Inside Grace | November 2025

Written By Randi Kisner

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO FEEL LIKE AN INSIDER AT GRACE

 
 
 

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES: NOVEMBER 2025

Last month, we had a Pastoral Forum session on “What is an Evangelical?”

In the process of the presentation, I cited a number of different resources that might be helpful for you to have.

“What is an Evangelical?” (National Association of Evangelicals) - This is the article I drew the diagram from that showed the diversity of theology within evangelicalism.

“Who are Evangelicals?” (Christianity Today) This is the best short-form article I found on the history of the evangelical movement.

Books:

  • Who is an Evangelical? By John Dickerson  

    • This is the book that is the most similar and direct treatment of what I presented in the Pastoral Forum from a historian.

  • The Great Evangelical Recession by John Dickerson

    • A helpful guide to the statistics behind the gap in Evangelicalism I discussed at the forum between the 24% of Americans who self-identify as Evangelical/Born Again and the 7% of Americans who hold consistent Evangelical beliefs and actions.

 
PASTORAL FORUM: WHAT IS AN EVANGELICAL

THREEFOLD COMMUNION

 Threefold Communion | November 16 | 5:00 PM

Threefold Communion is a cherished part of our church’s heritage, because it echos the meal Jesus shared with his disciples on the night he was betrayed: 

  • We share a meal together (like Jesus and the disciples did) 

  • We wash one another’s feet (like Jesus did for the disciples and told them to do for one another in the future) 

  • We take the Bread and Cup (as Jesus instituted for his followers) 


It is an intimate night. Sharing home-cooked food is intimate. Washing one another’s feet is intimate. Praying together is intimate. 


Maybe that sounds intimidating to you. I get it. But I hope that as you wrestle with whether to come, you’ll consider the possible good that could result in your spiritual life by increasing your intimacy with God through His people. 

The meal will be a carry-in potluck based on last name:

  • Main Dish: A-J

  • Veggie/Salad: K-R

  • Dessert: S-Z

Schedule note: This year we are trying something different: We are hosting Threefold a week earlier than previous years, so that it is 11 days before Thanksgiving (instead of 4 days before).

CHRISTMAS SEASON AT GRACE

 

Seal Beach Christmas Parade Outreach | December 5 | 7:00-9:00 PM

The annual Seal Beach Christmas Parade is December 5th and we’ll be out on our lawn sharing cheer with the community! Volunteer sign ups will open soon, we hope to see you there!

 

Senior Ministry Christmas Party | December 10 | 3:00 PM

We are bringing back our hugely popular Senior Ministry Christmas party for another year! This year, our Student Ministry is hosting it for us. They’ll be leading the music, the games, and helping distribute the food (appetizers and dessert). 

Tickets are free, but we do expect to “sell out” again this year, so sign-up soon! Sign ups available below.

We will be collecting donations at the event for the Scholarship Fund for Student Ministry to send kids to Camp.

SIGN UP | SENIOR CHRISTMAS PARTY

Grace Kids Christmas Workshop | December 13 | 9:00 AM

Grace Kids will be hosting a Saturday morning workshop for Dads and Kids to prepare for Christmas. We’ll help dads have a spiritually significant conversation with their kids about Christmas, and build a special gift for mom.

SIGN UP | CHRISTMAS WORKSHOP

Grace Kids in Worship Service + Child Dedication | December 14

We will have the kids join us in the worship service on the 14th to sing and celebrate the Christmas season together. We will also be dedicating young children to the Lord that day, as well.

 
 

Christmas Eve Worship Services | December 24

We will have three all-ages services: 

2:00 pm, 3:30 pm , and 5:00 pm 
Nursery/toddler childcare (up to 5 years old) will be available for all three services.

 

ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING REVIEW

 
 

Once per year we ask our members to set aside their Sunday evening to come and hear how the church is doing - in our mission, our values, and our administration. We voted and approved the annual budget for 2026 and accepted the nomination of Ben Badgett, Paul Kneeland, and Glen Fukumura for the elder board. Thank you to all who were able to attend to pray and sing together, and celebrate what God has done.

For those who were not able to attend, you can watch the livestream of the meeting below. You’ll also find the Annual Report below as well.

WATCH: ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING
VIEW: ANNUAL REPORT
 

LOVE OUR CITY RECAP

 
 

In October, our church rallied to be a part of the Long Beach Church Collective’s event, “Love Our City.” Over 60 people from our church participated, which is amazing! We helped a number of our Compassion partners that day - delivering food, cleaning up old closets, painting, picking up trash, and other ways to be helpful. 

Thank you to everyone who participated!

 
 
 
 

MONTHLY FINANCIAL UPDATE

WORSHIP ATTENDANCE

MONTHLY FINANCIAL UPDATE:

  • Budget through Sept 30, 2025 - $992,347

  • Expenses through Sept 30, 2025 - $950,253

  • Giving through Sept 30, 2025 - $950,550

  • Giving through Sept 30, 2024 - $897,630

WORSHIP SERVICE ATTENDANCE

  • 2022 Worship service average = 274 

  • 2023 Worship service average = 291 

  • 2024 Worship service average = 317 

  • 2025 Worship service average = 324

 
 
Randi Kisner
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Inside Grace | October 2025