
This fall at Hoboken Grace, we have been working through a conversation about how God delights in us and that we can delight in Him. If I am honest, I hadn’t really thought about this idea even though I now see so many passages in scripture pointing clearly to this idea.

Psalm 37:4 (NIV) – “Take delight in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.”

The series began to click for me last week as I used a grilling vegetable wok, which was a Christmas gift, for the first time. I know, you probably aren’t following this leap, but stick with me.

I am a man of habits, tracing back to my time growing up working on a farm. Farming involves a lot of schedules, seasons, and keeping a routine. Naturally, I carried those habits forward in Hoboken, even though life looks different. I enjoy my schedule and my rhythms. I like routines and structure. Now, back to the grill wok. I had always grown up just grilling vegetables directly on the grates so when I received the gift, I politely said thank you to my parents, but then didn’t use it for 10 months. A gift specifically chosen by someone who knows me, a gift chosen because they thought it would bring delight in my life, sat in a cupboard. After using it once, I have now used it each week with new concoctions and it really does bring me joy! I couldn’t believe I had slept on something I now love for so long.

Thinking back about other gifts, I found this pattern. My wife Erin gave me an Apple Pencil on one occasion, and slippers on another. My mother-in-law gave me an Instant Pot and a Nutribullet. My sister gave me a set of hot sauces I had never heard of, but ended up being fantastic. Apparently, tools used for cooking are a real growth opportunity for me. In each circumstance, I let the gift sit around collecting dust because it was outside my routine or what I was used to. The people who know us best like to give us good gifts, even if we don’t ask for them.

As I read through Scripture, a passage in Luke 11 really stood out to me, “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Can you imagine a Father who wants to give you good gifts? Not just the gifts you ask for, but also what you really need and what deep down you really desire.

I think about the gifts I missed from my Heavenly Father because they didn’t fit nicely in my plan, in my routine. God gave me the gift of deep friendships because I went to a Dinner Group, which just felt like more time out of my week. God changed my view of contentment as I gave more of what I had to Him. As I engage God on this journey, I find that He gives me what I need, when I need it. Not before, not after, but at the right moment – like a great guide. When I use these gifts, I experience the joy of what God has for me and how much He loves me. God also experiences delight in seeing His child follow His will in our lives.

As you follow your normal routine this week, listen for where God may be speaking to you outside of your normal routine. Pay attention to what He is communicating through reading Scripture. God is faithful and will be there with you even if it feels uncomfortable.

Have a great week, and let me know how you see God moving as you engage this conversation or try something different.


Good Gifts!


As we are moving through our ‘Enjoying God’ conversation, Pastor Chris has been challenging us to see God in new ways. We are being reminded or learning for the first time that God delights in us and that He wants us to enjoy Him too!! We asked some of our staff how their relationship with God or view of Him has shifted throughout this series. Whether they are seeing God in a different way, experiencing something new with God, or putting one of Pastor Chris’ weekly homework assignments into practice- let’s see what some of our staff have to say!

_Vinny H._ :

“It’s been transformational in how we experience God as a family, especially our 8th grader who attends the service and listens to the Sunday conversations. Our prayers together have become a lot more authentic and it’s helped to remind us that God is a person that’s close to us that we can talk to on a daily basis. As I’ve spent less time asking God for stuff, I’ve been able to remember all the ways He’s already been present and working in my life… that in turn and just reminded me that He’s in control, He loves me and I don’t need to worry anyway.”

_Igor M._ :

“What I have been experiencing during the ‘Enjoying God’ series is how practical it has been. With Pastor Chris’s weekly homework assignments I have been able to put into practice what I have learned in the conversations throughout the week. The homework has been of great help in my walk with God!”

_Megan Y._ :

“I’ve been making more connections between the things that I enjoy that I previously felt were “apart from God” to Him. I’m realizing that they’re not “apart from Him” at all and that He brought those things into my life for a purpose. He wants me to have the joy that comes from them and He’s allowing me to meet new people and either grow from them or to be a light into their lives through shared interests. It’s so great to remember that He is in all of it!”

_Yuli F._ :

“The ‘Enjoying God’ series has reminded me to come to God as I would a friend. To share my celebrations, laughs, and trials with Him, instead of listing things for Him to fix.”

_Rachel K._ :

“I have been trying to keep up with doing the “homework” Pastor Chris has been giving us on Sunday which has really helped me to be intentional with God! It has helped me to apply all that I’m learning throughout this conversation to more than just Sunday and to bring it into my everyday conversations with God. I am excited to see the change over time as I continue to ask these new questions, change the way I talk to God, and how I see Him!”

We can’t wait to see the impact our ‘Enjoying God’ conversation will continue to have on our relationship with God going forward and we hope everyone can leave this conversation knowing what it is like to delight in God and remembering how much He delights in us!


Staff Picks: Enjoying God In New Ways


This year was our 12th annual 1Day Hoboken, where we take one day to bring together as many people as we can to accomplish as much as we can for our city! 1Day may have looked a little different this year due to the weather, but that didn’t stop us from loving our community in the best way we could.

Our 1Day Hoboken turned into 2 days of 1Day! We had over 650 people serve with us for different civic and nonprofit organizations across our city! The projects that we did around Hoboken throughout those two days will impact our neighbors for months to come!

Although the outdoor projects for 1Day Hoboken got postponed to the following weekend, we were still able to make a big impact by completing 7 indoor projects across Hoboken! Some of our projects included organizing and cleaning at the American Legion Veteran’s home, preparing meals to serve at the Hoboken Shelter, cleaning refurbished computers for under-resourced communities at Computers4People, and cleaning at Lunchtime Ministries and the Symposia Community Bookstore!

