Grace United Methodist Church NEWSCASTER

2011 Edition

UPCOMING WORSHIP SERVICES

Regular Worship Schedule: 9:00AM LifeJourney, TFEC and 11:00AM Traditional, Sanctuary ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Wednesday Advent Bible Study: There will be an Advent study on God’s Covenant with You at 11:00 AM on Wednesdays, November 30; December 7 and December 14 in the Library led by Paula Hagan. For questions con-tact Paula at 492-6356. Remember to bring your Bible!

5:30PM Family Worship TFEC Worship Center 8:00PM Lessons & Carols Sanctuary 11:00PM Carols by Candle-light TFEC Worship Center

One Worship

Service at 11:00AM

in the Sanctuary

Page 2 December 2011

Monthly or every other month teachers, assistants, or co-teachers are needed for our K-2nd and 3rd-5th

grade classes. There will be a teacher training on December

18th at 12PM in the Parlor if you are interested or would want to learn more about our Sunday

School program.

Nursery Updates

Do you miss spending time with little children?

Are you able to volunteer in the

nursery once a month or every other month for 2 hours?

Then join our nursery volunteers! Contact Devon or

talk to one of our nursery staff members.

For more information on any of the Children’s & Family Ministry notices, please contact Devon at 488-1374/525-6671 or email

at devon@graceontheisland.com

LifeWAY Kids Every Wednesday, 40 children gather together for Bible Study, games, snacks,

and homework time. In November, we welcomed Vicki Mackey, Jenn Kranz, and Nathalie Malkerson to direct and run the program. Devon is working

closely with this team as we continue to grow our programs for children and families. VOLUNTEERS are needed to drive on the third Wednesday of the

month and to help children with homework from 5:00-5:30PM.

STEP OUT

Look for “Grace on the Island’s”

Children and Family Ministry page on Facebook!

Important Dates to put on your calendar:

Family Christmas Eve Service at 5:30 on Saturday, December 24th.

Summer Camp Registration forms will be available

early February.

Vacation Bible School will be June 25-29th, 2012!

December Meet at the…Church! We will gather for dinner and go Christmas caroling on Wednesday, December 21. Join us at church at 5:30. Bring a dish to share!

Children’s Church takes place on Sunday morning during the LifeJourney worship service at 9AM. Children’s Church is geared towards children grades K-2nd. Children in 3rd-5th grade are encouraged to pick up the worship notebooks near the doors. Worksheets are included to help everyone worship intentionally.

E-votionals by People of Grace

If you would like to receive a daily (Mon.-Fri) brief devotional sent to your e-mail, please

submit your e-mail address to Chris Flaherty at

cflaherty50@hotmail.com. Please add “e-votional” to the subject line. Any questions,

please ask Carol/Chris Flaherty at 966-3784 or Ginny Derrough at 408-9403.

Prayers and Pray-ers Have you had a burden where you needed others to support you in prayer and didn't know who to ask?

Are you actively praying with or for people around you who have burdens and need someone to help them

carry on? A "prayer chain" exists through our church office in

the form of an e-mail blast. You may call 488-1374 or send an e-mail to prayer@graceontheisland.com and

your request will be sent out to pray-ers.

Thank you.

Priority of Prayer The chapel is now open for prayer every Sunday from 8:30-12:30. From 10-11, someone will be on hand to

pray with you if you need.

The Newscaster is sent as an E-Mail publication.

Contact Katrina Cook at 941-488-1374 or trina@graceontheisland.com to be added to the list or pick up a hard copy in the Narthex.

NEWSCASTER DEADLINE Please submit all articles by December 6 for inclusion in the January Newscaster. Thank you, Katrina Cook

Page 3 December 2011

Thank you to everyone for your support, prayers and concern during the passing of Fred’s mom, Dorothy. We are truly blessed to have such wonderful, caring friends…Fred, Debi and Andrew Hammett

From: Kid’s Needs in Englewood, FL To: Grace UMC, Children’s Director On behalf of Kids’ Needs I would like to thank you for your recent donation of $420.95 and for supporting our cause!

