We are now in the season of Lent, and I recently read something by Eugene Peterson about the process of self-examination that is a critical part of Lenten practice. Peterson says, “No matter how many things our examination turns up, scrapping the life within us isn’t an option. God created this life, he has entered into it, he has provided the means…

I have mentioned before that I enjoy my Message Devotional Bible and particularly the reflections from Eugene Peterson that it contains. One such reflection is an analogy from how fruit grows to how we grow spiritually. We cannot force the growth and health of fruit, and if fruit is not consumed within certain time constraints, the fruit will spoil. So it is…

One of my favorite authors, Frederick Buechner, once wrote about how all of us “wear masks” that partially hide our true selves. Buechner stated, “We wear masks, and with practice we do it better and better, and they serve us well—except that it gets very lonely inside the mask, because inside the mask that each of us wears there is a person…

Recently, I read an article entitled “Reclaiming the E Word.” The “E” word is evangelism, and for many Christians the word conjures images of aggressive efforts to convert non-believers. The author offered a new perspective on the word. She says, “What if we share the Good News with a view to discerning how God is alive in all people and all things?…

I am not particularly knowledgeable about boats, but a few years ago I heard an analogy to faith based upon boating. The analogy is that our connection to Christian community, and to the Holy Spirit, serves as a ballast that offers us stability amidst the stormy times of our lives. This analogy really stuck with me. I have often experienced the stability…

As I was driving home from the chili cook-off Wednesday night, I thought about how our church provides a great opportunity for people of all ages to enjoy life together. I saw smiling faces and laughter from ages 6 to 86! Just one day before, we didn’t know if anyone would cook chili or attend the dinner. However, we ended up with about…

This coming Monday, January 16, is the federal holiday in recognition of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. King taught our society how to pursue justice in this world while maintaining a heart of peace toward all God’s children. While our Merritt Island community is not very racially diverse, as Christians we have an obligation to be aware of the unique challenges that…

Happy New Year! As we begin 2023, my prayer for everyone is that we pay attention to the world around us and look for the signs of the Holy Spirit at work among friends and strangers alike in all situations. None of us can predict what this year holds for us, but our faith reminds us that God loves us and will never…

This is my last Gracevine for 2022. As I look back on the previous 12 months, It has truly been a year of God’s provision and presence here at Grace UMC. We began the year welcoming Pastor Gary Spencer to share my pastoral duties. Pastor Gary brought his years of experience to us and blessed us with several sermon series’ and a…

This weekend is the perfect time to invite your friends to experience our wonderful music department!  Saturday, December 17 at 6pm and Sunday, December 18 at 10am are the times for the cantata: Tidings of Joy: A Celtic Christmas Celebration.  Don’t miss this opportunity to reach out to our community and share the joy of Christmas music with others! Please know how much we appreciate your end of…