Grant’s passion for people is undeniable whether he’s throwing a party, greeting people at the front doors for our Sunday services, or getting people together to play some Pickleball! His commitment & intentionality to build into the community is truly valuable. Let’s give it up for Grant, our Team Member of the Week!


Team Member of the Week


Growing up, I always thought it’d be cool to be a superhero. Mostly because, well, flying sounded like it would be AMAZING. But also because superheroes stood up for what was right regardless of how dangerous or how scary the situation. Their conviction drove them to find the courage to stand up to evil, even when no one else seemed to care or stood petrified with fear. No matter what, the superhero came to the rescue.

Given the chance, I thought that jumping into the storyline of my favorite superhero sounded like something I would want to do with my life. I guess it’s because when I was kid, I didn’t realize that I was already part of an amazing story. No one ever told me that it didn’t take some super power to act like a superhero.

I have a feeling there are a ton of kids out there who feel the same way. That’s why we’re taking the months of June and July to discover what it means to Stand Up: Get in the Story as we learn more about conviction.

Conviction is standing for what’s right, even when others don’t.

Jesus showed us how to stand for what’s right. Even though Jesus prayed for another way, He willingly gave up His life to save us. He showed us that even though it’s difficult, we could stand for what’s right.

Because showing conviction and standing up for what’s right isn’t always easy, we thought it would be a great idea for the kids to memorize 2 Thessalonians 3:13 “Don’t ever get tired of doing the right thing.” The best place to find out how you should show conviction is God’s Word. When you know what God says, it makes it easier to figure out when and how you should stand for what’s right.

We’re looking forward to a great summer of helping kids discover that God created them in His image to join the story that He’s telling in the world. We hope they figure out how they can Stand Up and have conviction in their lives as well.

[June Preview Video!](http://thinkorange.com/252basics/resources)


What’s Happening in Clubhouse?

It’s summerrrrrr! I hear Olaf singing that, don’t you? Gotta love Olaf, but we have no snowmen in our summer theme this year. We do however have water—and lots of it!

It’s time for Camp Splish Splash!

Camp Splish Splash will run through both June and July and introduce our preschoolers to lots of interactive Bible stories that all teach us God’s way is perfect. In June, preschoolers will hear about Noah and his ark, Jonah and that very BIG fish and about Gideon and his dwindling army.

As we share these stories with preschoolers, we want not only to have fun, but to show them solid examples of people following God’s way and it being the perfect way. We want to teach them to trust God’s way in the easier things so that when life gets harder, they will know that God’s way is perfect, and that’s the way they should choose.

[June’s Preview Video](http://thinkorange.com/firstlook/resources)


Summer For Preschoolers

A group of 25 of our impact leaders recently returned from a weekend with the Axiom Community. They spent three days giving their full attention to developing a deeper intimacy with God, through storytelling, Bible teaching, and personal prayer and reflection time. The retreat was devoted to spiritual renewal and preparing the heart to listen to God’s dreams.

We asked three of our impact leaders to reflect on what they took away from the experience, and here’s what they had to say.

Q. In one word, how would you describe your experience at Axiom?

A. Invigorating  
A. Refreshing  
A. Awe-struck

Q. How did you experience God?

A. I experienced God through sitting in silence on the dock and just enjoying his presence and creation. I also spent quality time with him asking specific questions and taking time to listen to him as he answered. God’s inaudible voice is something I hear in my mind. His directives are more like impressions and thoughts that almost always reflect scripture. So I heard him say things like, “Don’t be afraid. I have a hope and a future for you. Trust me.”

A. God was present for me in the interactions I had with the other leaders. Hearing how others experience God was powerful, and just having time away was incredible. I don’t think I’ve ever spent that much time worshiping, praying, meditating and reading. I felt God speaking to me about gratefulness and about being an encouragement to others.

