The Latest Stories, Videos and News from Grace!
Stories of Grace Ep4
Join Cole Ellerbrock, our Middle School Youth Associate, as he tells his story of what God has taught him.
A Week on Freedom
Pastor Matt
Freedom
This Monday, Pastor Matt talks about how Christ has set us free. So, how do we use our freedom?
Stories of Grace Ep4
Join Cole Ellerbrock, our Middle School Youth Associate, as he tells his story of what God has taught him.
Fasting
“One of the more underutilized spiritual rhythms that Disciples of Jesus have at our disposal is fasting.”
Pastor Robert gives us a devotional on fasting and its impact on our Spiritual lives.
Stories have been woven into humanity since the beginning of time to encourage, inspire and teach. How has God been teaching you during this time? How have you been encouraged or been able to encourage others? We would love to share your story!
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Updates
God’s Timing
Melissa Eckel, Grace’s director of women’s ministry, shares how a carwash reminded her to be grateful and how we were made for such a time as this.
“From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.” Acts 17:26
5 Tips for Parenting an Anxious Teen in an Anxious Time
Kevin Maurice, Grace’s youth pastor, shares 5 ways to help you parent an anxious teen in an anxious time.
Remember God’s Promises
Because don’t we all need a reminder of God’s good promises during these trying times? Thank you, Ray Anderson, Grace’s executive pastor, for reminding us of these truths.
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
—Jesus (John 14:27)
Using your NCG to help your neighbors!
What a joy it is to see how God is using Neighborhood Care Groups to care for, serve and bless people with the things that they need!
When Sandy signed up to be in an NCG, she quickly introduced herself to others in her area through Realm. A few days later, she learned that an elderly neighbor of hers was unable to get toilet paper in her grocery order. Sandy posted this need in her NCG to see if someone else could help. Within 24 hours, Sandy was able to help care for, serve and bless her neighbor with something she needed because of her NCG.
You never know who will be cared for, served and blessed through the connections made in your NCG!
Because He Lives…
“Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.”
Discover how a hymn reminds Robert Morris, Grace’s men’s pastor, that no matter what tomorrow brings, we can rely on the certainty of Christ.
Prayer, Care, Share
For such a time as this…
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” —Ephesians 2:10
Matt Cassidy, Grace’s senior pastor, talks about how you can practice “prayer, care, share” during this defining season of life.
Stories Matter
Will you share your stories?
Stories matter. They have been woven into humanity since the beginning of time to encourage, inspire and teach. Jesus used stories. And you tell stories to your friends, to your children and, these days, from 6-feet away, to the neighbors you meet on walks because you have the time to pause for just a little longer than when things were “normal.” During such a time as this, stories matter.
- How has God been teaching you during this time?
- How have you been encouraged or been able to encourage others?
- How have you connected with others? Been cared for by others? Served by others?
Send your stories (and a photo!) to life@grace360.org, and we will do our best to share your stories on our social media channels to encourage and teach us all while we are navigating this season of life. We will not be able to share all of them, so we appreciate your flexibility and patience.
Easter Sunday Online!
Sunday, April 12
9:15am
facebook.com/grace360
or our Online Worship Experience
Easter will be unique this year as we gather “together” all over Austin and the world to worship virtually, and you’re invited! Who else could you invite to join you on Easter Sunday and to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ? Check out some ideas for how you can invite others to Easter Sunday here.
The Sew Sisters Mask Project
Written by Deborah
The Austin Sew Sisters is a group of Christian women from various churches in Austin who enjoy quilting and fellowship through retreats, monthly sew days, service projects and ‘sew-alongs.’ It is not a ministry of Grace; although, many of its members attend there.
I became aware of the need for face masks by healthcare providers, nursing homes and practitioners due to the new coronavirus. Jean, one of the other Sew Sisters, and I were in the process of choosing a pattern when Andy stepped forward and said his company, Alen Air Purifiers, could supply us with N95 filtering material. They chose a pattern with a pocket for the filter and off they went.
An email was sent out with the pattern directions and Jean’s teaching video: youtu.be/HDSmyWX4PFs. The Sew Sisters responded. Women began digging through their fabric stashes and donated fabric. Women began cutting out components, collecting elastic and ties, and finding ways to construct nosepieces in the masks. Women sewed…and sewed…and sewed some more. Pretty soon friends of Sew Sisters were helping—cutting out patterns and sewing. Soon neighbors of Sew Sisters and neighbors of friends of Sew Sisters were helping. Joel, my husband, stepped in and made his Pak Mail location the drop-off spot for completed masks and the pick-up place for precut fabric, elastic and pipe cleaners.
Masks have been delivered to nursing homes, hospitals, dentist offices, eye doctor offices, hospice facilities, pharmacists and many other individuals. And they are still being sewn and delivered. At this time, they have made close to 400 masks.
The women pray over the masks as they sew them—for the person who will be wearing that particular mask.
God bless the work of our hands.
NOTE: Some of these photos represent the women who are talked about in this story and are part of The Austin Sew Sisters. They were taken before we started social distancing and were called to stay home.