Cris Escher 4/12/23 Cris Escher 4/12/23

Easter 23' Photos

Enjoyed easter at Grace

Cris Escher 4/12/23 Cris Escher 4/12/23

Rise & Fall - Saul and David in Samuel (Teaching Series)

In a world where chaos has reigned, the people cry for the rule of a king, a king who will raise them into a bigger and brighter existence. However, as pride and the desire for power rise, so, too, come the falls.

Reading Plan
The readings for Sunday

4/16/23
- 1 Samuel 2:1-10
  Romans 9:1-5
  Mark 13:1-8
4/23/23
- 1 Samuel 5:1-12
  Romans 9:6-15
  Luke 18:35-43
4/30/23
- 1 Samuel 8:19-22, 9:15-21
  Romans 9:16-24
  Matthew 21:6-11
5/7/23
- 1 Samuel 13:8-15
  Romans 9:24-29
  Matthew 23:13-17
5/14/23
- 1 Samuel 16:1-13
  Romans 9:30 - 10:4
  Matthew 18:1-5
5/21/23
- 1 Samuel 24:1-12
  Romans 10:5-13
  Luke 6:32-36
5/28/23
- 2 Samuel 1:1-6
  Romans 10:14-21
  Matthew 14:13-21
6/4/23
- 2 Samuel 7:8-16
  Romans 11:1-10
  Matthew 22:41-46
6/11/23
- 2 Samuel 12;1-13
  Romans 11:17-24
  Matthew 20:29-34
6/18/23
- 2 Samuel 18:31-19:2
  Romans 11:25-36
  Matthew 24:1-8
6/25/23
- 2 Samuel 24:10-17
  Romans 12:1-8
  Matthew 24:36-42

Featured

Jun 25, 2023

[Sunday] David A Christmas Story - Rise & Fall

Jun 25, 2023

The story of David follows those patterns of the kingdom of God. From Hannah’s pattern of humbleness to Eli’s pattern of pride leading to a fall. But David's fall at the end of Samuel cries out into the future giving us eyes to see the pattern again in the true and better David.

Jun 25, 2023

Jun 18, 2023

[Sunday] Grief - Rise & Fall

Jun 18, 2023

Absalom looks at his father David and only sees pain. In his attempt to take the throne, he ends up getting caught up in his own pride.

Jun 18, 2023

Jun 11, 2023

[Sunday] Bathsheba- Rise & Fall

Jun 11, 2023

David looks over his kingdom, holding his head high enough to not look on the problems and needs of those in his kingdom beyond himself. In a series of moves with Bathsheba, David neglects others and causes hurt and pain for his own family for years. But in that same series of moves we see the power of forgiveness in the cross and resurrection.

Jun 11, 2023

Jun 4, 2023

[Sunday] House - Rise & Fall

Jun 4, 2023

David feels bad as he looks around his really nice house made of cedar; the Lord needs a house like this. Peter sees Jesus bright and shiny on the mountain and immediately wants to build a house for Jesus. But Jesus, with the Lord’s house behind him, says, “Tear it down, and I will rebuild it in 3 days.” We realize it has never been about the house we want to build.

Jun 4, 2023

May 28, 2023

[Sunday] Future - Rise & Fall

May 28, 2023

Saul is uneasy, he feels his future sitting on him with the weight of the world. If he could only talk to Samuel again. Even though the powers of the world keep telling David to take charge of his future, he simply trusts living in each day the Lord gives him.

May 28, 2023

May 21, 2023

[Sunday] Projection - Rise & Fall

May 21, 2023

It seems as if much of the First Book of Samuel is taken up with Saul trying to kill David and David escaping; and when David catches Saul in the most vulnerable position, his men urge him to kill Saul. It would be nothing more than self-defense. Wouldn’t Saul kill David if Saul caught him with his pants down? Isn’t Saul turning over every stone in the wilderness looking for David so he can kill him?

May 21, 2023

May 14, 2023

[Sunday] David & Goliath - Rise & Fall

May 14, 2023

Goliath stands taunting them to send someone to fight, but none of God’s people, nor their weapons, are strong enough. Salvation is riding on this one battle. Samuel stands in front of Jesse’s sons, looking for a new king, but as he stares at all these strong sons, the smallest is missing, left in the field to shepherd. To this the Lord says, I do not look at outward appearance; I look at the heart, for that smallest son is God’s kingdom answer of salvation.

