Grace News Grace United Methodist Church 1401 West Main Street, Springfield Ohio 45504 Growing in Grace, Serving in Faith, Reaching out with God s Love to Bring All to Christ Volume XXII Issue 7 Published Monthly July 2017 WEST OHIO CONFERENCE 2017 The theme for this year s conference was Be Not Afraid. Facing the Future. The new campaign for the next five years is called Light the Way. It is a focused plan to develop NEW faith communities and increase the number of highly vital EXISTING faith communities throughout the West Ohio Conference. We will achieve the plan through two investment areas that reflect our strategic vision. 1) Invest in existing congregations with the vision to spark a new life cycle or expand their reach. 2) Invest in new faith communities that offer the light of Christ to a hurting world. The goal is to reach $5,000,000. in the five years. Funding will be made available to participating churches as they reach their goals along their way. Strategic plans are in place for both of these areas. We heard many reports during the three days. There were no really important burning issues to be voted on which made business matters go smoothly with very little discussion. The Celebration of Ministry Service was held on Tuesday afternoon where retiring ministers were honored and new clergy members were confirmed. On Wednesday afternoon, the new appointments for changing clergy were made. Our own Deb Egloff was assigned to be the new Children s and Educational Ministries Consultant for the Miami Valley District. I must admit that I started the conference experience with a heavy heart thinking about the decisions we are thinking about for Grace Church. Will we stay in our current location or make the move to a new place? What does God have in store for us? A real peace came over me on Monday morning during the open worship service as I sang the words, Do not be afraid, I am with you. Many times after that we repeated the words, Be not afraid. God is with us. It made me a true believer that God will be with us every step of the way as we research even more about what needs to be done to make our sanctuary safe to worship in and to be in dialogue with the district about moving and being a part of this new endeavor. I just want us to remember that WE ARE THE CHURCH wherever we may be worshipping. I know that we are going to take our time and spend much time praying. How is God speaking to us? We know that he is in control, will be with us, and will cover us with His love and Grace. I am the church. You are the church. We are the church together. Love, Becky
ALL CHURCH MEETING, 8 June 2017 John Ahlborn opened the meeting at Faith UMC with a devotional reading and prayer. The May Minutes were approved for filing. Thirty-seven people were present. Belinda Montgomery presented the monthly church calendar (see in July newsletter). A tour of the Faith UMC facility was conducted for all present. Miami Valley District Proposal: Pastor Vicki led a discussion for the second time regarding how we would like to proceed as a church regarding our sanctuary roof/ceiling situation (since we ve been out of the sanctuary for 15 months and our roof repair contributions currently total $66,414.59 while facing an estimated $225,000 repair bid). She announced that since our last All Church meeting in May, the Faith UMC congregation at 102 West High Street in Springfield has voted to disband. Thus, the Miami Valley District will use their facility to establish a Springfield urban ministry center there. The Grace UMC family has been offered an opportunity by the District to move our church to the urban center as the worshipping congregation. A lively discussion followed Pastor Vicky s announcement. She answered many, many questions from the assembled group as to how the move would affect us as a church. Here are but a few of the questions that were asked: Will the District own and maintain the building? Yes. (However, Grace would be assessed a usage percentage for utilities.) Will Grace UMC retain its name? Yes. Will Pastor Vicki remain our Pastor? Yes. What will happen to the Grace church building? It will probably be sold with profits from the sale maintained in a Grace saving and investment account. Pastor Vicky gave as much information as possible while also saying many details cannot be worked out with the District, until a decision is made. Should we make an agreement with the District to move, all details must be drawn up by a lawyer and approved by the Conference Chancellor. She asked that the congregation support a meeting in July to continue to dialogue and bring in all the pros and cons that must be considered before we go forward but first, she asked us to pray daily for discernment regarding what we should do. All agreed to continue discussions on Thursday, July 13 th while understanding a congregational vote will not take place regarding the proposal until the matter has been daily prayed about and all pros and cons regarding the decision have been considered. Attendees: Pastor Vicki and Dan Downing, John and Mary Ahlborn, Marilyn & Tom Martin, Mike Amos, Paul Luttrull, Belinda and Lynn Montgomery, Mary Beth Cheeseman, Dave and Karen Speas, Gail and Bruce Eckler, Mardella Hesson, Chalta Hillock, Mary Collins, Betty Stanley, Marjorie Jones, Kim and Joe Stehle, Bill and Paulette Pinkerton, Pattie Mumma, Lynda and Forrest Applegate, Barbara and Mike McCoy, Raymond Lee, Phyllis and Larry Garber, Louis and Patty Lenover, Jack and Cindy Yeager, and Becky Frantz. The next All Church meeting is on July 13 th, 6:30 p.m., at Faith UMC, 102 West High St The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge; the ears of the wise seek it out. Proverbs 18:15 2
