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On Sunday, Pastor Mitch and I will switch places as we continue our sermon series on Gandhi’s Seven Deadly Social Sins. This week our subject is “Worship Without Sacrifice.” Mitch will preach the traditional worship, and I will lead at Common Grace. We are looking forward to exploring some important questions. Why do we come to worship? What does God expect from us? and What difference should worship play in how we live our lives during the week?

Valentines Day is brought to you this year by Seal.
As a seal.
Did you see the Superbowl ad? It was kind of bizarre, and kind of funny. It certainly didn’t make me crave a Baja Blast, but I guess it got my attention.

Catch the traditional service or modern service sermon videos here – cued up to the start of the sermons. Or, rewind to watch the entire service.

IN THIS ISSUE…

February 16th Worship, Extravaganza Invitation, Extravaganza Donations & Baskets, 3rd Grade Bibles, Grace Kids Summer Dates, New Grief Study; The Burger Boys, Women’s Connection, Prayer Blanket Workday Update, OCO Concert, Saving Grace, Grace Publication Deadlines, This Week at Grace, In Need of Prayer?

We have designated this Sunday as Red Sunday at Grace and you are encouraged to wear red to worship. I don’t believe that God roots for any specific team, even the Kansas City Chiefs, but God does not mind when we show support for our favorite teams. I love how teams can bring a community together and am grateful to be part of the Kansas City community with you. It is a great time to be a Chief’s fan.

I was grown in a greenhouse.
I had two loving parents, a solid up-bringing. I learned right from wrong and how to make good decisions.
I learned that the world was a beautiful place, filled with beautiful people. Yes, bad things could happen, but I was generally safe and sound in my sheltered, climate-controlled existence.

IN THIS ISSUE…

February 9th Worship, Red Sunday, 3rd Grade Bibles, Grace Kids Summer Dates, The Burger Boys, Prayer Blanket Workday, Extravaganza 2025, Extravaganza Baskets, OCO Concert, Saving Grace, Women’s Connection, Grief Study, Blood Drive, Grace Publication Deadlines, This Week at Grace,  In Need of Prayer?  

Catch the traditional service or modern service sermon videos here – cued up to the start of the sermons. Or, rewind to watch the entire service.

This Sunday we will continue our sermon series on “Gandhi’s Seven Deadly Social Sins.” After worship, we will have an All-Church Potluck in Grace Gathering beginning at 11:30 AM. In the announcement below you can see what food items to bring and share. I look forward to worshipping with you and breaking bread this Sunday.

You can’t talk about Christianity without talking about mercy.
But don’t take my word for it.

See the February edition of the YES Spotlight here!

Grace UMC presented Janelle Wilke of Angel House a check towards the construction of the Angel House Elementary School.

IN THIS ISSUE…

February 2nd Worship, Angel House Presentation, Open Arms Meeting, KPG Enrollment, 3rd Grade Bibles, Grace Kids Summer Dates, All-Church Potluck, Prayer Blanket Workday, Extravaganza 2025, Extravaganza Baskets, UMCOR Fire Relief, Blood Drive, February Women’s Connection, Giving Statements, This Week at Grace, In Loving Memory, In Need of Prayer?

Catch the traditional service or modern service sermon videos here – cued up to the start of the sermons. Or, rewind to watch the entire service.

This Sunday we are going to present a check to Janelle Wilke for Angel House. Angel House was our Christmas mission and Grace far exceeded our goal of $30,000. I received a thank you note recently from Emmanuel Pius, the young medical student who we featured in the video. Here is what he wrote.

Sisyphus was condemned.
Not by God, but by a god. Zeus. He was cursed to roll a heavy boulder up a hill, only to watch it fall back down to the bottom. Lather, rinse, repeat. Forever.
There are days when that’s how I feel.

updates to the site, including Grace Kids, Preschool, and Grace Extravaganza

IN THIS ISSUE…

January 26th Worship, KPG Enrollment, Tochi Trip 2025, Inreach Outreach Team, Open Arms Meeting, 3rd Grade Bibles, Grace Kids Summer Dates, Extravaganza 2025, UMCOR Fire Relief, Blood Drive, January Women’s Connection, This Week at Grace, In Need of Prayer?  

Catch the traditional service or modern service sermon videos here – cued up to the start of the sermons. Or, rewind to watch the entire service.

One place that I find roots for my life is each Sunday when we gather for worship. Even when we are in between the “big” Sundays of the Christian year, our weekly rituals give me time to reflect and connect with God. The sanctuary becomes a place of rest where I can renew my spirit.

“As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly.”
-Proverbs 26:11
This proverb is definitely a contender for “most likely to trigger one’s gag reflex”-and not just because of the mental image.
The second reason for gagging is the awful realization that I do this. All the time.

IN THIS ISSUE…

January 19th Worship, Inreach Outreach Team, Table Hosts Needed, The Burger Boys, Open Arms, The Divine String Phone, Blood Drive, January Women’s Connection, Office Closed, This Week at Grace, In Need of Prayer? 

Catch the traditional service or modern service sermon videos here – cued up to the start of the sermons. Or, rewind to watch the entire service.

I am very excited to start our next sermon series. Mahatma Gandhi was an amazing individual and one of my personal heroes. His impact on India and their Independence from Britian was an amazing accomplishment and his commitment to non-violence inspired leaders like Martin Luther King, Jr., the Dalai Lama and Nelson Mandela.

I can love my enemies. I frequently include people who I think are jerks in my prayers! And I’ve been known to actually say hello to strangers on the elevator.
Maybe being perfect isn’t that hard?
Oh wait, that’s not the only scripture where Jesus talks about being perfect.

Church Office Closed, January 12th Worship, Charge Conference, The Divine String Phone, Extravaganza 2025, January Women’s Connection, This Week at Grace, In Need of Prayer?

