Links & Downloads
This is the spot to find current church publications, interesting articles the pastors may reference, or books they might suggest you read. Check back here periodically to see what's new!
You can also get the latest version of these publications here:
Groups at Grace - has a complete list of all the bible study and fellowship groups that are currently meeting.
Grace Community News - This is our general Community newsletter that has classified and community announcements. GO here to read how you can submit an ad to this publication.
Enjoy a good read?
Download the paper version of Gracevine, the all church newsletter!
Periodically, a member of the Pastoral Team will review a book they're reading. Check out the current reviews by clicking on the link below!
The Hole in Our Gospel
Richard Stearns
Reviewed by:Paul E. Toms, Visitation Minister
This clever title refers to what the author concludes is a major failing of the Christian Church-namely, not fully trying to meet the challenge of the poor and needy of the world. This leaves a hole in our Gospel, HOWEVER, the book really is the story of a man’s journey with God; a personal testimony of listening to and obeying the will of God.
Rich Stearns is the President of World Vision USA. This organization is probably the largest worldwide Christian organization dedicated to helping people everywhere. It ministers all over the world in the name of Christ. Millions have been assisted during times of wars and famines. Children have been particularly singled out as the objects of basic support and help. It is a great organization and the Lord has used it in powerful ways.
The history of its beginnings is highly interesting: the stories of its ministry and work are compelling. The challenge is to fill the hole that is described and take renewed interest in the Biblical injunction to carefully and sacrificially minister to the poor and disenfranchised.
BUT, to me, the really interesting and moving part of this volume is the voice of the Lord and how it was heard by Mr. Stearns. You will be intrigued as you read about a young man beginning a noteworthy rise in American business enterprise. He becomes the CEO of Parker Brothers in New England (creators of hugely successful games, i.e. Monopoly, etc); He goes on to become the CEO of the Franklin Mint and then becomes the President of the famous Lenox China Company. He had arrived in a successful career. In addition, Rich Stearns had a wonderful wife who became a lawyer. They had a splendid family that reflected strong Christian principles. Mr. Stearn’s income was commensurate with his leadership of one of our country’s outstanding business enterprises. He gave it all up because he listened to the voice of the Lord. I was so impressed that he even drove a Jaguar car-and he left it for someone else to enjoy!
Rich Stearns was pursued and persuaded. He was a practicing Christian believer. Through a series of recorded circumstances he heard the voice of the Redeemer, and he left all to follow Him.
This book will stir you and hopefully challenge you to new commitment. And hopefully it will remind you again of the power of our Lord, the absolute need for careful listening on our part, and complete obedience to His call.
Rich Stearns was a faithful member of Park Street Church in Boston, and I was his pastor there at the beginning of his wonderful walk in Christian service.
Buy the book! Or, check it out of our church library and rejoice in an uplifting and challenging series of events. The book will help you walk with the Lord, and it will urge you to carefully obey the teaching of God concerning obedience and ministry.
The ESV Study Bible
Crossway Books
From Pastor Brian Farone
"This is one of the best Bible study resources I know. I use it almost every week, and strongly recommend it to anyone who is looking for help understanding and applying the Bible."
From the publisher
The ESV Study Bible was created to help people understand the Bible in a deeper way--to understand the timeless truth of God's Word as a powerful, compelling, life-changing reality. To accomplish this, the ESV Study Bible combines the best and most recent evangelical Christian scholarship with the highly regarded ESV Bible text. The result is the most comprehensive study Bible ever published--with 2,752 pages of extensive, accessible Bible resources.
Little Pilgrim's Progress: From John Bunyan's Classic
Helen Taylor
From Pastor Brian Farone
"I read this book to my kids a few months back. It was great! This has been one of the best things I have done as a father."
Amazon Editorial review
Fifty-five years ago, Helen L. Taylor took John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress and simplified the vocabulary and concepts for young readers, while keeping the storyline intact. The result was a classic in itself, which has now sold over 600,000 copies. It’s both a simple adventure story and a profound allegory of the Christian journey through life, a delightful read with a message kids ages 6 to 12 can understand and remember. A new look and fresh illustrations for today’s children enlivens the journey to the Celestial City.
Sermon on the Mount: 12 Studies for Individuals or Groups
John R. W. Stott
This is one of the Lifeguide Bible Studies, which is generally a good small group study series. As a church we are currently studying the Sermon on the Mount and thisone of the study books we are using to guide our discussions.
Missional Renaisssance: Changing the Scorecard for the Church
Reggie McNeal
Reggie McNeal challenges the church to reorient our "scorecard" for success around things that measure how we are taking Christ to the world. We tend to measure the things that matter the most to us: money, time, staff. We say we value, but are we promoting, tracking and multiplying things like: prayer, community involvement, evangelism, and other missional activities? How do we make the shift from serving the church to serving the lost as the church? We need to look backward like a historian, and forward like a journalist, writing a new future story based on lasting gospel values. A great followup to his volume The Present Future, Missional Renaaissance brings the mssion and its measures closer to the ground for day to day ministry in our communities.
