Dear Church Family, Bishop Alfred L. Norris, Resident Bishop of the Northwest Texas/ New Mexico area of our Church, recently stated, “The Bible tells us that the universe was nothing until God whispered into the void and brought the world into existence. It is the same with our souls’ salvation. Until God spoke to us through the gift of Jesus Christ, we were a lost people. Because of His coming, lives are changed, relationships are cemented, hope is restored, love is rekindled, spirits are nurtured, and faith is renewed. All of this because God spoke silently, softly, and tenderly that night in Bethlehem. And what then is our response to such a gift?” Every Sunday morning worship service challenges and enables us to consider a response to the gift of Jesus Christ. Each Sunday school class, bible study, choir rehearsal, youth fellowship gathering, etc., helps us to focus and accept for ourselves such a gift. Activities 2 Missions 4 Spotlight 5 Youth 6 Calendar 7 Birthdays 8 You and your family need to make worship a part of your pilgrimage in 2015 as we celebrate the birth, life and teachings, death and resurrection of Jesus so that we may adequately respond to such a gift. In Christian love, To help you prepare to hear God’s Word at worship: Readings for January 4 Isaiah 60:1- 6 Psalm 72:1-7, 19-14 Ephesians 3:1-12 Matthew 2:1-12 Words could never be enough to thank you for your generous Christmas gift! Barb and I continue to value your love, prayers and support. With love and gratitude, Rev. John & Barb Readings for January 11 Genesis 1:1-5 Psalm 29 Acts 19:1-7 Mark 1:4-11 Readings for January 18 1 Samuel 3:1-10 Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18 I Corinthians 6:12-20 John 1:43-51 Readings for January 25 Jonah 3:1-5, 10 Psalm 62:5-12 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 Mark 1:14-20 Amazing Grace Family Western Night will be held at Grace on Saturday, February 21st from 4 pm to 6 pm. Start gathering your best western wear and stay tuned for more details on this fun family event! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! What a Holiday Season! The staff of Grace thanks all of you who touched the hearts of many during this holiday season! New Member Classes will be offered in February and March. If you would like to receive additional information regarding membership at Grace, please contact Tammy Houck at [email protected] or 566-2897. More details regarding class times will be forthcoming. The Holy Spirit was truly at work, busy really, and it all happened because of YOU! You will never know how much we appreciate your willingness to help. God bless you! Sandy Recycle Your Christmas Cards Let’s Play Some Hoops! Don’t know what to do with those beautiful Christmas Cards you received? If you are not going to keep them, do not put them in FILE 13! Time to start stretching! Pull those sneakers out of the closet. Start getting your “game on” because Monday nights at 7 pm, in the All-Purpose Room you better “bring it!” First cut the fronts off of the cards, and then bring them to Grace with you on Sunday morning. You can deposit them in the silver basket on the Missions Table in the Narthex. The end of February they will be delivered to the Brethren Home in Palmyra to use for various craft items. Thank you for supporting this ministry! Brian Abela is hoping some of you guys will come to Grace to play basketball. More information will be coming soon, so read the bulletin, get connected with Grace at our website, or on Facebook. Let’s play! NO Friendship Breakfast this month – next one is February 4th 2 January 2015 Rev. John will be leading us through the Covenant Bible Study which is an indepth group Bible Study that centers around our relationships with God, with each other, and with the world. It differs from other Bible studies in that it emphasizes the biblical concept of the Covenant – the enduring commitment between God and people – as a unifying pattern throughout the entire Bible. It underscores the unique relationship that God chooses with us as God’s