Dan Gould

Tag: Grace Community Church Plano

  • Facebook Challenge

    Last week one of our 8th graders posted a note on Facebook sharing his journey and how he came to know Christ.  Since he posted his story (testimony) others have done the same thing including myself.   It’s also posted on my blog if you want to read it just click the about tab at the top.

    So here is my challenge.  If you have Facebook, will you allow yourself to be vulnerable and transparent enough to write your story and post it on Facebook as a note so others can read?  The fact is, everyone has a story, and each story, no matter how similar, is different.  We never know how our story could impact someone else.  Will you take the challenge and allow God to use you in this way?

  • Survivor 610 – starts this weekend in Fusion

    survivor1

    New Series starting Sunday, April 19th & ending Saturday, May 30th with CRUD WAR!

    Let’s face it, being a Christian isn’t always easy. In fact, sometimes it’s very difficult.  In this series, we are going to talk about how we can be Survivors in this thing called “The Christian Life”. Here is what we will talk about each week:

    Week 1 – The Battle                          Week 4 – Hanging on to your Head
    Week 2 – Staying on Your Feet         Week 5 – Battling with your Sword
    Week 3 – Fireproof Faith                   Week 6 – Battling with your Mouth

    Here are the details:

    • This is a battle of the Grades in which each of the students in small group lead the charge for their Grade.
    • Each Grade will compete for points that are awarded at the Weekend Worship Service. Points are awarded through attendance, bringing visitors, and donating canned goods.  The final challenge consists of each team competing in CRUD WAR.

    POINT SYSTEM

    • Personal Attendance Points – 100 points each time you are at the Service.
    • Visitor Attendance Points – 200 points for each visitor you bring every time they attend the Service! (yes, if they come more than once, that’s 200 points each time the attend for your team)
    • Canned Good – 50 points awarded for each canned good you bring to Service.
    • Game Points – 500 points will be awarded to the representative from your team that wins the game each week.
    • CRUD WAR – all of the points above apply to CRUD WAR with these two additional point values added.
      • Participation Points – 100 points given to each student participant in each game.
      • Leader Participation Points – 200 points given to each adult participant in the game.
        • Each team needs to wear their team color for CRUD WAR.

    We will keep track of points and update the Survivor Wall each week with the new scores.  We will announce the Survivor Winners at the Weekend Worship Service on May 31st.  Make sure you plan to attend and invite others to participate . . . It’s going to be dirty, but life changing!

    Team Colors for CRUD WAR
    6th grade team – Orange             9th grade team – Red
    7th grade team – Blue                 10th grade team – Pink
    8th grade team – Green              11th & 12th grade team – Purple

  • Easter at Grace Community Church

    What a weekend!  It actually all started on Thursday with our Holy Thursday Service.  It was so fresh seeing the history played out with live Disciples and Jesus sharing the Last Supper, as Steve shared the connection and significance of this Last Supper during Passover.  It was an awesome way to kick off Easter weekend.

    On Saturday was the Family pic-nic.  So good to see families having fun together as the church.  We had a great turnout and gave away 3 family trips to Disney World.  So awesome!!!

    We held three Easter services this weekend.  The worship team consisted of two people involved in our Students Band.  They did awesome.  It was great connecting with families this weekend and being in the services with the adults.  I missed teaching in Fusion today, but I value families being able to be together on Easter Sunday.  Here is the outline from the Easter Message:

    What it means to follow Jesus?

    Follow His Example!
    -who are you following?
    -if you don’t decide someone will decide for you.
    — James 13:17
    — John 8:12
    — Matt 7:24

    -Two benefits of following Jesus:
    — clarity
    — stability

    Accept His Grace!
    – grace = god giving me what I need, instead of what I deserve
    — Romans 5:17
    — Romans 3:22
    — Mark 10:15

    Invest My Life in Him!
    — Romans 6:13
    — Matt 25:14-29

    Trust His Wisdom and Strength
    — Colossians 2:6
    — Romans 8:28
    — Philippians 4:13
    – when you start worrying you stop trusting.

