Dear Grace Family: As we approach Labor Day weekend, it is my prayer that we all make the effort to stay connected with our friends and family. Many people who normally travel on holiday weekends may not do so this year, but there are still ways to be social by phone or letter or the various forms of electronic communication. Loneliness and…

Dear Grace Family: With a new school year underway I see more traffic and activity around the church and in the Merritt Island community. I am grateful for the signs of life and activity all around us, even if it requires extra patience when driving. If you are in the process of adjusting to a new schedule because of school starting, I…

Dear Grace Family and Friends: As we approach the opening of our public schools for a new year, we will see more traffic and more people out of their homes. I pray that all of us can exercise extra patience and that we can express gratitude for each pleasant encounter. The isolation of the past few months has been difficult for many…

Dear Grace Family and Friends: This has been a crazy week indeed! It started with a hurricane warning last weekend. We canceled in-person worship because of the warning. While there were no weather problems on Merritt Island, there was a car that hit a power source near the church, causing the church campus to lose power. The power was off from Monday…

Dear Grace Family: As we end the month of July, I pray for our school personnel, parents and students who are preparing for a new school year. It will be different from previous years because of the pandemic, and I know there is a great deal of anxiety. May our words and actions serve as a source of comfort for those who…

Dear Grace Family: Has someone ever quoted a scripture verse to you when you were having a hard time and the verse was not particularly helpful? I know that I have had this experience. Sometimes well-meaning friends and family members do not know what to say when we are struggling, so quoting a familiar Bible verse is an easy response.   This Sunday,…

Dear Grace Community: We continue each day to be aware of our need for the peace that can only come from God’s Holy Spirit. This week has been challenging for our community with the county trying to set plans to reopen the schools amid continuing spikes in covid cases.  This Sunday, July 19, my message will be based upon Genesis 28: 10-22…

Dear Grace Family: I pray that you are able to enjoy celebrating the July 4th holiday in a safe manner. It will be different than previous years because of the challenges of the pandemic, but thankfully we have the technology that helps us stay connected with family and friends. Thank you all for your ongoing prayers for the church and community. I…

Dear Grace Family: Thank you all for your compliance with our procedures for in-person worship and for the use of the church facilities. Everything has gone well so far. I hope that those of you who are in any high-risk category will continue to worship online at home, particularly as we see spikes in covid-19 cases in Florida. For those who choose…

Dear Grace Family: This Sunday’s message will be based upon six short verses of scripture, Matthew 10: 34-39. The passage includes Jesus’ saying that “whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” The message is entitled “The Promised Land and the Sword of Jesus.”   In our current environment, one way that we take up…