Belonging
Jesus’ Radical Hospitality
Grace Anglican Church, Brantford is an inclusive faith community that seeks to be faithful to Jesus’ command in the Gospel of Matthew to welcome the stranger. Throughout his ministry, Jesus modeled a radical hospitality that we try to live up to at Grace. His style of getting acquainted involved what biblical scholars call “table fellowship”. Simply put, Jesus frequently ate with those marginalized by the early Palestinian society of his day. He was regularly criticized for eating with tax collectors, prostitutes, and sinners. In being true to his understanding of the inclusivity of God, Jesus welcomed all people into his presence. He rebuked the disciples and told them “Let even the little children come unto me.”
We want to welcome you at Grace. We all sin and fall short of the glory of God. We give thanks that we ourselves are not found wanting by God, by welcoming all whom God sends our way. At Grace we hope you will “come seek with us”. We are enriched and we grow by the newcomers who join us.
Membership
To be a member of Grace Church you simply have to become a regular attendee at worship. Full membership is as unique a concept as there are individuals. For some people, being a full member means involvement in various parish ministries, fellowship groups, and social activities. Some members of Grace spend so much time around the parish you’d think they have a cot in the basement. Others are part of things less often and visibly. We will not rush you, but let you find your own pace. Some people get involved right away. Others want to spend some time getting a feel for the parish and where they might fit in.
Your first few visits to Grace, we want you to think of yourself as our guest. At those first visits you are not expected to contribute to the collection plate for the running of the ministries of the church. When you begin to feel like Grace is becoming your spiritual home, full membership involves supporting the ministries of the parish financially. Many people ask how much they should give to their parish church. We are glad to talk to you and give you context for deciding on the level of financial support of the ministries of Grace that is right for you.
There are so many ways for you to participate in parish life. Speak to the rector if you would like to explore membership at Grace. You can reach him at 519-752-6814 or via e-mail at .
Baptism at Grace
For many people, their first experience of the church is through the window God creates when a newborn or other family member is baptized. More information is available on our Baptism page.
