This Sunday, for our last service at 301 Garden Street, we got to celebrate Child Dedication! Child Dedication happens one Sunday a year, where we gather together as a church as families dedicate their children to make the commitment to raise their little ones under God’s lead!

It is important for us to partner with our families from the very beginning so we can support and encourage them in intentionally raising their children to know what it means to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. 

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2023/06/53002381983_0cdb673aca_o.jpg)

As our families stepped on stage with their adorable little ones, Pastor Chris outlined the essential commitments we must make as parents and as a church! He walked us through three commitments that our families made and we, as a church family, also made a commitment to them. 

The first question Pastor Chris asked was- do you commit to raise your child as God’s, understanding that they are a special gift you have been given and not yours?

God loves your child more than you do.  
God knows your child better than you do.  
God has a better plan for your child than you do.

The second question that was asked to the families was-

Do you commit to teaching and training your child to leave by:

Putting your relationship with God first.  
Putting your marriage second.  
Putting your child third.

Pastor Chris explained that putting your child third does not mean putting them last! He also reminded us that as parents priorities aren’t taught they are demonstrated.

The last question that was asked was- Do you commit to creating a safe place for your child to meet Christ:

By being humble and growing in Christ yourselves.  
By welcoming rebuke when you are wrong.  
By being the same people in public as you are at home.

He reminded us that our relationship with Christ is built on grace and not perfection!

We made a commitment to them to create a safe church family by:

Joining together to fight gossip and broken relationships in our church family, admonishing each other when we are wrong, welcoming rebuke when we are wrong as a church, and showing the authentic love christ has for each of these children.

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2023/06/53002381893_1e2bb1044e_o-1.jpg)

It was really special to get to celebrate Child Dedication on our last Sunday at 301 Garden Street as we saw 29 children get dedicated!

We can’t wait to continue pouring into our kids as we move into our new space through Grace Kids and our middle school and high school program- Vibe and Quad! We are super excited for all the new and creative ways we’ll be able to love our kids and grow their faith inside of our new space!

To sign up for our next child dedication click [here!](https://hobokengrace.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/1826509)


Child Dedication 2023


This past Sunday will always hold a special place in our hearts as we celebrated our last service at 301 Garden Street. It was a day filled with a mixture of emotions as we’ve been in 301 Garden since 2010! Over these last 13 years, we’ve seen God move in so many ways.

This space was an incredible gift as it allowed us to love our city and help people find their way back to God.

As we’ve been reflecting on our time at 301 Garden, we asked some of our staff members what their favorite memory has been over the years from their time at 301.

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2023/06/52808133623_a895e1463a_o.jpg)

**Megan Y. –** “I don’t know if I can pick just one. We’ve had so many crazy and amazing experiences at 301 Garden. From having Grace Kids on the rooftop to making classrooms out of hallways, my team has seen it all, but I think one of my all time favorite memories from 301 is seeing some of our elementary kids take the step of baptism, and seeing the looks on the faces of their friends as they get to be on stage with them or watching from the front row. It’s really a sight to see and I simply cannot wait to make more memories just like that in our new home at 409 14th St!!”

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2023/06/52706078895_f9e6705bcd_o.jpg)

**Luiz R. – “**301 Garden St. will always hold a dear place in my heart. It was one of the places that really marked a major step in my faith journey. I’ll cheat a little bit and pick two moments — but you’ll understand why, I promise! My favorite moments at Hoboken Grace were the two last Ash Wednesday services, 2022 and 2023\. The 2022 Ash Wednesday service was actually my first service at Hoboken Grace. This came right after I had just accepted the offer to come on as a full-time staff member. It was a very special night, a night that I was able to feel God really close — my heart was full. Part two of this story was just this past February at the 2023 Ash Wednesday service. This was the first service that my parents were able to attend with me at Hoboken Grace! For some back story, both of my parents also work in full-time ministry, and so they had never been able to come to a Sunday service before here in Hoboken. Ash Wednesday was the perfect opportunity for them to experience Hoboken Grace for the first time. It was a special time I got to spend with them — the people I love, in the place I love.”

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2023/06/52011649134_bde0aa9492_o.jpg)

**Danielle P**.**–** “It’s hard to put into words how special 301 Garden is to me because, truthfully, it’s where I met God. Every smiling face, serving heart, worshiping song & Sunday message softened my heart and ultimately led me back to Him. For that, I’m forever grateful.”

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2023/06/photo.jpg)

**Nick L. –** “My favorite moment at 301 was the first service after Superstorm Sandy hit Hoboken. We were all so tired from serving our neighbors all week but we were also so united in that moment. We held one service that Sunday and we did a stripped down version of service. I remember Pastor Chris preached in the rain boots he wore all week. The room was so packed that we had people standing on the back wall. I always find it powerful when people make margin to worship God even when their circumstances aren’t ideal. It’s a great reflection of what truly matters.”

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2023/06/52140697312_baf7bc7aca_o.jpg)

**Yuli F. –** “301 will always be a special place for me! As part of the Next Steps team, I was able to walk through so many family milestones, from baptisms to engagements to child dedications. Watching people invite God to walk alongside them and their families is something I’ll always treasure.”

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2023/06/52685282977_500f4261c3_o-1.jpg)

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2023/06/52686222930_15927f5f1d_o.jpg)

**Rachel K.-** “My favorite moment at 301 Garden would be celebrating our 15th birthday! It was such a special, fun, and powerful day as we all came together to reflect and celebrate how good God is and how much He has done through Hoboken Grace! Hoboken Grace has had such a big impact on my life and being able to look back at all of the baptisms, lives transformed through discovering a personal relationship with God, and the impact we’ve been able to have on our community was incredible. I remember getting chills as the band ended the service with a mashup of all the worship songs they’ve sung over the years.”

We are so grateful for all of the ways God has provided in and through this space and the people who have been so greatly impacted along the way. We are also filled with so much excitement for our new space and for all that God has in store for us and our city there!

We can’t wait to see you for our first service at our new space on Sunday, July 16th at 409 14th St!

We ask that you continue praying for this new space! If you have any memories you would like to share from your time at 301 Garden, send us a message on our Instagram or Facebook or email us at info@hobokengrace.com.


Looking Back At Our Time At 301 Garden St


This Sunday, over 30 children will be dedicated as part of our annual Child Dedication service. This is a special series of services where parents get to publicly present their child to God and to our church family. The purpose of a Child Dedication service is to commit the child to God and seek the support and encouragement of Hoboken Grace.

While parents will make their commitment from the stage we, as Hoboken Grace, will make commitments to them. One of those commitments is to create a safe place for their child to meet Christ. We believe this is so important and we want to be able to create a place where their child can meet and grow in their relationship with Christ.

One of the things we teach in the Child Dedication class, which is a class that each family who is participating in the dedication must take, is that we want you to start praying every night with your child. My wife and I committed to doing this and have made it an active part of our nightly routine with our daughter who is now 4 years old.

We do this every night. Bathtime, Book, Bible Story and Prayer. Our daughter gets to pick a book of her choice and she also gets to pick a Bible story every night. We want to help you in growing your little ones in their relationship with God, so I thought we’d share some of our favorite books that are centered around faith, the Bible, and building their relationship with God.

