Heritage Banquet Remarks and Introductions

Welcome & Opening Prayer: Pastor Andy Barnes

Greetings everyone. I would like to welcome you all to our Family Heritage Banquet which really is a celebration of over 100 years of God’s faithfulness to the ministry of what is now Grace Bible Fellowship Church in Harrisburg. This banquet is also a celebration of over 100 years of gospel ministry and it impact on people and this community.

We have a packed evening ahead of us, so I cannot delay too long getting us started, but what I want to do in the next few moments is provide you some guidance for how the evening will flow and begin our time with a word of prayer.

And what’s very much a part of the heritage is the fact that not all of us are coming here from Grace Bible Fellowship Church in Harrisburg. We are grateful for those who have come from other churches either within the BFC or outside the denomination. But we have some who are part of Freedom Bible Fellowship Church and Living Hope Bible Fellowship Church. These two churches are church plants of Grace BFC. We praise the Lord for His faithfulness in expanding our ministry in this way. So I welcome you all in the name of Jesus Christ, who is the Lord of our churches.

The Meal

Our time together will begin with a meal. The meal is buffet style, so let me point out how that will all work:

The plate at your seats are to be taken with you to the buffet line.

There are two identical serving stations, so go to the station closest to you to get your meal.

In case you are a parent and wondering about your kids’ meal, food for both the kids and the childcare workers will be delivered to them. All food allergies have been accounted for and safe food will be available to children with those allergies.

There is a separate dessert station as well.

On your table

In addition to the lovely place settings at your table, there are programs for the evening which contain the order of service, lyrics to the songs we will sing and some other information.

At each table there is an envelope which is available for donations. In our email correspondence with you, we made clear that there is no charge for this event, but if you are able to give, there is a suggested donation of $15/person. Even if you cannot give that much, we would gladly receive donations in any amount. Cash and checks can be placed in the envelopes. The envelopes will be collected at the end of the evening, so just leave them on the table.

If you look in your programs, there is a QR code that enable you to give donations online through our website. There is a dropdown menu with several categories of giving. One of them is “Heritage Banquet”.

Bathrooms

Bathrooms are just outside the main doors of the gym to the right.

Children

Our children are being cared for in two locations in the building: The nursery (infant - 4 yrs) are in room 207 and K-5th graders are in the All Purpose Room.

Parents, be mindful of the phone you indicated would receive any messages from the childcare workers.

Also, when we are concluded this evening, be sure to go get your kids. They will not be dismissed from their rooms until you pick them up.

Thank you

Doesn’t this place look beautiful?! And wait to you eat. The food is delicious.

I want to express gratitude to Lindsey Bair, Margarett Finley, Edna Maurer, Ina Ryabyy and the other who contributed to the decorating and the meal. This was no small feat, and I praise God for your efforts. Thank you for helping to make this a special night.

with those announcements made, let’s prepare to eat!

Pray

Scripture Reading: Pastor Andy Barnes

Psalm 100 ESV

A Psalm for giving thanks. 1 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! 2 Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! 3 Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! 5 For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.

Jesse Maurer will now come to lead in singing a hymn

Hymn: Great is Thy Faithfulness

Keynote Speaker: Pastor Mark Barninger

Our speaker for this evening is known by many of us. Some of you called him pastor at Grace BFC, some of you call him pastor at Freedom BFC, and some of you have called him pastor at both churches. Pastor Mark Barninger is the pastor of Freedom Bible Fellowship Church. He left Grace BFC after 8 years of pastoral ministry to plant Freedom over 17 years ago. Pastor Mark is here this evening with Ruthie, his wife of years. I know Mark to be a faithful man and pastor, and we are delighted to have him as our keynote speaker.

Hymn: For the Cause

Story of Grace: Pastor Josh Miller

Special Music

Video: Andrew John to introduce

Closing Prayer: Pastor Andy Barnes

Tear down crew get tearing down.

Parents go get your kids.