Twenty years ago, Scott Ginsberg was a student at the University of Miami and had just finished attending a very uneventful conference. Like everyone, he had a nametag. As he left the conference, he passed a trash can full of name tags that people had ripped off. And he wondered, what if I do just
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So, today is Valentine’s Day. Valentine’s Day started as a secular Roman holiday. In the 5th century, Pope Gelasius I named the holiday for St. Valentine. It isn’t clear who St. Valentine is. By the 14th century, it became a celebration of romance. “Valentines” showed up in the 15th century and by the late 1700s printed cards were being
Read more I am writing on the plane flying home from the ECO National Gathering in Dallas, Texas. Our GRACE team of 6 joined over 1500 other ECO church leaders from around the country. It was an incredible time of worship and connecting with ECO pastors and staff and elders. We heard from Dana Allin, ECO’s Synod
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This weekend, we will experience one of the biggest divisions in our country – do you watch the Super Bowl for the game or for the commercials? I confess that this year, I am in the second category. What teams are playing this year? Just kidding. All over the country, whether it is for the commercials or
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This is one of my favorite weekends of the year. We will together bring forward our commitments for the 2020 mission and ministry of GRACE Church. It is so humbling to watch God at work in you – as you bring your commitment cards down and place them in the baskets. The act of making our
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This past Sunday was an important milestone for our congregation. Mike Baittinger, the chair of our Finance Committee, joined me to let you know that your generosity has allowed us to pay off the mortgage of the Hecktown Road Property in 3 months! It was great to see Mike literally “rip” the mortgage. For the
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For the most part, Christmas is a wrap. Even if your tree isn’t down. (Mine isn’t.) Even if you haven’t mailed your Amazon prime returns. (I haven’t.) Even if you hang on to the 12 days of Christmas, Sunday, it’s all over. As we turn the calendar from 2019 to 2020, maybe you are busy
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Merry Christmas from the Staff of GRACE Church Bethlehem. On behalf of all the team at GRACE, I want to wish you a Merry Christmas! I pray that your celebrations with your family and friends have been life-giving and have drawn you closer to the God who so loved you that He sent his Son
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This has been a heartbreaking week for my family as we released my sweet niece to the arms of Jesus. Mark and I, along with John, are down in Atlanta for the services today. I am so thankful for all of your notes, calls, texts and most important – prayers. More than ever, as I
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I got on a plane on Wednesday. I settled into my seat. I (barely) listened to the safety announcements. Then, we took off. I hadn’t planned this trip – but I had to take it. Many of you know by now that my dear 3-year old niece, Caroline had an accident at school and had to be
Read more I can’t wait for this weekend. We will start with the 3rd annual Women’s Christmas Tea on Saturday morning – on the Mountain Campus at Lehigh. We have over 200 women who will gather for tea and Christmas fellowship. I get to share the good news of Christmas with our GRACE women and the many
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Abraham Lincoln declared on October 3, 1863, that the last Thursday of November would be a national holiday of Thanksgiving. He explained it this way: The year that is drawing towards its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we
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Four years ago, I was just your guest preacher. I had no idea that the people I saw out in the congregation that weekend in all those services would be people that I would know and love. I had no idea that God would give me and Mark the privilege of being your pastors and the joy
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Wednesday night, I went back to the gym after a way-too-long hiatus. My time away was justified -- parents weekend at Wake, gearing up for SHINE Commitment Sunday and a weather whiplash sickness. After that workout, I was so sore -- from my arms to my calf muscles. But it felt “good.” Sunday morning, on
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This weekend is SHINE Commitment Sunday! It is a truly historic moment in the life of GRACE church! For almost two years, our congregation has been praying, dreaming, meeting, and planning – and it is finally our moment to SHINE. On Sunday, we will come forward and make our commitments for the SHINE Vision and
Read more I can’t wait for Sunday. First, we all get an extra hour of sleep Saturday night. It’s “fall-back” Sunday. So, set your clocks back an hour on Saturday night. Second, I will give a very important update about our SHINE campaign as we look forward to next week’s Commitment Sunday. Along with the update, you
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