The greatest moments are found in the things we regain. In a year of so much loss, there was a lot we thought wouldn’t be possible and yet many great things unexpectedly still happened. Perhaps those things had to be reworked or re-imagined in order to meet new requirements, but even those slightly modified life events are welcome blessings this year!

The Lawn was one such way that the church found to bring our community together. A multi-purpose space, and an extension of the Home Initiative, The Lawn served as an outdoor church, event space, and gathering spot for our community this year. 

Among the many things The Lawn provided, it also gave us an opportunity to hold the annual Fall Team Gala. The Gala is an event that gives back and celebrates those in our church who tirelessly give of their time by serving on one of our many teams.

Initially, Pastor Chris said he was unsure whether we would be able to hold the Gala this year. A large-scale, socially–distanced event in an outdoor setting during a month when cold weather and rain are an ever-present threat, seemed impossible. But is anything impossible for God? So, the Gala was planned for a Saturday in early November and we all waited to see what would happen. 

The evening of the Gala was, thankfully, unseasonably warm. Pastor Chris said to those in attendance, “If there was any doubt that God is for us, just look at this day He has given us!” The weather was amazing and The Lawn made for a perfect location to come together safely and celebrate our hard work and service this year. 

There was amazing food, Burrito Bowls from Burrito Joint, Gringos Taco Truck, and Mozzarepas. There were also lots of fun lawn games like Cornhole and giant Jenga and lively music. But the best part by far, was seeing all of our friends from the other teams and coming together to celebrate a challenging, but rewarding year.

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2020/11/yLTa3U4Q-2.jpeg)So many teams have had to modify their service by serving virtually or in a socially distanced manner, while some teams have had their service put on hold as their normal service roles have not been happening. Other teams are working over-time in the face of dwindling team size due to people moving or some members being unable to serve right now. And some teams are serving at The Lawn and 301 Garden on a weekly basis to bring an in-person experience back to our community.

With all these changes and service looking so different this year, it was wonderful to still be able to celebrate that service at the Gala. The Gala looked differently than past years, some would argue possibly better, being more festival in atmosphere, than semi-formal event. But regardless of how it occurred, the fact is that it did occur and in a year of so much loss and cancellation, the event was even more special and encouraging to the attendees because of it. 

If you’d like to attend the Team Gala next year get on the list by joining a team! Now, more than ever we need people to join teams! For instance, do you enjoy writing? The Story Team that writes blogs like this one is in need of passionate writers. And there are so many other opportunities to serve and bring a talent or skill that can be useful to one of our many teams! To learn more about Teams and how you can serve this year and be part of next year’s Team Gala, visit <https://hobokengrace.com/teams/>. 


Fall Team Gala

Just like the early church, we’re called to the same mission of helping people find their way back to God. But in order to fulfill that mission, everyone is called to engage in it.

At Hoboken Grace, several teams, in-person and online, do their own small part. While some roles are more visible, like serving in the band or greeting people, others are much more behind the scenes — making coffee, setting up tables and chairs, taking photos, writing stories. Each role is just as essential, and each team depends on each other — like different parts of the body working together.

[Joining a team](https://hobokengrace.com/teams/) is a great way to meet people with similar interests. And it’s an easy way to pick up new skills.

In the meantime, here are five questions you might have.

**What’s the time commitment?**

With many teams at Hoboken Grace, there’s bound to be one that fits your schedule. While most teams serve on Sunday mornings, there are also many opportunities to serve during the week. There are ways to serve both in-person and online! Some teams are more flexible than others — for example, while the Writing Team meets throughout the month, team members can write on their own time. (As long as they meet deadline, of course!)

**How will I know which team is the right fit?**

In choosing a team, it’s often helpful to think about your gifts. Also, what do you love doing? What makes you feel alive?

Are you a people person who thrives on making connections? Or maybe your friends rave about your hosting abilities. The First Impressions could be a great fit. While First Impressions creates a welcoming environment on Sunday mornings (through the setup and tear-down teams, hospitality and greeting, and connection points).

Love photography, writing or video production? Or do you have social media or marketing skills? Our Communications Team works to tell the story of what God is doing in our community.

Do you love helping others? The Community Impact team works to impact those in our city, demonstrating God’s love in tangible ways (simple service, bridge events and partnerships.).

Or maybe you love working with kids. Serving with Grace Kids can make a huge impact on our city’s children — and their parents.

Perhaps you have a passion for music and/or production. Our Production Team and Band look to create an experience that engages you in-person and online every Sunday through visual, sound and lights.

**What if I’m still figuring out this whole faith thing?** 

That’s fine! Teams are a place to grow, no matter where you are. 

**Do I need to have experience for any of these teams?**

Absolutely not! One of the great things about joining a team is the opportunity to learn new skills. For example, while the Production Booth might look intimidating, most members got started without any knowledge of how the controls work. You don’t need to be a photo whiz to join the Photo Team.

**What if I join a team and then decide I don’t like it?**

Most teams start with a tryout period — no, not like an audition. You’ll get the chance to “shadow” someone on the team, learning what they do and getting a preview of what it’s like to serve. If you decide that a team isn’t a great fit, you’re welcome to give something else a try.

_Ready to serve? Sign up [here](https://hobokengrace.com/events/?sapurl=Lys1d3lqL2xiL2V2LytodGhnN2d0P2VtYmVkPXRydWU=) for Team Link happening this Sunday._


Five Common Questions About Joining a Team

Many nostalgic thoughts run through our heads when we think about the month of October. The fun decorations, parties or candy (way too much candy), and the chance to dress up as all kinds of different characters from comic books, movies and TV. Some of my favorite costumes I’ve ever had were from my childhood days. I was a frog, a rock–star, a bear, Pikachu, and then even Pikachu again in 2019\. 

In a year of uncertainty, there was one thing we could count on; Grace Kids throwing a mega\-awesome-costume party! As the weather turned quickly from summer into fall, an Ewok costume came in handy for an extra layer of warmth. But extra layers of capes and wigs were quickly forgotten as kids raced around the roof playing corn hole and tag. Our princesses and angels smiled sweetly on as an entire saga of Star Wars paraded through check-in. 

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2020/11/50530380452_31c68b6c77_w.jpg)

The baby Yoda was the cutest of them all. Superhero six-packs were prevalent, muscles flexing on tiny arms. And two Spider Men (ahem…one spider women, excuse me) couldn’t be caught as they swung their way through songs of worship and praise. All in all, a mega-awesome-Sunday yet again at Grace Kids on the roof.

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2020/11/50530385057_bfa4bce728_w.jpg)The reason this October tradition continued to bring joy to our families, was because so many events have had to be modified to fit our current times. What’s the point of dressing up in your best, funniest or most impressive costume if you can’t share it with people in person? That is why it was so exciting to provide the chance for our kids to celebrate and have fun together. Sometimes all it takes is a silly costume to put a smile on their faces which in turn, puts a smile on all our faces too.


Mega-Awesome Costume Party

18 Jesus came and said to them, “All power has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go and make followers of all the nations. Baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach them to do all the things I have told you. And I am with you always, even to the end of the world.” Matthew 28:18-20 (NLV)

Last Sunday Hoboken Grace held its first ever Commissioning Ceremony. A Commissioning Ceremony for a missionary is a symbolic and powerful event that affirms the purpose the missionaries have committed to as well as the commitment their home church has made to support them, pray for them, and help them as they step out in faith. 

Pastor Chris said this was the first ceremony of this kind we had ever held at Hoboken Grace. The event was even more special given that it was initially supposed to take place in the spring but was delayed due to Covid-19\. The fact that we were finally able to conduct this important event and do so on the Lawn, a place God has provided for us to complete our mission locally, and was now being used to facilitate a global mission as well, was especially significant. 

