Our Tainted Acts Of Grace
we are free to stop pretending that our motives are pure. We are free to declare that we are simultaneously saints and sinners. We are free to confess all of the messiness of our hearts.
People have often tended, quite wrongly, to view me as saintly. I attribute that undeserved reputation to the fact I have always had a very strong sense of the kind of person I should be. I would describe my ideal persona as one who was conscientiously obedient and loving. I strove to be a person of strong moral character whose actions were always wrapped in love.
When my church-pillar parents’ marriage blew apart during my pre-teen years, and my father came out as gay and began a life with the young man, half his age, with whom he had been having an affair, I strove to let him know that I accepted them both and my love for him had not changed.
When my mother married the abusive man with whom she had begun an affair in response to my father’s affair, I was determined to maintain a loving relationship with her, despite his abuse toward both of us, even after she left me with friends and followed him thousands of miles away........
Email Blast 6-28-17
Biking, Reading, and Bible Studies Oh My!
Listen to the Scriptures.
Thursday 11AM
Through the summer we will be reading through many of the Minor Prophets. On Thursdays at 11am we will listen to the minor prophet for that week. If you are not able to join us, I encouge you to listen to it with your family.
Links can be found at
https://www.gracelutheranpsl.com/read/
Family Meals
Grace is collecting food for Summer Family Meals.
Last Easter we were the number 1 donor church. Lets keep it up!
Just bring food to the church and put it in the bin.
This year they are asking for desserts.
https://www.gracelutheranpsl.com/news/family-meals-summer-food-drive
Watch Last Weeks Sermon.
Wait eating Raisin Bread is a sin? Check out the wild story of Hosea and see how amazing God's love is for us.
Hosea was a prophet with a rough home life. God has put him in a situation where he has to constantly show forgiveness, even when it is difficult. God has put him there to show us His grace.
Watch all past sermons at
https://www.gracelutheranpsl.com/sermons/
GraceLutheranPSL.com/Read
ARE YOU WILLING TO BE SENT WHERE FEW CAN SEE YOU?
She was elderly and wore a lavender cardigan. She gripped my arm more firmly than I thought she could. She said she had something she wanted to tell me.
I had just preached a Pentecost Sunday sermon about how the Holy Spirit commissions us all as missionaries, or sent ones, to alert others to the universal reign of God wherever we might find ourselves.
I had preached that all vocations offer us the opportunity to mirror the work of God in the world, whether it’s to bring healing or justice, reconciliation or wholeness, whether to design and build, or to serve and love. And I threw in references to a few random vocations like stay-at-home parents and lawyers and nurses and union officials and artists and builders and teachers.
https://www.gracelutheranpsl.com/news/are-you-willing-to-be-sent-where-few-can-see-you
See you Sunday!
Family Meals' Summer Food Drive
Grace is collecting food for Summer Family Meals.
Last Easter we were the number 1 donor church. Lets keep it up!
Just bring food to the church and put it in the bin.
This year they are asking for desserts.
Family Meals' Summer Outreach 2017
We need lots of volunteers to help us deliver to over 1000 families! Our summer menu includes: a frozen chicken, fresh carrots, fresh potatoes, canned vegetables, bbq beans, rolls and boxed desserts. These meal bags will be delivered directly to families' homes. We do not require families to sign vouchers, wait in line or carry a food box. We ask them to enjoy a family meal in their homes, using their recipes. We always include table-talk questions to get the table conversation started.We also include mealtime prayers for the families to share.
Dogs and Cats Forever in Fort Pierce is donating pet food to families this year! The entire family will be fed. http://dogsandcatsforever.com/, 4600 Selvitz Rd, Fort Pierce, (772) 489-5454
As always, we need lots of help! Volunteer opprotunities are available on Friday, July 28 at 1:00pm setting up the room, counting potatoes, and unloading the food trucks. AND on Saturday, July 29 starting at 7:30 am. We need packers and lots of help in many ways! We deliver, sort and pack out of Trinity Lutheran Church in Fort Pierce. http://trinitychurch4u.com/
Volunteering as a driver takes a total of 3-5 hours of your time - about an hour during the week calling families to let them know their delivery time and about 3-4 hours on Saturday morning the 29th picking up and delivering to families. Please contact FamilyMealsDrivers@gmail.com ASAP to sign up as a driver.
Family Meals is a 100% volunteer, 501(c)3 local organizationfamilymealsinc.org, familymealsfl@gmail.com or call us 772-210-0900
If you can volunteer, please message us or email familymealsvolunteers@gmail.com
Are you willing to be sent where few can see you?
