September 13, 2024
Hi Grace Vineyard Family and Friends. Happy Friday.
Right now it’s almost 9 on Friday night, so our Women of Grace are finishing off their Face to Face meeting, and probably about this point in the evening, they’re getting ready to jump into Sheri’s pool for some very chill hang out time. I love it when we hang out together, knowing and being known, sharing our joys and our challenges, our laughter and our tears. As I typed that last sentence I was reminded of a book I read some time ago called “Connecting”, by Larry Crabb. Larry Crabb was a Christian Counselor (he died in 2021, at the age of 76, after a 23 battle with cancer), and in his book he wrote that much of the work we delegate to mental health professionals could better be done simply by connecting well in Christian community. “I am now working toward the day when communities of God’s people, ordinary Christians whose lives regularly intersect, will accomplish most of the good that we now depend on mental health professionals to provide. And they will do it by connecting with each other in ways that only the gospel makes possible,” he wrote in the in the introduction to Connecting. As a pastor, looking to care for a community of Jesus followers, I encourage each of us to endeavor to connect with others in life giving relationships, and gathering in our various small groups is a good way to start. As a matter of fact, we have a few opportunities to connect tomorrow (Saturday) morning:
Monthly Ladies Walk/Hike September 14
Ladies, you’re invited to join us at 9am at the Oceanside Pier sign across the street from Pacific 333, for our monthly walk/hike. This is a great opportunity for fellowship and light exercise in the beauty of the San Diego Coast. Please call/text Kathy Green if you plan to attend 760.583.1779.
Monthly Men’s Breakfast, September 14
Men, we hope you’ll join the Men of Grace on Saturday, September 14, at 8am at Ty’s Burgerhouse, 515 Mission Ave, just around the corner from the church. Really great breakfast, fellowship with the guys, worship, and Steve Rogers will be telling us some pretty amazing stories from his recent trips to the Philippines and Indonesia.
Sunday School Cleaning and Organizing Saturday, September 28th 9am-12pm
This one is for both Men and Women: Bring your cleaning supplies (buckets, rags, towels, old toothbrushes). We’re going to be cleaning toys and Sunday school furniture and organizing supplies. We could use lots of hands to make the work fun and easy. Please call Kim Ohst if you plan to attend 760.519.4558.
Convicted For Christ Golf For Hope Tournament
Our friends at Convicted For Christ are having their 2nd annual Golf For Hope Tournament/Fundraiser on November 9th. This Sunday for our Missions Moment Michael Aplikowsky will lead us in prayer for this great ministry. I hope as many of us as possible can also join the Golf For Hope Tournament. Check it out by clicking here: https://www.convicted4christ.org/2nd-annual-golf-for-hope-fundraiser.
Living as Citizens of Heaven in a Foreign Land
I have really enjoyed preparing and bringing you the last few messages on our Sundays together. Just a reminder: we talked about “Overcoming Fear”, followed by “Be Strong and Courageous”, and then last week, “Seeking God’s Glory – a Passion for the Fame of His Name”. In all of these talks my heart is for equipping the saints for the work of ministry (Ephesians 4:11-16). This Sunday I plan to continue with more equipping, looking at our position as “Citizens of Heaven” who are living in a “Foreign Land”. I’m getting this image from Peter’s first letter. He opens that letter by addressing the recipients as, “God’s elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit”. That description works for us today – we are chosen by God, living right where we are as strangers in this world, citizens of God’s Kingdom. The letter goes on to describe how we are to live, given that reality. Do you ever feel like that? Like you don’t really belong here? That’s because we have been born of the Spirit, and are created for another reality that this present world doesn’t conform to. A little later Peter writes, “Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” You get the idea. I Peter is a pretty short letter, and I recommend you read it all the way through sometime between now and Sunday morning. Here’s that sentence I repeat every week for those of you who are looking for the online link: If you are not able to be with us in person this Sunday, you can always join online via the Zoom app with this info: Zoom Meeting ID 153 112 432, Passcode 684814. You may also join us on Facebook Live at facebook.com/gracevcf.
And here’s a video of last week’s message in case you missed it, or wanted to hear it again, or wanted to share it with somebody:
And with that I’ll close this week’s update. God bless you each richly!
With much love,
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.