Grace Chapel is not a place, it’s people. Multiple believers are gathering in a variety of homes for worship, prayer and fellowship. An ongoing convalescent home ministry is an opportunity for those who wish to serve.
One group meets in our home Sunday mornings between 8:30AM and 9:30AM. Doors open at 8:15AM for prayer, or for coffee and fellowship. We end our service at 9:30 AM to allow travel time for folks who wish to attend morning services at local churches. After the service, some remain for fellowship and snacks, but we have to close up by 10:20, as we provide a 10:45 morning service at a local convalescent hospital.
The goal of all who come here is to equip the saints for the work of the ministry. We have adopted a meeting style similar to that of the first century believers, as gleaned from the earliest letters of Paul. We have been blessed, because everyone present does bring something to the meeting, in the form of a word, a scripture or song (See I Cor. 14:26). Praise reports, prayer requests, scripture readings and discussions are usual. Participation in the service is encouraged, and discourse is free flowing – no one person monopolizes the discussion – everyone has an opportunity to share.
Significant features of our gathering are (1) we seek God’s face; (2) love is our aim; and (3) the Holy Spirit is in charge. Many times we start with an idea in mind, but the service then takes an entirely different course, as God leads. There is no clergy/laity distinction, as was typical in the early churches circa AD 50. We have no pulpit, no robes and no dress code. We currently accompany our worship with guitars, but if another instrumentalist wishes to play, or if the occasion indicates that a cappella is warranted, we are flexible.
We recognize, given Paul’s experience with the Corinthian Church, that it is necessary to test sermons, words or explanation of Bible passages. Utterances are tested, and the “utterers” do not take such testing as a personal criticism. All of us are careful to test the word, not the person giving the word. We are kind – we give place to that which will encourage and build up, but (and this has not yet happened) we will discourage that which is unseemly or divisive.
Grace Chapel is licensed under and affiliated with the Full Gospel Evangelistic Association. We embrace the Full Gospel Evangelistic Association Statement of Faith . We are interdenominational – Christians of all persuasions attend. We keep in mind that the earliest Christian assemblies embraced many competing theological viewpoints, submitting to the overall command to love one another.
As yet, we have no child-care or kid-oriented activities. Parents choose whether to keep children with them as we meet or to let them play in the covered patio or back yard. Depending on the age of the children and the size of the group that day, an adult may be designated as overseer.
Grace Chapel maintains a robust convalescent home ministry. Three of us have personally been providing Christian services at local convalescent homes for the past 20 years.
Currently Grace Chapel maintains two convalescent home services. For the morning service, the current time slot there is 10:45AM to 11:20AM in South Pasadena. This service typically has 50 attendees. The afternoon service is 3PM to 4PM in Pasadena. The service is smaller but certainly robust.
In keeping with the goal of equipping the saints for the work of the ministry, there is abundant opportunity for all kinds of service, from holding a patient’s hand or turning pages in a hymnbook, to preaching and leading worship. Our worship is a mixture of traditional hymns and contemporary worship songs, chosen as the Spirit leads. The typical sermon time is 10 minutes. We serve Communion as often as is convenient. Following the prescribed service time (dictated by nursing home staff due to lunch set up needs), the chances to serve continue with opportunities to fellowship and pray with the patients as well as hand out giant print Bibles.
Our long-range vision is to create more convalescent home ministries, using 3-person teams of leaders with a zeal for ministry. We would work alongside with and coach teams, in anticipation of them adopting a nursing home as their own and fully taking over. Since nursing homes abound, there are limitless opportunities to serve!
One of our members is the Director of World Wide Missions Cameroon. Missionary opportunities in this English (and French) speaking African country for those who are interested. Grace Chapel sponsers the web page for this organization as well as certain missionary activities. In addition, Grace Chapel's Statement of Grace was received from Rev. Michael Jarrett of that organization.
Thursday evening woman’s meetings are held at various homes. The meetings continue the open, participation oriented format but provide more time for fellowship, worship, prayer to seek God’s face.
Donations: We do not solicit donations to support this ministry. Instead, Grace Chapel encourages everyone to give to Christian ministries as God so directs them.
Who we are: A collection of believers committed to each other and passing through various stages of their walk with the Lord. All are leaders and servants in various senses, and there is no HPICC (head person in complete charge).
---Tom & Ginnie Reynolds.