A. I felt God’s presence during my quiet alone time. We were given a lot of space and time to just be with God. I feel like usually when I spend that much time with God, it’s because I’m really struggling with something, and I come to him angry, upset and anxious. But this time was different. I just spent time with him. And I felt overwhelmed by the magnitude of his love for me. I had this sense of acceptance and was just in awe of how much he loves us and how awesome his grace is.

Q. What are your next steps?

A. I need to set aside time to practice very intentional listening on a more regular basis. Slowing down and sitting with God reminds me that above all else, I am his daughter and he loves me deeply.

A. For me, the next step is making three-minute retreats a part of my routine. My daily God time has been a struggle recently. I used to read and pray on my commute, but now that I drive to work it’s hard to maintain. Axiom helped me realized that I could just be aware of him no matter where I am. I can be still and quiet, and be with him, and that can be a part of my God time. I’m learning not to put God in a little box. God time is not something I do as part of my routine. God time is all the time.

A. I spent a lot of time asking God about what steps he wants me to take next in my journey with him. And I felt him saying very clearly that I need to make fasting a part of my spiritual discipline. I have never attempted fasting or even really looked into it. But now I feel encouraged to work on this practice. I think God wants to use fasting to show me that he has so much more planned for me and to help me be more aware of his presence.


Retreating

Often times we end our summer looking back at a whirlwind of activity. Activity that we enjoyed, but activity that leaves us drained physically and, most importantly, drained spiritually. Rather than walking into the fall refreshed and renewed, we often limp into fall longing for routine. Is it possible to change that? Is it possible for summer to be a time of growth and renewal instead of drought and exhaustion? I think it is, but it requires a few crucial steps.

**1\. Stay Engaged in Community:** Often when summer hits we ramp up the travel schedule, and we begin to lose our connection to community. This sets us up for spiritual and social drought. We see a lot of people as we travel, but very few who really know us and can speak meaningfully into our lives. Stay connected even if it means you have to say no to a few trips.

**2\. Read a Powerful Book:** Summer is a great time for reading, but while “The Hunger Games” is a terrific book for entertainment, it does little to refresh our soul. This summer choose one or two books to bring on your travels that refresh you spiritually. Here are a few suggestions based on where you are in the journey.

Beginning: Purpose Driven Life – Rick Warren

Fed: The Principle of the Path – Andy Stanley

Feeding Yourself: Waking the Dead – John Eldridge

Feeding Others: Don’t Waste Your Life – John Piper

**3\. Maintain Your Experience Plan:** Rather than allowing your vacation to kill your experience plan, allow summer to solidify it. Use the time to enjoy God the way you planned to. This can be a great chance to establish the rhythm of life you long to experience at home.

**4\. Watch Live:** Even though your summer may take you around the globe, you don’t have to feel distant from the Sunday conversation. Jump online and watch live, or watch while you’re at the pool. Staying engaged allows you to continue growing and moving forward with our family.

**5\. Rest:** We don’t like to believe it, but we need rest. Don’t just plan vacations, plan time to rest. You are a holistic being. Your spiritual journey is connected to your physical journey. If you run yourself ragged over the course of the summer, you will suffer spiritually. Schedule at least one Saturday a month when you will do absolutely nothing. Protect that day. Learn to say – “no.”

Summer doesn’t have to be a time when you move backward. Make this summer a strong summer. Walk into this coming fall stronger than you are today. It can happen!


A Strong Summer


This morning (5/31) we released for the first time the Hoboken Grace Growth Path. Simply put, this is our plan as a church community to accomplish the mission of helping people find their way back to God. In Ephesians we’re challenged to live our lives with purpose and intention.

_1Cor. 9:24-27 Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified._

We’re challenged to not simply run, but to run strategically as we pursue the one who has pursued us. How do we do that? [Click here to see how we as a church are intentionally designing everything that we do to help people not only experience Christ, but mature in the mission and purpose that they have been given](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2015/05/Hoboken-Growth-Path.pdf).


