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Please read 'WHAT TO KNOW' below for information on attending Worship on site.
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WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE ATTENDING ON-SITE
Important information for Grace Church Members to read before the 2/13 Congregational meeting:
Click here to read a Resolution to Call Andrew Johnson
Click here to read a Resolution to Amend the 2023 Annual Budget
Click here to read a Resolution of Compensation Package
Message from Our Pastor
Update from Pastor Wes |
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02.01.2023
My Dear Sisters and Brothers,
As I sit to write this letter, I’m still processing all that’s gone on since I last wrote to you. In my last letter I wrote to tell you that Andrew Johnson and his wife Heidi would be coming for a week-long visit starting on Sunday January 22nd. Well… they did!
They’re arrival was attended by the first real winter weather we’ve seen thus far in the Hudson Valley. After a series of delays and rerouted flights they eventually found themselves in Albany long after their scheduled flight at 10:30 pm. They didn’t make it into the Valley until about 3:30 am on Monday the 23rd. As you can imagine they were exhausted after such an adventure.
Even though they were tuckered out they shouldered on and had their first public meeting with the congregation on Monday night. That was followed by a luncheon on Wednesday, Music Team rehearsal on Wednesday evening, Thursday evening musical jam session and Friday night potluck and fellowship time. After a much-needed break on Saturday, they joined us for worship and Andrew shared the Word with us. That doesn’t even account for the many hours of meetings in between.
On Sunday the 29th Rose and John Gaetjen took them to Albany Airport and said goodbye. What a pleasure it was to have had them among us. Throughout their time they talked with folks, answered a plethora of questions on a wide range of topics, and sought to prayerfully discern God’s will in the matter of their calling.
As they headed off to Albany, I was struck not only by the intensity of the week, but by the amazing family of God that attended to their needs, hosted events, made arrangements for their stay, provided housing, and a vehicle and offered the right hand of Christian fellowship in a way that spoke tangibly of the love of Jesus. The Johnsons could not have helped but to be struck by your love for Jesus and your kindness, and whether they are called or not, they had to have been encouraged to know and have met such faithful disciples of Jesus. I love this family of God. It is such a privilege to be a part of and I find myself continually encouraged by the evident way that you demonstrate your love for Jesus.
Now that the Johnsons have departed, we have a significant task before us. We as a body must call upon the Holy Spirit to guide us and grant us the wisdom we need (and that He has promised to give) to prayerfully discern whether we should call Andrew to come and minister among us as the Associate Pastor of Music/Discipleship.
We started this process of seeking God’s wisdom, by hosting a Prayer Gathering on Monday the 30th here at the church with another to follow during the day on Monday the 6th. In the foyer here at the church you will also find a copy of three resolutions that the Congregation will need to vote on and approve if they wish to extend the call to ministry. They are: Proposed Compensation Package, Proposed Change to the 2023 Budget, and Proposed Resolution to Call. We’ve also provided a copy of the congregational approved job description as well as Andrew’s resume for your review and to help you as you pray. On Monday February 13th at our regularly scheduled Quarterly Congregational Meeting we will be asking the church family to make the final decision on Andrew’s calling to ministry here at Grace.
The matter of Andrew’s calling is much greater than simply filling a job description. We are asking God to make clear to us whether Andrew is the man who He wants to have be a part of and minister to this church family. Our calling him will demand from us hearts that are open to welcoming him, and open to the Spirit working in and through him to meet His ends and purposes here among us. His calling to come and minister here also means that we are making a commitment to him financially that WILL stretch us. So, we need to bathe this decision in prayer so that we can declare that it seems right to us and the Holy Spirit to extend this call.
Dear Ones…I praise God that he has afforded this opportunity. I know that God will bless that which we prayerfully and faithfully lay before him. Whether we decide to call Andrew or we are led to release him at this time I know that God’s “Yes” is a blessing and God’s “No” is a blessing and He will be praised by our seeking to be utterly submitted to Him. We can go forward in the coming days without fear and with great confidence that God will work in and through us to bring glory to his name.
I’m so glad to be a part of this family of God… I am so glad to know that God knows the plans he has for us. Amen?!
