Dear Grace Family: As we enter the Memorial Day weekend, I imagine that many of us have loved ones, friends, and acquaintances who died in military service. It is a time to appreciate and to honor their sacrifice. As Jesus taught, “…greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13. We honor the brave men and women who died in service, even as we think about how God showed His love for us by giving His life.
This is also the time in the Christian calendar when we recognize Ascension Sunday, the event occurring forty days after Easter when Jesus ascended into heaven, as we recite in the Apostle’s Creed. The Ascension is very important in emphasizing our understanding that Jesus is Lord of the universe. He was not just a great prophet and great teacher, but also almighty God incarnate. Sometimes I think we tend to forget the power and authority of our Lord.
Our scripture reading for Sunday is 1 Peter 4: 12-14 and 1 Peter 5: 6-11. These passages remind us that while we will suffer in this life, we are called to cast our cares onto the Lord, who loves us more than we can imagine. I will be sharing a message based upon these verses. Please pray that new people join us for online worship, and invite friends. The great thing about the online option is that people can watch any time, not just Sunday at 11. So share the Facebook service with friends far and wide! You will be spreading the gospel from the safety of your home! We also pray for the upcoming manned space flight scheduled for Wednesday, May 27. This is the first such event in almost nine years, and it is a big deal for everyone involved.
Finally, I thank God every day for the wonderful Grace staff. We have some very gifted, faithful people who serve this church and community in an excellent manner. May you see Christ in every encounter in the week ahead! Pastor Steve Hart