Welcome to Gratia Community Church
Young leaders at Gratia Church in San Francisco initiated, planned, and led Gratia’s first-ever worship and prayer night on December 8. Led by Brother Larry and Sister Ruth, the worship and prayer night was a new format for prayer meeting that SF Gratia church hopes to do once a month.
Normally, prayer meetings are led by pastors, but this new format was a praise-led prayer. As worship songs were being led, members were free to either pray or sing praises, according to how the Holy Spirit moved them. Interspersed through prayer and singing praises, Brother Larry also read from the Word of God with the following two verses: Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139:23-24) God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’ (Exodus 3:14) Members testified that the praise-led prayer opened their hearts freely to receiving God’s grace in many ways. “The worship and prayer night is really fitting for young people and very natural way to receive grace of God,” said Pastor Walker, “I’m grateful that God called our young leaders to start and lead this graceful night of worship and prayer.” Brother Larry will lead worship and prayer during the upcoming Christmas Retreat. SF Gratia’s next worship and prayer night will be in late January 2024. Church leaders hope to advertise worship and prayer night in the new year as a method of evangelism to bring in newcomers. Please pray for SF Gratia young leaders and missions in San Francisco.
Gratia Church had a graceful group evangelism and Bible studies on November 30. It was the last day of November and also the final group evangelism activity for this fall semester, as the school will soon start winter break. Pastor Peter, Julia, and other young members, Larry, Jiaming, Ruth, and Jed, joined, and later Elizabeth came along when she met the members on the campus. It was a very graceful and fruitful time as they met many students who showed interest in joining Bible study.
Gratia Church celebrated Thanksgiving with a grateful heart through a service and Thanksgiving dinner on November 21. Pastor Walker delivered a message from Psalms 100: “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.” Members brought delicious food, fostering a sense of unity and enjoyment during the fellowship meal. It was a wonderful time for everyone to reflect on God’s grace and express full thanksgiving. May God’s grace continue to be with us in the coming years, and may joy overflow in our hearts with gratitude.
On November 12, 2023, Gratia Church held a graceful Sunday service, full of God’s word, praise, worship, and fellowship. The sermon delivered by Pastor Walker Tzeng, was on 1 Kings 19:1-21 entitled “The 7000 who have not bowed down to Baal”.
In the sermon, Pastor Walker spoke about the tumultuous time for the nation of Israel, divided and led astray by depraved secular kings and rampant idolatry. Amidst this time, Elijah stood as a beacon of prophetic truth. His solitary struggle against the wicked Queen Jezebel, who championed the worship of Baal, highlights a profound spiritual crisis. Elijah, chased into the wilderness, epitomizes the isolation and despair that can afflict even the most righteous. His experience underscores the reality that spiritual crises are not just physical but deeply emotional and psychological. It’s a stark reminder of the loneliness that can come from standing for truth and righteousness in a world that seems indifferent or even hostile. Elijah’s moment of utter desolation under the broom bush, or Rodem Tree, becomes a pivotal point of divine intervention. The angelic provision of sustenance symbolizes more than mere physical nourishment; it represents a spiritual rejuvenation. This episode teaches that in moments of deepest despair, God’s presence is profoundly transformative. It’s a reminder that in our own journeys, when we walk righteously yet fall into despair, it is the grace of God that sustains and renews us. The journey to Mount Horeb, echoing Moses’ own pilgrimage, signifies a return to the foundations of faith, a reminder that God’s grace is often most apparent in our most desperate moments. The story of Elijah culminates in the revelation at Mount Horeb, where God’s voice emerges not in grand displays of power but in a gentle whisper. This teaches the importance of cultivating a quiet and receptive heart, attuned to the subtle yet profound ways in which God communicates. The message extends further, revealing that Elijah is not alone in his faithfulness; there are 7000 others who have not bowed to Baal. This discovery highlights the existence of a faithful remnant, a group that remains steadfast amidst widespread idolatry and moral decay. The calling of Elisha, from plowing fields to prophetic ministry, exemplifies God’s power to transform and use the seemingly ordinary for extraordinary purposes. Today’s message is one of hope and challenge, inviting us to be part of the transformative work of God in a world that desperately needs change, not by the power of the masses, but through the faithful few.