From: Church World Service To: Grace UMC, Children’s Director Thank you for you donation of 24 Hygiene Kits to Church World Service. Because of your support, we are able to quickly respond to disasters, whether overseas or here at home, with critically important material aid. With deepest gratitude, Rev. John McCullough

YOUTH YES NIGHT!!! Date-Saturday, December 3rd Cost- $5

(Bring two friends that don’t already attend Grace and you’ll all get in for free!) All youth grades 6-12 are invited to attend our very first “Yes Night”. It will be a night of fun, music, and a lot of challenging “Yes’s”. God’s got an

offer you can’t say “No” to.

Page 4 December 2011

SPRING RETREAT….March 30-31 Location: Rainbow Springs, FL Cost: $20

Hearing God’s voice speaking His words, sharing your

faith. Step up and step out. Join in this amazing weekend.

SUMMER MISSION TRIP June 9-16

Were heading to Georgia to help them recover from the tornadoes.

For more information on any of the Youth Ministry notices, please contact Will at

488-1374/615-812-4696 or email at will@graceontheisland.com

Mid High youth group—Grades 6-8 meet on Sunday night at 6PM in the TFEC youth room. Sr High youth group—Grades 9-12 meet on Wednesday night at 7PM in the TFEC youth room.

UPCOMING EVENTS AND MEETINGS Sunday, December 11 at 5PM SR High Missions Meeting Wednesday, December 14 at 7PM SR High Christmas Party Sunday, December 18 at 6PM MD High Christmas Party PLEASE NOTE: Due to winter break there will be no Youth Group on 12/21, 12/25, 12/28.

Page 5 December 2011

EVERY SUNDAY 8:00—12:00 Prayer Time, Chapel 8:15 - 11:00 Coffee Time, TFEC 9:00 LifeJourney Worship, TFEC 9:30 & 10:15 LifeWAY Classes 11:00 Traditional Worship, Sanctuary 6:00—8:00 MD High Youth Group, TFEC youth room EVERY MONDAY 12:30 Preschool Dance, TFEC 3:45 Brownies, TFEC 203 6:00 Exsultate Rehearsal, Music Room 6:30 The Bridge, TFEC youth room

EVERY TUESDAY 9:00 MMO, TFEC Nursery rooms 5:30 GraceTones Rehearsal, Music RM 6:30 Cub Scouts, PH/EW/WW/Rm 2 7:00 AA, Meeting Room C EVERY WEDNESDAY 9:00 MMO, TFEC Nursery rooms 9:00 Piecemakers Quilting, A8 & PH 12:30 Preschool Gymnastics, TFEC 3:00 LifeWAY Kids, TFEC 108 6:00 SR High Youth Group, TFEC Youth room 6:30 Boy Scouts, PH/EW/WW/Rm 2 6:30 Chancel Choir Rehearsal, Music Room 7:00 Al-Anon, Mtg. Rm C

EVERY THURSDAY 9:00 MMO, TFEC Nursery rooms 12:30 Preschool Gymnastics, TFEC 3:30 Girl Scouts, TFEC 108 7:00 AA, Meeting Room C 7:00 LJ Praise Team Practice, TFEC EVERY FRIDAY 9:00 Threadcatcher Circle, A8

DECEMBER Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 9:30AM Church Women United, PH 6:00PM Exsultate! Dress Rehearsal, Sanc-tuary

3 8:00AM Men’s Pancake Breakfast, TFEC

4 Communion & Second Sunday in Advent 1:00PM SLA Rehearsal & Setup, TFEC 3:30PM Exsultate! Concert, Sanctuary & PH

5 JANUARY NEWS-CASTER INFO DUE 5:00PM Staff Parish Mtg., Parlor B 6:00PM Men’s Club Dinner, Punch Hall 6:00PM SLA Talent Show, TFEC

