Vista Grande Church of God

4870 Flintridge Drive Get Connected! Vista Grande Connection

Colorado Springs, CO 80918
Phone: 719-598-5511
Fax: 719-531-7826
Web: www.vgchurch.com
Email:
PASTOR
gwilkins@vistagrandechurch.org
CHURCH OFFICE
ehanawalt@vistagrandechurch.org
MUSIC MINISTRY
mammacash@yahoo.com
YOUTH MINISTRY
jwilks77@hotmail.com
CHILDREN’S MINISTRY
dstringer@skybeam.com
We have three new small groups that have started in the last month: OUR CHURCH VISION
We will become a unified fellowship, deeply devoted to Fervent Prayer,
Tales & Tea Book Club meets the 1st Wednesday & Meaningful Worship, Nurturing Discipleship, and Loving Outreach
1st Saturday of the month, 1-3pm at Cindy Underwood’s through the divine guidance of the HOLY SPIRIT. APRIL/MAY, 2011
home, to review books that have been assigned. For the
book they will be reading for April, please contact Cindy Easter Morning Celebration
or call the church office at 598-5511.
April 24th
9: 30 a.m.Continental Breakfast
Woodworking Group meets on Tuesday evenings, (pastries, fruit, & juice)
6:30pm at Mike Stringer’s home. Bring your own projects
9:45 a.m. Children’s Easter Egg Hunt
to work on, or Mike always has a project or two available
to work on. For directions to Mike’s home, please call the (No Sunday School)
church office or contact Mike. 10:30 a.m. Easter Celebration Service

He Did It Just For You by Max Lucado

FOR DR. EARL CARVER’S Geocaching is a popular new pastime game of treasure
hunting, where you use a GPS to hide and seek containers When God entered time and became a man, He who was boundless became bound. Imprisoned
COMMENTS ON RELIGIOUS in flesh. Restricted by weary-prone muscles and eyelids. For more than three decades, His once
with other participants in the activity. If you would like
to learn more about how to play this game, please contact limitless reach would be limited to the stretch of an arm, His speed checked to the pace of human
ISSUES AND EVENTS
Julie Kennedy or call the church office. feet.
IN THE NEWS, GO TO I wonder, was He ever tempted to reclaim His boundlessness? In the middle of a long trip, did He
www.vgchurch.com ever consider transporting Himself to the next city? When the rain chilled His bones, was He
tempted to change the weather? When the heat parched His lips, did He give thought to popping
Choose “My Take” over to the Caribbean for some refreshment?
“He is no fool who gives
Then click on “Go to blog.” If ever He entertained such thoughts, He never gave in to them. Not once. Stop and think about
what he cannot keep to this, not once did Christ use His supernatural powers for personal comfort. With one word He could
gain what he cannot lose.” have transformed the hard earth into a soft bed, but He didn’t. With a wave of His hand, He could
have boomeranged the spit of His accusers back into their faces, but He didn’t. With an arch of His
—Jim Elliott brow, He could have paralyzed the hand of the soldier as He braided the crown of thorns. But He
didn’t.
Want to know the coolest thing about the coming?
Ho Not that He, in an instant, went from needing nothing to needing air, food, a tub of hot water and
w salts for His tired feet, and more than anything, needing somebody—anybody—who was more
to concerned about where he would spend eternity than where he would spend Friday’s paycheck.
co Not that He kept His cool while the dozen best friends He ever had felt the heat and got out of
ADULT nt the kitchen. Or that He gave no command to the angels who begged, “Just give the nod, Lord. One
ac word and these demons will be deviled eggs.”
SUNDAY SCHOOL tu
Join an Adult Sunday School Class— meet some great
s Not that He refused to defend Himself when blamed for every sin since Adam. Or that He stood
silent as a million guilty verdicts echoed in the tribunal of heaven and the Giver of Light was left in
people and form some lasting friendships! They all meet the chill of a sinner’s night.
Sundays at 9:30 a.m. We have three to choose from: Not even that after three days in a dark hole - He stepped into the Easter sunrise with a smile and
♦ “Life Lessons from Desert Wanderings” meets in the a swagger and a question for lowly Lucifer— “Is that your best punch?”
Library—taught by several in the class That was cool, incredibly cool.
♦ The book of “Esther” meets in room #11 in Skinner But want to know the coolest thing about the One who gave up the crown of heaven for a crown
Hall—taught by Janeen Miller of thorns?
♦ The book of “Judges” meets in room #12 in Skinner He did it for you. Just for you.
Hall—taught by Jeanette Relaford

