2025 SEPT 24 CONNECTED DIGITAL NEWS

Published September 26, 2025
2025 SEPT 24 CONNECTED DIGITAL NEWS
GBC Connected

Pause & Reflect

Dr. Jeff Webb

The Bible tells us that life is not static but seasonal. Just as the earth revolves through cycles of planting and harvest, sunshine and storm, so too our lives move through changing rhythms and stages. Some seasons are joyous and fruitful; others are marked by waiting, loss, or challenge. Yet through every season, one truth remains unshaken: God’s purposes for us are never hindered by the circumstances of time. His calling is not seasonal—it is eternal.


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Q & A

On Sunday, October 5, at 11:30 AM, Pastor Jeff and the Mission 3G Committee will be leading the Mission 3G informational/Q&A in the sanctuary for those who would like to know more. Don't miss this opportunity to grow, learn, and get inspired. The Mission 3G Committee is Ray & LeeAnne Cheek and Lisa Nuest.

Quiet Moments

Join us each week as Eric leads us in a time of prayer and worship.
We gather every Tuesday at 7:00 PM in the Timothy classroom.

If you haven't been a part of our time together, perhaps the Lord will make a way for you next week. Remember, prayer is the foundation, the backbone, and the mark of a spiritually healthy church and Christian.

Come with open hearts and a spirit of expectation—all are welcome.

On Tuesday, September 30, at 7:00 PM, we’ll gather in the sanctuary for a special time of prayer as we prepare our hearts for Mission 3G. This will be an opportunity to seek God’s direction, ask for His blessing on the upcoming ministry, and unite together as a church family in expectation of what He will do. Everyone is invited—come ready to pray, worship, and be encouraged as we lift up Mission 3G before the Lord.

MISSION 3G

DO YOU KNOW A FAMILY IN THE WASHINGTON AREA WHO IS IN NEED?
There are NO financial requirements. The main idea is to bless someone with several moments of relationship. That's not to say that giving of our talents and finances aren't also important; we are simply emphasizing this as an opportunity to serve others holistically--caring for the whole person/family, physical, emotional, and spiritual. This is about people of all shapes, colors and financial means who, most importantly, need to experience the hands and feet of Jesus--that's US!  We are Jesus' vessels of compassion and help.

If you know of such a family, Go to our website here: www.gbcwa.org/nominate-a-family and fill out the form. The MISSION 3G team will prayerfully consider each request and select the three family units to be served.

To read more about Mission 3G, why we are doing it, and what it's all about, CLICK HERE.

Kids Quest-Tell Your Friends

Part 2 of “What Happened in the Beginning?” is coming October 8 — we’ll dive even deeper into the incredible story of creation from Genesis 1. If you have (or know) children in Pre-K through 5th grade, we’d love for you to bring them or invite their parents to check out Kids Quest. They’ll hear the Good News and have an unforgettable, totally awesome time!

To RSVP for your children (and their friends), CLICK HERE.

Kids Quest is for kids from Pre-K to 5th Grade and meets once a month on the second Wednesday through April 2026. We’d love for you to be part of it! If you’d like to join the fun and help make a difference in kids’ lives, SIGN UP HERE or chat with Maureen Isenberg. A Ministry to Children class and a background check are required to work with children at GBC.

Through engaging Bible teaching, building strong friendships, and sharing the good news of Jesus, Kids Quest helps kids grow in faith and love for God. Let’s also be praying together—that each child who comes will see God’s goodness and experience His love in a personal way.

September Bible Drive

Don’t let your old Bibles and Christian materials go to waste. Let them be a blessing to others around the world!

This September, Grace Bible Church is collecting Christian materials to send to the WPEO Bible Drive. All you do is bring Christian materials to Grace Bible Church and drop them off in the blue tub inside the sanctuary closet. Below is a list of items needed:
  • Bibles
  • Tracts
  • Reference Books and Commentaries
  • Books and Paperbacks
  • Magazines
  • Sunday School Supplies
  • Daily Devotionals
  • CD's, DVD's, and bluerays
  • Children's Materials
DO NOT SEND THESE ITEMS: Church Hymnals, VHS Tapes/Cassette tapes/records/8-tracks, handiwork, crafts, or busywork projects.

If you have any questions, please see Marsha Markas, she and Dave Markas will collect our items and take them to the drop-off center.

Let's go! Mind, body, and spirit for the Lord!

 

Hey friends! Our trustees could use a few extra hands with some maintenance projects around the church. One upcoming job is swapping out 143 fluorescent bulbs for energy-efficient LEDs — and many hands make light work! 💡 If you’d like to pitch in, please SIGN UP HERE or stop by the sign-up sheet in the church foyer. We’d love your help!

Sunday, September 28, at 9:00 AM

Week 3: Justification by Faith

Romans 3:1-31

Key Doctrines: Imputed righteousness, faith and covenant

Christianity 102 takes us deeper into our faith and doctrine. Using the Apostle Paul and his Letter to the Romans, we are delving into topics that you might have always wondered about, but were timid to ask about. Don't miss this chance to hear from the Apostle Paul at his BEST!

There are Twelve Sessions and you can see a list of them HERE . All the sessions are highly regarded, but please feel free to pop in any time.

Hymn Sing

Join us for a special evening of worship and fellowship! On Sunday, October 19, from 7:00–8:30 PM, GBC will host a Hymn Sing in the sanctuary. Together we’ll lift our voices in timeless hymns of praise, enjoy the richness of our musical heritage, and encourage one another through song.

Whether you’re a long-time hymn lover or simply want to experience the joy of singing with the church family, this evening is for you. Bring your friends, neighbors, and family members—everyone is welcome.

