YOU'RE WELCOME HERE
Not only do we want you to receive a warm and genuine welcome to Grace the first time you worship with us...we want you to sense that warmth every time you come through the doors of the church, or as you fellowship with any part of our congregation. Our welcome is real and enthusiastic...we really are glad you are here!

YOU'RE ACCEPTED HERE
Regardless of age, status, gender, ethnic origin, color, spiritual maturity or previous church affiliation (or none), we want you to know that you are accepted here. We are taught by the Apostle Paul to "accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you" (Romans 15:7, NIV). Our acceptance of one another does not mean that we overlook or condone each other's weaknesses or sins, simply that we love and accept each other as we are.

YOU'RE CARED FOR HERE
We have a desire and goal at Grace to provide an environment of genuine Christ-like care; caring that extends beyond mere words to acts of practical love and kindness. This caring ministry begins with the pastors and leaders of the church and extends to the members themselves. Our goal is to have 100% of our congregation involved in the ministry of caring for each other.

YOU'RE WANTED HERE
So many people today carry around with them a tremendous sense of uselessness, which ultimately results in isolation and feelings of rejection. Sad to say, many of the Lord's people are plagued by these devastating feelings. At Grace we want everyone to know that they are wanted here.

YOU'RE NEEDED HERE
We want you to know that you are not only wanted here at Grace, but in fact you are needed. You bring with you a special something...personality, character, perspective, talent and gifting.things that we do not have and that will complement the ministry of our church. The Apostle Peter makes this reality very clear when he says: "Each one of you has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God" (1 Peter 4:10). We are excited about the possibility of partnering with you in your journey of faith, as we, together, discover the reasons why God may be adding you to this particular church family.

YOU'RE SAFE HERE
At Grace, we have committed ourselves to biblical principles of life and love which, we trust, will constantly manifest in such a way as to ensure those who fellowship with us here of the following:

Our freedom in worship will never surrender to fanaticism.
We are forthright and expressive, but differentiate between the sound of praise and the mere "noise" of people. We worship as a choir in chorus, not as soloists in competition. We worship in spirit with liberty, but in concert under leadership. It's safe to praise aloud with us, for we will partner together to worship in the beauty of holiness, and we will pre-empt both prideful formalism and personal fanaticism.

Our openness to one another will never exploit anyone.
We foster communication and interaction, recognizing that true fellowship is impossible without the pursuit of transparent and authentic sharing. What is shared in prayer is sacred with us, and what is shown from your heart is treasured. We hold this trust, that all who minister the life of Jesus to one another always function in the love of Jesus. That love is unconditional and non-manipulative, and it always covers weakness and sin with strength and forgiveness.

Our welcome to spiritual gifts will never violate the Word.
We ask the Holy Spirit to be present here and to distribute gifts among us according to His will. All the gifts are present in His church, and every believer is urged to be free and responsible to minister gifts according to the Word of God and with sensitivity. We are covetous of their manifestation, but not gullible as to their demonstration. Graciousness in ministry, submissiveness in spirit and order in operation of the gifts is scriptural and, therefore, insisted upon in this assembly.

Our joyousness will never degenerate to mere excitability.
Childlike simplicity and faith can transcend patterns of pomp and pride, which society dictates we accept. But childlike is not childish, and so we refuse to be bound to the idea that true simplicity is either glib or emotionalistic. The joy and release in laughter, applause, shouting or tears involve the emotions: but, for understood reasons, not merely sensational ones. True freedom is as thoughtful as it is liberated, and we choose to live in that freeing truth.