May 14, 2023

May 7, 2023

[Sunday] Fickle King - Rise & Fall

May 7, 2023

Saul is king, but his temperament and leadership move him around like a plastic bag on a windy day. He is at the whims of people’s emotions rather than trusting in the God who took them out of Egypt. This king is just fickle, even if he is of a kingdom that is not.

May 7, 2023

Apr 30, 2023

[Sunday] We Want a King - Rise & Fall

Apr 30, 2023

The cry, “We want a king” comes when all seems lost. When enemies are at the gates, when leaders seem corrupt and inept, they cried for a king like all the other nations. But even though they reject God with this cry, He still sees them and never leaves their side.

Apr 30, 2023

Apr 23, 2023

[Sunday] Pattern of Eli - Rise & Fall

Apr 23, 2023

Eli is the head priest for the nation of Israel, but his reflection in the world, his sons, show an awful pattern. This is a pattern that extends beyond his family to fundamental issues with all of humanity, which caused the downfall of so many in the Bible and even still today. When pride and using God to your own advantage cause you to lose everything, we probably won't find salvation in anything we do.

Apr 23, 2023

Apr 16, 2023

[Sunday] Hannah's Pattern - Rise & Fall

Apr 16, 2023

Hannah is a mess. She is made fun of constantly, and to top it off, she cannot have children. She is even disrespected by the priest while trying to pray. But suddenly we see a pattern emerge that sings of the God who remembers the humble.

Apr 16, 2023

Apr 12, 2023

Rise & Fall - Saul and David in Samuel (Teaching Series)

Apr 12, 2023

Cris Escher 4/6/23 Cris Escher 4/6/23

Seder Meal Photos 23'

We had a great time remembering the Last Supper. The Passover meal of Freedom.

Thanks to all that hosted and came to the Seder meal.

Cris Escher 4/6/23 Cris Escher 4/6/23

The Transfiguration in the Garden of Gethsemane

In the garden, Jesus is confronted by two opposing wills that act in a hideous union.

Read the whole article at The Transfiguration in the Garden of Gethsemane - Mockingbird (mbird.com)

Every year during Passover week, Jerusalem would be filled with approximately 200,000 Jewish pilgrims. Nearly all of them, like Jesus and his friends and family, would’ve been poor. Throughout that holy week, these hundreds of thousands of pilgrims would gather at table and temple and they would remember. They would remember how they’d once suffered bondage under another empire, and how God had heard their outrage and sent someone to save them.

They would remember how God had promised them, “I will be your God and you will be my People.” Always.

They would remember how with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm God had delivered them from a Caesar called Pharaoh. Passover was a political powder keg, so every year Pontius Pilate would do his damnedest to keep Passover in the past tense. At the beginning of Passover week, Pilate would journey from his seaport home in the west to Jerusalem, escorted by a military triumph, a shock-and-awe storm-trooping parade of horses and chariots and troops armed to the teeth and prisoners bound hand and foot. All of it led by imperial banners that dared as much as declared “Caesar is Lord.”

So when Jesus, at the………………………..

Cris Escher 4/6/23 Cris Escher 4/6/23

Spring Clean up Day at Grace

Thanks for the Deep Clean!

Big Thanks to all that came and cleaned.
Big Thanks to our friends at the Korean Church!

Cris Escher 3/31/23 Cris Escher 3/31/23

The Calm Before The Storm

Jesus enters with all the pomp of a future King and departs as the butt of the joke.

Read the whole article at The Calm Before the Storm - Mockingbird (mbird.com)

What experiences do you have on your bucket list? You know, that list we humans make of those things that we want to do before we die — whether it’s skydiving, seeing that band we’ve always loved (I see you U2), stepping our foot in Fenway Park, traveling abroad, or visiting all 50 states. This next Tuesday I am checking off the bucket-list item at the top of my list. I’m going to the grandest cathedral in American sport, Augusta National, and the Masters tournament. I joked with my Dad on Sunday night when I called to share the good news that there’s the beautiful experience of “telling your dad you’re having a child,” and just a sliver under that it is“telling your dad you’re going to the Masters.”…………….