This ceremony was for a couple at Hoboken Grace and their two small children who in the few years, decided to finally be faithful to what they felt God was calling them to and step out to become full-time missionaries in the Middle East. They are taking a tremendous step of faith leaving behind their careers, their friends and families, and the comfort of life in America to follow God into dangerous and unknown parts of the world in order to spread His message. It is illegal to spread Christianity in the predominately Muslim country the missionaries are headed to so for their safety and anonymity, we are not mentioning their names or destination country in this article. 

At the ceremony, Pastor Chris gave a brief message in which he explained the reason for the event and its significance. He also spoke about what an important endeavor the mission they were taking on is and how it relates to our belief that all people have been made worthy of love by the sacrifice Jesus made for us. He also explained how we are called to be ambassadors for Christ wherever we are, whether locally or to strangers in a foreign land like the missionaries were going to be. 

He explained that it was not just about sending them off but also about our commitment to them as a church. He said, “They are not leaving our family, they are extending our family and we must commit to stand with them and behind them and commit to pray for them consistently.”

Despite the fact that they have been delayed in leaving for the mission field because of the Pandemic, they say that they have found comfort in God’s promises and have been encouraged by His word during this time. Pastor Chris said that even though they don’t know when they will be allowed to leave and when the borders to their destination country will reopen, that whenever it happens, the scripture says over and over when referring to God’s timing, that it’ll be at “just the right time.”

The wife spoke about things she has found comfort in while they wait to go. The ceremony began with one of her favorite songs right now, Worth it All by Ben Cantelon. One particular line speaks to what they are feeling about stepping out in faith this way:

I let go of all I have, just to have all of You  
And no matter what the cost I will follow You  
Jesus everything I’ve lost I have found in You  
When I finally reach the end I’ll say  
You are worth it all

The wife said that this idea that He is worth it all is what gives her comfort in the moments when they have doubts or fears or don’t know what is going to come. No matter what the cost, they have decided to follow Him. She spoke of being a mother to two young children and the extra risk involved by taking them to the Middle East. She said she has placed them in God’s hands and knows He will take care of them. 

She also said that everything they will face will be worth it if they can just change one person’s mind over there about who Jesus is. She said that the place they are going is full of lies about Jesus and if they can undo one of those lies, it’ll all be worth it. 

The husband said that one thing the delay has afforded them is the chance to learn the local language they will be speaking. He also said that he has found reassurance from experienced missionaries who have encouraged them to stay strong. He also finds comfort in the scripture Psalm 23:5 which says, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” He said that he knows that God is preparing the table for them and even though the future is unknown right now, he knows that God is working it out in His timing.

James Sproule, the Community Impact Director at Hoboken Grace spoke about the ways Hoboken Grace is partnering with the missionaries to help them. He said that they basically created the partnership program from scratch and had never done something like this before so they took a look at what was needed and how to be helpful to these specific missionaries as well as adapt for future ones. 

He said, “Walking with missionaries is multi-faceted. It means walking with them financially, in prayer, and being basically like the best hotel concierge ever. They need to know the partnership team is there for them 24/7 and is available to support them in whatever they face and whenever they need. If they need something, like if they need to get out of the country suddenly, we have to make that happen right away. They need to know they don’t have to walk through this alone. This is all new to us but we are building it out and creating how best to support them. But we have to be flexible to follow where God leads and not only support them financially and spiritually, but practically as well.”

After Pastor Chris spoke, the elders of the church and Pastor Chris lay hands on them and took turns praying for them. Pastor Chris prayed for them to have fearlessness, gentleness, and wisdom as they stepped into a new culture and to be able to navigate their surroundings while emulating the fruits of the Spirit. He also prayed that God would open the doors for them to go and thanked God for the honor of being on the journey with them. 

Those in attendance also affirmed their commitment to pray for and support the missionaries on their mission. The entire ceremony was one of hopefulness and a wonderful example of faith and courage to follow where God leads, even if it is to a scary and unknown place. 

You can join in supporting these missionaries as they go. Even if you don’t know them, you can still be part of praying for them and joining with Hoboken Grace as we send them out to further the mission of helping people find their way back to God.

To learn more about what we as a church are doing to support local and global missions, check out our partnerships page at [hobokengrace.com/partnerships/](https://hobokengrace.com/partnerships/).


The Great Commission

When Covid-19 first hit and Hoboken Grace had to move to a virtual platform, one of the biggest changes came for the Band. Trying to figure out the best way to bring the worship experience online was definitely a challenge. Tony was one of the people in the band and on the production team tasked with helping out with the transition. His background in music, production, and audio engineering made him the perfect person to help coordinate the new platform and help the team adapt to the ever-changing needs of worship these last few months. 

Tony shares his experience with the early days of being fully virtual and also what is has been like with the team coming back together to worship live again. 

In the beginning of the quarantine Tony worked with the production team and band to figure out how to best bring worship to the virtual platform. 

Story Team: What was it like to transition to a virtual platform for the band and how did you guys make the decision to go from pre-recorded videos of past services to the in-the-home, videos of the team singing during quarantine?

Tony: One of our leaders in the band reached out to me before Easter and showed me a video of a band that was doing something special with their recordings and asked me if it would be possible for us to do something similar. We had our Video and Audio Team, so I thought we could figure out how to do it. So, we worked to get the songs ready for Easter but it was a monster! We had 2-3 weeks to get it done and it was definitely a learning curve for me, for our leaders, and for our Video and Audio Teams. I compiled the tracks and that is what we used to record all the videos. We quickly learned it was difficult to sync everything up and had to figure out how use a clapping sound at the beginning of the song to sync the video and audio together. We learned a lot from the Easter videos for the future, but it was a beast! I probably spent 20 hours mixing everything together for Easter. 

Story Team: What was the response to that new format and how did it change worship during that time?

Tony: We got a lot of positive feedback over those videos. The best part was hearing people say they thought it was a live recording because they came out so good. I think people really appreciated seeing the efforts of the production and music side come together to provide a really unique worship opportunity for everyone at that time. It was really great knowing I was part of that and our team really grew from that experience. It got easier going forward as we got better at it, but it was a great process to create those videos. 

Story Team: Now that the band is coming back together live, what has that been like for you guys?

Tony: I’ve loved people’s reactions to seeing the live band back together. It was especially great for the band, when we came back together, because we got to play live again and not just individually in our homes. I think that was really cool, it was so fun when we first came back together. I’ve really loved being able to merge my production background into the worship side and be able to work on things from both angles. It feels so good to serve in this way.

Story Team: How was the team dynamic during all this, at first when you guys were all separated, and now coming back together, what has that been like?

Tony: When we were quarantining, we had virtual connection events and game nights to come together and spend time with each other so it was fun to be able to connect in that way. We also have a band 

Slack channel that we use and we were always posting on there and sharing things we’d come across and different ideas. We also shared songs, and really supported each other constantly on there. Now we’ve begun to have social-distanced, in-person connection events for the team so that is great.

Story Team: What did God reveal to you over this process of being all virtual and coming back to in-person worship?

Tony: One of the things I definitely found by working with others and sharing the production process with people, who maybe didn’t have my background or experience, is that I had to learn patience and humility. Even though everyone may not have all the technical know-how or specific knowledge I had, my way wasn’t always the best way to do things. God taught me a lot of humility in collaborating with others. Just because I have a degree in Audio Engineering, that doesn’t necessarily make me the expert. I had to learn to let go a little and collaborate and allow for other people to share their ideas and gifts as well. 

Story Team: What have you seen God working out these last few months with the team and you, personally, throughout the whole journey?

Tony: As a team we’ve always really had to support each other because we play together on Sunday mornings. That need for support was really emphasized when we were recording by ourselves at home because even though it was different, it was still an act of worship recording the songs like that. The fact that we were able to put together something that could reach so many people and allow them to still worship no matter where they were, was incredible. We had some great times and even wrote a song during quarantine! 

Personally, God has been working a lot of things out with me; patience, humility, and finding time for God and my spiritual rhythms has been an ongoing process. I have had some impatience for things when I look at my life and where I think I should be professionally and personally. Everything has been frozen in time and I’ve lost some income, and because of the nature of my career, my industry has essentially shut down. I was also trying to potentially move out of my house and struggled with whether or not to do that. So, I’ve had to shift my priorities and God has really been teaching me patience and timing throughout this. 

