American Heritage Girls Troop TX1595 was chartered in 2021 by our GC Richardson church family as a vessel for engaging our neighborhood and sharing the love of Jesus with them.
The troop organized its winter awards ceremony in December to celebrate the wonderful achievements of the girls over the previous four months. Close to 40 people, including 9 girls and their families, gathered for an inspiring night of recognition, prayer, food, fellowship, and fun. More than 10 adult volunteers, including parents and grandparents, were honored for their role in running the troop.
Camping, badgework, and social events keep the troop members learning and growing in relationship with each other and with Jesus all through the year.
The troop has served in many ways, including packing Operation Christmas Child boxes and participating in the City of Richardson’s Christmas Parade. This year’s float depicted the book, The Gifts of the Animals, in the Christmas Storybook themed parade. It was well attended by the Richardson community.
Currently, only one of the girls attends our fellowship with her family. The troop reflects our neighborhood’s ethnic diversity and members come from Catholic, house church, Baptist, Pentecostal and other Christian faith traditions. We look forward to welcoming more girls and families in the future including those who do not yet enjoy the blessing of intentional intimate relationship with Jesus.
American Heritage Girls’ mission is building women of integrity through service to God, family, community and country. Learn more at americanheritagegirls.org.
Here is a list of the primary worship days and seasons in the Western Christian worship calendar. Some churches celebrate all of these, others only some. GCI asks its congregations to celebrate (as a minimum) the days/seasons of Advent, Christmas, Holy Week and Easter.
Advent Season—spanning the four Sundays prior to Christmas. This season focuses on Jesus’ ultimate return and looks forward to the Incarnation.
Christmas Season—beginning with Christmas Day on December 25 and continuing through January 5. This season focuses on the Incarnation, which includes Jesus’ birth, the worship of the shepherds, and the worship of Simeon and Anna.
Epiphany Season—beginning with the day of Epiphany on January 6 and continuing to the day before Ash Wednesday—the season includes the Baptism of our Lord (the Sunday after the Epiphany) and Transfiguration Sunday (the Sunday before Ash Wednesday). This season focuses on Jesus being the light of the world, sharing the story of the Magi from the East, and the story of the transfiguration.
Preparation for Easter—beginning with Ash Wednesday and continuing through Holy Saturday (thus overlapping Holy Week). This season focuses on Jesus’ ministry and his journey to the cross.
Holy Week
Passion (Palm) Sunday (Jesus’ triumphant entry and his lament over Jerusalem)
Maundy Thursday (The last supper with his disciples, the new commandment to love as he loves, and the promise of the Holy Spirit.)
Good Friday (Jesus’ death and burial)
Holy Saturday (A day of reflection of Jesus in the tomb and the hope of the resurrection. Often considered a day of recommitment.)
Easter Season—beginning with Easter Sunday and continuing to Pentecost, including two special celebrations:
Easter Sunday—celebrating Jesus’ resurrection.
The Ascension of our Lord—40 days after Easter Sunday (Jesus’ promise to always be with us (Matthew 28), and our inclusion in his ascension.
Day of Pentecost (Jesus sends the Holy Spirit and begins the New Testament church.)
Ordinary Time—the period following Pentecost until Advent Season, including three special celebrations: (Walking with Jesus – sharing his love and life with others in mission and ministry.)
Holy Trinity Sunday—the Sunday following Pentecost (Jesus, as part of the Holy Trinity.)
All Saints Day—held the weekend after Halloween (We are all included in Jesus’ plan of salvation.)
Christ the King Sunday—the Sunday before Advent Season begins. (Jesus reigns as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.)
Participating in what Jesus is doing is so awesome. In December, Grace Communion Derby held our Parent’s Day Out/Day Camp. Our goal was to provide parents with time for themselves and make connections with children in the neighborhood. Seven children, grades K-5, attended. Twelve adult members participated to assist and love on the kids.
The event was held from 10:00a.m. – 4:00p.m. Our Sunday School teacher, Sue Ann, created a fantastic program for the children. The activities included:
Reading Christmas stories,
Decorating cookies,
Painting wreaths,
Playing games,
Drawing with sidewalk chalk,
Assembling and flying foam airplanes,
Making personal lunch pizzas,
Making cards,
Building with Legos,
Watching the Candy Cane Legend movie, and
Playing with model trains, including a scavenger hunt within the display.
Here are a few comments from some of the adults:
One boy said he wanted to come again next week!
There were enough adults to give one-on-one attention between scheduled activities.
The day was full of opportunities to build relationships.
We had special structured activities, but the unstructured engagement was so sweet, like a lesson in shoe tying on the floor.
I honestly cannot say who had the better time, the children or the adults. Our members are in their 60s, 70s, and 80s.Yes, we were tired, but we found, with the help of Jesus, we could participate with him. Now we are planning a two-day day camp next June. Participating with Jesus is a blessing on a whole new level.
29The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Chosen One.” John 1:29-34 NRSVUE
John the Baptist believed that a savior would come, but he wasn’t sure Jesus was that Savior until God revealed this to him. Maybe John had an inkling, but it took a revelation from God, an epiphany if you will, to confirm this. And then John believed.
It took an epiphany from God for each of us to believe that Jesus is God and our Savior. None of us did anything to deserve this special, amazing truth being revealed to us.