VISTA GRANDE CONNECTION
God’s Incredible GRACEcard!
Life is full of unexpected
turns and events which can
move us from peace to chaos
in just a matter of moments.
A father loses a son in an
accident, and the ensuing 17
years to follow are draped in
bitterness and pain. His
family is at risk of abandon-
ment because of his
preoccupation with revenge
toward the one who caused
the accident which snuffed
out his son’s life. He is
seemingly angry at the world
and even at God.
A mother offends her adult
daughter by interfering in her
family affairs and has finally
pushed it too far. The two
never talk anymore and
haven’t for the past five years.
A man’s boss at the office
has been overbearing and
quite frankly unfair in his
dealings with him and now
the man is obsessed with
hidden attitudes of hate and
disgust for his superior. It has
even changed who he is at
home as his family seems to
get the blunt of his disap-
pointments from the office.
A teenager has messed up for
the last time. His parents
told him if he got in trouble
with the law one more time he
would have to move out and
find a place to live on his
own. He pleads for one more
chance, but he has already
spent his last chance several
offenses ago. His father
screams, “I will never forgive you
for what you have done this time”
as he slams the door behind
him.
So often life is unfair and the
trials we find ourselves
grappling with seem so
undeserving. But that’s the
way life happens. And when
we feel we have been
cheated, unjustly treated,
disrespected, or taken ad-
vantage of let’s face it, it’s very
hard to “drum up any grace”
for the perpetrator in our
crisis. Yet we are reminded in
the Word of God that we all
have been guilty of sin against
God. None of us are worthy
of his expression of grace,
mercy and love. In spite of
our unworthiness the Bible
shows us that God has hand-
ed us his “GRACEcard”, the
unmerited gift of forgiveness
for all our past offenses.
Psalm 145:8 says that “The
Lord is gracious and
compassionate, slow to anger
and rich in love.” Ephesians
2:8-9 reminds us that it is only
by grace that we have been
saved.
Since we have been granted
such unmerited grace don’t
Page 7 APRIL/MAY, 2011
Page 2
we have an equal responsibility UPCOMING EVENTS!
From Pastor Greg
to also be handing out
“GRACEcards” to others who
disrupt our lives with injustice?
FAMILY SWIM SPECIAL MOVIE MEN VS. THE WILD
As we have been truly trans- NIGHT NIGHT NIGHT
formed by the gift of grace Saturday, April 9th, 55--7pm Wednesday, April 20th Wild Game Buffet & Fellowship
God has given us we too can Cottonwood Park 6:30 p.m. Saturday, April 30th at 6pm
give out “GRACEcards” to The cost of this event is $15 per “The True Easter Story” , Vista Grande Church of God
others which will result in directed by teacher and historian A tasting of a variety of wild game
family up to 5 persons or $3.50 ea. Ray Vander Laan . We will have no
healing and transformation! An adult must accompany along with Grilled Buffalo Burgers.
As we practice granting grace adult classes on this night so that
children in their family. everyone has the opportunity to see Door Prizes, Laughter, and a Short
to others, just as God has to For more information, please this wonderful film. Children’s Program. A great opportunity for
us, we can be lifted from the contact Pastor Deanna or the Ministry will have their Easter party, men to bring their non-churched
quicksand of revenge and church office @ 598-5511 and the youth will have regular friends. If you have wild game you
bitterness to new heights of programming on this evening. would like to fix & bring—please do!
peaceful living and fulfillment.
Also as we, the church,
become the “hands and feet”
of Christ by loving and serving
Summer Camps 2011
others through our missional The Colorado Conference of the Church of God is excited to offer the children and
efforts, we are handing out youth of our COG churches a wonderful camp experience this summer. They are
“GRACEcards” to our promoting three camps at Golden Bell Camp in Divide, Colorado. Activities at Golden
community, and we will begin Bell include swimming, crafts, archery, mini-golf, a climbing wall, campfire worship
to witness the transformational services and lots of fun. The Colo. Conf. will be helping to fund these camps when
power of this stupendous gift you register through the Colorado Conference. The costs listed below reflect the
called “grace” which originates scholarships and are valid if you register by April 20, 2011. Registrations
from the very heart of God. received after that date will have a higher fee.
COME EXPERIENCE ⇒ Trailblazer’s Camp, July 6-8 - for kids entering grades 1-2—COST: $59
The “Transformational This is a fun, shorter camp experience for the younger ones. They will sleep in cabins.
Power of GRACE” – A Post
⇒ Itch-ee-ow-ee Camp, June 20-24—for kids entering grades 3-6—COST: $144
Easter Series at Vista
Campers sleep in teepees and eat outdoors. Horseback riding is offered at this camp for an additional fee.
Grande - Sunday Mornings
Velocity Camp, June 27-July 1—for youth entering grades 7-12—COST: $154
at 10:30am - May 1-22, and ⇒
This camp offers more challenging activities and the youth sleep in cabins. Horseback riding and Whitewater
Wednesday evenings
May 4-25 at 6:30 pm. rafting are new offerings at this camp and are available for an additional fee. In order to receive these prices, you
must register through the Conference. Registration forms are available at the Welcome Center or from Pastor
Deanna. Please direct all registration forms and any questions you may have to: Tami Mills, 542 S. Deframe Ct.,
“For if you forgive men their
Lakewood, CO 80228, 303-987-2415 or Millsntrm4@msn.com
trespasses, your heavenly Fa-
ther will also forgive you. “But Deer Valley Ranch
if you do not forgive men their Church of God Koinonia Family Retreat
trespasses, neither will your
Nathrop, CO
CO——May 13th-15th
‘11
Father forgive your trespasses. A mountain-top experience is what some have described the beautiful location of
—Matthew 6:14, 15 Deer Valley Ranch. It is simply breathtaking! This year’s theme is “Sabbath Surrender and Soul
Care”, and this retreat is for everyone from 0 to ……….. A “Kid’s Kamp” is included in this enjoyable family
get away. Registrations forms with more information are available at the Welcome Center. Registration forms
must be returned to the Colorado Conference by May 1st.
VISTA GRANDE CONNECTION Page 6
Page 3 APRIL/MAY, 2011

