Grace Vineyard Update 10-23-2020
Happy Weekend, Grace Vineyard and friends.
It’s time for my weekly email update. As usual, I sent out a video message earlier today. If you’d like to watch that, you can do so right here:
Here’s some details you’ll want to know:
Clubhouse Grace Zoom with Miss Kim
Saturday morning Miss Kim is putting on another Saturday morning Zoom Kids program at 9am. There will be kid’s worship, a craft, a Bible story, and lots of fun for the little ones. We tried this for the first time last month, and it was a Great Success! Join Miss Kim on Zoom right here:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82006071595?pwd=MURMb3dJRjBISyt6Q3FlNjA0dU1XZz09
Meeting ID: 820 0607 1595
Passcode: 370852
If you have any questions, contact Kim Ohst at 760-519-4558
Grace in the Park this Sunday
We will be worshipping at Buddy Todd Park for the last time this year. Join us at 2800 Mesa Dr in Oceanside at 9:30 this Sunday, October 25th. We plan on returning to indoor worship on November 1st. Of course this week, and for the foreseeable future, we’ll be broadcasting our services on Zoom and Facebook Live. I have invited one of my favorite Bible teachers to speak this Sunday – our own Shannon Frye. Shannon will be sharing a talk called “Back to the Basics” from John 1:35-51. Here’s the passage for us to read and contemplate as we prepare our hearts for Sunday:
John 1:35-51 (English Standard Version)
35 The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38 Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. 40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). 42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “So you are Simon the son of John? You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter).
43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” 48 Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” 49 Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” 50 Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” 51 And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
For Zoom, here’s the meeting info:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/153112432?pwd=WlJjbWZNeHo0NXBKM0VvbDkrYXV2QT09
Meeting ID: 153 112 432
Password: 684814
One tap mobile
+16699009128,,153112432#
For Facebook live go to our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/gracevcf/
For in-person at the park bring your own lawn chair, and be sure to bring a mask to be worn whenever you are not able to maintain 6 feet distance from those not in your own household.
Invitations and “Holy Hello’s”
Since we’re meeting in the park on Sunday, we’ll be inviting in the park on Saturday. Join us at 10:30 AM at Buddy Todd Park where we’ll give invitations to local folks and look for opportunities to turn those invitations into “Holy Hello’s” — you know, where a normal conversation becomes a Holy encounter. For more info, contact Michael Aplikowksy at (760) 473-9177.
Volunteers Needed
As we prepare to go back inside, Susan Franke is leading a couple of volunteer cleaning days in the building on Saturday, October 24 and Saturday, October 31, both at 10:00 am. We could use your help. Please contact Susan for more info at (760) 419-2273
Blankets, Blankets, Blankets!
Michael asked me to remind you, “Blankets, blankets, blankets!” Please bring blankets, preferably freshly laundered, in a plastic bag to church on Sunday. We’re collecting them for a blanket give-a-way for homeless folks as the weather begins to turn colder. Michael will lead teams of people to distribute blankets to our homeless neighbors as a way to bring a practical blessing of Jesus’ love. Of course, as we are sharing a conversation with our friends, we’ll be looking for … you guessed it …”Holy Hello’s”. There will undoubtedly be opportunities to bring the blessing of prayer and the Good News of Jesus. Need more info? Contact Michael at (760) 473-9177.
Growing as Followers of Jesus
As I close this email, I wanted to remind you of something I said last week, and I’m happy to hear that some people have already been stepping into this. To be a disciple of Jesus is essentially to be His apprentice, becoming more and more like Him, with a goal of living my life the way Jesus would if He were living my life. It’s often said that where there is a will there is a way, and in the case of discipleship, that is definitely true. One part of the way is to make a decision to meet with other Jesus Followers (at least one other person or a small group) around the Word of God. We would like to be a Worshiping Community where every one of us regularly (weekly would be a good rhythm) practices this. If you’re not part of a small group already, consider joining one, or start your own by inviting a friend to get together for the purpose of reading the Bible. You actually don’t need any special training to do this. A proven method looks like this:
- Pray, asking God to speak to you
- Read a passage, and make sure all of you can say in your own words what you just read
- Ask each other if the passage teaches you anything about God
- Ask each other if the passage teaches you anything about people
- Ask each other what you would need to do obey this passage in your life
- Ask each other who you think you should share what you just learned.
When people do this simple exercise in the presence of the Lord, transformation happens! Our minds our renewed by God’s Word, and we grow more into Christ-likeness, as His thoughts began to become our thoughts.
Let’s choose to grow as disciples of Jesus!
Much love and blessing to each of you. See you on Sunday morning!
Ron Ohst
Tithes and Offerings Online
Thank you for your generosity and faithfulness! We could not do what we do without you. We believe God has chosen to meet the material needs of His church through the tithes and offerings of His people. (Tithe means literally 1/10 or 10% of our income). We encourage everybody to be committed to a church family, and if Grace Vineyard is where you are committed, we’ve provided this online tool for you; click on the “donate” button below to get started. (Note: if you’re giving an offering for the building fund or the benevolence fund in addition to your tithe, please mention that in the notes section after you land on our paypal page). THANKS for taking ownership in the life and ministry of Grace Vineyard – it takes all of us!