It Is by Grace | Beyond the Walls | Sep 20, 2026

Beyond the Walls travels to Community of Christ International Headquarters in Independence, Missouri, to share a service about God’s grace. Our focus scripture from Ephesians argues that we are saved by grace and not by obedience to commandments, and that our new life in Christ has a spiritual focus. Material concerns and the distractions of daily life are even more omnipresent in our modern lives. How can we prioritize the immaterial, the meaningful, and the eternal so that we too can experience new life in Christ? We invite you to share this hour of reflection, prayer, meditation, music, and fellowship with the Beyond the Walls global community on 📅 Sunday, September 20, 2026. The Epistle to the Ephesians is among the letters included in the New Testament attributed to Paul but written after his death by supporters of Paul, arguing in favor of the apostle’s many theological insights, including that we are saved by grace and not by obedience to the many commandments of Mosaic Law. The author of Ephesians articulates this sentiment clearly, stating that “by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing — it is the gift of God — not the result of works, so that no one may boast” (2:8-9). Like Plato, who argued that the immaterial world of ideas (that we experience through our minds) is more important than the material world (that we experience with our senses), the author of Ephesians emphasizes that our new life in Christ has a spiritual focus. “All of us once lived” he writes, “in the passions of our flesh, doing the will of flesh and senses” (2:3) — the sensible world of materialism. But, he concludes, “God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ — by grace you have been saved — and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (2:4-6). This year we are focusing on witnesses of God’s revelation beyond the four canonical gospels, including the letters of Paul, Hebrews, and the letters attributed to James, Peter, Jude, and John. We will also read Acts, Revelation, and some important early Christian texts that were not included in the canon: the Didache (or Teachings of the Twelve Apostles), the sayings Gospel of Thomas, and the Gospel of Mary (Magdalene). ORDER OF WORSHIP Prelude: Double Fugue in C Minor by Johann Georg Albrechtsberger Greetings: John Hamer — The Temple, Independence, Missouri Call to Worship: Anne Romig — Independence, Missouri Opening Hymn CCS 263: “My Life Flows On in Endless Song” Invocation: Ron Romig — Independence, Missouri Living Church Lesson: Rachel Killebrew — The Temple, Independence, Missouri Global Welcome: Leandro Palacios — Toronto Centre Place Hymn CCS 91: “Laudate Dominum” Focus Scripture: Sandra Byrne — The Auditorium, Independence, Missouri Sermon: Noelle Gaffka — The Auditorium, Independence, Missouri Meditation on the Message: Leandro Palacios — Toronto Centre Place Closing Hymn CCS 248: “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” Sending Forth: John Hamer — The Temple, Independence, Missouri Postlude: Fugue in C Major (BuxWV 174) by Dietrich Buxtehude All music performed by the Beyond the Walls Choir and Michael Karpowicz. Late Edition Host: Noelle Gaffka 📖 Full worship bulletin: https://www.centreplace.ca/bulletin 🎵 All music performed by the Beyond the Walls Choir and @MichaelKarpowicz. Copyrighted music with permission by OneLicense A-739874 🌐 Beyond the Walls is an online worship service with live ministry from around the world. Our global congregation gathers every Sunday at 12:00 pm ET and 6:00 pm ET. We’re an inclusive, non-dogmatic, progressive Christian community that affirms all gender identities and expressions, embraces interfaith and skeptical perspectives, and rejects literal interpretations of scripture. #churchonline #churchservice #worshipservice