Dear Grace Family:
One of our big goals at Grace UMC this year is to promote and grow our ministries to youth and children. This is so very important because sharing our faith with the next generation is essential to our mission. In furtherance of this goal, Ms. Niki has planned a family movie night for tonight, February 9, starting at 5:30pm on the Grace campus. There will be hotdogs and popcorn, and we only ask that you bring your own lawn chairs and blankets. In the event of rain, we will move inside the fellowship hall. So plan to come out, meet new people, and support our ministry to young families.
The Lenten season this year has come upon us quickly! Next Wednesday, February 14, we offer our Ash Wednesday service at 6:30pm in the sanctuary. Come out and experience the imposition of ashes and consider what practices of faith you want to embrace this Lent. Some of the best Lenten disciplines involve “taking on” new and healthy habits. Remember that a Lenten practice does not have to mean giving something up. Instead, new and healthy spiritual habits always help us grow closer to Christ.
This Sunday, February 11, the scripture passages are 2 Peter 1: 16-18 and Mark 9: 2-9. I am working on a message entitled “Glimpses of Eternity.” This Transfiguration passage is a familiar one to many of us, yet every time I study it I get new ideas about its purpose and meaning. I look forward to sharing this message, and I hope you will plan now to be present in worship Sunday.
Finally, friends, please pray for our conference leadership as they discern new appointments for this year. Specifically, I am praying that the Holy Spirit sends just the right person to serve Grace in the next season of leadership. I love this church and community, and I look forward to sharing with the new pastor the many blessings of being here. Our staff is incredibly gifted and we are truly fortunate to have such talented people. By the way, we will learn the name of the new pastor in April. That person will begin the position July 1. My last Sunday at Grace will be June 2.
I look forward to seeing you Sunday!
Steve Hart