adult ministries
The desire to know God and grow in relationship with him is innate and lifelong. Whether you grew up in a house of worship, or have never stepped foot in one, you are welcome to join any of our adult faith formation opportunities at any time. Grace offers several distinct Sunday school classes for adults as well as midweek on- and off-site small groups, all-church studies, and spiritual retreats. Newcomers are always welcome!
Sunday groups
9:15AM
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New Connections (Room 227): a casual gathering for coffee and conversation for 30-40-somethings. The group occasionally dives into deeper study.
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The Forum Class (Room 232): a faithful and welcoming group that enjoys a spirited study of the scriptures as well as presentations from guest speakers, often incorporating discussion and thought-provoking audio/visual material. Contact Sandy Bray via email for more information.
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Hearts on Fire (Room 250): gathers each Sunday morning with a welcoming atmosphere to share in fun but challenging and meaningful discussions around faith and discipleship. Contact Bob Pacanowski via email for more information.
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Questors (Room 254): welcomes all adults to participate in presentations/discussions on a variety of topics: contemporary living issues, religious history, Biblical studies, etc. Class offers mission and fellowship opportunities. Contact Bobbi Khant via email or Bob Allison via email for more information.
weekday groups
Mondays, Wednesdays, & Fridays
Temple Builders meets on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 9:00AM in the Activity Center for exercise and strength training. Contact Keia Carter via email for information and availability.
Mondays & Wednesdays
Bible Year Challenge Groups meet on Mondays at 6:00PM and Wednesdays at 10:00AM in Room 231. Contact Pastor Eric Blachford via email for information.
Mondays
Sisters Study meets on Mondays at 1:00PM in Room 254. Every six to eight weeks a new book or topic is discussed. Contact Kathy Carey via email for more information.
Tuesdays
Caring Connections meets on the first and third Tuesdays of every month at 1:00PM to 2:00PM in the Gathering Space. Volunteers in this ministry meet to write cards, notes, make phone calls, and reach out to those in need of a little extra care and connection to our Grace family. Donations toward postage are appreciated. Contact Missy Hoekstra-Hecht via email to volunteer or for further information.
Parenting with Grace Mom’s Faith Formation Group meets on Tuesdays beginning April 9, 2024 through May 21, 2024 at 7:00PM to 8:15PM in Room 231 to explore the study about friendship called, "We Saved You a Seat." Unique challenges and joys come with raising a family, and we believe in the power of community to support and uplift one another. This small group is for moms of all ages and stages to come together, share experiences, and grow in faith. Whether you're a first-time mom navigating the early years, a seasoned parent tackling the teen years, or anywhere in between, this group is a place where you can find camaraderie, encouragement, and a supportive network of fellow moms. Join us as we journey through the ups and downs of motherhood, deepen our relationships with each other and with God, and create lasting bonds that extend beyond the walls of our church. We can't wait to welcome you into this warm and loving community! Click here to register. Please contact Melissa Pomeroy via email or Stefanie Abderhalden via email with questions.
Thursdays
Thursday Morning Bible Study meets at 9:30AM to 10:30AM in Room 254 and on Zoom. Current topic is Jesus in the Gospels. Leander E. Keck, beloved Professor of New Testament and Retired Dean in the Yale Divinity School, is the author of the Study Manual for Jesus in the Gospels. He is a teacher/writer, who will guide us well in 30 weeks of study. Contact Pastor Doug Bowden via email for more information.
Thursday Evening Bible Study meets at 7:00PM at 8:00PM on Zoom. Contact Sandy Bray via email for more information.
fellowship groups
Over 50 Fellowship
Over 50 Fellowship group meets every other month for lunch with a speaker and discussion. We meet in Fellowship Hall at 12:00PM and have a catered lunch. Bring $15.00 to pay for lunch. Everyone over 50 is welcome to join us!
Upcoming Meetings:
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Thursday, May 9 - 1950'S Sock Hop. Celebrate the music of the 50's and 60's by singing,
clapping, and dancing along with live "Music by Mario." Click here to register, sign-up at church, or contact Kathy Carey via email.
Guys Gathering Together
Guys Gathering Together is a group for men who share common interests. Get out, eat, have fun, and have enjoyable conversations about various topics in a casual setting that impact each of us in today's world. The goal is to build relationships with other men around common values of integrity and honesty, while learning with and from each other. The cost is $15 per guy and includes a catered meal. If the cost is prohibitive, please contact Bob Pacanowski via email. Click here to register.
Upcoming Meetings:
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Friday, May 17 at 6:00PM to 8:30PM
Grace Community Builders
Grace Community Builders help build a stronger sense of community within our church. This powerful idea is based on getting to know other members of our church better and to have an enjoyable time while doing it. Each (GCB) Group is comprised of six people. Each Community Builder will spend approximately one hour a week with a different participant in his/her group over a period of five weeks.
A pairing sheet, with phone numbers and email addresses, is provided, in advance of the meetings, which identifies each Community Builder and who he/she will meet with during each of the five weeks. The meetings are set up by each participant and can be at the church gathering space, at a restaurant, coffee shop, or wherever you choose. Soon after the five weeks, we will have a potluck at the church for participants and their spouse, significant other, or a friend.
Groups beginning meeting the week of March 3. To join a group or for more information, contact Bill Fronk via email at 913-961-2903. The deadline to sign up is Friday, February 23.
DivorceCare is a safe place where caring people come alongside you as you find healing from the pain of separation or divorce. At this 13-week, video-based support program, you will find helpful counsel to manage the emotional turmoil and practical tools for decision making. You will meet others who understand how you are feeling and the struggles you are dealing with. You will find that you are not alone and there is hope. Through the videos and small group discussion time, you will hear from others who have thought there is nothing to look forward to who are now beginning to smile again and find that there is something to look forward to. Stay tuned for details about our next session of classes.
For more information, please contact Richard Newell at richard.newell@peopleofgrace.org or 630-947-9311.
support groups
DivorceCare Support Program
amplify media
digital faith formation resources
Amplify Media is a service that Grace subscribes to so that every member can have access to resources that encourage deeper discipleship and equip them to pursue their faith formation journey with greater impact. Amplify has videos that can be used in your small groups, Bible studies and, of course, in your own personal faith journey. You can access all of these videos anytime and on almost any device.
Who: Amplify has resources for all ages (adults, children, and youth) that can used for your own individual faith journey or as part of a small group. The resources are from publishers like Cokesbury and include popular authors such as Adam Hamilton and N.T. Wright.
Where: You can access all of these videos anytime and almost any devices.
How: To access our Amplify account, click here and enter our Access Code: BTSNPM
Why: To engage more deeply in your faith and to builder deeper community with Christ and others in a new way.
