Wow! Monday is the first day of Vacation Bible School! We are so excited about hosting an in-person VBS this year. Niki has made lots of plans. We have a lot of wonderful volunteers and over 70 children who will be on campus learning about Jesus and how he loves them and how God is always there for them in all circumstances.…

As many of you are aware, I am currently spending time on renewal leave. This means that I am taking a few weeks away from my normal preaching and church leadership duties to study, reflect, plan, and relax as I ask for God’s Holy Spirit to recharge my batteries. I am very grateful that our United Methodist Church provides this opportunity for…

Memorial Day is upon us and I imagine we will all find some time to spend with family and friends celebrating this three-day weekend. Especially now that some of the Covid restrictions are being lifted. But this weekend is also a time that has been set aside to honor all the service men and women who have died fighting for the freedoms…

It seems almost impossible that we are coming to the close of the month of May and summertime will be here with all the fun and good times summer offers. This year we will be able to travel, attend camps, have social gatherings, cookouts, and many other activities we were not able to do last summer. We are coming into the time…

Greetings Grace Family! I am excited about all the events that are beginning to fill the church calendar. Although I had forgotten how many meetings there are, I am grateful we are seeing light at the end of this pandemic tunnel. This past Sunday we began congregational singing after 14 long months (with masks on still). We are looking at other activities…

Dear Grace Family: I am terribly excited for the opportunity to serve this church and community for a seventh year starting July 1, 2021. Between now and then, I will be involved in study, prayer, and planning. After serving full-time as a United Methodist pastor for the last thirteen years, I am taking my first renewal leave (for May and June). Our…

One of the most significant privileges for pastors and congregations is to affirm and encourage men and women who feel called into ministry. Did you know that we have someone who is exploring a ministry calling? Lilly Hibbard, who currently leads The Five every Sunday, is an exploring candidate for ordained ministry. If you have never attended The Five, come check it…

Sometimes, when life is going well for me, I wish that I could store my sense of gratitude and save it for days when things are not going well. On the good days, I see how Jesus is alive in my life and in the world around me, offering me a sense of confidence that the Holy Spirit can use even my…

What a wonderful Holy Week we had here at Grace! It was great because we had a variety of different people sharing their gifts and experiences. For example, we had Heather and Sami Mason, Chris and Evie Tompkins, and Mike Ferger sharing their reflections as part of the Maundy Thursday service. We had wonderful musical selections from Tom Black and Nick Barth,…

Dear Grace Family: If you have not already signed up for our Easter services, please do so right away! Click here to RSVP. We have had many people already sign up, and I know that our attendance numbers are increasing as more people are getting vaccinated. You do not need to sign up for Maundy Thursday or Good Friday services. Both of…