Good morning, COG family!

"Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it. Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy."

Psalm 96:11-12

We are almost one month into the fall season and I hope you are enjoying the cooler weather. On a drive to Copper Mountain last week, I was able to take in the aspens in their golden splendor. It was waves of gold rolling through a deep green canvas of the mountain pines. Such a beautiful sight.

God's creation never grows old to me. The trees, mountains, oceans, and even the ground we stand on, are awe-inspiring. I hope that I never look at any of it and not be impressed by the awesomeness of our God.

I challenge us to slow down this week and find a spot where we can take a good look around us to see God at work. The mountains in the distance are starting to get snow-capped. The leaves are changing color around our homes. The crispness of the air in the morning.

In our quiet time, thank God for His creation. You could be really bold this week and tell someone how awesome our God is in His creation.

Be salt and light,

Pastor Chris

Thank you, COG family, for your generosity!



Week of October 9, 2022

Giving: $10,792.37

Weekly Budget: $10,302.60

Year to Date Giving: $398,547.63

Year to Date Budget: $422,406.60

Week of October 16, 2022

Giving: $8,626.00

Weekly Budget: $10,302.60

Year to Date Giving: $407,173.63

Year to Date Budget: $432,709.20

Below are the ways that you can contribute your tithes and offerings to the church.

• Write a check to the church. You can either mail it to the church or stop by the church and give it to one of the staff members (4343 S. Flanders St. Centennial, CO 80015).
• Bill Pay through your banking institution.
• COG website - online giving.

Women's group meeting weekly on Wednesday at 9:30 am or 6:30 pm. Email Anita to coordinate and get details. 

Women's group meeting weekly on Friday mornings at 9:30 am. Email Judy for more details.

Men's group meeting weekly on Tuesday mornings from 6 - 7 am. Email Pastor Joel for more details.

Communion

We will observe the Lord's Supper on October 30th. If you will be watching online, feel free to come to the COG office to pick up sealed communion elements. Email Anitato coordinate.

5th Sunday Family Worship

On October 30th, we will have our very first 5th Sunday Family Worship service. What will make it different from a regular Sunday service you ask? Let me tell ya!

On the 5th Sunday of any month, children and youth will join their families for family worship in the North Building. This gives us an opportunity to have families be together learning the same scripture from God's word. It also gives us an opportunity to bring the entire Community of Grace body together, including our children and youth volunteers.

During family worship, we will have familiar songs for the children, and a teaching time for the kids with Pastor Joel.

We are excited for 5th Sunday Family Worship beginning on October 30th!

The elders are requesting nominations from the congregation for new elders. Please read Titus 1:5-9 and 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and pray over these passages. If there is a man at COG whom the Lord lays on your heart to nominate as an elder at COG, please take the following steps:

1. Contact that person and ask if he would be ok with you nominating him to be an elder.
2. If he agrees, then email his name to Steve Veteto. You can also put his information on the Elder Nomination Form located on the Get Connected table.

Please have nominations turned in by the end of October. If you have any questions, you can reach out to any of the elders at COG.

Trunk or Treat

COG will be hosting our Trunk-or-Treat event in the COG parking lot on October 29, 2021, from 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm. This promises to be a fun event where we can spend time together as well as connect with our community.

If you will be bringing a vehicle or if your ministry will be setting up a vehicle to hand out candy, please sign up at the Get Connected table or email the Chandlers so we can plan accordingly.

If you have never been to a trunk-or-treat, it is pretty simple. You bring a vehicle to COG (decorated or undecorated), maybe wear a costume, bring lots of treats, and hand out the goodies to our little guests.

For those with little ones, you can show up with your kiddos to walk a lap or two around the parking lot to gather treats. We encourage you to invite your friends and neighbors.

