Celebrating God's GRACE - 30th Anniversary of GRACE Bible Church
Reflections on GRACE by saints in the GBC family and in the larger church community
Written by Graeme Davidson
In January, 2002, Michelle came up with the idea of having a concert of songs that her mother composed. The projected date of the concert was Sunday, April 14,2002. Planning was well underway when the results of Bev's scan in February revealed terminal cancer, with an estimated 3-5 months left to live. We decided to go ahead with the concert, adding the element of making it a fundraiser for cancer research.
I have a video, a CD, and a scrapbook that enable me to remember with great gratitude the choir director, 36 choir members, eight soloists, and nine instrumentalists who performed 16 original sacred songs and one hymn arrangement. After the wonderful professional-level performances of the music, the most gratifying aspect of that concert was the bringing together that Sunday afternoon of several groups of people. There were the people of GBCl- musicians and congregants. There was the staff of Shaftesbury High School where Graeme taught for 32 years. (The staff bought food, prepared and served it to over forty musicians after church so the choir had time to rehearse before the 2:00 p.m. concert. A third group were Bev's piano and voice students and their families. A fourth group in the audience were Graeme and Michelle's friends and family.
Bev was not able to attend the concert, but the response to her work was sent in 37 cards and letters which arrived in our mailbox for two weeks after the concert. Here are some excerpts from those card and letters that reveal the impact of the concert:
"Every note, every word was God-honoring. Your music is exquisitely beautiful and touches the soul with its haunting melodies... I only wish a CD or video could convey the intensity of what we all experienced that afternoon." (from a GBC musician)
"... my heart was so full that at many times I fought back tears- tears that come from being overwhelmed with beauty. Michelle remained strong during her solos. What a wonderful tribute this was from daughter to mother..." ( from a GBC musician)
" Your songs were beautiful and expressed your love for God. I can only hope that someday I will feel the presence of God as much as you did when you wrote those songs. ( from a teen-age voice student)
"I have sung in church and community choirs for many years, but, Bev, I cannot remember being so reminded of the love of God as I was when I heard your music." ( from the parent of a young adult voice student)
"Your concert was so uplifting and impressive...the people I was with were all exclaiming about the beauty of the music.... Your compositions show such reliance on God.” ( from a Shaftesbury staff member)
"These were powerful pieces for me because of the strength and beauty in the words of the songs and in the voices of the singers… (from a Shaftesbury staff member)
"Could you see and hear the standing ovation in the video? I hope so. ( from a family friend)
The word "grace" occurs 122 times in the NRSV Bible and the word "remember"159 times. The Dictionary of Old Testament Theology Volume 1 p.11-2 contains these words: " Remembering God is often a dynamic phenomenon that [can help] to transform the believer or the believing community." That transformation is brought about in part by gratitude. I remember April 14, 2002 with gratitude to God for bringing me to GBC.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Quote by Rachel Held Evans (1981-2019)
The Holy Trinity doesn’t need our permission to carry on in their endlessly resourceful work of making all things new. That we are invited to catch even a glimpse of the splendor is grace. All of it, every breath and every second is grace.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Written by Gineke – submitted by Els Penner
A fountain of pure joy,
Springs in the depth of my heart.
I dance and I sing,
love songs on joyful melodies.
I fly without wings,
With my feet firm on the ground.
Floating on the wind,
I spread my arms,
And embrace the spring.
I am drunk with joy,
Yet alcohol has not touched my lips.
Looking into Your eyes,
I can see You smile –
Your heart falls in love.
In this fountain of pure joy,
I can see Heaven opening up,
And the rain of Your love,
pours down on my lifted heart.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Quote by Philip Yancey
One who has been touched by grace will no longer look on those who stray as “those evil people” or “those poor people who need our help”. Nor must we search for “loveworthiness”. Grace teaches us that God loves because of who God is, not because of who we are.
Grace is a free gift of God, but to receive a gift you must have open hands.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Written by Don Kroeker
Gratefulness for Grace
A pastor at Pass-a- Grille, Florida, eloquently explained that gratefulness was only real if expressed in thanksgivng. That struck me and made sense to me.