1. [The Jesus Storybook Bible](https://www.amazon.com/Jesus-Storybook-Bible-Every-Whispers/dp/0310708257/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?crid=1D1MAHUI3VM83&keywords=jesus+story+book+bibles&qid=1687204474&sprefix=jesus+story+%2Caps%2C355&sr=8-1) – this is the book we actually give to every child who is dedicated. It’s also one of my daughter’s favorites. The illustrations are great and it’s a great way to introduce your little one to the stories of scripture. It does a great job of pointing out how the whole story of scripture points to Jesus.
2. [What is God Like? Little Blessings Series](https://www.amazon.com/What-God-Like-Little-Blessings/dp/0842351183/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?crid=3RWXER0JX9D0M&keywords=little+blessings+what+is+God+like&qid=1687295661&s=books&sprefix=little+blessings+what+is+god+like%2Cstripbooks%2C120&sr=1-1) – honestly, any of the Little Blessings Series is great for kids. We have both “What is God Like?” and “Why is there a Cross?” – written for children ages 3 to 6, to answer fundamental questions about who God is and what He’s like.
3. [Zaccheus and Jesus (Flipside Books)](https://www.amazon.com/Zacchaeus-Jesus-Flipside-Stories-Mackall/dp/1496411196/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?crid=1W3SZJTXHVK3A&keywords=zacchaeus+and+jesus+flipside&qid=1687295832&s=digital-text&sprefix=zaccheus+and+jesus+flipside%2Cdigital-text%2C95&sr=1-1) – This book is really cool. It shows you two different sides to the story of Zaccheus and his meeting with Jesus. It tells the same story twice from two different, biblical points of view. It allows the reader to enjoy the story of Zaccheus and then literally flip the book to read the story from the perspective of Jesus.
4. [The Action Bible](https://www.amazon.com/The-Action-Bible/dp/083077744X/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?crid=HNBX52LJW03U&keywords=action+bible&qid=1687296082&s=books&sprefix=action+bible%2Cstripbooks%2C85&sr=1-1) – a great book for older kids. Have you ever wondered what God’s Word would look like if it was written as a comic book? This version sends you through the story of scripture in chronological order with amazing illustrations and a really easy and exciting way to engage with the Bible.
5. [NLT Teen Life Application Study Bible](https://www.amazon.com/Teen-Life-Application-Study-Bible/dp/1414324626/ref=sr%5F1%5F27?crid=3BU4T9ALQ670Z&keywords=bible+for+teens&qid=1687371790&sprefix=bible+for+teens%2Caps%2C146&sr=8-27) – a great bible for the teen and preteen in your life. It is full of notes and features designed to meet the challenges and needs of today’s middle school and high school students. It gives great notes and has application-oriented features focusing on choices, real-life issues, and stories of actual teens.

Lastly, I want to give you a fun practice that my wife and I have been doing and plan on doing again as we welcome our second child in September. It’s an incredible way for you to increase your devotional time too.

Get yourself a Bible with wide margins. This is the one we got for our daughter – the [NIV Journal the Word Bible](https://www.amazon.com/Journal-Bible-Double-Column-Letter-Comfort/dp/031045526X/ref=sr%5F1%5F8?crid=3T03GZGQRE7X4&keywords=wide+margin+bible+NIV&qid=1687372087&sprefix=wide+margin+bible+niv%2Caps%2C80&sr=8-8) – and you use it for your devotional time. As you go through it, we invite you to highlight and write different thoughts for your child. Our daughter is currently four years old, but we plan on giving it to her when she gets older. Our goal is to pray, read, highlight, and write notes through the lens of a parent. So that when she gets older, she’ll have a Bible chock full of notes, highlights and passages pointed out for her by her parents. When we finish hers, we plan on doing it again with one for her little brother.

If we can instill one truth for you this Child Dedication weekend, it’s the importance of getting your child, no matter how young, to begin to see how God created them and who God created them to be. Grace Kids does an incredible job on a weekly basis and all of these suggestions above are just added bonuses to your daily routine so that your little one (or big one) is consistently hearing and engaging with God’s truth.

Scripture tells an incredible story of a powerful God whose love knows no bounds and as parents, we are responsible to teach them who God is and to model what it looks like to respond to His love.


Book Recommendations For Your Child


Summer has always been synonymous with graduation for me. The beating hot sun, the locally famous commencement speakers, yearbook signings. Oh, and those huge signs parents put out in their front lawn that say “congratulations Luke and the class of 2022!” It seems that even when you don’t personally have a family member or close friend moving into the next phase of schooling, graduation season is still all around us.

Which begs the question, why just stick to traditional school graduations? Our Grace Kids are moving on up to the next stages of their lessons about Jesus, too. Which means another opportunity for us to celebrate! This past Sunday was our Graduation Sunday. A special time where kids got to say goodbye to their familiar classrooms, and say hello to their new rooms and small group leaders.

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2023/06/gk-grad-jp-evie.jpg)

Many new faces came through the Kindergarten doors, as it was officially time for our Pre-K students to transition to our Elementary school program (formally known as Clubhouse). The leader of our Three’s and Four’s program, Jackie Ruff, said “ It was so special seeing them go from being the oldest kids in the class to walking into large group being the youngest. I am excited to see them grow in their faith and build relationships with their small group leaders that will impact them for the rest of their lives.”

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2023/06/52975905790_04d2f341c2_o-1.jpg)

Kids throughout all our other classrooms got to celebrate their accomplishments by making their own diploma craft and coming together one last time in the worship room to dance and try on their very own graduation caps. This also gave our leaders a chance to spend a little more time with the kids that some of them have been teaching for years.

After blasting the room with a handheld confetti cannon, our graduates lined up by grade to take pictures in front of our bright and colorful Grace Kids backdrop. Where there was, you guessed it, more confetti. It wouldn’t be a graduation without photos to commemorate the day. This moment also marked the last time our 5th graders would be a part of Grace Kids. Matt Apel, who is a current 4th and 5th grade small group leader shared, “Graduation is always a bittersweet day because as 4-5th grade teachers we watch these students we’ve known and built relationships with for 5 years move into middle school. But knowing that they’ve got a foundation of faith to build upon in a more mature way brings me abundant joy and a chance to look back and see how God has worked in their lives to bring them to this point.”

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2023/06/52975988153_3e19279571_o.jpg)

But where one chapter ends, another begins. The 5th graders may have left Grace Kids (and will now be sitting in “big church” with the adults), but they’ll get to continue spending time with their friends and learning more about the word of God through our middle school program, Vibe! Josh Laryea, who has been a small group leader with Grace Kids for many years, said, “It was awesome to see and hear how the 5th grade kids were excited to graduate and move to Vibe. They had heard great things from their older siblings and friends. I’m grateful for the opportunity to be a part of creating a fun, safe space for kids to grow in their understanding and relationship with God.”

Graduation Sunday 2023 doesn’t only mark leaving the old and entering the new for Grace Kids, but for everybody, as we’re all about to be entering new rooms that we’re not used to in our brand new building. If you’re a regular attendee of Sunday morning services, please welcome our new middle school friends if you see them. If you’re a parent of a child who just moved up to a new grade, our small group leaders will continue to welcome you and your kids to what’s going to be an incredible future at Hoboken Grace.


Graduation Sunday: Leaving the Old, Entering the New


Father’s Day is this Sunday and if you happen to have a father in your life who, like myself, loves to learn about becoming the best dad they can be I have four book recommendations that helped me grow.

### The Expectant Father

![Father's Day Book Recommendations](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2023/06/edccea5d-9d5a-47eb-a46e-1cd99eaf2831.3e32deefaa9a411c770f17eff9a18a5c.jpeg)

Let’s start with a book for those who are about to become a father. I’ve read a few new dad books but this one was by far and away the best one I came across. Each chapter is broken into months of the pregnancy so if you’re a slow reader you have about a month to read 20-30 pages. It was super helpful to know what was happening and how to best support my wife in each stage as well as preparing me for what was coming next. As someone who loves to be in the know this book was valuable.

