A Word
A guiding word....
Several years ago God gave Grace Fellowship a word - the word is EMBRACE. In all honesty, at the time, we felt like we grasped the meaning, we were sure we understood God's calling.
We were wrong, it has become a journey that we continue the travel even now.
EMBRACE is the call that God has set before us, the character that is to define us, the goal for which we strive. As time has past, other words have become popular and essential to the calling of Christian faith communities - wonderful words like open, welcoming, affirming, accepting, have joined, sometimes vague and contentious, words like biblical, conservative and progressive to define congregations. God has led us to stick with the word EMBRACE - We think it is a good word, we know it is a challenging call.
The consistent goalpost, for us, has been the manner in which Christ, God in the flesh, met the world - he met the world with an EMBRACE. As the apostle Paul explained, ‘long before we achieved any type of credentials or credibility, God gave his only son.’
If you are seeking a quick and simple explanation of Grace Fellowship - think on this word EMBRACE. It is our mission, as it is God’s journey, set before us - to meet the world with the EMBRACE of Jesus while holding faithfully to the truth of the Father and with a full trust in the work of the Spirit. We are not called to judge, condemn, or even to control our world - we are called to EMBRACE. EMBRACE with the same unconditional love, an acknowledgment of every person's value, along with the respect, dignity, and acceptance, with which Jesus met the world.
Whatever label you may wear and regardless of how you got that label, whether it was given to you, accepted by you, or even if you were born with it - our mission is to EMBRACE you without consideration of any labels. It is an EMBRACE that goes beyond something physical, it is a timeless word even in the midst of a pandemic or chaos, EMBRACE is a recognition that we are all created, and loved, by God.
Freedom, Agreement...& Argument
We are a community.
As a community of faith, we hold to certain basic truths (majors) that make us distinctively biblical. We know that, as a fellowship, we are made up of people who often hold differing views and interpretations on/in areas that need not have common agreement (minors). In our major agreements or minor differences we are to maintain an attitude of love for each other. In the majors there must be agreement — In the minors there must be freedom — In all things there must be love.
Our majors are: the inspiration of God’s truth as given in God’s word; the nature of God as the Father, Son, and Spirit; the person, work, and return of Jesus Christ; Salvation by grace through faith alone; the essential need of the Savior inherent in all mankind; the reality and hopelessness of life apart from God; and our unique calling to give a life testimony through our words, but mostly a reflection of Jesus in our lives, of the peculiar work of Jesus.
Asking Questions and Seeking Truth
Find the truth and the truth will set you free - who can resist that?
"The disciplined practice of thoughtful questioning enables the scholar/student to examine ideas and be able to determine the validity of those ideas”
Socrates
We agree with Socrates! We love, and, we encourage, questions. Questions are the process by which God has given us to find Truth. Truth, according to Jesus, is how we discover true freedom.
We like to ask questions when we are looking at the Bible.
We like to ask questions as we discuss the institution of the Church.
We like to ask questions when we look at political and social issues going on around us.
We seek to respect all people and all their questions.
We seek to respect all the views, as well as the reasons for those views, even when we don’t agree with, or are shocked by, the views, represented in the questions asked.
We seek to understand all people, we seek to diligently live in a Christ-like dialogue, we seek to EMBRACE those that we disagree with as well as those we agree with.
We seek to BE the seeking church regardless of labels and views.
Organic Programming
We are not out to fill up your calendars, life is stressful enough!
We institute programs for people and, as people have the need of a program. Our Sunday morning worship gathering is a constant, however, everything else that we do is as God leads. There are always teachers ready for children on Sunday morning, and we are always open to finding ways to address other needs. Our programming, and ministries, is Organic, programs comes from within. People are not pushed into a program but, instead, a program develops as a need pushes its way to the forefront. Bible Studies, fellowships, small groups, community/world impact projects, and age group ministries all come from within as the need is recognized.
What to Expect and How to Prepare
....for those preparers among you
First, we are casual, you are welcome to dress up or you are welcome to dress down, either way you are welcome. Second, we are a small church so you will be noticed, however, we are also humans who often like to go unnoticed, so, we will not awkwardly or over notice you. Third, we keep it pretty simple, some music, some scripture, a message, and then your will be on your way - you decide how long, or how brief, your stay with us will be - we like to consider ourselves pretty good at picking up on social cues - but, again, we are human - constantly growing and always remaining open to transformation.
Also, while we may pass an offering basket you are not expected to give, we may offer a greeting but you are in charge of how much information about yourself that you share, you also are the decider about the manner in which you respond, and we may tell you about what we have going on but you are the determiner of your time and calendar.
One more thing, we would love to have you visit, and even to return the next Sunday - however, we also want you to be where you need to be. No Pressure, we will count it an honor that you chose to gather with us when you did.
We Love Asking & Discussing Questions
It is what church, and faith, are meant to be!
As you read before, we love questions. Feel free to contact us with your question, we will attempt to respond to you as soon as possible. Email us at gracefellowshipnorman@gmail.com
A guiding word....
