Grace has a new partner in our ministry: a congregation of the Presbyterian Church of the South Sudan. Led by Pastor Jacob Juol, this congregation worships on Sundays from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and gathers on Saturdays from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. for Bible Study and Prayer. On both days, the congregation gathers in the Chapel. Please greet and welcome our siblings in Christ whenever you see them.
The Grace Book Club meets again on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, at 6:30 pm, in the Parlor. The book selection is Tell Her Story, by Dr. Nijay K. Gupta. The book club is open to all. Contact Melissa Buteyn at englishteachmb@gmail.com or call the church office for more information.
Don and Rogena Allison celebrate 65 years of marriage on August 1. You are invited to a celebration reception on Thursday, August 1, from 2:00 to 4:00 pm at Larksfield Place, 7373 East 29th Street, North, in the Clark Enrichment Center. Enter off 29th Street and enter the building from the entrance by the parking lot. Please come and help us celebrate!
Jesus has existed from the beginning and is the Living Word. This Jesus was born of a virgin and his conception was supernatural. Jesus is God incarnate. Jesus is our Savior. He is fully man and fully God. As F.F. Bruce notes, “’A Saviour not quite God’, said Bishop Handley Moule, ‘is a bridge broken at the farther end.’ With equal truth it must be said that a Saviour-and an Exemplar-not quite man is a bridge broken at the nearer end.” This Jesus is the redeemer of the world, and all things will be reconciled in him.
This Jesus was tempted in all ways as we and he did not sin. That means whenever we are tested to misuse our authority in Jesus to be selfish as opposed to sacrificial, we can claim his victory over the devil’s temptation and trust the Father to sustain us. Jesus challenged the religious leaders to renounce their legalism and discover grace from the one whom Isaiah promised would set the prisoner free and give sight to the blind. This Jesus challenged the rich to give it all away to the poor. This Jesus served the outcast, the marginalized, the ostracized, the sinner, and the lost.
Jesus was a provocative teacher, sacred friend, truthful revealer, extreme forgiver, authentic leader, compassionate healer, relentless lover and supreme conqueror. Jesus promised his followers that they would change the world.
Believing in Jesus and loving him is one thing. Being transformed by Jesus is another. Transformation, a life-long process, is a work of the Holy Spirit in our lives and the fruit of obedience.
As one in the company of Jesus, continue to focus your attention on him.
On the journey of Christian discipleship and spiritual formation with you, I remain faithfully yours,
Steve
The Rev. Dr. Steven M. Marsh
Interim Pastor
On Sunday, May 5, at our one worship service, we will recognize all our high school, college, and post-college graduates. If you would like your graduate or you to be recognized, please email the following information to kirk@mygpc.org by April 25: Picture (headshot preferably), school graduating from, awards, a short bio with family, activities, and future plans. Questions? Please contact Kirk.
