Journey To The Cross
What is Lent? For those unfamiliar with the religious calendar, Lent is often associated with fish fries, fruit-filled donuts, and foregoing some of life’s pleasures—whether it's caffeine, chocolate, or social media. While temporarily sacrificing certain comforts can be meaningful or good for our health, the true observance of Lent goes far deeper.
Lent begins this Wednesday, March 5th, and lasts 40 days (excluding Sundays) leading up to Easter Sunday.
“Lent is first and foremost about the gospel making its way deeper into our lives.
This season is an opportunity to root ourselves in the good news that God saves sinners through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.”
Like all religious practices, observing Lent does not save a person, but as with all special seasons of reflection, repentance, reading of Scripture, and prayer, it can aid our sanctification as we intentionally prepare our hearts and minds for the celebration of Christ’s resurrection.
So, please consider how you might best prepare yourself during this Lent season. There are many things that you can do: spend time reading through the Gospel of Mark, work through a Lent reading plan on a Bible app, or use a devotional guide like Journey to the Cross.
And, if you decide to give up some things during this Lent season, consider using your extra time, resources, and energy for the glory of God and the good of others:
-Having given up junk food for a healthy diet, what will you do with the energy you gain?
-Having given up Facebook, to whom will you devote meaningful conversation?
-Having given up TV as a default activity, how will you use that time to cultivate quality family time?
Love At First Taco
Following worship on Sunday, March 16th, everyone is invited to get their fill of fellowship, fun, and yes, tacos! Tacos and fixings will be provided. If you’re able, please bring along a scrumptious salad, a delightful dessert, or a refreshing drink to share!
You had me at “tacos”
People can make a regular taco or a walking taco. Local legend has it that a walking taco is when you add your fixings into a small bag of fritos or doritos. Supposedly these are all the rage with the younger generation. Only time will tell. Truth is, there really isn’t a wrong way to eat a taco!
How do you taco?!
If you have any questions, about anything taco related, or just about life in general, please call or text Mariah at (262) 893-8027
Mario Kart Tournament
Our next youth night will be Saturday, March 8th from 4-8pm at Grace Hill Church. Come ready to put your virtual driving skills on display in a competitive Mario Kart tournament. We will also share a meal and continue our study through the Sermon on the Mount.
Saturday, March 8th | 4-8pm
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.
Book of Church Life
On Sunday evening, March 23rd, we will have our final Popcorn Polity at Grace Hill. We invite everyone to come and relax, snack on popcorn, and enjoy a night of polity as we carefully review another important document in the life of our church. As mentioned at our last member meeting, we hope that all of you will take time to read and come ready to ask questions and engage in a helpful discussion. Nothing is off-limits. We are an open book and are eager to get your feedback!
March 23 @ 6pm
This Book of Church Life is meant to supply answers to many of these questions: What does it mean to join a church? How do we join this particular church? What does church discipline look like? Does our church have bylaws and articles of incorporation? What are elders and deacons at this church? What does it mean that this church is connected to TFC?
Documents That Matter
Church polity matters; perhaps more than we will ever know. Therefore we endeavor to continue carefully working through a few documents that will ultimately shape the way Grace Hill functions as a local church as we desire to make much of the good name of Jesus in Merton and beyond.
Book of Church Life
Come ready to ask questions and engage in a healthy discussion about this document and learn how it will help shape and guide our ministry, for our good and for Christ’s glory. We value your presence and your input. Together we can make polity discussions a joyful experience!
Morning Prayer
Prayer is pouring out our hearts to God in praise, petition, confession of sin, and thanksgiving. This is how the New City Catechism answers the question, “What is prayer?”
Sunday at 9am
While we continue to encourage you to gather regularly for prayer during small groups and our corporate gatherings on Sunday mornings, we remain committed to pursuing additional opportunities to call God’s people towards unity in prayer. We invite and encourage you to join us at 9:00am to call upon the Lord.
Psalm 88:13
I, O LORD, cry to you; in the morning my prayer comes before you.
Practice ‘One Another’s
Our small groups encourage genuine relationships within the church, developing the kinds of relationships that will help us mature and persevere in the Faith together. Small Group is where we intentionally practice the “one another” statements we find sprinkled throughout the Scriptures. We will mature and persevere in our relationship with God as we grow in our relationship with people who are helping one another learn to follow Christ and His Word (Ephesians 4:11-16).
Practicing The One Anothers
Meetings occur in a home every 1st & 3rd week, splitting their time between affirmation, prayer, Bible study and discussion. While every group is unique, we all serve the same Jesus and hope to use our time throughout the week to pursue meaningful relationships that further point us to our great Savior.
Every 1st & 3rd Week
If you have yet to join a Small Group, please check out the available groups by clicking the button below to join a group!
Corinth, The Sequel
During the months of April and May the men and women will begin working their way through a two month study of Paul’s second letter to the church in Corinth. The women will be meeting Thursday evenings beginning April 3rd, while the men will be meeting Monday evenings, beginning April 7th.
Women’s Study | Thursdays @ 7pm
Men’s Study | Mondays @ 7pm
We are excited for another opportunity to meet during the week, open and discuss God’s Word, and encourage one another in the Faith. There will be some additional resources available for those who desire to attend the study.
Register for the Study
Impossible Unity
This past Sunday, pastor Tim preached his way through Ephesians 4:1-16, a passage saturated with unity. We have just turned a corner in our study through the book of Ephesians - from what God has done, to what we now do in response. The Apostle Paul reminds the church in Ephesus of our calling to pursue unity. And this calling is just as true for the local church today as it was back in Ephesus.
Why does unity in the local church often feel impossible? Is unity an unrealistic expectation, or something confined to fantasy? Questions like these can often prompt tears and great agony. Disunity in local churches can lead to splits, member departures, and loud cries to God in response to this deep pain we feel.
Disunity in the local church that we know and love - between Christians we know and love - is an unfortunate reality we all sadly know too well.
Impossible Unity is Possible with Christ
Frequently this is not a disunity produced by disagreements over primary Christian doctrines. This is a far more common kind of disunity fueled by the endless variety of conflicts that break apart relationships, and even whole churches, because Christians fail to humbly, gently, and patiently “bear with one another in love” and cease being “eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:1–3).
You can listen to Pastor Tim’s sermon on unity from Ephesians 4:1-16
Perhaps you are lamenting the fact that you’ve seen too much of this, and you wonder, sometimes with tears, “Why is unity in the church so difficult?”
The truth is, apart from Christ, unity is impossible. Unity is something, by the Spirit of truth, we are equipped to pursue our whole lives. And we need the grace of Jesus to sustain us to the end. Unity is not something we give up on because it is hard, rather its something we pursue and maintain for the glory of Jesus and our good.
Popcorn & ByLaws
Come spend Sunday evening at Grace Hill. Sit back, relax, snack on some popcorn, and enjoy a night of polity as we carefully review an important document in the life of our church. As mentioned at our last member meeting, we hope that all of you will take time to read through the draft of the proposed bylaws and come ready to ask questions and engage in a helpful discussion. Nothing is off-limits.
Documents That Matter
Church polity matters; perhaps more than we will ever know. Therefore we endeavor to continue carefully working through a few documents that will ultimately shape the way Grace Hill functions as a local church as we desire to make much of the good name of Jesus in Merton and beyond.
February 23, 6pm - ByLaws
Come ready to ask questions and engage in a healthy discussion about this document and learn how it will help shape and guide our ministry, for our good and for Christ’s glory. We value your presence and your input. Together we can make polity discussions a joyful experience!