Several years ago God gave Grace Fellowship a word - the word is EMBRACE. In all honesty, at the time, we felt like we grasped the meaning, we were sure we understood God's calling.
We were wrong, it has become a journey that we continue the travel even now.
EMBRACE is the call that God has set before us, the character that is to define us, the goal for which we strive. As time has past, other words have become popular and essential to the calling of Christian faith communities - wonderful words like open, welcoming, affirming, accepting, have joined, sometimes vague and contentious, words like biblical, conservative and progressive to define congregations. God has led us to stick with the word EMBRACE - We think it is a good word, we know it is a challenging call.
The consistent goalpost, for us, has been the manner in which Christ, God in the flesh, met the world - he met the world with an EMBRACE. As the apostle Paul explained, ‘long before we achieved any type of credentials or credibility, God gave his only son.’
If you are seeking a quick and simple explanation of Grace Fellowship - think on this word EMBRACE. It is our mission, as it is God’s journey, set before us - to meet the world with the EMBRACE of Jesus while holding faithfully to the truth of the Father and with a full trust in the work of the Spirit. We are not called to judge, condemn, or even to control our world - we are called to EMBRACE. EMBRACE with the same unconditional love, an acknowledgment of every person's value, along with the respect, dignity, and acceptance, with which Jesus met the world.
Whatever label you may wear and regardless of how you got that label, whether it was given to you, accepted by you, or even if you were born with it - our mission is to EMBRACE you without consideration of any labels. It is an EMBRACE that goes beyond something physical, it is a timeless word even in the midst of a pandemic or chaos, EMBRACE is a recognition that we are all created, and loved, by God.
Freedom, Agreement...& Argument
We are a community.
As a community of faith, we hold to certain basic truths (majors) that make us distinctively biblical. We know that, as a fellowship, we are made up of people who often hold differing views and interpretations on/in areas that need not have common agreement (minors). In our major agreements or minor differences we are to maintain an attitude of love for each other. In the majors there must be agreement — In the minors there must be freedom — In all things there must be love.
Our majors are: the inspiration of God’s truth as given in God’s word; the nature of God as the Father, Son, and Spirit; the person, work, and return of Jesus Christ; Salvation by grace through faith alone; the essential need of the Savior inherent in all mankind; the reality and hopelessness of life apart from God; and our unique calling to give a life testimony through our words, but mostly a reflection of Jesus in our lives, of the peculiar work of Jesus.
Asking Questions and Seeking Truth
Find the truth and the truth will set you free - who can resist that?
"The disciplined practice of thoughtful questioning enables the scholar/student to examine ideas and be able to determine the validity of those ideas”
Socrates
We agree with Socrates! We love, and, we encourage, questions. Questions are the process by which God has given us to find Truth. Truth, according to Jesus, is how we discover true freedom.
We like to ask questions when we are looking at the Bible.
We like to ask questions as we discuss the institution of the Church.
We like to ask questions when we look at political and social issues going on around us.
We seek to respect all people and all their questions.
We seek to respect all the views, as well as the reasons for those views, even when we don’t agree with, or are shocked by, the views, represented in the questions asked.
We seek to understand all people, we seek to diligently live in a Christ-like dialogue, we seek to EMBRACE those that we disagree with as well as those we agree with.
We seek to BE the seeking church regardless of labels and views.
Organic Programming
We are not out to fill up your calendars, life is stressful enough!
We institute programs for people and, as people have the need of a program. Our Sunday morning worship gathering is a constant, however, everything else that we do is as God leads. There are always teachers ready for children on Sunday morning, and we are always open to finding ways to address other needs. Our programming, and ministries, is Organic, programs comes from within. People are not pushed into a program but, instead, a program develops as a need pushes its way to the forefront. Bible Studies, fellowships, small groups, community/world impact projects, and age group ministries all come from within as the need is recognized.
What to Expect and How to Prepare
....for those preparers among you
First, we are casual, you are welcome to dress up or you are welcome to dress down, either way you are welcome. Second, we are a small church so you will be noticed, however, we are also humans who often like to go unnoticed, so, we will not awkwardly or over notice you. Third, we keep it pretty simple, some music, some scripture, a message, and then your will be on your way - you decide how long, or how brief, your stay with us will be - we like to consider ourselves pretty good at picking up on social cues - but, again, we are human - constantly growing and always remaining open to transformation.
Also, while we may pass an offering basket you are not expected to give, we may offer a greeting but you are in charge of how much information about yourself that you share, you also are the decider about the manner in which you respond, and we may tell you about what we have going on but you are the determiner of your time and calendar.
One more thing, we would love to have you visit, and even to return the next Sunday - however, we also want you to be where you need to be. No Pressure, we will count it an honor that you chose to gather with us when you did.
We Love Asking & Discussing Questions
It is what church, and faith, are meant to be!
As you read before, we love questions. Feel free to contact us with your question, we will attempt to respond to you as soon as possible. Email us at gracefellowshipnorman@gmail.com