![[Photos] Mother’s Day, New Members, and Graduation](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1747428594160-54FTOXEZS4I6Q7C3X5YO/PXL_20250511_160718495.jpg)
[Photos] Mother’s Day, New Members, and Graduation
So many great things happening at grace on Mother’s Day!
Lot Happening at Grace on Mother’s Day.
The kids sing for their mothers!
The kids have a nice tea party for their mothers.
We blessed the graduationing class of 25’
We welcomed in new members!
![[Sunday] Song of the Gardener - Resurrected Way.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1746820023029-M49V8PRFENX18UQFJSTO/2.jpg)
[Sunday] Song of the Gardener - Resurrected Way.
Through song’s recreated breaths, John's resurrection narrative sings of a renewed creation, where the risen Jesus embodies a peace that transforms a world marred by anti-shalom..
Through song’s recreated breaths, John's resurrection narrative sings of a renewed creation, where the risen Jesus embodies a peace that transforms a world marred by anti-shalom.
Questions for the Week: Resurrected Way: Song of the Gardener
The sermon talked about the "song of creation." Can you think of a time recently when you felt a sense of joy or a new beginning, like a little burst of that song?
Read John 20:1-23. John's gospel draws strong connections between the resurrection and creation. How does understanding Jesus as the embodiment of God's presence, bringing "shalom," reshape our understanding of what the resurrection means?
Mary Magdalene mistook Jesus for the gardener, connecting him back to the Garden of Eden. Why do you think that image of a gardener is a powerful way to understand Jesus's role after the resurrection? How does it show God's care for us and the world?
Jesus breathed on his disciples, similar to how God breathed life into Adam. What do you think it means for us to receive that "breath" of the Holy Spirit today?
What Had happened at Grace this week.
![[Sunday] Zeal In The Way - Missio Dei Part 4](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1752278147934-JOT5HNNFKQO2MQ2AX8V1/Missieo+4+Week+1a.jpg)
![A June Mets Game [Photos]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1752198727255-RW7CQYV6TH5ADZ2NT8WB/IMG_2638.jpg)
![[Sunday] July 6 - Who is the Beloved? - Christ in the Psalms](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1751648088877-RHR8B8T4M71WDD60X315/2.jpg)
![[Sunday] June 29 Christ in the Psalms The Gift That Keeps On Giving](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1751038491595-3TO5P50WP7Q9WBH6WPCH/2.png)
Revelation Ch 1-2 Bible Study
Revelation chapters 1-2
The Book of Revelation.
Chapters 1-2
![[Sunday] Amazed - Kingdom Way - Mark 16](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1746065673689-DFOUX7U71BCXL4N2XOAH/RW+1a.jpg)
[Sunday] Amazed - Kingdom Way - Mark 16
Mark's account unveils a resurrection marked by amazement, revealing God's presence in unexpected bursts of glory. Mark 16
Mark's account unveils a resurrection marked by amazement, revealing God's presence in unexpected bursts of glory.
Questions for the Week: Resurrected Way: Amazed
The sermon talked about the women at the tomb being filled with "astonishment and amazement." Can you recall a time recently when you felt genuinely amazed by something? What was it, and what made it so surprising or wonderful?
Read Mark 16:1-8. The sermon connects moments of amazement throughout Mark's Gospel (healings, calming the storm, etc.) to the amazement at the resurrection. How do these earlier moments prepare us for the ultimate amazement of Jesus's resurrection?
We see that amazement is a sign of God "breaking in." Where do you see signs of God "breaking in" or bringing forth the amazing in the world today, even in ordinary circumstances?
What Had happened at Grace this week.
![[Sunday] Distinct Mission - Missio Dei Part 4](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1752843882712-UFGPH4BP5GN3UFFKGETP/Missieo+4+Week+4a.jpg)
Resurrected Way (Teaching Series)
Uncover the transformative Resurrected Way, illuminating the personal and powerful implications of Christ's victory over death and reshaping our understanding of life, hope, and mission in the world.
Resurrected Way
Uncover the transformative Resurrected Way, illuminating the personal and powerful implications of Christ's victory over death and reshaping our understanding of life, hope, and mission in the world.