[Book](https://www.amazon.com/Expectant-Father-Ultimate-Dads-Be/dp/0789212137/ref=tmm%5Fpap%5Fswatch%5F0?%5Fencoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=) | [Audiobook](https://www.amazon.com/The-Expectant-Father-audiobook/dp/B01G4ENSB8/ref=tmm%5Faud%5Fswatch%5F0?%5Fencoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=)

### Raising Emotionally Strong Boys: Tools Your Son Can Build On For Life

![Father's Day Book Recommendations](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2023/06/41uA58fgkCL.jpg)

A book recommendation for fathers with children older than toddlers. Fabulous book with practical lessons on helping boys develop into healthy men. This book covered a lot of ground on some important tools that I missed growing up that I want to make sure that my son has so that he can be strong emotionally, socially, and spiritually. I must admit this also opened up a lot of practices I have added into my own rhythms as well. Highly recommend. I know this one is gender specific but the principles learned in this book are valuable. (if you don’t have sons in your life I’ve heard really good things about [Raising Worry-Free Girls](https://www.amazon.com/Raising-Worry-Free-Girls-Daughter-Stronger-ebook/dp/B07PZXJNCF/ref=tmm%5Fkin%5Fswatch%5F0?%5Fencoding=UTF8&qid=1686679711&sr=1-3) by Sissy Goff who wrote the forward to this book.)

[Book](https://www.amazon.com/Raising-Emotionally-Strong-Boys-Tools-ebook/dp/B09LWTK2QW/ref=tmm%5Fkin%5Fswatch%5F0?%5Fencoding=UTF8&qid=1686681586&sr=1-1) | [Audiobook](https://www.amazon.com/Raising-Emotionally-Strong-Boys-Tools/dp/B0B5YHBV6K/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?keywords=raising+emotionally+strong+boys+tools+your+son+can+build+on+for+life&qid=1686681586&s=books&sprefix=raising+emot%2Cstripbooks%2C94&sr=1-1)

### The Intentional Father: A Practical Guide to Raise Sons of Courage and Character

![Father's Day Book Recommendations](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2023/06/41-9RDtuiL.jpg)

The author of this book Jon Tyson is a pastor in Manhattan. I read this book earlier than probably recommended, as it’s written as a practical guide for fathers and their teenage sons as a way to mentor them into good faithful men. While I’m looking forward to really putting this book into action when my son is a teenager this was still a valuable read as there are exercises in the book that help you work out your own relationship issues and allow you to grow from them so that you can provide the best for your son. He also has one about Raising Daughters coming out soon.

[Book](https://www.amazon.com/Intentional-Father-Practical-Courage-Character/dp/0801018684/ref=tmm%5Fhrd%5Fswatch%5F0?%5Fencoding=UTF8&qid=1686681632&sr=1-1) | [Audiobook](https://www.amazon.com/Intentional-Father-Practical-Courage-Character/dp/B09FCH47VX/ref=tmm%5Faud%5Fswatch%5F0?%5Fencoding=UTF8&qid=1686681632&sr=1-1) \*_If you’re not a reader and enjoy podcasts he has an excellent short run podcast on the topic called_ [_Intentional Family._](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/intentional-family/id1585603452)

### Parenting Your… (Series)

![Father's Day Book Recommendations](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2023/06/GL-4262_1080x.jpg-copy.jpg)

If you’re like me and love the curriculum from Grace Kids you may not know this but they make parenting guides for you that help you partner with them. They are really good and they bring a lot of context to each phase of your child’s life. They have a book for every age from new born through 12th grade. Inside each book they unpack four conversations to have at each phase about faith, health, sexual integrity, and technology. It’s been very beneficial for me to know what are the development milestones appropriate for each phase.

[Website](https://parentcuestore.org/products/parenting-your-variety-pack-18-phases?variant=12234700980305&currency=USD&utm%5Fmedium=product%5Fsync&utm%5Fsource=google&utm%5Fcontent=sag%5Forganic&utm%5Fcampaign=sag%5Forganic&utm%5Fterm=&utm%5Fcampaign=MW%5FPC%5FShopping%5FSmart&utm%5Fsource=adwords&utm%5Fmedium=ppc&hsa%5Facc=1624807474&hsa%5Fcam=18084014837&hsa%5Fgrp=&hsa%5Fad=&hsa%5Fsrc=x&hsa%5Ftgt=&hsa%5Fkw=&hsa%5Fmt=&hsa%5Fnet=adwords&hsa%5Fver=3&utm%5Fid=go%5Fcmp-18084014837%5Fadg-%5Fad-%5F%5Fdev-c%5Fext-%5Fprd-shopify%5FUS%5F1329089675345%5F12234700980305%5Fmca-560457934%5Fsig-CjwKCAjwp6CkBhB%5FEiwAlQVyxc31OPRbopLgOjgNjawuMMK0tECGIyv4eY9edqnPk2SIpdSQqE3FnxoCWjQQAvD%5FBwE&gclid=CjwKCAjwp6CkBhB%5FEiwAlQVyxc31OPRbopLgOjgNjawuMMK0tECGIyv4eY9edqnPk2SIpdSQqE3FnxoCWjQQAvD%5FBwE)

I hope you enjoy these Father’s Day book recommendations!


Father’s Day Book Recommendations


There are many reasons our church operates at the level that it does week after week. The warm and inviting greeters, the energetic and patient Grace Kids team, the tech-savvy sound booth, all serving together to make the Sunday experience the best it can possibly be. Behind all these great teams, are strong leaders working behind the scenes. Our tradition to honor these leaders is to take one weekend out of the year and dedicate it to them.

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2023/05/52931134222_9b332ff9fa_o.jpg)

Leadership Weekend 2023 kicked off with a powerful worship session, followed by Pastor Chris guiding us through a vision of what the future of the church may be, and why having strong leaders through that process will be more important now than ever.

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2023/05/52931135022_32d0f7be2e_o.jpg)

Pastor Chris wasn’t the only one who had the opportunity to share his wisdom. The leaders were surprised by a video of the late Tim Keller who recorded a message for his own church just days before he passed away. The video and Chris’ teaching went hand in hand. How can we lead well when the world around us is changing so rapidly?

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2023/05/52931876579_3cdf21cb99_o.jpg)

So many takeaways and challenges were presented throughout the day to give leaders the tools they need to better equip their teams. Especially as we move into our brand new space this summer, things will be changing, and we have to prepare for it together. Because only together can we put into action the unimaginable plans God has in store for this city.

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2023/05/52931136262_98da16710a_o.jpg)

One leader who attended the events on Saturday said, “even though we’re all serving the same church, we don’t often get to see or spend time with one another because of our individual tasks. But getting to share meals and bonding activities together made me feel a whole lot more connected to the other great leaders doing outstanding work for our community.”

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2023/05/52931136317_a1441aef95_o.jpg)

A game that bonded everyone the most was a Hoboken Grace themed Family Feud, where groups went on stage to test their many years of Hoboken Grace’s history and inside jokes. The teams almost got a perfect score on “Top Things Pastor Chris Says Every Sunday.”

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2023/06/52932119030_747c6aaf84_o-1.jpg)

Like previous years, Sunday services went completely online this weekend to give the leaders a well deserved break.

