IN THIS ISSUE

January 2016

Scriptures, Greeters, etc. 2

Calendar 3

Youth/Children 4-6

The Daniel Plan 7

Tidbits & Information 8,9

Missions 10,11

Choir 12

Preschool-WEP 13

Year End Information 14

Trustees 15

Thank You Note 15

From the Pastor Back page

Celebrating God’s love, seeking God’s direction together

Growing In Grace A publication of Grace United

Methodist Church 1209 Country Club Road

Newport News, VA 23606 (757)595-0017

www.graceumcnn.org admin@graceumc.hrcoxmail.com

Pastor: Rev. Hank Teague

hankteague@vaumc.org

Sunday Services: Early Worship: 8:45 am

Traditional Worship: 11:00 a.m.

Sunday School 9:45-10:45 a.m.

Growing in

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

2

Scripture Readings:

January 3 ~ Gynetha Conway

Isaiah 60:1-6;Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14 (UMH 795); Ephesians 3:1-12; Matthew 2:1-12

January 10 ~ Vincent Conway Isaiah 43:1-7; Psalm 29 (UMH 761); Acts 8:14-17; Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

January 17 ~ TBA Isaiah 62:1-5; Psalm 36:5-10 (UMH 771);

1 Corinthians 12:1-11; John 2:1-11

January 24 ~ TBA Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10; Psalm 19 (UMH 750);

1 Corinthians 12:12-31a; Luke 4:14-21

January 31 ~ TBA Jeremiah 1:4-10; Psalm 71:1-6 (UMH 794);

1 Corinthians 13:1-13; Luke 4:21-30

(Readings may vary for services.)

Counting Team #3

Tina Fields Stefan Mygas

Melissa Mygas

Lockup:

Jan Tyler

3rd ~ Audrey and Frank Wiggs 10th ~ Gloria Champine and Ray Nobles

17th ~ Susanna and Charles Wornam 24th ~ Debbie and Frank Vause

31st ~ Debbie and Tim Lamb

Ushers:

Team #2

Tina Fields

Richard Bennett

Acolyte for January:

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Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2

3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10 11 12 13 14 15 16

17 18 19 20 21 22 23

24 25 26 27 28 29 30

31

January 2016

Every Sunday

Early Service 8:45 am Sunday School 9:45am 9:30-10:00 Chapel Choir 10:-10:15 Cherub Choir

Traditional Service 11:00 am Refuge Int’l Fellowship 1:00pm

Noon-4th Sunday

Fellowship

6-7:30pm Youth

7 Trustees

6-7:30pm Youth

4pm Youth Lazer Rush

6-7:30pm Youth

Noon– Potato Bar

2:30 Worship Com

5:00 Bells 6 Praise Choir 6:30 Chancel

Choir

10:30 UMW Board

9 ABC/Sr. Breakfast

1:30 Mary/Martha Circle

7 Stewardship

1:30 Points

of Grace 7 Susannah

Wesley Circle

5 Chancel Bells 6 Praise Choir 6:30 Chancel

Choir

5 Chancel Bells 6 Praise Choir 6:30 Chancel

Choir

5 Chancel Bells 6 Praise Choir 6:30 Chancel

Choir

7 Church Council

1:30 pm Points of Grace

6:30pm Daniel Plan

6:30pm Daniel Plan

6:30pm Daniel Plan 9:30am

Daniel Plan

9:30am Daniel Plan

9:30am Daniel Plan

Evangelism Comm-TBA

6-7:30pm Youth

Group

7pm WEP Board

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JANUARY

Christian Education Children’s Sunday School

(Preschool through Elementary)

The preschool through elementary children will be kicking off 2016 with reflections of the season past as well as anticipation of things to come. We will be exploring, sharing, learning and praising through faith-building lessons designed to fill our hearts and minds with God’s Word. Though we will be spending some time all together, we will be working primarily in two smaller groups: the younger children (through kindergarten/first grade) and the older elementary group (2nd through 5th grades). These specific ages/grades are somewhat flexible as we determine a best fit for everyone. Each group will be

searching for a name for themselves.

We would like to sincerely thank Kim Rumsey for her continuing support of our Grace chil-dren and for her inspiring creativity. A break is well-deserved, however we will be frequently

seeking her input and advice.

Our schedule for all of January is still in the works, but here is a preview:

On January 3, Chapel and Cherub Choirs will not practice. We ask all children to meet that morning at 10:00 am in the Small Fellowship Hall for fellowship and snack.

Then on to our theme for the day – Counting Our Blessings as we begin a new year.

On January 10, choirs resume and we will be back to the usual schedule. The theme

of the day – celebrating the Epiphany: The Coming of the Wise Men.

We look forward to starting an exciting new year!

Jane LeGault

Marian Harper

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A SPECIAL THANKS

TO THE CAST AND CREW OF

“It’s a Surprise” Christmas Pageant

Thank you to everyone who participated and

helped with this year’s Christmas pageant! What a blessing to combine the talents of the Bell

Choir and Chancel Choir along with a willing and gifted bunch of children, youth and adults! We extend a big thank you to Kim and

Chris Rumsey for working together to bless us with a such a wonderful presentation of the Christmas story.