Growth Path

Have you ever sat down to read the Bible and felt intimidated? Have you ever wondered, “Where do I start?” Have you ever felt you had no idea how to understand what you just read? You’re not alone, and it doesn’t have to be like that.  
For the next six weeks we’re going to read through the beginning of Acts together. We’re going to talk about how you can begin to interact with the Bible as it was intended. We’re going to work through how you can begin to understand it in a way you never have before. Join us and begin a journey that will change the way you interact with this incredible, powerful, crazy book!


This Crazy Book

It’s never too late to join us in our [Bible Reading Plan](http://hobokengrace.com/bible/). We are reading through the New Testament in one year, one chapter per day. In Acts 16 we see God and the Holy Spirit defy race, social economics, background, and aptitude. Acts 16 is where we also see the church of Philippi formed, to which Paul will eventually write the book of [Philippians](https://www.bible.com/bible/116/php.1.nlt).

Philippians is one of my favorites because it is filled with encouragement for this church. In most of Paul’s letters, he is trying to get churches back on track. Paul knows the people of this church personally and baptized them all. He is impressed with what they are doing and wants to encourage them to continue on. If you have not read Philippians, I encourage you to do it! It is only 4 chapters and will take you no longer than 10 minutes to read.

Back to Acts 16 where it all starts: there are three very different people that come together to form the first church in Philippi. First is Lydia, a very rich, intelligent, business-wise woman. Next we meet the poor, uneducated, demon-possessed slave girl. Finally, we are introduced to a blue collar, middle class, ex-Roman soldier, who is now working as a jailer. These three individuals have no business even knowing each other, let alone being friends with each other, but they are united because of the gospel.

This is what makes [dinner groups](http://hobokengrace.com/dinner-groups/) so unique. We are groups of 8-10 people who are united by the gospel. They are led and made up of all different types of people: accountants, counselors, teachers, salesmen, architects, mothers, writers, college students, and more. There will always be a temptation in all of us to want to do life with those who are exactly like us, because it seems easier. Do not allow the tension of diversity of your group keep you from going. People do not have to be similar, or older, or smarter, or richer, more experienced or have gone to church longer than you for you to learn and grow with them. In the same way do not allow your imperfections to prevent you from uniting people through the gospel. God can use you. There is no limitation that he can not overcome.


Anyone and Everyone

On Friday, June 5th, we will have our second Teams Night of 2015\. Our first one, in March, was an incredible night of prayer and worship, and just of time spent leaning on God. Over the past several months I’ve had a lot of questions about it, mainly along these lines:

“Can I go to Teams Night?”

“Can I bring my friend to Teams Night?”

“What the heck is Teams Night?!”

I’d like to take this opportunity to diffuse some rumors and incorrect assumptions about this event. Ready? Here we go!

**Lie No. 1.) “Teams Night is only for people who serve on Sunday.”**

I can understand how that could be a pretty easy assumption to make. But it is not true. Teams Night is for everyone and anyone serving in any way in our family. This includes dinner group leaders and coaches, people who serve on teams that don’t meet Sunday like the food donation tables, those who serve with TRUE Mentors, you name it. If you’ve used your time and talents to serve God and others in our community, then this is for YOU.

**Lie No. 2.) “I just joined a team, but I haven’t served yet, so I can’t go to Teams Night.”**

At Teams Night, we are going to spend time talking about things that speak specifically to those serving – this much is true. Does that mean it will be completely over your head if you’re not? Maybe, maybe not. But we want you to know that the songs we sing, the words spoken and the things we do are going to have a drastically more potent impact on you if you’ve been serving. It’s going to hit home a little more, it’s going to be that much more relevant.

So no, you do not HAVE to be on a team and serving, but your experience is going to be more whole and purposeful if you are.