Story Team: It seems like collaboration and teamwork has really been essential to help the band and production team get through everything and adapt to the changing needs as you went along. 

Tony: Absolutely, whenever there was a struggle, someone would reach out in the Slack channel and say, “Hey how can I do this?” and we’d work together to figure stuff out. So, it’s really been a team effort and certainly a win that we’ve been able to put all this together and do all that we’ve done. I would say most of the team would agree that it’s been an amazing experience that we were able to supply worship in the various forms and adapt to whatever was needed. 

Story Team: Yes, it’s definitely impressive how you guys were able to innovate and reach as many people as possible for whatever was needed at the time, as that’s been a moving target with everything constantly changing. 

So, what are you most looking forward to as we come back together and things start to shift to more normalcy?

Tony: I’m just really looking forward to communal worship again. The virtual stuff has been great but it’s not the same for me. I love live music and live concerts so I’ve looked forward to us finally coming together and worshiping together as a church again in-person at The Lawn and 301 Garden. Whatever we do, the band and production team is good at rolling with the punches, we have to do that every Sunday morning from one service to the next. Things never go totally as planned so we’ve always been good at adapting!

Story Team: What’s been your biggest takeaway these last few months?

Tony: I’ve learned that if you’re struggling and in the thick of it, to just take a step back. You’re probably not thinking straight in the moment with emotions and everything you’re going through and it’s easy to get overwhelmed. So just take a step back and have patience, it can change your whole perspective. Wait on God’s timing and just hit the pause button. God’s really revealed that to me through everything I was focused on and stressing over. 

At one point when I was really focused on where my life was and worried about things, I was reading through scripture and came across Romans 8:25 which says, “But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.” 

That just really spoke to me and I was like wow, ok God, I get the message! I’ve gone through so much stress and it caused me anxiety and sleep issues, but ever since, I’ve been trying to step back and just let things be, I’ve felt such relief. Just having patience and letting go has been so helpful. It’s like that saying, “Let go and let God” and that’s what I’m trying to focus on now. 

To see Tony and the rest of the band you can tune in every Sunday online or register for one of our in-person services! Registration for in-person is required and opens every Tuesday at 5:00 pm for the following week. You can register by visiting the Hoboken Grace App or by visiting the website. 


Worshiping on Multiple Platforms

If you visit Hoboken Grace long enough, you’ll hear it over and over again: We don’t just live here, we love here. We do everything we can to love Hoboken and make it the best it can be. One of the ways we do that is by taking our words and putting them into action through our biggest service project of the year, 1Day! For the past decade, we’ve taken one day to bring together as many people as we can to accomplish as much as we can for our city. 

This year, Saturday morning on September 26th, over three hundred and seventy volunteers climbed out of their beds and got ready to show the residents of Hoboken how much they love them by working in teams to beautify and restore neighborhoods. Some teams planted flowers in parks, some painted railings and playgrounds, others cleaned up trash along the Hudson River, and so much more. 

“1DayHoboken is the event I wait for every year. I love to connect with our community and having my 7-year-old son be a part of this with me, is really meaningful!” – Veronica, 1Day Volunteer

When church events were canceled in the spring and summer due to the pandemic, I was afraid that 1Day would be canceled too. But Hoboken Grace’s staff worked hard this year to make sure it happened in a safe and organized way. It looked a little different with virtual volunteer opportunities and multiple launch sites as groups met at three different parks throughout the city, but the fact that it happened, goes to show how passionate our community is about serving. It’s hard not to be encouraged by the difference that we were able to make in just one day, despite the circumstances. 

As the opening prayer concluded, I grabbed my tools and set out for our designated location. Not knowing that I was assigned to help garden at one of the parks, I made a big mistake. That morning I decided to wear white shoes, not thinking about how dirty they might get, but that’s okay. Now the memories of 1Day live on my shoes and every time I see them, I’m reminded of what it looks like to serve our community.  I’ve personally never been a fan of yard work, especially when I’m doing it all on my own. Raking leaves? They’re just going to fall again tomorrow. Mowing the lawn? Nothing more fun than walking back and forth in a yard for hours. That all changes, though, when I’m doing it with friends as a service to others. It’s a great way to give back to the community that I call home, while also making new friends or catching up with old ones.

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2020/10/50388090962_4fc9e9437c_w.jpg)

While we’re all trying our best to find a sense of normal, whatever that means anymore, it was great to have an event that involved the whole church family and to keep the decade long tradition alive, despite circumstances working against us. Rain or shine, pandemic or not, it is important to show love through our actions. I can think of no better way to do that than putting in a hard day’s work for the city I love. 


#1Day2020

I think I’ve spent more time outside these past few months than I have in my entire life combined. Alright, that MIGHT be a slight exaggeration, but I have been getting a lot of fresh air due to our current circumstances. Most of my meals have been eaten on sidewalks and the majority of my social interactions have been in parks. I can now add church to the list of places where I can spend some time in the sun. 

I was thrilled when I found out that Hoboken Grace was going to offer three ways to enjoy services including online and 4 in-person services, indoors at 301 Garden, and outdoors at The Lawn. I personally enjoy the outdoor setting option. As restaurants, movie theaters and gyms have all pivoted to the outdoors, so are churches. Renting out the vacant lot next to the Pilsner Hauls & Biergarten for the next few months not only gives our church family the opportunity for another way to attend services, but the ability to use the space for any outdoor event or dinner group that wants to use it. Whether it be a team huddle, a clothes swap, or a comedy event, the space is open for us and proof that even amidst a pandemic where things are uncertain, God still provides for us. 

Being able to meet for church exclusively online was a real blessing for me when the pandemic started. As much as I missed the in-person community, I also subscribed to the opinion that any time I got to worship was worth it. I am grateful that I still have the option to engage live online every Sunday, but after a while, I began to feel “Zoom fatigue” and missed Sunday morning worship service, in-person. For me there can be so many distractions at home or wherever I tune in online. For me, nothing can replace the in-person experience like the live music and the laugher heard after one of Chris and Anthony’s jokes. I’m sure they appreciate hearing the laughter in-person as well. 

I have been a greeter for a few the of the in-person services and each time, I love to look around and notice just how smooth an operation everybody puts on. The signs we hold up that say things like, “I’m smiling under my mask” are just one of the fun ways we can show love towards everybody who enters. At the outdoor service, I’ve even had the opportunity to have conversations with Hoboken residents just passing by on a run or walk with their dog, who have been curious about what kind of event we were putting on. They are people who may not have ever heard of Hoboken Grace before seeing us worship together outside. It’s just additional confirmation that no matter where we are, with God’s help, we’re still able to impact the community. 

Hopefully, one day, we can go back to the way things were, but in the meantime, it’s great to embrace these new methods of church that God is calling us to try out. You can choose your own adventure by tuning in online or registering for the in-person services. To learn more on all three options, you can visit: <https://hobokengrace.com/sunday/>. 


Reunited and it Feels So Good!

More than half of the guys in John’s dinner group didn’t join by signing up online, as some people do. They’re guys he simply met and invited. (In some cases, it took a few tries.)

“They’ll joke around, like, oh yeah, this guy tried to get me for six months before I finally joined a group,” John says. But even when it’s a joke, there’s also some truth to that.

After leading a dinner group for more than five years, John’s found that a personal invite is more effective than expecting people to sign up online. A personal invite can be incredibly impactful.

“A lot of times, people don’t feel comfortable signing up for a group after you tell them about it — they don’t know who they’re going to meet, and just having the ability to know a face before you go in can be really beneficial,” he says.

For someone like John – an extrovert who jokes that persistency is one of his gifts — inviting someone to dinner group comes naturally. But even if you don’t share those traits, inviting someone is usually easier than we make it out to be.

Here are a few steps to do just that.