If you missed the performance you can hear the Pageant audio online on our website under sermons.

JANUARY YOUTH GROUP SCHEDULE

We will have regular meetings on Sundays from 6:00 –7:30pm on January 3, 17, 24, and 31. On January 10th we will meet at 4pm for an outing at Lazer Rush.

We extend a big thank you to the Youth for leading us

in Caroling on the Corner last month!

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JOIN THE DANIEL PLAN MOVEMENT

“The Daniel Plan” by Rick Warren is a groundbreaking healthy lifestyle pro-gram founded on biblical principles and focused on The Essentials: Faith, Food, Fitness, Focus and Friends. This practical program offers an innova-tive step by step approach to achieving a healthy lifestyle where people get better together by optimizing their health in each of these life areas.

Learn how this pioneering program is transforming lives. See how to make Daniel Plan approved recipes that you can easily replicate in your own kitch-en and learn practical tips from fitness experts. Don’t miss this Life Changing

Event and don’t forget to invite your friends! The cost is $50.00 for materials and seven ses-sions. ($80.00 for couples – minus one book).

Sessions at Grace UMC: Tuesdays - 6:30-8:00 pm: January 12,19,26, February 2,9,16,23 Fridays - 9:30-11:00 am: January15,22,29, February 5,12,19,26

Sessions also available at: Northside Christian Church (1300 George Washington Hwy, Yorktown - 757-595-5890)

Sundays - 6:00-7:30 pm: January 10,17,24,31, February 14,21,28

Victory Family YMCA (101 Long Green Blvd., Yorktown - 757-867-3300)

Tuesdays - 9:30-11:00 am: January 12,19,26, February 2,9,16,23 Thursdays - 6:30-8:00 pm: January14,21,28, February 4,11,18,25

Newport News Family YMCA (7827 Warwick Blvd., Newport News, VA - 757-245-0047)

Tuesdays - 6:30-8:00 pm: January 12,19,26, February 2,9,16,23

Hampton Family YMCA (1 YMCA Way, Hampton, VA - 757-722-9044)

Tuesdays - 9:30-11:00 am: January 12,19,26, February 2,9,16,23 Thursdays - 6:30-8:00 pm: January14,21,28, February 4,11,18,25

Contact: Dennis & Phyllis Neill - Web Page: www.neilldanielplan.com Email: neilldanielplan@gmail.com Face Book: Yorktown Daniel Plan Support

*You do not have to be a member of the YMCA or church to attend any class location listed. Registration and money must be paid before classes start.

Limited Enrollment. (15 per class)

DANIEL PLAN INFORMATION

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January Birthdays Happy Birthday To You! Happy

Birthday To You! Happy Birthday Dear…..

Remember to visit us on

Facebook for photos

and updates!

1 Sandi Daughtrey 17 Katie Burke

3 Beth Collado Tanis Mayo

5 Molly White 20 Rebecca Seney

7 Phillip Burke James Stewart

8 Margaret Mumford Mills Hoyt

11 Valorie Hilbmann 21 Jimmy Harris

Ray Nobles 24 John Rea Stewart

12 Laura Fields 26 Cassius Rogers

13 Jessica Smith 27 Phillip Michael Burke

14 Joanna Simonsen Jan Tyler

15 Lester Knight 29 Jeri Davenport

16 Calypso Aladjabu 30 Norma Banks

Debbie Vause

Just a friendly reminder for the new year:

Put any church events or meetings on the calendar in the church office.

Use a pencil.

Include time and location of each event.

Fill out Facility Use form when using church space for private events or when borrowing church-owned items.

MEETING & ACTIVITY SET-UP FORM

If you need a room set up a particular way for your event or

meeting, please fill out a

SET-UP FORM and place it in the

custodian’s mailbox at least 24 hours in advance of a work day. Forms

are available in the church office.

Thank you!

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JOIN US!

The Adult Breakfast Club (ABC) will meet at Angelo’s Steak and Pancake House located at 755 J Clyde Morris Blvd.,

Newport News January 11th at 9:00am. Everyone is welcome! Joel and June Yurkiw

Lyle Papendick

PORT REPORT

Thanks to all who helped minister to our homeless brothers and sisters during our December night at PORT. We served 54 guests on the evening of December 2nd to the morning of De-cember 3rd. We give special thanks for those volunteers who were able to come to the Korean Baptist Church to help our

guests: Blackie and Betty Jo Jackson, Tom and Tanis Mayo, Vincent and Gynetha Conway, Hank Teague, Gloria Moore, Jeri Davenport, Jan Tyler, Sandy Fisher, Cindy Brakman, Melissa Mygas, Helen Parker, Joan Heaton, Brooke Kempa, Phil and Maggie Keator, Garrett Ouzts, Ed-ward Mack, Ben and Susan DeVane. Also thanks to the Girl Scouts who made the delicious brownies and to those who provided the Mexican Chicken Casseroles and donated paper goods. Get ready for our next PORT blessing which will take place sometime between February 24 to March 2, 2016. We will be serving with our friends at Orcutt Baptist Church.

