It is so good to see that Broadway is back…. It was so painful to see all those marquee signs dark… and all those iconic songs unsung for so long. But no more. Let me put one of those songs back in your head. If you’ve seen Hamilton, you can sing it – “I wanna be in the Room where it happens… the room where it happens, the room where it happens.”
That’s the name of our new Sunday series, beginning this week — The Room Where It Happens.
There’s something about being there, where the action is – where you can see and hear and experience it. Throughout the Bible, we see this. God shows up. He is personal and relational. And when He shows up, He works in places and in people. So many amazing things can happen in a room!
Don’t you wish you could have been in some of those places to see it for yourself? This series will take us to rooms where it happened and remind us of the many ways that God wants to work in us. It will also have us dreaming and praying about our new church building and all the rooms that will be in it – and most importantly — all the ways God will be at work in them.
Sunday, we start with a room where a boy heard God speak to him. He listened, but he needed a little help. We start with “Listening”. So, often God has important things to say to us… Are we listening? Come this week with your ears wide open — in the room where it will happen.
Also, in the room this week, in each of our services, we will invite all of our students from preschool to high school to join me for a special prayer and commissioning for the school year. We have a gift for each one of them to remind them that God is with them and has plans for them this year. Bring your kids and grandkids for the annual BLESSING OF THE BACKPACKS… We will also pray for our teachers and administrators.
After services, we will head out to our area schools to pray for each school campus. Click here for a list of schools and times of our PRAY FOR OUR SCHOOLS experience. There will be a leader at each campus and a prayer guide to follow along with. Come to your kids’ school or your school if you are a teacher or administrator. What a privilege to get out in our city to pray for our schools.
SUNDAY COVID PROTOCOLS
Of course, we have all been praying and watching the COVID numbers go back up. This week, our friends at BECA let us know that there are new protocols in place that will require us to wear masks inside at BECA. After consulting with our COVID team, with an abundance of caution, we are requiring masks for indoor worship and other programs inside at BECA and at Locust Street. Thank you for your cooperation – we hope this will be a short-lived return to wearing masks.
NEXT – New Members Experience
Every Sunday, we are welcoming new people to worship. If that’s you, you may be ready to take a next step to find out more about GRACE. NEXT is an interactive experience where you will hear about GRACE’s vision and mission. You’ll learn more about God’s work at GRACE and how you can be a part. And we will learn more about you and how God is at work in your life. As a part of the class, you will have the opportunity to become a member. Pick a date this Fall – Sunday, September 26 or Sunday, November 14th, 3-5 pm at the Locust Street Campus. Click here to reserve your space.
Finally, we started with NYC, and I will end with NYC. It’s hard to believe that tomorrow will be the 20th anniversary of 9/11. I hope you will join me in finding a moment to stop and pray for our country and for all those effected that horrific day.
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer.
Your pastor,
Dr. Marnie Crumpler
Senior Pastor