The Chimes
Grace United Methodist Church
April 2015
During this week of remembrance, forgiveness, confession, repentance, mourning, and resurrection, we invite you to experience this most holy week at Grace UMC.
Holy Thursday - 7 p.m. Thursday, April 2
Holy Thursday Services being at 7 p.m., will include the sacrament of Communion and the Conﬁrmation Class will assist
with the service.
Good Friday - 7 p.m. Friday, April 3
Experience the seven ﬁnal statements Jesus spoke from the
cross during our Good Friday services at 7 p.m. in the Sanctuary.
Easter Sunday Services at 8 and 10:15 a.m.
We will rejoice in the resurrection of Christ at both services
Sunday morning. The 10:15 service will be by celebrating
with the Flowering of the Cross during Celebrate the Risen
Christ during our Easter Services. During our 10:15 a.m. service the children will participate in the Flowering of the
Cross during the children’s sermon. Music will feature all
choirs and orchestra.
2 The Chimes April 2015
Super Wednesday Summary, Volunteers
Needed for Final Month
Last month we
missed
two
weeks of Super
Wednesday
due to snow
and
spring
break. However, we continue to have fun
with our state travels to Pennsylvania and Delaware, as well as
with our parties for spring and for
St. Patrick’s Day. We are grateful
for our weekly special guest Duncan. Duncan comes with his
“grandma” Susan Ryon. He is a
therapy dog who belongs to Susan’s daughter, Anna. He visits
each week with the kids and then
heads home with Susan. We love
having him in our Super Wednesday family.
End-of-Year Picnic on April 29
We will continue to meet every
Wednesday until April 29th. On
that day we will have a picnic so
join us if you’d like. We’d love to
have you.
Donations Needed
Our program is always in need
of
play-dough
and
nonperishable snacks. If you really
wanted to make our day we’d
love a gift card to Michaels or to
WalMart. We thank the congreation for their support of the
program.
Volunteers Needed
Many of our volunteers at Super
Wednesday are high school students. During the month of April
their schedules become very
busy with school work, which
means we are often short of volunteers. If any adults at Grace
would like to volunteer to supervise an activity table from 3:30 to
5:30 on a Wednesday afternoon
we could really use your help.
Please contact Patty Link at
[email protected] or at 515-9791697.
A few of our Super Wednesday
Volunteers
Emerging Issues
April 19
On Sunday, April 19 at 9 a.m., Teresa Bomhoff will be joining us to
talk about mental health issues.
She is the chairperson of the Iowa
Mental Health Planning Council
and President of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of
greater Des Moines.
Some of Teresa’s family members
live with severe mental illness, so
she has a passion for helping
people with challenges to get the
help that is needed.
Please reserve April 19 on your
calendar and come spend an hour
with us in Fellowship Hall.
Join the Prayer
Chain
The spiritual act of prayer is an
integral part of Christianity and
Methodism. One way of living
out this act is through our Prayer
Chain. When prayers are requested the chain is activated by
our UMW members through a
phone tree. If you would like to
be a part of praying and supporting other church members and
their loved loved ones, please
join the Prayer Chain by calling
Maxine Robinson at 274-3075.
The Chimes April 2015 3
Invitation to Vermeer Leadership
Alliance Seminar on April 7 and 8
ern Seminary, NC State University and Fielding Institute. His mission is to equip the laity and
clergy for more effective ministry
as we discover solutions that
bring personal and corporate
transformation.
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
All events at the Vermeer
Global Pavilion in Pella
Rev. Dr. Jacqueline Thompson Join me in hearing Eddie Hammett - April 7-8.
Eddie Hammett is a professional
certiﬁed church & clergy coach,
author of 8 books and over 400
articles that deal with how the
church can be more effective in
ministry in our rapidly changing
world. He serves as adjunct professor, coach trainer and works
with over 18 different denominations across the country. He is
president of Transforming Solutions, LLC.