Grace
Acts 11:5 - defines grace – God’s undeserved kindness
Acts 14:3 - But the apostles stayed there a long time, preaching broadly about the grace of the Lord.
Acts 5:17(b ) - But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.
1 Cor. 16:23 - May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.
Eph 1:7 - He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his son and forgive us our sins.
Eph 2:8 - God saved you by his grace when you believed.
1 Tim. 1:2b - May God the father and Christ Jesus our Lord give you grace, mercy, and peace.
Heb 4:16 - so let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.
Gratefulness for grace is expressed in thanksgiving and generosity
2 Cor 9:6 - Remember this a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who PLANTS GENEROUSLY will get a generous crop. You must decide in your heart how much to give, and don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure “for God loves a person who GIVES CHEERFULLY” and God will generously provide all you need. Then you’ll always have everything you need and plenty left over to SHARE WITH OTHERS for God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat, the same way he will provide and increase your resources and then PRODUCE A GREAT HARVEST OF GENEROSTIY IN YOU. Yes, you will be in enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God. So two good things will result from this ministry of giving - the needs of the believers in Jerusalem will be met, and they will joyfully express their thanks to God.
2 Cor 9:13 - As a result of your ministry, they will GIVE GLORY TO GOD. For your generosity to them and to all believers will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ.
If we are grateful for God’s grace, we will follow Christ’s teaching and be generous.
Needs will be met and God will be glorified.
That is my goal; God has been, and still is, very gracious to me.
How to live
Matth 6:33 - Seek the kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
Matt. 7:12 - “The Golden Rule” Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is talked in the law and the prophets.
Matt. 5:13,14, 16 - You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world. Let your good deeds shine out for all to see so that everyone will praise your heavenly father.
Matt. 5:48 - You are to be perfect even as your father in heaven is perfect!
Matt 5 - The beatitudes summarized. - We are poor and need God. We are to be humble, and are to hunger and thirst for justice. We should be merciful and our hearts pure. We should work for peace and do right. Then the Kingdom of Heaven is ours.
Matt. 6:19 - …Don’t store up treasures here on earth; store your treasures in heaven. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. NB: Sell and give!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Written by Bonnie Ireton
GRACE
A compass that shows The Way
Healing arms that hold the pieces together
A light shining amidst twisted paths
and broken branches
It is what lifts you, carries you
And it is what forgives and helps you
begin again
GRACE - GOD’S GRACE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Written by John of the Cross, “The Spiritual Canticle”, stanzas 32, 36
When you looked at me
your eyes imprinted your grace in me;
for this you loved me ardently;
and thus my eyes deserved
to adore what they beheld in you. . . .
Let us go forth to behold ourselves in your beauty.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Written by Edith Fast (1943-2015) in 2002
In the calm
Miracle of twilight
I have heard you whisper
The language of my heart.
LOVE, the deliverer,
Has laid its hand on me,
I have been enticed by the mystery of God,
And I am utterly content.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Written by Frederick Buechner in Wishful Thinking: A Seeker’s ABC
Grace is something you can never get but can only be given. There’s no way to earn it or deserve it or bring it about any more than you can deserve the taste of raspberries and cream or earn good looks or bring about your own birth. . .
A crucial eccentricity of the Christian faith is the assertion that people are saved by grace.
There’s nothing you have to do.
There’s nothing you have to do.
There’s nothing you have to do.
The grace of God means something like: Here is your life. You might never have been, but you are because the party wouldn’t have been complete without you. Her is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Don’t be afraid. I am with you. Nothing can ever separate us. It’s for you I created the universe. I love you.
