Grace Reporter...Exploring God’s World with Ross Golden Page 5 SYCAMORE Growing along stream banks...

Grace United Methodist Church

June 2020 www.gracecoalcenter.org

Grace Reporter

GCEC OPENED MAY 26 following CDC Health Guidelines and DHS Approval!

We ask that church staff, members and all visitors follow the posted signs at the school entrance

and in the hallway. Access to this area must be limited to school staff and students only at this time.

Thank you for your love, support and prayer for the children, staff and families of Grace Christian

Ed Center! Our Risk Management Plan will be posted on the church website under the school tab.

Respectfully,

Renee Heckler, Christian Ed Director

We all bleed the same

We're more beautiful when

we come together


So tell me why, tell me why

We're divided

Woke up today

Another headline

Another innocent life is taken

In the name of hatred

So hard to take

And if we think that it's

all good

Then we're mistaken

'Cause my heart is breaking

Are you left?

Are you right?

Pointing fingers, taking sides

When are we gonna realize?


We're more beautiful when

we come together



We're divided

If we're gonna fight

Let's fight for each other

If we're gonna shout

Let love be the cry



We're divided.

Tell me, who are we

To judge someone

By the kind of clothes

they're wearing

Or the color of their skin?

Are you black?

Are you white?

Aren't we all the same in-

side?

Father, open our eyes to

see!

Only love can drive out all

the darkness

What are we fighting for?

We were made to carry one

another

We were made for more,

So Father God, I pray

That our families will come

together right now

And seek your face

You will forgive our sins

And You will heal our

incredible land

In the name of the only

Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen

Mandisa,

We All Bleed the Same

https://www.youtube.com/

watch?v=HVKuA1s5I3o

You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Mark 12:31

https://genius.com/Mandisa-bleed-the-same-lyrics#note-16572528








https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVKuA1s5I3o

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVKuA1s5I3o

In normal times, this space lists volunteers for the coming month. In this time of pandemic

recovery, we share the list of shut-ins of the week and upcoming birthdays for our nonage-

narians. Please include these friends in your prayers. If you would like to send them a card

or note, contact the church office for theirs mailing addresses.

YOU In Ministry

Grace Reporter

Shut Ins

June 7 ~ Saundra Merashoff

June 14 ~ Helen Morris

June 21 ~ Charlie Deems

June 28 ~ Sam & Ruth Levy

Birthdays

June 13 ~ Edie Cooper (90)

June 21 ~ Dom Partezana (90)

Water Project

Month of April ~ received $1,900

Remaining Balance ~ $5,915,17

ATTENTION ALL COMMITTEE

CHAIRS AND GROUP LEADERS:

If you are planning to hold any meet-

ings at the church you must notify

Chris in the church office in advance.

Call 724-350-5350 or email

[email protected]

Flag Day is

Sunday, June 14

mailto:[email protected]

Alive and Well! Ross Golden, Chair ~ GUMC Council

www.gracecoalcenter.org

I want you to know that Grace UMC is alive and

well. We may be temporarily held back from our normal

Worship and getting together, but we are continuing to

work. The Food bank continues to work out of the Church.

Lunches for kids out of school are being distributed from

the church (Matthew 25:35- I was hungry and you fed me.)

Prior to May 15, groups of ten or less could meet at

the church. Church Council, Disciple Bible Study, Prayer

Garden Group met, Trustees had a work day. Now groups of 25 or less, small groups and

meetings, can meet with precautions.

We have been having Worship on Sundays via facebook and now online on our website.

Maybe we can’t get together personally but look at the names of people viewing Worship and

see people we are reaching either by distance or simply can’t attend for whatever reason. We

are reaching out with the Word of GOD, Mark 16:15-16 - And he said unto them, Go ye into all

the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature.

Grace Church Education Center continues to work with their students. They have pro-

vided curriculum to the students, staff is teaching classes online, having daily Bible stories,

Zoom meetings with classes and parents, and many other things. A whole article could be

written with simply what the School is doing. Proverbs 22:6- Train up a child in the way he

should go; even when he is old, he will not depart from it.

I have only scratched the surface of what is happening in GOD’s church. From the

Church Council I want to thank you for your support, with your continued offerings that allow

the Church (which is YOU) to continue GOD’s work. THANK YOU!!!!!!! 2 Corinthians 9:11

“You will be enriched in every way for all generosity, which produces thanksgiving to God

through us.

Please keep in mind that there is a lag time from the time from when this is written un-

til it is published because of the work it takes to produce the newsletter. I say this because so

many more things may happen after this is written.