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2022/10/52405002383_11d391ab93_o-copy.jpg)

The team at the Hoboken Volunteer Ambulance Corps was so grateful for our help! They said what our team was able to do in just that one day would’ve taken them weeks to do! It’s amazing the significance one day can have and we are so grateful to have been able to come together to impact our community!

The second day of 1Day was just as strong, as our other volunteers came together to complete some of the originally planned outdoor projects! We had hundreds of people all around Hoboken painting curbs and fences at the Hoboken Housing Authority, weeding and gardening at the Community Gardens, and organizing and cleaning at the Community Food Bank. It was amazing to see the new friendships being formed while serving together and the contagious joy of everyone who was a part of 1Day!

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2022/10/52405001338_cba856e5bd_o-copy.jpg)

At Hoboken Grace, we believe _we don’t just live here, we love here_! It’s incredible to see the impact of just ~~one~~ two day(s) of service and what can happen when we come together to love our community! We are so grateful for the hard work the Bridge Events team put into planning our 1Day this year and for all of those who served with us at this special event!


Rain Turns 1Day Into 2Days!

I grew up in the suburbs of southeast Pennsylvania in West Chester about 40 minutes from Philadelphia. As a result, I never experienced living in a city before coming to Hoboken to attend Stevens Institute of Technology, nor did I experience how my faith would adapt to these circumstances. It was not the balancing of academics or the homesickness of PA that was a problem but I wondered if I could make new friends and also wondered where I would go to church.

The first night at Stevens was one of anxiety and sadness. I missed my girlfriend, I missed my bed, I missed my friends at school, and I missed the suburban environment. I did not realize how much my life was going to change.

Although I was frightened and worried about what the city environment could bring, I ended up making relationships that would change my perspective on the very things I was worried about. One day, I was walking around my school and found Stevens Christian Fellowship (SCF). I wanted to get integrated with faith because I needed a community and I also needed to find a Church. When I was growing up, it was so important to be in a faith community — that is how I made friends and grew.

I walked into Stevens Christian Fellowship and they welcomed me with open arms. Every last person in that community became and still is one of my friends and they made a lonely freshman, a loved one. As I got integrated, I found Hoboken Grace in the fall of 2019\. That week, Pastor Chris started doing a series on the book “The Purpose Driven Life” by Rick Warren. Like many newcomers to Hoboken Grace, I was new to this type of unique service. On the other hand, I felt the words were speaking to me and all that I was going through. Actually, I read the entire book with another member of SCF in the weeks Pastor Chris was presenting it. It was an enlightening moment that welcomed me to Hoboken Grace.

As time went on, I got to know Hoboken like the back of my hand and it was thanks to both the Stevens Christian Fellowship and the Hoboken Grace community. I am able to attend Hoboken Grace services, events, and groups alongside students that are going through the same things as me and that is something very special. Although I still missed my girlfriend, I introduced her to Hoboken Grace as well, and she got more involved in her own Christian community back home.

Hoboken Grace has brought me an environment that I feel has always loved me and my friends. Both pastors, Anthony and Chris, have come to Stevens and have spoken to our students, and that is very special. Now, I’m here in 2022 wondering where I would be without such an amazing faith community.


Finding A Church At The Right Time

As we head into a new season, it is the perfect time to step out of your comfort zone and dive into something new! We have so many opportunities for you to step out this fall and get plugged into community! From fun connection events, to making an impact in our city, to meeting new people, we have plenty of ways to start off the fall in a powerful way! Who knows what one small step of trying something new could lead to?

**1). Join A Dinner Group**

Dinner Groups are at the core of what we do here, as they are essential in getting connected beyond Sundays! God didn’t intend for you to do life alone- you were created for community! Make sure you [sign up](https://hobokengrace.com/dinnergroups/#join) for a group so you can walk through the fall and our conversations alongside others! We have Men’s, Women’s, and Married Groups, where you will find a place to be real with one another, grow together, and form friendships!

**2). Come Out Of Your Shell**

We have a lot of exciting [Connection Events](https://hobokengrace.com/events/) coming up this fall! From our [Hoboken Coffee Crawl](https://subspla.sh/6xqmdfw/) to [The Doughnut Hop](https://subspla.sh/nx3dpj7/), there’s something for everyone – and it’s an easy and fun way to meet new people! So mark your calendars for all of our upcoming events and join in on the fun!

**3). Make An Impact In 1Day**

Our 12th annual 1Day Hoboken is right around the corner on Saturday, October 1st! Each year, we take one day to make the biggest impact possible in our city in a day completely devoted to service. There will be over 35 service projects across the city and we will end the day with a fun after-party celebrating all that’s been accomplished! Don’t miss out! [Register today.](http://hobokengrace.com/1day/)

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2022/09/51543959486_3b1d918550_o-1.jpg)

**4). Find Financial Freedom**

When it comes to giving generously, oftentimes what holds us back is anxiety over our finances. FPU is for anyone who dreams of finding financial freedom — freedom from debt, anxiety, and any sort of uncertainty about budgeting and financial planning. Join us as we engage our finances from a new perspective and pursue true financial peace! Find out more and [register today](https://www.getfinhealthy.com/fpu/)!

**5). Invite Someone To Church** 

As we head into fall and walk through our new conversation, Enjoying God, it is the perfect time to invite someone to church! You never know the potential impact you can have on someone’s life by simply inviting them to join you on Sunday!

