Grace Episcopal Church, Camden, South Carolina. A Community of Grace, Anchored in Christ, Living to Love, Growing to Serve EVENTS IN JUNE & JULY

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1 Grace Episcopal Church, Camden, South Carolina A Community of Grace, Anchored in Christ, Living to Love, Growing to Serve June &July 2015 the Evangel DO THE RIGHT THING EVENTS IN JUNE & JULY We are all part of God s Team Grace Preschool Summer Camp 2015 June :30-12:30 PM Ages: 2-5 year olds 80.oo per child [$10.00 sibling discount] Pack a lunch and come be part of the team! We look forward to seeing you at camp! [info pg 4] Grace Church Giving of Our Gifts 2015 Budget $ 405,800 Needed Weekly $ 7,804 Received Week of April 29 $ 8,883 Needed Year-to-Date $ 148,276 Received Year-to-Date $ 134,541 Giving improved during the second week of May; year-to-date we are now 9% below needs Matthew 5:14 You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. page 5 Pre-Cotillion Camps are open to boys and girls from 5-10 years of age. Manner Camp dates: June 29 th July 3 rd (9:00a.m. 12:00p.m.) Reading Camp Dates: July 20 th 23 th (4:00p.m. 6:00p.m.) More information page 5 Summer Manners & Reading Camps

2 June & July 2015 The Evangel Page 2 June & July Happenings June 8-11 Summer Camp at Grace Limited spaces are available. Please pick up forms in office or contact. Melissa or gracecamden2@bellsouth.net See page 4 June June 29 to July 3 Vacation Bible School Kickoff on Monday, June 22 nd through Thursday the 25 th. 5:30-8:00 pm beginning with dinner promptly at 5:30. See pg 5 Manner Camp 9:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. See page 5 July Reading Camp 4:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. See page 5 Aug 20 Aug 24 Kindergarten Open House First Day of Kindergarten August Preview During the summer months lemonade will be served after the 10 am service on the breezeway or in the Memorial Garden. Volunteers may choose! Please sign up on the schedule in the Narthex or call the office. A letter of instruction will be sent each week. Thanks for your help. Prayer Shawl Ministry The Prayer Shawl Ministry will meet on Thursday, June 11th and July 3:00 pm in the Bishop Davis Room. Feel free to join us - even if you are a beginner! Beth Rauseo and Barbara Goodwin

3 June & July 2015 The Evangel Page 3 Dear People of Grace, June 2015 [1-Visitation of the Virgin; 11-St. Barnabas; 24-Nativity of St. John; 29- Sts. Peter & Paul] For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth anything, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. (1Cor.3:3-8 - KJV) In this passage from Paul s First Letter to the Corinthians, we see the Apostle once again struggling with his problem children. There is evidently division and strife in the early church of Corinth, and Paul is trying to guide the Corinthians to put aside their individual views about what is right and important so that the entire body of the faithful can function together for the glory of God. These divisions are still with us today. Not only is the Christian faith divided by denominations and creeds, but we can see schisms asserting themselves in individual congregations as well. Dr. Frederick Schmidt, an Episcopal priest and theologian who holds the Rueben P. Job Chair in Spiritual Formation at Garrett- Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois published an article recently entitled 12 Things your Pastor, Priest, or Minister Wishes you Knew. In the article, Schmidt notes a particular challenge that abounds in the Episcopal faith, where members of a congregation often have long-held ideals concerning theology and polity which drive them in their endeavors to lead the church in a particular direction which may be at odds with others. He observes how difficult it can be to hold together such a pastorate, since although clergy do their best to hear both God and their flock, they are often honor-bound to make a certain decision, full well knowing that not everyone will approve of it. In a wry twist of humor, Dr. Schmidt encourages patience as an effective countermeasure to such disagreements. He says that if those folks who don t agree with a particular decision will only wait long enough, the church leadership will certainly make other decisions that somebody else won t agree with! Paul s insight that not only are we laborers together in God s vineyard, but that we are the building itself seems to me invaluable here. Although we may see our efforts as focused on a particular goal which our congregation has identified, often the real work which is being accomplished has to do with what is going on in the hearts and souls of those involved in the work itself. In this sense, the actual task at hand becomes far less important than the transforming work God is accomplishing in the hearts and minds of his children as they go about their labors, whatever that task may be. In the end, it seems to me that sometimes God permits disagreements to enter into the initiatives of his church, solely so that his children will learn how to effectively deal with this kind of strife, and become more patient, more merciful, and more mature in the process. This may well be an essential quality in applying God s instructions to our lives. In the final analysis, Rev. Schmidt admits that the only way to hear the voice of God and to apply those instructions to life without incurring any disagreement is to live alone. Food for thought! Many blessings on your Summer, James