Ross Golden- Chairman Grace Church Council.

Grace Family Matters

Grace Reporter

Baptised in the faith on Saturday, May 16

George Gavin McCombs

George is the son of George and Natalie (Pappas) McCombs, brother to Macie and

Emma, grandson of Barb Pappas and great grandson of Bill Heckler, Sr.

Many blessings to you, Gavin! We all look forward to watching you grow!

Bonded in love ~ United in Christ

Virginia Menia B0s0 & Tom Hamilton

May 9, 2020

Franchesca Uhar & Milan Panich

May 23, 2020

Tentative Start Date for Soccer Shots is Tuesday,

June 30 5:25 ~ 6:45

Registration and more info at soccershots.org/pittsburgh

Polls open 7AM ~ 8PM

Exploring God’s World with Ross Golden


SYCAMORE

Growing along stream banks and the edge of

swamps, and other bodies of water is the sycamore tree.

They may not be the tallest native hardwood but in trunk

diameter they can become the largest. Generally the

diameter is about two to four feet but some trees today

are as large as eleven feet. In the original virgin forests of

the U.S. some sycamore trees grew as large as fifteen feet.

Sycamores are prone to heart rot. The heart wood is the

center wood, it is dead but is very hard and acts as the

skeleton of the tree. There are historic accounts of early

pioneers living in the hollow trunks of very large

sycamores.

The wood of a sycamore tree has been used in

furniture, for butcher blocks, and millwork. It was also

used as early food containers because it imparts no flavor

on the food. The bark of sycamores is notable because it

naturally peels off the tree in large pieces and reveals a

new greenish brown bark underneath. The shade leaves

(those found on the lower limbs) may be a large as

dinner plates and the sun leaves (those found on the upper limbs) may be only three or four

inches across but each produces roughly the same amount of food per leaf. The shade leaves

must be larger to produce as much food as the sun leaves, because of limited sunlight striking

the leaf.

Here we go with that sunlight thing again.

The Bible in Luke 19 says Zacchaeus climbed a sycamore tree to see Jesus but this tree is a type

of fig tree and not related to our American Sycamore.

Luke 19:1-4 Jesus entered Jericho

and was passing through. 2 A man was

there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was

a chief tax collector and was wealthy.

3 He wanted to see who Jesus was,

but because he was short he could not see

over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and

climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, Sycamore Fig Tree

During this time of pandemic recovery we invite you to worship with us

every Sunday at 10:00AM through Facebook Live.

Www.facebook.com/GraceUMCCoalCenter

Join a few minutes early for a wonderful musical prelude.

Go to www.gracecoalcenter.org to view and print Sermon Notes.

Go to www.ministry-to-children.com to view and print

the Children’s Time lesson for the week.

If you are not a Facebook user, view the recording of the morning’s worship via

the link on our website www.gracecoalcenter.org Our goal is to have this record-

ing available on that same day so check in that afternoon. Please be patient with

us in this posting as it is unfamiliar territory for our staff.

Many thanks to Pastor Ken, Chris, Todd, Terry, Ryan, and our Custer Girls

for providing us with a consistently spirit-filled, Bible based worship every week

since the very first week of this time of confinement. Please keep them in your

prayers as they continue to faithfully serve in this brand new ministry! If you

have tech skills and would like to be part of this team, contact Pastor Ken.

Grace Family Matters

Grace Reporter

GAP ~ God Answers Prayers Weekly Devotion


GAP is a weekly devotion available to anyone who has an email address or who

can receive text messages on their cell phone. This prayer group is led by Chris

Merashoff and Renee Heckler. To join the GAP small group, contact Chris at

[email protected] or Renee at [email protected]. Each

Thursday, you will receive either an email or a text (you choose!) with a brief,

meaningful devotion that includes scripture and words of support, guidance,

comfort and more. Here is a sample of the devotion:

Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the

Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God,

which He obtained with His own blood. Acts 20:28 ESV

Paul tells us that every believer has a function in the church, just as

different parts of the body have a specific function. From the leaders

to the new believers, we are all members of the body of Christ; each

with distinct responsibilities and roles based on our spiritual maturity

and gifts. The successful effectiveness of the church is the obligation of

the members as a whole. As members seek God’s direction, discover

their gifts and begin using them, the church will be obedient to God’s

commands thereby expanding His reach into the world. Every one of

us is needed to build the body of Christ (the church). Pray that God

would open your eyes to gifts He has for you and ways you can serve

His church and advance His Kingdom.

