Upcoming Schedule
August 3 - 31: Launching a New Season with the Gospel of Luke
September 7 - 28: An Invisible Thread of Connection with Epistles
October 5 - 26: Sin of Certainty with Wisdom Books of the Bible
November 2 - 30: A Crowded Table Saints and Sinners
December 7 - 28: This Christmas: The Gift of Presence
Thursday Morning Study
Led By Laura Echols-Richter
9:15am | Tom Graves Hall | Online Available
Tell Me More: Learning to Share Our Stories
The group is primarily women, but all are welcome. No prior Bible knowledge needed. Bring your curiosity, questions and desire to learn from others in the group.
Childcare available upon request.
Contact laura@graceavenue.org with questions.
Faith Handles with Billy Echols-Richter
Begins September 7th
Have you ever tried to carry your luggage without a handle? It would be difficult and challenging. It is the same with our lives. It seems we are carrying around a lot of questions that often encumber and weigh us down. Faith does not always give us the answers, but it gives us the handles to better navigate our way on the journey of life.
On subscription basis, the Rev. Billy Echols-Richter, will email out a weekly video entitled: “Faith Handles”. Billy will begin by addressing several of the questions we could not address during our recent Q&A message on Sunday July 30. As the series progresses, we will invite those who subscribe to send more questions to keep the conversation going. Once a quarter, Billy will host a hybrid in-person/Zoom gathering, to address questions in real time.
If you would like to subscribe to Faith Handles, please register online or email communications@graceavenue.org.
Simply write “Subscribe to Faith Handles” in the email.
Life is often cumbersome. Faith provides a handle.
Sunday Morning Studies
Sundays @ 9:15am in Room 214
These studies meet on Sunday mornings. For more information about each one, click HERE
Upcoming Studies
September 10 - October 8:
Bible Stories for Grown Ups: Reading Scripture with New Eyes
October 15 - November 5:
Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation
November 12 - 26: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness
December 3 - 17: Awkward Family Christmas
Upcoming Schedule
Beginning September 12:
Genesis & Exodus
Beginning October 24:
Kings and Prophets
Beginning November 28:
Wisdom Writings
Beginning January 16:
The Gospels
Beginning February 27:
Acts & Early Church
Beginning March 19:
The Letters
Disciple: Journey through the Bible One Step at a Time
Led by Laura Echols- Richter
Begins September 12
Tuesdays at 7pm |Tom Graves Hall | Online Available
This study offers a step-by-step journey through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. Knowing it is often hard to make the commitment for the whole year, you are invited to take the first step. Join us for five weeks beginning Tuesday, Sept 12 for a study on Genesis & Exodus. From there, you can take one step at a time as we move through the Old Testament into the Gospels and the history of the early church. No prior Bible knowledge needed.
Contact laura@graceavenue.org with questions.
Atlas Bible Study
Led By Billy Echols-Richter
Wednesdays at 12:30 pm
Meets Online (via Zoom)
Each week this group will dive a little deeper in to the sermon series topics and scriptures for worship that week.
Email communications@graceavenue.org to get the Zoom link.
Prism
Led By Laura Byrd
Sundays at 12:00 pm
This group is a safe space where our queer siblings can express how it feels to be a queer Christian and to study the Bible through a queer, justice focused lens.
We support and accompany each other through life and organize social activities in our area. Our community welcomes all queer adults and allies who love and advocate for LGBTQ+ rights.
PATH SEEKERS (#WTHIKE)
Led by Janell & Travis Taylor
Join Grace Avenue’s Hiking Group which explores trails in and around DFW! All ages are welcome.
Contact Janell at mctayloh@att.net with questions or join our Facebook group HERE to keep up with our next location and date!
Cold Brew Conversations
with Laura Byrd
Mondays from 9:30-4:00 at Karmic Grounds
3033 Ohio Dr. Frisco, TX
Wednesdays from 12:00-4:00 at La Finca
7511 Main St. Frisco, TX
Join Laura Byrd to talk, work, or just hang out at some oof our local coffee spots!
Upcoming Schedule
September 11: What Would Jesus Deconstruct?
October 9: Witches and the Church
November 13: What Would Jesus Drink?
December 11: Do Not Be Afraid: Angels & the Bible
Pub Theology
2nd Mondays at 7:00pm
Holy Grail Pub (Plano)
Do you question things a lot and then ask questions about your questions? Is existentialism a way of life for you? Do you enjoy diving deep into life’s hardest theological quandaries? Then this is the group for you! A lively, fun, welcoming discussion about the big questions of theology, life, and everything!
This group is led by Rev. Laura Byrd and Jeff Bouis starting September 11th!
Contact lbyrd@graveacenue.org for details or questions!
Not Your White Jesus: Following a Radical, Refugee Messiah
Led by Laura Byrd
Begins September 7th
Thursdays at 7pm |Tom Graves Hall | Online Available
Jesus is not white. Jesus is not American. While many of us grew up looking at gleaming portraits of Jesus with blonde, flowing hair and hearing sermons reaffirming that we have the answers to save a fallen world, the real Jesus is a Middle Eastern Jew preaching radical, humble, self-emptying love that calls us to a different life. Join Laura as she addresses the need to reexamine the true ways of Jesus that we find clearly in the red letters, enabling readers to discover what it truly means to follow the ways of Jesus in contrast to following the ways of the American Christian elite.