One weekend is the least we could do to show appreciation for what our leaders pour into Hoboken Grace, but that’s what’s so great about them. None of them do it for the thanks, praise or attention. They lead because they are called by God to use their gifts to better His kingdom.


Leadership Weekend 2023


If you haven’t seen the movie, “Just Friends” it’s about a guy who grew up immediately placed in the friend zone by a girl that he was in love with or thought he was in love with (as much as you can be at 16). That’s only part of the movie but it’s the part that sticks out to me when I think about how my now husband (Jon) and I started out. Well, slight difference, neither of us was interested in each other. Although I was actively dating, I was not interested in him and he was on a break from dating. Pastor Chris has talked about this practice many times in the past. ([_This_](https://hobokengrace.com/series/restoring-love/) series is really good!)

A mutual friend (SHOUT OUT TO NICK LENZI!) introduced us at a connection event at House of Que. I, of course, had previously looked him up on Facebook and so when we met he felt it was okay to say “Oh you’re the girl who friend requested me on Facebook.” (Yeah, he said that!) Embarrassed and annoyed, I immediately put him in the friend zone and moved on. I wasn’t attracted to him and I later found out the feeling was mutual. It wasn’t until another connection event several months later that we reconnected. That evening, we talked a lot and I really enjoyed it. He was cool, friendly, and funny. We had a lot in common — but still, I kept him in the friend zone. That night he mentioned he was on a Zog sports volleyball team and I had already been entertaining the idea of joining one of those teams. My intention was to meet more single people — not because I was good at volleyball … at all. So, he invited me to join his team and I said _sure_.

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2023/06/tempImagezX3N5d.jpg)

The first game quickly came and I immediately regretted my decision. I wasn’t necessarily athletic or good at volleyball, and I didn’t know anyone on the team. Honestly, I was pretty nervous, but Jon made sure I was comfortable. He would walk with me to the game, encouraged me when it was my turn to serve, and if I messed up he let me know it was okay. He helped me to get to know his teammates and always made me laugh. He always walked me home after the games because it was so late but still, he was just my friend. During this time I’d see him at church and connection events and we always chatted. We were in different friend circles but we still maintained a friendship.

Fast forward a few months and Jon was late to a game. He was never late to a game. I overheard our teammates saying, “Jon is probably on a date. I think he said he was going on a date before the game.” All of a sudden I was upset. Like really upset. I was angry. And I actually remember thinking to myself, “Why wouldn’t he ask me out? Who is this girl he went on a date with? He has some nerve going on a date!” But who was I to say or think these things? I didn’t even like him in that way…. _right_? Well no sooner than I was doing my self-talk did I turn around and he came happily strolling in. He came right over to me and sat down. I was so annoyed and didn’t even want to look at him. He started to talk and I did not want to catch up with him about his week or his date but he said, “I just had the best meeting with my dinner group coach and I am so excited about leading a dinner group!” And that’s when I knew. At that moment, I REALIZED my heart _HAD_ changed towards him. I was overcome with happiness for him and realized at that moment that I had a crush on him.

You see, over the few months that we played volleyball together, I got to see his character demonstrated over and over again. I saw how he treated his friends, I saw how he responded in stressful situations, I saw how he handled losing games (mostly because of me), I heard about his work situations and how he handled them, I heard about his family, I saw how passionate he was about God and leading a dinner group — and I saw him time and time again put my needs over his own convenience. I had fallen for this guy and I was shocked!

Honestly, I’ve heard Pastor Chris talk about spiritual chemistry before but I’m not actually sure I believed it before Jon. I had always based my dating decisions on looks, career, shared hobbies, etc… But with Jon, it was completely backward. I fell in love with him first because of his character and _our_ spiritual chemistry and then I desired to date him! And let me just say that I hit the jackpot. Boy, did I have that whole dating thing wrong! Jon and I have been married for 6 years and have two boys and God reminds me DAILY that this was His plan for me and it truly is the best! It’s not perfect but it’s so good.

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2023/06/51095402598_11bb7c343d_k.jpg)

If you haven’t gotten the chance to watch or listen to our last series _Dating Apps_, check it out [here](https://hobokengrace.com/datingapps/)!


Just Friends


It was an extra special Sunday here at Hoboken Grace, as we celebrated all of our wonderful mothers and mother figures and all they do for us!

It was great seeing so many families together as well as people inviting their moms and grandmothers to join them for church on Sunday!

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2023/05/52899302432_25421e2c37_o.jpg)![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2023/05/52900269315_5949e23875_o.jpg)

As soon as you stepped into 301 Garden, we had a greenery flower wall set up in the lobby for moms and families to stop and take pictures in front of! It was a big hit and adorable seeing the big smiles on both the mom’s faces and their little ones.

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2023/05/52899297797_d7dddf06a4_o-1.jpg)

The celebration was even going on up on the fourth floor at Grace Kids! Our teachers were leading their classrooms in some fun crafts for their moms! In Clubhouse, (_grades K-5_), the kids were all smiles creating special beaded bracelets for their moms. Meanwhile, the three and four-year-olds were making flower pots, while the pre-teens were making paper roses!

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2023/05/52900265260_06a7ca0e0b_o.jpg)

Back on the first floor, the band led us through some powerful worship songs, as we headed into another week in our ‘Dating Apps’ conversation.

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2023/05/52900026629_8a33bd7d7e_o.jpg)

Pastor Anthony walked us through our newest message, ‘Dating Your Spouse,’ where he spoke about the importance of being intentional in your marriage as well as pursuing the other person, as God pursues us. He reminded us that if you are married, it doesn’t mean you should stop “dating” your husband or wife.

To catch up on Sunday’s message click [here](https://youtu.be/CSOuWxo-zHU).

We also were able to surprise our moms with a special gift and we loved seeing the smile and surprise on their faces as we were able to show our appreciation towards them!

We are so glad we got to bless our moms this Sunday!


Mother’s Day At Hoboken Grace


Dating is one of the best parts of a relationship – it’s how we keep things fresh and exciting. But once couples get married and the years go on, often dating your spouse can become more challenging as you experience big changes, milestones, or bring kids into the picture. Setting aside intentional time together becomes even more important.

My wife and I have been married for 12 years and together for 14\. Not long in the grand scheme of a lifelong partnership, but long enough to have had some amazing dates, bad dates, and even gone through dry seasons of non-existent dates. Through trial and error, we have found some date night strategies that work for us and want to share some ideas in the hopes that maybe they will help you. Even if you’ve been together a long time, you can re-prioritize date nights and make them more frequent, meaningful, and enjoyable.

## **Make it a Priority**

This seems obvious, but the best place to start in improving your date nights is to make them a priority. Life can get busy, and it’s easy to let date nights slip through the cracks. But if you want to strengthen your connection and nurture your relationship, you need to commit and put time together on the calendar. Choose a specific day or night each week, every other week, or month and mark it as your dedicated date night. By making it a priority, you send a clear message to your significant other that they are important to you.

## **Get Creative**

When date nights feel unachievable because of the time or money required, get creative and think outside the box. If you want your relationship to thrive, you can’t afford _not_ to make that date with your spouse. Here are three examples of how we’ve gotten unstuck after becoming parents :

1. Swap date nights with another couple. You take care of their kids one night, and they do the same for you on another night. This way, you both get the opportunity to have uninterrupted quality time together without the prohibitive cost of a babysitter.
2. Explore non-traditional times for your date nights. Morning dates can be a game changer, especially if any childcare needs are already taken care of through school or daycare. Personally, I also learned that my mind is much sharper in the morning, and my wife appreciates getting the best of my energy and attention at the start of the day.
3. Try an early evening/happy hour date. Consider taking advantage of responsible teenage babysitters’ availability in the early evenings. This plays to their strengths, because it’s better for teens’ school schedules and they have so much energy to play with your kids!

