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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 XXIII Issue 1 Published Monthly January 2018

Letting the First Thing be the First Thing

Happy New Year: Welcome to 2018

As we begin the New Year together I have been trying to prioritize my activities. I know that periodi-cally evaluating how we spend our time, energy, and money is important and helpful. In Matthew 22:36-40 Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment is. That’s another way to ask what one’s highest priority is. Jesus answered the question saying, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great-est commandment. And the second is like it, you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” As Christians we need to consider what Jesus said is most important as we set about prioritizing the time, energy, and resources at our disposal. I am pleased to say that Grace Church has demon-strated an admirable focus on honoring and bringing glory to God during the past year. The clearest indication of how folks will behave in the future is to note how they have behaved in the past. For the last two years Grace Church has dealt with the broken sanctuary truss system with faithful-ness. While we have pursued all avenues to fix the trusses we have not dropped a single ministry “Ball”. We have produced 1320 gallons of laundry soap, provided food at IHN 5 weeks in 2017, host-ed children for Super Saturday, provided 165 Christmas boxes for the Eagle and Dove program, and maintained an Emergency Fund helping local families in crisis. We have gone the extra mile send-ing over $800 to help with hurricane relief around the world. We support two Vietnamese churches that are spreading the message of Jesus’ love across the world. This is not a complete or exhaus-tive list of all that we have done together for the glory of God in 2017 but I lift these ministries up so that we can celebrate together the ways that we have put God first. As we move into 2018, it is my fervent hope and prayer that we will each prioritize our individual lives with God first, so that together we will be able to do even more to show our love for God, our allegiance to Jesus as his disciples, and our deep love for each other and for those in the world who have not yet met the savior. May God bless us each one with the sweet Spirit of Jesus.

Pastor Vicki

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All Church Meeting, December 14, 2017

Pastor Vicki Downing opened the meeting with prayer and a devotion from “Love Without Conditions” by Paul

Ferrini.

All Church Meeting minutes from November were approved without changes and filed for audit.

The church calendar for December was reviewed. (See in January newsletter)

Discipleship - Classes were lifted up.

Eagle & Dove - Report of Christmas Boxes, including plans of how to improve next year’s project were dis-

cussed.

Outreach - Interfaith Hospitality Network: Mardella Hesson is going to coordinate the Tuesday meals for IHN

in 2018.

Open Hands Free Store - $900 was given to the Free Store in Honor of Ron & Jan Stevens 50th

Wedding Anniversary.

Issue at Free Store with not having enough food on Tuesday. Will address giving voucher to come

back when enough food is not available for clients and the condition of the floor in the pantry at OHFS Board

meeting.

Pennies Plus - A former attender at Grace Church donated approximately $40 to the Barbara Cornelius Memo-

rial Pennies Plus Fund. Thank You! While Belinda is away, Jayme Tatro will roll the donations and the treas-

urers will deposit in the bank. Dave Speas continues to donate beautiful cards for our homebound each

week.

SPPRC - No Report

Trustee Report - The parking lot light that has been out has been repaired. We have signed a contract with

electric service for the next year for the Church & Parsonage.

Respectfully submitted, Belinda Montgomery (for Mary Ahlborn, Secretary)

NEXT Leadership Team MEETING -- THURSDAY, Jan 11th, 6:00 PM

Attendees: Michael Amos, Dan & Pastor Vicki Downing, Mardella Hesson, Donna Layne, Paul Luttrull, Marilyn

Martin, Belinda & Lynn Montgomery, Betty Prosser, and Cindy and Jack Yeager.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold the new has come.”

