Tag: The Grove Church Charlotte

Scripture: Psalms 130 & 131

Dear Church,

In 1966, Robert F. Kennedy made a speech citing the ‘ancient Chinese curse’ may you live in interesting times.  As you probably inferred from my punctuation, these words are neither ancient nor of Chinese origin. But the idea that living in interesting times is a curse sure does feel true, doesn’t it?

I’ve spent many hours this week listening. I’ve listened to politicians, historians, to pundits and other pastors–and we certainly are living in interesting times. I’ve listened with love and awe to several members of our community who opened their hearts to me–these days do feel like a curse to many of us. And I’ve sought the Lord on our behalf, searched the scriptures and strained to listen to the Holy Spirit.

Unexpectedly, I find myself tremendously excited to share the word with you this Sunday.  I believe the Lord has given me both our ‘word of the year’ to guide us as a community in 2025 and a word of courage, direction and hope for us through the prayers of our ancestors found in psalm 130 and psalm 131. (You might find it helpful to read them both in the Message paraphrase as well.)

Our faith does not allow us to live in denial or callow optimism. Still, because of Jesus, we can expect to uncover abundant life even and especially in these days. Beloved ones, we may not have asked for these times, but we were made church for times just like these. Because really, the rise and fall of political regimes, the antics and destructive foolishness of powerful leaders just aren’t novel. 

The most interesting–the most earth-shaking, power-filled and new-world-order forming time of all was when the crucifixion and death of the son of God resulted in the most improbable and unexpected outcome of all. The death of the messiah did not trigger the eternal triumph of death, violence and eternal rejection of creation by the Creator. Instead, Christ’s death unleashed a new age of life, mercy and reconciliation with God.

The most interesting thing of all is that the cross, designed by human ego to produce terror, suffering and death, was redeemed by God to become the source of forgiveness, love, life and grace. What should have eternally cursed humanity opened the way to new, abundant, and eternal life. Ever since that first Easter, we’ve been blessed to live in interesting times. The body of Christ has been here before. We have wisdom and purpose for these days. Come and see how we live in triumphant love and joyful resistance now.

Peace,

Pastor Kate

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Scripture:  Matthew 21:28-32

Dear Church,

(Almost) everybody loved Jesus until one day, and after that day almost no one did.

On that day, he rode a donkey, rearranged some furniture and argued with some powerful people. The next day, he cursed a fig tree (?) on his way back to tell them some stories. This is one of them:

There was a man who had two children. He went to the first and said, ‘Go and work today in the vineyard.’ ‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. Then the father went to the other child and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go.

Centuries later, James Baldwin gave the same people the same message in one sentence:

I can’t believe what you say because I see what you do.

And the thing about it is–Jesus and Baldwin weren’t speaking to people who disagreed with them. They were speaking to people who claimed to hold the same ideals, the same loyalties, the same vision and core values.

But there is what we say we believe and there is what we do. And life is gained and lost in the difference between the two.

I hope you’ll join me for worship on Sunday at 10am in the sanctuary or on the live-stream. We will focus on the final part of our mission statement at the Grove–coming alive in Christ. Spoiler alert: it happens when we obey the Father and show up to work in the vineyard. That’s where the holy magic happens–in each of us and in all creation.

Come and see!

Peace,

Pastor Kate

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Scripture:  Matthew 5:1-4

Dear Church,

Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. (Matthew 5:1)

Jesus was in the middle of a crowd. And then he left. He climbed up a mountain and once he was there, he sat down and began to teach the passages of scripture we’ve come to know as the sermon on the mount.

Isn’t that strange?

Jesus was already in the middle of a large group of people. If he’d stayed put, many more would have heard his words. But instead, he went out of his way…to make people go out of their way to hear him. And presumably, many did not.

As is our custom, we set aside the first weeks of each new year to focus on our mission as a community. We are a community that runs on grace, but sometimes we misunderstand it. As the great Dallas Willard liked to say, ”grace is opposed to earning, not effort.”

There are things we believe in putting effort into at the Grove. Inviting folks into community. Serving our neighbors. And finding abundant life in Christ. We believe this mission is God’s will for us. And we want to embrace our mission ‘On Purpose.’

The choices we make, individually and as a community, matter. The promise of grace is that God will infuse our small acts of faithfulness with the purposes of the Kingdom.

Peace,

Pastor Kate

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Scripture:  Luke 2:41-50

Please welcome Nicole Thompson as she preaches from Luke 2:41-50

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Scripture: Luke 2:8-12

Hello Grove!

We find ourselves in that strange week after Christmas, but before the New Year, where, if you are off and have children home for the holidays, you may not know what day of the week it is. On the opposite end, if you are working or have timely demands of caregiving or appointment keeping you know exactly what day of the week it is.  I am here to offer the gentle reminder that no matter where you find yourself this day, the Savior was born for you. On Sunday we will revisit the text from Luke we read on Christmas Eve to remind us that God loved us all so much that the Savior was sent for all of us. So, whether you have already put your tree away or you are still stepping over wrapping paper, I hope you join us Sunday morning to be encouraged and reminded you are loved.