Here are some guidelines for us to follow to help make sure the event is enjoyable for everyone:

• If you are handing out treats, have your vehicle on site by 4:45 pm on Oct 29. You can come as early as you need to decorate and set up your vehicle.
• We are asking you to keep decorations and costumes in good taste and kid-friendly.
• If you are not decorating a vehicle and are bringing kids for the event, please park on Flanders Street. The parking lot will be closed off to traffic at 4:45 pm for the safety of everyone.
• Have fun! Be welcoming and inviting to those with whom we interact during the event.

If you cannot make it to the event but would like to support it, please bring bags of candy to donate. There will be collection bins in the foyer.

Chili and Mac-n-Cheese

Cook-Off 

The annual COG chili and mac-n-cheese cook-off is on November 6th at 5 pm this year. If you want to show off your cooking skills, you can sign up at the Get Connected table to enter the competition. You can also sign up to bring crackers, cheese, desserts, and other items.

Please have your chilis and mac-n-cheeses warm and ready to serve at COG by 4:45 pm.

This promises to be a great evening of delicious food and fellowship. Bring your appetites and Tums.

Ladies' Ministry

No-Sew Scarves

Mark your calendars for making no-sew scarves for the homeless on October 29th from 9:00 - 10:00 am at Community of Grace. If you have never made these scarves before, no worries; you can learn when you come to the event. Please bring sharp scissors or a rotary cutter. All ages are welcome to help. Get more details and sign up at the Get Connected table.

Ladies' Fellowship

The next Ladies Fellowship will be a sip & paint event at The Paint Cellar in Southlands on Sunday, November 13, 5-7 pm. Please sign up at the Get Connected table so we know how many are going and register here. There is a $5 non-refundable and non-transferable cost to register. This money will be used toward whatever project you choose. For more information please contact Carol Bryan at 303-522-2293.

Colorado Baptist Disaster Relief

Hurricane Ian Help

The CBDR group responds to both local and national disasters in a variety of ways. This includes clearing out debris, mass feeding, providing showers and laundry facilities, and much more. They have been asked to help with recovery from hurricane Ian in Florida. The tentative dates are Nov 27 - Dec 11, 2022, and January 3 - 14, 2023. If you are interested in going, please email Pastor Chris.

CBDR training is required to attend this and other recovery events. If you would like to attend the CBDR training, there is an opportunity on November 18 - 19 at Vista Grande Baptist Church in Colorado Springs. You can get more details by going to the CBDR Training Website.

We would love for you to join us!

The Olin Food Ministry

If you have a heart to serve those in need, The Olin Food Ministry can use you! The Olin is a HUD property located close to Denver's Capitol Hill that assists older and disabled individuals.

Each week, two COG volunteer families prepare and take meals to 12 residents each. The volunteers purchase, cook, package, and deliver the meals. We are looking to expand the volunteer rotation to once every six or seven weeks.

Over the years, many of the Olin residents have built friendships with our volunteers, giving our volunteers an opportunity to share the grace of God with them. This ministry is also a great opportunity for our children and youth to get involved and see the importance of helping those who have a need. Building up a spirit of charity helps us understand how the smallest of actions can bless not only the recipient but also the giver.

The Olin ministry is in need of more families to join the rotation. If you are interested or want more details, sign up at the Get Connected table or email Rosemary or Kim.

Thank you to Missy Noel and all current and past volunteers for keeping this ministry running for so long.

Loving God

Loving Others

We have had some great fall weather lately. Cool mornings and warm afternoons make a perfect combination to get outside and get our hands dirty.

On Saturday, October 15th, we had 20 volunteers show up at Miss Carol's home and help tackle her large yard. We cut down trees, pruned shrubs, and bushes, raked leaves, and shaped a massive snowball bush. With so many volunteers, it took less than two hours including time to eat donuts! 

Then on October 18th during their fall break, some of the youth went to Miss Jean's home to help with some yard work as well. Pastor J lead the youth in raking and bagging leaves, adding mulch, and picking up debris. 

Thank you to everyone who was able to help out!