**6). Join A Team**

Joining a team is a great way to serve others, share your talents, have fun, and meet new people! Maybe that looks like making people feel welcome each Sunday morning, as a member of the First Impressions Team. Or helping kids learn about how much God loves them through Grace Kids. You can also make an impact through photography, social media, planning events, and so much more! Check out all of our [impact teams](https://hobokengrace.com/teams/) and experience the power of serving with us this fall!

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2017/09/51995582689_659ed7a559_o.jpg)

**7). Meet New Friends**

If you’re looking to make some new friends, you don’t want to miss our [Speed Friending](https://subspla.sh/7ymtrs8/) connection event on Sunday, September 25th! There will be fun questions and icebreakers to make meeting new people enjoyable and easy!

**8). Share Your Story** 

One powerful way to impact those in our community is by sharing your story of how God has been moving in your life. God can use your story to impact others’ lives by encouraging, inspiring, and igniting their faith. Find out more about [sharing your story](https://hobokengrace.com/share-your-story/) with us!

_For more information about any of these events, groups, and other opportunities, email info@hobokengrace.com._


Stepping Out This Fall

We talked to some of our staff to find out what they are reading this summer! They shared with us why they’re reading it, what they’re learning, or what they’ve been enjoying about it!

**_Em_ _ma S._** 

“I’m reading _Hinds’ Feet on High Places_ by Hannah Hurnard and it’s actually my second time reading it because I enjoyed it so much the first time. It’s an allegory about a character named Much Afraid who is learning how to follow her Shepherd to the High Places. I love it because it beautifully explains the journey of a Christian through life – encountering trials, fears, and transformation with God. I cry, smile, and laugh all while reading this book!”

**_Luiz R._**

“This summer I’ve been reading through a book called _The Grace of God_ by Andy Stanley and it’s been a very good read so far. The title is pretty self-explanatory but it’s truly incredible to read through this book and be constantly reminded about how much God loves us. This book works through different stories from history and the Bible, presenting us with endless examples of how God has shown His grace to us time and time again, even when we don’t deserve it.”

**_Meghan H._**

“This year I really wanted to focus on building long-term routines and habits, and the book _Atomic Habits_ by James Clear was highly recommended to me (unprompted) by several different friends. I’m only in the first chapter, but it’s been a fun read so far!”

**_Tony B._** 

“I have been reading _Herding Tigers_ by Todd Henry. As the Director of the Production Team, I am leading a very creative team, and I want to improve as their team leader. This book is all about how to lead a creative team, and even only being a couple of chapters in, it has already taught me a lot!”

**_Nick L._**

“This summer I’ve been reading and enjoying _Deeply Formed Life_ by Rich Villodas who is a pastor in Queens. For those who already participate in our Rhythms at Hoboken Grace and/or Axiom, this is a great compliment to those practices as this book helps communicate how we can live contemplative lives in the city without needing to escape to the wilderness.”

_**Rachel K.**_

“I’m reading the _Meaning of Marriage_ by Timothy Keller, which I first started reading when I was single because I wanted to learn more about what a strong Christian marriage looks like and how I could date more intentionally! I wanted to be able to enter those stages of dating, engagement, and marriage with a better understanding of God’s design for marriage.” 


Staff Picks: Our Summer Reads

My journey back to God began at the Hoboken Grace Easter Egg hunt in the spring of 2019\. Seeing my kids and others squeal with delight as they uncovered candy-filled plastic eggs in the hay, I wondered – what amazing organization is behind this initiative? Who does this kind of thing in Hudson County FOR FREE?! I was also a relatively new mom, with all the typical struggles that come with that stage of life. I needed support, and this seemed like the kind of community that just might have what I was looking for.

I started attending Hoboken Grace in-person and online, and joined a virtual dinner group that was led by a friendly-looking woman who was a little bit older than me. She felt like a safe person. I can manage being in an online group, I thought – especially if I can turn my camera off and be a passive participant sometimes. 

The friendly-looking woman was named Vicki, and indeed, she was wonderful. She made me feel immediately welcome and at ease. In fact, I had never met someone like her in my childhood church. She was very honest about her personal story, and as messy as parts of it were, she was one of the best examples I had ever seen of obedience and faith in God. She was so relatable, and I could see the grace of God working in her life. She was the first person at Hoboken Grace who really made me feel at home. 

While I continued in the group throughout that year and into the early months of COVID, I was largely a passive participant. The group met during my kids’ bedtime routine, which didn’t help matters. “I’m not connecting with anyone in the group,” I lamented to Vicki. She encouraged me to keep showing up and trying, but ultimately, I realized that I needed to deconflict my dinner group with bedtime. In hindsight, it’s clear to me how important consistency is when you’re in a dinner group.

So I joined a lunchtime meeting, led by another nice woman named Patty. With this group, I kept my camera on, spoke up, and really started to share my experience, my fears, my doubts and my hopes. And what I was saying seemed to resonate with other group members, as they began opening up about their own life circumstances. About a year into this group, in the spring of 2021, and at the encouragement of our new group leader Dana, I decided to take the step of Baptism. Dana stood on the stage with me and held my hand. I will never forget it.

I know it’s not like this for everyone, but for me, there really was a “Before Baptism” and “After Baptism” experience. I stood on that stage and proclaimed that I would follow Jesus wherever he led me. I will spare you the details, but suffice it to say that it has not always been an easy road since I made that decision and declaration. But I have continued to follow him and continue to take steps toward God, and I have begun to experience that “peace that surpasses all understanding” in my day-to-day life.

I’ll never forget the Sunday when Pastor Chris talked about answering “yes” to God’s call. I walked out of that service, determined that when God is asking me to take my next step, I don’t want to say no. And that’s around the same time that Dana was thinking to step back from leading the group and step up into other roles. 