His most recent book, released in
August 2014 is “Recovering Hope
for Your Church: Moving Beyond
Maintenance & Missional to Incarnational Engagement.” Other
books include: “Reaching People
Under 40 While Keeping People
Over 60” and “Making Shifts
Without Making Waves: A Coach
Approach to Soulful-leadership.”
Hammett is a graduate of Furman
University and Southern Baptist
Theological Seminary. He also
did post-graduate studies at
Duke Divinity School, Southeast-
TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2015
7 - 8:30 p.m.
You Can’t Walk on the Water
Until You Get Out of the Boat!
Overview ﬁve basic leadership
skills needed for Reaching People Under 40 While Keeping
People Over 60.
This is a free event that is open
to the public, no RSVP required.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2015
All day with registration
required.
Reaching People Under 40
While Keeping People Over 60
8:30 - 9 a.m. – Registration
9 - 10:15 a.m. – Session 1
How a Changing Culture Im
pacts the Way We Do Church
10:15 - 10:30 a.m. – Break
10:30 - Noon – Session 2
When Change is Needed,
But Not Wanted
Noon - 1 p.m. – Lunch
1 - 2:15 p.m. – Session 3
Creating a Win/Win for All
Generations
2:15 - 2:30 p.m. – Break
2:30 - 3:45 p.m. – Session 4
Finding and Taking Next
Steps for Your Church
Registration Information
Tuesday, April 7 – no registration required, free and open to
the public
Wednesday, April 8 – registration is required. Cost is $25 if
postmarked by Wednesday, April
1, 2015. After April 1 registration
cost will be $35. Click on the
Registration Form link on the
website or contact me.
This event is sponsored by Vermeer Charitable Foundation. If
you have further questions you
may contact me or call 641-6283141 or e-mail [email protected]
Purchase Hammett’s books
You may also purchase Hammett’s books between now and
April 30, 2015 at a discounted
rate:
 Spiritual Leadership in A Secular Age
 Making Shifts without Making
Waves
 Recovering Hope for Your
Church
 Reaching People Under 40
while Keeping People Over 60
You will receive a 30% discount
on any version (paper, EPUB,
EPDF) of the books by using the
promotional code PELLA15. The
offer is good for one use per customer (so order all the books you
would like at one time). To order:
M-F: 7 a.m. - 5 p.m. Central
Toll Free: 1-800-366-3383
Fax:1-770-280-4039
or online, securely, at chalicepress.com.
4 The Chimes April 2015
Laity Day on
Saturday, April 25
Grace Preschool hosts Mr. Steve of PBS
Kids during Week of the Young Child
Laity Day will be held on Saturday, April 25, from 9:30 a.m. until
3 p.m. at Aldersgate UMC in Urbandale.
Grace Preschool and GUMC will be hosting Mr. Steve from PBS KIDS
for a concert on Friday, April 10, at 11 a.m. in the Grace UMC Activity
Center. The concert is open to the public, so please join us!
Bishop Trimble will have two topics, The Marks of a Methodist,
based on a new book of the same
title by Steve Harper, and in the
afternoon, Poverty to Opportunity. Bishop Trimble is eager
for dialogue and questions from
laity and there will be time allowed for that.
Additionally, there will be three
special presentations about exciting ministries supported by the
UMC. They include:
Women at the Well (prison congregation) with Rev. Lee Schott
Justice for Our Neighbors (legal
help for immigrants) with JFON
attorneys Brynne Howard and
Ann Nafﬂer
Human Trafﬁcking with Teresa
Downing, UMW resource person
and ISU faculty
Cokesbury bookstore will have a
display and all books purchased
or ordered that day will have a
30% discount plus free shipping.
Morning coffee and lunch at
noon will provide time for fellowship and sharing ideas. There is
no fee, just a free will offering but
to facilitate planning please preregister by calling the church ofﬁce. There will be an incentive
for all who register in advance!
The Chimes April 2015 5
6 The Chimes April 2015
Premier of anthem in memory of Rev.
