Grace News. Grace United Methodist Church West Main Street, Springfield Ohio Volume XXIII Issue 8 Published Monthly August 2018

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1 Grace News Grace United Methodist Church 1401 West Main Street, Springfield Ohio Growing in Grace, Serving in Faith Reaching out with God s Love to Bring All to Christ Volume XXIII Issue 8 Published Monthly August 2018 Psalm 9:10, All those who know your mercy, Lord, will count on you for help. For you have never forsaken those who trust in you. In August of 2015, I came into our sanctuary one Sunday morning and discovered three ceiling tiles on the floor. That began a three year odyssey during which we have learned again what it means to count on God for help, inspiration, courage, and strength. We have talked to many people about our problem but God has been our steadfast help through all our conversations. Unfortunately, how to get a broken tress system in your sanctuary roof was not a course that was offered at United Theological Seminary where I trained to become a pastor. Early on in this process we decided together that we would not curtail any of our ministry projects in order to raise money for the roof. We have trusted God to guide us and to bring the right people along side us to help us move forward with our goal to fix the roof and return to worship in our sanctuary. I m happy to report that we have selected Tim Parshall to be our fabricator and builder for the demolition and rebuild of the entire truss system and roof. When I spoke to Tim last week he indicated that the work will begin here in September and take approximately two and a half months. If everything goes on schedule we will be able to worship Christmas Eve in the sanctuary. People from within Grace Church, members and attendees, have been giving generously to the Raise the Roof Fund by numerous contributions from friends, family, and well- wishers across the United States. We are very grateful for every prayer for success, and every gift that has been given and will help make our prayers for a new roof fruitful. Currently we have $107,552 in our fund. Please continue to pray with us for a successful completion of this project. Please prayerfully consider whether you can make additional donations to help us reach our goal of $159,000. Our goal is to raise all the money to pay for our project, or failing that to raise as much as possible to keep the amount we must borrow as low as possible. The words of Psalm 18:2 come to mind, The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Please pray with me: God, let me walk this earth with confidence. Help me always to trust in your faithful love, guidance, and protection. Amen. Blessings to you, Pastor Vicki Downing

2 West Ohioans Minister with Partners in North Katanga Dee Stickley-Miner, Director of Connectional Ministries for The West Ohio Conference, is spending the month of July visiting with our mission partners in the North Katanga Conference, Democratic Republic of Congo. During this time, she has hosted several mission teams that conducted youth trainings at the Kamina Children's Home and in local communities. Others participated in and helped lead pastors' school with three different groups from North Katanga: 1. Clergy spouses and lay leaders; 2. Local pastors and itinerate deacons; and 3. Elders and superintendents. "There is such engagement by participants, and we have learned about Congolese cultural realities that shape their lives and faith," Dee remarked. "All of us have experienced the miracle of strangers becoming friends, and we are not the same." Please keep Dee and all of those traveling to and from the Congo in your prayers, as well as the ministries that happen every day in North Katanga! Grace Church Annual Women s Luncheon and Swim On July 18, 2018 seventeen women of Grace Church gathered at the parsonage for fellowship, food, and swimming. This annual event is always a highlight of my summer. It is a pleasure to host the group and to have a special opportunity to share and keep up with each other s lives. It is my hope that fixing our roof this fall and moving back into our sanctuary for worship will allow us to resume those potluck dinners and fellowship events that we have missed while worshipping in our Wesley Room. Special thanks to my son, Dan Downing Jr., who cooked for us and helped make this event a success. Pastor Vicki EAGLE AND DOVE The Eagle and Dove staff and students would like to thank the people at Grace who have done so much to bring joy and happiness to us all. We all wish you could see the happiness you bring with your thoughtful efforts at Christmas, Easter, and other times of the year. At the present time, we are looking for a principal and two teaching staff members. If you know anyone who might be interested, please have them call Dave Speas at Training will begin at Grace on August 20 and run for two weeks. We are so thankful for the use of the church for training and for James efforts on our behalf. Dave Speas 2

3 Those from our Grace Church Family : August 1 Psalm 105:4 August 2 Psalm 29:11 August 3 Psalm 33:18 August 4 Psalm 18:27 August 5 Psalm 27:1 August 6 Psalm 130:5 August 7 Psalm 43:5 August 8 Psalm 116:1-2 August 9 Psalm 73:23-24 August 10 Psalm 18:16 August 11 Psalm 16:11 August 12 Psalm 90:4 August 13 Psalm 31:14-15 August 14 Psalm 138:6 August 15 Psalm 139:23-24 August 16 Psalm 119:148 August 17 Psalm 119:50 August 18 Psalm 37:25 August 19 Psalm 16:1 August 20 Psalm 146:5 August 21 Psalm 128:1-2 August 22 Psalm 40:3 August 23 Psalm 54:4 August 24 Psalm 139:15-16 August 25 Psalm 18:19 August 26 Psalm 27:13 August 27 Psalm 121:1 August 28 Psalm 91:5 August 29 Psalm 121:7 August 30 Psalm 4:8 August 31 Psalm 25:4-5 Ben Draime Melissa Frazier Mardella Hesson Louis Lenover Jacob & Stacy Erne & Family 3 Lois Gram & Family Marjorie Jones Paul & Millie Luttrull Barbara Sheehan Sue Short Jane Shough Kim Stehle Nancy Twaits Jack Yeager And others: Rick Bolinger Phyllis Blankenship Don Crinkey Family Kate Hastings & Family Linda Longo Family Lynette Reed SHOWER OF BLESSINGS recipients for August are Jim Cornelius (2981 Vester Ave., Apt. DK 24, 45503) And Lois Gram (3017 Brixton Dr E., 45503) Thanks and gratitude to the members of Grace for their prayers for my grandson Aidan to have the strength to complete his training. He is now a full fledged Combat Engineer stationed at Fort Hood, Texas. Mike Amos **************************************************** Hi All, I m still confined to the house and will learn maybe tomorrow if and when I may have back surgery (Surgery was July 18). Will let you know later what the after care plan will be. Miss being with you all. Thanks for all the calls, visits and cards! Jane Shough ***************************************************************************** Dear friends of Grace Church, Louie and I miss all of you! We appreciate your continued prayers and look forward to health which will allow us to return. God Bless you all and thank you for your cards and prayers. Louie & Patty Lenover