A Brother in Christ,
Wes
My Dear Sisters and Brothers,
As I sit to write this letter, I’m still processing all that’s gone on since I last wrote to you. In my last letter I wrote to tell you that Andrew Johnson and his wife Heidi would be coming for a week-long visit starting on Sunday January 22nd. Well… they did!
They’re arrival was attended by the first real winter weather we’ve seen thus far in the Hudson Valley. After a series of delays and rerouted flights they eventually found themselves in Albany long after their scheduled flight at 10:30 pm. They didn’t make it into the Valley until about 3:30 am on Monday the 23rd. As you can imagine they were exhausted after such an adventure.
Even though they were tuckered out they shouldered on and had their first public meeting with the congregation on Monday night. That was followed by a luncheon on Wednesday, Music Team rehearsal on Wednesday evening, Thursday evening musical jam session and Friday night potluck and fellowship time. After a much-needed break on Saturday, they joined us for worship and Andrew shared the Word with us. That doesn’t even account for the many hours of meetings in between.
On Sunday the 29th Rose and John Gaetjen took them to Albany Airport and said goodbye. What a pleasure it was to have had them among us. Throughout their time they talked with folks, answered a plethora of questions on a wide range of topics, and sought to prayerfully discern God’s will in the matter of their calling.
As they headed off to Albany, I was struck not only by the intensity of the week, but by the amazing family of God that attended to their needs, hosted events, made arrangements for their stay, provided housing, and a vehicle and offered the right hand of Christian fellowship in a way that spoke tangibly of the love of Jesus. The Johnsons could not have helped but to be struck by your love for Jesus and your kindness, and whether they are called or not, they had to have been encouraged to know and have met such faithful disciples of Jesus. I love this family of God. It is such a privilege to be a part of and I find myself continually encouraged by the evident way that you demonstrate your love for Jesus.
Now that the Johnsons have departed, we have a significant task before us. We as a body must call upon the Holy Spirit to guide us and grant us the wisdom we need (and that He has promised to give) to prayerfully discern whether we should call Andrew to come and minister among us as the Associate Pastor of Music/Discipleship.
We started this process of seeking God’s wisdom, by hosting a Prayer Gathering on Monday the 30th here at the church with another to follow during the day on Monday the 6th. In the foyer here at the church you will also find a copy of three resolutions that the Congregation will need to vote on and approve if they wish to extend the call to ministry. They are: Proposed Compensation Package, Proposed Change to the 2023 Budget, and Proposed Resolution to Call. We’ve also provided a copy of the congregational approved job description as well as Andrew’s resume for your review and to help you as you pray. On Monday February 13th at our regularly scheduled Quarterly Congregational Meeting we will be asking the church family to make the final decision on Andrew’s calling to ministry here at Grace.
The matter of Andrew’s calling is much greater than simply filling a job description. We are asking God to make clear to us whether Andrew is the man who He wants to have be a part of and minister to this church family. Our calling him will demand from us hearts that are open to welcoming him, and open to the Spirit working in and through him to meet His ends and purposes here among us. His calling to come and minister here also means that we are making a commitment to him financially that WILL stretch us. So, we need to bathe this decision in prayer so that we can declare that it seems right to us and the Holy Spirit to extend this call.
Dear Ones…I praise God that he has afforded this opportunity. I know that God will bless that which we prayerfully and faithfully lay before him. Whether we decide to call Andrew or we are led to release him at this time I know that God’s “Yes” is a blessing and God’s “No” is a blessing and He will be praised by our seeking to be utterly submitted to Him. We can go forward in the coming days without fear and with great confidence that God will work in and through us to bring glory to his name.
I’m so glad to be a part of this family of God… I am so glad to know that God knows the plans he has for us. Amen?!
A Brother in Christ,
Wes
How you can help
- Please feel free share the information here with those who may not do technology, also let them know they can call the office to be put on a call list. If you know of anyone who doesn't currently receive Grace Connections they can also call or email the office to be added to that list as well. We will be sharing updated information on a regular basis through that venue.
- If you know of anyone in the Grace Church body with specific needs please let the office know. Our desire is to serve our community to the best of our ability.