Anderson, Gavin ~

United States Army National Guard

Bissiere, Barry ~

United States Air National Guard

Hampton, Zachary ~ United States Army

Lee, Jacob and Kayla (Wadsworth) ~

United States Navy

Levy, Chris ~ United States Air Force

Oveson, Clayton and Hannah (Smitley) ~ United States Air Force

Rager, David and Cheyenne ~ United States Air Force

Seder, Luke ~ United States Air National Guard

Wonsettler, Christopher J. and Lauren ~ United States Air Force

Military Prayer List

Grace Reporter

OPEN ENROLLMENT

Grace Christian Ed Center Preschool for potty-trained 3 & 4 year olds

Kindergarten class for 5 year olds

Registration forms are on the table in the narthex.

For more information contact

Renee Heckler, Christian Ed Director:

724-330-5123; [email protected]

PLEASE SHARE WITH THOSE YOU KNOW WHO HAVE

PRESCHOOL AND KINDERGARTEN AGED CHILDREN!

Food Pantry Updates


On Saturday, May 4, 2020, the GWCFB held a Truck to

Trunk event. We distributed to approximately 300 fam-

ilies that are regulars to our pantry. 28 families did not

register but we were still able to provide them with food.

This month each family received a box of non-perishable

food, eggs, butter, milk, bakery, bread, produce & meat.

Please remember that if there is one or two in the fami-

ly, they receive one box of non-perishable items; if the

family has three or four members they will receive two

boxes and a family of five or more will receive three box-

es plus all the other items, which is also dependent on

the number in the household.

The people who volunteer are very much appreciated because there is no way we could manage

this endeavor on our own. We have volunteers that help get all the cars onto the church ground

and then more volunteers to move the cars along in a line to receive their food. We have several

groups of people going through to ask names of the family and check them off our registration list.

We also have several people stationed at each item to make sure everyone gets through and

receives all we have to offer. Thanks to: Wyatt, Jane & Molly Diethorn, Kristen Louttit, Barb

Bruce, Debbie & Bill Consavage, Jodie & Sierra Short and Pastor Ken. These are the people from

our church family plus we had six or seven others that are either friends or family of the GWCFB

employees. Just so you see, it does take a lot of help to make this all happen from about

8:00AM~11:30AM one day each month.

We also need volunteers to work at the main location of the food bank to pack the boxes of non-

perishable food. We are now packing approximately 6,000 boxes each month to distribute

throughout Washington County to our food insecure. If you would like to volunteer at our main

location, visit our website at www.gwcfb.org and choose your day and time. We have masks,

gloves and are aware of social distancing. We also take everyone’s temperature before going into

the warehouse.

If you are unable to volunteers, we ask that you continue to pray for all the people who are now

finding themselves in a situation they never dreamed would happen to them, for the people that

depend on our food for whatever reason finds them being food insecure, for the volunteers that we

need so much and also for the employees who have the heart to help, especially during this stress-

ful time for all concerned.

May God continue to bless you,

Sherry Cramer

Greater Washington County Food Bank

724-632-2190 extension 122

[email protected]

Grace Christian Education Center ~ Renee Heckler

Grace Reporter

GCEC:

A New Way of Educating

Children’s Ministries:

A New Way of Sharing

On March 18th the ways of teaching our students at GCEC and worshipping to-gether on Wednesday nights changed, drastically. Complying with the Governor’s orders to practice social distancing we had to suspend meeting and learning in person. As Early Childhood Educators, we acknowledged the necessity for being physically distant during this time of crisis. However, we felt there was no need to have social and emotional distance and we wanted to follow through with our commitment to teaching our students.

~ Curriculum packets created and distributed through parking lot pick up.

~ Plan for continuing lessons and learning apps shared with families.

~ GCEC private parent group created.

~ Staff begin to share daily instructional videos to their class.

~ Kindergarten students complete online video reading exercise and crush it!

~ Daily Spanish, Bible story and music shared during morning meeting videos.

~ Zoom class meetings, parent meetings and staff meetings.

~ Online scavenger hunts!

~ Virtual Field Trip to a Nature Preserve and creek.

~ Weekly sharing of craft ideas

~ Newsletters

~ Virtual Conferences with parents

~ 4 online activities in April for Month of The Young Child

~ Professional Development trainings and Abeka webinars

~ GCEC Parent Group Support

~ Reconciliation of STARS Grant

~ Updated Risk Management Plan


~ Creation of Continuity of Education Plan for Dept. of Education

~ Submission of 2020 United Methodist Foundation Grant

~ Initiation of a Teacher Induction Plan: Jenna

~ Website updates

~ Wellness check ins with parents and members of Grace Church

~ Newsletter, Class Tag, emails, texts, phone calls and GCEC Parent Group communication.