Gratia Church held for the Fall Retreat from October 6-8, with special guests from Idaho Church. Members arrived on Friday night on October 6, with Brother Larry from Gratia preaching the opening service. He opened by speaking about God, which the Bible teaches us is love. He spoke from Luke 15 and the parable of the prodigal son to share this love. Brother Larry was full of passion and spoke with a fiery heart for his first ever retreat sermon.
Retreat attendees also enjoyed time of fellowship, praise, and playing game with one another. The evening also brought a talent show where many members showed their talents with songs, skits, and piano playing. Finally, Saturday ended with a prayer meeting full of grace, passion, and the presence of the Holy Spirit.
Please pray for the Fall Retreat as it continues to its last day on Sunday. May members receive grace, a deeper relationship with God through Jesus Christ, and come to know God’s Kingdom deeply.
The young members of Gratia are growing through teaching the Bible and evangelism. On September 7, Pastor Julia and Dany held campus evangelism at USF and made six contacts who are interested in Bible study, with one of them joining its afternoon Bible study. Dany was very happy to see that many of them responded very well today and felt the work of the Holy Spirit.
In the afternoon, brother Larry led the Bible study with 3 students and he felt that he was the one receiving more grace and strength through the teaching. He was very thankful that God sent these students who are ready to receive the Word of God. We pray that the Gratia mission continues to improve and brings revival to save many souls through these young leaders.
SF Gratia church members had a fantastic time playing bowling on Labor Day September 4. They had a great time together and felt refreshed. Afterward, they enjoyed a delicious dinner at Chili’s. It was a wonderful time spent together, having fun, and experiencing the great grace and joy in Jesus Christ.
On August 27, 2023, Gratia Church held a graceful Sunday service, full of God’s word, praise, worship, and fellowship. The sermon delivered by Pastor Walker Tzeng, was on Matthew 13:1-9 entitled “The Parable of the Sower”.
In the sermon, Pastor Peter spoke about the Parable of the Sower, which serves as a deeply spiritual guide on how to listen to the Word of God. More than mere knowledge that can become stale over time, the Word should be viewed as a deep well of living water, where one can always find fresher insights by going deeper. The parable starts with seeds that were scattered and fell outside the soil, perhaps onto a path. Jesus explains in verses 18-19 that the seeds represent the Word and the field symbolizes the heart. When we find the Word foreign or irrelevant, it’s because it’s not entering our hearts but landing somewhere else in our minds. This often happens when we go to church for the first time; the Bible may seem like a collection of myths or mere moral lessons. The key to overcoming this is opening our hearts and accepting with the heart of faith. The parable then talks about seeds falling on rocky soil, where the roots couldn’t take hold, resulting in weak plants that get scorched. Jesus clarifies that this represents those who listen to the Word with initial joy but without forming strong roots, leading to a fleeting faith. The Word might seem exhilarating at first, but if we don’t allow it to take root in our lives, we are setting ourselves up for failure when difficulties arise. The solution to this issue is right in the parable itself, it is addressing the “rocks” in our hearts. Sometimes it’s a difficult upbringing, experiences of bullying, or emotional wounds that form these rocks. We need to address these issues, speak about them, and allow God’s Word to heal us. It’s not just about preaching but also about listening and sharing, creating a deep-rooted relationship with God and each other. Next, there are the seeds that took root but were choked by thorns before they could bear fruit. Jesus interprets these thorns as the worries of life and the deceitfulness of wealth that consume us. Many of us, including myself, have lost sleep over such worries. But as Matthew 6:25 advises, worrying doesn’t help solve our problems. It’s a deceit that draws us away from what is meaningful. The key to overcoming this is faith in Christ and a focus on seeking righteousness and God’s Kingdom. Finally, the parable ends on a faithful note, describing seeds that fall on good soil and yield an abundant harvest. This serves as a reminder that the Word of God has the power to transform our lives and guide us toward something much more meaningful and eternal. It challenges our worldly measures of success—money, fame, power—and urges us to seek a deeper, more eternal sense of value in God’s Kingdom. In this way, the Word of God is not just a set of teachings but a transformative force that brings vibrancy and movement into our lives.