4 Grace Church extends our deepest sympathy to Margie Rumery and Family on the death of Margie s daughter-in-law, Robin. ************************************************************************** Grace Church extends our deepest sympathy to the Ginger Sonnenberg Family (Larry & Phyllis Garber s Niece) on Ginger s death. A Note from our Friends in Ministry at Canaan UMC, Charleston WV Dear Friends at Grace UMC, Here is a small contribution to your repair fund. We ourselves are a missional church in an urban setting with derelict housing and homelessness right outside our doors, We pray for your ministries and hope you will pray for ours as we continue to feed, clothe, and try to house the chronically poor in our city. Blessings, Pastor Paula Napier Grace Church Youth Need our Help This summer six of the Grace Church youth attended a week of camp at Camp Wesley. All of the young people reported that they had a wonderful week of fun as well as meaningful and powerful experiences of worship. Each of our youth shared that the experience of camp brought them closer to God. They are very excited with the possibility of attending winter camp this year which is held between Christmas and New Years. In order to try to raise as much as possible of the money needed for winter camp our youth will be having a car wash at the church on Saturday, August 4 th from 10:00 AM -2:00 PM. PLEASE SUPPORT OUR YOUTH CAR WASH FUNDRAISER AUG 4. To handle yourself, use your head; to handle others, use your heart. Eleanor Roosevelt * * * If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn t lead anywhere. Frank A. Clark * * * I can accept failure. Everyone fails at something. But I can't accept not trying. Michael Jordan 4

5 Trustee Report Greetings follower's of Grace, Your trustees have been working on the upcoming roof project for our sanctuary. Recently we made contact with a company and requested pricing to relocate the existing heating ductwork that is located in the sanctuary attic. We reached out to Church Mutual insurance company for insurance coverage of our church. The trustees would like to recognize the efforts of some people whom have been a big help in our church building. Jack Yeager: Jack recently took on repairs for the nursery bathroom toilet, only to discover that it was not repairable. He removed and replaced the toilet so the children wouldn't have to visit an adult bathroom. Jack also went through his tool boxes at home, and built up a tool box for the church to have available for future repairs. Thank you, Jack. Carol & Rod Kelley: Rod & Carol recently refinished our tile floors in the kitchen, ladies restroom, Wesley room, and hallway. This work required extensive manual labor to remove the existing coats of wax. The temperatures and humidity while Carol & Rod performed this strenuous task were record setting. Take time to admire the professional work that Rod & Carol accomplished. Thank you, Carol & Rod. James Skaggs: James takes care of our beautiful building and his workmanship is evident throughout. Recently James took it upon himself to repaint the nursery bathroom. James is always busy taking care of his assigned tasks, but James still finds the energy and time to work on projects through out our church facility, many times without ever being lead to do so. We at Grace Church are very fortunate to have James. Thank you, James. Mike Amos, Trustee Team Leader 5

6 RAISING THE ROOF by FAITH Fundraiser On Tuesday, August 7, 2018 have lunch or dinner at Rudy s Smoke House (2222 S. Limestone St. in Springfield) from 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM, and 50% of the cost of your meal will be donated to the Grace United Methodist Church Roof Fund. You must show the coupon to get the donation. Please either cut out the coupon to the right of this article, or pick up one for yourself and more to give to friends, neighbors, relatives, etc. from the table in the hall. You may also take a picture of the coupon and show it at the restaurant. HOPE YOU CAN JOIN US AT RUDY S!!! Treasurer Cindy Yeager is happy to be coloring on the Raising the Roof by Faith poster to reflect that our Fund Total as of JULY 23, 2018 is $107, Prayer from the heart John Bunyan said, In prayer it is better to have a heart without words than words without a heart. A story told by a 19th-century Jewish rabbi shares the same idea: A disheveled old man entered a synagogue for the first time. Not realizing he was holding the prayer book upside down, he tried to follow the congregation s singing, but his words were incorrect. Finally, he simply looked toward heaven, repeating one Hebrew word over and over. After worship, some people complained to the rabbi, Why didn t you ask him to leave? He replied, That man said more to God with his one word than some of us will ever say in our whole lives. God hears the words of the heart. 6

7 BIBLE QUIZ Who had a staff sprout, bud, blossom and produce almonds, indicating that God had chosen him for a special reason? A. Moses B. Zechariah C. Aaron D. Nathan Answer: See Numbers 17:1-11, specifically v. 8. 7

8 Grace United Methodist Church 1401 W Main Street Springfield OH AUGUST 8

9 GRACE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH GIVING TUESDAY SHOW THIS COUPON on August 7, 2018 and 50% of the cost of your meal will be donated to the RAISING the ROOF by FAITH Fund S. Limestone St. Springfield, OH Hours of Operation: 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM This coupon may be duplicated. 9