**1). Strike Up a Conversation**

“A lot of times you are casually saying hi to your neighbors or hanging out with friends in your quarantine circle.”

John spoke about a recent message that Pastor Anthony gave on speaking about faith and how conversations can arise at any time or place like a BBQ, grilling, or hanging out. You never know how God may use you. You never know how God is already using you in your town, in your neighborhood, at your workplace, and in your family

“Getting to know your neighbors and colleagues is a great way to begin the conversation. The opportunities are there, you just have to look for them.”

**2). Extend an Invite**

John likes to share parts of his story to help people feel more comfortable, he often mentions that he leads a dinner group, and how beneficial that community has been in his own life. It’s a great way to meet people, he says.

Oftentimes, he’ll invite people to check out his group. It’s a way to let someone know they’re invited.

When someone expresses interest in your group make sure you have their number, John says. That way you can follow up with a text — which people are typically more responsive towards.

**3). Don’t Be Afraid to Try Again**

Don’t be discouraged if someone turns down your invitation.

“What I try to do is engage them every time I see them — just get to know them. I don’t try to push dinner groups, but maybe I’ll ask them about it a couple weeks later.”

In the meantime, build a relationship with them. Ask how they are doing, and invite them to a connection event or another outing with people from church. This can be a great icebreaker for people who have never attended.

“I invited several of the guys in my dinner group for more than a year,” says John. “And then it finally fell into place where it worked for them.”

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2018/01/IMG_5366-1024x790.jpg)

**4). Don’t Underestimate How God Can Use You**

“You never know who God is going to put in your path.”

That proved true on a recent Sunday morning when he attended an in-person service, when he started talking to someone he’d met once before. Midway through their conversation, John brought up dinner groups again.

“He was like, ‘You know, I’d actually be really interested.’” John says. He’d recently moved to the area with his girlfriend, but they broke up not long after. He didn’t know many other people, he told John.

John invited him to his dinner group, and the first night he came, he told the group he was there because of a conversation he’d had with his mom that weekend. She knew he was having trouble adjusting and suggested getting involved at church.

It was the next morning that John brought up dinner groups and extended an invitation.

“That had nothing to do with me. I just happened to be there, because God planned that. And that’s why I say you never know who you’re asking. … There are times when someone is going through something, or something’s going on, and you never know if maybe God’s been leading you to that person for a reason. Don’t think this has to happen at a church service. It can happen at any time or place during your day.”

**5). Not Outgoing? That’s Okay, Too**

If bringing people together isn’t your gift, find the person in your dinner group who’s a natural connector, John says. Encourage them to be the recruiter for your group. It doesn’t necessarily have to be the leader — it can be anyone.

Or, just try it and simply get to know someone.

**6). Build a Group Where There’s Always Room for More**

For John, dinner group isn’t just about Tuesday nights. He tries to build into his group throughout the week, whether that means inviting them out or attending a church service with them if they have never been. It’s a mindset that encourages his group to grow closer together and ensures that everyone feels welcome.

It also encourages further growth. Two of the guys in John’s group are apprenticing to lead their own group — one of them was someone John spent months inviting. They’re both great guys, with incredible gifts, says John. And once they have their own groups, they’ll be able to extend the invitation even further.

_Interested in joining a dinner group? You’re definitely invited! Visit [hobokengrace.com/dinnergroups](http://hobokengrace.com/dinnergroups) or stop at a Connection Point on Sunday. Or, want to start_ _your own group? Email dinnergroups@hobokengrace.com._


6 Ways to Invite Someone To Dinner Group

I recently received an email from someone who was hesitant about committing to an [online dinner group](http://dinnergroups.com). They were having trouble making it work with the demanding hours of a new job. We’ve all been there, whether it’s a hectic job or another commitment weighing down our schedule.

**What do you do when you have no time for an online dinner group?**

The answer, quite simply, is to try. Give it just six weeks. I think you’ll find it will be some of the best 90 minutes to two hours of your week. At the end of the day, it requires a step of faith.

When I first started attending Hoboken Grace, I was in a similar situation. I moved to Hoboken in 2008 to work for JPMorgan. Being that I worked at an investment bank at an entry level, I was working 60 to 70 hours a week, busting my butt trying to prove myself and find my value. I was wiped and exhausted by the time I got home . That got old real quick. It had only been nine months, and the lifestyle of work hard, play hard was starting to get to me.

Then one Sunday a man named Steve invited me to join his group. I hesitated to say yes because I wasn’t ending work ’til 8 or 9, and by that point, I was hoping to relax and binge on some TV. I didn’t feel like I had the capacity for one more thing.

Finally, I attended and it was nothing like I’ve ever experienced. I was surrounded by a group of guys who were in their late 20s who were either married or in a serious relationship. The odd thing to me was how much they loved their wives and others. It was so countercultural to what I was experiencing in life. It wasn’t that I wanted to be married like them. I was finding myself wanting to be as loving as them. What I found out much later is because of the relationship they had with God it allowed them to love in such sacrificial ways.

I knew I’d need to make time for a group if I wanted to be like them. The week I decided that was the week before the financial industry was collapsing in September 2008, and I had a front-row seat for it. My hours increased all the more, but I knew it was more important for me to be in that group. It meant I had to ask my manager if I could leave _early_ at 7:30 p.m. on a Monday to make group. 

Thankfully, that conversation was a heck of a lot less scary than it was in my head. I’m not sure where the courage came from to ask, but I’m glad I did. Joining a group helped save my life because when life came my way I was glad I had a community of believers around me pointing me toward God and the right path. I’m not sure what my life would look like without my group.

Sundays are great — we get to worship together and hear a relevant message. But in a group, you’ll find growth, accountability and acceptance, something that’s really a challenge in the rows we sit in on Sunday. Groups help us to activate our faith and give us the encouragement to do so.

Is there a night of the week that you could carve out two hours for the next six weeks? I really think you’d enjoy the community that comes from being a part of a dinner group. [ Find your group here.](http://hobokengrace.com/dinnergroups/)

_Photo by [Jon Tyson](https://unsplash.com/@jontyson?utm%5Fsource=unsplash&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fcontent=creditCopyText) on [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/s/photos/time?utm%5Fsource=unsplash&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fcontent=creditCopyText)_


When There’s No Time for an Online Dinner Group

If you have attended or listened to any of the services this past month, then you know that Team Link is fast approaching. What is Team Link? I’m glad you asked! Team Link is a chance for anyone looking to get a little more involved at Hoboken Grace and connected to a [team](https://hobokengrace.com/teams/) that will best use your gifts and abilities to serve. Think of it as a job fair, but a lot more fun and a lot less stressful. 

Part of what I love about any church I have ever been a part of, is the sense of community that it provides. Attending a church can give you a sense of home if you just moved from someplace far, or even make you feel like you’re a part of something greater. But it is one thing to just attend services once a week, and another thing entirely to get plugged in and to grow closer to God. Getting connected to the church is step one and making the jump to serving is the next. 

The great thing about serving at Hoboken Grace is no matter what your skill set, or time frame of commitment is, there is a spot for you. Are you into photography? Share your skills with us! Are you a people person? How about using that to greet people at the entrance and make guests feel welcome! Are you a tech wizard who relatives call up when their TV is stuck on HDMI2 and they don’t know how to switch to the news? Then join our production team who work tirelessly to give us an awesome remote video experience. The point is, whatever gifts you possess, they can be used to help make our church the best that it can be. 

I studied film and media production in college and have been working in that field ever since I graduated. But since I was surrounded by that kind of stuff on a daily basis, I wanted to put forth other skills of mine that I knew I had in me. This desire is what personally drew me into the communication’s Story Team. I love to write and I love the art of telling stories. Whether it’s through a camera, or on the written page, stories are my favorite way of communicating and reaching out to a wide variety of people. There is so much going on at Hoboken Grace on a weekly (sometimes daily) basis that it would be impossible to effectively reach everybody without all the different teams we have, and the story team is no exception. Whenever I get to write about an event, recap a sermon series, or preview upcoming news, I have the sense of contributing to something that is larger than myself. There really is no limit to the number of things I could write about and ways to write about it, which fosters the personal creativity that I love and seek out. 