There were many reasons for me to say no when Dana asked me to take on the leadership of our group. For one, my job was too demanding, and there was no way I could make every meeting. I’m a little bit embarrassed to admit this, but I was also worried about what my friends, and especially my family members who are not believers, would think about it. But my biggest excuse was that I didn’t have a picture perfect life, so I wasn’t fit to lead a dinner group. Nothing could be further from the truth.

When I started leading my group in the fall of 2021, I had all sorts of unresolved issues in my life. But much like Vicki had demonstrated for me, people don’t need perfect leaders. They need people who are relatable. They want to feel comfortable sharing their own struggles, and that starts with a leader who is honest and authentic about their own life. That includes Group wrestling with your own challenges and seeing God at work. 

The other “reasons” have also sorted themselves out. When I have an immovable work or family commitment, one of the other women steps up and leads the group that week. This has given other women the chance to “try out” leading the group, to see if it’s something that God is calling them to do in the future. Leading a group has also been an opportunity for me to invite people in my life, including those who don’t know Jesus, or those who maybe grew up in church but have put their relationship with God on the backburner, to come try out the group. Sometimes coming to an online group can be less intimidating than showing up at church on Sunday morning. Baby steps! 

Leading a group has filtered into other areas of my life and improved my relationship with God as well as my spiritual rhythms. I show up for church every Sunday, whether I’m in town (I go in person) or I’m out of town (I stream the service online). I read the Bible and pray for thirty minutes a day, several days a week, with one of the women from my group. And I spend more time in fellowship, during our group meetings and throughout the week. Leading a group has been a gravitational force pulling me back to God when I would otherwise be consumed by work and other false idols. It’s strengthened my faith by witnessing the miracles (big and small) that my group members have experienced. We’ve seen family members recover from addictions. Broken marriages pieced back together. And some of us are still in the thick of our mess, but we are pointing each other back to God as the answer, not the world. We are walking through the valley together, hand in hand.


Taking The Next Step: The Journey To Leading A Dinner Group

_To learn more about our upcoming events, click [here](https://hobokengrace.com/events/)!_

A close friend asked me recently, “what do you love about your church?” I could have given the long version, but that would have taken hours and both our phones might have died before I finished telling him. So I condensed it down to one word. “Connection.” I love that no matter who you are or where you’re from, there’s a way to feel at home and connected to every person who walks through the doors on Sunday in big and small ways. But it goes beyond Sunday. WAY beyond. Hoboken Grace has a special way of connecting with the community every single day of the week through a little concept called Connection Events.

The first Connection Event I ever attended was a First Friday at Northern Soul. I didn’t know a soul (despite the name of the place), and I almost skipped out on it for that reason. “It’ll be people just hanging out with the friends they already have established,” I thought. But I lived in the same building at the time, and some people there knew that and encouraged me to come along. I didn’t have much excuse with the event being held in what was effectively my basement. So I strolled into a sea of people from Hoboken Grace. Some I recognized, most I did not. But you know what? It was one of the greatest decisions I ever made. Not that I made all the close connections I needed in that single night, but it got the ball rolling in laying the groundwork for what would be my future church home. Simple conversations (and a little bit of darts), made it easier to meet up with everybody at the next event, and the next one, and the next one, until finally, I could pick out a majority of these faces on an average Sunday morning.

I know this all sounds great for someone new to the area. But what about well-established, Hoboken Grace veterans who have been attending and serving for years? Well, I think Connection Events are just as important, if not MORE so for them for a couple of reasons. 1\. You’re comfortable and know the church community well. I felt at home at my first Connection Event because I had people there to make me feel that way. People who knew how to love well and could introduce me to many others. A room of new folks is awesome, but sometimes they need a leader with a little sense of direction. You could be that person, despite thinking you have nothing to offer if you decided to show up to the latest Coffee Crawl. And 2\. You need connection outside of Sundays just as much as the new folks do. There tends to come a point where some will attend every event they can for a year straight, and then when they become established in the church and in the community they’ll think “okay, I think I’m good now.” But connection doesn’t have an end date. It doesn’t have a time limit. Connection is something you have to constantly be maintaining to keep it strong.

The cherry on top of all of this is getting to experience new activities and places that maybe we wouldn’t normally think of, with people who love and serve the same God you do. We live in one of the greatest locations in the world, and getting to explore new coffee shops, museums and parks is just the tip of the iceberg for all that we can see together. Maybe you didn’t think you’d enjoy rock climbing, but you went to an event at Gravity Vault and now it’s your favorite after-work activity. Maybe one of our Coffee Crawl stops introduced you to your favorite iced coffee spot in Hoboken. Maybe going to Speed Friending led to you finding a future roommate or spouse. Maybe you went to House of ‘Que trivia night and you found a connection with someone on your team through a mutual love of bad 70’s Sci-Fi movies.

Whether all of these or none of these are true for you, we hope that all of this ultimately builds a stronger connection with God. He put people in our lives for a reason. So that we don’t have to walk this journey of life alone. It doesn’t matter if it’s your first Sunday with us, or if you’ve been attending for ten years. Connection Events are for YOU, and we can’t wait to see you at the next one!

_To learn more about our upcoming events, click [here](https://hobokengrace.com/events/)!_


The Power Of Connection (Events)

You never know what a simple act of kindness can do for someone’s day or how it can impact their life! Every week our Simple Service team goes out to different parts of Hoboken to do a small act of kindness for the people of our city. It can be something as simple as handing out a water bottle on a hot summer day or a granola bar at the Path while people are on their way to work and maybe didn’t get a chance to eat breakfast that morning. We sat down with Igor, who is one of the leaders of the Simple Service team, to find out more about what they do.

