Welcome to the New Week

“Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.” Romans 12:10 The Message (MSG)

Gentle Spirit Christian Church’s 2nd Response to the Coronavirus/COVID-19

Again, for all of you that are being impacted by the Corona Virus either physically or economically, directly or indirectly, Mine and the Church’s prayers go out to you. This is a difficult, challenging and frightening time for all of us and support from our friends and family is critical to us coming through this.

As for worship on Sunday morning’s” After much prayer, discussion, and more prayer is has been decided there will no services in Candler Park until Easter Sunrise at 7:10 AM.  Even this will be subject to how things are going with the containment of the virus.  We are doing this out of our need to be cautious and responsible to the folks who show up to services by not putting them  in a position of risk. Also it has become clear one of the best things people can do to help stop this virus is stay at home.

Remember each week’s message will be posted on our website and on Facebook. Also, please note our expenses do not stop during this time, so please send your tithes and offerings to the church office 601 West Ponce de Leon Decatur, Georgia 30030.

I will be checking in with folks via FB or phone during this time.  I can be reached through the Church office.  Even though the office is closed for now we are monitoring the phone and calls will be returned ASAP.

I am not as technically savvy as some of my friends and colleagues but with the help of Mike T. and others I will find the tools needed to keep the communications open, consistent and the message of GSCC out there.

We are encouraging these common-sense precautions to help protect our Community.

First and foremost, we encourage you to follow the CDC’s recommendations about preventing the spread of the virus

• Stay home when you are sick.
  · Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
  · Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, and then throw the tissue in the trash.
  · Wash your hands often with soap and water; if soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. We will make sure there is plenty of these at each service.
  · Additional information can be found here:
  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/prevention-treatment.html

Finally but not least Billy and I have found great comfort from this particular scripture: Philippians 4:4-9 (MSG)

“Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him! Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you’re on their side, working with them and not against them. Help them see that the Master is about to arrive. He could show up any minute!

Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.”

The challenges are great but our God is greater and we will come through this together stronger than ever.

God Bless,
Rev. Paul M. Turner-Sr. Pastor

“…Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;  I have summoned you by name; you are mine.” Isaiah 43:1 (NIV)

Gentle Spirit Christian Church’s Response to the Coronavirus/COVID-19

For all of you that are being impacted by the Corona Virus either physically or economically, directly or indirectly, Mine and the Church’s prayers go out to you. This is a difficult, challenging and frightening time for all of us and support from our friends and family is critical to us coming through this.

As for worship on Sunday morning’s. We are different from other churches in the sense we are outside and our numbers are smaller. We are not jammed into an enclosed location or packed into pews. So we will continue offering Worship Services in Candler Park.

In addition remember each week’s message will be posted on our website and on Facebook. Also, please note our expenses do not stop during this time, so if you are not in attendance on Sunday’s your tithes and offerings can be mailed to the church office 601 West Ponce de Leon Decatur, Georgia 30030.

With that said, here is how we will conduct ourselves at our service in the park.

We are taking some common-sense precautions to help protect our Community.

(1) First and foremost, we encourage you to follow the CDC’s recommendations about preventing the spread of the virus:
· Stay home when you are sick.
· Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
· Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, and then throw the tissue in the trash.
· Wash your hands often with soap and water; if soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. We will make sure there is plenty of these at each service.
· Additional information can be found here:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/prevention-treatment.html

The challenges are great but our God is greater and we will come through this together stronger than ever.
God Bless,
Rev. Paul M. Turner-Sr. Pastor

“In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You can’t get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others. If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God’s part.”  Matthew 6:14-15 (MSG)

Yet again: SPECIAL NOTICE WIND CHILL SUNDAY AT SERVICE TIME IS GOING TO BE WELL UNDER 40 DEGREES-SO SERVICE WILL BE AT FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF DECATUR IN THE CHAPEL 601 West Ponce de Leon Decatur, GA 30030.  Bring a dish to pass and we will eat lunch and fellowship after service.

“So whenever you give to the poor, don’t sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be applauded by people. I assure you: They’ve got their reward!” Matthew 6:2 (HCSB)

“So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.”  Colossians 3:12-14 (MSG)

SPECIAL NOTICE WIND CHILL SUNDAY AT SERVICE TIME IS GOING TO BE WELL UNDER 40 DEGREES-SO SERVICE WILL BE AT FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF DECATUR IN THE CHAPEL 601 West Ponce de Leon Decatur, GA 30030.  Bring a dish to pass and we will eat lunch and fellowship after service.

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10 (NRSV)