Cris Escher 3/23/23 Cris Escher 3/23/23

Habitat for Children in Chicago

Cris Escher 3/23/23 Cris Escher 3/23/23

LWML Rally March 23

Cris Escher 3/2/23 Cris Escher 3/2/23

Week 5 Vanishing Grace Together Groups

Holy Subversives

Together Group Video Week 5

Discussion Guide | Week 5

Download VG Study Guide Week 5

Cris Escher 2/25/23 Cris Escher 2/25/23

Photos of Ash Wednesday

Photos of evening Ash Wednesday service.

Cris Escher 2/24/23 Cris Escher 2/24/23

Grace Hello, Welcoming New Members to Grace [Photos]

Inviting 16 new Members!

Great New Member Sunday at Grace. We invited 16 new people.

Cris Escher 2/24/23 Cris Escher 2/24/23

Tempted By an Unexpected Evil

The Trials of Job, Jesus, and Us

Read the entire article at Tempted by an Unexpected Evil - Mockingbird (mbird.com)

Along time ago in a heavenly court far, far away, God made a cosmic wager with the Devil. God was boasting to the Devil of the faithfulness of his servant Job, who was blameless, upright, and turned away from evil. The Devil was unimpressed, believing Job was faithful because God protected him and blessed him with everything he could ever want. The Devil seemed to have found such an arrangement unsatisfactory, believing t…………………….

Cris Escher 2/24/23 Cris Escher 2/24/23

LCMS President Harrison de-nounces "disturbing ideologies"

Over the last few weeks I have mentioned some troubling things, like friends of mine who are active LCMS Pastors have been openly threatened by people online who have “disturbing ideologies.” This statement from President Harrison addresses some of these issues and gives encouragement in Christ.

Statement from Pastor Cris:

Over the last few weeks I have mentioned some troubling things, like friends of mine who are active LCMS Pastors have been openly threatened by people online who have “disturbing ideologies.”

This statement from President Harrison addresses some of these issues and gives encouragement in Christ.

Statement on recent online unchristian teachings

Feb. 21, 2023

Dear friends in Christ,

The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, its president, vice-presidents and all 35 district presidents, along with its ministerium and congregations, categorically reject the horrible and racist teachings of the so-called “alt-right” in toto (including white supremacy, Nazism, pro-slavery, anti-interracial marriage, women as property, fascism, death for homosexuals, even genocide).

The Synodical explanation of Luther’s Small Catechism teaches that the Fifth Commandment, “You shall not murder,” includes the prohibition of “hating, despising, or slandering other groups of people (prejudice, racism, and so forth).” The Scriptures agree: “Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him” (1 John 3:15). Every human being is precious to God and as valuable as the very blood of Jesus Christ shed for all, “for God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son” (John 3:16).

We were shocked to learn recently that a few members of LCMS congregations have been propagating radical and unchristian “alt-right” views via Twitter and other social media. They are causing local disruption and consternation for their pastors, congregations and district presidents. They have publicly stated that they seek the destruction of the LCMS leadership. They have made serious online threats to individuals and scandalously attacked several faithful LCMS members. Through these social media posts, even our wonderful deaconesses have been threatened and attacked.

This is evil. We condemn it in the name of Christ.

These “alt-right” individuals were at the genesis of a recent controversy surrounding essays accompanying a new publication of Luther’s Large Catechism. This group used that opportunity to produce not only scandalous attacks and widespread falsehoods, but also to promote their own absolutist ideologies.

Anyone trying to sully the reputation of the LCMS based on comments from a small number of online provocateurs does not know the loving, faithful, generous, kind and welcoming Synod that I have met all across the nation. Our people are delighted to gather with sinners of every stripe to receive full and free forgiveness from our crucified Savior and are not represented by these few men with their sinful agenda.

I am not speaking about the individuals who may have expressed theological concerns about the essays published alongside the Catechism. I’m talking about a small number of men who based their opposition upon racist and supremacist ideologies. The former we welcome. The latter we condemn.

The LCMS is a robust Christian community under the absolute authority of the inerrant Scriptures as the very Word of God and bound together in subscription to our Lutheran Confessions. Theological dialogue is good. We have clear processes for registering concerns over published materials, and we encourage such theological critique. The biblical confession of the LCMS on doctrine and life is true and unchangeable.