The important thing to remember is you aren’t doing this alone. The important word here is TEAM. In addition to serving God and making our church a stronger place, you are also bonding with a group of like-minded people who can challenge you, help you grow in your faith and give you a sense of belonging that you otherwise might not have found if you just showed up to service and didn’t come back until the following week. Even if they have to happen over Zoom, I look forward to our weekly calls and team huddles. They’re a great way to see other team member’s faces and share all the prayers and praises that are happening in our lives at the current moment. 

So, what are you waiting for? Jump in, serve, bond, and grow. You can help further the mission of helping people find their way back to God and He can use your special skills or passions, whatever those may be! Come find out where you fit in at Team Link and discover all the amazing things that God can and will do through your service just as He has through me and so many others throughout our community. 

To learn more about Team Link [REGISTER HERE!](https://hobokengrace.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/505922)


Make an impact. Jump in!

1Day Hoboken is right around the corner. It is an amazing day when we join together to spread love to different organizations and people all over our city. Then, at the end, we get a chance to celebrate everything amazing that God did in just one day!

If you are like me, a few years ago, you might like the idea that you can commit to a few hours of service and still be part of something significant. While 1Day Hoboken requires just a few hours of service, the impact of the projects live on. How cool is it that the time you’d normally spent on brunch can lead to lasting change?

Last year, we had the opportunity to remove shrubbery at The Jubilee Center to help their dream of having a small garden for people of the community. We also built a few garden boxes and filled them with soil. If you walked past them between September and April, the thought probably crossed your mind, “why did we do that project? Nothing came from the hard work!” That question was answered this summer as fresh produce now overflows from the beds and boxes.

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2020/08/pasted-image-0.png) ![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2020/08/Image-from-iOS-3.jpg)

This is one of the great things about God, He can take the weeds and redeem them into fruitful soil. We talked about the Parable of the Sower in a Sunday conversation a few weeks ago. (If you haven’t listened, I encourage you to go back and listen here.) We witnessed real life soil transformation first hand following 1Day Hoboken in 2019.

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2020/08/Image-from-iOS-4.jpg)

The families and children visiting The Jubilee Center or TRUE Mentors can now pick fresh produce and take it home at no cost. All of the remaining produce is picked and delivered to the Hoboken Shelter for meal preparation. The impact of simply serving a few hours to remove bushes now ripples throughout multiple organizations and impacts hundreds of individuals.

In the midst of our current environment with COVID-19, I can’t help but think about how amazing God is. He orchestrated a plan much bigger than we could imagine by providing the necessary resources and servants to produce a garden in Hoboken for people who need it. WOW!

Maybe your life feels like it isn’t producing right now, maybe you feel stuck or like you want to serve or help in some way but don’t think you can make any difference. If that’s the case, then I encourage you to sign up for 1Day Hoboken and be part of something significant with us. Giving a few hours of your time may not seem like it can make an impact, but if you do, you will be part of planting seeds of change in our community that will grow for years to come!

To learn more about 1Day Hoboken check out the website at <https://hobokengrace.com/1day/>


Make an Impact

One of the most meaningful ways that we get to be a part of our community is by serving and caring for our friends and neighbors. When someone walks through the door at Hoboken Grace or attends one of our events, we want them to feel like they are home, and that’s exactly what Annie felt when she first visited on a Sunday morning. Seeing the same smiling faces, week after week, full of joy, serving food, holding doors, and greeting people made her feel so welcome. In fact, she says it felt, “as if they were expecting me.”

That’s the power of our First Impressions Team. They are an integral part of creating the space we walk into every Sunday, provide coffee to wake us up and they are the first faces and people anyone sees when they join us. The importance of saying, “Good Morning” or “Hello” can’t be undervalued. Those smiling faces that greeted Annie each week made such a powerful impact on her life that she decided she wanted to be part of making others feel as welcomed as she had the first time she came. Annie said, “I chose to join the First Impressions Team because they played an important role in my journey.” And the importance of that team has continued to grow for her, just two and a half years ago she started serving as a greeter, but after serving for almost a year, she has already taken on a leadership role.

As she has moved from receiving those smiles to giving them, she noticed a change within herself. Initially, she served just to meet people, but as time went on, she began to realize that something more was happening—her heart was changing. She said, “It was the smallest acts that had such a great impact on me—whether it was someone smiling, remembering my name, or giving me a hug.” It was those small acts that made her want to be a part of helping others find their way back to God. And as a member of the First Impressions Team she realized, “we are all here for the same purpose, and we are all pieces of a mission that is so much greater than any one of us individually.” It takes a community to arrange food for 1,000 people, to prepare for worship, and to greet guests. When we as members of the Hoboken Grace community serve together, we get to see each other’s hearts, we get to see the people behind the jobs, get to know the people that make up the vital teams the people and who make us a church family.

Annie says joining a team has been so impactful because serving has helped her experience God in ways she never thought possible. Serving on a team gives her the opportunity to love our community by helping people feel welcomed, prepared for, and loved. Serving others has changed her heart to be grateful for the small acts that go a long way, and it has helped her prioritize her faith. Through serving, she has found some of the deepest friendships in her life.

During quarantine those relationships and experiences were virtual, but that doesn’t mean the team stopped serving; not at all. Every Sunday morning the First Impressions Team still met at 9am for prayer. They prayed for all of the services and everyone attending them. Annie says, “It’s been a great way to come together and continue to love our community.” Now those virtual prayers are slowly returning to in-person smiles and greetings again. As we make the transition to meeting in person again, the First Impressions Team looks a little different, but the warmth and joy is still there. The team is working hard each week to make sure we are able to worship in a safe, socially distanced, and comfortable space for all, because that’s part of what it means to be a part of community—to serve and care for one another well.

If you are interested in serving on the First Impressions Team or any of our other dynamic teams that work passionately to serve God and impact our community, visit [hobokengrace.com/teams/](https://hobokengrace.com/teams/) or check out the [Hoboken Grace App](https://hobokengrace.com/appdownload/) under the “Engagement” tab and click “Join a Team” to learn more. Just like Annie, you can make a difference in the community and deepen your own relationship with God and other people at Hoboken Grace!


Making a lasting Impression

From a very young age, I was a gigantic film buff. Not a weekend went by where I didn’t see a movie in the theater or rent one with my friends after riding our bikes to the town Blockbuster. Yes, Blockbuster was still around in my youth. (I’m young, but not THAT young!) While I still love the entertainment value that TV and movies bring to my life even to this day, it always came down to the story. It doesn’t matter how great the special effects are or how captivating the music is, if the story isn’t of interest, the whole thing just falls apart.

Stories give us the opportunity to experience feelings or situations we normally don’t encounter our daily life or they allow us to walk a mile in a character’s shoes who may be different from us. They can help you relate to others and maybe even help you find things within yourself that you didn’t even think about. I bet you don’t have spider powers like Peter Parker in Spider-Man, but I’m sure some of us can relate to being an awkward teenager who has to start taking responsibility. I’m sure none of us are quite literally living the same exact day over and over again like Phil Connors in Groundhog Day, but I am sure we’ve wondered what it would be like to do the right thing after messing up and wishing we had the chance to do things over.

No matter how high-concept they may seem, the best stories have lessons for us and ways to relate to the characters. Which is why diving deeper into the stories Jesus told is the perfect way of beginning Hoboken’s Grace’s brand -new series, _In Real Life_. Reading the Bible is comforting for many, but for others it can feel like you’re grasping at thin air. Often times stories make sense to those at the center of them, but for others you may be left wondering “where do I fit into all of this?” To help us understand how we can relate to these stories in our daily lives, Pastor Chris spent the first sermon in the series talking about Luke and the parables that Jesus often shared as a way to understand His teachings better. Luke traveled a lot with Jesus and made sure to make an account of all the stories Jesus told so that he could remember and pass them down.