people. out sacrificing committed study. Three 8week segments each explore a different aspect of Covenant life. Each will examine what Covenant means, and the progression of a Covenant relationship with God. We will begin the second 8-week segment, Living the Covenant, on Thursday, January 15th. Classes will meet weekly from 5:50 pm to 6:55 pm in the LGI/Choir Room. You can join us for the second session even if you did not participate in the first session. If you are willing to commit to the 8week study or if you have any questions, please contact Tammy Houck at 566-2897 or [email protected]. A sign-up sheet will also be available at the Welcome Center. Participant books are required and the cost is $20. To help the Covenant group deal with busy schedules, the episodes are structured in a modular way to provide flexibility with- Santa and Mrs. Claus are pictured here with several of their helpers during Grace’s annual Santa’s Luncheon. 3 Amazing Grace Dear Grace UMC, Greetings from Prague, Czech Republic! God is at work here changing hearts, changing lives, changing people’s characters, and it’s a great privilege to be a part of it. Thank you for being a part of it too through your prayers, gifts, and encouragement. A few minutes ago, a Czech girl I disciple burst into my room full of joy and excitement. She had just met with the pastor of her church to share some of her concerns about not being able to grow spiritually. She had gone into the meeting with trepidation, uncertain as to what could be done. To her great joy he affirmed in her the desire to know God more deeply and to share him with others. He humbly acknowledged the shortcomings of their church and encouraged her to keep following Jesus. It is so beautiful to see God at work in a person’s life. It’s beautiful to see the humility of the pastor. It’s beautiful to see his desire for Jesus’ name to be made known and not the name of the church he pastors. It’s beautiful to see my friend want to know God more deeply and the pastor affirm that. It’s beautiful to see her desire for her friends to know Jesus. It’s beautiful to see them working together to encourage one another and see God’s kingdom grow. My prayer for you and for me is that we would encourage and help each other know Jesus more and more deeply and be a part of His Kingdom in the unique ways he has created us. Thank you for the opportunity to walk with this girl and others in their journey toward becoming disciple makers. May God continue to work in and through you Grace UMC! With gratefulness, Megan Ginder Megan is a missionary working in Prague, Czech Republic. She and her team help Czechs discover God and purpose of life through reading the Bible or engaging in spiritual conversations. If you would like to learn more or receive monthly email updates, please contact her at megan. [email protected] or find her on facebook. 4 January 2015 Bundles of Warmth Mission Project Update, DecemPlease remember to mark your calendars for Sunday, January 25th to participate in the church-wide Bundles of Warmth Project. You are encouraged to drop by the AllPurpose Room anytime after 8 am on the 25th to help make and assemble blankets and donated items for members of the horse training community at Penn National Racetrack. Boxed lunches will also be available for purchase to feed your hungry bellies as you work through the morning. We are still in need of the following donations in order to meet our goal of 100 Bundles of Warmth: 70 new/gently-used blankets of fleece fabric (2 yds. each of two different coordinating fabrics) 78 men’s hats 73 men’s gloves 91 men’s scarves 65 men’s socks gallon-size Ziplock bags snack-size Ziplock bags Full-sized men’s toiletries including: 35 bottles of shampoo 35 bars of soap or bottles of body wash 80 deodorant 56 tubes of toothpaste 93 combs 213 individual laundry pods Please drop off the items in the box located on the Mission Table in the Narthex. Your generosity is appreciated! If you have any questions, please contact Kelly Hubler at 599-6425 The Graceful Girls were “on the road again!” The group visited the beautifully decorated Longwood Gardens in Kenwood, PA. They enjoyed the DuPont home and grounds in addition to a fabulous lunch! 