Peace,

Nicole

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Scripture: Isaiah 9:2-7, Luke 2:1-20

We will gather for Christmas Eve worship at 5 pm tonight!

Candles, Carols & Communion

All are welcome

Fancy hot chocolate afterwards!

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Scripture: Luke 1:57-80

Dear Church,

This Advent we are working our way through the story of Zechariah. After a long life of righteous faithfulness, the Lord sent an angel to announce that he would play a miraculous part in the coming of Jesus. This was beyond anything Zechariah could conceive or imagine. So, he was given the gift of a silent season to move beyond his beliefs into faith.

And this week, we will hear what Zechariah has to say when his child is born, and his voice is restored. And while elements of Zechariah’s story are unique–most of us haven’t been startled by angels or come down with holy laryngitis–the words he speaks are universal. In our own lives and in our own way, we should be repeating Zechariah’s words.

Come and hear what Zechariah had to say.

Peace,

Pastor Kate

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Scripture:  Luke 1:39-56

Dear Church,

After the glory of last Sunday’s cantata, we are resuming our Advent journey through Zechariah’s story. 

We met the elderly priest Zechariah as he served at the altar of God in the holy of holies in Jerusalem’s temple. Who knows what he expected when he walked into that sacred space, it probably wasn’t a visit from the angel Gabriel announcing that his life-long prayer to become a father was finally going to be answered when his equally-elderly wife Elizabeth gave birth to a son whose name would be John and whose destiny would be to prepare the way for the messiah savior of the people. 

Zechariah had a very human response.

He was, understandably, stunned. And he asked questions. How can I be sure of this? He explained his need for clarification: I am an old man and my wife is well along in years. Are you sure you have the right priest?

Instead giving reassurance or explanations, the angel gives Zechariah silence. 

Power-hungry church leaders have seized this story. See what happens when you ask questions? See what happens when you don’t blindly trust those who speak for God–be they angels…or pastors? Many will tell you that the meaning of this story is to shut up and do what you are told, no matter what, or God will shut you up. 

But what if Gabriel wasn’t punishing Zechariah by taking away his voice? What if he was giving Zechariah exactly what he needed to understand. 

I hope you will join us as we explore what can happen when you stop talking. And we’ll find out how God did answer Zechariah’s questions in the gift of a season of silence. 

Peace,
Pastor Kate

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Scripture:  Luke 1:1-24

Dear Church,

“In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah…”

Luke begins his gospel acknowledging that there are already many other written records of the life of Jesus, but he promises that his will be an ‘orderly account’ because he has ‘carefully investigated everything from the beginning.’ His account will contain all ‘the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word.’ In other words, Luke is going to write theee gospel–full, complete and thoughtfully curated–so his readers will know ‘the certainty’ of the faith they’ve been taught.

And before we can know anything else about Jesus, Luke thinks we need to know about a priest named Zechariah. Many, many Christians have never heard of this man, but Luke believes that telling his story is the way to lead his readers into flourishing life with Christ. 

I agree.

We’ll spend these Advent weeks of preparation diving deep into the life of Zechariah and, more importantly, discovering how his life can serve as a map for our own spiritual journey.

Peace,
Pastor Kate

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Scripture:  Matthew 7:7-12, 24-29

Dear Church,

As I sit in a coffee shop working on this letter to you, the woman at the next table is reading intensely. She’s underlining and taking notes and pausing frequently to reflect on what’s she’s just read. She’s consuming the book she’s reading. I wondered what she was studying so intensely, so I snuck a peak.  The title is ‘How to Get Rich.’

Jesus’ final words in the sermon on the mount are words of warning. He says that those who hear his words and put them into practice are like wise homemakers who build their houses on stone foundations. But those who hear his words and do not live according to them are like fools who build their homes on sand. When (not if!) storms come, houses built on sand wash away. Only houses built on rocks escape destruction.

The woman sitting next to me in the coffee shop this morning is studying her book so intensely because she believes that if she reads and applies it’s principals she’ll gain wealth that will allow her to build a life of safety, security and opportunity. She’s not reading that book for pleasure, she’s reading it because she plans to put the words into action. If she reads it cover to cover and doesn’t change her spending habits, she’s just wasting her time.  She doesn’t look like she is wasting her time.

Jesus invites us to read his words with equal intensity and intentionality. Powerful and true as they are, Jesus’ words are pretty useless to us unless we let them shape our daily lives.

Jesus doesn’t want us to turn to his teachings to soothe our emotions or signal our virtue.  He certainly doesn’t want us to weaponize them against other people. He doesn’t say ‘those who hear and memorize my words’ or ‘those who understand and agree with my words,’ he says those who put my words into action will experience salvation from the storm. He says those who hear his words and then continue to live as if they hadn’t are foolish.

Jesus is calling us to changed choices.  He wants us to build our lives as if what he is telling us–about wealth, power, sin, grace, healing, love and courage–is true. He is telling us that, though it doesn’t always look like it will, letting his words shape our actions will lead us into flourishing, resilient and joy-filled life here and now.  

And we are discovering that together at the Grove, not just on Sunday morning at 10am (in the sanctuary or on the livestream!), but also in the many, many other ways we gather to live out the words of Jesus.

Peace,

Pastor Kate

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