6

7 8 9 5:00PM Girl Scout Sleep over, TFEC

10

11 Mission Opportunity & Third Sunday in Advent 11:30 AM Your Turn Class gathering, PH 3:30PM Hymns of Advent & Christmas Concert, Sanctuary

12 6:30PM Cub Leader Mtg., MRC 7:00PM Trustee Mtg., Library

13 10:00AM UMW Board Meeting; EW 2:00PM UMW Christ-mas Tea, Punch Hall 6:00PM Preschool Christmas Program, TFEC

14 8:15 AM Newscaster Collators, MRC SR High youth group Christmas Party, TFEC

15 7:00PM Scout Comm. Mtg., EW

16 5:00PM Girl Scout Sleep over, TFEC 108

17 8:00AM Men’s Pancake Breakfast, TFEC

18 Children’s Coin Ministry & Fourth Sunday in Advent MD High Youth Group Christmas Party, TFEC

19 Community Dinner, PH

20 8:00 AM Finance Mtg, Library 9:30 AM UMW Circle Meetings

21 NO SR High Youth Group

22 7:00PM Scout Comm. Mtg., EW

23 Office Closes at Noon

24 5:30PM Fam-ily Worship, TFEC 8:00PM Lessons & Carols, Sanctuary 11:00PM Carols by Candlelight, TFEC

25 Canned Food Christmas Day 11:00AM 1 Worship Service, Sanctuary NO YOUTH GROUP

26 Office Closed 27 10:00 AM Reading Fellowship, Parlor B

28 NO SR High Youth Group

29 30 Office Closed 31

Page 6 December 2011

If your birthday or anniversary is not listed but should be, or if there are any errors, please email or call the church office so that a correction can be made. Thank you!

Pick Up Take Home 12/4 Bob Bainbridge Bob Bainbridge 12/11 Sheldon Toepfer Sheldon Toepfer 12/18 John Thurston Steve Boone 12/25 Robert Waldron Monty Andrews

DECEMBER

Mel & Phyllis Johns Dan Boone Bill Stuck

Diane Slikas Marion Ogle

Judy Johnson

12/4 F Don & Patrick Macleod B Russell & Pat Johnson 12/11 F Jim & Margret Tilton B Ned & Marge Katterheinrich 12/18 F Penny Collins B Geraldine DeGarrentt 12/25 F Mary Bush B Terry Winfrey

1 Kathy Granata Joyce Shelso Elizabeth Taylor 2 Emily Rom Jason Bossert Bill Paige 4 Judy Russell 5 Jayme Shahan Nicolette Owen-Pfaff Tom Junker 6 Gary Beck 7 Ed Klink Dan Earnest 8 Jean Owens Colin Graser Steve Boone Carl Johnson 10 Dawn Bizer Joel Malkerson Bryan Flaherty 11 Madison Wetherill

12 Hans Gebauer Shirley Balduf Peggy Church 13 Taryn Taylor 14 Mark Hoffman Hubie Blethen 15 Russell Johnson Ralf Steiner 18 Jason Shahan Edith Cook Margaret Mantkowski John Newberry 19 Andrew Shofner Albert Pierce Matt Delaney 20 Carole Goolden Peg Oatley Todd Berbert 23 Mary Bush 24 Katrina Cook Virginia Warner Ginny Davies Holly Kane

25 Sally Kates Richard Warner 26 Paul Cline Ginny Derrough 27 Jim Tilton Jim Carfield 28 Clovis Barnett Tyler Rogers Tripp Jennings Kirsten Kruger Lamont Andrews, Jr. 29 Fred Hammett Maxine Messner 30 Janelle Truxal Elizabeth Mori Jerry Shelso Diana Gailbreath 31 Craig Farrar William Haws Anna Wright Miles Seekford