![[Sunday] Roots and Shoots: The Full Flower - Resurrection Eyes](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1749071462044-3UZY6NE41BBUHQKAO8RW/2.jpg)
![[Sunday] Roots and Shoots: The Tap Root- Resurrection Eyes](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1748527158212-AO14GA3108EPJ9SOKKOC/2.jpg)
![[Sunday] Roots and Shoots- Resurrected Eye](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1747960716810-0L6HG513460AAC9SUTCU/RE2.jpg)
![[Sunday] Seeing Emmaus- Resurrected Way](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1747333324811-NDZWL1ZXTZHTKW5KPXWW/2.jpg)
![[Sunday] Backwards Beautiful - Kingdom Way - Matthew 28](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1745552165848-WAAACA58WKWYMWY08VZZ/KW+25a.jpg)
[Sunday] Backwards Beautiful - Kingdom Way - Matthew 28
A call to make disciples, rooted in Jesus's enduring love, empowers even the doubting to share a love that defines the very heart of the church. Matthew Chapter 28
A call to make disciples, rooted in Jesus's enduring love, empowers even the doubting to share a love that defines the very heart of the church.
Questions for the Week: Kingdom Way: Backwards Beautiful
Read Matthew 28:16-20. Making disciples is really about loving people. Can you think of a time this week when you showed love to someone? What happened? How did it feel?
We all doubt ourselves sometimes,just like Joseph and even the disciples. When have you felt unsure about whether you were the right person for something? How did things turn out? What does it mean to know that God can work even in our doubts?
In what ways does the church today prioritize principles over people, and what are the consequences?
Jesus' final promise was "I am with you always." When have you felt God's presence with you, even in a small way? How does knowing that God is always with us encourage us to go and love others, even when you might doubt?
What Had happened at Grace this week.
Easter 2025 Photos
Thanks for the great Easter in 2025
Thank you to everyone for the great Easter
Remembering Joe Gannon
Remembering our Dear Friend and Husband, Joe
Service Live Stream is at 11am
![[Sunday] Home Easter - Kingdom Way - Matthew 28](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1744896317374-8FNA1Q6P0B6FQ7JRW7GP/KW+24a.jpg)
[Sunday] Home Easter - Kingdom Way - Matthew 28
Beyond the tomb's despair, its emptiness unveils the way cleared for our return home. Matthew Chapter 28
Beyond the tomb's despair, its emptiness unveils the way cleared for our return home.
Questions for the Week: Kingdom Way: Home
Read Matthew 28:1-10. The women and disciples felt darkness before the resurrection. Can you recall a time in your life when you felt a similar sense of darkness, shame or loss? How does the message of Christ's resurrection offer hope in those moments?
Jesus went before his disciples to Galilee, their "home," signifying restoration. In what ways can we, as a community or as individuals, create spaces of "home" for those who feel lost or alienated?
How does the concept of "hope and restoration" in Galilee connect with the broader story of God's redemption?
"Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!" How can we actively live this out in our daily lives, particularly when faced with our failures and challenges or? What practical steps can we take to embody the light of the resurrection?
What Had happened at Grace this week.
Ideologies Built on Hatred Cannot Tolerate Love
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another:
Daniel Ross
Dan is a good friend of mine, we went to seminary together. When his family is in Orlando we always see them. Knowing what Dan went though in 22’-23’makes this a powerful read. - Pastor Criss
———-
April 17, 2025 is Maundy Thursday. Maundy comes from the Latin word for "mandate", meaning "command". After washing His disciples feet Jesus tells them, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Since 2022 I have meditated much over these words of my Lord as it was then I stumbled into the beginnings of the Woke Right’s haphazard attempted foolish take over of my church body and helped to stop it. I am a member of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. I was formed as a pastor when the perceived primary threat to the faith was the post-Christian "Woke Left." As such, it was a shock at the suddenness of the rise of the post-Christian "Woke Right" (also referred to as the alt-right or dissident right). It was a larger shock that the post-Christian "Woke Right" seeks to take over conservative church bodies. Why would a group that detests Christian norms and values want to be associated with the church? Simple: power, fear, resentment.