**Lie No. 3.) “I’ve got a friend who is interested in joining our team, but they haven’t yet, so I can’t bring them.”**

I think one of the best things you can do for a friend who is new is to invite them to serve along with you. We say this all the time, and talk about it in Intro To Impact – never serve alone. Part of that process could be bringing them to Teams Night. My hope is that for people who are on the fence about diving into this thing we call “church” and “family,” they would be inspired, motivated and excited about becoming a part of it after attending a Teams Night. In the plainest of terms, we create this time to be rejuvenated by and spend time with our God. But it is also a reminder that we are NOT in this alone – that there are hundreds of people who make this thing happen week to week, that are pouring out their hearts in worship to Him through serving. Teams Night brings that all home. It gives us a chance to come together, stop before God, and take a look at what He’s doing through our service.

**Lie No. 4.) “Teams Night is an excuse for Dana to wear her bright red Vans sneakers and jump around on stage.”**

The only lie in that statement is the fact that they’re green shoes, thank you very much.

PS: If you’re looking for a way to serve or just get involved in being a part of Hoboken Grace and the community, going [here](http://hobokengrace.com/connect/) is a great place to start.


What the Heck is Teams Night?

Our dinner groups at Hoboken Grace are all about building community. A half-dozen groups took that to heart last week by preparing more than 500 meals for local students rehearsing for opening night of _Shrek The Musical_.

For four nights, the dinner groups provided more than 150 plates to the hungry cast and crew of elementary, middle and high school students from the city’s public schools. They set up a full taco bar, assembled scores of sandwiches and baked trays and trays of ziti.

The drama club was so grateful that Hoboken Grace got a special shout-out during the live production at Hoboken High School over the weekend! That’s the magic of dinner groups: we were able to impact hundreds of students and their families across Hoboken and build more relationships within our community.

Want to join a dinner group? Sign up [here](http://hobokengrace.com/dinner-groups/).


Lights, Camera, Action!

Guatemala City Mission Trip


As Director of Missions and Outreach, I have a passion to see people connect. I love it when people learn something new about someone else, find something in common with a complete stranger or even discover something unique in cultural differences.

We have an opportunity coming up to experience all of the above. Our friends at Liberty in North Korea ([LiNK](http://www.libertyinnorthkorea.org)) and [St. Peter’s University](http://www.saintpeters.edu) have approached Hoboken Grace with some special chances to get first hand looks at new cultures and languages and to add new dynamics to your family.

I’m talking about the opportunity to be an American Homestay family. What is that you may ask? It’s simply opening up your heart and home and sharing your daily lives with students who are coming to the United States for the first time.

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus tells us two things. One, that we must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength and all your mind. (Luke 10:27 NLT) but then, later on in the same verse He tells us to “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Hosting an international student is a perfect opportunity to love our neighbors from all over the world and all walks of life. You have the opportunity to help your student learn about your city and community, practice hospitality and generosity, support diversity and cross cultural understanding, and create an international friendship that lasts a lifetime.

By living with an American homestay family, participants will be fully immersed in American culture and get an authentic cultural experience and perspective. They’ll experience first-hand the customs they will have learned about during their preparation and will also be able to speak English with native speakers everyday. Additionally, the homestay family will help participants deal with homesickness and provide a great support system for them during the exciting yet anxiety-filled time abroad.

A couple of years ago, my wife Dana and I got to spend time with Mary, an international student from Korea, who came to live with one of Hoboken Grace’s family members. I’ll never forget the opportunity we had to take her to her first Broadway show. We saw “Phantom of the Opera,” and I wish you could have seen her eyes light up when the nfamous chandelier made its way to the rafters. Mary grew up in North Korea and defected through 2,000 miles of rough terrain. She later told me that her experience while in the United States allowed her to see and learn what loving others was all about – something Jesus talked about too.

If you’re interested in furthering your understanding of what Jesus was talking about in being a good neighbor and opening your home to a student or two, please feel free to email me at anthony@hobokengrace.com and I’ll be more than happy to sit down with you and get you all the details.

It’s not just State Farm that can be a good neighbor, Jesus says we can too.