Watch the snow-day casual dialog sermon between Revs Barry and Mitch on Epiphany! Or rewind to watch the entire service, including music by our own Rick Fisher.

We try not to cancel worship, and your pastors will do everything we can to make it to church. If we are able to make it to the church, we will have worship in person with whoever joins us. The second part is that we want you to be safe and make the best decision for you and your family. If you choose to stay home, our hope is that you will be able to join us online. If we decide to cancel worship, we will get the information to the local television stations and send out a mass email by 8:00 am on Sunday morning.

The KPG Preschool Page has been updated with the new 2025-26 Enrollment Packet and staff photo!

YES Spotlight Newsletter for January, 2025

The video of the combined service sermon is posted – cued up to the beginning of the sermon. Catch the messages from Rev Mitch, or rewind to watch the entire service:

The videos of the 9am traditional and 10:15am modern service sermons are posted – cued up to the beginnings of the sermons. Catch the messages from The Rev Barry and Rev Mitch, or rewind to watch the entire service:

It’s time to blow the lid on this whole Santa lie.

Just not the one you’re thinking of.

IN THIS ISSUE…

Christmas Eve Worship, Grace Mission Focus, December 29th Worship, Grace Kids Update, Save the Date, Women’s Connection, New 2025 Bible Study, Y.E.S. Fellowship, This Week at Grace, Church Office Closed, In Need of Prayer? Merry Christmas!

Last Christmas I brought the tradition to Grace. On Sunday, I will share with you some of my favorite Christmas stories including “The Little Red Wagon.”

You’ve heard of Deck the Halls—how about Deck the WALLS?

It’s the 5th century BCE, and the Israelites are back home after years in exile. The Temple has been rebuilt, and Ezra the priest has helped reconnect the people to their spiritual roots. But something is still missing.

IN THIS ISSUE…

December 22nd Worship, Christmas Eve, Christmas Eve Volunteers Needed, Grace Mission Focus, Zaheer Popo Recital, Angel Tree Thank You, December 29th Worship, Women’s Connection, This Week at Grace, Church Office Closed, In Need of Prayer?

The videos of the 9am traditional Christmas Cantata and 10:15am modern service sermon are posted – cued up to the beginnings of the sermons. Catch the messages from The Celebration Choir and Rev Mitch, or rewind to watch the entire service:

This Sunday our Celebration Choir will present the Christmas Cantata “Sing Joy to All the World.” The title of the cantata sparked my curiosity about the genesis of the Christmas carol for which it is named. Turns out it is an interesting story.

Deny, Defend, and Depose.

Those words were written on the bullets a young man used to assassinate the CEO of United Health Care.

In the span of a week, the shooter has become a folk hero, and the CEO, a vanquished villain.

There was a shooter look-alike contest in New York. Online merch with those 3 D’s has been flying off the shelves. The McDonald’s where the suspect was apprehended has been flooded with one-star reviews for turning him in.

I’m saddened to think about how some of us are drawn to celebrating the murder of this man while preparing for Christmas at the same time. Something about that doesn’t seem right.

IN THIS ISSUE…
December 15th Worship, Christmas Eve, Christmas Eve Volunteers Needed, Grace Mission Focus, Zaheer Popo Recital, Poinsettia Deadline, Angel Tree, December 29th Worship, Burger Boys, Women’s Connection, This Week at Grace, Church Office Closed, In Loving Memory, In Need of Prayer?

Advent is in full swing at Grace, and we have a full weekend of activities. Tomorrow is the Living Nativity and it looks like the weather will cooperate.

It’s Christmas Party time!

Some people love ’em, and some people hate ’em, but if you find yourself invited to one (or lots) of these gatherings, here are four common mistakes to avoid:

IN THIS ISSUE…

December 8th Worship, Christmas Eve, Grace Mission Focus, Organ Recital, First Friday Fellowship, Living Nativity, Poinsettias, Angel Tree, Choir Cantata, Women’s Connection, Silver Set Lunch, The Burger Boys, This Week at Grace, Information Deadlines, Prayers for Grace, In Need of Prayer?

The videos of the 9am traditional and 10:15 modern services are posted – cued up to the beginnings of the sermons. Catch the messages from Pastors Barry and Mitch, or rewind to watch the entire service:

Angel House advent missions focus, Blue Christmas service Dec 1, Living Nativity Dec 7, Grace Angel Tree, Silver Set Lunch Dec 8

Check out the newly update Grace Youth (GUMY) Page! We have lots of new info up regarding this year’s mission trips, confirmation, and upcoming holidays off dates. Grace UM Church […]

The purchasing of the current Grace property on Ridgeview, and the building of the church!

Grace is celebrating 25 years in the Ridgeview Building (1999-2024). A few years before building at this location, First UMC and Hope UMC joined churches to form Grace UMC – meeting in the building that became Center of Grace when we moved here. Here’s a recounting of that era from the pastors of First and Hope themselves, Gary Schrag and Fritz Clark.

Pastors and laity are trained to link arms to create a culture of care that is available to all members of the church and not just a selected few who might be in small groups or more well known. Trusted volunteers become Congregational Care Ministers or CCMs. This method of care is also recognized as a means for self-care for pastors as they share the daily load of ministry. 

Enjoy this recap of the missions work done by our preteens in 2024.

James helps us to know what the source of conflict is, the dangers of unhealthy conflict, and how to navigate conflict when it comes.

This is the link to the sermon Pastor Wes is preaching about on April 7.

September 10 we gathered for the blessing of the backpacks, animals, cars – with food truck treats, ministries info, and underwear donation for Center of Grace!

Do you want to engage in Bible study but maybe you don’t have the time to come for a class? Check out this new podcast. Listen to weekly episodes on […]