Serving Up Grace

One of my new Mosaic friends came into my veterinary office today with her daughter and puppy. We chatted about her Sheltie, her work, her move, and our excited plans for Mosaic's first official day of service coming up this Saturday.

Afterward, the nurse who had been assisting in the room said with genuine surprise and awe, "Your church really does that kinda thing?" Of course I replied, "Yeah, wanna come?"

This was the same woman who recently asked why we were starting a new church in Arundel Mills. And to my response that there aren't enough here, she said her Catholic church had plenty of room.

On Monday night at our Growth Group while studying Philip Yancey's book What's So Amazing About Grace, we had discussed the public's impression of the church. Concepts such as hypocrites, rules, and judgemental often come quickly to people's minds when asked to play the word association game with "Church" or "Christians". Our group agreed that we hope Mosaic will be first and foremost associated with grace. And this Saturday we want to continue to sow that seed of unconditional love, mercy and forgiveness that only God can offer as we branch out into the community with our new body of believers.

Against the odds of finding anything the State would allow us to do and the kids would enjoy, we'll be playing kickball, tossing some beanbags, and painting pumpkins with the residents of Baltimore's Regional Institute for Children and Adolescents. Weather permitting, or not, we'll also be tearing down some of The Samaritan Women's House and rebuilding other parts of it.

Maybe there were some churches here already, but there's always room for a little more grace.

"Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord." -Romans 12:11