There’s only one catch. Like any other gift, the gift of grace can be yours only if you’ll reach out and take it. Maybe being able to reach out and take it is a gift too.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Written by Wilma Wiens
A friend of mind struggles with alcohol. Normally, and after lengthy communication with God about this, she lives with freedom around it and can enjoy a glass of wine or not, no worries one way or the other. But sometimes, in times of rage or rebellion she HAS to drink. On one such night when the need for wine was greater than the freedom she normally knows she set out to the local Liquor Mart. On her way there she decided to stop at the Tim Horton’s drive-thru for a tea. Driving up to the window to get her tea and pay, the fellow inside told her, “It’s already been paid for by the guy ahead of you. This cup of tea is free!” My friend was overwhelmed with the surprising act of generosity. So overwhelmed by the generosity that her hardened rebellious heart softened, she found herself back in the embrace of freedom, she felt no need for wine and she headed home enjoying her free cup of tea. “It’s already been paid for”. That was grace. I suppose she could have refused the free tea and insisted on paying for it, but grace doesn’t usually work that way. Grace overwhelms us with its surprising, sometimes shocking generosity. I mean, really, who would refuse a free cup of tea?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Written by Wilma Wiens
While my mom was dying this past July, my sisters and I were given 2 1-hour,1-person visits with her a day, one in the afternoon and one in the evening. For the other 22 hours of the day she was alone. She died while my sister was with her in an evening visit. Ingrid was able to bless her, release her and be present while she passed. That was grace – an undeserved gift from God to all of us, my sisters, me and our mom.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Written by Laura Murphy, Dedicated to the “Exploring our Landscape at the Confluence of Spirituality and Aging” class at CMU, Oct-Nov 2014
Dear God,
We are subject to death.
We are the clay you molded,
breathed in to.
We are the ancient of days.
Our landscape is silent, tranquil, awaiting.
Keep us in your grace
until that time when our aged voice is stilled in death…
and mortality has taken on immortality
and we will view the “landscape” of heaven, our eternal home.
To the triune God
be praise forever more.
AMEN
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Written by Carolee Neufeld
Gratitude for Grace Bible Church
The joy of God’s presence on a Sunday morning
warm smiles and caring people
Front steps and solid front doors
that welcome us as we arrive for worship
The rich, resonant music –
singing of the congregation
powerful organ
piano, trumpet and tambourine
string ensembles
songs by the choir
solos, duets and quartets
inspiring preludes and postludes
All who practice and prepare
to make a joyful sound to the Lord
The Word of God, read each Sunday by different voices
preached and taught by leaders and teaching pastors
Good food, spread out abundantly
at concerts, breakfasts, funerals, celebrations
Gathering in homes
to study God’s Word
to shower a new bride or a new mother
to enjoy coffee or a meal together
The old brick church with a rooster on top
sunlight through stained glass
communion table
richness of oak in pews and pulpit
a cross, reminding us of Jesus love for us
The pastors’ office a place of serenity and warmth
the fellowship hall and the kitchen
the youth room and the choir room
each space reminding us of being with each other
Many nooks and crannies and rooms throughout the building
that hold memories and treasures and useful items
Bound together in Christ
as we receive the bread and the wine
as membership commitments are made
as babies and young children are dedicated to God
Caring for each other
and praying for each other
through life’s ups and downs
Memorable events
the choir concerts, kids and youth Christmas program
the church picnic, Songs and Sweets, VBS
the annual church retreat in fall, monthly breakfasts
A church website that tells who we are and what we are doing
the weekly bulletin and emails that connect us to each other
Caring leaders with patience, love and creativity
who give much thought and time
to serving God and the people of GBC
Prayers spoken from the pulpit each Sunday,
and poured out by congregants for each other