Church Yard Sale Prayer Opportunities

Prayer is not overcoming God’s reluctance,

May 28th 8am

8am--2pm
The time has come to do that
spring cleaning you love so
much! And when you are going
through the closets… the base-
ment… the garage… the shed….
the kids rooms…. and find
“gently used” items you no
longer need or want, please put
them aside for this year’s Church
Yard Sale sponsored by the
Missions Committee.
Items may be brought to the
church no sooner than
May 22nd. If you have large
items to donate and have no way
to get them to the church, please
call the church office at 598-5511,
and we will have someone pick
them up.
Pack Your Bags!
Vista Grande Church of God
is going on a mission trip!
Bisti, New Mexico
Navajo Nation Reservation
Tentative date: July 24-29
Interested? See Information Table in the
front hallway of the church.
Don’t miss out! Sign up today.
Monies raised will go to help
support the Navajo Nation
Mission Trip planned for
July 24-29. (see below)
Questions? Contact Jesse or
Lisa Hill or call the church
office.
but laying hold of His willingness.
—Martin Luther
Prayer is a direct line to
God….no long distance
charges apply! He is waiting to
hear from you. During this 40
Days of Prayer & Fasting, why
not gather with others in our
church to talk with Him about
specific areas of our lives ?
Prayer Around the Altars
Sundays 10:15-10:30am
Join us in praying for the
Sunday morning service,
participants, the congregation.
Grandmother’s Prayer Team
Mondays 9:30-10-30am
Grandmothers specifically
praying scriptures for their
grandchildren (prayer guide w/
scripture are available)
Men’s Prayer Team
Tuesdays 7:00-8:00am
Men of the church pray for
specific prayer needs that are
placed in the Prayer Box on
the Welcome Center as well
as those listed on the weekly
prayer sheet.
Mother’s Prayer Team salvation of lost people, our
Tuesdays 9:30-11:00am
church and it’s mission in our
Mothers of all ages are invited
community, our city, nation &
to come together to pray for it’s leaders & the universal
your children through scripture. church.
Childcare is available for those
who contact the church no later In addition to the adult prayer
than the Monday before the opportunities, the children have
Mother Prayer Team meets.
(Prayer guides w/scripture are
available)
Wednesday Prayer Team
Wednesdays 6:00-6:20pm
This prayer group prays before
Wed. night programming
begins. Prayer focuses are
ministries and programs of the been talking and learning about
church, and staff.
the Lord’s Prayer and how
Each of these Prayer Teams important it is to find a place
meets in the Sanctuary each where you can be alone with
week, with the exception of the God. They have built a “Prayer
Men’s Prayer Team who meets Place” where each child can go
in the church library. quietly to be with God one on
one while they are at church.
In addition to the specific
prayer focuses, each group is
urged to spend a portion of the
prayer time in praying for the

