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changes after meeting Jesus. What a privilege you are leaving empty lives that do not include
for Simon to be able to carry Jesus’ cross for Jesus as your Lord. Jesus being risen is only
him. It may have been that in that moment, good news to those who have believed and now
Simon realized that Jesus was dying for him. you in turn, must share the good news that Jesus
Mark simply put, “And they crucified him”. If you has risen in you hearts and in you lives and you
truly understand the crucifixion then you realize it should preach that in words and in actions.
should be you up on the cross, not Jesus. Even For full recaps go to: www.gracecovchurch.net
Christians continue to sin, to have good inten-
April Sermon Recaps tions but do wrong, who want to have a relation-
By: Nicole Stroud ship with God but don’t want to pay the price.
At the end of March the church was enter- Simon realized that it should have been him up
ing Passion week in the book of Mark. The sermons on the cross. You don’t love God because you
in April surrounded Jesus’ final days on earth. It was are a good person; you should love him because
a difficult time to walk through the passages and to he paid the price for your sins. How do you react
realized the pain and suffering Jesus went through. to Jesus being crucified? Does it change your
April started with the soldiers mocking Je- life or the way you live? Don’t let it be just an-
sus. Pilate handed Jesus over to the soldiers to be other story.
crucified. They mocked him, spit on him, and bowed From the beginning Mark has not given
in mock homage. Jesus took the abuse and did noth- as many details as the other Gospels. It is im-
ing; a lesson for Mark’s readers as they would face portant to remember that Mark is pointing the Marvin & Nicole would like
the same persecution for following Jesus. They then way to the kingdom by showing that Jesus is
to celebrate this special
dressed him in a purple robe and put a crown of God. “His miracles; his interactions with people,
thorns on his head. One thorn is ok, but a crown of nature and Satan; all of this has been told to time in their life with the
thorns is unthinkable. This passage in Mark is about establish that he is not just another teacher”- church. Because they are
true power. The soldiers had false power, but Jesus Pastor Danny Martinez. Jesus hung on the cross
continued to be submissive through pain and suffer- for three hours in the daylight. At the sixth hour, unable to invite everyone
ing. Mark was also showing the cost of being a Chris- God brought darkness until the ninth hour. Jesus to the Wedding Reception
tian. There will be suffering and pain and Christians cried out in a loud voice, “My God, my God, why
following the service they
will have to submit to this willingly, knowing the cost if have you forsaken me?” Jesus had taken the sin
they want to be a follower of Christ. Christians live in of the world on his shoulders and because God would like for the church
a world where they constantly have to remind them- hates sin he had to turn away from his son. God
is holy, there is no sin in him. In order for you to to join them on:
selves that they are Christians. If they crucified the
Master, don’t expect anything less for yourself. have a relationship with him someone had to pay
Jesus continues to show complete submis- the price for it. But what can you offer God? May 14, 2011 @ 1p
sion, no matter what he endures. Submission really Jesus offers himself, knowing he didn’t have to
means giving up control, your rights, what you think die, but was willing to sacrifice himself for all the For a lunch reception
you are entitled to. Jesus’ complete submission was sins of the world. The price is so big that no one
his way of saying he would suffer for you. Pastor could ever repay it. That’s how much God loves
you. This is the couples way of
Danny’s second sermon was on the crucifixion of
Jesus. . It was customary for a condemned man to April ended on a positive note with the thanking everyone
carry the patibulum of his own cross, that is, the resurrection of Jesus. The church had to partici-
pate in his pain before they could celebrate his
who has and continues to
crossbeam weighing about 100 pounds, through the
city streets out to the place of crucifixion. This is to resurrection. Pastor Danny says, “People come invest into their lives.
make a show. The people needed to know that who- to Easter to celebrate Jesus, but I believe that
ever went against them, would have the same fate. the true celebration is not just here in church, but
Don't mess around with Caesar. He doesn’t like com- rather is the celebration that we take home and
petition”-Pastor Danny Martinez. Jesus couldn’t carry we take to work and implement to our everyday
his cross because he was too weak from all the beat- lives. Jesus has risen!” Just as John the Baptist
ing and flogging that had been done to him. The prepared the way, the church or “the Way”
soldiers randomly picked someone passing by named should be the place where people gather and
Simon. Mark says he was the father of Rufus and love each other, and learn the word, but also it
Alexander; a detail that suggests that they were disci- should be the place that challenges you to con-
ples known to his readers in Rome. Simon was so tinue to be the Way for other people. Jesus has
affected by this incident that his life was never the risen means nothing if people do not hear it. The
same. Meeting Jesus changed him. Your life fact that Jesus is alive, does not mean anything if
 P A G E 2

WE ARE LOOKING FOR

VOLUNTEERS TO HELP WITH
OUR WED. NIGHT
ACTIVITIES!
to those celebrating their
Come be a part of this
Birthdays in MAY.... great program at GCC by
being a teacher helper in
5/6-Jessica Rodriguez the classroom, teaching a
5/9– Mayra Alarcon class of your own or help-
ing prepare snacks.
5/17– Sharnice Jones
**Contact the office for
5/20– Deanna Alarcon
more info**
5/24– Susana Tingle
5/29– Russ Camp
5/30– Tom Palmer