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Power because they seek to impose their will on anyone and anything. The "Woke Right" and "Woke Left" seek to control everything. So they both must control as many institutions as possible to do so.
Resentment because much of the "Woke Right" is built upon hating their parents and grandparents. The "Woke" ideologies are peopled primarily by younger generations. And these younger generations do not like their parents and grandparents. All the world's problems are blamed on older generations. Boomers get their special ire. So they seek to destroy anything their parents have made or been a part of - so as to remake it in their image.
And finally, fear. Why fear? Christianity exposes the bankruptcy of the ideology. Christianity calls on people to love their neighbor, to love their enemy, to forgive, to take care of one another (those who are near and those who are far), to see the value of the shared common humanity in one another, to recognize the image of God in the other person. In short, Christianity has no tolerance for hatred. "Hate the sin, love the sinner." You can find that sentiment in the Church Fathers. It is not new. You can find it in Scripture. God puts a mark of protection on the murderer Cain.
The "Woke Right" hates the message of Christ and seeks to corrupt it to make a violent and fascistic version of the faith that preaches hatred instead of the commands of God. The “Woke Right” fears that Christianity will show people a better way - in effect true Christianity is an existential threat to its ideology. Love and hate cannot exist in the same space.
The similarities of the two groups (“Woke Left” and “Woke Right”) is uncanny, hence the same moniker used to describe them. Neil Shenvi did a masterful job explaining.
Both subscribe to critical theory’s conceptualization of hegemonic power.
Both demand that individuals internalize victimhood and victim status.
Both appeal to the idea of a critical consciousness and that people need to “wake up” and stop being blind like “normies”.
Both promote an ethnocentric identity over and against any commonality identity (and especially against a Christian’s identity in Jesus).
Both promote godless behavior and speech.
This is because at their core they are both animated by a lack of love. How do you know them? They refuse to love anyone not like them. And when I say "not like them" I mean one single deviation. They are ideologies of hate and resentment, constant outrage is their fuel and state of being. The memes of them screaming portrays the stereotype for a reason.
We are told that in the end three things remain: faith, hope, and love. And that the greatest of these is love. It is not easy to love. Maybe that is why we are commanded to do it? Maybe that is why so much time and energy is invested in teaching it to our children? It is easy to hate. We do not have to teach children to hate, we simply teach them current socially acceptable ways to express hatred. But love? We do have to teach that.
The final example Christ gave to His disciples was to wash their feet as a servant. If the Lord and Creator of the universe would stoop so low as to wash some dirty feet, how could we refuse to do the same?
I will protect this institution called the church. It does not need me to do so, it is the Lord's church. He is perfectly willing and able to do it and does it every single day. But I love it, for in this community I find Jesus and therefore I find love. So I will protect what I love from all its enemies - Left, Right, and Center. I will protect it not through violence or coercion, but through love. I will pray for its members and its enemies. I will pray for those inside and those outside. I will serve all whom the Lord puts across my path.
Some will undoubtedly see it as weakness. Some will mock, others will jeer, some will simply ignore. It is enough for me to serve, as my Lord served and continues to serve. He died for me, I will live and I will love for Him.
2nd Sunday School and Moana
Kids had a great time making art and participating in local arts.
This this weeks 2nd Sunday school they kids were able to learn and play but we also went to Centinel High School and watch their production of Moana!
![Wednesday Dinners in Lent [Photos]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1745009042121-G1RKXTW8R4RWWIF1IC6Q/IMG_1613.jpeg)
![Palm Saturday Clean Up! [Photos]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1745008852930-99DGNJOCE7FKO558BBFR/PXL_20250412_130101515.jpg)
Palm Saturday Clean Up! [Photos]
Cleaning up!
In 2025 we got together to clean up the church grounds on the Saturday before Palm Sunday
Good Friday - Abandoned Kingdom Way - Matthew’s Gospel
As we enter holy week Matthew wants us to see something so clear. We all have abandoned Jesus.
Maundy Thursday
Service & Live Stream 6PM
Good Friday
Noon & 7PM Service
7PM Live Stream
What Had happened at Grace this week.
The divine mission transcends human distinctions, revealing a grace that embraces all and thoughtfully extends love to every neighbor.