For thousands of years now missionaries have been willing to undertake thankless tasks in overlooked corners of the planet, serving unknown people for no material reward, often with little discernible effect.
She was elderly and wore a lavender cardigan. She gripped my arm more firmly than I thought she could. She said she had something she wanted to tell me.
I had just preached a Pentecost Sunday sermon about how the Holy Spirit commissions us all as missionaries, or sent ones, to alert others to the universal reign of God wherever we might find ourselves.
I had preached that all vocations offer us the opportunity to mirror the work of God in the world, whether it’s to bring healing or justice, reconciliation or wholeness, whether to design and build, or to serve and love. And I threw in references to a few random vocations like stay-at-home parents and lawyers and nurses and union officials and artists and builders and teachers.
Email Blast 6-23-17
Biking, Reading, and Bible Studies Oh My!
Global Hymn Sing this Sunday!
We will be joining millions of voices in churches across the globe will rise up in worship together. This year believers will sing For the Cause written by Keith and Kristyn Getty and Stuart Townend, a song focused on taking the gospel to all nations. Please familiarize yourself with the song by going to
https://www.gracelutheranpsl.com/news/for-the-cause-global-hymn-sing
Listen to the Scriptures.
Through the summer we will be reading through many of the Minor Prophets. On Thursdays at 11am we will listen to the minor prophet for that week. If you are not able to join us, I encouge you to listen to it with your family.
Links can be found at
https://www.gracelutheranpsl.com/read/
Miss a sunday?
Every Week we video the sermon.
Watch past sermons at
https://www.gracelutheranpsl.com/sermons/
Good Article about Being the Church
Adventure Is Good. But Planting Roots Is Essential
“To be rooted is perhaps the most important and least recognized need of the human soul. It is one of the hardest to define. A human being has roots by virtue of his real, active and natural participation in the life of a community which preserves in living shape certain particular treasures of the past and certain particular expectations for the future.” – Simone Weil
Simone Weil, 20th century philosopher and writer, penned these words in the midst of a global war, yet poignant and true they remain today. In our globalizing, urbanizing world, roots to a place can be seen as unwanted tethers. Still, without ties to a community that preserves the “treasures of the past and certain particular expectations for the future,” in what are we rooted?
https://www.gracelutheranpsl.com/news/adventure-is-good-but-planting-roots-is-essential
See you Sunday!
Hosea - The Minor Leagues
Hosea was a prophet with a rough home life. God has put him in a situation where he has to constantly show forgiveness, even when it is difficult. God has put him there to show us His grace.
Slides From the Sermon
What Happened This Week!
![[Christmas Day] Beautiful Trees](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1766458441148-4Z6ZUARBSWFIBNXRVG4D/Christmas+light+Daya.jpg)
![[Sunday] A Song of Christmas Light - Wait | Simeon](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1766465408750-D8B3EGC204JHKAXLWITJ/Christmas+light+6a.jpg)
![[Sunday] A Song of Christmas Light - Pointing to Greatness Stave 4](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1766107074577-MKU6U8LW1N5S1EATE1RW/Christmas+light+4a.jpg)
![Christmas Dinner at Mission BBQ [photos]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1766111458710-ULPCKS16DAZCMUN7LI93/PXL_20251218_000243197.jpg)
For the Cause - Global Hymn Sing
On Sunday, June 25, millions of voices in churches across the globe will rise up in worship
together. This year believers will sing For the Cause written by Keith and Kristyn Getty
and Stuart Townend, a song focused on taking the gospel to all nations.
We At Grace are taking part of this great event. Please listen to the song here to familiar yourself before Sunday.
On Sunday, June 25, millions of voices in churches across the globe will rise up in worship together. This year believers will sing For the Cause written by Keith and Kristyn Getty and Stuart Townend, a song focused on taking the gospel to all nations.
Listeing to Hosea
Listening to Hosea
Every Thursday at 11am we listen to the scriptures together.
New Basketball Hoop!
New Basket Ball Hoop!
Big thanks to Phil and Corey to putting together the basketball hoop!
Email Blast 6-22-17
Biking, Reading, and Bible Studies Oh My!
New Sermon Series - The Minor Leagues
We'll be discussing one minor prophet each Sunday for the next several weeks. This week is Hosea.
Read Before the Sermon!
Beginning this Sunday, we will be studying one minor prophet's book each week as the sermon text. You're encouraged to read the book ahead of time in preparation for Sunday.
Listen to Hosea with the Church
As a group, we will gather each Thursday at 11:00 in the sanctuary to hear a dramatized reading of each week's book. This week we'll be reading Hosea. All are invited!