In week 1 of the series, Pastor Chris discussed the story about a farmer who would throw his seeds around during his planting. The seeds the farmer threw haphazardly would fall on some rocks, get eaten by birds, and even land on the hard ground; not exactly the best-case scenario for trying to grow crops. But when the seeds landed on the good soil, it produced more than one hundred times what was sown. It wasn’t a coincidence that Jesus used a farmer as an example in the story. Pastor Chris pointed out that He was telling this story in an agricultural area and this was the best way that He could relate to the listeners and help them understand who God was. The different places where the seeds landed represented different people who would hear the word of God and how they would absorb the word and grow. Even though the disciples were initially confused by this, Jesus took them aside and told them what all the symbolism meant, knowing that that they would pass this story on in the future.

This past week, Anthony continued the series of Jesus’ parables with the story of the lost sheep which was another example of Jesus creating a story that related to a major occupation during this specific Biblical time and place. None of us in Hoboken are shepherds, at least in the Biblical sense, but we can all relate to the idea of someone who cares for us, loving us so much, that they will stop at nothing to protect us and save us no matter how weak or insignificant we may feel compared to everybody else. Its stories like this one that give us a poignant grasp on what the love of Jesus looks like and how powerful it is. Sometimes our own stories about being lost and found are so personal that they are difficult to put into words. When telling your own story you may find that using examples of everyday life to help paint a picture like Jesus often did, can help you get your point across and make it easier when sharing how He has impacted you with others.

During his message, Anthony also said that when he was growing up he wanted to be Indiana Jones. While not a real person, Indiana Jones still represented an adventure-seeking part of Anthony that he related to. Anthony could imagine himself in middle of an exciting adventure like Indy and it made his own dreams feel attainable. That’s the power of a great story. They can make us dream about what we could be, or help us understand things that we normally wouldn’t think about. It can sometimes be difficult to read the Bible and understand how to interpret the stories or figure out how they fit into our lives in the year 2020 but when you read between the lines, you’ll discover that the stories are universal. Stories connect us all and when we consistently weave them into our daily lives, we will find that they can have new meaning and significance at different times. That’s why I’m excited for what’s still to come in this series because stories are always teaching us and the stories of Jesus can connect us, impact us, and speak to us whatever we’re going through.


Blockbuster Stories


One of the great ways our church has been able to stay connected and involved with the community during quarantine and social distancing is by posting “A Day in the Life” videos. If you aren’t familiar with this [online series,](https://hobokengrace.com/blog/story/) it’s where Pastor Chris interviews somebody in the church family about their current situation during the ongoing pandemic. We thought it would be a great idea to do the same in the written form to get even more people involved and sharing their stories.

Back in the days when we were able to attend church in-person, one of the bright, shining faces you would see in the morning as you walked in, was that of Millie’s. Millie is on Hoboken Grace’s first impressions team as a greeter and we wanted to share her incredible story of all the things that God has been doing in her life and her family’s life during these uncertain times. Millie’s story is full of encouragement and inspiration for anyone feeling lost and doubtful because of everything going on in our world today.

**Story Team:**

**What is your current situation right now?**

**Millie:**

We stayed in Hoboken. My husband works for the Board of Education and I am a medical receptionist. My husband got sick with Covid early in March, right when everything started up here. When they closed the schools, they asked everybody to still go into the school, but they didn’t know that there was somebody already infected and he got sick in the school. I had just started a job and I had to call the them up and say “I can’t come in, I’m quarantined. I have to stay here.”

We live in a railroad-style apartment, so there’s not really a lot of privacy in this apartment. But we put him in one room and we tried to keep him there, but it was really scary because you can’t go in there and comfort him, you can’t go in there to talk to him because you are afraid. I live with my 11-year-old daughter, and we just had to look in through the door. So, knowing that he was sick, knowing that he had this thing that he could give to me or my daughter, was the scariest thing. Then not even being able to hold him, and not able to say “hey, everything is going to be ok,” was really scary.

I prayed a lot. I sat, and I prayed and I meditated. I prayed a lot for his healing, but it was just really scary.

**Story Team:**

I’m sure. Yeah. Especially in the earlier days too. Like you said, this was in March that this happened which was back when things just started to happen and I’m sure you didn’t know what was going on.

**Millie:**

Yeah, and I spoke to my dinner group; my dinner group has always been the online only group, we have a chat group on WhatsApp, so I told them. I said, this is happening and I’m freaking out and I don’t know what to do. We went on a zoom call and we all started praying. I just started trusting God. I think this is the first time in my life where I’ve had to trust Him so much. I left it up to Him, and as scared and as worried as I was of me getting sick or my daughter getting sick, I just trusted Him. I didn’t feel that He left me, it was a peaceful feeling.

**Story Team:**

That’s awesome. Now you’re leading right into my next question which is how are you experiencing God through all of this? It sounds like the key word you said there is trust and this is the first time you needed to trust Him this much. What has your relationship with God been like now versus pre-quarantine?

**Millie:**

So, what I usually like to do is get up earlier than anybody because I like to pray and meditate. Before, I was always in a hurry, I had to get up and ready for work, but you don’t have much time to do it. But this time I just said, “you know what? It’s ok. Let me just sit here. Let me just stay with Him and let me just pray.” My words just kept coming out towards trust: I’m going to trust You with this one. I’m going to trust You with my day to day. I know that he is going to be ok and I know that You are taking care of him.

If this would have happened to me a year before, I don’t think I would have been this ok with it. I think I would have been a little more doubtful. I don’t know what happened, I just trusted the whole situation and my dinner group was completely on top of everything. I feel like they really helped me out.

**Story Team:**

That’s great. You said that you have been in an online dinner group from the start. So, this whole online transition we’ve been going through isn’t really new I guess.

**Millie:**

No. We have the OG!

**Story Team:**

The OG of online dinner groups. So, it sounds like you have nothing to compare it to, but seemed very helpful none the less.

**Millie:**

Yeah. I think also the fact that I like to be around people, people make me happy, so, going to church was something that I really enjoyed, not only because I wanted to listen to the service but because I enjoyed being around people. So that was really hard for me not to be there in person because even in my hardest time, I would always go. While there, I always tried to connect with everybody. Now I try to log-in to anything I can. Before, if anybody had invited me to a huddle at the church I wouldn’t go, but now I go to them because I feel that I need to hear from people.

I also felt at all times that He was with me. Even at night, when I was praying with my daughter and my husband was stuck in the other room, we still felt safe, and I know that she did too. My husband recovered, thankfully.

**Story Team:**

Prayers answered. That’s great! How else have you been connecting with other people other than the huddles? Maybe talking to friends and family over the phone or writing letters? Millie:When we were quarantined the other way, I didn’t feel so alone because I had a parade of people coming by and dropping stuff off, making sure that we were ok and making deliveries. I told my neighbors because I wanted them to be safe, so I explained to them that we are stuck in here and to be careful. Practically every day somebody would leave us a bagel or leave us coffee or leave us other things. So inside of me I wasn’t feeling very good, but outside the world was saying that it was all going to be ok.

My son came by and he left coffee because I love coffee, so he left a lot of it by my door. But the hardest part was not opening the door, not being able to hug him and say I love you. But he just kept saying that it was going to be ok and how much he loved us; it felt really good to hear.

Then, after my husband had recovered, two weeks later he got sick again and he just couldn’t breathe. I called his doctor and the doctor said to take him to the ER, because since nobody knew a lot about the disease, they were afraid it might be coming back. So, my daughter and I dropped him off at the ER and we just left him there. We drove him over there together but we just had to let him go because they wouldn’t let us in and that was the scariest time. I just thought, what if this is the last time I see him? Just watching him walking in there alone, was so frustrating.

