Posts from February 2020

Embracing the Uncertain

Dear Grace Community: The season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, and this year Ash Wednesday was February 26. We had excellent attendance for the Ash Wednesday service. The 40 days of Lent include the days between Ash Wednesday and Easter, excluding Sundays. Every year, I hear comments and questions about Lent, ranging from “What should I give up for Lent” to…

Transfiguration

Hello Grace Family! Have you ever had a day where everything feels the same even looks the same but you know deep in your heart that something significant has changed? This Sunday is Transfiguration Sunday. It is a threshold day. It is a day that marks a change from one reality into another. Threshold days leave us feeling a little like we…

What’s in a name?

Dear Grace Community: What’s in a name? Shakespeare made this phrase famous in Romeo and Juliet. He used this rhetorical question to communicate the idea that external labels or titles given to us do not change our essence. “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet…..”, or so said the Bard. However, names that offer insight into identity are very important…

What a FOOL!

Dear Grace Community: A few years ago I had a friend who led a praise band called “Fools for Christ.” With that band title, my friend was able to remind people that part of the joy and freedom of Christian discipleship is that we never have to take ourselves too seriously. I have been reflecting on this idea in preparation for the…