Non-Profit Organization

U. S. Postage

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Corpus Christi, TX Permit No. 690

GRACE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 14521 Northwest Blvd. Corpus Christi, Texas 78410-5501

Address Service Requested

Grace United Methodist Church

14521 Northwest Blvd.

Corpus Christi, TX 78410

361.933.0109

www.ccgrace.org

The Good News 2018 What does it mean to be a praying church? I think we would all agree that prayer is important to us as Christians. We all pray, but we would likely all agree that we don’t pray enough. Prayer is something that is vital for us, but also something we struggle with. I know I do. When Jesus gave his disciples a model prayer or what we call “The Lord’s Prayer,” it was in response to their request: “Lord, teach us to pray.” We feel the same need. Part of the challenge is sometimes our narrow perspective of prayer, in terms of our focus. We tend to think of prayer primarily as a personal, individual – even private endeavor. We think of Jesus’ admonition in the Sermon on the Mount, when he warns people not to pray in public like the Pharisees, but to pray alone to God. But I think we misunderstand this. Jesus is warning about trying to impress others with our prayers, rather than directing our prayers to God. He’s not trying to keep us from praying together. And so what does it mean to pray together? Another narrow aspect of our concept (and practice) of prayer together is that we tend to focus our prayers on those who are ill or grieving or struggling in some way. Certainly this is an appropriate focus of prayer for us as a congregation. One of the things I think is so powerful about Grace is how we practice the sharing of concerns on our Communication Cards in worship. Rather than simply offering surface, perfunctory sorts of needs, the concerns we share with each other are transparent and heartfelt. I celebrate that and am humbled by it every week. I believe it’s important for us to pray together for those who are ill and grieving and struggling. But could it be that there is another focus we might need to add? An important focus of individual prayer is seeking God for my life – asking God to be at work in my life, showing me areas of my life in which God wants to work in me and through me in a new way. But what about that kind of focus for us together? What if we focused more in our prayers together on seeking God for our life together as a congregation? Asking God to be at work in our life together. Asking God to show us areas of our life together in which God wants to work in us and through us in new ways. What I would call “missional” prayer. During August, our series will be considering what we’re calling “breakthrough prayer.” We will focus on exploring what it means for us to focus on prayer together. Asking God to “break through” in our lives individually and together and to use us together for unimagined purposes on behalf of Jesus and his mission in the world. To ask God to “break through” anything that might hold us back from what God wants to do in our midst. I hope you will try to make it each Sunday in August at 8:50 am or 11:15 am. Walking in Grace,

June 2018 Visitors Ken Griffin David Pullen Nicole Elizondo Douglas McGibboney Baptisms

Coralee Marie Coleman Average June Worship 8:50 140 11:15 91 Nursery 9 Small Groups (Sunday School) Average 86

FINANCIAL REPORT THROUGH

JUNE 30, 2018

JUNE Received for Ministries - $60,223.75 Invested in Ministries - $68,429.93

YEAR TO DATE

Received for Ministries - $379,879.22 Invested in Ministries - $405,095.88

14521 Northwest Blvd TMF Loan

Balance January 1, 2018 - $1,800,654.84

Year-to-date Payments $109,122.08 Balance June 30th - $1,691,532.76

Expanding the Mission

Received Year-to-date $95,285.11

August 2018 Altar Rail Offerings

will go to support the Food Bank

Church Office Main: 361.933.0109 fax: 361.933.0154 Pastors: Reverend Dr. Jason Fry ext 205 revjasonfry@gmail.com Home: 361.933.0702 Cell: 830.992.0181 Reverend Rebekah Rochte ext 204 rebekah.rochte@gmail.com Cell: 540.288.7141 Director of Youth Ministry: Victoria Low ext 203 youth@ccgrace.org Director of Children’s Ministry: Debbie Shannon ext 206 children@ccgrace.org Director of Communication: Kristen Veit ext 200 communication@ccgrace.org Office Manager: Ira Besse ext 202 graceumc@ccgrace.org Property Manager: Jim Dunmyer Cell: 361.933.1553 Financial Secretary: Cathy Chaloupka ext 221

finance@ccgrace.org Director of Music Ministries: Michael Perez michaelkrisperez@yahoo.com Pianist Natalie Rumfield natty1000@aol.com Wesley Counselor: Erica Garcia Cell: 361.658.9708

August Sermon Series – Breakthrough Prayer Do you believe prayer makes a difference? How do you know that it does? Is prayer the focus of Grace as a congregation? Rev. Sue Nilson Kibbey, a resource person who did some teaching at the recent session at the Rio Texas Conference, made the comment, “Many churches snack on prayer instead of feasting on prayer.” To ask the question using that analogy, for Grace, is prayer the main course, or is it a side dish? During the month of August, our sermon series will be exploring what it would look like for prayer to be the focus of Grace, not only in our personal lives but in our life as a congregation. August 5 - What Does it Mean to be a Praying Church? August 12 - Missional Prayer August 19 - Three Types of Breakthrough Prayer August 26 - Approaches to Breakthrough Prayer

