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Current update on FGBC and Haiti relief, sent by Dan O’Deens, as of Sunday afternoon, January 17:

A new Haiti earthquake response video is now online and is viewable and downloadable at http://www.convoyofhope.org/go/videos.

Current facts and statistics:  Some power, communication, and water systems are still down, but open lines remain unreliable. According to the Haitian Prime Minister, 100,000 casualties of the earthquake are expected. The Haitian President is projecting a more conservative number of 30,000 to 50,000.  Three million people have been left homeless. Eighty percent of structures have collapsed. As of 7 a.m. Friday, the Port-au-Prince airport is fully operational. The ports remain closed due to collapsed cranes and debris. Armed looters are scavenging the city.

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Watch Grace’s Student Ministries Intern, Andrew Wood, take a New Year’s Day Polar Bear dip in support of World Vision:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-AGXk4QTR0

Don’t forget to bring sock, gloves and mittens on Sunday for our contribution to the Salvation Army. We are collecting these items in support of the Gateway Shelter in Toronto.

Each year, in the weeks leading to Thanksgiving, Grace Community Church has held a canned food drive in support of Mississauga’s Eden Community Food Bank.

The Eden Food Bank is the primary source of food assistance in west Mississauga.  What began as a ministry of the Eden United Church in 1989 is now a significant, self-sustaining charitable organization serving literally hundreds of families each month.  In fact, in 2009, the average number of families being assisted each month is approximately 350, representing over 1000 individuals.  These numbers are up quite significantly from 2008.

On Friday, October 2, the Jr. and Sr. High students at Grace walked door-to-door through the community collecting canned and dry goods.  Additionally, regular attendees of Grace’s weekend services have also been dropping off canned goods at the Grace Centre.

On Sunday, October 4, Grace welcomed Ron Saito, Eden Food Bank’s president to its services.  Mr. Saito was interviewed by Grace’s Missions Director, Shannon Sawatsky.

Grace’s English Cafe from Grace Church on Vimeo.

Auditions for the Grace Music team will be held on Saturday, September 12.  Anyone interested in auditioning should pick up an audition packet at the Uplink table (in the Grace Centre lobby) and complete the audition application no later than Sunday, September 6.

Several vocal and instrumental roles are currently available.  Additionally, the band leaders and I would like to meet with anyone who plays instruments not currently used in the band; strings, horns, woodwinds, accordian, banjo…..you name it, we are interested in hearing you play!

The application is also available online at www.grace-church.ca/music.pdf

We are headed into a three-week stretch of teaching at Grace in which we will observe the lives of Noah and Abraham.  As I have prepared the worship time for these upcoming weeks, the recurring theme that has inspired me is the significant calling that each of these men had.  God challenged them to accomplish tasks that were HUGE!

I asked myself the question: Does God call us (people today) to such great assignments?

Here’s a short video from a pastor/author named Erwin McManus that I believe sheds a little light on this issue.  Enjoy!

Our work day this weekend will be from 9:30am until 4:00pm.  Some of the tasks on hand are:

- Painting….lots of painting! (We can use no fewer than 5 painters.  Bring a roller extension if you have one)
- Some general clean-up and furniture moving

Please join us for the day or an hour or two as you are available.

Here’s the schedule and a list of work items for tomorrow:

Start: 9:30am
End: 4:30pm

• Hang new dry erase boards (Rob Wood & team)
• Patch walls where old dry erase boards hung
• Fill the dumpster (empty the building of all garbage and furniture cartons
• Painting high walls (use of lift required)
• Finish carpet base trim
• Office painting touch-ups (Nathan’s office, MJ’s work area)
• Move Nathan’s & MJ’s office furniture into their areas
• Replace dead light bulbs
• Replace damaged or painted ceiling tiles
• Prepare food for the workers (contact Irene Brasil for details)