also uses the Tithe.ly website and online giving platform. The accounts are completely separate but the logo somehow got added to our email. :)
ADVENT DEVOTIONAL (written by the people of Good News Church GA)
Advent starts on Sunday, December 1, so be sure to download your copy of our brand-new Advent Devotional, written by the people of Good News Church GA! It's an amazing project that includes inspiring devotionals, relatable real life stories, photos and bios about each writer (to help us get to know each other a little better), holiday outreach ideas, and quotes related to Christmas. Printed copies are also available on Sunday mornings. Be thinking of who you could share this with (via online link or printed copy). THANK YOU to all of our devotional writers, to Whitney Roland and Sarah Luchuk for their help on this project, and especially to Laura Warner for being the chief editor and made it all happen!
PETER MAYER CHRISTMAS CONCERT - THIS Sunday, December 1 (7pm)
This is Drue & Laura Warner's favorite Christmas concert and will be their 15th year attending. For a music sample, click here. Best of all, tickets (valued at $40 each) are free! Peter Mayer was Jimmy Buffett's long time lead guitarist. Peter is a committed follower of Jesus who grew up as a missionary kid in India, and his music reflects this diverse background of cultures and musical styles. Location: Smoke Rise Baptist Church (5901 Hugh Howell Rd., Stone Mountain, GA 30087). For good seats, we'd recommend arriving no later than 6:30pm. If you're interested in attending, contact Drue via email or 404-906-9117, so we can make plans to go together or meet at the concert.
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HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS
12/1 (Sunday)........... Peter Mayer 25th Year Christmas Concert (FREE)
12/6 (Friday)............. Christmas @ Camp Hillside (elementary kids)
12/7 (Saturday)......... Women’s Connect Christmas Brunch (10am)
12/8 (Sunday)........... Elixir Brew Co. Holiday Market (1pm)
12/9 (Monday)........... GNC Social / Rehearsal for Christmas Hymns & Hops (7pm)
12/15 (Sunday)..........Christmas Hymns & Hops at Elixir (5pm - 7:30pm)
12/23 (Monday)........ Good News Church Christmas Eve EVE service (5pm)
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INSPIRATION
Verse of the Week
"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." - James 1:17
Quotes of the Week
“Here is a standing reason for thanksgiving. Although we may not always be healthy, nor always prosperous, yet God is always good, and, therefore, there is always a sufficient argument for giving thanks unto Jehovah. That he is a good God essentially, that he cannot be otherwise than good, should be a fountain out of which the richest praises should perpetually flow.” - Charles H. Spurgeon
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VISION & VALUES
The vision of Good News Church GA is "to experience and express LOVE from God to others." The verse that undergirds our vision is Galatians 5:5b, “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” We value people, community, relationships, prayer, and Bible reading. We also value being able to be yourself. We’re all struggling with something, so there’s no need to pretend that we have it all together.
MISSION
The mission of Good News Church GA is "to connect with people and build relationships through community workshops, neighborhood-focused ministry, serving local needs, mentoring, and worship."
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GIVING
If you'd like to make a contribution the ministry of Good News Church GA, we would be grateful for your support! Your giving enables us to sustain the work of ministry in the church and in our local community. See ministry partners listed below. You can give online here, text the word "GIVE" to 855-363-5096, give via check or cash on Sundays, or mail a check payable to "Good News Church GA" to 5879 Hillside Farm Rd., Sugar Hill, GA 30518. Good News Church GA is a 501(c)3 non-profit. All contributions are tax deductible.
Ministry partners include Sugar Hill Elementary Good News Club, Lanier High School Longhorn Dads, North Gwinnett Cooperative, Good News at Noon homeless ministry, and more.
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