February 2021 | Vol 406

Letter from the church council

John 4:24 . Serving God wholeheartedly means serving God in Spirit and in truth. When you are given a responsibility, do not grumble, for when you grumble you water down the blessing God has earmarked for you. It is also important that you do not serve God blindly.

1 Samuel 12:24: Only fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you.

Colossians 3:23-24: Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward.

Arusha Community Church continues to serve as a spiritual home for many people from all walks of life. It has given each and every one of us an opportunity to serve GOD in small and big ways; something which we can all do! Reflecting on my own experience in the church council, it brings a lot of joy and honor knowing that serving God is a demonstration of love for Him through loving service to others. Loving God with all your heart and loving your neighbor, as Jesus Christ taught, is the essence of serving God. All service to God is accomplished through the power which He supplies and therefore binds us together with Him. Importantly serving God rewards us with:

• Problem-solving skills – Just because it is church doesn’t mean there won’t be problems! …
• Responsibility and Accountability-when you serve at church you gather responsibility. .,..
• Mentorship – Everyone at one point in life needs a mentor of some kind. By serving at church you will be serving alongside Godly men and women who can pour into them, encourage them, and even take them under their wing.
• Realize their gifts and/or talents – Each one of us has an amazing gift that God has given us. Unfortunately, so many never realize these gifts because they aren’t provided the opportunity to figure them out or work on them. You are encouraged through ACC Time and Ability forms to find a way to share your gift and talent with others.
• Encouraged to lead –As time goes by, you will often feel and given great responsibility and encouraged to take
  charge of some things in church.What a joy!!
• Confidence – It builds their confidence to you and all people around you
• Healthy Relationships – You will be surrounded by other Godly people treating each other with respect.
• Make new friends – ACC welcomes in people from within Tanzania and all nations of the world. Through serving God in many capacities at ACC, be it singing, Preaching, leading service, ushering, sound and IT support, Sunday school teaching, library support, decorating the church, council member or member of various committee, you will always get to meet and make new friend!
• Learn the Bible – Of all the things listed, learning the Bible will always remain your number one priority in everything you do!

If your desire is to serve the Lord with all your heart, you are not alone – God is with you. … All by yourself, connected to the power of God, much can be accomplished. Consider how you can offer yourself as a ‘living sacrifice’. Please be for ACC what God intended you to be, and serve now in His power. Please make yourself known during the Annual General Meeting of early February or in the weeks following. Fill in the TAA forms and contact the duty elder or the church administrator.

PRAYER: Create in me a pure heart, O God. Help me to see the sacredness of daily life. Help me pursue righteousness in all that I do. Help me see my ordinary work as an act of faithfulness to you. Help me love others. Help me be an instrument of your peace. In the name of Jesus, I pray these things. Amen.

–Doreen Marandu

ACC’s 35th Annual General Meeting

7th February 2021 after worship service
All are encouraged and welcomed to attend.
Our ACC health protection guidelines will be followed

Ash Wednesday Service

17 February 2021, 7 pm

All are welcome

Ash Wednesday, is the first day of the Season of Lent. Its name comes from the ancient practice of placing ashes on worshippers’ heads or foreheads as a sign of humility before God, a symbol of mourning and sorrow at the death that sin brings into the world. Ash Wednesday is a somber day of reflection on what needs to change in our lives if we are to be fully Christian.

Message from Council Chair

While we know we are blessed here in Tanzania with regard to covid-19, we do know that it is on-going and increasing in other parts of the world. As an international community which welcomes visitors and which seeks to love and protect those around us, we are continuing to follow health protection guidelines for the safety of all. 

We ask that you continue to:
-Wash your hands before entering
-Wear a mask at all times, especially when singing (please don’t take off your mask to sing)
-Keep a degree of distance
We work and pray together as one community, sharing the love of Christ to all.

-Susan Simonson

TITHES AND OFFERINGS AT ACC:

Your OFFERINGS are important. It is easier for accounting purposes, and without charges, if offerings are deposited directly into our Exim Bank Account (please see details below). While the MPESA number remains available for receiving offerings, please consider making a deposit directly into our bank.

ACC BANK DETAILS:
For anyone who wishes or needs to transfer funds via bank deposit to ACC please find the following details here:
EXIM BANK
TSH: ACCOUNT NUMBER 00 300 23 252
USD: ACCOUNT NUMBER 578 067 0116

ACC MOBILE MONEY ACCOUNT DETAILS:
For anyone who wishes or needs to transfer funds via mobile money to ACC please find the following details here:
M-PESA DEPOSIT NUMBER: +255755992394
NAME: NASIEKU MOLLEL (Church Administrator)