    Hold on to His Promise!
    — Hebrews 6:18
    — Romans 8:38-39
    — John 11:25-26
    — 1 Peter 1:3-4
    — Psalm 90:12

    Hope you had a great Easter!  My family sure did.  We spent the day at friends house eating, laughing, playing guitar hero, jumping on the trampoline, and watching a little golf.  Fun weekend for sure and great way to remember and celebrate all that Jesus has dome for us.

  • The Pulse – wk 1 April 09

    This Weekend Announcements

    THE LORD’S SUPPER HAPPENS THIS WEEKEND

    We will explain and participate in the Lord’s Supper this weekend.  Should be an awesome time together! We hope to see you this Sunday!!
    MS – 9:15-10:30
    HS – 11:00012:15

    PAINTBALL
    On Saturday, April 4th from 1:00pm – 4:00pm at Fort Paintball     its on like Donkey Kong.  Make sure you’re there at 12:45pm to get your gear and turn in your forms (we will have them there and a parent must sign)!  Questions about directions visit – http://www.fortpaintball.com
    Cost – $30 per person and includes 500 paintball’s and gear
    Cost – $15 per person if you have your own gear

    BAPTISM
    On April 5th, Palm Sunday,     we will have a Baptism Service at 1:00.  If you want to be baptized sign up on our webpage gracefusion.com
    http://www.gracefusion.com/index.cfm/pageid/596/index.html
    Or you can check “I want to be Baptized” on the tear off and we will get you more info!

    HOLY THURSDAY SERVICE
    April 9th, in the Big House at 7pm.     We will sit as a group in the front center left section.  Hope you will join us!

    EASTER
    Easter weekend all Fusion Students will meet in the big house with the adults.  We encourage you to sit with your family or with the group in the front left side of the Worship Center.
    EACH ONE, BRING ONE – Invite someone to Easter Services
    Saturday, April 11th – Family Picnic, Service 6pm
    Sunday, April 12th  – Services at 9:15 and 11:00

    EASTER DONATIONS NEEDED
    We are in need of empty, plastic eggs, Wrapped candy, AND Hula hoops!
    Please drop off all donations at the labeled bins around campus

    WILD WEEK MANDATORY MEETING
    Everyone participating in Wild Week must attend the Mandatory Meeting on Sunday April 19th from 12:30-1:30 in the Student Center.     We will have important info and forms that have to be turned in at this meeting.  You can still register for camp online or at Seeds Book Store.
    Pre – $315 before March 15th with completed registration and $100 deposit.
    Reg – $335 after March 15th with completed registration and $100 deposit.
    Late – $365 after April 19th can only happen if space is available.

    MEXICO MISSION TRIP (Tentative)
    Happens June 13th – 20th register online or at Seeds Book Store
    Pre – $400 before April 5th with completed registration and $100 deposit.
    Reg – $415 after April 5th with completed registration and $100 deposit.
    Late – $425 after May 10th can only happen if space is available.

    SMALL GROUPS
    Wednesdays 7-8:30pm for 6th- 10th grades
    Sundays 7-8:30 for 11th – 12th grades

  • The Pulse – version 3.3

    This Weekend Announcements

    TEMPTATION CONTINUES THIS WEEKEND

    This is the new series starting this weekend.  Should be a good one and we hope to see you this Sunday!!
    MS – 9:15-10:30
    HS – 11:00012:15

    ESL @ MEADOWS ELEMENTARY
    This Tuesday from 5-7 and Thursday from 5-8 is our last chance to hang out and impact the kids at Meadows while their parents learn English.  Let’s make a lasting impact on these kids.  Show up at Meadows Elementary at 4:45 and be prepared to have a blast! PAINTBALL
    On Saturday, April 4th from 1:00pm – 4:00pm at Fort Paintball     its on like Donkey Kong.  Make sure you’re there at 12:45pm to get your gear and turn in your forms (we will have them there and a parent must sign)!  Questions about directions visit – http://www.fortpaintball.com
    Cost – $30 per person and includes 500 paintball’s and gear
    Cost – $15 per person if you have your own gear

    BAPTISM
    On April 5th, Palm Sunday,     we will have a Baptism Service at 1:00.  If you want to be baptized sign up on our webpage gracefusion.com
    http://www.gracefusion.com/index.cfm/pageid/596/index.html
    Or you can check “I want to be Baptized” on the tear off and we will get you more info!

