Pocketful of Grace

We are in the season of Advent, the weeks leading up to the celebration of Jesus’ birth, a time to focus upon waiting, preparing and hoping, as we recall the historic birth of Jesus, and await the return of Christ in the fullness of time. We can also train our hearts and minds to look for and expect to see Christ entering our world in the here and now in between. Each week we will focus upon one o...

We are entering the season of Advent, the weeks leading up to the celebration of Jesus’ birth, a time to focus upon waiting, preparing and hoping, as we recall the historic birth of Jesus, and await the return of Christ in the fullness of time. We can also train our hearts and minds to look for and expect to see Christ entering our world in the here and now in between.  Each week we will focus upo...

"Learning To... " is led by Pastor Carolyn Hetrick and Pastor Scott Schul of Grace Lutheran Church, State College, PA. Each week features breath prayer, a passage from scripture, music and reflection before sending you out with grace. Today we are  "Learning to Be Amazed" as we join the women who show up at the tomb of Jesus expecting to grieve but are met with astounding news-...

"Learning To... " is led by Pastor Carolyn Hetrick and Pastor Scott Schul of Grace Lutheran Church, State College, PA. Each week features breath prayer, a passage from scripture, music and reflection before sending you out with grace. Today we are "Learning to Give Ourselves Away."  The woman in Bethany honored Jesus by anointing him.  It demonstrated she really knew who Jesus...

"Learning To... " is led by Pastor Carolyn Hetrick and Pastor Scott Schul of Grace Lutheran Church, State College, PA. Each week features breath prayer, a passage from scripture, music and reflection before sending you out with grace. Today we are "Learning to See."  We are not given the gospel, God’s good news, as a way to avoid mortality or loss. Jesus is predicting his own d...

"Learning To... " is led by Pastor Carolyn Hetrick and Pastor Scott Schul of Grace Lutheran Church, State College, PA. Each week features breath prayer, a passage from scripture, music and reflection before sending you out with grace. Today we are "Learning to Love."  Nicodemus was one of the religious leaders of his day.  At this point in his story, he wasn’t a follower of Jes...

"Learning To... " is led by Pastor Carolyn Hetrick and Pastor Scott Schul of Grace Lutheran Church, State College, PA. Each week features breath prayer, a passage from scripture, music and reflection before sending you out with grace. Today we are "Learning to Focus."  Jesus is telling people their way of living has lost focus. We too have ways we need God to restore us, but ch...

"Learning To... " is led by Pastor Carolyn Hetrick and Pastor Scott Schul of Grace Lutheran Church, State College, PA. Each week features breath prayer, a passage from scripture, music and reflection before sending you out with grace. Today we are "Learning to Rethink." Jesus tells his followers that everything they thought was wrong. He will face rejection and they will face s...

This is the first episode of our series, "Learning To... "available each Monday through  April 1, 2024. This episode is led by Pastor Carolyn Hetrick of Grace Lutheran Church, State College, PA. Each week features breath prayer, a passage from scripture, music and reflection before sending you out with grace for the journey. This episode is "Learning to Trust God" as we think a...

1. Gabriel's Voice (Ian Higginson). MUSIC: Ian Higginson. TEXT: Carol Gunn. © St. James Music Press. Streamed with permission of St. James Press, License #21540. Grace Lutheran Church of State College choral ensemble. Laurel Sanders, Director 2. I Saw Three Ships   (Anna M. DeFoe). MUSIC: Anna M. DeFoe. TEXT: William Sandys (1833; public domain). © St. James Music Press, 2010. Streamed with p...

Pastor Carolyn Hetrick of Grace Lutheran Church in State College, PA leads a time of treasuring and pondering this season and God's word, breathing and prayer to ground ourselves and leave carrying a pocketful of grace for the journey. For more about Grace Lutheran Church, visit https://www.glcpa.org/ Additional resources: For Jan Richardson's art, blessings and Women's Christmas, v...

Breath and life go hand in hand. Taking a moment to catch our breathe and breathe with God's sacred rhythms invites us to step away from where are racing and breathe deeply as we are reminded that throughout Scripture, God breathes and speaks life from the dawn of creation, through the prophets and through Jesus, our long awaited. Emmanuel. We hear Zechariah's breath in a restored voice...

How do we capture the sacred nature of these weeks we call Advent, to reflect, make space and prepare our hearts and selves to be placed into God's story? This week Mary travels to see Elizabeth as they are both awaiting births. It is a time of waiting,  between what has been and what is yet to be. How do we wait? We invite you to step away from what is filling our lives, yet unfinished to al...

In these weeks leading up to Christmas, our lives can feel so full we perhaps hope and pray no one asks us to make room for one more thing. How do we capture the sacred nature of these weeks we call Advent, to reflect, make space and prepare our hearts and selves to be placed into God's story? Mary hears she is chosen to bear Jesus in to the world, to make room for new life. We invite you to...