Northern Churches Care

Back to School Health Fair Here’s a chance to put some leather to your prayers. Join us for a couple of hours on the afternoon of
School Supplies & Backpack Drive Sunday, April 17, 44--6pm as we split up in groups of twos and threes, walking our neighborhoods
around the church or where you live, praying as we walk, for the residents of our community. What a
Beginning in May, we will be collecting backpacks & school
great way to prepare for God to move this Easter Season!
supplies for the NCC Back to School Health Fair on July 30th.
Watch for details and list of supplies needed, in the church bulletin.
VISTA GRANDE CONNECTION
From Pastor Deanna
I am reminded about an
old musical song that has
the line in it, “Spring is
busting out all over.” As
the springtime arrives,
God has laid on my heart
to pray out the windows
of the children’s wing
behind the church here at
Vista Grande.
His Kids
One Wednesday I was
setting up for
“FaithWeaver Friends”
and as is my habit, I
began praying for the
children who would come
that evening. God had
other plans, however, and
I felt the urge to pray also
for the children in the
community and the
houses directly behind the
church. I didn’t know
any of the people living in
those homes, but I
obeyed the nudge to pray
and said a short sentence
prayer for the houses that
I could see. That evening,
one of the girls in the
“...but Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to Me and do not hinder them, for
to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.’” Matthew 19:14
neighborhood that walks
to the church, brought a
friend. When snack time
came, he exclaimed,
“Hey, I can see my house
from here.” I did a
double take and realized
that was the very window
that I had prayed from
earlier in the day. He
lived next door to the
house that I had prayed
for. The next week he
brought his family and
the following week, these
two children invited a
family of five children
who also live behind the
church, to attend the
Wednesday night
program. Prayer and the
faithfulness of a couple of
young child missionaries
who love coming to
church have doubled our
Wednesday night
children’s program in just
a few weeks. Other
children have invited
friends and are sharing
God’s love with school
friends and neighbors.
What would happen if
each time someone
walked past a window,
they began to pray for the
people in that home or
person on the street?
Page 4
Mark these Children’s about the ordinance of
Ministry Events on baptism. This is open to
your calendar: all children 1st-5th grade
and their parents. This is a
April 2nd—Children’s
requirement for baptism
Zone Quiz Meet over all
but does not necessarily
of I and II Samuel at
lead to baptism
Springs First Church,
automatically. Children
9am. Please encourage
who desire to be baptized
Katie Plante! If you
must have parental permis-
His Kids sion and be able to share a
statement of faith.
April 20th—Children’s
Easter Party Treats,
snacks and friends are
would like to see what welcome!
Children’s Quizzing is all April 24th—Easter
about, join us for an Sunday—No regular
exciting climax to this Rotational Sunday
year’s season. Next year school at 9:15. There will
we will be studying the be a Children’s Easter
gospel of Matthew. All Egg Hunt out on the
children in grades 1st-5th lawn around 9:45am.
are invited to join the
April 27th—The Chil-
quizzing program.
dren’s Ministry will take a
April 9th—Family Swim
field trip to Baskin Rob-
at Cottonwood Park
bins for their 31cent ice
The cost for this event is
cream scoops. They are
$15 per family up to 5 or
honoring firefighters with
$3.50 per person. An this promotion. We will
adult must accompany the
leave the church parking
children in their family. lot and walk across the
Meet at the Aquatics street at 6:30pm. Each
Center at 5pm. child will need 35 cents to
April 11th—Children’s cover ice cream and tax.
Baptism Class, 6:30- Bring a friend! Parents are
8:00pm Come and learn welcome to walk over with
Page 5 APRIL/MAY, 2011
From Your Youth Director
Youth group has been a the youth room, we laid claimed belief and relation- After sharing together, we
blast! But more than all the down three parallel lines of ship with God is actually knew we needed some time