1 David & Dolores Clarke 6 Dilworth & Dot Kay 12 Phil & Linnie Baker

Tic & Patsy Foulk Dick & Nancy Hoyt

16 Michael & Mary Williams 18 Bruce & Jennifer Kingsbury 28 Craig & Barbara Farrar Carl & Ruth Johnson Bill & Bonnie Stuck 30 Dan & Freda Boone

PIECEMAKER NEWS: The “quilters” meet in the East Wing on Wednesdays from 9:00am to 2:00pm. We meet year-round, but after our meeting on December 7th we will be taking a break until January 4th. You are invited to stop by and view our “works in pro-gress”, or to join us as we sew together in support of our church and each other. If you have questions, please call Janie Merritt at 488-5066 or Lorry Stover at 485-0094. You will also find us at the Pancake Breakfasts with a sampling of our handiwork for sale. IF YOU have a son or daughter returning home from active duty in the military, please call Carol Simpson at 497-5460 or Audrey Tamblingson at 497-5478.

Threadcatcher Circle the Venice Area Quilters Guild meets every Friday, 9AM to Noon in Room A8. For information, call Lorry Stover at 485-0094.

Page 7 December 2011

News from the

~ The Board of Trustees would like to thank you for adding the church in your will. Your funding is what we use to keep our beautiful campus going. You have provided new roofing, new A/C’s, new lights, new hurricane windows, and lots of needed repairs. Our 2011 prioritized project list is available in the church office. These projects change weekly and are reviewed at your Church Council meetings. Help is always appreciated on any of these projects; please contact Gene Stover at 941-716-0636 or Carol Simpson at 941-497-5460 for more information.

Good Samaritan Mission Clothes: Clothes, small kitchen appliances and household goods are still

being collected for Good Samaritan Mission, the migrant mission in Wimauma, FL. The items may be brought to the church and placed inside the door by Punch Hall kitchen. Please label your

items Migrant Ministry.

ATTENDANCE Information:

OCTOBER Average Worship - 542 Sunday School - 104 Yearly Average Worship - 616 Sunday School - 90

NON– PERISHABLE ITEMS ONLY, PLEASE!

Mark through the bar code then place in the shopping cart located in the

Narthex. ALSO check the expiration date!!

Thank you for your support!!

Fiscal Year Ministry Operating Budget 01/01/11 – 10/31/11

Ministry Operation Goal to Date: $63,1476.10 Ministry Operation Received to Date: $64,7953.90 Expenses to Date: $629528.61

Saving Campbell’s Soup Labels for the

Red Bird Mission

This mission outreach supports a

School, learning new job skills, music programs and much more. Please save the circled part of the coupons. If that is not present they are considered void.

Meetings

Grace Reading Fellowship on December 27 At 10:00AM in the Church Parlor.

All welcome Restaurant Lunch after is optional

Men’s Club Monday, December 5 at 6PM in Punch Hall

Trustee Committee Meeting Monday, December 12 at 7PM in the Library

Staff Parish Committee Meeting Monday, December 5 at 5:00 PM in the Parlor

Finance Committee Meeting

Tuesday, December 20 at 8:00AM in the Library

Church Council Meeting TBA

UMW upcoming events: Tuesday, December 13: Board Meeting at 10:00am in the East Wing

Christmas Tea 2:00pm to 4PM in Punch Hall. All Grace ladies are invited for an old-fashioned tea party!

Tuesday, December 20: Circles 9:30 & 2:00

Page 8 December 2011

Preschool Dairy Queen Night

will be held Thursday, December 15 from 4:00-7:00pm. Grace UMC Preschool will

receive 10% of anything sold between those hours. Come on out for dinner or just to get a tasty treat.

