Struggling To Show Grace
“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5, ESV)
Mini Devotional
A mini message to take with you this week to help you in your devotion to God.
Struggling To Show Grace
Devotional by: Nick Gill
Why do we struggle to show grace? Why is it so much easier for us to harbor anger and resentment, or to lash out when we hurt, or to just sort of hang some wallpaper over cracks in our relationships?
In Matthew 18, Jesus provides bedrock teaching for how the people of God are called to resolve conflict as well as the terrifying consequences for the church when grace does not abound. If you have time today, read that whole chapter and see how much God values both you and that person you might be mad at. Forgiveness is like the air in our lungs; if we’re not breathing out forgiveness to others, there’s no room for us to take more in and if we don’t breathe, we die. Humans can last for an average of three minutes without air; the church can’t even last that long without grace and forgiveness.
I think there are at least two reasons we struggle to show grace: one more obvious and one less so.
The obvious one is simple and basic feelings of superiority – like the servant in Matthew 18, we forget how much we’ve been forgiven… we forget how much we need fresh forgiveness every single day, and so we let other people’s perceived shortcomings open the opportunity for us to attack them! Maybe not as graphically or as physically as the servant in Matthew 18, but attack them all the same with cruel words, whispered accusations, and constant murmuring. Tom Wright says, “From God’s point of view, the distance between being ordinarily sinful (what we all are) and extremely sinful (what the people we don’t like seem to be) is like the distance between London and Paris seen from the point of view of the sun.” It’s not as big of a gap as we think.
The second reason we struggle to show grace is less obvious, because I know I went for years imagining Avoidance to be a virtue. There is an ancient myth (dating back at least to Roman times) that ostriches stick their heads in the sand, believing that if they can’t see a predator, then a predator can’t see them. Ostriches do nest in the ground and sometimes stick their heads in their nests to check on the welfare of their eggs or young, and we’ve all seen toddlers play hide-and-seek by sticking their head behind something and imagining that they’re fully concealed. So, it’s understandable where the myth came from, and one thing is certain even in the myth: sticking my head in the sand isn’t showing grace. It is easy to believe that by simply avoiding or ignoring disagreements, conflicts and feeling sinned against, we’re being gracious like God. Hard fact: we’re not.
God didn’t ignore sin. God sent his Son to reconcile sinful people to Himself. Grace acts. Grace doesn’t sit aloof waiting for someone to come to us and explain themselves or beg us for forgiveness. Grace goes the second mile, not to launch an attack or to paper over the cracks in our relationship, but with a steadfast commitment to working towards reconciliation and seeking the best for the other party, because we belong to one another. “Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep!” Paul says. That’s not a command – that’s just what life looks like when we share the same heart, the same mind, and the same purpose. We’ve got a long way to go to get there, so let’s recommit to doing the hard work of reconciliation… to becoming reconciliation people rather than retribution people. The alternative is too terrifying to accept.
News
This section is for any special announcements that are not upcoming events or prayer requests.
Potter Children’s Home Pickup For Tuesdays Treasures Resale Shop
The crew from Potter will be here May 29 at 11 AM. Please bring any items you wish to contribute to the Tuesdays Treasures resale shop to Room 12, downstairs in the Fellowship Hall NLT Tuesday, May 28th. Contact Ray or Stephenia Bowman for details.
“Family Bible Hour” Sun PM Activity
Our Sunday evening activity for the month of May will be the “Family Bible Hour,” as announced by the elders this previous Sunday. Material will be provided each week, or you can plan your own individual Bible study. “Family Bible Hour” will be held in your own home at a time chosen by you or your family.
Children’s Bible Class Teachers & Helpers Needed
Our Children’s Bible Class ministry will be beginning a new quarter starting Sunday, June 2nd. If you’d be willing to teach, co-teach, or sub for one of our Children’s Bible Classes, please see Matthew Woodyard. Our class curriculum is uploaded to the church’s Google Drive folder, so if anyone would like to read through the material, just let me know and I can send it as soon as possible. We will no longer be asking our non-paid volunteers to teach both Sun AM & Wed PM classes and we will not be combining multiple classes on a regular basis. Let’s do everything we can to support our teachers, subs, helpers, and our kids! I’ve posted the class schedule below for the upcoming quarter (June-Aug). If you’re interested in helping, let me know which class & which day, and I’ll make sure you get everything that you’ll need in advance. We have an extensive curriculum for both our school aged & non-school aged kids. The sooner you familiarize yourself with the materials, the more effective you’ll be as a teacher. We have a wonderful opportunity to teach God’s Word to our children. Let’s make sure they get our very best! Thank you!
