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Progress on Sanctuary Makeover

February 16, 2011 in Thoughts with 0 Comments

Dear E-New Friends,

Week #1 of our sanctuary makeover is well under way. Please be in prayer for this endeavor. Here is an update:

  • Old stage is completely gone
  • Half of the carpet on the floor has been removed. The process for removing the carpet is very tedious and is taking much longer then expected.
  • Our goal is to have the carpet on the floor removed by lunch today. We will have to wait and see.
  • The removal of the carpet glue has already started. Once all the carpet glue is up and removed then some grinding on the concrete will take place then it will be cleaned and ready for the acid to be placed down.

A lot is going. We will have regular activities at Eastside tonight. We are asking everyone to stay out of the sanctuary due to liability issues, we would not want anyone to get hurt.

Also please don’t forget that this coming Sunday, February 20th and February 27th, we will be worshiping at Madison Central High School Auditorium. If you need direction or have any questions please let feel free to contact me at vgrant@eastside-cc.com or at 624-9646.

I have heard from many of you that Greg Gillum did an AWESOME job on Sunday. I am glad to hear all the positive feedback.

I look forward to seeing you Sunday at Madison Central.

Love and Prayers,

Pastor VG

CAN WE DO IT?

February 8, 2011 in Thoughts with 0 Comments

Dear Friends,

Sunday was another AWESOME day! We baptized Rylee Clark plus we had Alvin and Leslie Pasley to join Eastside as well. We had 380 in attendance. We have been hovering around 370-390 for the last several weeks. Here is my question, “Can we break 400 in attendance? Can we do it?” I think we can do it if everyone will invite someone to attend church with them this Sunday.

We have a blockbuster day planned for Sunday. We are going to be baptizing at least 3 people Sunday if not more. If you are interested in being baptized on Sunday then email Greg Gillum at ggillum@eastside-cc.com. We will continue with our new sermon series, Intimacy with God. Wow! What a great start we had last week with this new sermon series.

Don’t forget that immediately following Sunday’s worship gathering we will start our sanctuary makeover. We are needing some help in the weeks to come especially the week of February 27 thru March 5th. If you can volunteer at night from 6-10pm or any time during the day then contact Greg at ggillum@eastside-cc.com.

February 20th and 27th we will be worshiping at Madison Central High School while the “makeover” is taking place. We will be worshiping in the auditorium which is located right next to the boy’s basketball gym.

Have a great week,

Pastor VG

DiD yOU KnOW

January 28, 2011 in Thoughts with 0 Comments

Dear E-NeWS FrIENds:

Did you know that the Sanctuary Makeover is quickly approaching? Here are some cool stuff…

1. Eastside has received the plans to begin construction.

2. Next week Eastside will be meeting with the Project Manager for the makeover.

3. Sanctuary Makeover will begin on Sunday, February 13th and be completed by March 5th.

4. On February 20th and 27th we will be worshipping at Madison Central High School Auditorium.

5. All other activities will take place at Eastside at there regular times (i.e. Wednesday night activities)

6. The Worship Prop Team is busy working on the new stage design. If you would like to serve then contact Kim Proffitt.

7. The week of February 28 thru March 5th we will need at 5 volunteers from 6:00pm to 10:00pm to help with pulling wire, clean up, etc. If you are available an evening then please contact Greg Gillum at ggillum@eastside-cc.com to serve.

What can you do? Three specific ways which you can help:

  • Pray, pray, and pray some more. Pray for everything to go smoothly and as plan.
  • Give a little extra for this project. We are just a few thousand dollars shy of completely having the project paid in full.
  • Be flexible during this time and help to spread the word about change of worship locations for the 20th and 27th of February.

Also, remember that I love you and I love serving as your pastor.

Have a Fabulous Weekend,

Pastor VG

Go Ahead…I Double Dare You

January 27, 2011 in Thoughts with 0 Comments

Dear E-News Friends,

I double dare you to invite someone to attend church with you this Sunday. Don’t be afraid of rejection or being turned down by your friend, neighbor, co-worker, or family member. In a recent survey by George Barna, 85% of unchurched people said they would love to attend church if someone invited them to attend.

What are you waiting for? Go ahead and ask someone right now. Go ahead and send that text message, that e-mail, that Facebook message. What are you waiting on? God is at work not only in your life but He is preparing the heart of the person you are going to ask. Take a risk! Just Do It! You will be glad that you did.

After you make the ask then do me a favor. Contact me and let me know how it went. Send me an email at vgrant@eastside-cc.com and fill me in on the details.

