Church In Real Life
Hartland Concerts
Summer is in full swing and Hartland’s concerts are well under way. Concerts begin around 7pm every Thursday evening at Nixon Park in downtown Hartland. Bring a chair or a blanket, invite a friend, and enjoy a summer evening in the community with live music of all genres.
Thursday Evenings Together
If you want to be kept in the loop with all the summer activities going on with Grace Hill Church, then join the Summer Group. You will receive notifications regarding all the happenings that are posted throughout the summer.
Jesus Club
Last Sunday Johnny shared about the amazing work that God has been doing at Arrowhead High School along with other high schools in the area (Kettle Moraine, and Oconomowoc). The Jesus Clubs are student led clubs that aim to give every student on campus the opportunity to hear and respond to the Gospel.
Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. - 1 Timothy 4:12
As Johnny shared on Sunday, “So often the narrative that we hear about Gen Z and Gen Alpha is the mental illness, addictions, and brokenness. But the narrative from heaven and reality in schools all over the world is that the next generation are hungry for God, they are seeking Jesus, and they are boldly sharing the Gospel with their peers.” Johnny admitted that when the Jesus Clubs began to form in Lake Country, the expectations were that a couple of students would come, but God had other plans, and now there are between 35-50 students who attend the weekly meetings at Arrowhead.
Set The Believers An Example
Please pray for more students to come and hear the Good News. Pray for revival. Pray for the Spirit to be moving at the Jesus Clubs next year. Pray for the Jesus Club rally this summer. Pray that lives would be changed and people would give their lives to Christ.
Psalms, Hymns, Songs
We are thankful for our musicians who regularly and selflessly lend their talents and voices to lead us in song as we worship our great savior every Sunday. These men and women put in countless hours planning, practicing, rehearsing, and faithfully committing to serve us on Sunday mornings.
Be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. - Ephesians 5:18b–20
Please pray for those who serve, that God may graciously sustain them as they endeavor to bless us each Sunday. Pray that God would continue to fill us with His Spirit as we make melody to the Lord with our hearts!
Just Add Water
Our next youth night is scheduled for Saturday, June 14th at Pike Lake State Park from 12-5pm. We will plan on swimming, hiking/scavenger hunt, picnic lunch, and continuing our study through the Sermon on the Mount.
Saturday, June 14th | 12-5pm
A couple notes for this event:
A Wisconsin State Park Pass is required to enter the park, so we encourage carpooling with those who already have a pass.
Please pack your own lunch.
Drinks will be provided.
Please bring a lawn chair for each person.
RSVP to Cody by Wednesday, June 11th
We currently meet once a month to learn and grow. Every meeting is different. Sometimes it's a party. Sometimes it's a service project. Often we have deep theological conversations. 7th-12th graders from inside and outside the church are welcome to join.
Ascension Rewind
Last Thursday we shared a simple evening to celebrate, reflect and focus on the Savior who went up. We paused for a brief moment to sing and recall the significance of the Ascension, and then enjoyed some ice cream floats while releasing many more things up into the sky as a symbolic way to recall the promise that just as some standing by watched Jesus go up, in the same way He will come again!
“When he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” - Acts 1:9–11
Above All The Parchments
The bookshelves are filled and awaiting readers. If you see a book that interests you, simply grab it, flip through it, and take it with you. Its yours to read and enjoy!
When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments. - 2 Timothy 4:13
In his book titled “Lit! A Christian Guide to Reading Books,” author Tony Reinke states, “No single book should receive more attention in our lives than Scripture.” Christianity is a religion based on a book. In fact, you might even say that reading is in our DNA as Christians. Though no book should take priority over the Bible, God has gifted many Christian writers throughout history who have contributed for our benefit. Let us endeavor to pursue reading for the glory of God.
