Hi everyone,
This winter schedule is packed and we have lots of opportunities for you to get involved, equipped and have a lot of fun!
DECEMBER
12/5 - Koinonia Bible study at First Pres
12/12 - All College Combined Bible study at First Pres
12/17-12/27 - Taiwan Winter Mission Team
12/19 - All College Bible study/Potluck at North Loop
12/20 - Angel Tree Christmas Party
12/31 - New Year's Watchnight Service
JANUARY
1/1 - New Year Celebration
1/4-1/15 - Cambodia Winter Mission Team
1/4 - 1/9 - Advanced C101 Training Camp
1/12 - 1/16 - GLIVE Tech & Arts Training Camp
1/13 - 1/15 - Soph Discipleship Retreat
1/15 - 1/18 - Senior Discipleship Retreat
1/17 - Snow Trip
1/23 - 1/25 - Church-wide Winter Retreat - SIGN-UP HERE
Here are November's Bible Study and Post-Bible Study Activity Schedule
I've been attending Gracepoint now for over 14 years. I know I look like I just stepped foot on this campus =). Well, over the years our ministry has changed, matured and grown in many ways. 14 years ago, we were mainly doing ministry on just the Berkeley campus and there was just one college group. But now, we have a2f, koinonia and kairos on the Berkeley campus and we have koinonia's all over the bay area - from CSUEB to SFSU. And this of course, doesn't include our sister ministries like Bridgeway and Waypoint.
So, it's that time of year again, when we go all out to make Thanksgiving really special. So we, as Koinonia and as a church, celebrate Thanksgiving in a grand style.
Just wanted to give you a heads up for this month's activities after Bible Study, so you can mark your calendars.
OK, so you may have heard about something about Sierra Lodge or Sierra Barn and maybe you're thinking barn...do we have a farm? Well, we don't although maybe one day we will be able to have some horses around! But we have some land up in the Sierras that we have been developing as a retreat site and a home for our getaways, camping trips, hiking trips, etc... But as hg RED has already blogged about this, i'll let them tell us all about it. Check out the link here:
http://koinoniaberkeleyfellowshiphg7.blogspot.com/2008/09/sierra-barn-construction.html
Hi,
This past Sunday, we had a special Sunday at Gracepoint Fellowship Church as we had a Baptism Service and our Open House, which highlighted the different ministries at our church. I think the Baptism service was my favorite part and I think I always tear up as I hear the testimonies of the people and hearing how each person has come from such a different place and yet we find ourselves so similar. Despite our pasts and history, we have a common theme in our lives; we're disconnected from our Maker in Heaven - God. And our sin has separated us and has often led us down very dark roads - pursuing the wrong things in our life instead of God like partying, drugs, alcohol, romance, and other addictions. But again, I love that part when each person comes to his/her senses and realizes, just like the prodigal son, that they have been living apart from God and what they were pursuing didn't and couldn't satisfy but only God could. They find what's always been missing.
There are so many new ways to communicate with people in our tech-rich and rampant age. I'm trying to simplify ways to communicate with everyone - email, blogs, websites, etc... But to be honest there are just so many choices and unfortunately I still have not found a catch-all. So I'm going to be trying different things from now on.
Join us as we’ll be hearing testimonies and stories and watching videos/slideshows from fellow college students of Gracepoint Fellowship Church - A2F, Koinonia, and Kairos - who went from Honduras, to Taiwan, to China to Kyrgyzstan and Cambodia!
Hi there,
We kicked off our guys frosh small group this past week. We had home-cooked ribs, corn and bread! And then we spent some getting to know each other a little better and we got to hear about our various spiritual backgrounds. When asked what I want to get out of this small group - as the leader - I wanted to see each person grow and know God more and for us to get real close this semester!
Who knew that bread with a name as ugly as Pugliese could taste so good? And that Asians are lactose intolerant because there are no cows in the motherland??
They say that Sophomore year is really "suffer-more" year.. Well. At least we're off to a promising start! This Saturday, the sophomore small group had a time of food and fellowship which began with a home-cooked dinner in Alameda, followed by some Chinese dessert at Creations in SF. Of course, all this would not have been possible without Ella's yummy pasta recipe, Yumi and Jin generously lending us their 8-seater van, and Ellen for helping with cooking! Not to mention the rockstar parking just as we pulled up to Creations.
The adventure was not over for the few who slept over! We romped around the Central Apts complex and were fortunate enough to find Joanna at home so we could pop in for a "visit". Another highlight was witnessing a curious "moonset" at Shoreline Park as the dusty yellow crescent moon dipped itself into the twinkling city skyline and disappeared in a matter of minutes. Astro 10 anyone?
There are definitely many new experiences to come in Sophomore year – apartment life,
harder classes .. and in the midst of it all, the challenge of living out God's calling, as disciples of Christ. But as James 1:2-4 says: 2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. Let's continue looking to God's word for encouragement and wisdom, as well as draw strength from our brothers and sisters in Christ here at Gracepoint!
This is a small group video that was made by some of the tech guys from Gracepoint Fellowship Church - Berkeley. It's a free resource that actually anyone can download/use. I think that's awesome!
I can't believe we're already at New Student Welcome Night. Last night was awesome and amazing as we got to meet many new friends. This past week has been filled with meeting lots of new people and playing lots Frisbee and eating lots of DC food! I love the fall as it's so exciting. Here are a few pics from last night...