On the way, back I just couldn’t drive so I parked in the middle of the road. I sat there and I prayed with my youngest daughter because I was so scared I would have to tell her that he wasn’t coming home. It was one of my hardest moments and yet I felt like God was there telling me “I got this. Just hold on, because I got this.” I didn’t want to doubt Him and I just kept saying, “I trust You, I trust You, I trust You.” I was so scared and didn’t have anybody to hug, it was a very hard time for me; I was so scared.

Thankfully, he came back home that night. The hospital was amazing, they called me every five minutes saying, “we’re going to do this, we’re going to do that,” and my oldest daughter works there so she ran down there to make sure that he was ok.

**Story Team:**

That’s good that you had someone that was able to be there.

**Millie:**

Yeah. So, he came home and they gave him steroids because his lungs were affected by the virus. Then they did an x-ray and a couple of days later and the doctor called. My husband had scars in his lungs because of previous problems with his lungs, but the doctor said to him “I can’t even find the scars that you had before. You don’t have anything there.”

**Story Team:**

Wow. That’s incredible.

**Millie:**

His lungs were so good. He did say that “the virus is kicking your butt basically, and it’s going to feel that way, but you’re going to be ok.” It was amazing.

**Story Team:**

And we know it’s a happy ending right now. Everybody is back home and healthy. That’s really encouraging to hear. In terms of your day to day, how have you been getting through it? Has something been helping you creatively, or do you have some sort of new routine for yourself and for your family?

**Millie:**

I try to keep a routine, especially because my daughter is still in school. I still try to get up early before everybody so I can meditate and pray, and I have a devotional, while also reading whatever is in the Hoboken Grace daily Bible reading. I go through all my things with my morning coffee.

**Story Team:**

Gotta have the coffee!

**Millie:**

Then my daughter will get up for school and we deal with the frustrating nature of online school, like the emails and all the back and forth.

**Story Team:**

It sounds like an interesting time for schooling.

**Millie:**

It can be tough. After we do school, which is usually just a half a day, I feel like I’m the principal and the vice principal. After school she does band, so we set that up, and we also do stretching for her cheerleading because eventually that is going to come back. Then after 2:00, we start to set up for dinner. After that we go for a walk, because we are now able to go out for walks. My husband, me, and my daughter all take a nice walk around town with our masks on, and we’ll take the dog out. It sometimes feels like I don’t even want to get up because we’re just going to do this over and over again. I’m going to do the same thing over and over and over.

**Story Team:**

It’s Groundhog Day.

**Millie:**

Sometimes I just say to myself, “why bother?” But I still get up, and even if it’s a little bit later in the day, I start the same routine again because I need my daughter to have the same routine so that she understands.

However, I just have to praise God. I have to praise Him for keeping my husband alive. Last week my son turned 32, and my daughter turned 11, and we decided to drive up to them and spend time with all the kids. We felt so blessed to be around them.

**Story Team:**

Millie, you shared so many things with us. Are there any other comments you’d like to add? Maybe words of advice for those in this same situation and feeling scared?

**Millie:**

I think, when you’re going through this, even if you’re just starting out following God, the main thing is just to trust. I wish I had done it sooner but there’s a time for everything and I guess it took this time to teach me to do that because it just felt so good to trust Him.


A Day in the Life: Millie’s Story

We are certainly living in an unprecedented time. It can be a time of fear, of isolation, of loss; but it can also be a time of hope, new relationships, and guidance. Even though connection has changed and is happening in unique ways, connection and support are still available. 

At Hoboken Grace, we want to partner with you and offer you a safe harbor in the wake of this current storm. In order to do that better, we have created the Care and Support page to help connect you with resources to get the love, support, and care you need. 

On the page you’ll find several resources you can access to find connection and care in the way you need the most. 

**Care Calls**

You can schedule a Care Call to receive a phone or video call from one of the members of our pastoral staff. This is an excellent opportunity to have someone reach out to you for prayer, friendly conversation, or just a check-in. 

**Support Groups**

We also have multiple support groups you can join and our groups are all meeting virtually so you can connect wherever you are. Groups vary in scope to meet your needs. We offer a group called [Financial Peace University](https://hobokengrace.com/fpu/) (FPU) which is a great financial resource group. Many at Hoboken Grace have seen their lives change as a result of FPU. Rather than just focusing on lost finances, FPU helps you with all matters related to your financial health; from budgeting to life insurance, to how to eliminate debt. Whether you’ve had to cut back to manage your finances better under the strain of the economic issues right now, or if you just want to set a budget to make sure you’re staying on track, joining an FPU group can help you get your finances in order. 

Crossroads is an addiction support group to help you manage the isolation, anxiety, and depression you may be facing during the quarantine that could affect your sobriety. Whether you need help maintaining your sobriety or you are just beginning the journey towards sobriety, Crossroads is an excellent resource to guide you. 

If you’re new to this whole “God thing” or you’re struggling with doubts and questions, or just seeking your way back to Him, Starting Point is a safe space to ask the tough questions and get honest answers. It is also an excellent place to connect to others who are facing similar issues or questions in their relationship with God. 

If what you really need is simple community and connection, Dinner Groups are, and have always been, an excellent way to connect to others in the Hoboken Grace family and local community. You can forge deep and lasting friendships, get prayer and support, and learn more about God while connecting to a community who will be there for you during this uncertain time. 

**Connectors**

If you are seeking connection or looking for a chance to be of service to your community, our Connectors program is a great outlet. These are different than our Care Calls as they are peer to peer vs Pastoral staff. You can request to be contacted by a Connector who can be there for you and offer prayer, 

conversation, and connection to help minimize loneliness. Or if you want to find a way to serve others and give of your time, you can volunteer to be a Connector who reaches out to others in the community to impact and support them.

**Prayer**

If you just need someone to pray for you or for a loved one, you can submit a virtual prayer request online. Our prayer team and staff pray for all the requests we receive every week and we would love to offer you this comfort and help in bringing your requests to God. 

**Personal Counseling**

Our care staff are available to reach out to you and provide counseling or connect you to our professional counseling resources. If you’re struggling with mental health issues, loss, anxiety, marital strain or just need someone to connect with on a deeper level about spiritual or emotional issues, Personal Counseling is available. 

**Funerals and Weddings**

Even though many of life’s activities are on hold right now, we understand that Weddings and Funerals may not be able to wait. If you need to request one of our pastoral staff members to officiate a wedding or funeral or to discuss your plans for the future, you can also request more information here. 

[**Home Response Plan** ](https://hobokengrace.com/relief/)

We are not just partnering with you to offer care and support for your emotional and spiritual needs, we also want to help you with your physical needs as well. 

We’re helping with food packages as well as business support and personal job searches. We are setting up a benevolence fund to help people with emergency financial needs and much more. To learn more, visit our Home Response Plan page. 

We look forward to hearing from you and helping you find whatever type of support you may need. Even though it may feel like it right now, YOU ARE NOT ALONE. So please, reach out and visit the [Care and Support Page](https://hobokengrace.com/support-2/) to take the first step seeking support; you won’t regret it!


Finding Care and Support in the Wake of Uncertainty

Since March, social distancing has forced us to live life over Zoom, FaceTime, email and snail mail (for those of us who are REALLY bored). It hasn’t stopped us from participating in connection events, but the events had to be online. Online connection events are fun and enjoyable, but nothing beats seeing each other face-to-face. On June 28th our community traded their sweatpants for some real pants as we met at Pier A Park for an afternoon of friendship, smiles, sun, and spike-ball.

Our time at the Pier was a laid back, casual setting which was just what everybody needed to reenter the world of in-person socializing. “It didn’t matter what we did” Nick, Hoboken Grace Community Director told me. “That’s why we planned it at the Pier. We needed a safe place to do nothing, which ended up being more than enough.” Nick is right. Sometimes simple is better. For some of us, it had been over three months since we’ve seen our friends anywhere other than a on computer screen and that was the goal of this whole thing—to reunite and reconnect.

