A Grace-Full Church

[Carolyn and Julia and I have begun a new chapter in ministry as we have been appointed as co-pastors at Grace United Methodist Church in St. Augustine. We wrote the following for the church's print newsletter. It's a reflection on ways we've observed the five practices of a fruitful congregation at work among the people of Grace UMC.]

We are quickly falling in love with St. Augustine and Grace United Methodist Church! For the past few weeks in worship we have been highlighting the “Five Practices of a Fruitful Congregation.” The first practice is “Radical Hospitality.” We have certainly felt your hospitality from the beautiful parsonage prepared for our family to the many cards, gift cards, and food you all have shared with us. Thank you for your hospitality to us! Furthermore, we are proud to be the pastors of a church that is full of people who are committed to the mission of making disciples of Jesus for the transformation of the world!

We have been inspired by the many different ways we have seen the people of Grace putting faith in action and making God’s love real. (The fourth practice of a fruitful congregation!) As we have met some of you and heard your stories there have been recurring themes that have come out of our conversations: compassion for the poor and homeless, care and prayer for the homebound and sick, celebration of the spiritual gifts of youth and adults with disabilities, and a commitment to improving the church's ministry to and with children, youth and young adults.

That faith in action has undoubtedly both flowed from and nurtured the church’s “Passionate Worship” and “Intentional Faith Development” (the second and third practices of a fruitful congregation). We gather each week to worship with expectation that the living God will meet us where we are and give us just what we need in order to go out and be a witness to God’s reign in the world. Grace church is doubly blessed in that we have options to worship using both traditional and modern forms of music and liturgy – both of which God is using to draw spiritual seekers and strengthen followers of Jesus.

Then we gather intentionally in smaller groups for studying God’s word together, learning to interpret and apply what we’ve learned in our everyday life. These groups help us grow up into the people God created us to be, strengthening our bond with one another and with Christ. We are so proud that Grace church understands the importance of both nurturing existing discipleship groups and regularly creating new ones – making space for the community of faith to grow!

Finally, the fifth practice of a fruitful congregation – “Extravagant Generosity.” It has inspired us already to see children as young as third grade and adults who are homebound set an example for the church in extravagant generosity.

Ava, a third grader, says, “Whenever I get money I have three jars, a giving, a savings and a spending. Ten percent goes in giving, ten percent goes in savings and the rest goes in spending. So my dad asked what I wanted to do with the giving and I made the decision to make little bags and give them to the homeless. The bags had a sandwich, a water, an apple, a dollar and a handmade card. And on Saturday morning we go out and ask people if they had breakfast. If they were hungry we’d give them a bag.”

Mrs. Pope, one of Grace’s members who can’t attend worship regularly anymore, found out that the children at Vacation Bible School were giving their money to help send some of our friends with disabilities to camp this fall. She was so touched that she said, “I’d like to send a check to help with that. Where can I send it!”

The grace of God pours out of churches that intentionally practice and improve upon Radical Hospitality, Passionate Worship, Intentional Faith Development, Risk Taking Mission and Service, and Extravagant Generosity. Let’s keep practicing these habits together and rejoice in the amazing ways God will use us to transform the world!