Grace Notes
A notice for all ages: Please Help!
As the saying goes, “Many hands make light work!” I am continuing to search for volunteers on Sunday evenings so we can have all ages of our youth meeting simultaneously. This should be a huge help to families and possibly give some parents the opportunity to serve our youth in some capacity. We will need, at the minimum, one lead teacher for the school age children, and some helpers.
Grace’s Bible Study
The Discipleship area is offering a Bible Study to be facilitated by Ruth McClintock. The study will begin on Thursday, February 18th at 11:00 am. They will be discussing the book, “The Life You’ve Always Wanted” by John Ortberg. Please register in the church office where you can purchase a copy of the book for $ 2.00. If this works with your schedule, please join us. If these hours are not convenient for you, consider facilitating a group at a different time. Contact Pat Pennell with any questions or concerns.
Youth News
Let me first say that the SUPPORT given to the Youth of Grace Church is fantastic. Thank you so much for the Tea Party donations. We are more than halfway to South Carolina.
Our Junior and Senior High were disappointed when we felt it necessary to cancel our Valentine Dinner. BUT…as it turned out, the roads were very icy and dangerous and it was difficult to keep the ice off the front car window that evening. It was suggested and unanimously decided to have the dinner on Mother’s Day at noon. We promise to have an enticing dinner, much like what was planned for Valentine’s Day, but with a few other choices.
Please plan to bring your family to our dinner on Mother’s Day, May 9th.
Cluster’s Lenten Bible Study
Would you like to grow in your own discipleship through adding a spiritual practice this Lent? Would you like to study the Bible with other United Methodists from throughout the Jacksonville area? If so, you will want to mark your calendar for a six-week Bible study to be offered along with the Holy Spokes Cluster Lenten services. Beth Fender will lead this study. The study will begin at 4:00 pm on Sunday, February 21st and will be held at the church that is hosting that week’s Lenten service. (Alternate arrangements will be announced for the week we meet at MacMurray College.)
Please contact Pastor Mike if you are interested in attending this study. Daily readings to help you prepare for each weekly session are available in the church office, or you may request the readings as an e-mail attachment by contacting Beth at bfender@igrc.org. The daily readings begin Monday, February 15, so get your copy early. If you have any questions, please contact Beth via e-mail or by phone at 245-7489.
The Holy Spokes Cluster’s Lenten Services
The Cluster’s Lenten Services begin at 6:00 pm at the following locations and feature the following speakers:
| Feb. 28 | Murrayville UMC | Kate Herring |
| Mar. 7 | Centenary UMC | Nancy Wood |
| Mar. 14 | Asbury UMC | Dennis Powers |
| Mar. 21 | MacMurray College | Bob McKelvey |
| Mar. 28 | Grace UMC | Elke Sharma |
Older Adult Ministries Program
The program is March 17th with Jan Fellhauer, Director of Volunteers and Lifeline for Passavant Area Hospital. She will talk on “Volunteerism”, and the benefits it brings. We will again have a short service in the chapel at 11:30, lunch at 12:00 and Jan will speak at 1:00. We would like to have those of you who already volunteer at the hospital to join us on the 17th. That will be St. Patrick’s Day, so the leprechauns just might have something up their sleeves. If you are coming to eat, would you please let the office know so Patsy Moy and her team can make their plans for serving lunch. We will not have a meal or Midweek Chapel Service except on the third Wednesday when we have a program.
Boy Scout Troop #107
The Scouts had a very busy February. They participated in the service at Grace UMC on Scout Sunday to help celebrate the 100th Birthday of the Boy Scouts of America. They also had a part in Citizenship Day and the First Aid Meet. A special thank you to all who supported the Annual Chili Supper! The weather cooperated and the crowd enjoyed this year’s batch of chili.
March activities include Scouting for Food (all donations go to the local Food Bank) with the bag distribution on the 6th and pickup on the 13th. After the pickup a campout is planned at Jim Edgar Panther Creek.
Mission Team
In the world today, there are an endless number of mission opportunities that a person can find:
- Janet McCarty gave an enlightening speech in February about the Southern Philippines Methodist Colleges. If you are interested in helping students there and furthering Janet’s work, you can give through her Advance Special #14035B. Go online to learn more at www.gbgm-umc.org/Advance or via telephone at 888-252-6174.
- Fifteen members of the Key Club from Jacksonville High School went to the Midwest Mission Distribution Center recently. They set a new record of packing over 850 Health Kits, in one day, for Haiti. If you remember, our congregation sent them over $1000 and the Center used your funds to buy needed items to go into these kits. The needs are still there, and the Center is working hard to meet them.
- Our local Food Center is always in need of additional food. This month the Boy Scouts will be collecting non-perishable food items to give to them. You can always help with this effort.
- Two of our congregation members, Rick McGinnis and Karl Luth will be going this month, with a group of college students to help build a Habitat for Humanity house in Florida.
- HELPS ministry is in need of a number of items to further their work. See Kathleen or Les Finkle for a list of items they could use.
Whether it be money, time, talents or items, your help is needed. How can you support your favorite charity?
One Great Hour of Sharing
“And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8
Join United Methodists everywhere by participating in this special offering that supports UMCOR’s vital work. Your gifts to One Great Hour of Sharing lay the foundation for UMCOR to seek justice and mercy for suffering people everywhere. You can be assured that when catastrophes cause suffering, your church will ease the pain. As Christians we’re called to offer the hands, the heart and the hope of the church whenever people are suffering. Your gifts to the One Great Hour of Sharing enable the church to answer that call. We will be asking for your support on March 14th. Will you support UMCOR?
Easter Lilies
Once again we will be decorating the Sanctuary with Easter lilies. The cost is $16 per plant and they MUST be ordered by March 15th. Order blanks are available from the office, on the web site, or from the weekly bulletins.
Sunday School Offering
This year the Sunday school offering is going to the Boys and Girls Club. Our January total was $98.40 for five Sundays and our total of the first three Sundays in February was $78.60. These figures reflect money from both the children’s and adult’s classes. Parents, please remind your children that their money put into Sunday school offerings are given for others.
Camping Brochures
Camping brochures are on the rack in the hallway by the office. This year they are printed on newsprint. Family and individual camper forms, as well as health forms, are available from Charlotte. This year, the church will pay the fees for one camp per camper minus the registration fee, provided that all paper work is completed and IN THE OFFICE (not online) BY MONDAY, APRIL 12, 2010.
Relay for Life
After a hiatus of a few years, Grace UMC will once again have a team that will participate in Relay for Life. Headed by Doris Hutchcraft, our team will strive to be the “BEST” team at the relay. If you are interested in joining Doris, contact her. She will be happy to have more walkers. More details about the relay will be forthcoming as they become available to us.
Items Needed
Do you ever receive blank greeting cards through the mail that you don’t use? The card ministry is looking for cards which have pictures of animals, fruit, flowers, birds, or similar images on the front. If you receive cards like these, please consider giving them to the card ministry. You may leave them at the church office. Thank you.
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