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February 3, 2017
Grace & Peace to You Grace Church,
Recently I gave an article to the members of the Church Council and asked them to reflect on it during our last meeting. On the March 30, 2016, “Church and Culture” page, pastor Karl Vaters discussed two ways of approaching a church’s ministry in his article entitled, “Forget Being Culturally Relevant – the Church Needs to be Contextually Real.”
Being culturally relevant, he suggests, places the church in the position of becoming a follower of culture. Abdicating its leadership role as a counter culture creator, the church simply attempts to “sacramentalize” what is “hip” and “cool” in the culture and then regurgitate it back with a Christian “flavor.”
This, Vaters suggests, isn’t all that difficult.
He goes on to propose that the more difficult (and more Christ-like) thing to do is to commit to being contextually real. While it’s true that any church’s ministry takes place in a culture, it also takes place in a specific “context.” Bay City is a different context than say Flint or Saginaw, or even Midland, for that matter.
The wealth or affluence of a particular locale also will change the context of a church’s ministry, as will things like ethnic diversity, socioeconomic drivers (i.e. a wealthy or poor community), you name it; almost anything can set one context apart from another.
Jesus was someone who ministered in a way that was “contextually real.” To Hebrews, he used their stories, spoke in the language of their metaphors. To those outside the story, again, he used mannerisms and other devices that would help him enter into the context of the people to whom he was ministering. The early church in the book of Acts did the same. They didn’t try to make the gospel “cool,” yet they did try to make it contextually real, especially in its push to the Gentile regions in the second half of the book.
When the church is contextually real, it puts us back into the position of primary shaper and influencer of culture instead of a people who simply try to adopt the culture and “Christianize” it. That’s not to say that, from time to time, even when we are being contextually real, it won’t be prone to happen. Yet we must remember that Jesus called the church to lead the charge, not defend the gates.
In Matthew 16v18, Jesus talks about the fact that the “gates of hell” won’t overcome the church. We tend to read that as if it puts the church in the defensive position. Yet in the original Greek language of the New Testament, the language implies that the church is on the offense, and that the gates of hell will not ever be able to stop its advance.
I believe that Grace is a church that strives to be “contextually real.” We deeply desire to enter into the contexts of the lives of the people here in Bay City and make the gospel come alive to them in ways that they can understand and embrace. We don’t want to be shaped by culture; we want to be shapers of culture.
I hope that you will join me in striving to be contextually real in the messy stuff of ministry so that one more person might find their home in the life and faith that we have found in Jesus Christ. Lives all around us are quite literally depending on us.
Looking forward to seeing you when the tribe gathers on Sunday.
Grace & Peace,
Pastor Eric |
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Pathway Points
Steppng Up for Jesus
Monica Lebsack, Creative Ministries Director
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This past Sunday during the children’s moment at our East Campus, I asked the kids how they were doing on their New Year’s resolutions after a month. So, I’m going to ask you, how’s yours going? Pastors Eric and Jeff challenged all of us at the beginning of the year to start a Bible reading plan. (If you haven’t picked one up yet, there are several at the Welcome Center to choose from.)
For those of you that have the daily reading part down, let me encourage you to go a little deeper. While soaking in the Word daily is incredibly important, memorizing Scripture for times when you don’t have a Bible handy is a good next step on your discipleship journey. For a great explanation on why it’s important, check out this article by Pastor Rick Warren: Why Should You Memorize Scripture? If you’re like me and need a support system to make things like this possible, join me, Beth Moore, and hundreds of others at Living Proof Ministries’ Scripture Memory Team. We’re only a month in, so there’s still plenty of year left to participate. You can do it!
And, if things are getting kind of hit-and-miss…oh, who am I kidding, when things get hit-and-miss, let me encourage you with a quote that I love from Pastor David Barnhart’s dad: “If you start over enough, you begin to look consistent.”
Stepping up with you in His strength!
 Monica
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Current Series
@ both Campuses:
REVELATION
This week's message:
"Seven Letters for Seven Churches"
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What’s better on a cold winter day than hot soup? And what’s better than hot soup, than soup for a cause? Join us at Grace Church West Campus for the
Hearty Soup Supper
Friday, February 3, from 4 to 7 pm
TONIGHT!
Dinner will include all you can eat soup, salad bar, bread, crackers, desserts, and beverages. Suggested Donations--Adults: $7 Children ages 5-12: $3 Children 4 and under: $1.50 All proceeds will go to missions. Organized by the Grace Church United Methodist Women.
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(Requests will stay on the prayer list for 1 week. If you have a repeating request, please check the box on your Relationship Card, and your request will remain on the list for 4 weeks.)
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PROTECTION TRAINING
Given by: Saginaw Bay District
Has been cancelled for tomorrow morning. It will be rescheduled.
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 Please be sure to put your FULL NAME on your offering envelope each week to ensure giving credit. If you would rather used your assigned number, please call the office, and we will provide it for you. Thank you!
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The Youth Group is encouraging you to participate in Baby Bottle Boomerang! Your contributions provide the gift of life to unborn children as you join in supporting the work of Beacon of Hope Pregnancy Care Center. Pick up your bottle in during Grace Cafe on Sunday, fill it will your pocket change, some bills, or checks, and return the bottle by Sunday, February 5th.
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Nursery Help Needed on March 19
If you are willing and able to care for Grace's youngest members on March 19 at West Campus, please see Elizabeth Hulka in the nursery.
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Golden Years Potluck
Feb. 9th at 12:00 Noon
Grace Church West Campus
Bring a Valentine to share
Bring your own Table Service & Dish to pass.
PROGRAM: Beth Trahan
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Wanted: Used Bible Study Books
If you have a collection of used Bible study books you would like to part with, the Salvation Army is conducting a number of Bible Study Groups—both at the center and part of a Prison Ministry. Your books would be greatly appreciated, Please put your used Bible Study books in the box located in the fellowship hall.
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Pastor Eric's Bible study will not meet on the second Thursday of the month.
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Mental illness should not be ignored, hidden or laughed at. Everyone is invited to UMW General Meeting on Tuesday, February 28th at 7:00 p.m. at West Campus for a presentation that will enlighten and educate.
We will also have our special Lenten Call to Prayer and Self-Denial devotion: Maternal and Child Health.
Ruth Circle will be putting together Hope Totes for Good Samaritan Rescue Mission at their meeting on Monday, February 13th at 7:00 p.m.
Dorcas Circle will be meeting at the church on Tuesday, February 14th at 11:30 a.m.
Tabitha and Mary Martha Circle will not be meeting this month.
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Levi's Table
February 13
6:30-8p
Uptown Grill
3 E. Main St., Bay City
in the uptown development
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The New Membership Class will be held Sunday, March 26, 12:30p, at West Campus. Join us for lunch and discussion about Grace Church.
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