October 24, 2026
Happy Saturday afternoon Grace Vineyard Family and Friends,
It’s another beautiful Fall weekend in our almost-paradise-Oceanside. (I hope that’s not going too far, but it *is* really a beautiful day down here at the coast). I hope you all had another great week and are ready to come together for our weekend worship gatherings.
Preparing Our Hearts for an Abundant Harvest
This week we get to read 2 Parables about the Kingdom of God, the parable of the Sower and the Soils, and the parable of the Lamp. The Sower and Soils parable is in all 3 of the Synoptic Gospels, Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Both Mark and Luke follow it with a short, but insightful parable about God’s plans to illuminate the truth about the Kingdom of God to the whole world. I love these parables and their meanings. Every earthly kingdom throughout the ages has advanced by force and coercion. I heard a preacher say, for example, that when Alexander the Great was expanding his kingdom, after his armies came to a new area people were either part of his kingdom, or were dead! Jesus enters our world aa the King of an advancing Kingdom, but is completely different! His Kingdom doesn’t advance with force and coercion, but like a small, seemingly insignificant seed that when planted in the soil of a good heart comes alive (as seeds do), and produces an abundant harvest. In the parable of the Sower and the Soils we’ll learn about 4 different heart conditions that we are called to tend to in order for the seed of God’s Word to take root and produce an abundant harvest in our lives. If you’d like to read ahead to prepare your hearts for tomorrow’s message, you can read any or all of Mark 4:1-25, Matthew 13:1-23, and Luke 8:4-18. I hope to see you all in the morning, but if you are not able to join us in person, here’s the info you need for joining us online: join us online on Zoom with this link Zoom Meeting ID 153 112 432, Passcode 684814 and you can also find our livestream on Facebook Live at facebook.com/gracevcf.
And if you’re looking for the Gracetalks.org podcast or the YouTube video of last week’s message from Mark 3, you can get those right here:
Sunday Night Sanctuary, Philippians 3
Here’s a quick reminder that while Steve and Lisa Rogers are in Malaysia (along with Mark Newell, of course!) they have left our Sunday Night Sanctuary service in the capable hands of Liz and Sean Thomas. This week, we’ll be in Philippians 3. Remember, this group starts with a meal at 6pm, and then moves into worship through song led by Ammee Huzil, and then a message from the Bible. I’m thinking this is about as close as it gets to experiencing the rhythm of worship that the very first Christians lived out when their movement began spreading throughout the Roman empire. Very sweet times! If you’ve never come to our Sanctuary service, this would be a great week to come by and check it out!
Make & Bake Sale for Women’s Retreat Scholarships Tomorrow!
By now, I suspect practically everybody reading this Weekly Update knows our Women’s Retreat is coming up November 6-8. We don’t want anybody to miss the retreat due to financial shortfalls, so we are putting on a Make and Bake Sale after church tomorrow (October 25) to help raise money for retreat scholarships. Note: this is not a “Bake Sale”, but a “MAKE and Bake Sale”, meaning there will be all sorts of items available, including (of course!) Kim’s famous homemade Pesto and Salsa (which in my humble opinion are the very best!!). Please spend a little time after church buying everything you can to support our women.
It’s not too late to register for the Women’s Retreat
2026 Women’s Retreat November 6-8
“Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?
Show us your unfailing love, Lord, and grant us your salvation.” — Psalm 85:6-7
Encounter is Free, But You Must Register
Encounter 2026 at Frontwave Arena
Encounter Night is coming up soon on Sunday, November 8. I’d love to see a bunch of us from Grace Vineyard show up for this multi-church worship and prayer event at Frontwave Arena in Oceanside. The event is free, including parking, but you need to reserve tickets in advance. Get your tickets before it fills up! Bring the whole family and come early to enjoy dinner from Tanner’s Prime Burgers and other great food options available at the arena. Doors open at 5pm and the event begins at 6pm.
Continued Prayer for Malaysia Missions Trip
Steve and Lisa Rogers and Mark Newell are having some great encounters as they visit 3 different cities in Malaysia (Kuching, Miri, and Ranau). Prayer is essential for this kind of work. Please join us on the Terrace at the back of the theater after church to hear the latest updates and pray for our team. They will be returning to on November 3.
Day After Thanksgiving Outreach
Finally, please mark your calendars for the last Friday in November, the day after Thanksgiving. I think “Meal In The Park” has officially become a tradition! Convicted 4 Christ Ministries will be leading this wonderful event, where we’ll be providing complete Turkey dinners with all the fixings at Fireside Park. It’s a wonderful opportunity to love our neighbors, many of whom are living in very challenging circumstances. Very soon we’ll start having a sign up table in the lobby after church, but time flies so I wanted to get it on our mental radars and in our calendars as the time approaches.
Thank you, one and all, for the part you play in our Grace Vineyard family. In last week’s message I talked about how Jesus Himself follows the old adage, “If you want to go fast, go alone; but if you want to go far, go together”. If anyone could go fast, Jesus could, but He has chosen to fulfill His worldwide work of restoration in partnership with people like you and me. Every prayer you prayer, every invitation you give to a friend to come to church, every “Holy Hello” you work into a spiritually significant conversation, every hour you spend serving, every dollar you donate, every time you open your home to host a small group…every bit of it is significant and essential as we serve Jesus together. So Thank You for all you do. It’s an honor to be your pastor. “God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.” (Hebrews 6:10)
With love and blessings to each of you,
Ron Ohst
Tithes and Offerings Online
THANKS for taking ownership in the life and ministry of Grace Vineyard! And thanks to all of you who are stepping into a lifestyle of generosity with your tithes and offerings. It really does take all of us doing our part with the income God has entrusted to us for His church. If you’d like to give your tithe or offering online, click the donate button below. If you’re giving to a specific fund (like benevolence or missions), just be sure to say that when you are given an option to add a note with your donation.