Laid-Back Bike Ride
We're biking again as a church family this Saturday, June 24, beginning at Grace at 8:30 am. Last time we biked 6 miles at 9 miles per hour. If this matches your speed/distance preference or you know someone who would like to come, see you there!
Women's Community Group Bible Study Inaugural Sunday
If reading and discussion of Scripture and praying together as a small group of women interests you, please join Leigh and Coli this Sunday, June 25 at 7:00 at Leigh's house as we begin a new women's community group. If you are interested and need directions, email coliescher@gmail.com or call (770) 630-4433.
For all this and more, Check out gracelutheranpsl.com
Grace and Peace
The Minor Leagues
New Sermon Series!
Starting June 25th 2017
We are looking at the minor prophets in the old testament.
Waiting for Redemption. The world is going away from God’s People, the Assyrians to the north and Babylon to the south. They will either be destroyed or taken over if they don’t watch out. But God calls in his minor league stars to proclaim His righteousness, grace, and favor to His people.
Adventure Is Good. But Planting Roots Is Essential
Even when you're feeling wanderlust.
“To be rooted is perhaps the most important and least recognized need of the human soul. It is one of the hardest to define. A human being has roots by virtue of his real, active and natural participation in the life of a community which preserves in living shape certain particular treasures of the past and certain particular expectations for the future.” – Simone Weil
Simone Weil, 20th century philosopher and writer, penned these words in the midst of a global war, yet poignant and true they remain today. In our globalizing, urbanizing world, roots to a place can be seen as unwanted tethers. Still, without ties to a community that preserves the “treasures of the past and certain particular expectations for the future,” in what are we rooted?
The Church - Believe
In a world which tells us that the individual is the most important thing, the Spirit of God beckons us to come together and experience forgiveness.
Slides From the Sermon
What happened this week!
![[Christmas Eve] A Song of Christmas Light](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1766459038816-RE9GU9A1NB5IBYM52X0S/Christmas+eve+.jpg)
First Fruits of the Spirit - Believe
How did Israel remember that God had saved them from slavery? They would give of their firstfruits and make sure the poor had food. What does this have to do with Pentecost?
Sermon Slides and resources.
Deuteronomy 16
9 “You shall count seven weeks. Begin to count the seven weeks from the time the sickle is first put to the standing grain. 10 Then you shall keep the Feast of Weeks to the Lord your God with the tribute of a freewill offering from your hand, which you shall give as the Lord your God blesses you. 11 And you shall rejoice before the Lord your God, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant, the Levite who is within your towns, the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow who are among you, at the place that the Lord your God will choose, to make his name dwell there. 12 You shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt; and you shall be careful to observe these statutes.
Leviticus 23
15 “You shall count seven full weeks from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering. 16 You shall count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath. Then you shall present a grain offering of new grain to the Lord. 17 You shall bring from your dwelling places two loaves of bread to be waved, made of two tenths of an ephah. They shall be of fine flour, and they shall be baked with leaven, as firstfruits to the Lord. 18 And you shall present with the bread seven lambs a year old without blemish, and one bull from the herd and two rams. They shall be a burnt offering to the Lord, with their grain offering and their drink offerings, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the Lord. 19 And you shall offer one male goat for a sin offering, and two male lambs a year old as a sacrifice of peace offerings.20 And the priest shall wave them with the bread of the firstfruits as a wave offering before the Lord, with the two lambs. They shall be holy to the Lord for the priest. 21 And you shall make a proclamation on the same day. You shall hold a holy convocation. You shall not do any ordinary work. It is a statute forever in all your dwelling places throughout your generations.
22 “And when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, nor shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the Lord your God.”
Strengthened Faith, Fervent Love
“Christians live outside themselves: they live in Christ by faith and in their neighbor by love.”
Rev. Bart Day Letter: Strengthened Faith, Fervent Love …
Strengthened Faith, Fervent Love …
“Christians live outside themselves: they live in Christ by faith and in their neighbor by love.”
That was one of Martin Luther’s most brilliant “ahas”! It runs right along with his observation that the nature of sin is “to be curved in on yourself.”
Consequently, the effect of Christ’s Gospel in His appointed Means of Grace seizing hold of you is that it begins unbending you. It begins lifting up your eyes to behold with joy the certain promises of God in Christ. To know them as true for you. To begin to be filled with the hope that flows from them. And at the same time, it opens your eyes to see and meet the needs of your neighbor with a fiery love, a divine compassion.
Much like Scrooge, the shepherds sat in darkness until the heavenly angels came, bringing the light of a well celebrated Christmas.