Faith & Hope
Have you ever lacked faith? Have you ever been short on hope? The two go hand-in-hand. A college chaplain once said: “Hope is hearing the music of the future; faith is dancing to it.” I like that! Do you hear the “music of the future” even in these dark times? No matter how dismal and depressing things may be, hope keeps an ear to the future, listening to the music of what God has promised us through Jesus Christ. Faith takes it one step further and “dances to it.” Faith is hope in action.
We all need hope. Yet it is so easy to lose hope in today’s dark world. We consider world affairs and see wars taking place. We watch the news and are appalled at the things taking place in our politics. There’s violence and criminality on the streets of our cities. Our own lives may also leave us frustrated and discouraged. Relationships have not always turned out as we had hoped. Jobs have disappointed. Our health isn’t what it used to be. My future has more questions than answers.
If you need hope, you have come to the right place! Sunday’s service and message at Grace Church is designed to give you hope. What is hope? Why is it so important? How can I get more of it? Join us for worship at 10:00 AM and let your heart be lifted and your soul be encouraged. We’ll light the first candle on our Advent wreath and enjoy the singing of some favorite hymns and carols. A nursery space and children’s church will be provided for little ones.
Following worship, we’ll roll right into our annual congregational meeting. All members are asked to be present (visitors may sit in) as we confirm a new elder and deacon, approve a 2026 budget and mission giving goals, and celebrate God’s working at Grace Church over this past year. Following the meeting, there’ll be a brief break for the drama team to eat lunch and for us to transition the platform into the stage for the Christmas drama. We’ll begin drama practice as soon as we are able.
After last week’s snowstorm and resulting cancellation, it’ll be good to be together this Sunday. Feel free to reach out and invite your family and friends to join us. You may use the attached flyer as an invitation, or simply forward this email to anyone you wish to invite. The season of preparation, waiting, and anticipation for the birth of Jesus Christ is upon us. May God’s hope, peace, joy, and love fill your heart and life this month and all through the year. See you Sunday!