Like a good neighbor…

Now is your chance! One of the first steps we are called to take when we become a follower of Christ is the step of baptism. It’s an outward expression of our faith and a symbol that we have been made new because of Christ.

If you are interested in taking the step of baptism or have questions, we will be holding baptism meetings this Sunday following each service at 301 Garden St upstairs in The Hall (look for signs at the top of the stairs). The baptisms will then be held on Sunday, May 31st.


Baptism Meetings This Sunday


At Hoboken Grace, we know it’s possible to improve a city in a single day. That’s the goal of Go! Jersey City, a one-day service event hosted by Downtown Community Church.

We’ll be working alongside them to complete projects for New City Kids, St. Anthony’s High School and other local organizations, while also transforming parks across the city.

This is an amazing opportunity to serve and connect with our neighbors and to celebrate everything that God is doing through Downtown Community Church.

So, join us, Saturday, June 20th, at 10 a.m. in Hamilton Park, where we’ll divide into groups and disperse across the city.

You’ll be amazed at the difference one day can make!

Sign up [here](https://www.facebook.com/events/1603697279876747/1609341542645654/).


Go!  Jersey City

We will have six licensed, professional massage therapists on hand this Sunday, May 10th, to give every mother a well-deserved 10 minute chair massage! The spa experience will also extend to offer lemon water and chocolate covered strawberries. Relaxing and decadent!

Mothers will be able to listen to the message while relaxing. So, this is your last chance to invite your mom, sisters, aunts, grandmothers or friends to experience this special Sunday service. Let’s honor and pamper some of the most loving and hardest-working people in our lives.


The Mother of all Sundays


Our connection event line-up is off the charts! If you haven’t visited our [events page](https://www.facebook.com/hobokengrace/events) to plan your month, you need to ASAP.


It’s Ridiculous

Your preschoolers will be happy to know that this month The Happy Helpers Club is back in Grace Kids! And, it’s better than ever. This is one of our FAVORITE themes to do with preschoolers. At a young age, children start saying, “I help,” and it’s our responsibility to teach them how to help. God wants them to help others, to think of others before themselves.

This month we’ll hear how Ruth helped Naomi, how Nehemiah led an entire city to build a wall, how a women built a room for Elisha when he was in need and how Aaron helped Moses by physically holding up his arms during battle.

The children will finish off the month with a Happy Helper Party where they will receive a certificate that they are an official member of the Happy Helper Club. It’s so exciting!!!


May Happy Helpers!

In Clubhouse this month, our Kindergarten through 5th graders will learn that there’s something about the things we say that kind of stack up one way. Then there’s the way we live, or the reality about certain situations that stack up another way. If both stacks line up, you can build something strong on them. When what we say lines up with what we do, people know they can trust us—our words have strength, our lives are built with integrity.

Honesty really is a big deal. That’s why we’re spending the month of May talking about it. Honesty is choosing to be truthful in whatever you say and do.

When we’re honest, when our words line up with our actions, people know they can trust us. Our relationships grow stronger. God understands the relationship between honesty and trust. This is something God sets into motion in the first place.

Since the beginning, God has been in the business of making and keeping promises.

God told Abraham that he would be the father of a great nation of people—he was.

God told the Israelites that He would provide for them in the desert—He did.

God told Joshua that the wall of Jericho would fall if the people marched around it for seven days—it did.

God told Mary that she would give birth a Son, Jesus—she did.

As we look at these great stories and principles from the Bible, we hope that kids begin to live with honesty and integrity, that what they say will line up with what they do. But this won’t always be easy. That’s why our memory verse for the month can serve as a prayer for our kids when they need God’s strength to tell the truth. Psalm 119:29 says “Keep me from cheating and telling lies. Be kind and teach me your law.” We pray that this month will be a great reminder to all of us to be honest no matter what the situation looks like.

###### _By Dan Scott ©2015 The reThink Group. All rights reserved. www.ThinkOrange.com \*Used by permission._


Clubhouse Kids in May!

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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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