Robert Crandall on April 19
tage Grove, Des Moines, IA
50311. The premier will be held
during the 10:15 a.m. service on
Sunday, April 19 at Grace UMC.
We also extend an invitation to
anyone who wishes to attend
the premier to our 10:15 a.m.
worship service on Sunday, April
19. Our large sanctuary will accommodate all who wish to celebrate the memory of Rev.
Crandall.
Rev. Robert Crandall
On Sunday, April 19, Grace United Methodist Church will premier
the anthem “Roll Down, Justice!” in memory of the life and
ministry of Rev. Robert Crandall.
The anthem was written by Mark
A. Miller.
Grace UMC invites anyone who
would like to participate in the
singing of this premier to attend
two special rehearsals with the
Grace
Chancel
Choir
on
Wednesday, April 8 and/or
Wednesday, April 15 from 7 to
7:30 p.m. Both rehearsals will be
held in Wesley Hall at Grace United Methodist Church, 3700 Cot-
We look forward to welcoming
many friends and supporters to
Grace for this special event!
For additional information on
the life and work of Rev. Robert Crandall, please visit
http://www.bidwellriverside.org/
#!news/c13sj or
http://www.legacy.com/obituari
es/desmoinesregister/obituary.a
spx?pid=168650933
For additional information
Mark A. Miller, please visit
http://ism.yale.edu/people/mar
k-miller
Marriage Equality
Vote Results
On March 8, 2015, we held the
congregational meeting and
vote regarding the marriage
equality proposal. The meeting
included a reading of the proposal, comments were sharing
by several individuals regarding
the proposal, voting and gathering of the ballots for counting, comments from Ellery Duke
and several hymns were sung as
we waited for the votes to be
counted. The vote was announced by Mary Rae McElroy,
2015
Administrative
Board
Chair. Results: 202 votes were
cast and of the 202, 176 were
"yes" votes. The proposal
passed and is now church policy. Mary Rae then closed the
meeting.
New Member
Classes Set for
May
Grace UMC is offering new
member classes on Wednesday, May 6 and Wednesday,
May 20 at 6:30 p.m. at the
church. For more information
contact Margaret Borgen at
243-2400
or
at
[email protected].
United Methodist Women Unit Meeting
Thursday, April 2, 9:30 a.m.
Welcomed by God, Welcoming All
Program: Sarai Rice, DMARC Food Pantry
Devotions: Rev. Kathleen Clark
Hostess: Mary Circle
Special Event: Moulton School Birthday Party
Please remember to collect and bring aluminum pop tabs, Campbell soup educaƟon labels and cancelled postage
stamps. CollecƟon containers are in the coat room. Thank you!
“Those who obey my commandments are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love
them. And I will reveal myself to each of them.” John 14:21 NLT
Annual Spring
Member/Friend
Art Show
The annual Grace Members and
Friends Art Exhibit runs from Saturday, May 2 through Sunday,
May 31 in the Grace Gallery on
the lower level. The exhibit is
available for viewing whenever
the church is open. Invite your
friends and neighbors so they too
may enjoy this exhibit. Grace’s
Fine Arts Committee members
will set up the exhibit Saturday
morning, May 2.
In place of the usual after church
Fellowship Coffee the Hospitality
Committee will serve an artists’
reception from 11:15 AM to noon
Sunday, May 3 in the Grace Gallery. Everyone is invited. Meet
and visit with your friends and
neighbors who are displaying
their creative efforts.
Many types of original art will be
displayed. During past exhibits
we have had prints, drawings,
paintings, textiles, ceramics, photographs, woodcarvings, stained
glass and more. There will be a
reception for participating artists
after the second worship service
on Sunday, May 3. The exhibit will
be open anytime the church is
open during the month of May.
We have space for more artists
and crafts persons who would like
to enter up to three items of their
own original work. Entry forms
and additional information must
be picked up in the church ofﬁce,
as they will not be mailed this
year to church members. Entry
forms must be returned to the
church ofﬁce by Thursday, April
30.