With each food or beverage item the team hands out, they also give a card that is guaranteed to make people smile, such as a cute picture of a dog with glasses saying, “You Got This!” The back of the card says, “We hope that our small gift brightens your day and makes you smile. We believe that people were meant to love the way that God loves us, and we want to do that in any way we can.” It also shares a little bit about Hoboken Grace and where they can find us!

Igor’s favorite part about this whole experience is when he sees people reading the card after their interaction, maybe learning for the first time God’s love for them, being reminded of that, and even potentially checking out Hoboken Grace. 

It is amazing to see how God is working through our Simple Service team and in the lives of those we reach! The team has been reaching over 1,000 people every week! Their goal is to reach 100,000 for the year! You never know what seeds you can plant in someone’s life by going out of your way to show love and kindness to a stranger and for them to know that God is loving and pursuing them as well. One of our staff members, Rachel, who has been with us for over 10 years, joined Hoboken Grace after being approached by someone on the Simple Service team who offered her a granola bar and a card on her way to work. It is incredible how something as simple as a friendly smile, a granola bar, and a card could lead someone to know God!

Recently, the Simple Service team has also started going to local Hoboken events like Movies Under the Stars, to give people free popcorn, Oreos, and many other goodies! Igor has shared that it has been a great opportunity for kids to see God’s love.

People are usually surprised, and very grateful when they get something for free without asking for anything in return. Sometimes these short interactions simply end with a smile, while other times it leads to something more. Igor has experienced some people opening up and sharing about their faith, others asking questions about Hoboken Grace, and God has even opened doors for Igor to be able to pray for others. Simple Service hopes to live out one of the goals of Hoboken Grace, which is to help people to find their way back to God. We want people to know that God loves them and is for them. 

Currently, there are 15 people on the team, but they are growing and always looking for new people to serve alongside them! If you feel a nudge to join this team and make an impact in our city, we’d be happy to talk to you about it!


Keep It Simple!


There are several different reactions when a new Mission Trip is announced from the stage on a Sunday or sent out as an upcoming event in the weekly email. For context, a Mission Trip refers to a short-term trip, outside your immediate area, to support an organization already working in the respective country or region.

For some, it could be easy to hear and think, “that doesn’t really apply to me.” If I am being honest, this is exactly how I felt in the fall of 2012 when Hoboken Grace announced a desire to complete twelve Mission Trips in 2013\. I was relatively new in my faith and I still had a lot of questions. I figured there was no way that I could possibly go and share the message of Jesus given I hadn’t figured out my own understanding yet.

Others, may hear the announcement and get really excited about the trip. Then, they see the dates, and the trip cost and look at their vacation time. All of a sudden, the trip doesn’t seem so exciting anymore. This was my story for sure. At the time, I worked in finance and had just three weeks of vacation. Couple that with the fact that I wasn’t really talking to others about my faith, let alone considering asking them to donate to my trip. It sure felt like an impasse; like there were too many hurdles in my way.

The last group doesn’t even take the time to engage the thought. It is another announcement, just like the one last week and probably like the one coming next week. I have seen people’s eyes glaze over at this point of the service.

The challenge in these reactions is thinking about and prioritizing ourselves. If “I” don’t have all the answers, “I” shouldn’t go. Should “I” really give up my vacation time and financial resources to go? Certainly, other people are in different situations that would make it easier for them to go.

I want to challenge those thoughts for a minute. If you fall into the following categories, I think you should go on a Mission Trip:

- You want to grow in your personal walk with God.
- You are curious to expand your view of the world outside the comforts of your home.
- You desire to be a team player and want to meet other people just like you.
- You want to cultivate a servant’s heart and grow in your compassion.
- You want to learn from Godly examples.
- You are willing to prayerfully consider where God may want you to go and follow where He leads you.

My guess is that many of you fall into at least one of these categories. Wouldn’t it be cool to explore what God may have in store for you on one of these trips?

I ultimately decided to go, thanks to the encouragement from other believers. It drastically changed my life and I went back to Guatemala for five straight years. I still sponsor a child, Ashley, who is set to graduate high school next year! I received much more than the houses that we built on those trips.

Jesus gave up all the comforts of heaven and the privileges He had been granted to come to earth for us!

I also had the pleasure of talking with a few other people who participated in some of our Service Trips, and here is a little bit of what they had to say:

Rob – “I knew no one going on my first Mission Trip, but I felt called. I answered. God showed me things I never imagined He would. I don’t keep going because of what I can do to help, though that part is awesome. I keep going because of what God does for me each time. He has made my life so much richer from the experiences.”

Erin – “I originally went on a Mission Trip because I thought I would be helping or serving people who really needed it. What I found was that God used the trip to show me more about Himself, and show me places in my own life where I was poor and in need of help.”

Devin – “I go on Missions trips to step out of my world and submit to theirs, to learn how to serve even when it’s not easy and I may not feel effective with language barriers.”

Shelby – “Mission Trips are essential to growing your faith in ways that can’t happen when you are in the comfort of your own home. Leaving the comforts and privileges of our lives here and serving a different way of life opens your heart to see God’s love in an entirely different way.”

Mission Trips are a special way to see Christ’s love through service and perspective. Being able to humble yourself and serve others helps us connect with our Creator that humbled Himself to serve us. By serving our partners abroad we can extend our reach and impact lives that we wouldn’t be able to touch if it wasn’t for our partners.