Pastor Carolyn Hetrick of Grace Lutheran Church, State College, PA preaching. Worship theme adapted from Easter Vigil Texts by Pastor Karen Rask Behling for Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, Chippewa Falls, WI 2019. Used with permission.  Adam Smith, Piano; Laurel Sanders, flute; Natalie Ondrey, cantor for prayers; Barbara Vogler, soloist for "Who Built the Ark?" Copyrights for the audio se...

Pastor Scott Schul (preaching) and Pastor Carolyn Hetrick, of Grace Lutheran Church, State College, PA discuss the prayer and lessons for the 4th Sunday of Advent, December 18, 2022: Readings and Psalm: Isaiah 7:10-16 Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 Romans 1:1-7 Matthew 1:18-25 Today's Music: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, Veni Emmanuel , 15th C. French Melody. Setting by John Carter (ASCAP). Publisher:  © 20...

Pastor Carolyn Hetrick (preaching) and Pastor Scott Schul, of Grace Lutheran Church, State College, PA discuss the prayer and the lessons for the 3rd Sunday of Advent, December 11, 2022: Isaiah 35:1-10 The desert blooms as God’s people return from exile Psalm 146:5-10 The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down. (Ps. 146:8) Luke 1:46b-55 (alternate) My spirit rejoices in God my Savior. (Lk. 1:47) J...

Pastor Scott Schul (preaching) and Pastor Carolyn Hetrick, of Grace Lutheran Church, State College, PA discuss the prayer and the readings for the 2nd Sunday of Advent, December 4, 2022: Isaiah 11:1-10 From David’s line, a ruler bringing justice and peace Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19 May the righteous flourish; let there be an abundance of peace. (Ps. 72:7) Romans 15:4-13 Live in harmony, welcoming one ano...

Pastor Carolyn Hetrick (preaching) and Pastor Scott Schul of Grace Lutheran Church, State College, PA discuss the prayer and lessons for the 1st Sunday of Advent, November 27, 2022: Isaiah 2:1-5   Psalm 122   Romans 13:11-14   Matthew 24:36-44   Music: Nun komm der Heiden Heiland (Friedrich Zachow). Music available at Imslp.org https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ . Used with permission...

Pastor Scott Schul (preaching) and Pastor Carolyn Hetrick from Grace Lutheran Church, State College, PA discuss the prayer and lessons for Christ the King Sunday, November 20th, 2022: Jeremiah 23:1-6 Coming of the shepherd and righteous Branch who will execute justice Psalm 46 I will be exalted among the nations. (Ps. 46:10) Colossians 1:11-20 Hymn to Christ, firstborn of all creation; peace throu...

Pastor Carolyn Hetrick and Pastor Scott Schul of Grace Lutheran Church, State College, PA discuss the prayer and lessons for the 23rd Sunday after Pentecost, November 13, 2022: Malachi 4:1-2a Psalm 98 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 Luke 21:5-19 Music: "Our Hope in You Is Strong," (Michael John Trotta), Hampton Road Music Group, LLC. Translation 2021, Laurel Sanders. Commissioned by Grace Luthera...

Pastor Scott Schul (preaching) and Pastor Carolyn Hetrick from Grace Lutheran Church, State College, PA discuss the prayer and lessons for All Saints Sunday, November 6th, 2022: Daniel 7:1-3, 15-18 The holy ones of the Most High shall receive the kingdom Psalm 149 Sing the Lord’s praise in the assembly of the faithful. (Ps. 149:1) Ephesians 1:11-23 God raised Christ from the dead and made him head...

Pastor Scott Schul and Pastor Carolyn Hetrick (preaching) from Grace Lutheran Church, State College, PA discuss the prayer and lessons for Reformation Sunday, November 6th, 2022: Readings and Psalm Jeremiah 31:31-34 I will write my law in their hearts, says the Lord Psalm 46 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold. (Ps. 46:7) Romans 3:19-28 Justified by God’s grace as a gi...

Pastor Scott Schul (preaching) and Pastor Carolyn Hetrick from Grace Lutheran Church, State College, PA discuss the prayer and lessons for the 20th Sunday After Pentecost, October 23rd, 2022: Jeremiah 14:7-10, 19-22   Psalm 84:1-7   2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18   Luke 18:9 -14 Today's music: "Elevation" by Theodore Dubois. This public domain music, from imslp.org, was recorded for virtual...

Pastor Carolyn Hetrick of Grace Lutheran Church, State College, PA leads the final session of Bible study on trees in Scripture and what they tell us about God, our place in creation and abundant life.  This episode we examine the trees connected with resurrection in  both the Old and New Testaments.  Thanks for joining! To learn more about our ministries at Grace Lutheran Church, visit glcpa.org....