Also The Books
God Is the Gospel: Meditations on God's Love as the Gift of Himself | John Piper
Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands: People in Need of Change Helping People in Need of Change | Paul David Tripp
Worship Matters: Leading Others to Encounter the Greatness of God | Bob Kauflin
Knowing God | J. I. Packer
The Biggest Story Bible Storybook Hardcover | Kevin DeYoung
Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers | Dane Ortlund
The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God | Timothy Keller
Am I Called?: The Summons to Pastoral Ministry | Dave Harvey
Holiness | J. C. Ryle
Lit!: A Christian Guide to Reading Books | Tony Reinke
The Gospel Comes with a House Key: Practicing Radically Ordinary Hospitality in Our Post-Christian World | Rosaria Butterfield
Forgive: Why Should I and How Can I? | Timothy Keller
How to Talk about Jesus (Without Being That Guy): Personal Evangelism in a Skeptical World | Sam Chan
Love Your Church: 8 Great Things About Being a Church Member | Tony Merida
The Beginner's Guide to Spiritual Gifts | Sam Storms
Finding the Right Hills to Die On: The Case for Theological Triage | Gavin Ortlund
What’s So Great about the Doctrines of Grace? | Richard D. Phillips
Hitchhiking with Prophets: A Ride Through the Salvation Story of the Old Testament | Chad Bird
Parenting: 14 Gospel Principles That Can Radically Change Your Family - Paul David Tripp
A Gospel Primer for Christians: Learning to See the Glories of God's Love | Milton Vincent
Evangelism: How the Whole Church Speaks of Jesus | J. Mack Stiles
Church Membership: How the World Knows Who Represents Jesus | Jonathan Leeman
Serve As Served
For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. - Mark 10:45
Grace Hill is a living organism, composed of many believers who desperately need one another as we navigate this life. One small way we intentionally invest time in one another’s lives is through our regular acts of serving.
Not To Be Served, But To Serve
The church by nature is a collection of individuals that forge a unified community. The concept of a lone ranger Christian is foreign to Scripture. And a church with only few participating in the life of the church is on its way to becoming an unhealthy church. We all need one another as we endeavor to build up a thriving body of believers.
As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. - 1 Peter 4:10–11
Please let us know where you would like to serve:
Best Of Summer
The summer season has risen upon us! Warmer weather and longer days induce endless summer dreams - cruising the lake, camping up north, vacationing throughout the country, and much more. Though with all the countless adventures that will entice us this summer, let us not neglect the best thing - being together with God’s people to worship Jesus on Sunday!
Togethering on Purpose
When the body is together, we are one, we are united, and the bride of Christ thrives. When separate, we have missing body parts, and we all suffer from the absence. When together, the Spirit is at His best, building Christ’s church and uniting God’s people (1 Corinthians 12:14-26; Ephesians 4:1-3).
Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Hebrews 10:24–25
We need Us, more than we need our weekend getaways. Imagine if a husband told his wife: “I love you, but I’m just too busy to spend time with you for the next few of months. In fact, there are actually some other people I’ll be spending time with instead.” If a wife heard her husband say this, not only would she be right to question his priorities, but she may even question his love for her. For if a husband truly loves his wife he makes it a priority to be with her.
And lets face it, loving one another may at times feel like an impossible task. After all, we are messy people. We sin daily, and we unfortunately often sin against one another. In order to genuinely love one another, we need an abundance of God’s grace - and He has provided it by the blood of His Son through the gift of His Holy Spirit (John 13:34; 1 John 4:10-11).
We Need Us
Don’t neglect the best thing this summer has to offer: Sundays with God’s people, your brothers and sisters, your family. This is God’s context for how and when we love one another, how we encourage and exhort one another (Hebrews 10:24-25), how we pursue Christ together! Together let us embrace the best this summer has to offer!
Parade In Merton
Show up on Monday, May 26th for the annual Village of Merton Memorial Day Parade. This is the biggest event of the year for our village. If you’ve ever wanted to see every Merton resident flood Main Street, then this the day to be in the Village.
Monday, May 26th at 10am
Grab a friend from church and a neighbor and arrive early to claim a spot along the parade route. This is a phenomenal time to interact with people from the community and remind our neighbors that Grace Hill Church is here for the people of the Village.