5 Amazing Grace January Youth Events January 4, GUMY Event - 6:30 to 8:30 pm January 11, GUMY Event - 6:30 to 8:30 pm January 13, GUMY Advisors’ Meeting - 7 pm January 18, GUMY Event - 6:30 to 8:30 pm January 25, GUMY Event - 6:30 to 8:30 pm 6 January 2015 Sun 4 Holy Communion TY Meeting noon to 3:15 pm GUMY Leadership Luncheon 12 noon iBlast Rehearsal 4:45 - 6:15 pm GUMY BOB Night 6:30 pm Mon Wed J anuar y 2015 Tue 6 7 no Friendship Breakfast this month Women’s Bible Study 9:30 am Handbell Rehearsals 5:30 - 7:30 pm Bundles of Warmth Meeting 6:30 pm V-Ball 7 pm 5 13 Racetrack Worship 7 pm Widows & Friends 1 pm 12 GUMY Advisors’ Meeting 7 pm 8 God’s Girls 2:45 to 4:30 pm No Family Dinner this week Angel Choir 6 pm Junior Praise 6:35 pm Chancel Choir 7 pm Church Office closed 1 Thu 9 Church Office closed 2 Fri 10 3 Sat 24 17 Family Dinner served From 5 to 6:30 pm Covenant BS 5:50 pm Angel Choir 6 pm Junior Praise 6:35 pm Chancel Choir 7 pm 23 16 22 31 15 21 God’s Girls 2:45 to 4:30 pm Family Dinner 5-6:30 Covenant BS 5:50 pm Angel Choir 6 pm Junior Praise 6:35 pm Chancel Choir 7 pm 30 25 Children’s Musical Rehearsal 1 to 3 pm GUMY/TY Grab ‘N Go Lunch Fundraiser iBlast Rehearsal 4:45 to 6:15 pm GUMY 6:30 pm 18 Widows & Friends 1 pm 26 Board of Trustees 7 pm TLC Meeting 6 pm 20 Women’s Bible Study 9:30 am Handbell Rehearsals 5:30 to 7:30 pm GCCC Board Meeting 6 pm V-Ball 7 pm 29 Spaghetti Dinner 6 pm Creative Ministries Grace Family & Friends Night 7 11 Widows & Friends 1 pm 14 WBS 9:30 am Handbell Rehearsals 5:30 - 7:30 pm Craft Expo Task Force Meeting 6:30 pm V-Ball 7 pm 19 Mission Committee Meeting 7 pm 28 Family Dinner served from 5 to 6:30 pm Covenant BS 5:50 pm Angel Choir 6 pm Junior Praise 6:35 pm Chancel Choir 7 pm Bundles of Warmth Work Day 8 am Children’s Musical Rehearsal 1 to 3 pm Prayer Shawl 3 pm iBlast 4 to 6:15 pm GUMY 6:30 pm Prayer Shawl 3 pm iBlast 4:45 - 6:15pm Confirmation Class with Rev. John 5pm GUMY 6:30 pm Widows & Friends 1 pm 27 Women’s Bible Study 9:30 am Handbell Rehearsals 5:30 to 7:30 pm V-Ball 7 pm CALENDAR - January.pub Happy Birthday Greetings To …. 1/01 Carol Powell Brett Finley Addilyn Webb 1/02 Will Driscoll George Woodring Teresa Isabella Katie McDonough 1/03 Patricia Ruddle Mike Warfel Pete Witt Rachel Applegate Nicky Moosic 1/04 Kayla Woods 1/05 Doryce Bowerman Meral Baxter Chris Cassel 1/06 Linda Fallat Avery Price 1/07 Ken Palovitz Susan Schulteis Bryan Metz 1/08 Richard Prescott Jackie Haynes Scott McQuinn Katarina Elliott Camryn Yingling 1/09 Cindy Messenger Alan McCulley Stacia Betley Trystan Housman 1/10 Susan Dibeler 1/11 Daryl VanKirk Lucio Pendolino Sofia Pendolino Kendall Kreider 1/12 David Price Carissa Wenner Kamron Nissley Kolten Nissley 1/13 James Barrett 1/13 Beth Bates Craig Hershey Grace Cenko 1/14 Irvette Timms Hank Ndlovu Devon Wallish Benjamin Neithercoat Brady Neithercoat Madison Ebert Alice Cenko Roger Bell Jr. 1/15 Erin Wrenn Becky Dunlap Elizabeth Jenkins Tucker Valoczki Vivienne Dotts 1/16 Lillian Russell Kathy Hartwell Laura Passuello Deb Shultz Chase Brownell Rebekah Forshey 1/17 Alysia Fogleman 1/18 Todd Davis Kenzie Dohner 1/19 Wendy Steiner Mallory Harvey David Hahn Erin Mitchell Nathan Orris 1/20 Ed Lerch Jaclyn Waldron Katie TenHuisen 1/21 Rich Hahn, Jr. Joe Nissley Emma Simpson 1/22 Mark Bates Sue Smith 1/22 Jacky Onks Elyse Shenfeld 8 1/23 Barbara Torcaso Brady Yingling 1/24 John Dzurko Kathy Rose Lisa Harman Christine Cook 1/25 Robyn Wagner 1/26 Gay Wells Austin Warfel Jared Downing John Simpson 1/27 D. Michael Bohl David Joyner Richard Heisey, Jr. Tara Santore Cory Smith Sarah Black Colby Gaylor 1/28 Harold Kautz Sam Fickes Heather Glasmire Kelsey Kreider Avery Loos 1/29 Bettie Farace Jon Maki Jen Webb Allison Rogers 1/30 Amy Heisey Austin Little 1/31 Rachel Spease Buzz Haake Kym Paris Jen Bean Emily Brubaker
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