LCMS congregations agree to uphold our biblical standards. We are not a top-down institution. That said, I will work together with our pastors and district presidents to address this matter wherever it arises among us and reject it. We issue the cry of Jesus: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt. 3:2). We are confident that the same Law and Gospel that broke the hard heart of St. Paul, himself a murderer and blasphemer, can and will do the same today. We are all called to repentance daily. “The blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). Where that call to repentance is not heeded, there must be excommunication.

Of all the things I’ve seen as LCMS president, this is the most bizarre. I am informed that other conservative denominations are experiencing similar challenges. This horrid attack of the devil drives us to be firm in our confession. Our message of Christ the Savior for all, our local and global mission that serves the entire human race with forgiveness and joy stands firmly opposed to Satan and all evil. Our steadfast message of love and biblical fidelity on the cultural issues of marriage, sexuality, race, and life is an assault on the devil and his minions to no end. Our steadfast witness and assistance to our global Lutheran friends has the devil fuming.

Do not be discouraged! Stand firm! Speak of Christ and His Gospel! “We preach Christ crucified” (1 Cor. 1:23). And if Jesus so carried our sins and the sins of the world, though He never sinned, shall we expect not to bear a few splinters of the cross in this age?

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, ‘For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.’ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:31–39).

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.

Yours in Christ,

Pastor Matthew C. Harrison
President, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

Cris Escher 2/21/23 Cris Escher 2/21/23

The Seder: From Bitterness to the Lamb (Lent Wednesdays 23)

Every Week we will be going though the Seder plate of Passover meal. Discussing what each things mean from the Bitterness to the Lamb

Every Week we will be going though the Seder plate of Passover meal. Discussing what each things mean from the Bitterness to the Lamb

Reading Plan
The readings for Sunday

2/22/2023
- Ash Wednesday
  - Exodus 2:1-102
    Corinthians 5:16-21
    Matthew 6:1-4, 16-18
- Maror and Chazert Bitter Herbs
3/1/2023
- 10Exodus 3:1-14
  Romans 12:1-2
  Matthew 16:21-28
- Charoset Sweet Brown Mixture/Fruit
3/15/2023
- Exodus 14:1-29
- Matthew 11:25-30
- Karpas Vegetable/parsley dipped into salt water
3/22/2023
- Exodus 16:1-8,
  Exodus 17:1-7
  John 6:35-40
- Unleven bread
3/29/2023
- Exodus 32:1-14
  1 Corinthians 10:5-8
  Matthew 5:27-30
- Beitzah roasted egg

Featured

Mar 29, 2023

[Wednesday Lent] Beitza - The Seder

Mar 29, 2023

- This week is the Beitza. Remembering those incomplete. Every Week we will be going though the Seder plate of Passover meal. Discussing what each things mean from the Bitterness to the Lamb

Mar 29, 2023

Mar 22, 2023

[Wednesday Lent] Matzah - The Seder

Mar 22, 2023

- This week is the Matzah. Remembering the Rush . Every Week we will be going though the Seder plate of Passover meal. Discussing what each things mean from the Bitterness to the Lamb

Mar 22, 2023

Mar 15, 2023

[Wednesday Lent] Karpas- The Seder

Mar 15, 2023

- This week is the Karpas. Remembering the Humble with the Vegetable. Every Week we will be going though the Seder plate of Passover meal. Discussing what each things mean from the Bitterness to the Lamb

Mar 15, 2023

Mar 8, 2023

[Wednesday Lent] Zeroah- The Seder

Mar 8, 2023

- This week is the Zeroah. Remembering the Ordinary with the Shank Bone. Every Week we will be going though the Seder plate of Passover meal. Discussing what each things mean from the Bitterness to the Lamb

Mar 8, 2023

Mar 1, 2023

[Wednesday Lent] Charoset - The Seder

Mar 1, 2023

- This week is the Charoset. Remembering the Bricks. Every Week we will be going though the Seder plate of Passover meal. Discussing what each things mean from the Bitterness to the Lamb

Mar 1, 2023

Feb 22, 2023

[Ash Wednesday] Bitter Herbs - The Seder

Feb 22, 2023

Ash Wednesday! Every Week we will be going though the Seder plate of Passover meal. Discussing what each things mean from the Bitterness to the Lamb

Feb 22, 2023

Feb 21, 2023

The Seder: From Bitterness to the Lamb (Lent Wednesdays 23)

Feb 21, 2023

Every Week we will be going though the Seder plate of Passover meal. Discussing what each things mean from the Bitterness to the Lamb

Feb 21, 2023

Cris Escher 2/17/23 Cris Escher 2/17/23

Cris and Ed Bock to Tallahassee

Trip To Florida Capital.