The Chimes April 2015 9
Vacation Bible Camp Volunteers
Grace UMC’s G-Force Vacation Bible Camp will be held Sunday,
June 21 through Thursday, June 25 from 5:15 to 7:45 p.m. We are in
need of volunteers to lead various parts of the camp including telling
of the Bible Stories, preparing meals, small group leaders (no teaching involved), decorating, and lots of other fun jobs! Please contact
Coreen Witke at 515-255-2131 ext. 230 or [email protected] for more speciﬁc information on our needs.
Our Mission
Pockets Devotional Magazine
“Draw the Cover” Contest
The Pockets Devotional Magainze is having a drawing contest for
children ages 6 to 12 years old. See the details below.
The Guidelines:
1. The winning cover will be on the November 2015 issue. It can
have a Thanksgiving or any kind of fall theme appropriate for November.
2. Use crayons, markers, or paint, and use white, unlined paper.
Make sure you don’t leave much white space in your picture.
3. Your picture should be 7 inches wide and 11 inches tall or
slightly larger.
4. Pay attention to where the Pockets logo will be on the cover.
Don’t put anything really important there, such as a person’s
face, but don’t leave the space blank either. Don’t draw the
logo in!
5. Put your name, age, address, and phone number on a piece of
paper and tape it to the back of your picture.
6. Do not bend or fold your picture. Mail it in a large, ﬂat envelope or a tube.
7. You must be 6 to 12 years old.
8. Mail your entry on or before March 31 to: Cover contest,
Pockets magazine, P.O. Box 340004, Nashville, TN 37203-0004
The artist who creates the winning cover will be paid $200. A runnerup will receive $100, and a second runner-up will get $50. The runners up will appear on a page inside the magazine. The winning entry will be the cover of the issue. Past ﬁrst-place winners cannot enter
again, and we are not able to return your drawing. The Prize: $200
Grace United Methodist is a
community in Christ where a cross
section of metropolitan Des Moines
gathers for worship, study and
service. At the core of our existence is
Christ's vision for the world and the
church. We are a servant people
striving to live our lives so as to
increase the Love for God and
neighbor in the world. We are called:
 To tell God's story in fresh new
ways through preaching and
teaching.
 To practice uncommon hospitality.
 To equip and send servants into
the larger community for Service.
Our Welcoming
Statement
Each of us is a child of God worthy of
God's love. In our diversity, we are
created
in
God's
image.
In
celebration of that good news,
everyone is invited to join in worship
and fellowship. This invitation is
extended to all--people of all races,
all
ethnic
backgrounds,
all
generations, all physical and mental
abilities, all economic conditions, all
sexual orientations--honoring the
diversity of our faith journeys. We
invite you to bless this church with
your presence as God's grace is
present in all creation.
Chimes Deadline
The deadline for the May 2015 Chimes Newsletter is Wednesday,
April 15. Please send articles to Coreen Witke at [email protected] or drop them off in the church ofﬁce.
View the Chimes on line and IN COLOR on our web site at: http://gracedesmoines.org/chimes.pdf.
Grace United Methodist Church
3700 Cottage Grove, Des Moines, IA 50311
phone:
email:
web site:
facebook:
twitter:
515-255-2131
[email protected]
www.gracedesmoines.org
GraceDesMoines
GraceDesMoines
Worship:
Saturday Vespers
Sunday
5 p.m.
8 and 10:15 a.m.
STAFF LISTING
Senior Minister:
Rev. Dr. David Swinton
Associate Minister:
Rev. Dr. Jackie Thompson
Music Director/Organist:
Josh Morgan
Children and Youth Choir Director:
Ann Gerdom
Director of Christian Education:
Coreen Witke
Ofﬁce Manager:
Rolonda Piggee
Chimes Editor:
Coreen Witke
[email protected]