The Mission Team would love to talk with you and answer any questions. Simply email us at missions@hobokengrace.com. We will be praying for you!

To learn more about our upcoming trips, click [here](http://hobokengrace.managedmissions.com/ourtrips)!


&#8220;That’s Not For Me&#8221;

_To watch our Quarterly Update, click [here](https://youtu.be/DX5xKSJexUE)!_

Last August, we announced for the first time that we had found a permanent space for our church. It was an amazing day for our church when we found out, and after a very difficult couple of years, we still saw God work in amazing ways. 

It began with the launch of the Home Initiative, taking different steps of faith as we dreamed of a permanent space that would help us to love our community and our city in better ways. 

As we look back over the past two years, we are in awe of what He has done through it all. God has provided something bigger than we ever thought possible and has provided just the type of space we needed. 

Since then, we closed on the new space and have been able to start working on everything that needs to be done for us to move into our new home! 

The new space provides over 25,000 square feet of usable room and the facilities needed to accommodate daily use with multiple configurations. It allows for classrooms, offices, meeting rooms, a worship space, a large multipurpose youth group room, and much more. We are completely blown away and are so excited to see how our nonprofit and other community partners will benefit from this amazing space. 

In the weeks that followed the closing, we hosted several work days, where we saw over 60 people participate in cleaning up, moving stuff out, and preparing the space for the contractors to come in. Through these work days, we were able to recycle over four tons of metal. After this, we were able to have several conversations to finish out the clean-out drawings and selected a contractor to complete the needed work at the space. 

In June, our permits were approved and we immediately began to work. Work started with removing the walls and risers from the theaters in order to create more open, usable spaces, and several counters throughout the building were also removed. The clean-out process carried on for a couple of weeks in order to prepare for the bigger changes and got us through to the end of the month.

This month, we were happy to see the clean-out process completed as we continue to work through design decisions and construction drawings with the architect. We have also made progress in removing old signage from the building which will allow us to soon put up our new signs! As we continue to move forward, we will soon be submitting more permits to continue all that we have to do as we move through the summer and into the fall. 

A lot of work has already been done, and we are so excited to see that progress and the involvement of our church through it all!

As construction continues and discussions proceed with permits and approvals, we are at a very important part of this process. We ask everyone to continue to pray for this process, the church leadership, and our city leaders as we work through everything we need to do to open up this space that will impact our city.

_To watch our Quarterly Update, click [here](https://youtu.be/DX5xKSJexUE)!_


409 14th St. Building Update


Ben has been serving on the Production Team at Hoboken Grace, for nearly thirteen years. Unless you know where to look for him — in the back, behind all the equipment — you might not notice him on Sunday mornings. But working behind the scenes, Ben makes sure that the worship and message are heard, both in service and online. For years, Ben has gotten up early almost every Sunday morning. He’s there long before the first service starts and is rolling up cords well after the last service ends.

Ben became a father for the first time in December of 2014, and he says that since his firstborn Gabriel came along, serving has never been more of a sacrifice, or more important. Since Gabriel, Ben, and his wife Vanessa welcomed two more children, Jude and Violet.

On every occasion that Ben and Vanessa welcomed a new baby, they dedicated their newborn at Child Dedication.

When baby Gabriel was born, it wasn’t hard to tell how Ben looked at Gabriel as the center of his world. Ben described Gabriel as his special little friend and says he’s grateful and honored to be his father.

“Gabriel is a gift, and I can never take for granted the time I get to spend with him,” says Ben.

Despite this, at Gabriel’s baby dedication, Ben and Vanessa, promised that Gabriel would come third in their lives – vowing to put God and their marriage first. That’s a counterintuitive promise at best for most parents who would gladly give up anything and everything for their children.

This same process repeated itself again when Jude and Violet were born. The Broermans know that God loves their children even more than they do. And the best way to help them grow close to God is to live lives that put God first.

Looking back on when Gabriel was born, Ben remembers what it was like:

“It would have been so easy to stop serving when Gabriel was born,” says Ben. “It was a really challenging year at work. During the week, I would often have just half an hour in the mornings with Gabriel, and then at night, I would have to fight to make it home in time to read him a bedtime story. The weekends were really the only chance I got to spend much time with him.”

Ben says that he used to think about what he does on Sunday mornings as volunteering — going above and beyond, extra credit on life. But with that mentality, serving would be the first thing to get crossed off the to-do list when Ben’s time and energy are in short supply.

“I’ve come to understand that serving is not something I do for a gold star. It is something else, something central to my life,” he says.

These days, when Ben does has a Sunday off, he admits it feels kind of weird going to church and not serving. It no longer feels like worship to just sit there, and Ben wants to make sure his children see what worship really is. As important as it is for Gabriel, Jude, and Violet to know how much their dad loves them, it is just as important that they see that Ben loves God, and comes to know that love for himself.

“I want my kids to grow up watching me serve,” says Ben. “I hope they will understand how important it is to give to God’s purpose so that others will know how much God loves them. I hope my children will learn to truly give themselves to God at an early age, and I also hope they will see that serving brings me joy. Even when it’s challenging, and you feel worn out, when you find a way to serve God well, your heart is full.”

At Gabriel’s dedication in 2015, Justin Michael prayed these words over the Broerman family: “I pray that Gabriel will see how much Ben and Vanessa love you and serve you and care about you. And that he will catch that fire in his own life. We pray that he will follow you with everything, and grow up to become a man after your own heart.”

