What exactly is a year of grace? The idea for this journey began at the end of 2019, when our congregation decided to make space for the grace of God to help us grow in various areas of our lives. A short parable in Luke 13 helps to illustrate:
Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. 7 So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’ “‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’”
JESUS, LUKE 13:6-9
We challenged ourselves to find areas of our lives that needed ‘one more year’ of God’s grace. As a part of this journey we made a commitment to join together in dedicated study of scripture. Who could have known what the next year, 2020, would hold! More than ever, we need encounters with the grace of God each day, to strengthen and encourage us in these times. The inspired words of God in the pages of scripture often lead us into encounters with grace. It is our hope and prayer that by journeying together with us, you too will experience a year of grace.
Wesley Memorial UMC, Cleveland, TN