prayer gathering in homes and in the church
prayer requests in the pastor’s weekly email
Baptisms and testimonies
a public declaration of faith in Jesus Christ
the water symbolic of sins washed away
The minister of music
prayerfully and thoughtfully choosing songs
inspiring singers and musicians
melding the choir into a caring family
concluding the service with praise on the organ
Missionaries and Christian organizations
supported by the church, reaching out into the world
telling us stories of how God is at work
The neighbourhood around the church
with its tree-lined streets and old homes
The front yard where we pause in summer after the service
to have cookies and iced tea and to visit with friends
Youth gatherings
young people and their leaders
having fun, building wholesome friendships, growing in faith
All who have been part of GBC and left their imprint
but have felt called elsewhere
or have been promoted to glory
The outreach of the church into the community
through the love and the provisions of Oakwood Table
people of the church caring for refugees
The children who are so loved and appreciated
running up the aisle for Kid’s Korner
eagerly heading off to Sunday School
joyfully participating in the life of the church
playing in the Veggie Tales room and the gym
Ushers who greet us warmly
and make us feel at home as they give us the bulletin
The generous giving – cheques, bills, loonies and quarters
as the offering baskets are passed along each Sunday
The balcony, with its expansive view of the sanctuary
lit up by a beautiful round stained glass window
people faithfully managing the sound system
a place where children love to run and hide
People at work
preparing refreshments, helping in the nursery
taking care of the church library
mowing the grass, cleaning, painting and repairing
office work and accounting, managing the heating system
committees meeting to plan
much more that makes GBC a special place
Sunday School, with Bible stories, memory verses, singing
crafts and colouring, eager children, faithful teachers
youth discussions and learning
adults gathering to study and be inspired by God’s Word
Pastors over the years
leading, praying, preaching, visiting congregants
planning, encouraging and wisely supporting
Banners and flowers and candles
that bring beauty and meaning as we gather
A foundational truth from the Bible
displayed on a banner at the front of the sanctuary
and outside on the church sign
“By grace we are saved, it is a gift of God”
All this and more, is the rich tapestry of Grace Bible Church
All this and more, is God’s people
worshipping, loving and serving.
Thank you God for Grace Bible Church!
1991-2021
Grace Bible Church on Oakwood
is a community of followers of Jesus Christ
who seek to know and reflect God’s love and grace.
We are Bible-centered in our teaching, letting scripture shape our lives.
We strive to be a community in which all are loved,
cared for, encouraged, forgiven, prayed for, taught,
nurtured, listened to, and equipped for service.
We are committed to worshiping and working together
with integrity, compassion, and humility,
to responding to needs of others outside of our community,
and to encouraging all to know and follow Jesus Christ.
Written by Graeme Davidson
In January, 2002, Michelle came up with the idea of having a concert of songs that her mother composed. The projected date of the concert was Sunday, April 14,2002. Planning was well underway when the results of Bev's scan in February revealed terminal cancer, with an estimated 3-5 months left to live. We decided to go ahead with the concert, adding the element of making it a fundraiser for cancer research.
I have a video, a CD, and a scrapbook that enable me to remember with great gratitude the choir director, 36 choir members, eight soloists, and nine instrumentalists who performed 16 original sacred songs and one hymn arrangement. After the wonderful professional-level performances of the music, the most gratifying aspect of that concert was the bringing together that Sunday afternoon of several groups of people. There were the people of GBCl- musicians and congregants. There was the staff of Shaftesbury High School where Graeme taught for 32 years. (The staff bought food, prepared and served it to over forty musicians after church so the choir had time to rehearse before the 2:00 p.m. concert. A third group were Bev's piano and voice students and their families. A fourth group in the audience were Graeme and Michelle's friends and family.
