The UCC - Continuing Testament,

Extravagant Welcome, Changing Lives!

This page is being set up for our members and friends to share their faith and experince at Grace UCC. Poems by our church member Jay Pennington.

                                                                              “A House Not Vacant”
 
I know a house,
where all are welcome.
I know it well, 
and come to visit.
It is a place
where people gather,
where we, together,
help each other,
and help the world,
at least the world
we can reach.

We come to love.
We come to share.
We come to worship.
We come to care;
to offer praise,
to a loving God;
to offer prayers,
to ask for prayers.
 
Our challenge is
to strive our best,
to ease the pain;
to reverse the wrongs;
to advocate
to end the wars;
to fight for justice –
truly justice,
and forgiveness.

Our challenge is
to seek and find
 the inspiration
to end oppression,
and discrimination,
and every sort of disinformation;
which kills the truth,
and gives rise to lies,
allowing those 
with bad intentions
to harm with falsehoods,
while claiming
their accusers 
are spreading fake news.

Our challenge is
to exalt the voices
of those suppressed.

So many challenges,
so many causes,
so many problems,
so much to do.

We fight these battles
because it’s worth it,
because we all
are called to do so;
because we are,
if just a few, 
precious children
of a precious God.

It is our endeavor,
it is in our dreams,
it is our hope, 
it is in our prayers;
to help the helpless, 
to house the homeless,
to feed the hungry,
to soothe the suffering
of our disabled,
of our old,
of our ill,   
of our poor.
 
I know a house,
where all are welcome.
I know it well,
and come to visit.
This is a house
where no one lives,
save for one.
His name is Christ.
As for the house,
we call it “Grace.”
We hope you come,
to be our guest.
 
“Grace United Church of Christ”