BTW, if you have a family member, friend, co-worker, neighbor, or whomever that needs Jesus…send me their name and your relationship with them. I would love to add them to my prayer list. Send me an email at vgrant@eastside-cc.com

Asking, Expecting, and Trusting God for a Miracle,

Pastor VG

“Be in the Know” Read This Blog Entry

January 25, 2011 in Thoughts with 0 Comments

Dear E-News Friends,

There are several important items that I need to share with you:

1. Sherrie Green should have Tithing Statements available for pick up this Sunday morning at Eastside. Stop by the Volunteer Central Kiosk to pick up your statement.

2. This Sunday, January 30th immediately following our morning worship gathering there will be an informational meeting for our upcoming trips to Guatemala/Prince of Peace (April 2-9th or July 16th-23rd). Our meeting will take place in Room #119.

3. Please mark on your calendar that Eastside will have two upcoming worship gatherings (February 20th and 27th) at Madison Central High School Auditorium. The reason we are going to be meeting at Madison Central is due to our Sanctuary Makeover. Click here for more information on the Makeover. We will have children activities from birth thru 5th grade available each Sunday at Madison Central. The youth will join us for worship on these 2 days.

4. 85% of all unchurched people has said in recent surveys that they would attend church if a “friend” would invite them to go with them. Who can you be a friend to this week? Who can you invite to attend worship with you this Sunday? Invite them to come, go by and pick them up, and even offer to treat them to lunch if they come with you.

5. We have a lot of new volunteer positions coming open due to our recent growth and with our upcoming sanctuary makeover. Please make sure that you stop by Sunday at Volunteer Central Kiosk to learn more about the opportunities that are available.

6. Prayer Requests: Barbara Bradley’s mother, Edith Rutherford, passed away yesterday. Susan McClellan’s mother, Wilma Hagen, passed away as well yesterday.

Keep praying and lifting each other up daily. God is doing something great. Don’t miss it.

Love and Prayers,

Pastor VG

Midweek Report from Pastor VG

January 19, 2011 in Thoughts with 0 Comments

Dear Friends,

This week has been crazy. I am sure it has been crazy for you as well. It sounds like it might get even crazier if we get the snow they are forecasting for our area. I will not keep you long but here is a brief report from the home front:

1. We had 391 people on campus on Sunday. We are going to break the 400 mark any Sunday now.

2. Welcome Jay, Lacey & Jacob Dixon to our church fellowship. They joined Eastside on Sunday afternoon.

3. The Sanctuary Makeover is in fullswing. We will start on February 13th and will be ready for March 6th Worship Service. The 20th and 27th of February we will have worship at Madison Central High School located on 2nd Street in Richmond. Click here to learn of the details of the makeover.

4. Don’t miss this Sunday as we continue with our sermon series Practical Atheist. If you missed any of the messages then go to www.eastside-cc.com and click on the audio icon.

5. Please be in prayer for each other. There are a lot of hurting people at Eastside. A lot of people are entangled in sin. We need to encourage each other.

Have a great day,

Pastor VG

WOW! UNBELIEVABLE START TO NEW SERMON SERIES & FASTING

January 10, 2011 in Thoughts with 0 Comments

Dear E-New Friends,

I cannot tell you the joy and the excitement that I am feeling about the start of our new journey with fasting and our new sermon series, Practical Atheist.

Here are some of the feedback I have received about our fasting endeavor: (by the way if you haven’t started the journey or made your decision about joining us for this week of fasting. It’s not to late. Click here to learn all the details)

  • Some are fasting from television for a week. WOW! This is when the national football championship game is being played tonight.
  • Others are fasting from Facebook for 21 days or for just a week.
  • Still others are fasting from Twitter, their cell phone, and others from video games.
  • Others are cutting their food consumptions and some are eliminating desserts from their diet for the next 7 days.
  • I have heard of one couple doing a water only fast for the next 7 days.
  • I have also heard of three people seeking to fast from tobacco.
  • One couple expressed to me that they didn’t realize what an idol food were for them.

These are just a few of the testimonies I have heard about this past week.

As you continue with your fast I would like to provide you with 2 verses from the Bible that may be beneficial to you:

I Corinthians 10:13 (NIV) “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”

I Corinthians 10:31 (NIV) “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

I would like to thank everyone for the great comments regarding yesterday’s message. It was a great day.

