Weekly Update 06-28-2025

June 28, 2025

Hello Grace Vineyard Family and Friends,

It’s been a great week here in Oceanside and in our Grace Vineyard family.  Here’s our latest Weekly Update to tell you some of the highlights.

Jehovah Jireh and Generous Jesus Followers

Last Sunday I mentioned that we had another A/C system die on us – the one for our Children’s ministry.  (I had told you previously about one of the youth group air conditioners also dying).  Then on Wednesday of this week I sent out a message about how if we moved quickly we could save a bunch of money by buying previous generation equipment that was being sold at a discount on a first-come-first-served basis. We needed to raise $8,500 quickly to make it happen (if we we were to take our time and just purchase the new equipment you would normally buy for this job, our bid was $13,000).  Well, the name Jehovah Jireh means “The Lord Will Provide”, and He certainly did! Of course, God usually chooses to work in partnership with His people, so you Generous Jesus Followers of Grace Vineyard also stepped up.  By Friday, 22 people responded and either gave online or committed to bring in a combined total of $10,500!  $2,000 more than our goal.  And that means not only is the children’s ministry going to have a new A/C system installed (it’s being installed today, I might add!), but we have almost enough money raised to replace the broken Youth Ministry A/C system too.  WOW!  You guys and God are generous. Thank you to all who responded so quickly to this need.

Fellowship Potluck Tomorrow

One of the best ways to enjoy fellowship is over some great food, so we’re having another one of our Fellowship Potlucks tomorrow right after church.  Many of you already signed up to bring a dish to share.  If you didn’t sign up, that’s not a problem – it would be great if you could make or buy your favorite food for to bring tomorrow’s lunch.  If you have any questions, please contact Steve Rogers at 760-500-4324.  I’m looking forward to some great hangout time with you.

The Way of Jesus with Jason DiPinto

Last week we were very excited to welcome Chaplain Jason Dipinto and his lovely wife Christina.  Jason will start his new position at Camp Pendleton next week and he Christina are in the process of finding a new home in Oceanside (they have just come from Guam).  Jason and I have been friends for a long time and we are both really looking forward to this new season.  Here’s a video of Jason preaching on “The Way of Jesus” from Mark’s Gospel last Sunday.  It was awesome, but definitely left us wanting more, so we’ll have to see when he’ll be available again to bring the Word on a future Sunday morning.

Becoming Abba’s Child

The Sunday before last was Father’s Day, and I brought you a message about Experiencing God our Father.  Many of you already know that Jesus revealed the nature of God as a loving Father, one who we are invited to call “Abba”, which is a word from Jesus’ native language that would equivalent to our “Daddy” or “Papa”.  After our Father’s Day service I felt like I needed to go a little farther on this topic with us — I talked about the kind of “Abba” relationship that is available to us with God our Father, but I didn’t have time to talk much about how to get there –  how do we become Abba’s child?  In one sense all humans are God’s children because all of us are created by God.  And in a deeper sense the Bible teaches that in particular, those who receive Jesus have been given the honor of being called “children of God” (see John 1:12).  And even then, there are many people who have become Jesus followers, and therefore have received “the Spirit of adoption” as God’s children, but still haven’t entered into that “Abba, Father” kind of intimacy that is so essential for wholeness.  Tomorrow I’m going to share with you some thoughts on how we can enter into that Abba/Daddy/Papa experience with God.  I’m calling the talk, “Becoming Abba’s Child”.  I look forward to being with you on Sunday morning, but  if for some reason you’re not able to be with us in person,  you can join us online on Zoom with this link: Zoom Meeting ID  153 112 432, Passcode 684814.  You can also find our livestream on Facebook Live at facebook.com/gracevcf.

Spanish Ministry Every Monday Night

I want to make sure all of us know that the Spanish Ministry is fully up and running on Monday nights in the Upper Room!  We have been praying for this for years, and it’s finally happening – I’m so excited!  Cris and Paola Marquez are the main leaders and contacts for more info, but I can tell you there is a great group of people coming together with them who are all leaders in their own right, serving together to serve our Spanish speaking community.  If you speak Spanish, I think you’ll love this group.  If you know somebody who speaks Spanish (and who in San Diego doesn’t know somebody who speaks Spanish?!) please invite them.  They’re calling it “La Viña Oceanside”, which means “The Vineyard Oceanside” in Spanish.  They worship, Study the Bible, Fellowship, have prayer ministry and more every Monday night at 7pm.  For more info, contact Cristopher at 818-674-3929, or Paola at 858-285-9110.

Ladies Retreat November 14-16th at Pine Valley

Ladies, you can begin to pay for our fall retreat.  Private bath lodges are $270, shared bathroom lodges are $250 and dorm rooms are $215.  There are a limited number of Private Bath Lodges available.  You can pay online or place money/checks in the offering.  Please note with your payment that it is for the retreat.  In order to reserve the appropriate room, please email and let me know what kind of room you are reserving when you make a payment.  I will confirm if that type of room is available.  $50 deposit will hold the room. You can call Kim Ohst for more information 760.519.4558.

Friday Night Small Group on Break Until July 11

I also want to make sure everyone knows that the Friday night Small group led by Christian Twombly that meets in the Upper Room is on break until July 11th.

And with that, I’ll end this week’s “Weekly Update”.  Looking forward to worshipping with you tomorrow!

with love and blessings,

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.