Bev was not able to attend the concert, but the response to her work was sent in 37 cards and letters which arrived in our mailbox for two weeks after the concert. Here are some excerpts from those card and letters that reveal the impact of the concert:
"Every note, every word was God-honoring. Your music is exquisitely beautiful and touches the soul with its haunting melodies... I only wish a CD or video could convey the intensity of what we all experienced that afternoon." (from a GBC musician)
"... my heart was so full that at many times I fought back tears- tears that come from being overwhelmed with beauty. Michelle remained strong during her solos. What a wonderful tribute this was from daughter to mother..." ( from a GBC musician)
" Your songs were beautiful and expressed your love for God. I can only hope that someday I will feel the presence of God as much as you did when you wrote those songs. ( from a teen-age voice student)
"I have sung in church and community choirs for many years, but, Bev, I cannot remember being so reminded of the love of God as I was when I heard your music." ( from the parent of a young adult voice student)
"Your concert was so uplifting and impressive...the people I was with were all exclaiming about the beauty of the music.... Your compositions show such reliance on God.” ( from a Shaftesbury staff member)
"These were powerful pieces for me because of the strength and beauty in the words of the songs and in the voices of the singers… (from a Shaftesbury staff member)
"Could you see and hear the standing ovation in the video? I hope so. ( from a family friend)
The word "grace" occurs 122 times in the NRSV Bible and the word "remember"159 times. The Dictionary of Old Testament Theology Volume 1 p.11-2 contains these words: " Remembering God is often a dynamic phenomenon that [can help] to transform the believer or the believing community." That transformation is brought about in part by gratitude. I remember April 14, 2002 with gratitude to God for bringing me to GBC.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Quote by Rachel Held Evans (1981-2019)
The Holy Trinity doesn’t need our permission to carry on in their endlessly resourceful work of making all things new. That we are invited to catch even a glimpse of the splendor is grace. All of it, every breath and every second is grace.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Written by Gineke – submitted by Els Penner
A fountain of pure joy,
Springs in the depth of my heart.
I dance and I sing,
love songs on joyful melodies.
I fly without wings,
With my feet firm on the ground.
Floating on the wind,
I spread my arms,
And embrace the spring.
I am drunk with joy,
Yet alcohol has not touched my lips.
Looking into Your eyes,
I can see You smile –
Your heart falls in love.
In this fountain of pure joy,
I can see Heaven opening up,
And the rain of Your love,
pours down on my lifted heart.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Quote by Philip Yancey
One who has been touched by grace will no longer look on those who stray as “those evil people” or “those poor people who need our help”. Nor must we search for “loveworthiness”. Grace teaches us that God loves because of who God is, not because of who we are.
Grace is a free gift of God, but to receive a gift you must have open hands.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Written by Don Kroeker
Gratefulness for Grace
A pastor at Pass-a- Grille, Florida, eloquently explained that gratefulness was only real if expressed in thanksgivng. That struck me and made sense to me.
Grace
Acts 11:5 - defines grace – God’s undeserved kindness
Acts 14:3 - But the apostles stayed there a long time, preaching broadly about the grace of the Lord.
Acts 5:17(b ) - But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.
1 Cor. 16:23 - May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.
Eph 1:7 - He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his son and forgive us our sins.
Eph 2:8 - God saved you by his grace when you believed.
1 Tim. 1:2b - May God the father and Christ Jesus our Lord give you grace, mercy, and peace.
Heb 4:16 - so let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.
Gratefulness for grace is expressed in thanksgiving and generosity
2 Cor 9:6 - Remember this a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who PLANTS GENEROUSLY will get a generous crop. You must decide in your heart how much to give, and don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure “for God loves a person who GIVES CHEERFULLY” and God will generously provide all you need. Then you’ll always have everything you need and plenty left over to SHARE WITH OTHERS for God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat, the same way he will provide and increase your resources and then PRODUCE A GREAT HARVEST OF GENEROSTIY IN YOU. Yes, you will be in enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God. So two good things will result from this ministry of giving - the needs of the believers in Jerusalem will be met, and they will joyfully express their thanks to God.
2 Cor 9:13 - As a result of your ministry, they will GIVE GLORY TO GOD. For your generosity to them and to all believers will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ.
If we are grateful for God’s grace, we will follow Christ’s teaching and be generous.
Needs will be met and God will be glorified.
That is my goal; God has been, and still is, very gracious to me.
How to live
Matth 6:33 - Seek the kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
Matt. 7:12 - “The Golden Rule” Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is talked in the law and the prophets.
Matt. 5:13,14, 16 - You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world. Let your good deeds shine out for all to see so that everyone will praise your heavenly father.
Matt. 5:48 - You are to be perfect even as your father in heaven is perfect!
Matt 5 - The beatitudes summarized. - We are poor and need God. We are to be humble, and are to hunger and thirst for justice. We should be merciful and our hearts pure. We should work for peace and do right. Then the Kingdom of Heaven is ours.
