September 21, 2024
Hello Grace Vineyard Family and Friends.
Welcome to Fall in San Diego! I guess summer officially ends tonight at midnight and then our new season begins. I don’t know about you, but I really like the steady rhythm of the seasons. (I know; people say we don’t really have seasons here, because our weather is so consistently temperate. But I would counter that yes, we do have seasons, and the corresponding experience of one season ending just as a new season begins, just not with extreme weather changes like other places experience). When seasons change, I feel a calm, quiet kind of joyful peace. A steadiness that God is with me through every season of life, as well as every season of the year. I like this verse: “As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.” (Genesis 8:22). If you don’t recognize that one, it’s what God said to Noah and his family as they came out of the ark after The Flood. It comforts me to know that God is overseeing the world and the affairs of humanity, eventually bringing everything into conformity with his good will for us (see Ephesians 1:11).
Doing Life from Heaven’s Resources
Last Sunday I taught on the theme, “Living as Citizens of Heaven Living in a Foreign Land”, which you can watch right here on our YouTube channel:
or listen to right here on GraceTalks.org
The concept of that title came from some passages in John’s Gospel (when Jesus says, “they are not of the world any more than I am of the world”), Philippians (where Paul says we are citizens of heaven), and mostly 1 Peter. To be honest, last week I wasn’t sure if it was just a one-off talk, or if I would lead us into deeper dive into the writings of Peter. Well, as you can see from the title graphic for this week, I’ve decided to launch a new series in which we can delve into this topic more completely. I’m calling it, “Doing Life from Heaven’s Resources – life lessons from the writings of Peter”. Several times in Peter’s writings he refers to us with terminology like “aliens and strangers in the world.” When you read his 2 letters in the Bible, there seems to be a consistent theme about how we live life here as though we really are from another place – the Kingdom of God – and as though we have the resources of heaven always at the ready to empower us to live life on another plane than we could if we were living life from the resources of this world. One almost startling thing he says along these lines is at the beginning of his second letter: “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” (2 Peter 1:3-4) Doesn’t that sound like “doing life from heaven’s resources”?! I also decided to use the phrase “Doing Life” in the title, over against simply “Living” because “doing life” conveys our active participation whereas “living” just sounds like a passive state that comes from simply being alive. Peter tells us how we ought to choose to engage in the activity of living here on earth, utilizing the amazing resources that have become ours by way of New Birth in Jesus Christ. I look forward to diving into this series with you, starting this Sunday morning at 9:30am. 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.
Here’s some events that are coming up that I want to make sure everyone is aware of:
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.
Being The Beloved Women’s Retreat 2024
The Women of Grace will be going to Pine Valley for our Being the Beloved retreat November 1-3. Michelle Wilson, pastor of Coast Vineyard, will be our speaker and Ammee Huzil will be leading worship. Dorm Rooms are $195, Shared Bath Lodges are $230 and Private Bath Lodges are $250 (unavailable unless already reserved). You won’t want to miss this lovely time of connecting with the Lord and your sisters in Christ. Please sign up in the lobby (even if you’ve already begun to pay, please fill out a registration form). For more information, please call Kim Ohst 760.519.4558. You can pay online by clicking here Women’s Retreat Payment.
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. 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.
Mexico Vineyard National Conference October 16-18
For several weeks I’ve been mentioning the Mexico Vineyard National Conference coming up on October 16-18. I’d like to invite everyone who speaks Spanish to go with me. If your Spanish isn’t as strong as you’d like, don’t worry, there will be English translation available. It is conveniently close to us, in MexiCali, B.C. If you are even a little bit interested, would you please contact me to talk some more? Email me at rohst@gracevcf.org. It’s time to register, so I’d like to find out who plans on going with me. It’s going to be a GREAT experience! Here’s a link to the page where you can find more info: Conferencia Nacional 2024
Breath of Heaven Annual Banquet
Also coming up is Breath of Heaven’s Annual Fundraiser Dinner on October 17th at the
Encounter Night 2024
This one is still a little while away, but I want to get it on our calendars. Encounter Night is a night of worship and prayer put on by the churches of San Diego at the Oceanside Pier Amphitheater. It starts at 6pm on Sunday night, November 3, and it sounds like it’s going to be awesome. I went to an organizing meeting earlier this week to learn more about it, and it sounded pretty awesome. There will be a combined worship band with singers and instrumentalists from a bunch of different churches in San Diego. There will also be worship led by Chris Quilala. If you’re not familiar with that name, you might try looking up his music on your favorite music streaming platform or just YouTube. You’ll probably recognize some of the songs he has brought to the body of Christ. Anyway, this will be a great time of unity among the churches of San Diego, gathering with just one purpose – to exalt the name of Jesus!
And that’s it for this week’s update email. I hope you have a great rest of your weekend, and I’ll see you Sunday morning for worship.
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.