Childcare available upon request
Wesleyan Roots: United Methodism Study
Led by Christopher Vaughan
Begins September 10th
Sundays 5:45pm-7:15pm | Room 219
This will be a comprehensive exploration of our distinctive identity. If you're new to the United Methodist Church, considering joining, or seeking to understand its nuances, this study is designed for you. Over 6 sessions we will uncover the heart of Wesleyan Christianity and look at what makes the United Methodist Church unique. If you've ever questioned why you're a part of the United Methodist Church, this study holds the answers you seek. Join us on a journey of rediscovery, understanding, and empowerment.
Childcare available upon request
The Bible for Normal People: Disproving the Prooftext
Led by Jeff Bouis
Begins September 18th
Mondays at 7pm | Room TBD
Disproving the Prooftext is a series presented by The Bible for Normal People with Peter Enns. In this class, Jeff Bouis will take you through common passages utilized by others to make certain claims about Christianity, and will dive deeper into their context for a robust, progressive interpretation. For more about the Bible for Normal People, visit thebiblefornormalpeople.com
Childcare available upon request
Led by Laura Byrd
Begins October 5th
Thursdays at 7pm |Tom Graves Hall | Online Available
Many people who grew up in evangelical and other religious spaces have begun to ‘deconstruct’ or pull apart the belief system with harmful theologies in which they were raised. Deconstruction is a necessary part of many- if not most- spiritual journeys, but it was never intended to be the whole journey. This study walks us through a path of deconstruction into a place in which we can reconstruct a faith that leads us to a deeper version of faith and identity.
Childcare available upon request
Faith After Doubt Book Study
Led by Christopher Vaughan
Begins October 23rd
Thursdays at 7pm | Room TBD
Have you ever found your faith journey veering into uncertainty? Join us as we embark on an illuminating exploration of the book "Faith After Doubt" by Brian D. McLaren. In a world where countless individuals are grappling with their faith, this book speaks to the hearts of the millions who feel their beliefs are unraveling. Brian McLaren’s book draws from his personal experiences and the stories of a diverse range of believers navigating their own struggles. "Faith After Doubt" is not just about theology and spirituality; it's about embracing a four-stage model of faith development that acknowledges doubt as a gateway to a richer, more profound faith. This model takes us through stages of Simplicity, Complexity, Perplexity, and Harmony, guiding us to shed unnecessary burdens and deepen our commitment to what truly matters.Are you wrestling with your own doubts? Wondering if doubt makes you any less of a faithful Christian? Questioning whether God hears your prayers if your faith wavers? These are the very questions we'll explore together in this Bible study. Join us in unraveling the depths of faith, navigating doubts, and charting a path towards a more authentic and vibrant relationship with God. Don't let uncertainty hold you back – embrace the transformative journey of "Faith After Doubt."
Childcare available upon request
There is Room at the Table: An Interfaith Exploration
Led by Laura Byrd
Begins November 2nd
Thursdays at 7pm |Tom Graves Hall | Online Available
Have you ever wondered if studying other religions could strengthen your own? Join Laura Byrd and religious practitioners of other faiths as we take an in depth look at the beliefs of Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, and Islam and how they are practiced throughout the world. This Interfaith journey will not have you doubting your own faith practice but will help you understand all the ideas and practices we have in common with our religious siblings.
Childcare available upon request
An Unlikely Advent, the Extraordinary People of the Christmas Story
Led by Christopher Vaughan
Begins December 5
Tuesdays at 7pm | Room 214
This Advent season, immerse yourself in a remarkable three-week journey that unveils the untold stories of the Nativity. Join us as we delve into the lives of often overlooked characters who played pivotal roles in the Christmas narrative. Through the lens of hope, love, joy, and peace, we will delve into the rich experiences of Elizabeth and Zechariah, Herod, the Magi, and the humble shepherds. The pages of scripture come alive as we explore these unexpected figures, each holding profound lessons for our own faith journeys. Whether you're well-versed in scripture or just beginning your journey, this study promises to enrich your understanding and rekindle the spirit of Christmas. Don't miss out on this opportunity to deepen your faith and embark on an Advent adventure that will resonate long after the season ends.
Childcare available upon request
Yoga Classes with
Laurie Hanson Roberts
Email lhr@graceavenue.org with questions.
Regular Yoga: Saturdays at 10:00am
**Chair Yoga: Mondays at 10:00am
Date Night
2nd Fridays of the Month
We periodically schedule "Date Nights" for couples. Events might be a discussion about marriage, a game night, dance lessons or any number of activities. Every event included dinner. Each is sure to be enriching to your relationship and FUN! Contact Laura Echols-Richter at laura@graceavenue.org with questions or to find out when our next Date Night is planned.
Monthly Book Club
1st Mondays | 1pm | Room 219
Book club is an informal group of different ages that meets once a month to discuss different books. We bring water, coffee, or nothing but ourselves.
Email Carolyn Roeder at carolyn.roeder@tx.rr.com to learn the book of the month.
For more information on any of these ministries, please contact Laura Byrd, Pastor of Adult Discipleship and Outreach, at lbyrd@graceavenue.org.