## **Come Prepared**

I’ve learned that I need to make time to come into date night prepared. Without thinking through what I want the night to be beforehand, I can’t make the most out of date night. One of the biggest lies I can find myself believing is that “I can wing it and be okay.” Life can be hectic, and it’s easy to forget about specific things you may want to talk about during your date. This is why I keep a note in my phone as a reminder of conversations I want to have with my wife that I know I’m likely to forget come date time.

The other benefit of this step is that preparation allows you to be more present during your date and ensures that you have meaningful conversations. By being intentional about your conversations, you show your spouse that you value their thoughts and opinions.

## **Connect Emotionally**

As relationships progress, the dynamics of dating also shift. In the early stages, much of dating revolves around getting to WHO the other person is. However, as time goes on, you likely already know much of who they are. Your dates will need to shift from learning who they are to HOW or WHERE they are today.

Bring questions to the table that will help you connect beyond the logistics and routines of your everyday life. This is your time to intentionally go deeper than surface level. Find out what they’re learning or excited about lately. Ask them how they feel loved and appreciated. Be willing to ask for feedback on where you might be falling short as a partner and how you’re able to love them better in the next week.

> _Unsure what questions to ask on your next date? Here are suggestions from our_ [_Married Group Leaders_](https://hobokengrace.com/blog/improving-and-questioning-date-night/)

## **Examine Your Expectations**

Expectations play a significant role in our day-to-day lives and can often lead to disappointment when they aren’t met. Problems surface when we fail to communicate our expectations to one another. Author Brene Brown refers to these unshared expectations as “stealth expectations,” because they can catch us off guard and cause tension in our relationships.

Date night is the perfect opportunity to communicate your expectations openly and honestly and just as important for you to hear theirs as well. During your time together, take the time to express what you would like to experience or achieve in the days and months ahead.

For example, you could say, “Hey, this weekend I’d really enjoy it if we could switch things up and take a family hike,” or “Things are going to get busy at work next week, and I’d love it if we could keep our evenings clear so I can recharge.” By voicing your expectations, you give your significant other a clear understanding of what you desire and can work together to meet each other’s needs, rather than hoping they just ‘get it’ and feeling resentful when they don’t.

Improving your date nights requires intentionality and a willingness to adapt as your relationship evolves. By making date nights a priority, getting creative, coming prepared, connecting emotionally and examining your expectations, you can foster a deeper bond with your spouse. Remember, date nights are about consistently investing in your relationship and making the most of the time you spend together. You can keep the spark alive and nurture your relationship through regular, intentional date nights and enjoy the journey of growing closer as a couple.

---

_If you feel like your relationship could benefit from additional guidance and support, consider exploring [Re|Engage](https://hobokengrace.churchcenter.com/groups/dinner-groups?enrollment=open%5Fsignup%2Crequest%5Fto%5Fjoin&filter=enrollment%2Ctag&tag%5Fid=1120386&where%5Bname%5D=Re-Engage). Re|Engage offers a structured approach to helping couples strengthen their marriages, providing valuable resources, tools, and a supportive community. Whether you’re facing challenges or simply want to enrich your relationship, Re|Engage is a valuable resource for your journey together towards a thriving and fulfilling partnership. Invest in your relationship and discover the transformative power of intentional growth together._


Elevate Your Date Night: Strategies for Deepening Your Connection


It is always an extra special Sunday when we get to see someone take the step of Baptism and celebrate them together as a church family. It is such a powerful moment as we come together and see someone take this momentous step in their faith.

The Story Team recently sat down with Nick to learn a little bit more about his journey to baptism and what it has meant to him.

**Story Team:** **What was the feeling like when you got baptized?**

**Nick:** It was a glow. Like God was smiling down on me. Like He awoke something that He’s been trying to ignite for a long time. He has always lived in me, and this felt like lighting the fire to burn down all of who I used to be and emerging from that a new person.

Similar to Paul saying burn your old clothes….it felt like that. I felt his warmth in my heart and it’s been so powerful.

**Story Team:** **Who was up there with you?**

**Nick:** My mom, dad, sister, brother, brother-in-law, Chris & Anthony, and three of my friends from my Dinner Group.

**Story Team:** **For another Hoboken Grace community member who may be thinking about taking this step, what would you say to them?**

**Nick:** God is calling you. Pick up the call. It’s changed my life.

If I want to be less dramatic I would say that it’s so special to do something like this for God in front of people who have helped change my life for the better.

To be able to do that feels like saying “Yes God! I proclaim Your power and love for me. I accept You, I want You. You are all I need. Come live in me, through me, and for me.”

It feels nice to do that for Him who does all for us.

**Story Team:** **What made you take the step of baptism?**

**Nick:** John Milius and Anthony, two of Hoboken Grace’s staff members played a huge role for me.

God calling me. I’ve felt for some time He’s calling me toward His purpose, to spread His word, to share His light that He so graciously pours into me on a daily basis.

John made the suggestion, and I had thought about it a few times having witnessed a few at Hoboken Grace over these months since joining the church.

I am so very glad I did.

_If you have any questions about baptism, [‘What is Baptism](https://hobokengrace.com/baptism/)‘ is held after every service on the first Sunday of the month!_


Baptism: Answering God’s Call


I am busy. When Monday rolls around I get up, get my child off to school just in time to head into the office, and begin a marathon of Monday meetings. Once that clock hits five o’clock, my wife and I jump to pick our daughter up from the babysitter just to have my wife head into her leader call while I prepare dinner for the family, bathe our daughter and start bedtime before my wife takes over and I lead Starting Point.

Tuesdays are another marathon day. Get up, get my child off to school, and then I have meetings well until 9pm that evening. On Wednesday’s same story during the day until I get off promptly at five o’clock to tag my wife out who heads to band rehearsal. Thursdays start early with prayer for the building at 7:30am and then I’m often asked to teach at VIBE (our Thursday night youth program) or take over LEAD (our monthly leadership cohort).

We take our daughter to gymnastics and baseball. My wife and I squeeze in a date night before we get to bed early Saturday night so we can hit the ground running on Sunday which usually begins around 6:30am.

Why do I give you my schedule? Well, partially to show you that working at a church isn’t just about Sundays, but also because if you’re anything like me you need to REST.

And what do we categorize as real rest? Trying to win the scrolling Olympics on our phones? Sitting on the couch and binge-watching Ted Lasso? Escaping to be alone for a few precious minutes before someone needs to talk to you about something, or pulls you into another meeting?

Your life may not look exactly like mine, but I bet you can resonate with those three words I started this post with:

I. Am. Busy.

We find ourselves exhausted all the time. We don’t get enough rest; we lay on our phones until we fall asleep many a night — and we wonder why by 2pm we need a Venti Iced Mocha Latte just to make it to bedtime.

In 2014, I was introduced to a community that would come teach me practices of getting away and resting. To recharge, rejuvenate, and be able to hit my busy schedule head-on each week. And not just push through that schedule, but thrive in it.

These practices and this community were found in the Axiom Monastic Community retreats we, as a church family, have been going on year after year.

Matthew 11:28-30 in the Message translation says, “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

On night one of an Axiom retreat, it was this verse that I began to experience peace and real rest.

