Grace News June 10, 2025

Announcements

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June 2025 Schedule

June 2025 Download

Shall We Gather at the River: A Night of Singing in Community

Date: June 11
Time: 7:00-8:30
Location: Community Mennonite Church of Lancaster

As a part of water week, please join us for an inspiring evening of hymns, spirituals, and songs that celebrate the life-giving power of water—through beautiful imagery of rivers, streams, and renewal. Whether you come for the music or the message, this is a space for reflection, connection, and joy in community.

Free and open to all—come as you are and bring a friend! If you have any questions about the event feel free to contact Marcy Hostetler at marcellahostetler@gmail.com

Communion Assistants

We need your help—we need a few more communion assistants for the 10:30 service . We need two folks to volunteer for Sunday June 29th and we would love to have at least three more folks sign up on a regular basis. If you have any questions please contact Angie Rabbe or Keith Miller.

Outreach

Grocery Cards

Grocery cards are available at both services on Sunday mornings. You may order cards by calling Duane and Kitty Weiss. Remember all purchases of cards realizes 5% in cash back to Grace. These funds are used to support our many ministries. Grocery

Christian Formation

Nicene Creed Part 2

2025 marks the 1700^th anniversary of the Nicene Creed – which many have considered to be the core profession of the Christian faith, and which is affirmed in churches across the world. To honor this milestone, I am sharing articles in the Grace News through this year based on questions I, as a layperson, have about it, and answers I, as a layperson, can find. This answer is a response to a question I was asked and came from Grok (an AI app). I’d welcome questions and/or answers from you all as well.

This question is

How was it decided that the Arians were incorrect?

The decision that Arianism was incorrect was reached through intense theological debates and ecclesiastical councils, most notably the First Council of Nicaea in 325 AD. Arianism, proposed by Arius of Alexandria, claimed Jesus Christ was a created being, subordinate to God the Father, challenging the orthodox view of the Son’s full divinity and co-eternity with the Father. This sparked widespread division in the early Christian Church, threatening its unity.
Emperor Constantine, seeking to stabilize the Roman Empire, convened the Council of Nicaea, attended by around 300 bishops. The council, led by figures like Athanasius, examined scripture (e.g., John 1:1) and rejected Arianism’s claims. The Nicene Creed was formulated, declaring Jesus “begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father” (homoousios), affirming his divine equality yet distinct personhood within the Trinity. This Creed became a cornerstone of orthodox Christian doctrine, and Arianism was condemned as heresy. Arius and his supporters were exiled, though Arianism persisted in some regions.
Subsequent councils, like Constantinople in 381 AD, reinforced the Nicene position, further clarifying the Trinity’s nature, including the Holy Spirit’s divinity. Theologians such as Athanasius and the Cappadocian Fathers defended orthodoxy through scriptural and philosophical arguments, solidifying the rejection of Arianism. Political pressures from Constantine and later emperors also supported the enforcement of the Nicene Creed. Over time, these efforts established the orthodox view of the Trinity as the dominant Christian doctrine, marginalizing Arianism.

Next: Why did the Nicene Creed emphasize that God is Almighty?

Arlene Volk

Our Grace Family

Please send all 2025 graduate information including a photo to Angie by 6/13

Our Sympathy

We give thanks for the life and witness of Helen Keller Slaugh. Helen passed away Monday morning at the age of 102. Her funeral will be June 23^rd at 11am at Grace Lutheran. Please keep Helen’s family and friends in your prayers.