Noted novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald mused: “Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the Fall.” Well, while we still have more than a week before Fall officially arrives, and more than that before the air feels crisp, and the leaves reach peak colors, a new school year has begun and Labor Day is behind us, so for many of us our thoughts turn toward Fall. And at Grace Covenant, many things do “start all over again” in the Fall.
First, we resume our study of the Book of Hebrews. We began our study of this significantly rich (though too often neglected) letter last year at the beginning of Fall. We worked our way through the first 9 chapters, taking a hiatus for the Summer. We will pick up again on Sunday with the beginning of Hebrews 10, looking this week at verses 1-18; next week verses 19-25; and finish out September looking at verses 26-39. We will have opportunity to work through Hebrews 11 and Hebrews 12 during this Fall, before taking a break for Advent, after Thanksgiving. I expect we will finish up the final chapter, Hebrews 13, in January. For those who want to make the most of this study, I recommend checking out the brief overview and a few suggested resources. Check out Stay the Course: A Study of the Book of Hebrews.
Second, our Fall Discovery Class is scheduled to begin on Sunday September 18, running for 6 weeks. Discovery Class is designed to introduce the DNA of Grace Covenant – our beliefs, our values, and pathways to connecting – to those who are interested in learning more about the church. So, whether you are interested in becoming a member of Grace Covenant, or if you are just curious and maybe trying to decide if Grace Covenant is the church you would like to call you home, we hope you will participate in this class. If you have questions, or if you would like to sign up, we invite you to contact the church office – email: kathy@gracecovpca.org, or call 757-220-0147.
Other things of Note:
We invite you to pray for our middle school students, as this weekend they travel to Rockbridge (near Lexington, VA) for the annual MODGNIK retreat. Middle School and Junior High students from throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia for a time of worship, learning, and fun. For those who may be wondering, MODGNIK is the word “Kingdom” spelled backwards. It is a not-so-subtle reminder that to much of the world the Kingdom of Christ seems backwards. (Check out this decade-old article from ByFaith magazine that still paints a vivid picture of what this retreat is like: MODGNIK.)
On Saturday morning men of Grace Covenant will gather for our monthly Men’s Breakfast. The breakfast begins at 8am. Jon us if you are able. It is open to guys of all ages, meaning we’d be delighted to have guys bring their sons, whether they are teens or infants. If you are not able to make it this time, this is a monthly fellowship gathering, usually held on the second Saturday of each month.
This Sunday we will be hosting our annual College Student Lunch after the worship service. All area college students are invited to join us for a free lunch. No strings attached. Our purpose is just to get to know the students, and to let them know we are here for them, whether they are Williamsburg area natives or have come here only for school. While we wish we could invite the entire church, space requires that we limit the “non-students” to church staff, ministry leaders, church officers, and those who are part of the Grace Covenant community who teach or work at the college. But we do value prayer that Grace Covenant will be a welcoming and nurturing church home for the students during this pivotal years.
Finally, I’d like to invite anyone who is interested in working with children and/or teens at Grace Covenant to attend our next CARE Training workshop on Sunday afternoon, September 25. CARE Training is required of any and all who work with children and teens. It is designed to train all volunteers (and staff) to be aware of signs of potential abuse, and to protect the children we have as part of our church community. The children entrusted to our ministry are of utmost importance. Protecting these children is a major priority for us; it is something we take seriously. If you are interested in signing up, or if you have questions, please contact our Interim Children’s Ministry Director, Rachel Bartelmay.
That’s all for now. I look forward to seeing everyone on Sunday!
Grace & Peace,
W. Dennis Griffith, Lead Pastor
Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church 