This practice of a weekend retreat through Axiom has become such an important part of the rhythms of our church that we offer this retreat every year to those who attend Hoboken Grace. This year is no different, on the weekend of June 9th-11th we will be going to the Liebenzell Retreat Center in Schooley’s Mountain, NJ to engage in a weekend with God in silence, solitude, and in community – through prayer and group discussions. Talking with God, spending time with Him, and creating that space to hear from Him.

We leave Hoboken on Friday evening after work and return Sunday after lunch. The accommodations and meals all help to fuel this weekend to help fill you up before you head back into your busy schedule.

Try as we might to grow closer to God, our daily whirlwind of responsibilities and distractions often pulls us in other directions. With storytelling, movie illustrations, Biblical teaching, and personal prayer time, it’s a weekend that furthers our understanding of God’s dreams and purposes for our life. He invites us to “get away with Him to recover our life.”

So, Jesus’ question to His disciples in Matthew 11 is the same for you, “Are you tired? Worn out?” and what’s the remedy? He says, “To get away with Him” and what is the result? He will show you “how to take a real rest.”

To learn more about our upcoming Axiom Retreat or to sign up [click here](https://hobokengrace.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/1338058).


Finding Rest


A few weeks ago, I injured my ankle pretty badly and it rocked me. The timing was particularly terrible, not that injuries ever come at a good time. We had work in the new building, the Easter Egg Hunt and Easter all coming up.

I found myself filled with guilt for several reasons. First, it made life significantly harder on my wife. We have three young, energetic children and using crutches is not conducive to multiple morning drop-offs. Second, I added more work on my fellow staff members and the teams I serve on. Lastly, I was guilty because I didn’t want to talk to God about it. I was mad at Him.

I still can’t put weight on my ankle, but my life is considerably better. My spiritual rhythms pointed me back to God’s truth in my life. Circumstances no longer define how I am responding. Instead, the rhythms I built when times were good have carried me through and helped shift my perspective.

You may be wondering, what do I mean by Rhythms? Rhythms are spiritual habits that are built into our daily, weekly and monthly routines. They are designed to help us put on the full armor of God, which Pastor Anthony spoke about a few weeks ago. (If you missed it, it is worth a [listen](https://hobokengrace.subspla.sh/zs6pzpt).)

The great thing is that I didn’t have to pull myself up by the bootstraps. I didn’t have to toughen up. I wasn’t left trying to do better. Instead, the habits that I had built reminded me of God’s love and His faithfulness in my life. The same is true for your life too!

First, I continued my daily Bible reading each morning. It’s really hard to read God’s word consistently and not see His faithfulness and love shine through. The Bible is filled with accounts of individuals who went through extremely challenging times such as Abraham and Paul. They weren’t perfect, but they continued to trust God, which allowed God to work in their lives.

Second, I actually missed going to church. Yes, I admit that I chose not to attend and justified it by saying I needed to ice and rest my leg. Even with an extremely good livestream (thank you service programming), it was not the same as being in the room. I have been back the last two weeks and this rhythm of attending in person on Sunday has refreshed my heart. There is something really special about being in the room and hearing people worship. Even just saying hello to the person next to me is an opportunity to see God’s family.

Third, I had to let my community in. Over the years, I built community through serving on teams and attending dinner group. I pushed back against it at first, letting my fears control me. It took a phone call from my buddy Mike, calling to check in after he heard about my ankle, to shock my system. He brought over food and just hung out for a little. The next day, his wife Sarah picked up our kids and brought them home after school. These two acts of kindness and conversation reminded me how important it is to be in community. The seemingly simple act pointed me back to connection with others and away from my fears. It’s been amazing to see God’s love through them and others when I was willing to let them in.

See, I had let the enemy gain a small foothold in my life. He latched onto the guilt I was feeling and was actively working towards my destruction. He tried to bring up all desires of my flesh and feasted on my isolation. Thankfully, the community I had formed by participating in the body came through at a critical moment.

I think the song we sang on Easter, summed up my experience.

And I’m fighting a battle

You’ve already won

No matter what comes my way

I will overcome

Don’t know what you’re doing

But I know what you’ve done

And I’m fighting a battle

You’ve already won

(_You’ve Already Won – Shane & Shane_)

I was so focused on the “I will overcome” that I didn’t include God. I was trying to keep God at arm’s length instead of letting His faithfulness and strength fight for me, on my behalf.

I encourage you to develop rhythms in your life. The habits you build will carry you through good times and trials in your life. We are promised trials will come in our life and so it is important to build habits in good seasons.

Here are a few quick tips to help you develop Rhythms and experience God’s resurrecting love.

1. Commit to attending consistently in person on Sunday.
2. Join a group or a team. Having a community is so important when life comes at you.
3. Start a Bible reading plan with a friend. You can hold each other accountable.
4. Find time to pray. It doesn’t have to be long and you don’t need any special words. Just start. God wants to hear from you.

See you on Sunday!


Build In The Good Times


Easter is always one of the biggest celebrations we have here at Hoboken Grace and this Easter we had so much to celebrate! With a total of six services over Easter weekend, we were able to welcome in so many people from Good Friday to Easter Sunday!

Everyone at 301 Garden was buzzing with energy and excitement all weekend long!

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2023/04/52804092382_3aa3bf461f_k.jpg) ![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2023/04/52805098488_b1811d146d_k.jpg)

Our First Impressions team was eager to welcome both familiar and new faces! It was encouraging to see so many of our church family inviting their friends, neighbors, and families to celebrate Easter with them at Hoboken Grace.

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2023/04/52803396934_87374731f9_6k.jpg)

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2023/04/52805093863_61f7aff99e_6k.jpg) ![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2023/04/IMG_9878.jpg)

We had three different photo op’s that were set up for everyone to take pictures in front of (or behind the egg!). They were a big hit!

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2023/04/52803649680_c2b176ae64_6k-1.jpg)

Pastor Chris walked us through a powerful message on how Easter is not just a resurrection moment, it is the launch of a resurrection movement! He shared how Jesus doesn’t want us to just celebrate His resurrection, He wants us to experience it!

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2023/04/52805171888_83cae45a68_6k.jpg)

Our band performed a special cover song of one of today’s top-hits, Anti-Hero, by Taylor Swift. So much preparation went into all of the songs that were sung on Easter weekend and so much hard work behind the scenes from the production team!

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2023/04/52805747875_82fe12e7f6_6k.jpg)

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2023/04/52805836020_67142a9267_6k-1.jpg)

We couldn’t have thought of a better way to celebrate Easter weekend than with baptisms! We had the honor of seeing NINE people take the step of baptism with us over this weekend!! As we walked through the power of the resurrection and being made new because of what Jesus has done for us, it was such a special moment being able to witness all of the baptisms!

We were excited to hear that we even had family members flying from out of state to join us and their loved ones for their baptism!

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2023/04/52805032940_2e5682a4a1_k.jpg)

Like always, we celebrated in a big way!

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2023/04/52805745860_130edaaf84_6k.jpg) ![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2023/04/52805791808_fab9a7933c_k.jpg)

We also had a shop set up in the parent’s corner of new Hoboken Grace merchandise that was available during our Easter services! We launched our ‘_we don’t just live here, we love here_‘ t-shirts! You can still check out our merchandise by going to our app and clicking on ‘Hoboken Grace Gear’ on our Engage section!

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2023/04/52805789948_b4fa1a7674_6k.jpg)

We are beyond grateful to all of our teams who put in so much hard work into making this Easter weekend so special and memorable! This weekend would not have been possible without them! A lot of the teams even had people come in multiple times to help out and serve over Easter weekend! From our set up and tear down team, to Grace Kids having classes all weekend long, to our communications team running our social media- there is so much that went on behind the scenes to make this weekend so special!