4 June & July 2015 The Evangel Page 4 Grace Preschool Summer Camp 2015 June :30-12:30 PM Ages: 2-5 year olds $80.oo per child [$10.00 sibling discount] We are all part of God s Team Pack a lunch and come be part of the team! We look forward to seeing you at camp! Please note: If your child if not currently enrolled at Grace Church Preschool, you will need to complete some forms available in the church office. All forms, along with an updated copy of your child s immunization record and payment can be returned to the church office. Please feel free to contact Melissa Clyburn at , or gracecamden2@bellsouth.net with any questions or concerns. The May 19th Vestry meeting was devoted to the congregation with the purpose of getting input as to the types of Programs and Activities the parents of the Children and Youth of Grace want. This information will be used to develop a plan of action for Grace Church's Children/Youth program. One of the commitments originating from this discussion, was to hold similar discussions with the Children/Youth of the Church. A core committee of vestry members is currently leading this effort. It is anticipated that additional vestry members and others from the congregation will be consulted as the plan unfolds. The end Goal is to have a structure in place to provide the types of Programs/Activities most beneficial to the Children/Youth of Grace Church. We are currently looking for volunteers who can lead the defined Programs/Activities. Please contact the Church Office if you would be willing to donate your time to this vital Ministry

5 June & July 2015 The Evangel Page 5 VBS 2015 is coming up fast! We at Grace Episcopal Church invite your children to join the fun! Kickoff on Monday, June 22 nd through Thursday the 25 th. 5:30 pm until 8:00 pm, beginning with dinner promptly at 5:30. Our theme verse will be Matthew 5:14 You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. The children will sing, dance, play, and learn about God s light inside of them, and the different ways they can let their light shine for all to see! If you have any questions or would like to volunteer, please contact Amanda Robbins-Murphy at mams132@hotmail.com Pre-Cotillion Summer Manners & Reading Camps Camp will be conducted by Sara Fakoury (the Reading Curriculum Coordinator at Camden Elem. School) and Jennifer Gibson (the Assistant Librarian at North Central Middle and High Schools) of the Camden Chapter of the National League of Junior Cotillions. For more information about this chapter go to Camps are open to boys and girls from 5-10 years of age. Manner Camp dates: June 29 th July 3 rd (9:00a.m. 12:00p.m.) Reading Camp Dates: July 20 th 23 th (4:00p.m. 6:00p.m.) Manners camp includes learning manners and etiquette through fun activities. Activities include: meeting and greeting others, shaking hands, table manners, school manners, setting a table, writing "Thank You" notes, birthday party manners and many more life skills! Week includes a birthday party with "Peanuts" the Elephant and a 3-Course dinner. Reading Camp includes reviewing 1 st and 2 nd grade reading skills through games and activities. Games include: Word snacks, making a word train, pin the tail on the right word, word surgery and many more! LOCATION: Grace Episcopal Church, 1315 Lyttleton Street, Camden (on the corner of Lyttleton Street and Laurens Street). AGES: 5-10 years old COST for Manner Camp: $95.00 per child ($5 reduction for each additional sibling) COST for Reading Camp: $65.00 per child ($5 reduction for each additional sibling) Pre-registration Requested by calling Directors Sara Fakoury ( ) or Jennifer Gibson ( )

6 June & July 2015 The Evangel Spring Dog Show May 2, 2015 Page 6

7 June & July 2015 The Evangel Page Spring Mission Trip to Washington, NC During the week of April 26 th, Grace Episcopal Church s Disaster Relief Team made a trip to Washington NC. This team is only one of many of Grace s Outreach teams that act as the hands and feet of Christ. Seven team members joined us on this trip: The Lanes, Lambs, Trapps and James. The house that we worked on belonged to a Methodist Minister who had broken his leg in a motorcycle accident. After his leg healed; he broke his neck in another motorcycle accident and is at present confined to a wheelchair. Three years ago his cottage was damaged by Hurricane Irene which resulted in having to raise the cottage on 8 foot pillars. The first thing that we thought was necessary was to find & get rid of the motorcycle Repairs that we did make included: Painting Installed flooring Installing windows Repairing the wall where the fireplace had been removed Reframing walls and installing beaded board. To give you some idea of why our help is needed in this area: In three years, three hurricanes and one tornado have hit Beaufort County. The United Methodist Relief Disaster Organization has sponsored the following relief work: 725 homes repaired 10 new homes built This was a great trip and we want to thank each of congregation for allowing us to take part in this project through your donations and attending our many fund raising programs. Join us on our 2015 fall trip (October)! Any questions, contact Frank Trapp Some of our Senior Acolytes Hunt Brunson Nelson Semple Sarah Anne Semple Mackey Cantey

8 Grace Episcopal Church 1315 Lyttleton Street Camden, SC The Rev. James W. Barnhill Rector Parish Office (803) Fax Number (803) Kindergarten/Preschool (803) RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Camden, SC Permit #43 Congratulations to our 2015 Graduates Hunt Brunson Daniel Mackey Cantey, Jr. Thomas deloach David Koon Jake McGowan Ann Miller Pennebaker Nathan Rushing Nelson Semple Sarah Anne Semple