by Pastor of Congregational Life | Feb 9, 2023 | Family Practices, Lent, Life Together
For Lent this year, Grace is offering a Lenten devotional book and discussion group on African-American Spirituals, titled Were You There. According to the publisher’s description: “Valuable not only for their sublime musical expression, the African-American spirituals provide profound insights into the human condition and Christian life. Many spirituals focus on the climax of the Christian drama, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the ways in which those events bring about the liberation of God’s people. “In these devotions for the season of Lent, Luke A. Powery leads the reader through the spirituals as they confront the mystery of Christ’s atoning death and victory over the grave. Each selection includes the lyrics of the spiritual, a reflection by the author on the spiritual’s meaning, a Scripture verse related to that meaning, and a brief prayer.” Pastor Kelsi will be preaching on some of these same texts through Lent. A discussion group will meet weekly during Lent, likely Sunday mornings at 10am. We’ll take turns leading each other in a review and discussion of each chapter over the coming months. Books are available in the office. RSVP to POCL@gracegr.org if you are interested in the...
by Pastor of Congregational Life | Oct 1, 2022 | Life Together
From Grace’s Council, Fall 2022 Grace Church has held a long-standing vision to be a healthy, urban, intentionally multi-ethnic, and diverse (in many ways) expression of God’s new family in Christ Jesus. Our name, Grace, reflects our calling to welcome people of all kinds on the basis of God’s undeserved gift of grace. We cling to our proud history of promoting racial justice and reconciliation, women in church office, and inclusion of people of all abilities. We hear echoes of words of grace once spoken by a Black founding elder when White families first began to join our church: If they are not welcome, I am not welcome. We as a church have been extensively discussing appropriate inclusion of our LGBTQ+ siblings for some time, both as a congregation and denomination. As Grace stated in our 2017 statement, we have sought “to be a welcoming community where all are accepted as sinners saved by grace” yet at that time we chose not to articulate “an official position statement” regarding same-sex marriage. Some of our members strongly disagree with each other on the issue of LGBTQ+ marriage. The council of Grace Church respects the fact that faithful, loving, and Christlike members of our congregation have come to different conclusions. We must now discern a way forward together, embracing our diversity “in many ways.” Therefore, longing for God’s Shalom for all people in the New Creation, being swept up in the Spirit’s campaign of radical inclusion, and in the humble power of Jesus’ self-giving love, the council of Grace Church adopted the following policy: Grace Church celebrates LGBTQ+ people as image...
by Natalie Hart | Jun 24, 2022 | Family Practices
This is a simple practice of checking in with all members of your family–whether there are two of you, whether you live in the same place, for all ages. By Sally Thomas, The Wondering Together Project: A Simple Tool For These Hard Times, from Building Faith. Make Time Carve out about 10 minutes each day. Gather in a place and a way that fits into your life (at a table, on a daily walk, getting ready for bed, driving to school). Try to use the same space and time of day once you find what works well for you all. Have the wondering questions printed. Make Space Set aside any digital distractions so that these ten minutes together are peaceful, and you can really listen to each other. Some families light a candle, dim the lights, or do something else to make this short time together feel special, but you don’t have to! One family member asks the first question. If it works, take turns leading the questions each day, as it underscores the agency of each household member, especially the youngest. Ask Each Other The Wondering Questions “I wonder what part of today you liked the best?” Some may have just a word or two to share while others may tell a short story. Just listen to one another. Everyone always has the right to pass. When everyone has answered the first question, the second one is asked: “I wonder what part of today was the most important part?” Allow everyone to answer with a phrase or a short story. Then go onto the third question, “I wonder when...
by Natalie Hart | Feb 26, 2022 | Lent, Prayer Calendar
Lent begins on Wednesday, March 2 and ends on Easter, April 17. Lent is the time we get ready to celebrate the mystery of Easter—Jesus shows us the way to get ready. The verses in this prayer calendar will help remind us of the ways that God guides, leads, and teaches us. Print out the 47-space path from below or draw your own. On Ash Wednesday, read the verse for the day from the Lent Prayer Calendar (from below or from your favorite translation of the Bible). Choose a word from that verse that stands out for you and write it in a space in the path. Sundays are feast days, so choose to do something that brings you joy on those days. Continue to write on one space every day until Easter. ***** Psalm 16:11 (ERV) You will teach me the right way to live. Just being with you will bring complete happiness. Psalm 18:36 (ERV) You cleared a path for my feet so that I could walk without stumbling. Psalm 23:3 (ERV) He restores my strength. He leads me on right paths to show that he is good. Psalm 25:4 (ERV) LORD, help me learn your ways. Show me how you want me to live. Psalm 25:5 (ERV) LORD, guide me and teach me your truths. You are my God, my Savior. You are the one I have been waiting for. Psalm 25:9-10 (ERV) He teaches his ways to humble people. He leads them with fairness. Psalm 25:10 (MSG) From now on every road you travel will take you to GOD. Follow the Covenant signs; read the...
by Natalie Hart | Jan 27, 2022 | Prayer Calendar
Feb. 1, 1965 The United States may have passed the Amendment to the Constitution that made slavery illegal, but slave-owning states were slow to tell slaves about it. It took until June 19 for the word to reach slaves in Texas. Even after that, lots of cities, churches, businesses, and people still treated Black people the same as when they were slaves. Feb. 3, 1870 This Amendment may have guaranteed the right to vote to all people, but in reality, that’s not how it worked. Women couldn’t vote until 1920, and Black men and women couldn’t vote in a lot of cities and states until the Voting Rights Act was passed in 1965. Some states are still trying to make it hard for Black and Brown people to vote. Feb. 4, 1913 Happy Birthday to Rosa Parks! She was a Black civil rights activist who refused to move to the back of a city bus so a White lady could sit in her spot. Rosa Parks was arrested, but justice organizations argued against her arrest in the courts. It got all the way to the Supreme Court, and bus segregation was declared unconstitutional under the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Feb. 5 The Grand Rapids African American Museum and Archives is at 87 Monroe Center. Its many collections reflect the unique historical and cultural contributions of local African Americans and people of color upon North America and globally. Plan a visit: https://www.graama.org/. Feb. 9 The Grand Rapids African American Health Institute works to improve fairness in health care and...
by Natalie Hart | Dec 23, 2021 | Uncategorized
January’s prayer calendar focuses on what God says about us in the Bible. Each title has a Bible verse so you can see an example of how it appears in Scripture. When you pray you can say, “God, you say that I’m ______________.” Then you can say whatever you’re led to say to God. I imagine that some days you’ll say, “Thank you!” And other days you’ll say, “Help me feel more ________________. Help me remember how you feel about me.” You might even pray for someone else: “Help ________________ feel more ________________. Help them know how you feel about them.” Coming in February: Black History Month! In March, Grace turns 60 years old. Since we started as a Black church, there will be lots of Grace-specific items in those two prayer...
by Natalie Hart | Dec 1, 2021 | Uncategorized
Some of our families really enjoyed using the Creation Season Prayer Calendar in September and October, so we’re going to keep it going! Each month will have a theme. December focuses on the names of God and Jesus. Each name has a Bible verse you can read to see an example of how it appears in Scripture. You can pray to God using each day’s name. Perhaps using the name will inspire new ways to pray, new things to thank or ask God for. Coming in January: What God says about...
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