Dear Grace Family: Being separated from our routine community life offers an opportunity to reflect upon what our community means to us. Despite the distinctly American emphasis upon individualism and personal freedom, human beings were made to live in community with each other. We need time alone, but too much isolation is not healthy for any of us. Personally, I miss many…

Dear Grace Family: I miss you all! This has been a strange several weeks. While I am grateful for the technology that makes online worship possible, it is not the same as worshipping in person. God willing, we will return to some form of in-person worship before the end of May.  In the meanwhile, I am excited to share that we will close…

Dear Grace Family:Here we are in the heart of another holy week. But this one is unlike any other that we have experienced. We are confined to our homes. We may be fearful regarding our health and the health of our loved ones. We may be fearful about our economic futures. Yet in the midst of these concerns, we have the opportunity…

Dear Grace Family: In 1966, Robert Kennedy delivered a speech in which he quoted a curse which says, “May he live in interesting times.” Kennedy went on to say that while life then was interesting and dangerous and uncertain, it was also the most creative of any time in history. Times of crisis call upon all of us to be creative in…

Dear Grace Family: As we continue our journey through COVID-19 and its effects on everyone, it is important that we all develop routine prayer practices. You may have specific, personal prayer needs to share. Please send those to Pat Harrison at path.gumc@gmail.com. Pat will forward those requests to me and Pastor Beth and our prayer team. If you have a need that…

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…