Grace UMC Men’s Travel Events 2011/2012 Dec. 16: Crosley House $30PP Time: 11:30AM. Max 40 people TBD: Venice H.S. Madrigal dinner, $25.00 Jan. 18: Palm Dinner Theater-Me & My Girl $65. Time: 8:30AM Feb. 21: Venice Theater- Music Man $35 w/lunch @ church. Time: 6PM. Max 41 people. Mar. 8: Palm Dinner Theater -Brigadoon $65.Leaving @8:30AM March TBD: Men only Baseball game April 22: Carnival Legend out of Tampa

United Methodist Children’s Home Day on Campus March 17, 2012

We cordially invite all to come and enjoy this day of celebration.

Don’t forget the fifth Sunday offerings on 1/29/12.

Page 9 December 2011

IN MEMORIAM Grace Starkey

MEMORIALS

IMEMORIAL FUND IN MEMORY OF LELA HINDEN by Elizabeth Tibbetts. UMW SCHOLARSHIP FUND IN MEMORY OF LELA HINDEN by Ruth Circle. CHILDREN’S HOME IN HONOR OF JANET SHAHAN by Pat Darling. GRACE MEN IN MEMORY OF HERB KEPHART by Ruth Circle. MISSIONS IN MEMORY OF MARY JANE CHRISTOPHERSON by Ruth Circle. PRESCHOOL IN HONOR OF LINDA TALLMAN by Warren and Dorris Ann Wasson. ALTAR FLOWERS

Kindly consider enhancing the beauty of our worship areas by

placing flowers on the altar. Flowers can be given

IN MEMORY OF or IN HONOR OF loved ones or friends.

Bouquets are $30.00 each and are yours to claim after the 11:00 AM

service. Sign up on the flower Calendar in the hallway by

the staff offices.

You are cordially invited to attend

a program of organ and piano music for the season

HYMNS OF ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS featuring Mary Jeanne Moorman, piano

and Gene Hodges, organ Sunday, 11 December, 2011

3:30 in the afternoon Grace United Methodist Church

The concert is FREE and all are welcome! A Love Offering will be received

to benefit the musicians

The Merry Music Makers of Grace Church

wish you and yours a Joy-Filled Christmastime

and a Happy New Year!

On 11/11/11 our preschool had a flag raising ceremony performed by the Color Guard from Student Leadership Academy. Our flag was looking pretty ragged so with the help of SLA and Mrs. Novak we held a ceremony honoring our veterans and our flag. Our Pre-k chil-dren also started a “Pen Pals for Patrick” – for Patrick Sherman a former student who is now in Afghanistan. Patrick’s parents Steve and Rhonda Sherman were on hand to take delivery of the first round of letters. Thank you to the students from SLA and Madeline Kirsten for their help.

In November Grace Preschool families collected food for the South County Food Pantry. Our Pre-K children then delivered the food to the pantry in a “field trip” walk. Thank you to all the families that participated. We will once again participate in the Heifer International Project. Children will collect money to purchase chicks, bees and bunnies for disadvantaged families in foreign countries. Mrs. Delehanty is heading up this project. Our children will be singing in church on December 11th at the LifeJourney service. Come and hear them – they have been practicing so very hard with Mrs. Erb and Miss Liz. THEN on December 13th at 6:30pm our annual Christmas Program will be held in TFEC for parents, friends and families. This is another opportunity to hear our singing cher-ubs from preschool. Day care will be available during the holiday season. Reservations are required please contact the preschool if you did not receive a reservation slip. MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM ALL OF US TO ALL OF YOU!

Grace United Methodist Newscaster (USPS 581-930) is published monthly (except July) by Grace United Methodist Church, 400 field Avenuce East, Venice, FL 34285-4035. Periodicals Postage Paid at Venice, FL 34285, and additional mailing offices.

Grace United Methodist Church 400 Field Avenue East Venice, Florida 34285-4312 941-488-1374 Website: www.Graceontheisland.com

Postmaster: Send Address Changes to:

Grace United Methodist Church Newscaster

400 Field Avenue East , Venice, FL 34285-4035

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