Eb Bock and Pastor Cris Escher went to Tallahassee with Alzheimer's Community Care to promote Alzheimer's care in Florida.

Cris Escher 2/14/23 Cris Escher 2/14/23

Elvis at Grace on Valentines

Fun time with Elvis

Cris Escher 2/14/23 Cris Escher 2/14/23

The Way: Finding Meaning in the Gospel of John (Teaching Series)

There are certain indicators that we are on The Way with Jesus Justice, Spirituality, Relationships, Beauty, Freedom, Truth, and Power. But what If we do not live up to these ideals, our societies and individual lives become unbalanced, creating anger and frustration that divide us from ourselves and from God. Come and see how The Way seems broken but how easter vision can bring many along the way of Hope.e. Let’s acknowledges the problem and then explore how we can respond with both grace and truth.

Wednesday Services during lent 2023 — **Our Wednesday Series through Lent**

Amazon Link

Purchase the Book

Broken Signposts: How Christianity Makes Sense of the World

By Wright, N. T.

Buy on Amazon

Reading Plan
The readings for Sunday

2/19/23 - Justice
- Exodus 17:1-7
  Hebrews 12:12-15
  John 4:5-26, 39-42
2/26/23 - Love
- Jeremiah 1:4-10
  1 Corinthians 13:1-13
  Matthew 5:38-48
3/5/23 - Spirituality
- Deuteronomy 26:1-11
  1 John 3:11-18
  Luke 4:16-21
3/12/23 - Beauty
- Isaiah 52:7-12
  Hebrews 13:1-16
  Matthew 13:31-35
3/19/23 - Freedom
- Exodus 19:1-6
  1 Corinthians 9:19-27
  Luke 4:1-13
3/26/23 - Truth
- Exodus 19:1-6
  1 Corinthians 9:19-27
  Luke 4:1-13
4/2/23 - Power
- Exodus 19:1-6
  1 Corinthians 9:19-27
  Luke 4:1-13
4/9/23 - John’s Easter
- Exodus 19:1-6
  1 Corinthians 9:19-27
  Luke 4:1-13

Featured

Apr 9, 2023

[Sunday] Easter - The Way

Apr 9, 2023

It’s still dark, but she goes to check on the tomb. Fear strikes her heart as she sees the stone is rolled away! Has this weekend possibly just gotten worse? As she lies weeping at a situation that is beyond repair, the gardener of the sun, moon, and stars, who cultivated everything in 7 days, whispers joy of new creation in the form of her name, "Mary."

Apr 9, 2023

Apr 7, 2023

Good Friday - The Cup - The Way

Apr 7, 2023

Good Friday service. The Cup

Apr 7, 2023

Apr 2, 2023

[Sunday] Power - The Way

Apr 2, 2023

God created the world and gave us dominion over it. However, we do not always use that dominion in a beneficial way, using too much sometimes, while other times not enough. Even Peter struggles to get this right, but Jesus still loves him to the end.

Apr 2, 2023

Mar 26, 2023

[Sunday] Truth - The Way

Mar 26, 2023

Of all the ways of Jesus, we expect truth to be the least broken. But, our relationship with truth isn't quite as straightforward as we might expect. We are invited to be ambassadors of truth, not by defending it but by embodying new creation, faithfully pointing people to Jesus, and showing that self-giving love is the most powerful force in the world.

Mar 26, 2023

Mar 19, 2023

[Sunday] Freedom - The Way

Mar 19, 2023

We can hear the cry of our hearts for freedom, but once we have freedom, it's so tempting to just curl in on ourselves. Jesus, however, constantly gives to us from his abundance.

Mar 19, 2023

Mar 12, 2023

[Sunday] Beauty- The Way

Mar 12, 2023

What makes something beautiful? Is it a look or maybe a feeling? When John writes to his people, he invites us to the creation then shows us beauty in the resurrection.

