Welcome to Grace at Home. May the grace and presence of Christ be with you. God's limitless love is alive and re-creating hearts, minds, and relationships anew in this season. May it be known and felt as you worship with us today.

Thank you for joining us online this morning. Click on the pictures below to access the inspiring educational video content. Scriptures and prayers are located beneath the links.
"Would They See Jesus"
(Inspiring video)
"Waymaker"
(Opening song)
"What is Discipleship?"
Children's Moment
"He Knows My Name"
(Song of reflection)

Imagine more...more love...more grace
Learn more about our community of faith

"Off Script: Gifts From God"
10am central live at Grace
Sermon by Rev. Yvonne Gilmore, Pastor
Gifts of generosity and grace
You may give gifts, tithes, and offerings online below or mail in a check to Grace Community Christian Church.

Thank you for making space for Grace to be shared between, among, and beyond our walls. Your faithful tithes and offerings make a life changing difference.
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We are a part of something BIGGER...than time, than ourselves, than darkness. We are a part of God's movement for wholeness as faithful stewards of God's limitless love.

Jesus often makes comparisons from the lesser to the greater.  In Luke 11, we hear the comparison from the way parents give to children to the ways God will give the Spirit to all who ask.

Think of the best parents you know (your own parents? Perhaps your children as parents, or others right in our midst). Now, make the comparison. As marvelous as THESE parents are, as they provide for their children, how much more will God provide for those who seek God’s favor?

Because God loves and provides for us, we’re invited to share that love, translated into our morning tithes and gifts.  See? These symbols of coin, check and electronic deposits come from the labor of our hearts, hands and minds. When collected, they allow us to care not only for our church community, but for others who yearn to share in God’s abundance.

With joy-filled spirits, let us share in our morning offering.


Offering prayer

God, thank you for the daily bread, and for so much more, which you provide. Thank you for this opportunity to return a portion of what we’ve been given. Open our eyes to see and open our spirits to respond in love. May each sister and brother in Christ be someone we see clearly and respond to in love, remembering all are made in your image. Amen

Click here to give online using Paypal or your credit card
Opening Prayer

God, we do gather in gratitude, thankful for the ways you seek to revive us! Let the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts work together to praise you in this hour. Grant your Spirit to inflame our hearts and inspire each of us to share your steadfast love with all whom we encounter. Help us to join in giving only what is good, not only today but every day.  Amen
Prayers of the People

Lord, we are in the middle of the summer months. We looked forward to rest and recreation, but time is moving rapidly on and we still find ourselves stressed and weary.

Give us words to speak when the worries of our lives turn us speechless. Things have happened for which we were not prepared this week. People in need have been stressed, pulled, pushed, and tossed. As you have found us before, Lord, find us again. Wrap your arms of compassion around us. Help us to savor the times that we have with each other. Make us keenly aware of the magnificence of this world. Draw us to the times of peace and rest.

We lift up the names of loved ones to you for your healing mercies... As we have brought those names, remind us that we, too, stand in need of your healing love. Give us strength, courage and joy, that we might become disciples who are worthy of your kingdom, for we offer this prayer in Jesus' Name. Amen.
Scripture
Luke 11:1-13
(The Message version)
11 One day he was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said, “Master, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples.”
2-4 So he said, “When you pray, say,
Father,
Reveal who you are.
Set the world right.
Keep us alive with three square meals.
Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.
Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil.”
5-6 Then he said, “Imagine what would happen if you went to a friend in the middle of the night and said, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread. An old friend traveling through just showed up, and I don’t have a thing on hand.’
7 “The friend answers from his bed, ‘Don’t bother me. The door’s locked; my children are all down for the night; I can’t get up to give you anything.’
8 “But let me tell you, even if he won’t get up because he’s a friend, if you stand your ground, knocking and waking all the neighbors, he’ll finally get up and get you whatever you need.
9 “Here’s what I’m saying:
Ask and you’ll get;
Seek and you’ll find;
Knock and the door will open.
10-13 “Don’t bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need. This is not a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we’re in. If your little boy asks for a serving of fish, do you scare him with a live snake on his plate? If your little girl asks for an egg, do you trick her with a spider? As bad as you are, you wouldn’t think of such a thing—you’re at least decent to your own children. And don’t you think the Father who conceived you in love will give the Holy Spirit when you ask him?”

Announcements
Ice cream, dairy and non-dairy, and sundae toppings will be shared after church. The joy of summer treats will be shared every Sunday. Join us. Bring a friend.
Our high school graduates are also our two candidates for baptism. Donovan Byrd and Kharis Gilmore-Essig will be baptized on Sunday, August 7. Please plan to join us for this special service to celebrate and share in the sacrament of baptism as they take the next crucial step on their journey of faith and we bless them as they begin college. Donovan will be attending Aurora University and Kharis will be attending Purdue University in the fall.
Join Global Ministries for a 5K for climate justice! 

The theme for the Mission Dash 5K is climate justice. Creation care efforts by international partners evolve with each natural disaster and shift in weather patterns. Partners cope with the negative impacts of climate change by protecting and nurturing the natural world, preserving resources, and seeking to ensure food security.

You are encouraged to walk, roll, run, jog, or spiritually sprint wherever you are in the month of August!

We are discerning interest and capacity at Grace. Let us know if you're interested in participating or helping to organize a 5K in our community in August.
Grace Community Christian Church
2770 Montgomery Road
Aurora, IL 60504
www.graceccc.org
630.898.7990