When Grace Becomes Real!

King of Peace MCC Matters

July 29th, 2026

August 2nd, 2026

10:30 am

Sermon:

"Saying Yes to God's Work Close to Home:

When Grace Becomes Real"

Sacred Text:

Acts 11:19-26

A Word from Rev. Ray

This Sunday we conclude our sermon series, Doing God’s Work Close to Home. A central part of that work is learning to extend grace — and we’ll look to the Apostle Paul as our example. His life was transformed, and the early church chose to extend grace to him in ways that changed the trajectory of his ministry.

Grace becomes real when we recognize that the Spirit is already moving — among people we didn’t expect, in places we didn’t plan, and through voices we never predicted.

Join us this Sunday as we explore the surprising places where grace takes root and becomes real.

Blessings,

Rev. Ray

Upcoming Activities

Join us for a Lunch & Learn session featuring Esme Rodriquez and Ant Avila from Equality Florida. They will explore the principles of inclusion within faith communities, examine recent state legislation, and highlight pro-LGBTQIA+ candidates who are campaigning for office this Fall.

During the month of August, we are collecting Breakfast Items and Clothing for Pinellas Central Elementary School. You can pick up a flyer in the lobby or see the items in the picture above. If you'd prefer to make a financial contribution for this effort, just put "PCES Drive" in the memo line or contact the church office.

Our very own Dwayne Shepherd will conduct a Beginner's Painting Class on Saturday, August 8th, from 10 am-1 pm. The fee for participation is $5 per person, and a minimum of 10 attendees is required for the class to proceed. If you'd like to be a part of this class, sign up in the foyer or contact the church office.

Mark your calendars now for our Church Summer Cookout on Sunday, August 16th after worship. Sign up in the foyer or contact the church office to let us know what you're bringing to contribute to the meal.

On Sunday, August 30th, Justin Ryan will be our very special guest to bring the message in song. Justin Ryan is an openly gay Christian singer, songwriter, and storyteller with roots in MCC. At the MCC General Conference in 2025, MCC awarded Justin with the "Freda Smith Purple Grass Award for Excellence in Evangelism", specifically for his weekly installment of "Southern Gospel Sissy", which you can watch here (new episodes every Sunday). Find out more about Justin's ministry here.

If you like Southern Gospel music, you won't want to miss it. During worship, we will receive a special love offering for Justin to support his ministry!

The requested items for the month of August are as follows:

Macaroni and Cheese

Peanut Butter

If you are able to donate, please bring them with you on Sunday or during the week when the office is open, and place them in the donation cart in the foyer.

Help us get the word out about our food pantry, both for clients and those who could donate food needs. Feel free to pass this flier on to anyone you can!

Want to schedule a meeting with Rev. Ray? Click here, and you can easily select a date and time that Rev. Ray has available. After you submit your scheduling, you'll receive a confirmation email.

The MCC Florida Network Gathering will be held Sept. 24–26 at King of Peace MCC. It is open to everyone and will include guest speakers, workshops, worship, and time to connect with others from across the Network.

Early-bird registration ends August 16.

Scan the QR code on the attached graphic or visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2026-florida-network-gathering-tickets-1992948948955?aff=oddtdtcreator

to learn more and register.