“And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me…”’ Matthew 18:2-5 ESV
Nursery (Sun AM) - Stephenia Bowman
Nursery (Wed PM) - Carly Gill
18-36 Month (Sun AM) - Michele Blanton
18-36 Month (Wed PM) - OPEN
Pre-K (Sun AM) - Sarah Jones & Gala Catron
Pre-K (Wed PM) - OPEN
K-2nd Grade (Sun AM) - Joyce Best & Inez Chatham
K-2nd Grade (Wed PM) - OPEN
3rd-5th Grade (Sun AM) - Mike & Robin Mayes
3rd-5th Grade (Wed PM) - OPEN
“Avenues For Women” Baby Bottle Collection
Holly Hill Family,
Each Mother's Day we pass out Baby Bottles to benefit Avenues for Women. It is a community organization dedicated to working with women to choose life and provides a variety of services. They even work with men and post-abortion women. It has a Christ based focus. We will start with 2 milk crates of baby bottles. They will be located at the main entrance. Let's each take one or two and have such a strong demand that we need even more bottles. The bottles are returned when they are filled. Just place in one of the crates. We try to have them in by Father's Day. Let's see if we can raise 2,000 for this great organization. Remember as Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, writes in I Corinthians 6:19:
“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”
Thanks for your support.
Robert Roach
Church Records - Sunday, May 12th
Bible Class Attendance - 77
Worship Attendance - 130
Contribution - $6,192.50
Prayers
Here are some individuals that especially need our prayers this week. Please keep them in mind every time you pray.
New Prayer Requests:
Amber Collins
Phil Wilkins
Rhoda Jones
Brenda Perkins
Karen Durman
Ongoing Prayers For: Janice Gregory, Missy Farmer (friend of Dorothy Trent), The Shoemaker & Paris Family, Charlotte Chowning, Larry & Renita Clarke, Barbara Sudduth, Tim Lilly, The Franklin Family (Matthew, April, & Anna Marie), Tany Phipps (Brenda Stone’s niece), Valerie Clark, The Poulter & Best Family, The Steele Family, Robin Ibershoff, The Bates Family, Roger Caudill, Judy Casey, Inez Chatham, John Widener Jr., The Tropoulos Family, Rita Tackett (Alyson Woodyard’s aunt), Cynthia Whitehead (friend of the Blanton’s), Patsy Cable (Bruce Blanton’s aunt), Ann Pittman, Mark McPherson, Janis Friend, Betty Blanton, Helen Hall, Penny Harland (Katie Bell’s mother), Alyssa Deaton, & Polly Deaton.
Please submit your prayer requests for inclusion at office@hollyhillcoc.org
Upcoming Events
Here are some events that are coming up that you need to make space on your calendar for.
Kids & Teens Devo - Saturday, May 18th (POSTPONED)
Since there are a lot of kids that cannot come to this event, we will reschedule to a different date to be determined very soon.
Elder, Deacon, Minister Meeting - Sunday, May 19th (2 PM)
Our monthly Elder, Deacon, & Minister Meeting will be Sunday, May 19th at 2 PM. We'll meet at the church building, downstairs in the fellowship hall.
“Family Bible Hour” (Sun PM Activity) - Sunday, May 19th (TBD)
Our Sunday evening activity for the month of May will be the “Family Bible Hour.” Material will be provided each week, or you can plan your own individual Bible study. “Family Bible Hour” will be held in your own home at a time chosen by you or your family.
“Women Of The Word” Bible Study Group - Monday, May 20th (10 AM)
A Bible study group for ladies who want to learn Bible study tools for a deeper relationship with God, hosted and taught by Katie Bell.
“Women Of The Word” Bible Study Group - Tuesday, May 21st (6 PM)
A Bible study group for ladies who want to learn Bible study tools for a deeper relationship with God, hosted and taught by Katie Bell.