~ Letters sent to the children.

~ Service Projects

~ Lessons on: Fruits of the Spirit, Jesus Calms the Storm, Road to Emmaus: Blessings in Disguise etc.

~ Messages of Hope to Families

Ex. Resilience and Routines for Families During the Pandemic

~ VBS Briefings with key planning volunteers.

~ Wed BFF Facebook videos with Keren Galis

~ Sharing to Wed groups a weekly Lesson that can be used at home.

~ Health Dept Webinars

~ OCDEL required Webinar trainings

~ Graduation planning for both GCEC and Grace Church Graduates

~ Continued Summer Camp planning: virtual or otherwise

Throughout this not so normal journey, one thing that we feel for sure: God is with us, holding us, seeking us, loving us and providing for our needs.

We have all needed to adjust during this time of social distancing and we are doing well. However, technology can not replace the need for human interaction.

Grace Christian Education Center ~ Renee Heckler

Young Adult Ministry ~ Sierra Short

Grace Reporter

June 2020

Hello All!

It has been a couple months since we’ve last

connected. I thought now more than ever

would be a great time to reach out and share

some positivity amidst the difficulties con-

fronting our world. The most profound change at this time in our lives, challenging each of us, lies

in the reality that our lives are no longer fast paced and full of demands, but rather we have been

forced to slow down as a world. And with that comes more time shared with our loved ones. This is

something I see as a blessing. Quietness and rest are not only good for our bodies, but for our minds

and souls, allowing us to be refueled by increased opportunities to spend much needed time with

God. This is a good time for self-reflection, forgiving others, serving others, and spreading the hope

that is Jesus Christ. I believe this is a time when hope can be the one thing that holds us together.

Acts 2:26 states, “Moreover, my flesh will rest in hope.” Hope: a promise like no other from

the One who loves us most. Without hope and optimism, who are we as individuals? And where

would society be, especially when trials tempt to dampen that hope? Without hope, what is there to

look forward to in life? Hope and trust in God are two things that can propel us forward through

any scenario, any difficulty and any obstacle. So, we should be grateful, grateful to know that when

we place our lives in Jesus’ hands we can rest in the hope and reassurance that everything will not

only be okay, but everything will turn out how it is meant to be (according to His plan).

Young Adult Ministry ~ Sierra Short


Especially during this pandemic, we all need to remember that we are not alone. Even more

comforting to know is that the Creator of the whole universe is holding you in His hands. What could

be better than for us to soak in this comfort and then to spread this sense of joy by reaching out to

others through a simple act of kindness or service. These simple acts shift our mentality from any sense

of hopelessness, and uplifts those to whom we extend ourselves to, helping others who may be truly

struggling or have lost faith. Matthew 25 focuses on the revelation that the act of serving the least of

those in our company, the men, women and children who need assistance the most, is actually the act of

serving God Himself. Serving God, and looking at the hope He brings into our lives, should be what we

focus upon, as it is the whole meaning behind our existence and life’s purpose as Christian people.

Instead of concentrating on the things we cannot change, I urge all of us to focus on the positive

impact and change we can make during this pandemic. It can be difficult to take our minds off of the

loneliness and uncertainty, and to blindly accept what is going on around us, but God wants us to trust

Him. What good does it do to dwell on what cannot change? Let it go, God has a plan. Let’s focus on

what we can change through God’s help, and make it our goal throughout this life-altering event to

spread His love through our actions each day. We should continuously open our eyes, ears and minds to

what God is communicating to us, as Matthew 20 discusses. Listen to what God would want us to do

during this trying time. I pray that we all can find strength by placing our hope and trust in God as we

navigate our lives through the murky waters of this pandemic. In God alone, our world can move for-

ward and recover from what may seem like the darkest days we have lived through. But with darkness,

our risen Savior is always present to combat it with His never-ending, overwhelming and all-consuming

light. Let us focus on this light.