Matt. 6:19 - …Don’t store up treasures here on earth; store your treasures in heaven. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. NB: Sell and give!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Written by Bonnie Ireton
GRACE
A compass that shows The Way
Healing arms that hold the pieces together
A light shining amidst twisted paths
and broken branches
It is what lifts you, carries you
And it is what forgives and helps you
begin again
GRACE - GOD’S GRACE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Written by John of the Cross, “The Spiritual Canticle”, stanzas 32, 36
When you looked at me
your eyes imprinted your grace in me;
for this you loved me ardently;
and thus my eyes deserved
to adore what they beheld in you. . . .
Let us go forth to behold ourselves in your beauty.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Written by Edith Fast (1943-2015) in 2002
In the calm
Miracle of twilight
I have heard you whisper
The language of my heart.
LOVE, the deliverer,
Has laid its hand on me,
I have been enticed by the mystery of God,
And I am utterly content.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Written by Frederick Buechner in Wishful Thinking: A Seeker’s ABC
Grace is something you can never get but can only be given. There’s no way to earn it or deserve it or bring it about any more than you can deserve the taste of raspberries and cream or earn good looks or bring about your own birth. . .
A crucial eccentricity of the Christian faith is the assertion that people are saved by grace.
There’s nothing you have to do.
There’s nothing you have to do.
There’s nothing you have to do.
The grace of God means something like: Here is your life. You might never have been, but you are because the party wouldn’t have been complete without you. Her is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Don’t be afraid. I am with you. Nothing can ever separate us. It’s for you I created the universe. I love you.
There’s only one catch. Like any other gift, the gift of grace can be yours only if you’ll reach out and take it. Maybe being able to reach out and take it is a gift too.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Written by Wilma Wiens
A friend of mind struggles with alcohol. Normally, and after lengthy communication with God about this, she lives with freedom around it and can enjoy a glass of wine or not, no worries one way or the other. But sometimes, in times of rage or rebellion she HAS to drink. On one such night when the need for wine was greater than the freedom she normally knows she set out to the local Liquor Mart. On her way there she decided to stop at the Tim Horton’s drive-thru for a tea. Driving up to the window to get her tea and pay, the fellow inside told her, “It’s already been paid for by the guy ahead of you. This cup of tea is free!” My friend was overwhelmed with the surprising act of generosity. So overwhelmed by the generosity that her hardened rebellious heart softened, she found herself back in the embrace of freedom, she felt no need for wine and she headed home enjoying her free cup of tea. “It’s already been paid for”. That was grace. I suppose she could have refused the free tea and insisted on paying for it, but grace doesn’t usually work that way. Grace overwhelms us with its surprising, sometimes shocking generosity. I mean, really, who would refuse a free cup of tea?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Written by Wilma Wiens
While my mom was dying this past July, my sisters and I were given 2 1-hour,1-person visits with her a day, one in the afternoon and one in the evening. For the other 22 hours of the day she was alone. She died while my sister was with her in an evening visit. Ingrid was able to bless her, release her and be present while she passed. That was grace – an undeserved gift from God to all of us, my sisters, me and our mom.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Written by Laura Murphy, Dedicated to the “Exploring our Landscape at the Confluence of Spirituality and Aging” class at CMU, Oct-Nov 2014
Dear God,
We are subject to death.
We are the clay you molded,
breathed in to.
We are the ancient of days.
Our landscape is silent, tranquil, awaiting.
Keep us in your grace
until that time when our aged voice is stilled in death…
and mortality has taken on immortality
and we will view the “landscape” of heaven, our eternal home.
To the triune God
be praise forever more.
