Dear Grace,
I love a good snow day! It feels like it’s been a long time since our community was abuzz with the prospect of a major snow event, and here we are. Milk, bread, and toilet paper will start flying off the shelves. Hardware stores will suddenly bloom with snow shovels and de-icing salt. Having spent my adult formative years in Chicago, I am gleefully amazed at the panic that strikes when a major snowstorm is predicted.
That said, our team has made the decision to not gather on Sunday because of the weather. We’ll have a short video devotional for you and your family specifically as we close out our 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting. All three of our teaching team will reflect on the 21 days and offer encouragement. It’s too important of a season to just move on from.
I don’t want to miss what God might have done in us through this 21 days. I know there are many ways that the Lord has come to us collectively. I believe there are movements in our hearts and in our lives as we have made room for Him. Let’s be sure to tell the story as a way of encouraging one another and giving him the glory. As I wrote last week, consider How has God come to you? How is he drawing you into His love? Respond to this simple form and let us know. Your story can be a blessing to someone.
On a different note, you may not be aware that over the last four years, I’ve been gathering a cohort of area pastors from a variety of churches (including St. Francis next door!) We come together around once a quarter to learn, share, and sharpen one another around our preaching. We usually have an amazing dinner afterwards. Over the years, the fellowship has run deep. We have walked with each other through some major life happenings (cancer, heart surgeries, sabbaticals, church transitions, etc.) This past year, our theme was around the topic of Trauma-informed preaching. It was eye-opening and stretching to say the least.
Part of the requirements of the grant that sustains us is to conduct a survey for our congregations to share about how they experience the preaching in our churches. Would you do me a favor and fill this one out? It will certainly involve a few minutes, and would be immensely helpful to give us feedback on how you are experiencing the preaching at Grace. We’ll be better as a result! This is the link to the survey. Thanks in advance.
Next week, our executive leadership team is away for three days to seek the Lord, reflect, and consider some high level planning around the next 3 years for Grace. There are a number of really important topics on the docket: church planting residencies, the possibility of additional gatherings, disciple-making priorities, and a variety of organizational culture items. Will you pray now that the Lord would meet us and lead us?
In addition, will you pray for God to give us insight into the right pastor to be added as an Associate Pastor of Disciple-making? In answer to prayers lifted up during these 21 days, God has provided an array of some amazing candidates. Pray for discernment and clarity. Pray that we would see as God sees – at the heart level.
This Sunday, remember to embrace the inactivity. As we’ve already been experiencing during these 21 days, resist the pressure to cram the time and space with mindless distraction. You don’t have to mindlessly binge. You can be attentive what is going on in you and around you. You can get out and walk in the snow (if able), or at least step outside and listen to the silence. You can help a neighbor shovel and demonstrate the love of God.
The snow may keep us from being together, but it can’t keep the Lord from coming to us! Let’s enjoy being in the hands of a God who can care for us even as He cares for the creation around us.