Grace News. Volume XXII Issue 1 Published Monthly January Happy New Year!

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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 XXII Issue 1 Published Monthly January 2017 Happy New Year! I am welcoming 2017 believing that God will lead us to a deeper relationship with the Lord and with each other. I pray this growth in spirit will be revealed by our more passionate discipleship. 2 Corinthians 5:17, Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The past is forgotten, and everything is new. God has done it all! He sent Christ to make peace between himself and us and he has given us the work of making peace between himself and others. Every year at this time for as long as I can remember the start of a new year signifies a fresh start. I remember that for many years I had the same set of New Year s resolutions; year after year I resolved to stop smoking cigarettes, lose five or ten pounds, and stop being over sensitive to criticism. Year after year these same Sins came to mind when I thought about how I could change myself to make myself more acceptable to God, other people, and myself. As I look ahead to 2017 I am very grateful that stopping smoking and losing weight does not need to be on my New Year s resolution list. I will say, for the record that God delivered me from my addiction to both smoking and over eating. It turns out I still struggle with being sensitive to criticism. I do not think that makes me unusual or special. I do not think many people enjoy criticism even what is called constructive criticism. That being said, I ask myself, Do I get mad every time somebody tries to correct me, or tell me what to do? Do I feel abused because I always have to be right? The truth is if I am a person who needs to be right all the time I will be doomed to a very unhappy life because no human being is always right; sadly, even me. The truth is, none of us can change anyone else or even ourselves but the more we are surrendered to God the more God can transform our hearts, minds, and spirits to better conform to the spirit of Jesus our Lord and Savior. With Jesus Christ at the center of our thinking, we can learn how to live a better way. We can have peace; we can sleep at night. We can like ourselves. We can rebuild relationships that have been ruined. Our minds can be renewed to be like Jesus, if we read the Word and ask God to help us live the abundant life Jesus came to give to us (see John 10:10). May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ fill us with every good thing, so that the New Year finds us hopefilled, gracious, and merciful in all our thinking and doing. Pastor Vicki Downing 1

2 January Scriptures Prayers Needed: Mike Amos, Phyllis Garber, Jan. 1 1 Thessalonians 5:11 Jan. 2 Hebrews 4:3 Jan. 3 1Corinthians 6:19 Jan. 4 Psalm 141:2 Jan. 5 Ephesians 4:2 Jan. 6 1Peter 5:8 Jan. 7 2 Corinthians 5:17 Jan. 8 Ephesians 4:27 Jan. 9 Psalm 72:7 Jan. 10 Psalm 37:3 Jan Corinthians 10:4 Jan Corinthians 3:11 Jan. 13 Proverbs 3:26 Jan John 4:4 Jan. 15 Acts 1:8 Jan. 16 Psalm 27:6 Jan. 17 Romans 14:17-18 Jan. 18 Genesis 15:6 Jan. 19 Ephesians 6:11 Jan. 20 Psalm 14:7 Jan. 21 Colossians 3:15 Jan. 22 Isaiah 46:9-10 Jan. 23 Psalm 62:5 Jan. 24 Psalm 37:8 Jan. 25 Psalm 23:4 Jan. 26 Ephesians 2:5 Jan. 27 Hebrews 12:3 Jan. 28 Galatians 2:20 Jan. 29 Psalm 5:11 Jan. 30 Colossians 3:24 Jan Corinthians 2:16 Ladonna Knasel Ongoing Prayers: Dorothy Ball, Daniel Bowman, Audrey DeShetler, Danny Downing, Rev. Sherry Gale, Lois Gram, Jerry Grindle, Bill Poole, Bonnie Ramsey, Brandon Shotts, Bette Stephens, Jennifer Wright, Jack Yeager My sister and I want to thank all of you for your thoughts and prayers when our mother passed away. 2 The Grace Church Family extends sincere Sympathy to the Family and Friends of Jean Ann Stephens on her passing on December 7, 2016 While it was her wish to not have a funeral or service, we struggled with that decision. Your support helped us in fulfilling her final wishes and brought great comfort to us and our entire family. Rhonda & RoxAnne Combs & the Family of Juanita Crouch Special Dates Thank you to all those at Grace Church who were so very generous in giving to the Love Offering taken for me this Christmas. It is much appreciated. James Skaggs, Custodian New Year s Day, January 1, 2017 Epiphany, January 6, 2017 Baptism of the Lord, January 8, 2017 Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Observance, January 16, 2017 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, January 18-25, 2017

3 Shower of Blessings Recipient for January is Lois Gram 3017 Brixton Dr E Springfield OH January Birthday Phyllis Greetham - Jan Maiden Ln Springfield OH Lessons from a snowman The Eagle & Dove Christmas Box Program was a huge success again this year due to many faithful servants at Grace Church, including our youth, & Christ Church (Dayton). 175 boxes were filled, and wrapped. They were loaded in Pastor Vicki & Dan s cars and transported to Eagle & Dove on Wednesday, December 21 for distribution to the children. We had enough to also take some to Project Woman, and IHN. The ones still in the church office are for the children at Eagle & Dove who were absent the day the boxes were passed out. Blessings to all who helped to brighten the lives of so many children at Christmas. It s okay to wear white well after Labor Day. Simply hanging out in your front yard can be fun. Accessories don t have to be fancy or expensive. You know you ve arrived when a song is written about you. Don t get too much sun. We re all made mostly of water. So what if you re a little bottom-heavy? Sweating too much can be disastrous! 3

4 REMINDERS Jan. 1 - New Years Day, Epiphany Sunday (8:30 & 10:45 am Services) Jan. 2 - Bank & Church Offices closed Jan. 8 - Taking down Christmas decorations after 2nd service. Jan. 9 - Soap Making for Free Store, 12:00 PM Jan Lt. Supper, 6:00 PM, All Church Meeting, 6:30 PM Jan Human Relations Day (offering) Jan Bank closed for Rev. Martin Luther King Jr s Birthday Observance Jan Free Store Free Store, 7:00 PM Pennies Plus Thank you to each one who shared their coins and dollars in 2016 to help fund the weekly postcards to Grace friends who cannot attend Sunday services. You made it possible to remind each one of them that they are remembered in thought and prayer. The "money jar" will be on the hall table again this year and your coins will continue to make these weekly mailings possible. Barbara/Jim Cornelius FREE REFILLS God s kingdom is like free refills at a restaurant. Wait what?! Jesus used common, everyday items to explain the kingdom of God; we can too! The kingdom is like free refills. Still thirsty after one soda or coffee? Get another no charge. In fact, the kingdom of God is better than free refills because you don t even have to pay for the first glass. It s like having a parent buy you a favorite meal when you re young. You sit back and savor it without the price crossing your mind. That s okay, because the generous giver loves you and wants to be with you. Sure, that s simplistic, but so are Jesus parables. Overanalyze them and they may fall apart. But ponder the single point each makes, maybe get a chuckle and an a-ha! out of it, and that parable has done its job. So grab another free refill of your beverage and of God s love! Heidi Mann Mitten Tree items donated to the Free Store were: 35 pair of gloves 3 baby hat & glove sets 1 child hat & glove set Thanks to all who donated. 4

5 In Matthew 13, to what does Jesus compare the kingdom of heaven? A. A farmer sowing seed B. A mustard seed C. Yeast D. Hidden treasure E. A merchant who finds a pearl F. A fishing net G. All of the above Answer: See Matthew 13:

6 Grace United Methodist Church 1401 W Main Street Springfield OH