Check out the concert table in the back
of the church! Tickets are only $10!!
For many years Wed. Night activities have taken a break during
the summer. This summer the Wed. Night leaders have decided
to continue Wed. Nights with no break. Giant Days of Summer
will be kicking off May 11 @ 5p. It is designed with the entire
family in mind. At 5p everyone joins together in the Sanctuary
for Chapel. There will be singing and dancing, prayer and a
short intro of the topic for the day. Those from the Village are
encouraged to come to be “Grandparents” to the children and
youth who attend. Then at 5:30 a small snack will be provided
for everyone in the fellowship hall. The idea is that the kids will
pick up their snack and head to their classroom to eat it there.
From 5:30-6:30 everyone will be in their classrooms. We have
classes for all ages. The team is excited to announce that there
is a new class that has been added, 2yrs– 1st grade, headed by
Susana Tingle. The hope is that this class will draw in some par-
ents from the preschool. Vicki Parker & Pam Morris will be
teaching 2nd grade—5th Grade, Adam Moore will have 6th-12th
grade, Deanna Alarcon will teach the Spanish Bible Study and
Pastor Danny will teach the adults. Different ministries from the
church will be in charge of providing the snacks, which will be
simple and easy. Make sure to get a schedule in the back of the
church! Please be in prayer with the team for Giant Days of
Summer.
 V O L U M E 5 , I S S U E 5 P A G E 3

Another month has flown by and it has been filled with excit-
ing events! The kids had several opportunities to celebrate
Easter with fun filled activities. They got to go to an Easter egg
hunt at the Village, have an egg-stravaganza at school
(including crafts, special snacks, Easter games, an egg hunt, a
special lunch, egg dying, and more!). It was a very eventful
Sermon List for the month of week! We would like to say “thank you” to all of the parents
April: who volunteered to help and brought in goodies. Also we
would like to thank Mr. Larry from True Value Hardware in
5/8- Acts 1:1-8 –Jesus descends into heaven/ San Carlos who generously donated all of the plants to put in
Intro to Acts our gardens. Last but certainly not least we need to thank Mr.
Jack and Mr. Ray for helping us get the gardens ready and
5/15– Acts 1:12-26– Matthias Chosen to help plant all of our veggies. They are looking fabulous and we
replace Jesus are anticipating our harvest!
May will be yet another busy month, we will have the
Tooth Fairy visit to talk about hygiene and tooth care and also
5/22– Acts 2:1-13– The Holy Spirit comes at we will offer vision screening for our three to five year old
Pentecost (Jesus’ Promise) students. We will have a pizza lunch fundraiser which is al-
ways fun and successful and we will celebrate Mothers Day
5/29– Acts 2:1-13– The Holy Spirit Comes at with gifts and goodies. We have started visiting the Village to
Pentecost (Empowering sing twice a month again so that also helps to keep us busy.
On the 28th we plan on having a table set up at the Guate-
the believers) mala Benefit Concert to promote our preschool and also
there will be something permanent set up in the back of the
church with preschool information. Please take a flier and
pass it on to someone that you may know with children, as we
still have room for 20 more students.
This We have a very exciting announcement! Starting in
May we will offer all church members a 10% discount on pre-
picture was school tuition. If you have considered preschool for your child
drawn by now is your chance to enroll. We will fill up over the summer
so the sooner you can reserve a spot the
Ignite
better. Please come by the school, call at
Student (619) 267-0885, or visit our web-site at
Ministries gracecovchurch.net and click on the pre-
school tab for more information. We look
Youth: forward to hearing from you!
KC
Have a Blessed Mothers Day!
Berumen Jackie Biggs
Director

9140 Akard St. Spring Valley, Ca 91977 (619)-267-7090

gracecovchurch@hotmail.com www.gracecovchurch.net
 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
1 COMMUNION 2 3 4 LEAP 3:30p-5p 5 6 7 Sunday School
4 Women’s Bible Study Teachers Mtg-9A
SUNDAY SCHOOL--9A Community Group 2 Wed. Night Concert Mtg
6 pm @ MMCV 9AM Activities-5p-6:30p Prayer @ 10a Ruth Fullers
Worship Celebration 10AM
6p MMCV #1110
Prayer Mtg-5pm Yearly Planning Mtg
LJC Mercy Ministries
#2– 6p Fellowship 11a-1p
Young Adults-6p-Adam
Moores
8 Mother’s Day 9Community Group 1 10 11 LEAP 3:30p-5p 12 13 14Prayer @ 10a Ruth Fullers
5pm @ Applebee’s MMCV #1110
SUNDAY SCHOOL-9AM Women’s Bible Study
(Rancho, SD) LJC Mercy Ministries
9AM
Worship Celebration 10AM Wed. Night Fellowship 11a-1p
Guatemala
Leadership Meeting Activities-5p-6:30p Marvin & Nicoles Wedding
Fundraiser:Dine to
Donate @ Applebee’s in Ran-
6p Celebration w/ Church-1p
cho, SD (All Day)
15 SUNDAY SCHOOL- 16 17 18 LEAP 3:30p-5p 19 20 21
9AM
Community Group 2 18 Women’s Bible Study Wed. Night Prayer @ 10a Ruth Fullers
Worship Celebration 10AM MMCV #1110
6 pm @ MMCV 9AM Activities-5p-6:30p
Prayer Mtg-5pm
Operation:Outreach LJC Mercy Ministries
8:30-10A Fellowship 11a-1p
3RD Sunday Youth Service
5P
22 SUNDAY SCHOOL 23 24 Women’s Bible 25 LEAP 3:30-5p 26 27 28
9AM Study-9AM
Community Group 1 Prayer @ 10a Ruth Fullers
Worship Celebration NA Meets-6p MMCV #1110
5 pm @ Kim
Shell’s
Wed. Night
10A LJC Mercy Ministries
Activities-5p-6:30p Fellowship 11a-1p
SUNDAY
SCHOOL-9A Guatemala Benefit
Worship
Concert- 6p
Celebration
(Clairemont Cov)
10AM 31
29 30 Memorial Day