fun we always have, what’s tape on the floor (sorry evidenced in the way they to soak everything in and
been even more exciting are JoLynn!). Each line of tape live their lives. Well, the ask God for His wisdom
the new things we’ve been represented a different level challenge for all of us that and help. So after a few
learning, experiencing
of faith and relationship night was to listen to God, moments of silence, we
together and recognizing with God. The first line prayed together, asking
thinking about what level
how God has been represented those of us of relationship best de- God to help us and
challenging us lately. We
Christians who say we scribed our current level of continue to challenge us to
recently finished a twelve
believe in God, but don’t faith and walk with God. live out our lives at that
week Wednesday night
really show any indication After taking time to reflect highest level of faith and
series based Pastor Craig
Groeschel’s book, The that our relationship with on this reality, we then action.
Christian Atheist. The
premise and challenge of the
Him has any affect on our
lives. In other words,
took time to listen to God
again with the intent of Our next Wednesday night
book is to hold our relation- you’re a Christian by name hearing His calling as to series (by popular demand)
only. The second line what line of faith He really is about relationships. We
ship with God up to the
light, seeing the truth of represented those of us wants for us – the ultimate are going to look deep at
the importance of relation-
what God’s word says our who claim belief and a challenge being that God
relationship with God, but wants us all to live at that ships and examine God’s
relationship with Him
should really look like; only when it’s comfortable third level. Sensing that design for each of the
recognizing that what we say or convenient. In other God was challenging different types of relation-
and tell others we believe, is words, we’re more than several of us in the room ships we all have. Parents, I
not actually reality because
happy to talk about God that night, we opened up challenge you to take time
we so often live out our and walk with Him, but are to ask your teen what he or
the opportunity for anyone
lives in such a way that is quick to back away when to share what they felt like she is learning about
contradictory. The
God starts asking things of God was telling them. relationships…and if you’re
messages were clear and us – things that we’re not really feeling daring, take it
This turned out to be an
concise, helping us see the willing to sacrifice or give incredible time of brutal further and ask them how
gaps in our relationship with up. The third and final line they’re going to apply what
honesty and vulnerabil-
God and His calling on our they’re learning in their
of faith represents those ity! Joy and I were very
lives, to serve Him and serve
Christians who are totally proud of those who took a relationships and in their
others.
sold out to God and their chance to share about every day lives!
The final night of the series walk matches their talk. themselves.
was particularly moving. In These are the folks whose Jason Wilkins, Youth Director
As the cold days of winter are times when we choose to turn our living a life pleasing to
becoming fewer, many of us thoughts inward, God is still God… All of these are
find ourselves anxious for the right there patiently waiting for forms of worship when
warm days of summer. us to turn our thought upward. they become a passionate,
all-out engagement with the
The same is true sometimes for The worship team is currently
us spiritually. At certain times doing a study on worship. To- presence and character of
we feel the presence of God as if gether we are learning how to be God. I hope as we go
He were flesh and blood, stand- more effective worshipers of our through this study that you
also are inspired to love and
ing right next to us while other great and mighty God, not just
times in our lives we feel caught on Sunday morning. Reading worship Him, not just on
alone in the cold and can’t wait scripture, writing poems, sing- Sunday mornings!
for tomorrow. How comforting ing, praying, helping those less Emily Cash, Worship Director
it is to know that during these fortunate, sharing the gospel,