Come ready to request your favorite hymns, celebrate God’s goodness, and be refreshed by the power of worship together!

There will be light refreshments.

Community CPR Class

GBC would love to see some of our church family trained in CPR. The Washington Fire Department is offering a hands-on, low-cost class on Saturday, October 25, from 8:00–11:00 AM, and GBC will cover the cost for anyone who wants to attend.

This is a wonderful opportunity to gain a valuable skill, serve our community, and be ready to help in an emergency. Sign up in the foyer to reserve your spot—we’d love to have you join us!

Sharing Jesus, Growing Together, & Impacting Our World

Our next GBC women's Bible study is "Heaven" by Jennifer Rothschild. In this 13-session video-based study, Jennifer Rothschild explores the subject of Heaven from a biblical perspective. She will separate what’s true about Heaven from what’s based on legend, media depictions, and hopeful guesses. Our next meeting will be at GBC on Wednesday, September 24. You are welcome to join at any time, but please let us know if you plan to attend so we can order books. Please click here if you are interested in or planning to attend. See Bev Webb with questions.
 
The Children's Ministry Leadership Team has been notified that our background checks should have included state-mandated training.  We kindly request that anyone who underwent a background check in 2024 or 2025 complete this training and provide the church with a completion certificate.  (If you completed this process in 2024 or 2025, you will be receiving an email in the next week.) We have included this link to the free 60-minute training, which includes videos and questions with short tests.  Please register, take the training at your leisure (PLEASE complete this by November 15, 2025), and print it out and give it, or email the certificate to Maureen Isenberg.  If you need any assistance with this process or have questions, feel free to contact Lynnette Goebel or Maureen Isenberg.  Thank you for being so cooperative with this training.

The Children's Ministry Leadership Team (Rebekah Clark, Lynnette Goebel & Maureen Isenberg)

https://mr.dcfstraining.org/Home.action

Surviving the Holidays

 

The holiday season can be one of the most difficult times of the year for those who are grieving the loss of a relationship or a loved one. On Wednesday, November 12, from 6:00–8:30 PM, Grace Bible Church will be hosting “Surviving the Holidays”—a special evening designed to encourage and equip individuals who are walking through the pain and challenges of divorce. Whether you’ve already completed our DivorceCare class or you’re currently experiencing separation or divorce, this session will offer practical tools, spiritual support, and a caring environment to help you navigate the holidays with hope and healing. A light meal will be served at 6:00 PM before this two-hour session begins.

In addition, we’re also planning a separate “Surviving the Holidays” event specifically for those who have lost a loved one. This will be held on Wednesday, December 17, from 6:00–8:30 PM. This evening will provide comfort, understanding, and guidance for coping with grief during the holiday season, as well as a safe place to connect with others who understand what you’re going through. A light meal will be served at 6:00 PM for this session as well.

Both evenings are open to anyone in our community who may benefit, and we warmly invite you to join us. Our heart is to come alongside you, offering encouragement and practical help so that you can experience peace, hope, and even moments of joy during the holiday season.

Please Take Note

 

The Instant Church Directory is a valuable tool for Grace Bible Church, and we would like to transition to using it exclusively instead of using a paper directory. This DOES NOT mean you can't get a printed directory if you like. Part of the reason for doing this is the amount of time it takes to publish the directory at the end of each year. The Instant Church Directory can be updated anytime, unlike the current twice-per-year schedule. It also contains more information, such as profile pictures, birthdays, and anniversaries. Additionally, it links to Google Maps so you can easily get directions when visiting someone or gathering with friends. In addition to this, we can search for names, and save on paper and ink! Regardless, we want to know if anyone would still like a paper directory. If so, please contact Lisa in the church office at lcollins@gbcwa.org by the beginning of September. If we don't hear from you by then, we will assume you've gone "techno" with us! :-)

Are You Photo Shy?

Sharing your image as a participant in one of GBCs services or events is a great way to share the love of Christ, and your commitment to his church. While we would love for everyone to share their image while being a part of a GBC event, we recognize that some may not wish for this to happen. In that case, we want to be sensitive to your wishes. Please let Lisa Collins know if that is the case.

Calling All Prayer Warriors

The GBC elders are asking you to join them in praying for our pastor. Pastor Jeff sends out a brief summary of his day's prayer needs throughout the week. If you are willing to commit to praying for him, email Lisa at gbc@wordsofgrace.org and let her know to put you on the email list. Thank you in advance for your sacrifice.

An Offering of Worship

How would you like to read scripture for the congregation on Sunday morning? It is a small service with great empowerment by the Holy Spirit. Hebrews 4:12 says," For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword."
The reader is supplied with the scripture in ESV. Please let Pastor Jeff or Lisa Collins know if you are interested, or CLICK HERE to sign your name and suggest a few dates you are currently available.

One of the great joys, being a child of God, is we get to manage his money. Whether you are tithing or offering, Grace Bible Church online giving is now available multiple ways.

  1. Through the Church website under the "GIVE" TAB (drop down menu) on the HOME page.
  2. By simply CLICKING HERE and then choosing the fund you would l like to give to.
  3. By activating the GBC QR code (below) by using your camera.
As always, you can give cash or check by placing it into the offering plates in the back of the sanctuary; or, by mailing it to: Grace Bible Church Attn: Treasurer, 1109 S. Main Street, Washington, IL. 61571.

Author's Contributions Welcome

Everyone is welcome to contribute church sanctioned announcements in the bulletin and the GBC Connected. If you would like to contribute, please take note that the deadline for submissions is at 4:30 pm, Tuesday evening before it is to appear publicly.
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