Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Monday, April 9, 2007
Dreams happen
Dreams happen at First Grace (Going with the flow)As I approach five years at First Grace, I have come to
believe that anything is possible if we are willing to get out of
God's way. I was told that if I had a dream and someone to co-createthat vision, they would do everything to help make it
come true.
My personal story is that I wanted to be a part of a coffeehouse
to be held at First Grace. I didn't go there looking for a church,
but God had other plans for me. I have come to know
and love our church with my whole heart and mind
in a way I did not believe was possible.
My last four years has taught me the Affirmation of
Welcome is a living document which reaches out to everyone.You have to see it to believe it.
In the winter of 2004, during the airing of the promotion, "The
Bouncer", I got the message that there were things that I could
do at a UCC church.
I began attending Sunday services at First Grace because I was
invited to attend. I soon realized that when our interim pastor(who later became our current pastor), had the "eternal child"
quality which I needed; someone to whom I could tell everything
or nothing.
I came out to him as a recovering Catholic who had never
had the opportunity to become fully involved in the life
of the church. I knew that First Grace UCC, was a place,
where I could grow, and that no idea was too insignificant
or too grand to be considered.
Coming back from National Gathering in Atlanta,
I quickly realized my focus must be on all the people.
Our new and long-time members...
our visitors who come to both the Open Door
Coffeehouse and Sunday morning services...
all have given to me gifts greater than I could have imagined.
Welcoming, witnessing and being 'totally present' for
myself and for others have shown me a joy which I now know is
God's extravagant welcome.
As others come to find their own special gifts,
the miracles will continue to increase in
ways which are yet to be told. I came to believe.
This is a place where dreams are coming
true.Joni Christian
believe that anything is possible if we are willing to get out of
God's way. I was told that if I had a dream and someone to co-createthat vision, they would do everything to help make it
come true.
My personal story is that I wanted to be a part of a coffeehouse
to be held at First Grace. I didn't go there looking for a church,
but God had other plans for me. I have come to know
and love our church with my whole heart and mind
in a way I did not believe was possible.
My last four years has taught me the Affirmation of
Welcome is a living document which reaches out to everyone.You have to see it to believe it.
In the winter of 2004, during the airing of the promotion, "The
Bouncer", I got the message that there were things that I could
do at a UCC church.
I began attending Sunday services at First Grace because I was
invited to attend. I soon realized that when our interim pastor(who later became our current pastor), had the "eternal child"
quality which I needed; someone to whom I could tell everything
or nothing.
I came out to him as a recovering Catholic who had never
had the opportunity to become fully involved in the life
of the church. I knew that First Grace UCC, was a place,
where I could grow, and that no idea was too insignificant
or too grand to be considered.
Coming back from National Gathering in Atlanta,
I quickly realized my focus must be on all the people.
Our new and long-time members...
our visitors who come to both the Open Door
Coffeehouse and Sunday morning services...
all have given to me gifts greater than I could have imagined.
Welcoming, witnessing and being 'totally present' for
myself and for others have shown me a joy which I now know is
God's extravagant welcome.
As others come to find their own special gifts,
the miracles will continue to increase in
ways which are yet to be told. I came to believe.
This is a place where dreams are coming
true.Joni Christian
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