Grace Community Church

Yesterday we worshiped at Grace Community Church, 9160 Marshall Road, Cranberry Twp., PA 16066, 724.779.7997, www.mygcc.org, Matt Kaltenberger, Lead Pastor.

 

Scripture – NIV

1 Peter 4:10 –

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.

Romans 15:7 –

Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.

 James 2:13 –

…because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 –

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

Galatians 6:3 –

If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves.

 

Bob’s thoughts:

We were blessed to worship at Grace, our first trip back since their recent remodel. I was amazed at how open and inviting the area is now.

It is always a special joy to talk to Pastor Bob. He told us how the remodel of the sanctuary allowed for 400 more seats, giving them room for 1,200 in worship. We discussed how a church can stay warm and focused on the individual with that many in worship and I reflected on this during the service. Something as simple as the lights being left on took care of the isolation of worshiping in the dark not knowing who is nearby. Sometimes a glance or nod to another worshiper conveys volumes. We were in the top tier and could witness a lot of interaction. I found particular joy watching a woman minister to her young child…we would do well to emulate with our neighbors.

The pastor’s message on interacting with coworkers was of pointed interest for me. Long retired, I don’t have those coworkers to relate to, but God blesses me every day with merchants, medical professionals, and others to witness to and to pray for and with. It has been a joyous ministry.

My best example of the personal ministry of the church was a conversation with the man who ushered us to our seats. I commented that the last time we visited Grace was in the midst of construction and how impressed we were with the results. He commented about where we usually sat when we visited. Want to be a caring church?

 

Jan’s thoughts:

This church seems to have completed a huge expansion project, which involved adding 400 seats to the existing 800, a new children’s area, and an amazing coffee/fellowship space. What remains the same is the warmth and genuine hospitality we have consistently encountered here.

With Bob’s issues with walking and my newly-replaced knee, we truly appreciated the elevator to the second floor and friendly escort to convenient seating right inside the door.

This message was part 2 of the series God At Work and one of his points was to pray for a coworker with whom you experience conflict. God answers our prayers, often in unexpected ways, and in asking God to bless the person, we are at the very least being obedient to God’s direction and at most we are helping bring about change in them, in ourselves, and in the situation.

Although I have been retired for a few years, this advice brought back a memory of a time when I experienced conflict with a coworker. I would have preferred avoidance but it was not an option, and since I had no other ideas to resolve the situation, obedience to God’s guidance (i.e., prayer for this person) seemed the best path. In God’s good time, He healed all parties involved and the conflict simply dissolved.

Through His Holy Spirit and prayer, God can work on our hearts even when we seem to have little sway over the direction they wish to take. God’s way was truly best for everyone.

We are grateful for our conversation with Pastor Bob Zonts following the service.

 

Our prayer for this church:

Heavenly Father, we pray You will continue to bless this church in every way. Give them people to disciple, teach, and to pray with and pray for. May they constantly surrender their will to You. Amen.