I would like to welcome the following New Members:

Chris and Candice Minter – by letter
Scott and Beverly Rowden – by letter
Hagan Brinegar – by baptism
Charles and Stacey Brinegar – by letter

Welcome aboard!

BTW, I will be providing a Sanctuary Makeover Update tomorrow after Noon. Stay tune. Exciting days ahead.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor VG

2011 An Opportunity for Positive Change

January 1, 2011 in Thoughts with 0 Comments

Dear E-News Family,

Remember the old adage, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”? Well, the truth is, just because “it” is working (whatever “it” is) does not mean “it” cannot be improved upon.

I know that I have experienced many wonderful things in 2010. I have also experienced a lot of changes in my family, in my leadership approach, and even in my personal walk with God. Even though I have experienced a lot of changes in my life, my family, and my ministry. I am still open to changing things and improving things in 2011.

What changes have you experienced in 2010? Are you open to changes in 2011? 2011 could be an opportunity for you to make some very positive changes in your walk with God and in your personal life.

Here are some examples from HB London of Focus on the Family:

CHANGE: Could your “alone” time with your Lord use some fine-tuning? Are you giving Him the “first fruits” of the morning?

CHANGE: Not to meddle in your private lives, but have you been taking care of yourself? Physically, have you had your annual check-up? Are you getting appropriate exercise?

CHANGE: Is there a person in your life, be it family or friend, that disagreement, bitterness, or misunderstanding has hindered that relationship? To begin 2011with a clean slate would be a positive change, right?

CHANGE: Have you had an opportunity to step back and look at the way you lead your self, your family, your business? What would positive change in any of these areas look like in 2011?

CHANGE: If you hold a mirror up to your life, what one characteristic (not cosmetic) might need some attention — patience, sense of humor, attitude, work ethic, compassion, problem solving, etc?

CHANGE: Do you need to make a “major” change? Like moving or changing careers? Or being honest about your lack of spirituality, or your lack of intimacy with God?

Will you be intentional about change in 2011 or will you just be reactive to whatever change comes your way?

A simple prayer regarding change for 2011:

God, grant me courage to make changes that need to be made; Patience to deal with those things that cannot or need not be change; And a heart for those I serve to help facilitate positive changes in their lives and circumstances.

I hope to see you on Sunday as we look at the message, ONE THING!

Happy New Year,

Pastor VG

End of Year Items

December 27, 2010 in Thoughts with 0 Comments

Dear E-News Friends,

The New Year is almost here. The old year is almost gone. In preparation for this transition here are few things you need to know from Eastside Community Church:

1. End of the Year Contributions will need to be received by no later than 5:00 pm in person on Thursday, December 30, 2010 or post mark by the US Postal Office by 12/31/2010 in order to be included in your 2010 contribution record. Thanks to everyone who has given sacrificially over the last year. We will seek to get the 2010 information out as soon as possible. If you have any questions or concerns about your giving record then please contact Sherrie Green at 624-9646 or at church@eastside-cc.com.

2. Church Office will be CLOSED on Friday, December 31, 2010.

3. Regular activities/schedule on Sunday, January 2, 2011 at Eastside.

4. Join us for the sermon, ONE THING on Sunday, January 2, 2011. Come and find out what Eastside’s ONE THING will be in 2011.

5. Christmas Eve Worship Gatherings was a tremendous success we had a total attendance of 263.

Happy and Prosperous New Year,

Pastor VG and Family

2011 Budget for Eastside Community Church

December 21, 2010 in Thoughts with 0 Comments

Dear E-News Family,

Eastside’s 2011 Budget has been developed, fine-tuned, and approved by our Business Administration Team (BAT). The BAT has put many hours into the budget process (Bobby Jones, Regina Douglas, Allen Grant, Jr., Brent Ray, Bill Bradley, and Donnie Proffitt). They started the end of September and just approved the final version last night at their monthly meeting. I think the budget is very conservative but at the same time very challenging. This year’s budget reflections about 12% increase from last year’s budget if my math is correct. Click Here on the following link to view the budget: 2011 Eastside Community Church Budget

You will notice that there are now funds available for an associate pastor. Greg Gillum has accepted the position as associate pastor and pastor of small groups/spiritual growth. Welcome aboard Greg Gillum and Family.

Also, you will see that outreach and mission budget is continually growing. Praise the Lord.

If you have any questions or need any clarifications then please direct attention to Sherrie Green at church@eastside-cc.com or at 624-9646.

I hope to see you either Wednesday at 6:30pm or on Friday at 5:30pm for one of our Christmas Eve Worship Gatherings.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor VG

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