    WILD WEEK MANDATORY MEETING
    Everyone participating in Wild Week must attend the Mandatory Meeting on Sunday April 19th from 12:30-1:30 in the Student Center.     We will have important info and forms that have to be turned in at this meeting.  You can still register for camp online or at Seeds Book Store.
    Pre – $315 before March 15th with completed registration and $100 deposit.
    Reg – $335 after March 15th with completed registration and $100 deposit.
    Late – $365 after April 19th can only happen if space is available.

    MEXICO MISSION TRIP
    Happens June 13th – 20th register online or at Seeds Book Store
    Pre – $400 before April 5th with completed registration and $100 deposit.
    Reg – $415 after April 5th with completed registration and $100 deposit.
    Late – $425 after May 10th can only happen if space is available.

    SMALL GROUPS
    Wednesdays 7-8:30pm for 6th- 10th grades
    Sundays 7-8:30 for 11th – 12th grades

  • The Pulse – March wk 1 – 2009

    March wk- 1 – 2009

    Important Information

    • ONE Night happens this Wednesday at the Church.  Small groups will meet at the church also.  ONE Night’s goal is to connect students with God in a way that is understandable and experiential. It will include high energy worship, a crowd game, videos, a short talk centered around ONE topic, and Brittany Stene will share her story. This is definitely ONE Night you won’t want to miss, and ONE Night you’ll want to bring your friends!
    • Wild Week registration is open but the price goes up after this weekend.  Make sure you register early to get the best price.  We will have a Mandatory Wild Week meeting on Sunday April 19th @ 12:30 in the Student Center.
    • Mexico Mission Trip registration is open and the price of that goes up April 5th, so make sure you register for that also.  There will be a very important Mission Trip Meeting on MAY 17TH @ 12:30 in the Student Center.
    • Make sure you see the Baptism info below.

    This Weekend Announcements
    ONE NIGHT
    Wednesday March 11th from 7:00 – 8:30 in the Student Center
    All Small Groups will come together for One Service, Honoring One God, Becoming One Voice, with One Challenge . . . To Bring One Friend that doesn’t know Christ!  Don’t Miss it . . . it’s going to be RAD! CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO!

    BAPTISM
    Several of you have shown interest in being baptized.  We are encouraging anyone who hasn’t and wants to get baptized on April 5th Palm Sunday, following the church service.  It will be a great time to celebrate and an opportunity for you to show others what God is doing in your life!  Just check I want to be Baptized on the tear off and we will get you more info!

    PAINTBALL
    Mark your calendar for Saturday April 4th.  More info will be coming soon!

    MEXICO MISSION TRIP
    Happens June 13th – 20th register on-line or at Seeds Book Store
    Pre – $400 before April 5th with completed registration and $100 deposit.
    Reg – $415 after April 5th with completed registration and $100 deposit.
    Late – $425 after May 10th can only happen if space is available.

    WILD WEEK
    Happens July 7th – 11th register on-line or at Seeds Book Store
    Pre – $315 before March 15th with completed registration and $100 deposit.
    Reg – $335 after March 15th with completed registration and $100 deposit.
    Late – $365 after April 19th can only happen if space is available.

    Mandatory Wild Week Meeting

    This is a very important meeting where we will fill out all paperwork and registration forms for Wild Week 2009 at Camp WOW in Oklahoma.   Here are the details:

    Mandatory Wild Week Meeting

    • Sunday, April 19th at 12:30 in the Student Center (for anyone going to Wild Week or interested in going)

    Who Should Attend?

    • Students planning to attend or wanting to go
    • Parents of students planning to attend or wanting to go
    • Volunteers planning to attend

    At the meeting we will give details about the camp, pass out time sensitive paperwork, and answer questions that you may have!

    This was an awesome camp last year and God did an amazing things in our group!  We are so excited to go back this year and hope that you will join us!

    Mexico Mission Trip Update

    The Mexico Mission Trip is right around the corner.  We are expecting a lot of students participating and want to make sure everyone has all the info they need.  Therefore we will hold an important Mexico Mission Trip meeting on May 17th. Here are the details:

    Mexico Mission Trip Meeting (Please Note the Change)

    • Sunday, May 17th at 12:30 in the Student Center (for anyone interested in going)

    Who Should Attend?

