February 8, 2025
Happy Saturday, Grace Vineyard Family and Friends.
It’s already 4pm on Saturday afternoon so I better get it in gear and get this weekly update written! Today is very special because it’s my lovely wife Kim’s birthday! All the more reason to write as quickly as I can 🙂 so we can get to celebrating her.
The first thing I’m thinking to tell you about is the Men’s retreat. We’re just about 1 month away, so guys, it’s time.
Men of Grace Retreat March 14-16
This year we’ll be back at Palomar Christian Conference Center. We love doing retreats there! It starts Friday night, March 14th, and continues through Sunday morning, March 16. Men, these are always great times with each other and the Lord. There’s a great mix of outdoor activities and inspiring times of worship and teaching. Ladies – if you have a man in your life, give him a push, cuz he’ll probably come back from the mountain better than when you sent him up! Find Snake in the lobby this Sunday morning to get signed up and fine out all the details.
Next thing on the agenda…
Superbowl Party February 9th
The big game is this Sunday and Kickoff is at 3:30PM. We’re going to open up the big red curtains and watch the game on the giant screen. Every Super Bowl Party needs to have Super Bowl food, and that’s where all of us come in. Bring your favorite party food – pizza, chicken, taquitos, sliders, 7 layer dip, chips and salsa, guacamole…that should get your party food juices flowing. Doors open at 2:30.
Valentine’s Outreach at The Navigation Center
Next Friday, February 14th, we’re going to put on another event for the guests at the Oceanside branch of the San Diego Rescue Mission, aka The Navigation Center. Venita Ibarra will be doing sign ups at a table in the lobby this Sunday. This is a super easy way to join the mission of Jesus locally. At an event like this we typically provide food, music, prayer, friendship, kindness, and love to people who have found themselves in a difficult place in life. See Venita at the table in the lobby this Sunday for all the details, and to sign up. You could also contact here via voice or text at .
Baptism February 23, During Sunday Service
We are planning on having baptisms during our Sunday morning service on February 23. (The water will be heated, in case your wondering!) If you are a follower of Jesus, but have not yet been baptized, this is for you.
Acts 2:36-38
36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”
37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.
Talk to pastor Steve Rogers to sign up. You can reach him at srogers@gracevcf.org or 760-500-4324
We have 2 new groups launching on March 3 for the women.
Breathe Priscilla Shirer Study Begins March 3
Women’s Skills Group Begins March 3
This group takes participants through a transformative, restorative process using the Restoration Therapy model of the Pain and Peace Cycle. The material is based on scripture and helps you understand your new identity in Christ. It looks at negative Family of Origin patterns and provides healing through forgiveness and repair. It will meet Monday nights 6:30-8:30pm at the church. Cost is $50 for the book. Sign up at the table in the lobby after Sunday service or call/text Lisa Rogers for more information 760.696.1994.
Needing and Pursuing God’s Empowering Presence
We just had a really great month of inspirational teaching in January on the topic “Enlarging Our Hearts”. It started on January with our own Sharon M bringing such an inspiring message with some awesome stories about how big God’s heart of love is for every person He has created, how our hearts can become shrunken, and how they can grow again, filled up with God’s love and compassion for people from every culture and circumstance.
Then Sam Cerny visited us with jaw-dropping stories from the Himalayas that illustrated the importance of the “all’s” in Matthew 28’s Great Commission passage. I’ve heard thousands of sermons over the years, and problem hundreds or at least dozens mentioning Matthew 28, but this was the first time I was taught these insights.
Then Mauricio Villamizar gave us a fresh perspective on the process of growing a heart for God’s Mission. Another home run!
As if we weren’t already spoiled enough with these world class speakers, we had the highly unusual opportunity to host Damas Kamfwa, the national director of the Vineyard churches in Zambia, Africa! He asked us the “Big Question”, and it was, shall we say, powerful!
This week….
I’ve been pondering what I should bring to the table when I approach the pulpit this week, and I’ve felt a leading toward stirring us up in the empowering work of the Holy Spirit. As the teachings came each week, a response was called for. I feel to remind us of a foundation principal – the only means by which we can ever respond to obey the truths presented from the Scriptures is by the empowering work of the Holy Spirit and His active role in our lives. I’m going to begin exploring this with you this coming Sunday, and I suspect we may need 2 or 3 weeks to attend to this truth properly. I’m calling the message(s) “Needing and Pursuing God’s Empowering Presence”. I hope you’ll be able to join me in this important discussion on Sunday morning, but if you can’t be with us in person, here’s the link for the Zoom channel: Zoom Meeting ID 153 112 432, Passcode 684814, and here’s where you would go for the Facebook Live channel: facebook.com/gracevcf.
And that’s where I need to sign off for this afternoon.
With love and blessings to each of you,
Ron Ohst
P.S.
If you haven’t finished filling out your missions response form for 2025, we need those ASAP. Here’s the link one more time: 2025 Grace Missions Pledge Form
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.