The event really brought home the idea of what it looks like to be a community. Nick summed it up perfectly when he said, “The opportunity to be with our friends in person was really great. I’ve been going to Hoboken Grace events for eleven years, and it was one of the most memorable.” This first in-person event since Covid-19 proved that the people make it special, not the activity.

Even though games were played, it seemed all people wanted to do was catch up and enjoy the sun together. Personally, I kept thinking of the saying “You don’t know what you have until it’s gone.” We’ve all heard a grandparent or Oscar winning movie say it, but it’s true. I love connection events, but I haven’t always made an effort to attend all of them. Usually if they involved food, I was there but often I’d find myself saying, “I’ll make it to the next one for sure!” Until suddenly, there wasn’t a next one; at least one that wasn’t virtual. People I thought I would see next Sunday were suddenly quarantined in another state with family members or sick themselves.

Looking around at everybody having a good time, the general feeling in the air was that this was much needed. John, an attendee, expressed his excitement saying, “As an extrovert the virtual side was helpful, but I definitely noticed something was missing. I realized how much I missed personal interaction. It energizes me and fills me up. Seeing my friends again in person made me feel a bit like my normal self again.”

It comforts me knowing these bonds are so strong that it doesn’t matter what we do or where we are in life. What matters is just being together and giving each other the little bit of energy we need to become whole. I don’t know what future connection events will look like; they could be completely different or return to some form of normal. Whatever the case, I know I won’t take the time I have with my Hoboken Grace family for granted ever again.

Don’t miss your chance to connect either; check out our Events page in the app or on the website to see what future in-person and online [connection events](https://hobokengrace.com/events/) we have coming up!


Face Time (In Real Life)

The last three months have been one of the longest periods of continuous transitioning I’ve ever experienced in my life. When the pandemic hit, I was forced to work from home, then I experienced the unexpected loss of my father to COVID-19, found myself in a new relationship, and inherited a big, slobbery Saint Bernard named Mia. Everything about my life—all of its routines and habits—have been uprooted, completely reshaping what “normal” looks like for me.

It’s easy to get pulled in a lot of different directions, especially when everything is so new and different. That’s why the current series, “Thriving in Transition” has been so relevant for me. Pastor Chris spoke about how the habits formed during the midst of transition will be the habits we keep after transition. It’s also important to be mindful of the habits we are making or the lack of habits we are making. We want to make a conscious effort to form positive habits that will lead to the best version of ourselves, while also bringing us closer to God.

The first new habit that I had to work on was making time with God my first priority. I started waking up 30 minutes earlier to read the bible and create a prayer list for people needing support. This way I would set my mind on God first thing in the morning and connect with His plan for my life. Starting my day off with God helps me to set up a positive rhythm for the whole day. As Paul stated in Colossians 3:2, “Set your mind on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” (NLT). I realized it is so easy to fall into an unhealthy rhythm for the day. By putting God first, I am able to focus on His needs instead of my own.

The second habit I’ve been working on is saving money. This transition has made me aware of the amount of times I was going out unnecessarily per week. Friends birthday’s, work happy hours, I haven’t seen you in two weeks let’s go out to dinner,etc. But this post Covid-world has made me realize that you can still get together with friends and family in a meaningful way without spending a lot of money. Now I suggest to my friends going for a walk on the waterfront, having a birthday party in a park, or just hanging out on the front stoop. We can still have these great connections, just in a simpler way. Also, having the extra funds in my pocket has allowed me to make donations to various organizations including towards the Home Initiative at Hoboken Grace.

The third habit I have made has been prioritizing Mia’s health. Mia was my father’s therapy dog that I inherited. She was trained by my dad to help people in nursing homes, autistic schools, hospitals, and library reading programs. In order for her be able to help others in the future, I have had to change both of our routines. Our new habit together is walking every morning and evening so that we can keep her healthy and strong. After the pandemic regulations loosen, I’ll be able to become therapy certified so that Mia and I can carry on my dad’s legacy of bringing joy to the people who need it most.

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2020/07/Thriving-in-Transition_Square-for-App-1.jpg)

This transition period has been difficult but also good. The series, [“Thriving in Transition”](https://hobokengrace.com/series/thriving-in-transition/) has allowed me to make a conscious effort to form positive habits during this time of change. I know that once I go back to work and the daily demands of  
my life begin return to what they once were, these new habits will stick and I’ll be able to grow into a better version of myself through my engagement with God and my other healthy new routines. As Pastor Chris has pointed out, our ability to continue to transform our lives is found in creating habits that draw us closer to God. There is nothing we need, nothing we long for, nothing more important than our pursuit of Him


Putting Things Into Place

Have you ever had the feeling that you could be experiencing more of God? It’s this nudge inside of you that suggests there’s more. Sometimes it comes while you are listening to Pastor Chris speak or watching people get baptized or listening to a worship song or sharing with a dinner group friend. 

Perhaps there is no nudge. There is only unrest. A weekend away doesn’t seem to fix that deep unrest that won’t go away. You think it’s just a busy season, but you are starting to suspect it may simply be your life.

I found myself there a few years ago. I wasn’t where I needed to be spiritually to be the wife, mom, friend and leader I was called to be. Everything felt hard ー too hard. Hoboken Grace kept expanding, our family kept growing, and my life kept taking unexpected turns. With every new season, my personal experience of God took a hit until I hit a wall and there was nowhere left to turn but to Him. I knew that if I was going to be who He has called me to be I needed Him. Not just on Sunday, not just in dinner group ー every day in every season.

One habit I implemented that DRASTICALLY impacted my experience of God was taking one day away with God every three months. Yes, a full day away. It took some time to get used to (the first time I made it two hours before I called a friend and asked her what I should do). Now the day flies by, and I often wish it could be longer. In case you want to give it a try, here’s what a typical day away with God can look like:

1. Schedule the day the way you would schedule any other important event. It doesn’t get moved just because another event came up.
2. Start the day with whatever helps you clear your mind. Maybe that’s taking a walk or bike ride. Maybe it’s yoga. For me it’s always a workout. It may sound odd, but it helps my mind STOP when I push my body to its limits physically. I also listen to worship songs and let my mind be consumed by thoughts of Him.
3. Once there, my time with God follows a rhythm of confession (ways I know I am not being who I am created to be), gratitude (acknowledging everything good in my life is a gift from Him), and time with a Bible and journal. Spending time in God’s word is CRUCIAL because it is a letter written with you in mind and He has something to share through it. Your journal is so you can write out what is on your heart and where you are. Writing it down helps you stay focused.
4. Halfway through, do something you enjoy WITH God that brings you rest. God is fun and He would LOVE to enjoy His time with you. He will meet you anywhere! I have gone to the beach, to the spa or to my favorite lunch spot with Him. You may be wondering what “with Him” means. For me, it’s that I keep doing my reading while having lunch or I talk to Him the way I would with a friend. If you are new to that it will take some time, but I promise you will get there.
5. Go back to your Bible and journal. I try to end the day by asking Him who He wants me to pray for or encourage. He often brings someone to mind throughout the day, and so this is the time I take to reach out to that person. I can’t tell you how many times the response I get back is, “This is exactly what I needed today. Thank you!”

This may seem too time-consuming, and I completely understand that fear! It seems counterproductive and even selfish. But if you’re tired of getting the nudge without doing anything about it, if you want ACTUAL rest from the One who knows you best – give it a shot. 

You can even do it with friends who want to try it with you. Doing it with a friend means you come back at the end of your alone time and you share what you read, what you heard, what you experienced. Friendships like that are a lifeline and will help deepen your experience of God.

_Hoboken Grace has resources available to help you in your journey with God – [RightNow Media](https://accounts.rightnow.org/Account/Invite/hobokengrace?returnUrl=https://www.rightnowmedia.org/Account/Media/InviteReturn) (free access to a library of video studies), [Rhythms](http://hobokengrace.com/rhythms/) (a way to build daily habits, also found in our app), [Axiom](https://hobokengrace.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/147651) (a weekend retreat), and all [past messages](http://hobokengrace.com/podcast/)._


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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.

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