Now, seven years and two more children later, Ben has seen how important it has been to continue serving and setting a beautiful example for Gabriel, Jude, and Violet. On Child Dedication Sunday, when Ben and his family were up on stage with baby Violet just a few weeks ago, Pastor Chris remembered the first time this very article was published in 2015 and how he has seen Ben serve through all these years, even with his daily responsibilities as a husband and a father and how important this is for his family.


A Father’s Commitment


This Sunday we celebrated Father’s Day at Hoboken Grace and it was wonderful being able to honor our fathers, grandfathers, and the father figures who have shaped who we are today. All the fathers who attended were treated to a special breakfast boat full of tasty morning food and on top of that, there was a coffee bar set up just for the dads!

After everyone got in and all the dad’s picked up their breakfast boats, we kicked off our services with some really _punny_ dad jokes that put a smile on everyone’s face and some great music by our band!

Pastor Chris had a very special message to share and he began to speak about how many times parenthood can feel somewhat overwhelming, but it doesn’t always have to feel this way. We shouldn’t expect to always have the right answers or to be great leaders. But above all, we should be true _followers_ of Jesus, and with that, we can be the role models we want to be for our children. It’s all summed up in one of the most powerful moments of this past Sunday’s conversation: “What your child needs, is to see you being a great child.”

On top of an already special day, we were so thrilled to see six different baptisms! It was so special when someone chooses to be baptized with us and witnessing so many people making this public commitment to Him is always a powerful moment.

It was such an awesome day celebrating our fathers and father figures, and more importantly, our Father in heaven who loves us as His own!

If you missed any of it, catch up [here](https://hobokengrace.com/podcast/embracing-parenthood/)!


Father’s Day Celebration!

_To learn more about Axiom and how to sign up for the next retreat contact the Next Steps Team at equip@hobokengrace.com!_

Last week a few of us headed to Schooleys Mountain, NJ for a weekend focused on experiencing God’s presence in a new way. For everyone that attended, it was an amazing experience and people love it so much, whether it’s their first time going, or if they’ve gone multiple times.

The Story Team got a chance to speak with a few of those who attended to find out more about their experience. 

Igor, who had his first experience at Axiom, had a special time there: 

“It was my first time at Axiom and it was amazing! With the business of our day-to-day lives, Axiom helps us get away, remove all the distractions and see the beauty of God’s creation. It was also a great time to connect with people from the church and to meet new people who are on the same journey. I would highly recommend attending Axiom as you will have the chance to hear God, improve your prayer time and make long-lasting friendships.”

Helen, one of the people who attended Axiom this year had a powerful experience as well, even after attending multiple times before. Here is a little bit of what she had to say about it: 

“I have been to axiom 5 times and each time it’s a great experience. I get to meet new people and make new friends. Each year God shows me something new and wonderful. I think everyone should experience axiom at least once to experience God’s presence.”

Everyone who experienced Axiom came back feeling refreshed and renewed after having these moments to connect and come to God in a special way. They each came back rested, excited with new ideas about how to grow in their faith, and motivated to take the next steps.

_To learn more about Axiom and how to sign up for the next retreat contact the Next Steps Team at equip@hobokengrace.com!_


Axiom Homecoming 2022

_If you would like to dedicate your child next summer, sign up [here](https://hobokengrace.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/1331120)!_

This past Sunday, all the attention was on our little ones and their wonderful accomplishments. On a very exciting day, Grace Kids had their annual graduation, and all the smiles of the kids in their graduation caps were very heartwarming. This is a special event where we celebrate all the things that the kids have learned and accomplished in the past year. Our preschool kids make the move to Clubhouse and all of our Clubhouse kids move into their new classes based on the grade they’ll be in in the fall. This includes our 5th graders who are moving to VIBE! The children were thrilled to decorate their caps and then put on and toss them up! Parents and kids were equally proud!

This Sunday we also celebrated over 20 child dedications, and we were so happy to see these families make the commitment to raise their little ones under God’s lead! As church members, we aren’t just bystanders to this act that the parents are presenting to us and God. We also have an important job in all of this. Which is to commit to lifting these babies up in the church environment whenever possible as they are growing up and navigating their own church journey even years from now. This is the very first step in the faith journey of these young ones. It is the parent’s job to raise their kids to the best of their abilities, but when it comes to faith, it can be a rocky, unpredictable road that will require all the help they can get from their church family.

It was such a special day for everyone in attendance! Pastor Chris outlined the essential commitments we must make, as parents and as a church, to ensure we are providing the ideal environment for our children to grow up in.

If you missed the conversation, catch up and watch it [here](https://hobokengrace.com/podcast/child-dedication-2022/)!

It warms our hearts when we see parents and children taking steps and building their relationships with God.

[![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2022/06/52141962249_376739c4c7_k.jpg)](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2022/06/52141962249%5F376739c4c7%5Fk.jpg)

_If you would like to dedicate your child next summer, sign up [here](https://hobokengrace.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/1331120)!_


Grace Kids Graduation and Child Dedication Recap

_If you’d like to find out more about our teams and where you can serve, sign up for Team Link by clicking [here](https://hobokengrace.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/1302432)!_

Everything we do here at Hoboken Grace revolves around one mission — helping people find their way back to God. It takes a lot of people with all sorts of skills, talents, and passions to make that possible. 

This Sunday, we’re hosting [Team Link](https://hobokengrace.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/1302432) at 301 Garden at 3pm! Many people are excited about serving but many times they don’t know exactly which team is a fit for them. Team Link has proven to be the best opportunity for people to learn more about our teams and how to make an impact! Our Story Team spoke to Mark to learn more about his experience at Team Link, and how it helped him find the right team to serve on.