What about those who do not believe yet? God will reveal the truth to each of us when the time is right. Remember 2 Peter 3:9: The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
Prayer: Abba, we are grateful with every fiber of our being that you have given us this gift now. And we thank you for your promise that you will not withhold this gift from anyone and one day, when the time is right, all will have the opportunity to know you. Abba, thank you.
By Sondra Peters Pastoral Team Member, Clarksville, TN, US
As I travel around the world visiting our various GCI regions I hear and learn many new things. I become informed about cultural nuances, and I am asked to clarify various aspects of what we believe in GCI, and how our theology informs our practices.
In my recent trip to France, I engaged in a lively discussion with our leaders. They shared that many of the GCI members are former Catholics, and their view of Lent is based in traditional Catholicism. Based on their past experiences, they view Lent as a works-based practice that is intended for a Christian to establish their personal worthiness. It feels like a backward step into legalism, and a move away from the vicarious atonement of Jesus that alone makes us worthy.
The French leaders went on to express that the phraseology that we have used, “Easter Preparation” is acceptable, and our members can embrace it. For former Catholics, it aligns with our grace-based Christ-centered focus.
In the greater Christian community, Lent is celebrated by Roman Catholics, Anglicans, Eastern Orthodox, Lutherans, Methodists and Presbyterians. The practices in observing Lent and the importance placed on it vary. The conundrum for GCI is that in primarily Protestant-based regions, using Lent as terminology to describe what we call Easter Preparation is acceptable and interchangeable, and therefore it has appeared in some of our GCI publications. Please understand that this is not intended to create confusion, nor is meant to be offensive to any of our former Catholic members (be they in France or any other country with strong Catholic influence).
It is extremely important to know that the GCI worship calendar is informed by GCI theology. The pure intention is to rehearse and celebrate the salvific events of Jesus Christ. In no way are our celebrations designed to throw us back on ourselves and place our eternal salvation on human works. Our goals are to point to Jesus, be focused on Jesus and to worship him only. This alone is why we promote and support the GCI worship calendar.
For our members who have had challenging experiences and carry painful memories associated with Lent, please use the terminology “Easter Preparation.” We have openly asked our leaders across the international churches to contextualize the tools that we provide from the Home Office. We have often experienced that clear communication is difficult, especially when translating from one language to another.
In France and several other countries, I have been asked why I only carry the title of President and why the title of “Pastor” is not included? Most understand why Pastor General was dropped because General is a military title. The sentiment that members convey is that they see me as the Pastor of the denomination, and I embrace this role.
This letter is written out of my pastoral heart to extend the care and love for our members who may have experienced misunderstanding and hurt. Written out of my pastoral mindset, I desire that all of us in GCI relentlessly pursue Jesus and see that he is central in every season, year in and year out.
Everything begins and ends with Jesus. This is the focus of a healthy church. This is the focus of GCI. May God continue to bless us as we keep Jesus the center of the center.
Greg Williams
P.S. Are you interested in a fuller explanation of the primary worship days and seasons? Check out this list.
“As to the ‘state of the world’ if we have time to hope and fear about it, we certainly have time to pray.” ―C.S. Lewis
Join us in prayer this month as we thank our triune God for another year of lessons and blessings to come. Click the link on the image below to download the January Prayer Guide and check out what’s happening in our fellowships around the world. #WeAreGCI
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On December 3, the GCI River Road congregation joined in the annual Light Parade with the community of Junction City. This year had record turnout of floats and spectators. The overall theme of the parade was Polar Express, and we decided to go with the theme that best represented us. We chose “The Island of Misfit Toys.” We had our own live Bumble, Yukon Cornelius, and Charlie in the Box.
We had great participation in putting the float together as well as those who actually walked and rode on the float. Those that walked handed out candy and toys, while wishing everyone Merry Christmas.
It was a cold clear night, but worth the interaction with many of the local residents of Junction City. It was decided after the event to make the float bigger and brighter! We will remain the Island of Misfit Toys as well.
Many remembered us from our “Christmas in July” and our Trunk or Treat. We are becoming known in the community and look forward to many more opportunities to get involved.
The Orchard is proud to announce its latest round of graduates from the program. In September, the following leaders completed their six-month commitment:
Anthony Caputo
Michael Guibord
Sherry Kinzie
Mike Kinzie
David Marquis
Marlene Reed
George Relic
The Orchard is an online, project-based mentoring program that I facilitate with my cofounder, Mako Nagasawa. It supports Christ-followers in discerning their ministry calling, equips them for participating in the work of Jesus Christ, and assists them in carrying out projects of their own design. Find out more about The Orchard here.
Most of the projects focused on the Love Avenue, and the participants used The Orchard to help them plan how to better connect with their neighbors. As one participant commented, “The Orchard got us moving in the right direction — developing leaders who live like Jesus, love like Jesus, and make disciples like Jesus.”
We congratulate The Orchard graduates on their achievement!
By Dishon Mills Church Planter, Charlotte, NC National Coordinator, Generations Ministry
American Heritage Girls Troop TX1595 was chartered in 2021 by our GC Richardson church family as a vessel for engaging our neighborhood and sharing the love of Jesus with them.
Camping, badgework, and social events keep the troop members learning and growing in relationship with each other and with Jesus all through the year.
Currently, only one of the girls attends our fellowship with her family. The troop reflects our neighborhood’s ethnic diversity and members come from Catholic, house church, Baptist, Pentecostal and other Christian faith traditions. We look forward to welcoming more girls and families in the future including those who do not yet enjoy the blessing of intentional intimate relationship with Jesus.
