Jesus said, “Do not be afraid...”

 Dear Friends,

            Once a year most organizations, even families, either choose or are forced to take stock of themselves.  For individuals and families this process might include taking down the old calendar and filling in a new one, setting up a budget for the new year or preparing to file taxes in the Spring.  This taking stock or time of reflection happens in churches as well with forms to fill out and reports to write.  The point of all this is to help us to stop and reflect on what we are doing, where we are going and why.

            If you have been around Grace Church for any length of time, you have probably become somewhat familiar with our mission statement.  We print it on every bulletin and newsletter and it is found on the website.  It was originally adopted by the church conference in January of 1998.  Here it is, “Our mission is that all people might experience, embrace and extend the grace of God through Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit.”  (We added the word “embrace” to the statement a few years later.) This is how we apply Jesus’ great commission of making disciples to our local setting and context.  Our mission statement is not self-explanatory and is only words on a page unless and until it is understood and practiced by every member and friend of Grace Church.   

Our focus is Jesus Christ and growing as His people, His followers in this world.  For decades many churches neglected the person of Jesus Christ and failed to clearly call people to respond to His Gospel.  At Grace Church people are invited to believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, the one who saves us by forgiving our sins.  Having a relationship with Christ goes beyond a statement of faith, to actually choosing to invite Him into every aspect of our lives.  A call to follow Jesus is a challenge to live for Him, seeking to practice His teachings on a daily basis.

            We believe people will grow in their relationship with Christ when they do three things, take part in these basic activities… 

Worship each Sunday:  Each worship service is designed with the goal of helping people grow in their relationship with God through Christ.  The music that we listen to and sing helps us to express our appreciation to God for who He is and what he has done.  Scriptures are carefully and prayerfully chosen in order to inspire people to grow deeper and stronger in their faith.

            As we look toward February, our Worship services will focus first on God’s love: Receiving and Sharing it. (Valentine’s Day is on a Sunday this year!)  From late February through Early April (the season of Lent on the Christian calendar) we will face our fears!  The series will be based on Max Lucado’s book Fearless: Imagine Life Without Fear.  Each week will be centered on a “Do not be Afraid…’ statement of Jesus.  This is certainly a time when there seems to be much to be anxious about: from the economy to Swine Flu to Terrorism.  This promises to be a very timely and relevant series.   

Talk with God each Day:  Daily Bible Readings are provided to help people read the Scriptures in a systematic way.  Every person should find a way to read the Scriptures and to reflect on them each day.  Everyone should find a way to pray on a daily basis: praising God, confessing our faults, thanking Him for blessings and seeking His help for the needs of others as well as our own.  The daily readings are found in the newsletter and on the website:www.gracechurchstj.org. 

Spend time with others.  With small groups of people we find time to share our own relationship with the Lord, ask questions about our faith and to study the Scriptures in a group setting.  Much of our service often happens in small groups as well.  This aspect of the Christian life is crucial to people of all ages.  We have also designed our Sunday School program so that children and youth can experience helping one another grow in their faith week by week. 

The Fireproof Movie and Study:  In March, we showed the movie Fireproof at the church.  This was the latest film created by the producers of Facing the Giants.  In the weeks following the movie, we offered a marriage study based on the film.  Fourteen couples participated in this 6 session Bible study.  The class culminated with a special opportunity for couples to renew their wedding vows.  Helping build solid Christ-centered marriages is at the core of our mission as a church.

            As we look to 2010 another movie night is being planned for a Sunday soon.  We will be showing, “No Greater Love” This films comes highly recommended by Focus on the Family as well as Family Life Today.  A Bible Study for married couples will be offered in the weeks following the study, concluding before Memorial Day weekend.  Watch for previews and more information in the upcoming weeks!               

It is my hope that when someone participates in the mission and ministry of Grace Church they change.  This is a place, en environment where it is safe and even expected that we would be growing, that each of us would be actively in the process of “becoming.”                       

Become a Server.  Jesus Christ during his time of earth was a people-server, a need-meeter.  He calls each of us to learn to serve others.  There are opportunities to serve each week: to become part of the worship team, to volunteer to help with the Monday Luncheon.  (Right now we need people to pick up food from St. Johnsbury Academy, once every five or six weeks on Monday mornings.)  We have sent people to various countries around the world to serve in Jesus’ name.  Look for more opportunities!  Sharing our talents and time is a great way to serve Christ and to make a difference!  Each day we can take time to serve one another in practical ways right where we are! 

Become a Giver: Grace Church is a giving church.  We give generously first to support the ministry and mission of Grace Church.  If you are not giving ten percent or any percent of your income to the church, step up and try it!   God blesses us when we are generous!  Is giving only for ourselves and our needs?  No!  At Grace Church, we are invited to help when there is a need anywhere in the world. 

Christmas Miracle Offering: For the third consecutive year I invited the members and friends of Grace Church to have a simpler Christmas so that others might simply live.  We once again partnered with Ginghamsburg Church in Tipp City, Ohio who provided excellent videos of the ongoing work in Darfur, Sudan.  Once again, this year your response was overwhelming and extremely generous.  The total raised to honor our Lord on His birthday was $6000!  

Become an Inviter: Good news deserves to be shared.  As much as we advertise or seek to inform people about Grace Church, nothing is better than word of mouth.  Talking to others about Jesus is hard for many of us, however all of us can offer a sincere invitation to worship or a small group.  Please consider praying for and inviting a friend or relative to join us!  Become an inviter! 

I’m excited about what the Lord is doing in and through Grace Church.  2010 promises to be a great year as together we continue to help all people experience, embrace and extend Jesus! 

In Service to Christ,

Pastor John