If you missed our Good Friday Service or Easter Service, you can still catch up [here ](https://hobokengrace.com/series/easter-at-hoboken-grace-2023/)!

If you want to be a part of Sunday’s with us here at Hoboken Grace, check out our different teams [here](https://hobokengrace.com/teams/) !


Easter 2023:  An Unforgettable Weekend


Have you ever felt a nudge to invite someone to church? Maybe it was a friend, a family member, a neighbor, or someone you don’t even know so well.

Sometimes inviting someone to church for the first time can feel intimidating. Other times we may find ourselves saying no for people, thinking they wouldn’t be interested or many times we may get too caught up in what they may think. However, as we’ve learned from previous Sundays, no one is beyond God’s reach and we shouldn’t say no for someone on behalf of God!

Is there anyone you’re saying no for?

A while back, I had felt a strong nudge to invite a friend to church, but it took me longer than it should have to take the step of inviting my friend to come on a Sunday with me. I’m not sure if you’ve ever felt like this, but sometimes I can put things off, waiting for ‘the perfect moment’ and many times I let doubts or overthinking get in my way. However, I’ve been learning to say yes, trust in God, and let Him do the rest!

So I took the step and invited my friend a couple of Sundays ago, and I’m so glad I did! I just sent a simple text saying – Hey, do you want to join me at my church on Sunday and then we can get brunch after! It was such a cool moment when we sat down to eat after church and she told me how much she loved it. She had never experienced a church like Hoboken Grace before or knew that a place like that existed. She was really excited to come back!

It was also a special opportunity for me to be able to share more about my faith, how God has been working in my life, and my involvement at Hoboken Grace. Who knows what seeds were planted in her heart that day, and what could come from a simple invitation!

Whether it’s saying yes to inviting someone to church or a dinner group, or sharing your story – so much can happen when we step out of our comfort zone and follow where God is calling us!

Easter is an amazing opportunity for you to invite someone to join you at Hoboken Grace. Many people who wouldn’t typically attend on another Sunday will say yes to coming on Easter! You never know the impact it can have in someone’s life – and this could be the first time they are hearing that no matter what they’ve done or where they’ve been God loves them, is pursuing them, and wants a relationship with them!

Who is God putting on your heart to invite this Easter… or any Sunday?

I’m encouraging you to say yes and to leave your doubts behind! Don’t wait until the last minute, make the invitation this week!

To check out our Good Friday and Easter service times go to [hobokengrace.com/easter](http://hobokengrace.com/easter).


The Power Of An Invitation


Have you ever felt a nudge to invite someone to church? Maybe it was a friend, a family member, a neighbor, or someone you don’t even know so well.

Sometimes inviting someone to church for the first time can feel intimidating. Other times we may find ourselves saying no for people, thinking they wouldn’t be interested or many times we may get too caught up in what they may think. However, as we’ve learned from previous Sundays, no one is beyond God’s reach and we shouldn’t say no for someone on behalf of God!

Is there anyone you’re saying no for?

A while back, I had felt a strong nudge to invite a friend to church, but it took me longer than it should have to take the step of inviting my friend to come on a Sunday with me. I’m not sure if you’ve ever felt like this, but sometimes I can put things off, waiting for ‘the perfect moment’ and many times I let doubts or overthinking get in my way. However, I’ve been learning to say yes, trust in God, and let Him do the rest!

So I took the step and invited my friend a couple of  Sundays ago, and I’m so glad I did! I just sent a simple text saying – Hey, do you want to join me at my church on Sunday and then we can get brunch after! It was such a cool moment when we sat down to eat after church and she told me how much she loved it. She had never experienced a church like Hoboken Grace before or knew that a place like that existed. She was really excited to come back!

It was also a special opportunity for me to be able to share more about my faith, how God has been working in my life, and my involvement at Hoboken Grace. Who knows what seeds were planted in her heart that day, and what could come from a simple invitation!

Whether it’s saying yes to inviting someone to church or a dinner group, or sharing your story – so much can happen when we step out of our comfort zone and follow where God is calling us!

Easter is an amazing opportunity for you to invite someone to join you at Hoboken Grace. Many people who wouldn’t typically attend on another Sunday will say yes to coming on Easter! You never know the impact it can have in someone’s life – and this could be the first time they are hearing that no matter what they’ve done or where they’ve been God loves them, is pursuing them, and wants a relationship with them!

Who is God putting on your heart to invite this Easter… or any Sunday?

I’m encouraging you to say yes and to leave your doubts behind! Don’t wait until the last minute, make the invitation this week!

To check out our Good Friday and Easter service times go to [hobokengrace.com/easter](https://hobokengrace.com/easter).



This past Sunday, Pastor Chris went through the passage in scripture, found in Ephesians, that underpins a practice we call “Put Off / Put On.” The practice recognizes that when we have an unhealthy behavior it is not enough to simply stop or “put off” that behavior. Instead, it’s equally important for us to replace them or “put on” healthy behaviors that are the result of God’s truth. (We have a helpful worksheet you can work through below in regards to “Put Off/Put On”)

In one example, Pastor Chris said if someone has an idol of work and achievement, it probably isn’t enough for the person to simply work less – instead, the person might need to refuse the next promotion! Radical stuff. He calls this undermining the lie – I might go further and call it slaying the idol.

I believe this is why God introduces generosity and giving. I want to tell you a quick story:

The year would have been 2010 because my daughter, Kaylee, was about 18 months old. We had just come back from grocery shopping and I prepared a small bowl of grapes for her to snack on.

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2023/03/Screen-Shot-2023-03-24-at-12.48.37-PM.png)

She loved grapes and was inhaling them when I playfully asked her for a piece. Seeing what was in front of her, she decided that she didn’t have enough and refused to give me half a grape.

As a loving father who wants the best for her, I used the moment as a parenting opportunity and made her share a grape with me – by taking it all away.

It wasn’t pretty (nor quiet)…

After the waterworks ended and she had calmed down from her first experience of learning the act of giving and sharing, even if not the whole principle, I went to the fridge and got a lot more grapes out for all of us to eat together and all was well again with the world. Kaylee is now 14 and I’m happy to say that she is generally great at sharing!

It’s an experience that has stayed with me all these years because I learned a lot more than my daughter that day. I realized that Kaylee’s experience with grapes mirrors a lot our relationship with God and giving – we forget that God owns the entire universe and that He asks us to give and be generous for our sake – because He loves us and wants us to live freely.

This is obviously easier said than done – we recognize that and we don’t want you to do it alone. We have a brand new, safe environment to explore this topic called the Journey of Generosity (JOG). It takes place over two half-days (Friday afternoon/evening and Saturday morning) and is one of my favorite resources on stewardship. The unique thing about it is it’s an environment in which nobody is allowed to solicit, fundraise or even advocate for a particular cause.

To sign up or find out more information, click [here](https://hobokengrace.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/1688495) or email me at [vinny@hobokengrace.com](mailto:vinny@hobokengrace.com).

To learn more on working through “Put Off/Put On” check out this document [here](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2019/11/Put-Off-Put-On-Worksheet.pdf).


“Putting Off” Discontentment And “Putting On” Generosity

This past Sunday, we celebrated one of the cutest Sundays of the year- our Grace Kid’s Pajama Jam! Having lost an hour of sleep on daylight savings, we wanted to make the morning easier for our families. So we invited them to bring their kids in their pajamas for a morning of fun at Grace Kids! We celebrated in many special ways including sleepover-themed games, crafts, and a ton of fun activities.

