God's Acre MCC ~ Weekly Newsletter
18th January 2021
Greetings!
Good morning,

I was preaching on Sunday about having a ‘fig tree moment’, just like Nathaniel who was quietly meditating under the fig tree. I really understand how important the quiet time is; you hear me talk about this a lot, it really is very important to clear out our minds and to make sure that we got all things in perspective. 

Life is busier now than it’s ever been; I don’t mean going out to eat or shopping, I mean spending more time on Zoom, the telephone, WhatsApp, Viber or Skype; all of these are new ways of speaking to our families and friends. But, as I said in my sermon, it’s OK to turn off your TV, your iPad and your phone just for a short while, so that you can regroup.
During this pandemic I know that people have realized how precious life is, and how important family and friends are. I have most certainly missed my church building being full of smiling faces, and having those lovely conversations before and after church.

But God has shown me there’s more than one way to have church, more than one way to reach out to people, more than one way to praise God. 

As I told you before, God asked me to tear down the walls of the church and that’s what I did; God’s message is reaching far more people than it ever did. 

So I thank you all for supporting our church, even though our doors are closed, but we still have to keep our building working. I really want our building to be kept in good order, so that, on the glorious day when we can all meet again, it’ll be just as inviting as it was the day we left.  
There’s an old saying ‘Keep Calm and Carry-On’, and I am keeping calm and carrying on for all of us, so that you receive a message and a church service every week.

So I want to say THANK YOU so much for your continued financial support; your financial gifts mean that we can pay our bills and keep ministering to God's people.

Please do not hesitate to contact me, at any point, should you need to talk with me.
May God bless you all this week, Amen.

In Christ

Rev. Janice

Rev. Janice Bowker
Senior Pastor | God's Acre MCC
This Week's Sunday Service
17th January 2021
To ensure the best sound quality, please make sure that your volume is turned up, or that your speakers and/or headphones are plugged in.

If you have a SMART TV, you can also view our services directly on your TV via our:
Song After Sermon
Draw Me Close To You
Michael W. Smith
Starting 3rd February 2021

Online Bible Study
Wednesday Evenings at 7pm

Please Send Registration Email to: GodsAcreMCC@aol.com

Only those registered will receive the link to attend
To sign up for your FREE Zoom account, just CLICK HERE

You can also get the FREE ZOOM APP, for your iPhone or Android; just check out your App store
If you would like to join our Online Bible Study, starting in February, but don't yet know how to use Zoom, then watching this helpful video will help you get online.

You will find useful information & tips, so that you can join the Zoom online Bible Study, & other meetings, quickly & easily.
Whilst the church building remains closed, for in-person gatherings, we are doing our best to bring online worship, prayers and other church activities, to you virtually.
JANUARY 2021
18th - Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Public Holiday USA

24th - In person Service Cancelled
Recording will be made available

31st - In person Service Cancelled
Recording will be made available

FEBRUARY 2021
3rd - Online Bible Study
7pm on Zoom
Registration Required

7th - In person Service Cancelled
Recording will be made available

10th - Online Bible Study
7pm on Zoom
Registration Required

14th - In person Service Cancelled
Recording will be made available

17th - ASH WEDNESDAY
In person Service Cancelled
Recording will be made available

17th - Online Bible Study
7pm on Zoom
Registration Required

21st - In person Service Cancelled
Recording will be made available

24th - Online Bible Study
7pm on Zoom
Registration Required

28th - In person Service Cancelled
Recording will be made available
Board Members & 
Lay Delegate Info

Moderator: Rev. Janice Bowker
Vice Moderator: Alan R
Treasurer: Maureen P
Clerk: Sandy B

Lay Delegate & Social Media Admin: Marina L


Next Board Meeting 
31st January 2021
Board members will meet virtually
for the foreseeable future
We ask for the following prayers this week:

*Continued prayers of thanks for Rev. Janice; thank you for her continued hard work, guidance & strength; for her leadership & for being our shepherd in times of trial
*Prayers of peace for our country & our world
*For continued strength & guidance for all of our members & online viewers
*Continued prayers for our country, as we continue to see the high daily rise in COVID cases, and a new, more transmittable strain.
*Prayers for The Staffords, Joe & Wayne, Letty, Sandy, Paul & Roy, Betty, Wanda, Kharma, Diane, Maureen, Rebecca, George, Elaine, Camille, Michael, Ann-Marie, MaryAnn & Gwen, Greg, Fran, Dennis, Keith, Alan, Herb, Nick D
*Help every person to know peace, patience & kindness
*We give thanks for everyone receiving this newsletter and watching our services online
*For all the prayers on the hearts of the people that we don't yet know about; may God grant peace & healing
*Thank you God for ALL that you give us each day
*Thanks for ALL essential workers, doctors, nurses, first responders, grocery store workers, utility workers
Don't forget that, during this time of social distancing, isolation and uncertainty, if you need to chat, have a prayer request, if you have a concern, or if you'd like to pass on some good news, Rev. Janice is available.

You can email or text & she will get back to you as soon as she is able. You can also call directly and, as long as she's not in a meeting, she will be happy to talk to you.

Don't forget to check in on Facebook too. Rev. Janice loves hearing from you all.
17th - Ritchie C
(Letty's Dad)
20th - Joe F

If you have a birthday or anniversary, and it is not listed, please let us know, so that we can add you to the list
Happy 92nd Birthday
Ritchie
Much love & blessings
from everyone at
God's Acre xx
If you'd like to follow along, with the service and readings, for next Sunday please click on the link below, where you be able to view a condensed copy of the Worship Guide for 24th January 2021
Vaccines have arrived, and some of our members have received their first dose; however, they are not being distributed as fast as everyone had hoped, so for many of us, we still have to keep waiting for that phone call, calling us in to receive the vaccine.

Appointments are available at Publix Pharmacies, CVS & Walgreens , so keep checking with them to book your place. COVID-19 is still very rampant, especially with 2 more new strains, that are being transmitted 70% faster that regular COVID-19. These new strains are very virulent and we really need to keep in our 'bubbles' to stay safe.

The experts cannot keep stressing it enough, and as plainly as they are doing, we still need to exercise extreme care & caution. MASK UP - KEEP YOUR DISTANCE - WASH YOUR HANDS - STAY HOME - STOP THE SPREAD

We are told that it may still be several weeks, or even months, before any of us begin to receive our first dose of the vaccine. Even then, we will still need to wear masks & practice social distancing when outside our own household bubbles.

The figures have risen again this week; we now have 21,944 cases in Marion county, which is another jump of 1,706 new cases in one week.

Yes, we repeat it every week, and even with the vaccine, it will take several weeks (maybe months) before it will be safe enough to return to church, even with social distancing & wearing masks. The only safe practice, right now, is to continue offering the online pre-recorded services, for the foreseeable future. 
Ongoing Fundraiser at Racewash 

Just enter the 4 digit code: 7070 
when you select your preferred wash 
God's Acre will 10% from every wash

You can still help God's Acre & still maintain a safe social distance!

TWO GREAT LOCATIONS
3065 SE 24th Street
5199 SW 49th Court

2 more Ocala locations coming very soon - both on SR200 - watch this space
If you haven't done so already, it's very easy to give your weekly, or monthly, offering; EVERY $ really does make a difference.

You can quickly and easily donate online, by clicking on the button below; online donations are quick, easy & save time. 

You can also mail in a check, payable to God's Acre MCC, to our PO Box mailing address.

God's Acre MCC
PO Box 770240
Ocala
Fl 34477-0240

It really does mean a great deal that you continue to support God's Acre MCC.
Worship Address: Online Worship Only During the Coronavirus Pandemic

Mailing Address: PO Box 770240, Ocala, FL 34477-0240