**Story Team:** How was your first experience with Team Link? 

**Mark:** The first time I went, I thought it was awesome because every table set up had a leader ready to talk to me. In some of my past experiences at other places, usually, it was only one leader trying to fill spots for every team. At Team Link, there were leaders and team members that were ready to talk about their team and how they serve, and that made it relevant for me — it was really easy to connect. I spent a lot of time trying to learn about each area, and so I had to go to Team Link twice! 

**Story Team:** Did you have any doubts about joining a team?

**Mark:** No, I didn’t doubt it, but I just really took the time to search for the best for me. And I tell people today that they can go on any team and they’ll have a good experience as they serve. It’s so beneficial to connect with the people on the teams, and God fills you up so much when you’re serving. So even if it’s a department that you’re not used to, you’ll enjoy the process of serving. 

**Story Team:** What were the next steps when you decided to join a team?

**Mark:** I joined the First Impressions Team and after that, I was able to check it out and shadow a leader on a Sunday morning to see what it’s like. So that was what I did and I was able to see how everything worked. After I knew it was something I wanted to do, I went to the team orientation which was great when it came to learning all the values of the team, and the guidelines for serving in the best way possible. The orientation made me feel very comfortable and got me prepared for my role on the team. 

**Story Team:** What has been the most exciting part about joining/leading a team?

**Mark:** Going into a team, you can expect certain things of how it’s going to go, but it’s incredible how many moments along the way I got to see other team members grow in their spiritual journey and go above and beyond when serving. I’ve seen members of our team take important steps like baptism, others are joining dinner groups and growing in their faith. It’s incredible to see others grow and that really impacts me as well. Also, it’s amazing to see so many new faces come in the door on Sundays! Every Sunday there is always somebody new coming in and we have the opportunity to embrace and love all these people coming in. 

**Story Team: What would you tell people about joining a team at Hoboken Grace?** 

**Mark:** A lot of people may think that it’s a draining experience to serve, but it’s not like that at all. It’s more than just ‘helping out,’ it’s about serving God and it’s the opposite of draining. God fills you up!

_If you’d like to find out more about our teams and where you can serve, sign up for Team Link by clicking [here](https://hobokengrace.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/1302432)!_


The Power Of Serving On A Team


So much of what we do here at Hoboken Grace revolves around the countless people who serve on our teams, and those who lead these teams and groups. Each leader is a key component of the mission as we help people find their way back to God.

This past weekend we honored those who commit their time and gifts to lead well with our annual Leadership Weekend. It was amazing to see so many new faces that have made recent commitments to serve on a team here a Hoboken Grace. Being able to come together and celebrate, made for a great opportunity for new and old leaders to connect with each other.

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2022/06/52113113813_44de91362e_o.jpg)

After the morning and afternoon sessions on Saturday, leaders left extremely encouraged with all that they heard about the processes of leading, failing, learning, and working through difficult situations.

“It’s always nice to be humbled and remember the failures you go through… We learn so much from the things that work and don’t work,” said Christian, one of the leaders that attended the sessions.

Leaders were also able to talk to each other, share ideas, and pray together — all while having fun with the several activities that were prepared for them.

Another leader said: “It was very important to hear how we, as leaders, exemplify Christ through our integrity and how that helps us lead!”

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2022/06/52113075206_a0334868eb_c.jpg)

The day ended with a very yummy BBQ on the roof, where our leaders were able to chat even more, eat, and play some games! It was so special to have everyone together as we prepare for all the big plans that are ahead!

Leadership Weekend wrapped up with a fun day at Six Flags for our leaders. There, they enjoyed a beautiful sunny day full of rides, fun, and food. Once again, it was a great opportunity to connect and bond as a team.

Equipping our leaders to lead well is one of the most important things here and we are so grateful for all of them!


Equipping Our Leaders — Leadership Weekend 2022

_If you’re interested in learning more about upcoming events at Hoboken Grace, click_ [here](https://hobokengrace.com/events/)_._

This Memorial Day was a wonderful reminder of the bravery of those who served our country. Additionally, it was an opportunity for friends and family to come together, and cherish the freedom that these courageous men and women have given us.

Over 150 people from around the neighborhood gathered at the Maxwell Place Pier to enjoy a day together. Those orange Hoboken Grace flags flying at the pier made it super easy to spot where the picnic was, and it was indeed a very nice time. The New York City skyline also made for the perfect view and backdrop for all the photos!

[![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2022/06/52112944240_575bedbb9f_k.jpg)](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2022/06/52112944240%5F575bedbb9f%5Fk.jpg)

As the official start of summer, it was quite the treat to see the sun out with some delightful weather! There were plenty of games for kids and adults, paired with some amazing snacks! Many laid out picnic blankets, while others took the time to walk around and connect. It was a great opportunity to meet new people, have fun with family and friends, and just spend a day outside. Can’t wait for next year, and stay on the lookout for more events!

[![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2022/06/52112945085_7b4ab6e2bd_k.jpg)](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2022/06/52112945085%5F7b4ab6e2bd%5Fk.jpg)

_If you’re interested in learning more about upcoming events at Hoboken Grace, click_ [here](https://hobokengrace.com/events/)_._


Memorial Day Picnic at Hoboken Grace!

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A Diverse, Growing, Contemporary, Community Church in Hoboken

Everything we do revolves around our mission of helping people find their way back to God. Our goal is to demonstrate who God really is and to let others know that God wants a relationship with each and every one of us.

https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/b_rgb:ffffff,c_lpad,h_720,w_1280/v1709609543/Web-Icon-01-favicon_da4fdo.png