Love, Leadership, Fun/Joy, Faith, Welcoming community
From the Pastor…
Extravagant welcome, continuing testament, changing lives… these are words that I believe lead in our journey of faith here at Grace United Church of Christ. We are called to be on the journey of faith together, to grow and love and be. Our journeys are different, but they are our journeys and they shape us. Learning to listen and be kind and loving is part of our journey. Learning not to judge and to stand up for injustice is part of our journey. We are in different places on our journey, and we are on our journey together.
As we gather for Ash Wednesday service at 7:00pm on February 18. This will be a service to begin our Lenten journey together; we will receive ashes and have the sacrament of Communion. We will bury the Alleluia and journey together into Lent. Lent is a time of repentance, mediation, and a season of reflection and repentance. It invites us to look inside our hearts, seeing ourselves with compassion and truth… to see both our brokenness and our beauty, our failings and our faithfulness. In this season we are invited to journey into a deeper commitment. I invite you to join me.
On the Wednesdays of Lent, Feb. 25, March 4, 11, 18, 25 we will gather in the Fellowship hall and journey together. We will gather for a simple meal of soup and bread at 6, following the meal we will gather around the tables and hear faith journeys, plus share some of our own journeys. There will be activities at the tables for those who wish to remain quiet, or those who aren’t as verbal. I would like to encourage families to come; there will be things for even the youngest among us to do. As we gather I would invite us to move outside our comfort zone and sit with new people, not just our family of Origin. Faith journey story tellers include Rev. Mindy Quellhorst, Rev. Janine Wilson, our Central Southeast Ohio Association minister, Jim Clausing, Pastor Jill Glass, our Associate Association Minister of the Central Southeast Association, and Johanna Pearce. We will be on our way home no later than 7:30. I hope you will join us; this is a great way to get to know each other’s journeys and to grow in our faith together. I believe that we are called to build community, and be transformed. Lent is a time to call us to journey together.
I also will be beginning a called to care team, if you are interested, please let me know. On Sunday mornings beginning, Feb. 22, there will be an adult/young adult class beginning at 9:30. Sunday School for youth and children will be looking at some different activities as well, some of them are learning the bells, singing, acting out the stories.
I believe that we are beginning to live into our core values. Let’s work together to be the church, open, loving, intergenerational, caring, fun and Joy Filled.