July Scriptures July 1 Deuteronomy 30:19 July 2 Galatians 5:16 July 3 Galatians 6:10 July 4 Psalm 10:17 July 5 Psalm 18:20 July 6 Psalm 15:4-5 July 7 James 5:16 July 8 Deuteronomy 23:14 July 9 Proverbs 19:21 July 10 Psalm 105:4 July 11 1 Corinthians 1:4-5 July 12 Proverbs 14:29 July 13 1 Peter 3:10 July 14 1 Corinthians 13:5 July 15 1 Corinthians 13:7 July 16 Galatians 5:22-23 July 17 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 July 18 John 8:32 July 19 Psalm 118:5 July 20 Philippians 3:14 July 21 2 Timothy 1:7 July 22 Psalm 34:2 July 23 James 2:12 July 24 Romans 8:9 July 25 Hosea 10:12 July 26 2 Corinthians 9:6 July 27 John 16:33 July 28 Galatians 6:7 July 29 Philippians 1:6 July 30 Psalm 128:1 July 31 Romans 2:7 Prayers Needed: Mike & Cathy Amos Gwelda Bilow Daniel Bowman (Forrest Applegate's grandson) Jim & Barbara Cornelius Joy Draime Chuck Freund (Friend of Dan & Vicki) Larry & Phyllis Garber Lois Gram Jerry Grindle Ken Hennig (Friend of Dan Downing) Bill Poole Margie Rumery Bette Stephens Shower of Blessings Recipient for July is Jerry Grindle 906 Scioto St. Urbana, OH 43078 3
TRUSTEE NEWS Under the direction of Mike Amos, Head Trustee, several Grace Church Trustees met with a representative of the Springfield City Building Department to get an assessment of Grace church s foundation stability. We are delighted to report that Grace Church s foundation has been assessed as stable to allow repairing the church roof system. Thank you to Mike Amos and all those who are helping to move our project forward. United Methodist Women The annual Fellowship Fun Day at the parsonage will be July 20th at noon, with rain date for July 27th. I look forward to seeing everyone there. A UMW planning meeting will be scheduled for some time in August. I will let you know when and where as we get closer. RoxAnne Independence Day lessons for church life Return to the basics On July 4 we commemorate the origins of our country. In terms of faith, we also periodically need to hear again the foundational stories of Creation, the Israelites and, of course, Jesus. Honor the gift of freedom For freedom Christ has set us free do not submit again to a yoke of slavery (Galatians 5:1, ESV). We strive as citizens to preserve and live out our national freedom. Likewise, as citizens of God s kingdom we live gladly in the freedom of salvation and share that gift with others. Enjoy community July 4 is known for picnics, parades and other community gatherings. Similarly, the church is nourished by coming together for worship, meals and other special events. Be light in the darkness As fireworks brighten the sky with light and color, the church is called to display the Gospel s unique light in a dark world. Our word dynamite and the Greek word for power as in, You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you (Acts 1:8) share a root. Through God s power in us, we share Jesus dynamically! with others. Heidi Mann 4
Reminders: July 4 July 13 July 16 July 20 July 22 July 27 Independence Day, Church Offices closed Urban Ministry Meeting @ Faith UMC, 10:00 AM (Pastor Vicki & Belinda) All Church Meeting @ Faith UMC, 6:30 PM Newsletter Deadline Annual Fellowship Fun Day for the women of Grace @ the Parsonage, 12:00 noon (rain date July 27) Connection Blueprint Meeting, 10:00 AM 3:00 PM Urban Ministry Meeting @ Faith UMC, 10:00 AM (Pastor Vicki & Belinda) August 5 SUPER SATURDAY, 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM Every Sunday 12 Step Program @ Wesley Room, 8:00 PM Every Monday Weekly Men's Bible Study @ Wesley room, 7:00 PM First Monday Soap Making for Free Store @ Wesley Room & Kitchen, 12:00 PM Second Tuesday Free Store Volunteer Day, 9:30 AM 1:30 PM First Wednesday West End Neighborhood Meeting, 6:30 PM (Mar - Nov.) Every Wednesday Clergy Meeting, 12:00 PM (Vicki & Mary Beth) Chancel Choir Practice @ Wesley Room, 7:00 PM (Sept. - May) Third Wednesday Rachel Circle, 9:30 AM (Sept. - June) Third Thursday Miriam Circle @ Masonic Home, 12:00 PM (Sep. - June) Fourth Thursday Free Store Meeting @ Free Store, 7:00 PM Second Saturday Free Store Volunteer Day, 8:30 AM 12:30 PM 5
Super Saturday Flyer goes here Hold fast to the Bible as the [main] anchor of your liberties; write its precepts on your hearts and practice them in your lives. To the influence of this book we are indebted for all the progress made in true civilization, and to this we must look as our guide in the future. Ulysses S. Grant 6
Bible Quiz What is Gideon doing when the angel of the Lord appears to him with God s call to lead Israel s fight against the Midianites? A. Threshing wheat B. Harvesting grapes C. Keeping sheep D. Making a sacrifice to the Lord Answer: (See Judges 6:11.) 7
Grace United Methodist Church 1401 W Main Street Springfield OH 45504 937-323-9078 8