Dear Grace Community: Have you ever struggled to forgive someone who has hurt you? I think we all have, and sometimes we may struggle for years to let go of the hurt and the pain in order to offer true forgiveness. This Sunday, as we continue our Lenten sermon series, we will explore what it means to embrace the uncertainty of forgiveness.…

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…

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…

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…

Dear Grace Community:I have been thinking about bridges lately. As you know, our vision statement at Grace is “Building bridges between Christ and our community.” I think it is a very dynamic, exciting vision statement. It emphasizes the outward focus of our ministry, so that we avoid thinking of ourselves as a social club that just cares for its members. As we…

Dear Grace Community:Pay attention! We often hear this when someone is warning us to avoid a collision or accident. But what if paying attention is the best advice for maintaining a deep and meaningful walk with Jesus? Only by looking for evidence of the work of the Holy Spirit in our daily lives will we be able to witness God’s miracles and…

Dear Grace Community: Have you ever noticed how creative we human beings can be at finding excuses for inaction? We may say that we don’t have time, or that we are not smart enough or talented enough, or that we just do not believe in our ability to succeed in navigating the challenges of our lives. We have all, at times, leaned…

As we begin a new year, it is a great time to get involved in the life of your church. If you have ever considered starting a small group or Bible study, we have a great resource in Right Now Media. Every church member can get access to this Netflix style library of educational, inspiring, Biblical videos. If you have not ever…

This is my last Gracevine article of 2019, and I have been thinking about what words sum up this year for me. I am ending the year with a heart that is surprised, full, and very grateful. When 2019 began, I did not anticipate the many blessings that have come to pass in my family life. I did not anticipate a merger…