AMEN
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Written by Carolee Neufeld
Gratitude for Grace Bible Church
The joy of God’s presence on a Sunday morning
warm smiles and caring people
Front steps and solid front doors
that welcome us as we arrive for worship
The rich, resonant music –
singing of the congregation
powerful organ
piano, trumpet and tambourine
string ensembles
songs by the choir
solos, duets and quartets
inspiring preludes and postludes
All who practice and prepare
to make a joyful sound to the Lord
The Word of God, read each Sunday by different voices
preached and taught by leaders and teaching pastors
Good food, spread out abundantly
at concerts, breakfasts, funerals, celebrations
Gathering in homes
to study God’s Word
to shower a new bride or a new mother
to enjoy coffee or a meal together
The old brick church with a rooster on top
sunlight through stained glass
communion table
richness of oak in pews and pulpit
a cross, reminding us of Jesus love for us
The pastors’ office a place of serenity and warmth
the fellowship hall and the kitchen
the youth room and the choir room
each space reminding us of being with each other
Many nooks and crannies and rooms throughout the building
that hold memories and treasures and useful items
Bound together in Christ
as we receive the bread and the wine
as membership commitments are made
as babies and young children are dedicated to God
Caring for each other
and praying for each other
through life’s ups and downs
Memorable events
the choir concerts, kids and youth Christmas program
the church picnic, Songs and Sweets, VBS
the annual church retreat in fall, monthly breakfasts
A church website that tells who we are and what we are doing
the weekly bulletin and emails that connect us to each other
Caring leaders with patience, love and creativity
who give much thought and time
to serving God and the people of GBC
Prayers spoken from the pulpit each Sunday,
and poured out by congregants for each other
prayer gathering in homes and in the church
prayer requests in the pastor’s weekly email
Baptisms and testimonies
a public declaration of faith in Jesus Christ
the water symbolic of sins washed away
The minister of music
prayerfully and thoughtfully choosing songs
inspiring singers and musicians
melding the choir into a caring family
concluding the service with praise on the organ
Missionaries and Christian organizations
supported by the church, reaching out into the world
telling us stories of how God is at work
The neighbourhood around the church
with its tree-lined streets and old homes
The front yard where we pause in summer after the service
to have cookies and iced tea and to visit with friends
Youth gatherings
young people and their leaders
having fun, building wholesome friendships, growing in faith
All who have been part of GBC and left their imprint
but have felt called elsewhere
or have been promoted to glory
The outreach of the church into the community
through the love and the provisions of Oakwood Table
people of the church caring for refugees
The children who are so loved and appreciated
running up the aisle for Kid’s Korner
eagerly heading off to Sunday School
joyfully participating in the life of the church
playing in the Veggie Tales room and the gym
Ushers who greet us warmly
and make us feel at home as they give us the bulletin
The generous giving – cheques, bills, loonies and quarters
as the offering baskets are passed along each Sunday
The balcony, with its expansive view of the sanctuary
lit up by a beautiful round stained glass window
people faithfully managing the sound system
a place where children love to run and hide
People at work
preparing refreshments, helping in the nursery
taking care of the church library
mowing the grass, cleaning, painting and repairing
office work and accounting, managing the heating system
committees meeting to plan
much more that makes GBC a special place
Sunday School, with Bible stories, memory verses, singing
crafts and colouring, eager children, faithful teachers
youth discussions and learning
adults gathering to study and be inspired by God’s Word
Pastors over the years
leading, praying, preaching, visiting congregants
planning, encouraging and wisely supporting
Banners and flowers and candles
that bring beauty and meaning as we gather
A foundational truth from the Bible
displayed on a banner at the front of the sanctuary
and outside on the church sign
“By grace we are saved, it is a gift of God”
All this and more, is the rich tapestry of Grace Bible Church
All this and more, is God’s people
worshipping, loving and serving.
Thank you God for Grace Bible Church!
1991-2021
Grace Bible Church on Oakwood
is a community of followers of Jesus Christ
who seek to know and reflect God’s love and grace.
We are Bible-centered in our teaching, letting scripture shape our lives.
We strive to be a community in which all are loved,
cared for, encouraged, forgiven, prayed for, taught,
nurtured, listened to, and equipped for service.
We are committed to worshiping and working together
with integrity, compassion, and humility,
to responding to needs of others outside of our community,
and to encouraging all to know and follow Jesus Christ.
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