Grace Notes Grace United Methodist Church

Transcription

1 Grace Notes Grace United Methodist Church A Grace Note From Pastor Gretchen March ~ April 2017 Mary Magdalene left and announced to the disciples, I ve seen the Lord. Then she told them what He said to her. John 20:18 Three days after Jesus was crucified Jesus disciple, Mary Magdalene went to Jesus tomb to care for her Lord s body. But the tomb was empty! She was devastated, but then the resurrected Jesus found her searching for Him in the garden. When He said her name she recognized Him and her sorrow turned to joy. Encountering the Risen Jesus compelled Mary to share the Good News with all of Jesus followers. We are now in the season of Lent. A time of looking inward as individuals and as a church body to examine how we are seeking and following our Lord and Savior. Mary found Jesus because she was seeking to serve Him and then searching to find Him. And as she sought Jesus, Jesus was seeking her. God promises us that when we seek God we will find Him. Grace UMC has been seeking God- and finding Him in many ways. The foundation of all of our work is seeking God together in His Word and prayer and then living in obedience to His Word. Last year several of us participated in the Growing with Hope training in Portland. This training has helped us to identify and put into practice very intentional strategies to keep us seeking God and connecting with the people God has placed in our path to minister to and with. The first strategy was to develop and identify our mission, core values and covenant: Loving God, loving others and making disciples is our mission-our purpose for being and we strive to fulfill this through love, respect, acceptance, forgiveness and service for all. Another strategy that we are implementing is making connections with community groups, other churches and individuals and finding the gifts and strengths that will enable us to meet the needs of those around us. Holding our community and congregation in prayer is an essential part of all we do. We are intentionally going on prayer walks, collecting people s prayer needs, praying for those who come to the shop, the food ministry and community meal, and for one another in worship and at home to help us to recognize the needs and celebrations of our congregation and community, and to rely on God.

2 Most recently we have begun to implement another intentional strategy we learned about at Growing with Hope. We have reorganized the administrative structure of the church so that we now have a leadership board that works together to make all decisions about church life. Each area of church life has a designated leader who brings expertise in that area to the board and coordinates teams of individuals from the congregation to carry out the work in a particular area. Leadership Board information is included in this newsletter. Since there are so many areas of ministry that overlap, this structure for administration will streamline decision making and facilitate work between groups. For many of us church has always looked and functioned a certain way: On Sunday mornings worship, Sunday School, and fellowship; small group Bible Studies, prayer groups and meetings during the week; and seasonal mission/outreach and fundraising events at special times during the year. Over the past few years God has been showing us a new way to do church. Through the Saving Grace Ministries-the thrift shop, welcoming center, food ministry and community meal- mission and outreach happen every day. Worship is not a Sunday morning only activity; worship happens each and every day as we greet, serve and pray with all who enter. Discipleship happens not only during the Sunday School and Bible study classes but also as we walk with others in their faith journey where ever we meet them. Often in the past each church would function fairly independently of one another and independently of other community groups. We are discovering that God has one Body-all churches- and He desires that we work together to build up the Kingdom. Over the past few years Grace UMC has partnered with many different churches and denominations and we are beginning to live out this vision. With this in mind we have begun to explore the idea of the Thrift Shop and Food Ministry becoming a mission center and a separate 501c3 (non-profit) entity. The leadership board is working with a consultant to explore what this might mean and might entail. We will keep you posted. During this season of lent may we intentionally draw close to God in prayer, repentance and study of His Word. I invite you to join us in any of the prayer or Bible study opportunities listed in this newsletter and to join us in worship on Sundays and during Holy Week. When we seek God we will find Him. And when we find Jesus, may we be like Mary and go and tell others about His great power and love. Blessings and Prayers, Pastor Gretchen Grace United Methodist s Mission Statement We will love God, love others and make disciples. GUMC s Core Values Love Respect Acceptance Forgiveness Service

3 Thursday Bible Studies: At 10 am we are doing a book exploring how to tap into God's strength. See Pastor Gretchen if you would like to get the book. At 1:30pm we will be studying the Sunday scriptures. Only a Bible is needed for this study. All are welcome and encouraged to come! Growing in Grace Spiritual Practices Group Sundays, 11:45-12:30 3/5-4/9/17. All are welcome to join us for a time of exploring and practicing ways to connect with God. Holy Week Palm Sunday: April 9 10am Maundy Thursday: April 13 7pm Good Friday: April 14 6:30pm held at Bangor 1 st UMC on Essex St. Easter Sunday: April 16 10am Upcoming events to put on your calendar March 26 Lenten Service at Grant Mem. Presque Isle 3pm April 29 Transition Workshop Grant Mem. Presque Isle May 6 Leadership Academy May 11 Mike Slaughter Hampden Highlands UMC June 3 Pre-Conference briefing June Annual Conference Manchester NH GUMC Behavioral Covenant We are the body of Christ in this place, and joyfully choose to follow Christʼs teachings about forgiveness and love. To this end we prayerfully encourage and expect the following behaviors: I/We will speak the truth in and with love. I/We will encourage people to express and respect different viewpoints with love. I/We will treat people from the church and community with respect. I/We will work on meeting peopleʼs physical, emotional, and spiritual needs with prayer. I/We will support our church and its leaders with our talents, time, money, service, and prayer. I/We will create a safe emotional environment where I specific language is used. I/We will be active listeners without interruption or judgment. I/We will work toward collaboration (working together) and win/win solutions. I/We will respond only to direct and open communication, and will discuss issues

