Friends,

Paul tells us that the stewardship (from the Greek “economy”) he has been given is over God’s grace. Paul, as a minister or servant is tasked with managing the household order, the “economy” of God’s people, by entrusting him with grace to pass on to others.

In other words, God is building a house of a people in which he will dwell through the Holy Spirit, and we have been tasked with managing the economy of that household, an economy of grace. Grace, the free gift, the favor that goes first to create a movement toward maturity, is what we have been entrusted with. How will we steward God’s grace?

“In Jesus you are also being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.” Ephesians 2:22

Over the past two months that I have been with you, we’ve spoken at length about the nature of the church from the Bible. I’ve been proposing that the church is the “People of God, on the mission of God, becoming the image of God in Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit.” As we conclude our series on the church, I want to invite you to be the church.
To Be The Church - What does that mean?

Let us think about the Church as 1) God’s people throughout time or his “kingdom”, 2) A local community, and 3) An institution.

1. The Church is the people Jesus is the king of, and none of us are kings in his stead. We can’t build his kingdom or enforce its rule.
2. Our job is to form a community that reveals the kingdom of God to the world of Yakima (and beyond).
3. And to facilitate the formation of that Jesus-shaped community,      we utilize an institution: Grace of Christ.

Like all human institutions, the staff, building, and programs are all tools or instruments to facilitate the life of the community that inhabits it. But all too often, institutions get turned inside out when we lean on branding, programming, events, staff, and buildings to be the church instead of us as a people.

The call again is to be the church. Our task is to resource an institution that is committed to resourcing you as a community, who are together committed to being the Church in Yakima. That’s a call upon you, personally, individually, to choose this day whom you will serve, in whose image you will be formed, and whose image you will display to the world.

It is my firm belief that when an institution serves the needs of a community that itself has a strong sense of self-understanding and health; such institutions never lack resources.
Financial giving demands transparency and accountability. We are committed to make Grace of Christ faithful to the needs of its community and to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Be on the lookout for our “Narrative Budget” available online and onsite that describes where the money you give goes at Grace of Christ.

Call To Action:
This season, I want you to prayerfully consider how you are called to steward the grace of God for the people of Yakima, as we together are the Church that reveals the kingdom of God to our community here and now. We are grateful that God has seen fit to continue using Grace of Christ for these 140 years, and as we embark on a new season of stewarding God’s grace, please consider a regular gift. Please fill out and detach the “Being The Church 2026 Giving Card” below and bring it to worship on Commitment Sunday, November 23.

In Christ,
Rev. Dr. Gregory Wagenfuhr

The Foundation is dedicated to expanding church ministry by administering assets and funding projects of Grace of Christ Presbyterian Church. The goal of the Foundation is to maintain the expressed will of those who give and to work under the mission statement of the church. The Foundation board is composed of nine church members, a church pastor and the church finance officer.

Join Church Leadership (Session, Business Management Team & Pastor Gregory) to learn about the financial management and ministry needs of the Church as we prepare for 2026.