Mar 12, 2023

Mar 5, 2023

[Sunday] Spirituality - The Way

Mar 5, 2023

Often when we think of spirituality, we think of something that is intensely personal. But what if it looks more like vines and jokes than solemn and alone?

Mar 5, 2023

Feb 26, 2023

[Sunday] Love - The Way

Feb 26, 2023

Weddings are beautiful places of love, but so often we discover the brokenness of that love way too quickly. So where is unbroken love? Maybe it's the rebuilding of the temple in 3 days.

Feb 26, 2023

Feb 19, 2023

[Sunday] Justice - The Way

Feb 19, 2023

We see so much hurt and injustice in society, and we cry out for a better way. But even that search for something better often leaves behind a trail of hurt. Perhaps justice can find its place in the creation story and the recreation of the gardener.

Feb 19, 2023

Feb 14, 2023

The Way: Finding Meaning in the Gospel of John (Teaching Series)

Feb 14, 2023

Cris Escher 2/14/23 Cris Escher 2/14/23

Vanishing Grace (Teaching Series)

Christians have proclaimed the good news about Jesus for centuries. But the good news isn't sounding so good these days, at least to some. Let’s acknowledges the problem and then explore how we can respond with both grace and truth.

Amazon Link

Purchase the Book

Vanishing Grace: Bringing Good News to a Deeply Divided World

By Yancey, Philip

Buy on Amazon

Reading Plan
The readings for Sunday

2/19/23 - Justice
- Exodus 17:1-7
  Hebrews 12:12-15
  John 4:5-26, 39-42
2/26/23 - What Can We Do About It
- Jeremiah 1:4-10
  1 Corinthians 13:1-13
  Matthew 5:38-48
3/5/23 - Who are the Grace Dispensers
- Deuteronomy 26:1-11
  1 John 3:11-18
  Luke 4:16-21
3/12/23 - Is it Really Good News?
- Isaiah 52:7-12
  Hebrews 13:1-16
  Matthew 13:31-35
3/19/23 - Holy Subverses
- Exodus 19:1-6
  1 Corinthians 9:19-27
  Luke 4:1-13
3/26/23 - Holy Subverses
- Exodus 19:1-6
  1 Corinthians 9:19-27
  Luke 4:1-13
4/2/23 - Holy Subverses
- Exodus 19:1-6
  1 Corinthians 9:19-27
  Luke 4:1-13
4/9/23 - Holy Subverses
- Exodus 19:1-6
  1 Corinthians 9:19-27
  Luke 4:1-13

Featured

Feb 14, 2023

Vanishing Grace (Teaching Series)

Feb 14, 2023

Feb 12, 2023

[Sunday] Beautiful News - Vanishing Grace

Feb 12, 2023

Jesus was tempted in the wilderness in every way that we are. This story right at the beginning of Luke's gospel foreshadows the way it ends: Jesus taking all our sins and struggles and giving us grace and victory over them all. Now that we have been freed, we can live knowing that grace is for all.

Feb 12, 2023

Feb 5, 2023

[Sunday] Beautiful News - Vanishing Grace

Feb 5, 2023

What does beautiful news look like? Perhaps, it looks like ordinary, dare I say, small things, like providing for someone who's hungry, loving your spouse, and being a good neighbor. Perhaps these small things provide the cooling shade of a great tree for us to rest under.

Feb 5, 2023

Jan 29, 2023

[Sunday] Love Laid Down - Vanishing Grace

Jan 29, 2023

This is how we know what love is, that He laid down his life for us. This love is like a cool breeze on a hot day, good news when surrounded by the bad, and liberty to the oppressed.

Jan 29, 2023

Jan 22, 2023

[Sunday] Uncomplicated Love - Vanishing Grace

Jan 22, 2023

The young man who pushed aside his family now thinks of only their love as he longs for the pig feed. We tend to make love more complicated that it needs to be, but perhaps its simple.

Jan 22, 2023

Jan 15, 2023

[Sunday] Wells of Grace - Vanishing Grace

Jan 15, 2023

Jesus was sitting by a well, and she showed up. All by herself, she carried with her the weight of so much struggle. While it would be so easy to belittle her, Jesus instead is a well of grace that is like a cool drink of water on a hot day. Maybe we can be like that.

Jan 15, 2023