Grace News · back into our sanctuary for worship will allow us to resume those potluck dinners and...

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 8 Published Monthly August 2018

Psalm 9:10, “All those who know your mercy, Lord, will count on you for help. For you have never forsaken those who trust in you.”

In August of 2015, I came into our sanctuary one Sunday morning and discovered three ceiling tiles on the floor. That began a three year odyssey during which we have learned again what it means to count on God for help, inspiration, courage, and strength. We have talked to many people about our problem but God has been our steadfast help through all our conversations. Unfortunately, how to get a broken tress system in your sanctuary roof was not a course that was offered at United Theo-logical Seminary where I trained to become a pastor.

Early on in this process we decided together that we would not curtail any of our ministry projects in order to raise money for the roof. We have trusted God to guide us and to bring the right people along side us to help us move forward with our goal to fix the roof and return to worship in our sanc-tuary. I’m happy to report that we have selected Tim Parshall to be our fabricator and builder for the demolition and rebuild of the entire truss system and roof. When I spoke to Tim last week he indi-cated that the work will begin here in September and take approximately two and a half months. If everything goes on schedule we will be able to worship Christmas Eve in the sanctuary.

People from within Grace Church, members and attendees, have been giving generously to the Raise the Roof Fund by numerous contributions from friends, family, and well- wishers across the United States. We are very grateful for every prayer for success, and every gift that has been given and will help make our prayers for a new roof fruitful. Currently we have $107,552 in our fund.

Please continue to pray with us for a successful completion of this project. Please prayerfully consid-er whether you can make additional donations to help us reach our goal of $159,000. Our goal is to raise all the money to pay for our project, or failing that to raise as much as possible to keep the amount we must borrow as low as possible.

The words of Psalm 18:2 come to mind, “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my strong-hold.”

Please pray with me: God, let me walk this earth with confidence. Help me always to trust in your faithful love, guidance, and protection. Amen.

Blessings to you,

Pastor Vicki Downing

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West Ohioans Minister with

Partners in North Katanga

Dee Stickley-Miner, Director of Connectional Ministries for The West Ohio Conference, is spending the month of July visiting with our mission partners in the North Katanga Conference, Democratic Republic of Congo. During this time, she has hosted several mission teams that conduct-ed youth trainings at the Kamina Children's Home and in local communities. Others participated in and helped lead pastors' school with three different groups from North Katanga: 1. Clergy spouses and lay leaders; 2. Local pastors and itinerate deacons; and 3. Elders and superintendents. "There is such engagement by participants, and we have learned about Con-golese cultural realities that shape their lives and faith," Dee remarked. "All of us have experienced the miracle of strangers becoming friends, and we are not the same." Please keep Dee and all of those traveling to and from the Congo in your prayers, as well as the ministries that happen every day in North Katanga!

Grace Church Annual Women’s Luncheon and Swim

On July 18, 2018 seventeen women of Grace Church

gathered at the parsonage for fellowship, food, and swim-

ming. This annual event is always a highlight of my sum-

mer. It is a pleasure to host the group and to have a spe-

cial opportunity to share and keep up with each other’s

lives. It is my hope that fixing our roof this fall and moving

back into our sanctuary for worship will allow us to resume

those potluck dinners and fellowship events that we have

missed while worshipping in our Wesley Room. Special

thanks to my son, Dan Downing Jr., who cooked for us

and helped make this event a success.

Pastor Vicki

EAGLE AND DOVE

The Eagle and Dove staff and students would like to thank the people at Grace who have done so much to bring joy and happiness to us all. We all wish you could see the happiness you bring with your thoughtful efforts at Christmas, Easter, and other times of the year.

At the present time, we are looking for a principal and two teaching staff members. If you know any-one who might be interested, please have them call Dave Speas at 360-8419.

Training will begin at Grace on August 20 and run for two weeks. We are so thankful for the use of the church for training and for James efforts on our behalf. Dave Speas

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August 1 Psalm 105:4




August 5 Psalm 27:1


August 7 Psalm 43:5

August 8 Psalm 116:1-2






















August 30 Psalm 4:8


Those from our Grace Church Family :

Ben Draime Jacob & Stacy Erne & Family

Melissa Frazier Lois Gram & Family

Mardella Hesson Marjorie Jones

Louis Lenover Paul & Millie Luttrull

Barbara Sheehan Sue Short Jane Shough

Kim Stehle Nancy Twaits Jack Yeager

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

And others:

Rick Bolinger Phyllis Blankenship Don Crinkey Family

Kate Hastings & Family Linda Longo Family Lynette Reed

“SHOWER OF BLESSINGS”

recipients for August are

Jim Cornelius

(2981 Vester Ave., Apt. DK 24, 45503)

And

Lois Gram

(3017 Brixton Dr E., 45503)

Thanks and gratitude to the members of

Grace for their prayers for my grandson Aidan

to have the strength to complete his training.

He is now a full fledged Combat Engineer

stationed at Fort Hood, Texas. Mike Amos

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

Hi All,

I’m still confined to the house and will learn maybe tomorrow if and

when I may have back surgery (Surgery was July 18). Will let you

know later what the after care plan will be. Miss being with you all.

