From the Pastor’s Desk

Dear Grace Community,

I’m writing with some medical lingo: DNA, fasting, and well checks.

I don’t remember much of the scientific data about DNA from biology class, but I know that the DNA of an organization is the stuff that is at its core.  The DNA of Grace contains lots of things.  Jesus is in our DNA.  Without God we would not exist.  A connection to our neighborhood is in our DNA.  The congregation met at Robinson Middle School for eight years ...

On February 19, you’re invited to a conversation about the possibility of establishing a memorial garden on the Grace grounds.  We meet at 2 pm in the Grace Parlor.  You may read more about the Memorial Garden Proposal.

This is not a new topic of discussion at Grace.  Before I was called here the session engaged in conversation about establishing a columbarium on the Grace grounds.  A memorial garden is different, but the idea is the same: both allow for the ...

In the fall I had the privilege of leading a study on the Psalms. Two groups met for ten weeks to dig into the text. There was a Tuesday morning group and a Wednesday night group – about 20 people total.

I expected to grow in my knowledge and understanding of the Psalms, and I did. I expected to have my faith enriched by the individual reading and group discussion, and that happened. I expected to enjoy getting to know people ...

In November, Dr. Katie Rhoads made a visit to Grace. Katie is a missionary in Uganda and Sudan. Grace is one of Katie’s supporting congregations, and it’s always a blessing to hear from her.

Katie is a physician. She serves as a doctor and a teacher.  As a doctor (and specifically a surgeon), she provides a wide range of medical care.  As a teacher, she teaches medicine, and she teaches Christians in the communities where she works about Christianity and about ...

Dear Grace Community,

Lillian Daniel, a pastor and writer, tells a story about talking with a man finding a church:

He told her that he visited all twenty-one churches in his hometown but didn’t find one to be part of.

“What was so wrong with them? They don’t sound too bad to me. No church has it all. Couldn’t you even find one that you liked?”

“Oh, it wasn’t that,” he said. “I liked a lot about all of them. It’s just that they ...