“Family Bible Hour” (Sun PM Activity) - Sunday, May 26th (TBD)
Our Sunday evening activity for the month of May will be the “Family Bible Hour.” Material will be provided each week, or you can plan your own individual Bible study. “Family Bible Hour” will be held in your own home at a time chosen by you or your family.
Potter Children’s Home Pickup - Wednesday, May 29th (11 AM)
The crew from Potter will be here May 29 at 11 AM. Please bring any items you wish to contribute to the Tuesdays Treasures resale shop to Room 12, downstairs in the Fellowship Hall NLT Tuesday, May 28th. Contact Ray or Stephenia Bowman for details.
“Family Bible Day” - Saturday, June 8th (8 AM)
Holly Hill’s “Family Bible Day” will be Saturday, June 8th from 8 AM to 1 PM. We will have breakfast, bible classes, lunch, and fun activities! This will be a fun and relaxed day for the Holly Hill family to get together, and fellowship, while we learn some Bible.
Marriage Retreat at Cumberland Falls Lodge - Friday, August 23rd Through Sunday, August 25th (TBD)
Our Marriage Retreat at Cumberland Falls Lodge (7351 Highway 90, Corbin, KY 40701) will be held Friday, August 23rd through Sunday, August 25th. Our Guest Speaker will be Adam Currence, LPCC. The cost will be $150 per couple, which includes your hotel room. If you plan to attend the retreat, you must Sign-Up & Pay NLT June 1st.
How You Can Serve
There are a lot of ways you can get involved and do the work of God in our community!
Limited-Time Opportunities:
“Avenues For Women” Baby Bottle Collection
Each Mother's Day we pass out Baby Bottles to benefit Avenues for Women. It is a community organization dedicated to working with women to choose life and provides a variety of services. They even work with men and post-abortion women. It has a Christ based focus. We will start with 2 milk crates of baby bottles. They will be located at the main entrance. Let's each take one or two and have such a strong demand that we need even more bottles. The bottles are returned when they are filled. Just place in one of the crates. We try to have them in by Father's Day. Let's see if we can raise 2,000 for this great organization.
Operation Re-Stock the Food Pantry
The Food Pantry needs to be re-stocked. During the upcoming months we will be asking for specific food donations. There will be a box in the foyer for you to place your food donations. Thank you so much and let’s make Operation re-stock a success!! For the month of May, we need:
Beef Stew
Chicken Noodle Soup
Long-Term Opportunities:
Tech Team Support
The Holly Hill Tech Team needs help. We would love to have a few more people trained and available to set up the livestreams and audio equipment. It’s a fairly simple task and you’ll be well trained before being thrown into the seat alone. If you’re interested, see Nick, David, or Brad.
Card Ministry
Every Sunday there are cards spread out on a table in the lobby that will be sent out to various church members and guests who need encouragement. You can help serve and encourage by making sure to sign these cards each week. If you know of someone the church should send a card, please give the name(s) and address to Joyce Best. We have “get-well” cards, “thinking of you” cards, “praying for you” cards, and sympathy cards. You can also text the information to (502) 593-5865.
Casey Blessing Box
The Casey’s are collecting items to give away to those in need in their Blessing Box. Currently, they are accepting donations of:
Can Goods (Fruit & Vegetables)
Crackers
Cereal
Shriners Children’s Hospital
Donna White is collecting soda can tabs to donate to the children’s hospital. Please leave your donations in the lobby.
Children’s Bible Class Teachers & Helpers
If you’d be willing to teach, sub, or help, please see Matthew Woodyard. We have a wonderful opportunity to teach God’s Word to our children. Let’s make sure they get our very best! Thank you!
For more information or for help signing up for any of these ministries, please call the church office at: (502) 227-7796
Holly Hill Church of Christ
1020 Holly Hill Drive, Frankfort, KY 40601
Web - www.hollyhillcoc.org
Phone - (502) 227-7796
Email - office@hollyhillcoc.org
Service Times
Sun AM Bible Study - 10am
Sun AM Worship - 11am
Sun PM Worship - 6pm
Wed PM Bible Study - 6:30pm