2 Corinthians 5:17

Happy New Year

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January Scriptures

Jan 1 Ephesians 6:19-20

2 Philippians 4:7

3 2 Chronicles 26:5

4 Psalm 41:1

5 Psalm 23:5-6

6 Romans 11:33

7 Ecclesiastes 8:12

8 Psalm 107:43

9 Romans 15:18

10 1Corinthians 9:26-27

11 Psalm 103:1, 5

12 Psalm 119:148

13 Romans 13:11

14 Psalm 27:4

15 Psalm 84:4

16 1 Corinthians 16:13

17 Psalm 100:4

18 Psalm 92:13-14

19 Proverbs 12:14

20 Proverbs 12:24

21 Romans 4:20-21

22 Isaiah 26:3

23 Psalm 9:10

24 Psalm 16:11

25 Romans 13:8

26 Psalm 37:11

27 Galatians 6:2

28 2 Corinthians 8:9

29 2 Timothy 2:21

30 Ephesians 4:32

31 Matthew 5:26

PRAYERS NEEDED

Mike & Cathy Amos Forrest Applegate

Gwelda Bilow RoxAnne Comb

Jim Cornelius Pastor Vicki

Lois Gram Phyllis Greetham

Ruby Harmison Paul & Millie Luttrull

Belinda Montgomery Karl & Bette Stephens

Nancy Twaits Jack & Cindy Yeager ************************************************************************Rich Bardey, Pam Bell, Phyllis Blankenship, Daniel Bowman, Cathy Boyd, Rhonda Combs, James Erne Sr., Chuck Freund, John Glancy, Lowel Gray, Sandy Lechleidner, Louis Lee, Kathy O’Connor Family, Mabel Phillips Family, Walter Sowers, Bill Spenser, Bryon Spicer, Julie VanZant

“Shower of BleSSingS”

recipient for January is

Jan Alice Baughman

2299 S. Yellow Springs St.,

Springfield OH 45506

************************************************************************

Homebound January Birthday

Phyllis Greetham

c/o Tammy Bobb

2009 Maiden Ln.,

Springfield OH 45504

Grace Church extends our sincere sympathy to:

Ruby Harmison and Family

on the death of her husband,

Robert.

Kathy O’Connor Family on her

death.

Dan & Pastor Vicki Downing and Family on the death of

Vicki’s sister, Mabel Phillips.

Margie Shaffner and Family on the passing of her brother-

in-law.

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A special thank you to Mike & Barb McCoy for the donation to

Grace Church of the beautiful “Amazing Grace” carved pictured.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Dan & I very much appreciate the Love Offering we received from Grace Church on Christmas Eve.

Pastor Vicki

EAGLE AND DOVE BOXES: MANY THANKS!!!!!

First of all, thank you to all of you for your donations to the boxes again this year. We also want to send big thanks out to everyone who helped pack the boxes on a Wednesday night and then all of the wrappers who came on Thursday night to get the boxes wrapped. Many hands on both nights made quick work of both jobs. Thanks also to the youth who helped keep count of the items we still needed. Now...on to 2018! Let’s use the month of January to start collecting gloves and hats for next year. I am sure the stores will be having sales on these items. Of course, you can also bring in any other items that you may see on sale. God bless you all for your help on these boxes.

During storms, emperor penguins huddle for warmth, taking turns at

the center and on the perimeter of the group. While incubating eggs, up to

6,000 male penguins have been observed clustering for shelter against the

harsh Antarctic winter. Partially grown chicks gather in protective

“crèches” (French for “cribs”); often surrounded by a colony of adults, these

groupings ward off predators and cold.

In stormy times, humans also need supportive groups; we can’t survive alone. A church family al-

lows us to take turns giving and receiving care. Amid social upheaval, injustice, illness, natural dis-

aster and any loss or crisis, God invites us to gather for protection and warmth. In the church com-

munity, we support and strengthen one another and are empowered to go out again into the less-

sheltered world.

Come back to Christmas

When January comes along, we can continue that sense of comfort and warmth that comes at Christmas by returning to the Christmas story, which gives us two great promises: God understands you, and God can redeem you. I encourage people to make it a point to reread the Christmas story every month, and allow Christ-mas to be Christmas every month. We need to keep coming back to it.

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Love Sunday School Class

Greetings Family of Grace,

You are invited to attend our adult Sunday school class. We meet at 9:45 A. M. in the green room at the end of the hall past the coat racks. Currently we are studying a book titled " Good & Evil " This book is about the conditions of the world that we experience every time we read the newspaper or watch the news . The Love Class is a chance to learn in a non-judgmental environment. I truly believe you will enjoy being involved. Mike Amos, Teacher

Trustee Report

The trustees have been involved in meetings with our structural engineer, Tim Parshall. We are in anticipation of his quote to repair our sanctuary roof structure.

