PERSONAL REFLECTION

I recently celebrated another birthday.  When getting ready to celebrate birthdays, one tends to reflect on how we have celebrated birthdays in years past.  Twice, in recent years, I have gone away for my birthday weekend to be alone with God and then to fellowship with different bodies of believers, just to get a different perspective on life and worship.

Five years ago, I went camping in Hamlin and then went to a Christian Fellowship church that used a High School music room for Sunday worship.  The Praise and worship was moving and dynamic.  The message was powerful and the bulletin was full of activities in the community or at other churches that this congregation was involved in.

Two years ago I went to Farmington and worshipped with our sisters and brothers there.  They were celebrating twenty years as a congregation and remembering their beginnings when they started out worshipping in a hotel conference room.

As we, here at Grace Church plan for our future, we need to remember that a church is about the people and the presence of God and not the building.  I LOVE Grace Church; no matter what the future holds, I’m there.  To me, though, this “church” is not the big red brick building at 121 Driving Park Avenue.  To me, Grace Church is

And yes; it’s the legacy of those gone before as well.  It’s not, however, the pew they sat in or the library named after them.  It’s the smile across Tom Johnson Sr.’s face when Gloria played a hymn as the prelude that she had chosen just for him.  It’s a big warm bear hug received from Dick Long.  It’s watching Grace Van Leer hug a child she used to watch in the nursery and marvel at how they had grown.  It’s the sight, in my memory, of that red suit, suspenders and all that only Minter Foster could look handsome in!

As I was preparing to write this, the Holy Spirit led me to Isaiah 54:10.

“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed says the Lord, who has compassion on you.”

Some other translations I have seen have the mountains “crumble” or “fall;” well, we have already seen some of the paint and plaster in this building crumble and fall around us.  One day the decision may be made that we, as a congregation “be removed” from this building to another that is more suited to our needs.  So long as we are doing, though, what God is calling us to do; His “unfailing love will not be shaken, nor His covenant of peace be removed.”

The Church is inside of you and me.  So long as we remain united in love and following His plan for our church, Grace Church will always stand!  May the Hand of Almighty God always rest on the congregation of Grace United Methodist Church!

Sharon Bartter

Communications Secretary

THANK YOU, THANK YOU to the Staff Parish Relations Committee and the entire Grace UMC  congregation for the wonderful luncheon, cards, gifts and well-wishes given on Pastor Appreciation Sunday, October 11^th.  I am humbled and so blessed to be your pastor.

Blessings;

Pastor George Nicholas

His Hands Community Nursing Center@ Grace and the WIN project have come together to provide health education to the community via Community Health Forums. The forums are meetings where health care professionals and or providers share important information about health and wellness. There is a presentation and then questions and answer time.   These forums are designed to enable people to take charge of their health and health care by giving information (a presentation). Information can then become knowledge (question and answers).The Bible says.." my people perish for lack of knowledge.." We don't want you to perish because you don't have knowledge about your health. The topics presented are those people in the community have requested. Is there something you would like to know more about? Let me know. Because of a suggestion from Sharon Bartter (way to go Sharon) we have added

Fibromyalgia to the list of topics we will be having a forum on. These forums really are for YOU. Come on. Join us. Gain knowledge and live.
Community Health Forums are held the 2nd Wednesday of every month; from 6:00pm-7:30pm here at Grace UMC. (room TBA). A light meal is provided.  Novembers topic is about Depression.
You may contact me by phone @ 458-5927 Ext 119 or E-Mail me @ phyllisrjackson@Gmail.com. See you at the FORUM!

Rev. Phyllis D. Jackson RN BS, Director
His Hands Community Nursing Center @ Grace

On Tuesday, November 3, 2009 the United Methodist Women will sponsor an Election Day Bake Sale.   The proceeds will go towards mission projects.   We are asking that all members of the church help to make this event a huge success by donating homemade bake goods from your kitchen.   Ask friends and neighbors to donate. (cakes, pies, cookies, brownies, breads, etc.)    We thank you in advance for your help with this endeavor.

Sincerely,

Helen Johnson, UMW President

I want to thank all those who helped me with my “birthday party” coffee hour!  Special thanks to

Karen McLaughlin, Laura Putman and Marta Dentinger.  I hope you all enjoyed it as much as I did.  It made my birthday special to share it with all of you.  Sharon Bartter- Editor

Remember we are returning and not giving.  It was His in the first place.  Please remember to bring your pledge form on November 1^st.  We will have some available in the church if you forget.

Thanks in advance for your faithful support to God’s work through Grace Church

Michael W. Powers- Finance Ministry

The COMMUNITY THANKSGIVING DINNER will take place on Tuesday, November 24th at 5:00 pm.  Most of the food will be provided to us by FoodLink, including 17 turkeys!  Extra rice and mashed potatoes are always needed and appreciated.

Assistance will be needed in the kitchen that day, and in the days leading up to it.  Also; it may be helpful if you can take a turkey home and prepare it and return it on that Sunday or Monday.  Please call Maxine @ 319-1573 to find out what other assistance may be needed.

Thank you!