Happy Friday! I kept my commitment again this week! I invited two people to worship at Grace. Both of these people were complete strangers, and I felt a bit awkward. However, both people were very receptive and seemed grateful for the invitation. I have noticed that as soon as people know we are not selling anything, they receive genuine invitations well.  If you…

Last week in my Gracevine article I challenged everyone to invite two people to worship at Grace online or in person. I committed to do this myself. Last Saturday, I realized I needed to keep my commitment. So, I wrote our worship times on some of my business cards and I invited two people, neither of whom I had met previously, to…

I remain committed to my Bible reading plan for 2022, and it keeps me centered on the priority of faith. You may recall that I shared this plan on the church Facebook page and on my personal Facebook page. I hope many of you are following this plan. It is not too late to adopt the plan. As of January 28, the…

Some of you have asked how my life is going as I serve as a Brevard County assistant public defender in addition to pastoring at Grace. While the short answer is “extremely busy”, the longer answer is that both settings are rich and meaningful, filled with opportunities for connection with people from all walks of life. Both settings give me the opportunity…

As we begin the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend, I recall Dr. King’s famous “Letter From The Birmingham Jail.” Dr. King wrote the letter to admonish the clergy of Birmingham to be proactive in fighting injustice. King reminded them that the church is called not to support the status quo, but to create and promote communities that resemble the kingdom of…

Happy New Year! This is my first full week balancing my work at Grace with a very full schedule at the Brevard County Public Defender’s Office. I sincerely appreciate your prayers and encouragement with this journey. There are so many opportunities available each day to serve struggling people and I consider it all sacred and holy work. As a friend of mine…

Every year during Advent I try to pace myself so that I can pay attention to the people in my life and enjoy each relationship. Social gatherings are a way to recognize that people and relationships matter more than tasks and accomplishments. I have learned the hard way that I function much better if I make a list each day that includes…

One of my favorite scripture readings during Advent is a reading we will emphasize on Christmas Eve, but it is worth our attention throughout the Advent season. It is Isaiah 9:2, which states, “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness——on them light has shined.” During the first two weeks…

We received some very positive comments after Sunday’s worship services. Thank you all so much for your willingness to embrace changes and for your continuing support of Grace UMC! It is obvious to me that the Holy Spirit is at work in this place, and this Thanksgiving my life at Grace UMC is on my list of blessings. Even on the toughest…

Over the years, I have often heard people quote John 14:6 where Jesus says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Usually, people use the quote to emphasize that Jesus’ teachings are unique and different from other faiths. What I rarely hear is how people connect the terms “way”,  “truth”…