4 April 8 th is the GUMC Annual Easter Egg Hunt 10am -12am Workers for the event are needed as well as Easter Candy. Please donate candy so we can fill the small plastic Easter eggs. Candy needed before April 5 th. Here is a list of ways to serve God through Saving Grace Ministries at Grace UMC: providing rides to worship, picking up food at Hannaford's or Good Shepherd, serving as lector or greeter during worship, sharing music during worship, providing food for fellowship time after worship, coordinating/assisting with outreach events (like the Easter Egg Hunt), preparing a shelter meal, serving at a community meal, serving in the thrift shop, representing Grace UMC at groups like Bangor Area UMC Cluster, Faith Linking In Action or Street Pastors, leading a Bible Study or Prayer Group, calling or visiting parishioners, coordinating/assisting with a fundraiser, helping with odd jobs around the church, donating to the thrift shop, food ministry, Easter Egg Hunt, or Christmas Stocking project, giving an extra financial gift, assisting with the Christmas Stocking project. April Birthdays Saving Grace Thrift Shop is featuring weekly sales throughout the month of April! Come in and check out our new SPRING SALES! We put out new merchandise each and every day!! 4/14 Fran Gammons, 4/18 Noah Albert, 4/22 Avis Armstrong, 4/26 Elaine Small, 4/28 Barbara Joy 4/30 Cindy Prindle

5 Amazing Partnerships Grant Memorial UMC Youth Group returned yet again to do mission work here at Grace UMC! They had committed to serving another Saturday Community Luncheon but instead of serving the Moe s BBQ (another great partner) they called us in advance to say they wanted to donate the entire meal for 100 people all by themselves! On Saturday, March 18 th, they arrived early and prepared a traditional boiled dinner with all the fixings plus homemade brownies! Our dinner guests numbered over 100 people and all had plenty to eat! Saving Grace Food Ministry donated 2 dozen pumpkin pies, 2 gallons of milk & 1 gallon of orange juice. Friar s Bake House (yet another wonderful partner) donated enough homemade bread to feed all the guests! What a wonderful example of what a community can do when God calls them all together to serve His people!!! Ahh but the Youth Group wasn t done yet.they also donated 600 lbs. of Maine potatoes, canned goods and a large chest freezer to Saving Grace Food Ministry. In addition Reverend Dare from Grant Memorial UMC donated the materials and his expertise as a licensed electrician to install a dedicated outlet for the freezer. We praise GOD for partners in ministry who see what God is doing here! We are blessed by all the wonderful servants who serve God in the Saving Grace Ministries! We are humbly thankful and grateful that they want to be a part of Kingdom building in this place called Grace. Please keep Youth Pastor David Adams, all of the GMUMC youth group and Rev. Dare in your daily prayers! Please consider giving a special Easter offering to support God s work through Grace UMC. Easter offering envelopes are available on the tables in the sanctuary and downstairs.

6 Those in need of our prayers Elaine & Norman, Kenny, Fran G., Bonnie, Roma, Ed B., Larry & Karin, Michelle from Boston, all people kept in poverty or slavery, all who face addictions and all who are targeted for unjust treatment because of who they are, the desire and ability to draw close to God in prayer and study of God s word so we may be Christ s witnesses in our communities, that we will be quick to recognize and confess our sins being confident in God s promise to forgive us., our community, family, missionaries, refugees, strength, courage and health for our Pastor, Jasmin, daughter and sister estranged need patience and understanding, Dawn H. as she faces terrible medical issues and choices, Boot(who lost his wife Norma) and for Jane W.( the sister of Norma) and Norma s family and friends, healing for Anna, Suzanne, Adaline R., Phil, Annie, Beve, Pat C. & Shirley, continued praise & thanks for all our partners in ministry, those struggling with addictions, all the members of Grace Church, Judith & her son, Evelyn M., Kevin, Paul & Nick, Carolyn, those who struggle with mental illness and homelessness, Lee s mother who is frail, Gerry, Standing Rock Sioux Nation, Cindy O., Brittany, me John, Annette, the soul of Jerry G., Larry F., June Bug s soul, all my friends, Summer, thanksgiving for God s love and kindness, peace in our world, the unborn, Lynn s family as they try to find place for Mom and Dad, blessings and strength for Tom and his Mom and Dad s recent move, bless the Saving Grace Thrift Store servants and customers, those seeking forgiveness and those who are lost in life trying to find love and honor, job for Marie and for her family in the Philippines, healing for Tom & Ann s daughter, guidance for leadership team in the days ahead to follow God s will for Grace and our neighborhood, Helen T., friends & family of Rev. Dot Mattson, thanksgiving to God for all the blessings and to Grace Church family for your prayers, Ed M., Paulettes, Adrienne W., Donna s granddaughter, our Muslim brothers & sisters, Patrick, Amy, Kurds and Yazedi people in Kurdistan, Mark, Kim, love and fellowship for all at Grace, Bobbi and Josh, praise God for mercy, love, kindness, apartment, children of the world, the unborn, family, Nelly, Megan s friend, safety and strength for Anthony, Pastor Gretchen s family, people of Syria, that all of God s people would study the bible, pray, see Him at work, seek to worship Him and spread the Good News, Street Pastor s Ministry, Justin that he come back, the Joys, Glenda M., Michelle L., Rowena, and all known only to God! Readers are needed for the Good Friday Service at Bangor 1 st. They are requesting 7 readers from GUMC. Please call office and leave message if you are interested in being one of the readers. Service starts at 6:30pm and is a beautiful candlelit service.