Adult Ministries The Young at Heart group will be collecting and recycling #5 Medicine Bottles as an outreach project. We are asking for the congregation’s help. When a large number have been

collected, they will be sent to Matthew 25: Ministries. While this program accepts many bottles, we will start by accepting just the #5 amber bottles. How to recycle medicine bottles

In developing countries, medicines—when obtainable—are often dispensed into hands, pockets, leaves or any other available container. Matthew 25: Ministries accepts donations of empty plastic pill bottles for inclusion in shipments of medical supplies and for shredding and recycling. The pill bottle program fulfills the dual needs of improving medical care in developing countries and caring for our environment. This plastic recycling program keeps thousands of bottles out of landfills each year.

Please adhere to the following guidelines: Bottles must have an all plastic lid. Sort bottles by color and type. Remove labels, leaving no glue or residue. (Try Olive or

Coconut Oil for best results) Wash bottles in very hot water and dish soap. Rinse and dry thoroughly. Replace lids on clean, dried bottles. Place clean, recapped bottles in large Ziploc bags marked

“Clean Bottles” and place in the container provided in the church entranceway.

As always, thanks so much for all YOUR contributions which enable UMW to meet their mission goals.

As the heat continues during these hot summer days, you’ll find relief as you check over your closets and home, looking for items that are no longer essential to you and your family. Bring them to the Thrift Shoppe and share them with our less fortunate neighbors in the community.

Volunteers are always needed Thursdays, Fridays, or Saturdays anytime from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. If you are available to help, please call Joan Morgan at 361-945-2260.

YOUNG AT HEART UPDATE

We want to thank the many folks who are recycling their medicine bottles for the Matthew 25 project. However, we are getting too many bottles with sticky residue from the labels not removed. This is a must, otherwise we have to work to get this off and wash and dry every bottle before we can send them. Also, bottles without lids have to be thrown away as they are rendered useless without lids. Please, read the guidelines above for recycling your bottles before donating.

Blood Drive

Update

The Blood Drive on Sunday July 15th had 24 donors and 2 were deferred. Thanks to you, 72 people can receive needed blood and live another day. Thank you to each of you for your donation. Now, go see a ball game with your voucher and wear your super hero t-shirt with pride!

UMW NEWS

Congratulations to the following ladies---Pat Botkin, MaLinda Faughn, and Brenda Machen!!

Each of them received a Special Mission Recognition pin from the United Methodist Women here at Grace UMC. This means that a monetary contribution, in their honor, has been made to the United Methodist Church. They were selected because they have given freely of their time, talents and love without ever expecting anything in return except the satisfaction that comes with being a disciple of Jesus Christ. They have served faithfully and willingly in a variety of capacities over the years.

Missions and Outreach Update

Save the date for these exciting opportunities to be the hands and feet of Christ!

Feed Our Friends: 2nd Sundays Food Bank Distribution: 2nd Wednesdays and 4th Fridays Rise Against Hunger Meal Packaging Event: Sept. 30 Mission Trip to Eagle Pass: Oct. 25-27

We still need help with hurricane recovery! We want to jump back into doing weekend mission work right here in the Coastal Bend area. If you want to help, contact Pastor Rebekah so we can get a team (or several teams) organized.

Calallen High School Appreciation Luncheon & Prayer Partners Friday, August 10

Our 3rd annual Calallen High School Faculty & Staff Appreciation Luncheon is coming up! If you are interested in volunteering to help with this event, please indicate it on your Communication Card during worship or contact Shelby DeReese at 361-244-0049. We are also continuing with our Prayer Partner ministry. If you would like to pray for one teacher or staff person at CHS in the coming school year, please indicate it on your Communication Card during worship or contact Pastor Rebekah for more information at rebekah.rochte@gmail.com.

Confirmation Orientation

Students in 8th grade and older are invited to join this year’s Confirmation class! Confirmation is an opportunity for students to grow in their faith and make their own commitment to follow Jesus. Orientation for students and parents is August 26 at 3:00 PM. Classes begin in September. Contact Pastor Rebekah or Victoria Low for more information.

Justice for Our Neighbors (JFON)

Corpus Christi is the newest JFON site, and we need volunteers with a heart for hospitality and concern for social justice to help us get things rolling! JFON is a non-profit ministry with UMC roots that helps immigrants legal ly obtain authorization to work, unite with family, and live free from violence and discrimination. Clinics provide affordable immigration legal services to eligible clients and engage in educational efforts related to the rights of immigrants. Contact Pastor Rebekah for more information, to donate, or to volunteer.

We Have an App

Connect with us on your phone! Text “ccgrace app” to 77977 or download the “My Church” app by eChurch from your app store. Enter the keyword ccgrace app to link up with us. Check back for announcements, devotionals, interactive Points to Ponder,

class registration, and more!