LAWN CARE

Hometown Lawn Care ~ Josh Davis

Fully Insured ~ Free estimates

724-986-9768

CHRISTIAN COUNSELING

Christian Counseling Associates of Western PA

724-396-1510 ~ ccawp.com

COMPUTER REPAIR

Charles E. Hines ~ Owner

Fully Insured ~ Virus Removal ~ Hardware/

Software Installation ~ PC Tuneup

724-884-5164 ~ [email protected]

COUNSELING SERVICES

Virginia Spindler Counseling ~ Ginny Spindler

609 Broad Avenue, Belle Vernon PA 15012


MUSIC STORE

From The Top Music Shop

442 West Main Street, Monongahela 15063

724-258-6002

www.fttmusic.com

Instrument Sales, Service, Rentals & Music Instruction

Band/Orchestra Rentals

QUALITY PLASTERING

Fanala Plastering

Over 25 years ~ Fully insured

1283 Route 481, Charleroi PA 15022

724-747-4373

[email protected]

HOME, AUTO, BUSINESS,

LIFE & HEALTH INSURANCE

Greater Pittsburgh Insurance Consultants

Kathy Keller and Kim Hrubes

724-483-1690

www.greaterpittsburghinsurance.com

SENIOR HOME HEALTH CARE AGENCY

Rachael Salisbury Merashoff, Administrator

200 West Main Street, Monongahela PA 15063

724-258-7207 ~ FAX 724-258-7209

www.grannynannies.com

[email protected]

PLUMBING SERVICES

Real Plumbers & Drain Service

All plumbing repairs done ~ Free estimates ~

Senior Discount ~ Licensed & Insured #PA148832

724-518-6518

Classified Advertising

Grace Reporter


Classified Advertising


ALPACA PRODUCTS

Rustic Rail Alpacas ~ Jim and Diane Ord

526 Clover Hill Road, Coal Center PA 15423

724-938-0516 ~ 724-470-8812

HANDCRAFTED WOOD TOYS

Uncle Pete’s Wood Toys ~ Pete Belski

355 Pike Run Drive, Daisytown PA 15427

724-938-9615

CANDLES & HOME FRAGRANCE

Pink Zebra Consultant Kathleen Miller

Sprinkles, Candles, Reed Diffusers, Soaps & Lotions

724-632-2237 ~ www.pinkzebrahome.com/

kathleen7miller

PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY

Qualk Photography ~ Jen Qualk

Specializing in outdoor photography

724-809-8157 ~ www.qualkphotography.com

PROFESSIONAL MEDIA PRODUCTION

All Heart Photo & Video

Keren Galis and Dana Slavic

Wedding Videography & Photography

724-562-4587

www.allheartphotovideo.com

AUTO BODY REPAIR AND PAINTING

Robison Auto Body ~ Gordon Robison

231 Fox Stop Road, Charleroi PA 15022

724-489-9733

The Grace Reporter Classified Advertising

contains unsolicited information posted by a

wide variety of individuals and organizations

about (but not limited to) professional

services, businesses, etc.

The information posted is not advice and

should not be treated as such.

Grace Church does not endorse, support,

recommend or have an opinion on any of the

items listed in the Grace Reporter Classified

Advertising, not is Grace Church responsible

for the outcome of any transaction between

you and the poster. Any transaction that you

enter into is strictly between you and the

poster and is done at your own risk.

If you have a business or service to offer

send name and contact information

along with a brief description of your service to

[email protected]

for inclusion in the next issue of Grace Reporter.

Grace United Methodist Church

Making Disciples of Jesus Christ

420 California Drive

Coal Center, PA 15423

724-330-5350

Pastor Ken Custer


Sheldon Barnette ~ Assistant to the Pastor


Grace Christian Education

Center Director

Renee Heckler

724—330-5123

[email protected]

Music & Drama Ministry

Todd Reagan

724-628-4957

[email protected]

Care Committee Chair

David Ziolecki

724-330-5266

[email protected]

United Methodist Women

President ~ Jean Belski

724-938-9615

[email protected]

Youth Group Coordinator

Clyde Qualk, Jr.

724-809-1925

[email protected]

Staff Parish Relations Chair

Chuck Ahlborn

724-785-5519

[email protected]

Board of Trustees Chair

Phil Riel

724-970-9016

[email protected]

Lay Leaders

Kit Carson

724-785-2329

[email protected]

Kathy Parshall

724-938-8821

Church Council Chairperson

Ross Golden

724-344-2000

[email protected]

Finance Committee Chair

Jim Short

724-258-9353

[email protected]

Chris Merashoff ~ Office Manager

724-330-5350

[email protected]

Join us LIVE on Facebook

every Sunday at 10AM.

Go to our website to print sermon

notes and children’s lessons.














Grace Reporter...Exploring God’s World with Ross Golden Page 5 SYCAMORE Growing along stream banks...

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