We have been blessed by the efforts and foresight by the early members of Grace who decided to build the existing structure that we currently use for our Sunday worship. The structure that holds our Wesley room, Church offices, and Sunday school class rooms, was built during the great depression.

The church mechanical systems survived the summer heat, and the boilers were easily engaged this fall with very minor problems.

Please remember to keep our Sanctuary structure in your prayers . Blessings, Your Trustee Team

Reminders

Mon. Jan 1 Bank & Church Offices Closed Sun. Jan. 7 Epiphany Sunday - Baptism of the Lord Take down Christmas decorations, 12:15 PM Thurs. Jan.11 Meal @ 6:00 PM, All Church Meeting @ 6:30 PM Sun. Jan. 14 Human Relations Day (offering) Newsletter Deadline - Please send articles to John & Mary Ahlborn for Feb., March, & April Newsletters Mon. Jan. 15 Bank & Church Offices Closed - Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday observance Sat. Jan. 27 Connection Blueprint Meeting, 10:00 AM - 3:00 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 Second & Fourth Tue. Central Community Center Meeting, 10:00 AM First Wednesday West End Neighborhood Meeting , 6:30 PM (Apr, May, Sept, Oct) Every Wednesday Clergy Meeting, 12:00 PM (Vicki & Mary Beth) Chancel Choir Practice @ Wesley Room, 7:00 PM (Sept. - May) 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

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Board of Higher Education Announces

2017 Scholarships

Forty-nine United Methodist students in the West Ohio Conference have been awarded more than $119,000 in scholarships in 2017 by the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) of The United Methodist Church. Your support in recognizing United Methodist Student Day, World Communion Sunday, and Native American Sunday helps fund a portion of these scholarships. The remaining funds for these awards come from gifts, annuities and endowments GBHEM has invested in and administered for decades.

Dear Grace United Methodist Church, Springfield,

The Kroger Family of Stores is committed to bringing hope and help to local communities. We do

this through a variety of activities, including charitable giving, sponsorships and the unique Commu-

nity Rewards Program of Kroger. We are also committed to carefully protecting our customers' per-

sonal information. In order to meet their expectation of privacy, we have adopted a simple policy to

never share a customer's personal information. Our privacy policy applies to Community Rewards

participation as well. As your neighborhood food retailer, we deeply value our ability to support local

organizations like yours.

Your supporters (14 households) who shopped at Kroger between 8-1-2017 and 10-31-2017 (Cycle

6, Qtr 2) have contributed to your $45.40 total donation. Your organization will be receiving a Kroger

check in this amount within 30 days from 11-22-2017. If you have any questions, please email cin-

cinnaticommunityrewards@kroger.com or visit our website at www.krogercommunityrewards.com.

Thank you for your continued support of your local Kroger store.

Thank you,

Community Rewards Staff

Phone Tree Information

Grace Church sends out Prayer requests and announcements by an

automated system call “Phone Tree.” If you would like to be added to

the list of Grace people that receive the prayer requests, please let the

office know. You will not need to call anyone to pass the message

along as each person on the list receives a call from the church.

Prayer for a new beginning

Dear Lord, touch me with your Spirit of truth so I may be honest about my sins and failures. Forgive me for treating your covenant lightly and at times ignoring it completely. Help me truly seek and know forgiveness for all the hurts I’ve caused, for harboring ill will and for any hardness of heart I may have. Please renew a right spirit within me that I may become more Christ-like and that my life may daily reveal your love and light. In your name. Amen.

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At the start of a new year, we remember that God continually gives us new chances.

What does Jesus say to a woman caught in adultery?

A. “Go, and from now on sin no more.” B. “Not even in Israel have I found such great faith.”

C. “Peace be with you.” D. “Tell no one what I have done for you.”

Answer: (See John 8:11.)

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Grace United Methodist Church

1401 W. Main Street

Springfield OH 45504