Thanks for all the calls, visits and cards! Jane Shough

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

Dear friends of Grace Church,

Louie and I miss all of you! We appreciate your continued prayers

and look forward to health which will allow us to return. God Bless

you all and thank you for your cards and prayers.

Louie & Patty Lenover

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Grace Church extends our deepest sympathy to

Margie Rumery and Family on the death of Margie’s

daughter-in-law, Robin.

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

Grace Church extends our deepest sympathy to the

Ginger Sonnenberg Family (Larry & Phyllis Garber’s Niece)

on Ginger’s death.

A Note from our Friends in Ministry at Canaan UMC, Charleston WV

Dear Friends at Grace UMC,

Here is a small contribution to your repair fund. We ourselves are a missional church in an urban setting with

derelict housing and homelessness right outside our doors, We pray for your ministries and hope you will

pray for ours as we continue to feed, clothe, and try to house the chronically poor in our city.

Blessings, Pastor Paula Napier

Grace Church Youth Need our Help This summer six of the Grace Church youth attended a week of camp at Camp Wesley. All of the young people reported that they had a wonderful week of fun as well as meaningful and powerful experiences of worship. Each of our youth shared that the experience of camp brought them closer to God. They are very excited with the possibility of attending winter camp this year which is held between Christmas and New Years. In order to try to raise as much as possible of the mon-ey needed for winter camp our youth will be having a car wash at the church on Saturday, August 4th from 10:00 AM -2:00 PM.

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR YOUTH CAR WASH FUNDRAISER AUG 4.

“To handle yourself, use your head; to handle others, use your heart.”

—Eleanor Roosevelt

* * *

“If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn’t lead anywhere.”

—Frank A. Clark

* * *

“I can accept failure. Everyone fails at something. But I can't accept not trying.”

—Michael Jordan

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Trustee Report Greetings follower's of Grace,

Your trustees have been working on the upcoming roof project for our sanctuary. Recently we made contact with a company and requested pricing to relocate the existing heating ductwork that is located in the sanctuary attic. We reached out to Church Mutual insurance company for insurance coverage of our church. The trustees would like to recognize the efforts of some people whom have been a big help in our church building.

Jack Yeager: Jack recently took on repairs for the nursery bathroom toilet, only to discover that it was not repairable. He removed and replaced the toilet so the children wouldn't have to visit an adult bathroom. Jack also went through his tool boxes at home, and built up a tool box for the church to have available for future repairs. Thank you, Jack.

Carol & Rod Kelley: Rod & Carol recently refinished our tile floors in the kitchen, ladies restroom, Wesley room, and hallway. This work required extensive manual labor to remove the existing coats of wax . The temperatures and humidity while Carol & Rod performed this strenuous task were record setting. Take time to admire the professional work that Rod & Carol accomplished. Thank you, Carol & Rod. James Skaggs: James takes care of our beautiful building and his workmanship is evident throughout. Recently James took it upon himself to repaint the nursery bathroom. James is always busy taking care of his assigned tasks, but James still finds the energy and time to work on projects through out our church facility, many times without ever being lead to do so. We at Grace Church are very fortunate to have James. Thank you, James. Mike Amos, Trustee Team Leader

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“RAISING THE ROOF by FAITH”

Fundraiser

On Tuesday, August 7, 2018

have lunch or dinner at Rudy’s Smoke House

(2222 S. Limestone St. in Springfield)

from 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM, and

50% of the cost of your meal will be donated to

the Grace United Methodist Church Roof Fund.

You must show the coupon to get the donation.

Please either cut out the coupon to the right of

this article, or pick up one for yourself and more

to give to friends, neighbors, relatives, etc. from

the table in the hall. You may also take a picture

of the coupon and show it at the restaurant.

HOPE YOU CAN JOIN US AT RUDY’S!!!

Treasurer Cindy Yeager is happy to

be coloring on the

“Raising the Roof by Faith”

poster to reflect that our

Fund Total as of JULY 23, 2018 is

$107, 552.44

Prayer from the heart

John Bunyan said, “In prayer it is better to have a heart without words than words without a heart.” A story told by a 19th-century Jewish rabbi shares the same idea: A disheveled old man entered a synagogue for the first time. Not realizing he was holding the pray-er book upside down, he tried to follow the congregation’s singing, but his words were incorrect. Fi-nally, he simply looked toward heaven, repeating one Hebrew word over and over. After worship, some people complained to the rabbi, “Why didn’t you ask him to leave?” He replied, “That man said more to God with his one word than some of us will ever say in our whole lives. God hears the words of the heart.”

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BIBLE QUIZ

Who had a staff sprout, bud, blossom and produce almonds,

indicating that God had chosen him for a special reason?

A. Moses

B. Zechariah

C. Aaron

D. Nathan

Answer: See Numbers 17:1-11, specifically v. 8.

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Grace United Methodist Church

1401 W Main Street

Springfield OH 45504

937-323-9078

AUGUST

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GRACE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

GIVING TUESDAY

SHOW THIS COUPON on August 7, 2018 and

50% of the cost of your meal will be donated to the

“RAISING the ROOF by FAITH” Fund.

2222 S. Limestone St.

Springfield, OH

Hours of Operation: 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM

This coupon may be duplicated.

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