October 19th, 2022

But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and by his wounds, we are healed.

-Isaiah 53:5-

“How was the movie?”  I asked my 16-year-old son Kaden. 

“It was horrible!  I closed my eyes through most of it.”  He said. 

Kaden and his friends had just watched a horror film. He didn’t like the thrills, he didn’t like the screams, and he didn’t like the bloody gore.   It is that time of year, Halloween hauntings adorn movie theater signs inviting popcorn-eating guests to come and be terrified.  I have always hated horror movies. The reality of blood and guts, pain and fear in real life is heartbreaking, and I have never been entertained… but that’s just me.  

This week, in The Story chapter 26, we see a horrific scene and this is no movie.  Jesus is marching toward the cross.  He rides into Jerusalem on a donkey, overturns tables, and is anointed by Mary. Jesus institutes the Lord’s Supper and prays alone in the Garden of Gethsemane. Though he has done nothing, Jesus is arrested, and illegally put on trial in the middle of the night.  Jesus is mocked, spit upon, scourged, and turned over to the people.  Our Lord then carried his own cross and was nailed to it.  The hammer of the nails echoed off the rock walls surrounding Golgotha (which means the place of the skull.)  

It was a bloody heart-wrenching scene of horror.   But that is not the worst part.  Your sin, my sin, the world’s sin was cast upon Jesus and the Lord’s wrath was poured out on him.  It was the hour of darkness. 

It was horrible!  Perhaps you want to close your eyes.  I do. Why? Because it is my fault and yours that this happened.  He was crushed and pierced for our sins. 

“for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” - Romans 3:23

Our sin would not be tolerated by a God who demands righteousness. Sins must be atoned for; God requires it.  Incredibly, what God requires, he also provides. 

In his remarkable love, Our Lord Jesus takes care of it all on the cross by becoming the sacrifice for us. 

“and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.  God presented Jesus as a sacrifice of atonement through the shedding of his blood-to be revealed by faith.”  - Romans 2:24-25 

Don’t close your eyes, look to Jesus on the cross and realize you are justified! You are forgiven!  You don’t need to suffer the horrors Jesus did, he did it for you! 

See you Sunday as we continue The Story- chapter 26 “The Hour of Darkness.”

Pastor Austin 

PRAYER:  Thank you, Jesus, for dying for me. Help me Lord to know your love as I look to the cross.  AMEN

Click or scan the QR Code to download the

Grace Fellowship App from our website.

Pastor Appreciation Month

Loving, kind, friend, teacher, shepherd, funny, passionate, Jesus follower, servant, redeemed in Christ, leader...

these are just a few words that come to mind

when I think of Pastor Austin. 

We are blessed to call him our PASTOR! 

We honor and celebrate his dedication and service to our church. Join us in

sharing our appreciation:

• Donate HERE and specify in the notes section that it is for Pastor Appreciation

• Use the cards next to the Pastor Appreciation basket on Sundays to express your gratitude and encouragement for Pastor Austin in a note, seal the envelope, and place it in the basket



• Place your contribution in an envelope marked, "Pastor Appreciation" in the offerings basket this next Sunday

Please make any contributions by October 23rd so we can present him with his gift on October 30th. Thank you!

The best gift you can give your Pastor and his family is to lift them in prayer. Join us as we pray for Pastor Austin, not only during the month of October, but all year round.

Click HERE to get a copy of the prayer calendar.

The Calendar at a Glance 

• October 23rd, RoundUp River Ranch Service Day, 1 pm–4 pm 

• October 23rd, Pastor Appreciation Gift Contributions deadline, and Moving Up Sunday for Kids' Church

• October 30th, Reformation Sunday, Pastor Appreciation, Easter in October, Fellowship Potluck Brunch, 5th Sunday Kids' Service

• November 1st, First Communion Class, 6:30–8:00 pm @ Grace Fellowship

• November 7th, Confirmation

• November 8th, First Communion Class, 6:30–8:00 pm @ Grace Fellowship

• November 12th, Women of Grace Gathering 9:00–11:00 am @ Grace Fellowship

• November 14th, Confirmation

• November 14th–21st, Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Drop-Off

• November 20th, Thanksgiving Service

• November 27th, Advent Begins!

• November 28th, Confirmation

Kids aged 2nd grade through 5th grade will be "moving up" to their new kids' church class with Miss Missy on October 23rd during the 9 am service. See you then! If you would like to help with this ministry, please contact Missy at [email protected]. We'd love to have you!

Christmas in September? Easter in October? If you've been following along with The Story, you know that Easter is

just around the corner in a couple of chapters. 

• Fellowship Sunday will be October 30th from

  .      10:00 am – 11:00 am

• Bring your favorite brunch item to share
• There will be no Bible Study that day

Kids of all ages can help serve on our 5th Sunday

Kids' Service at 9 am. Sign up at church

on Sunday to help!

- THIS Sunday -

October 23rd, 10:15-10:45

Continue to read Chapter 26 of The Story

Is it a challenge to sit and read The Story each week?

Give yourself some grace.

Find The Story on the Audible App and listen to it instead! Don't miss out on this incredible story!

Sunday Services

October 23rd, 2022

9:00 or 11:00

-or-

ONLINE

KIDS' CHURCH at 9:00 am service

(Ages 3 through 5th grade)

Kids' Church follows the kid's sermon. We can’t wait to see them!

NURSERY

Nursery for Newborns – 2 year olds.

Nursery is open during our 9:00 am service and during Bible Study from 10:15-10:45!

LORD JESUS, HEAL OUR LAND, OUR BODIES, AND OUR HEARTS.

Please pray for. . .

• Children's and Youth Ministry at Grace Fellowship, that their hearts, faith, and joy continue to grow in the knowledge of Jesus, as they are ministered to. Pray for our new Kids' Church class and for confirmation that begins this week. Lift up all our ministry volunteers who build relationships with and pour into these kids each week. We praise you, Lord, for all of our children and volunteers at Grace Fellowship!

• George and Melinda Dow, who are both recovering from orthopedic surgery last week. Pray for an easy and full recovery and for Melinda's parents who are coming to help care for them and their two children, Addie and Turner. If you would like to provide a meal for them, click  HERE  to sign up. 

• The Building God's Way team and the Leadership Board, who will be having some extensive meetings this week to prepare a plan for our new church building. Pray for God's protection in travel, clarity of ideas, effective communication, and that Satan's distractions to confuse and disrupt, which so often come with expanding God's kingdom, will be bound. We serve a Mighty God!

• Carol Proffitt, who has been sick and is homebound, and her daughter Pam who is caring for her. Grant them peace and comfort.

• Everyone in our congregation and their families who are dealing with the pains and trials of cancer and other illnesses including Todd Purse; Connie Kerr; Keith; Chris; Sharon Hlavinka; Rance Ketterling; Darlee, Amanda; Jerry Wiisanen; Rosemarie; April; Suzanne, Mary's sister-in-law; Bonnie Lamotta; and Aaron.

GOD'S WILL BE DONE