Dear friends, I’d like to share a story with you. Over the last few months, I have often felt at my wits’ end. You see, I have been seeking God’s counsel on certain matters, but my prayers for wisdom or a sign or anything to aid in my discernment have seemed fruitless. Late one night, unable to sleep due to the anxieties tumbling around in my brain, I felt the urge to get out of bed and grab the nearest Bible. Now, I’ll admit that my usual response to insomnia is a cup of tea or pulling up Netflix rather than Scripture reading, so the fact that something was tugging at my spirit made me pay attention. I wasn’t sure what, exactly, I was looking for, so I flipped to a random page and started reading wherever my finger pointed. This is what I read:

“Peace be with you.” They were startled and terrified and thought they were seeing a ghost. He said to them, “Why are you frightened and why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have. And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.

You see, in Luke 24:36b-40, Jesus has risen from the dead, but not all of his disciples have seen him yet. He appears among them, and in the midst of their freaking out, Jesus does two things: (1) He offers them a word of peace; and (2) He demonstrates that he truly is with them. As my weary mind was making meaning of this passage and my soul was longing for understanding in the midst of my present struggle, I kept coming back to Jesus’ words: Be at peace. Why be frightened? Look, here I am. I wondered how the peace and presence of Christ could be at work in my own situation. Am I really open to receiving the blessing of divine peace and presence? How often have I prayed with my lips but in my heart I was refusing to actually turn my life over to God’s care? Have I noticed yet how God is already at work in the midst of my situation? Maybe I don’t have answers yet; maybe I’ll even freak out again in a few days; but as I continue to prayerfully strive for discernment, I am glad for this reminder I can be at peace because Jesus is already here. I share this story with you not to suggest that randomly flipping through the Bible can magically make decisions for you or provide you with all the answers in a given situation. I’m definitely not encouraging cavalier treatment of Scripture or ignoring study and context. What I am suggesting is that Scripture is a spiritual text, a living document through which God is still speaking to us and breathing new life into our souls. Maybe you, too, are experiencing uncertainty, doubt, or anxiety or otherwise thirst for that word of peace. I invite you to grab a Bible. Pull up a passage that you love or let the pages fall open and just start reading. Even if the passage doesn’t directly “apply” to your situation, I trust that God will nonetheless offer a word of hope for you. And, as always, Pastor Jason and I are here to pray with you, chat with you, or even sit and be still as you discover in a fresh way the peace and presence of Christ in your life. Yours in Christ,

Revolution Youth Important Dates (Mark you calendars) August 12 – Rally Day August 26 – 2:00 PM Parent/Youth meeting to discuss 2018/2019 Revolution Youth activities and events. August 26 – 3:00 PM Confirmation mandatory Parent/Youth meeting. August 29 – 6:00-8:00 PM 6th Grade youth group orientation and activity.

YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE The Gospel message is forever one generation away from extinction. A hundred years from now, it will not matter

what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove, but the world may be a better place

because I was a teacher of the Gospel message of Jesus Christ.

Love God? Love children? Then you are a perfect fit to teach the word of God to the children of Grace UMC. We are looking for a few people to teach our children on Sunday mornings beginning August 12th and during Wednesday Night Live beginning September 5th. Please contact Debbie Shannon at 933-0109 for more information.

Thank you so much to everyone who pitched in, in so many ways to help with VBS. From your donations to decorating to supplying meals and serving; to helping every night of the event with the children, you are a part of the HUGE success of this year’s event. We had over 160 children that registered so we were able to spread the love of Christ because of your generous, giving hearts.

Just a reminder, if you took a VBS sign to display at your home or business, please bring them back to the church as soon as possible so that we can get them stored to use next year.

Once again, THANK YOU ALL for being the hands and feet of God to so many children in our community! We appreciate each and every one of you!

Kick the school year off right!

Students and Educators

Don’t forget to bring your school bags to church for Blessing of the Backpacks on

Sunday, August 12th

Grace UMC is collecting school supplies and new or gently used backpacks for the Wesley Center in Robstown & the Methodist Children’s Home in Corpus Christi. Please consider making a donation of school supplies and/or backpacks in the big orange buckets at the Ministry Table. We will bless any supplies received on August 12th during Blessing of the Backpacks but will continue receiving donations through August 31.

Digging Deeper...Growing Stronger!

Join us on Sunday morning, August 12th at 10:15 AM for Rally Day! It is an exciting time in our church where all the children and youth move up a grade in

Sunday school.

God calls us to grow in community, and by participating in Sunday School and WNL, we have the opportunity to bond with one another as we grow as disciples of Christ together. From missions to Bible study to fellowship, nothing beats the

Wednesday Night Live

6-8pm

Kinder- 5th grade

Dinner, Activities, Games,

Music, Lessons and FUN!!!

Begins September 5th