    • Students wanting to go
    • Parents wanting to go
    • Volunteers wanting to go
    • Parents of teenagers that want to go

    At the meeting we will give info on what we will be doing the week we are there and answer questions that you may have!

    This was an awesome trip last year and God did an amazing work in us and through us.  We are so excited to go back this year and hope that you will join us!

  • Planet Wisdom – Awesome!!!

    We had a great time at Planet Wisdom this last weekend.  Grace has used Planet Wisdom for our MS Retreat for several years now.  This year was my second one and probably my favorite of the two.  The whole weekend centered around this journey of Gods Story and Our Story.  I know our students really engaged.  They laughed, worshiped, and learned a lot from the weekend. I am excited to see how God uses this weekend to impact our ministry.

    Here are some pics that were captured from the weekend,

  • 4 Marks of a Fool – 7 Marks of a Wise Person

    Just finished our morning session at Planet Wisdom DFW. Here is what Mark just challenged us with

    4 Marks of a Fool
    1. Center of the World-itis!
    2. Know-it-all-ism!
    3. False sense of Independence!
    4. A belief that they are Invulnerable!

    7 Marks of a Wise Person
    1. Trust God!
    2. Walks in Healthy Relatioships!
    3. Seeks Good Counsel!
    4. Speaks Carefully!
    5. Exercises Self Control!
    6. Manages Resources!
    7. Keeps Balanced!

    If you were to rate yourself on these things, 1 being bad and 10 being good, how would you do?

  • The Pulse – February wk- 4 – 2009

    February wk- 4 – 2009

    THIS WEEKEND ANNOUNCEMENTS

    ONE NIGHT

    Wednesday, March 11th from 7:00 – 8:30pm in the Student Center

    All Small Groups will come together for One Service, Honoring One God, Becoming One Voice, with One Challenge . . . To Bring One Friend that doesn’t know Christ!  Don’t Miss it . . . it’s going to be RAD! Our goal is to see 250 teenagers here for this service, you play a part in that!!!!

    MAKING THE BAND

    If you play an instrument or sing and want to get involved in playing in one of our worship bands now is the time… We are having a meeting Sunday @ 12:30 in the student center to see who wants to be involved.  This is not an audition just a meeting of interest. Hope to see you there. If you have any question feel free to contact: Tyler Ellison or Josh Tollison

    BAPTISM

    Several of you have shown interest in being baptized.  We are encouraging anyone who hasn’t and wants to, to get baptized on April 5th Palm Sunday, following the church service.  It will be a great time to celebrate and an opportunity for you to show others what God is doing in your life!  Just check I want to be Baptized on the tear off and we will get you more info!

    MEXICO MISSION TRIP

    Happens June 13th – 20th register on-line or at Seeds Book Store

    Pre – $400 before April 5th with completed registration and $100 deposit.

    Reg – $415 after April 5th with completed registration and $100 deposit.

    Late – $425 after May 10th can only happen if space is available.

    WILD WEEK

    Happens July 7th – 11th register on-line or at Seeds Book Store

    Pre – $315 before March 15th with completed registration and $100 deposit.

    Reg – $335 after March 15th with completed registration and $100 deposit.

    Late – $365 after April 19th can only happen if space is available.

    SMALL GROUPS

    Wednesdays 7-8:30pm for 6th- 10th grades

    Sundays 7-8:30 for 11th – 12th grades

  • 8th Grade Small Group

    Last Night I crashed our 8th Grade Small Group!  The team and students are kill’n small groups.  If your in 8th grade it truly is the place to be on Wednesday Night.  Last Night the topic was on Purity!  Anytime with teenagers when you talk about purity it leads to talking about sex and how far is too far.  Even though the students were a little out of control, once we addressed it and started the lesson there was a great discussion and Michael the 8th grade coach did a great job of getting them to talk and keeping us on track so they had time to talk in smaller groups also.

    God is moving in the hearts of our teenagers.  It’s exciting to see and hear from them how God is teaching them new things all the time.  Here are two pics from last nights large group time