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2023/03/52747923024_41d3a0137e_o.jpg)

From dinosaurs, to donuts, to Frozen- the kids were excited to come comfy and show off their favorite pajamas! Our Grace Kids teachers also had on special pajama shirts to join in on the fun! They quickly forgot about the hour of sleep we lost after seeing the smiles and excitement on the kid’s faces as they walked through the door wearing their pjs!

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2023/03/52748096240_afef6621dd_o.jpg)

As the kids entered their classrooms, they were eager to get started on their first craft of the day- a paper lantern with cutout stars that they were given to decorate with markers and a lot of stickers!! They had a blast and were also given a mini fake candle to put inside, which added extra excitement as they saw their lanterns light up.

In addition to our crafts, we also had board games, lots of books, and a short movie!

Some of the kids got to enjoy toilet paper roll races–(that we recommended not to try at home!)

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2023/03/52747685391_4446dc4542_o.jpg)

There was a lot of laughter that filled up our Clubhouse classrooms (Kindergarten through 5th grade), as the kids all played charades together!

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2023/03/52748176968_346d72d390_o.jpg)

Even our babies & crawlers classroom were able to join in on the fun!

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2023/03/52748173088_0eb2588105_k.jpg)

We ended the day by sending the kids home with their crafts and a goodie bag of popcorn!

It was also an awesome opportunity for kids to invite their friends and experience Grace Kids for the first time! We loved being able to welcome in our first-time families and share more about Hoboken Grace and Grace Kids. It was also special because we handed out our Easter invites for the first time, which was an awesome opportunity to reach new families and invite them to one of the biggest celebrations of the year- Easter!

To learn more about Grace Kids: [hobokengrace.com/kids](https://hobokengrace.com/kids/)

Think you may be interested in serving on the Grace Kids team: [find out more here](https://hobokengrace2017.typeform.com/to/Xbsrsw?typeform-source=hobokengrace.com)!

To learn more about our upcoming Easter Services: [hobokengrace.com/easter](http://hobokengrace.com/easter)


Pajama Jam Recap 2023


If you’re new here, hi! My name is Dana, and I’m the Service Programming Director at Hoboken Grace. I oversee our band and production teams, and you’ll often find me leading worship on Sundays. I’ve been in this role for 9 years and serving in various capacities for years before that.

I remember early in my time at Hoboken Grace, I was serving in the band as a vocalist, while working multiple jobs in the city. I should take a moment to explain that this looked totally different than what you see now at Hoboken Grace. We had music stands, our mics had obnoxious cables attached that I tripped over, there were no fancy lights or curtains on the stage, and the lyrics were just projected onto the back wall of the stage with a projector that sat on a table on the stage. It was something! But it got the job done.

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2023/03/8574989830_f804769a32_c-1.jpg)

At the time, Pastor Chris decided to take our leaders to a conference in California called Catalyst. I didn’t really know what I was getting into, but I was invited. I wasn’t totally sure why they felt I should go, I was just a singer.

At the conference, the music was amazing. I mean, it opened with a beatboxing cellist, who you may be familiar with from the now famous Pentatonix. We were led in worship by some absolute legends, including Joel Houston, Israel Houghton and Darlene Zschech. At the time I had a faint idea who these people were, but was not super familiar with this kind of worship experience. I had had some similar experiences at college but nothing at this level of excellence or production value.

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2023/03/575529_401957986494933_742211303_n.jpg)

Night one, Joel was leading us through the song With Everything. Thousands of people were singing their heart out to God, and raising their hands. I remember having no problem singing loud with everyone, but for some reason I could not find the courage to lift my hands.

Why was that so ridiculously intimidating?

Let’s unpack this for a minute, and maybe this will resonate with you.

1. **I was making it about everyone BUT God**. In that moment I was feeling tension with raising my hands because I wasn’t totally sure why I wanted to raise them. I hadn’t worshiped physically like this before so this was new. I could feel a pull in the pit of my stomach to just do it. And yet I couldn’t. I was uncomfortable because I hadn’t ventured there with God before and was more worried about what other people would think of me raising my hands than I was about what God would think about it.
2. **I was letting the enemy mess with my head**. There’s nothing the enemy would want more than for you to be in a room full of people worshipping his arch nemesis and for you to freeze. That would mean he’s winning. And in that moment in that room, for a minute, he was fighting hard to win. He was convincing me that what was more important was for me to stay comfortable and keep my hands folded together than it was for me to let go and worship Jesus. 1 Peter 5:8 says that the enemy, “…prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” Isn’t it sad how the enemy can take such a small moment and make it so big in our heads? That small moment turned into an absolute battle for my mind and heart.

As the song went on (and it was a long one) something different started to happen. As I sat in the tension of whether to raise my hands, God began to just quietly soften my heart as I sang. With each refrain I felt more and more how very present God was with me, even in this small moment of internal struggle. And I felt how much He just wanted to spend this time WITH me. That closeness and gentleness slowly put me more and more at ease.

And then, in the darkness and loudness of that room of thousands of people, I raised my hands.

I mean, my arms were basically just bent with my hands barely at shoulder level, but they were up! Was I completely comfortable right away? No. I was totally muscling through and even hoping the song was over soon (and it wasn’t, that song is like really long when they do it live). But was I more truthfully worshipping Jesus the way He was nudging me to? Yes! I raised my hands to make it about HIM and not about me or anyone else.

If you see me on Sundays now you may question if I’m the same person I described in this story. My hands are up all the time. And that’s because it’s a constant reminder to me that He is in control, that He is faithful, that He is the Lord of my life in all things, and that HE is who we are singing to. Even when I don’t feel those things, raising my hands helps put God in an elevated place in my heart and life. It’s a trigger that tells the rest of me – my heart, soul and mind – that I am here to worship Him.

Next time you’re at church and you feel that nudge or that pull to do something outside your comfort zone in worship, take the leap! It can be clunky. It can be awkward. But eventually it will just be familiar, like coming home.

Not ready for that yet? I get it. Try spending time in worship on your own first. In the car. While making dinner. Maybe in the shower (I mean, the acoustics are great in there!). If you need a starting place, grab the [Hoboken Grace Playlist](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5Flm1wCBrEzo1guCwzm2n7?si=f3ac82ac66224d8a&nd=1), find a song you resonate with and start there. Just you and Jesus. Enjoy where He leads you.


“I Throw My Hands Up In The Air Sometimes…”

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A Diverse, Growing, Contemporary, Community Church in Hoboken

Everything we do revolves around our mission of helping people find their way back to God. Our goal is to demonstrate who God really is and to let others know that God wants a relationship with each and every one of us.

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Blog

Child Dedication 2023

Looking Back At Our Time At 301 Garden St

Book Recommendations For Your Child

Graduation Sunday: Leaving the Old, Entering the New

Father’s Day Book Recommendations

Leadership Weekend 2023

Just Friends

Mother’s Day At Hoboken Grace

Elevate Your Date Night: Strategies for Deepening Your Connection

Baptism: Answering God’s Call

Finding Rest

Build In The Good Times

Easter 2023: An Unforgettable Weekend

The Power Of An Invitation

The Power Of An Invitation

“Putting Off” Discontentment And “Putting On” Generosity

Pajama Jam Recap 2023

“I Throw My Hands Up In The Air Sometimes…”

Easter 2023:  An Unforgettable Weekend