POTATO BAR

“Second Sunday Noon at Grace" - January 10th. UMW will again host a Potato Bar with soup and all the fixings. Hope you can join us for this fun time of fellowship.

Thanks from

Riverside Elementary (excerpt from recent thank you note)

“The staff of Riverside Elementary thank you for your thoughtfulness and kindness extended to them during the beginning of the school year.”

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THE MISSION COMMITTEE gives thanks for your generosity in 2015 in serving those in need!

Thank you for your continuing commitment to being the hands, feet and heart of Christ in the world today. Also thank you for your financial support through special donations, as well as the Easter,

Thanksgiving and Christmas offerings. Through your generosity the Grace United Methodist Mission Committee has been able to provide financial support to various missions throughout the years.

Here are some highlights we did as God’s church in 2015! The Mission Committee offered financial support of $500 to the Refugee Community

(our Nepali speaking Bhutanese friends) for their ministry.

We continue to share in the work of Kenya Partners United Methodist Ministry, through our con-tinued support of our Kenyan student, Catherine Wangui Ndungu, with a donation of $600.

We contribute $300 yearly for the Foodbank outreach.

The Mission committee renewed their pledge of $200 to LeeAnn Walker, one of our past Grace members, to help support her ministry with CRU (Campus Crusade for Christ). We also gave

financial help to Alexis Dillon (Iris LaTulipe’s daughter) for her mission work.

Every year the Mission Committee helps with Grace Church’s apportionments by paying for the African University, which was $180 last year.

Some of our ongoing commitments have been to partner with THRIVE with a yearly financial do-

nation of $600. We also provided a breakfast for one of the monthly board meetings at Grace Church. We continue to provide a bin for the “Sole-ful Collection” for new/lightly used shoes,

which are used to raise funds for THRIVE client services while also creating and sustaining micro-enterprise opportunities in developing nations. Through 2015 Grace Church has had a covenant

relationship with THRIVE, through which Chuck Root has served on their board and as our Church’s contact person with their ministry for several years. THRIVE has several opportunities to volunteer on a regular basis. If anyone is interested, Chuck Root can give you more information.

Grace Church’s monthly Food Basket ministry helps provide basic pantry needs to three charitable organizations: THRIVE, LINK and

The Good Samaritan Fund, which is directed by our very own Marie Boyd.

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LINK Our yearly Sock, Mitten and Scarf Tree provide supplies for LINK’s outreach within our community. LINK

ministers to the homeless and specifically to our veteran population, helping to provide this population with free immunizations, health checks and employment opportunities. The Mission Committee also makes a

yearly $300 donation to their ministry. Our church also filled 64 bags with groceries to help fill LINK’s pan-try. Early this Fall, you also helped provide hygiene items, such as toothpaste, soap, toothbrushes to pro-

vide for our guests at PORT, which is a ministry of LINK.

PORT: People Offering Resources Together PORT is a major mission outreach of our committee. Through Grace church’s volunteering of time, finances and casseroles, we help support the needs of up to 120 homeless through

two nights and two mornings a year. We are thankful for all the help we receive from the congregation, in the form of casseroles, as well as onsite participation and prayers. For

those involved in this ministry it has been a blessing to provide the most basic necessities to our brothers and sisters in Christ, who find themselves on the fringes of our communities.

CNU Outreach The Mission Committee also has a small outreach to the Christopher Newport University in supporting the

students with healthy treats during the students’ exams schedules. Snacks, small Grace UMC crosses and Grace UMC pens were also handed out and gratefully received by over 300 students. It is a small

outreach that lifts the spirits of many students during the stressful time of exams.

SALVATION ARMY Until a few months ago the Salvation Army had provided a sandwich outreach for homeless men and

women in our community. A small group of faithful Grace Church members have served by making doz-ens upon dozens of sandwiches for this ministry each month for dozens of years. The Grace team is

ready for the time when the Salvation Army is able to begin this ministry again. This Fall the congregation helped provide school supplies for needy students, through Salvation Army. Grace Church members have

also been providing upwards to 60 Christmas stockings for Salvation Army’s Christmas ministry.

HOLIDAY OF HOPE TREE This year was our second year providing the Holiday of Hope tree. Many of you helped

provide gifts for 18 elderly individuals in the PACE program at Riverside Hospital.

Thank you for all your generous donations in 2015! We look forward to ministering to the community in 2016.

Kim Rumsey, Mission Committee Chairwoman for 2015

Susan DeVane, Mission Committee Chairwoman for 2016

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Choir News (11:00 a.m.)

CHANCEL CHOIR The Grace UMC Chancel Choir did a wonderful job in our Christmas Pageant.

The choir has taken a well deserved break and will resume practice on Thursday

January 7, 2016 at 6:30 in the Choir room. We also welcome you to join us

Thursday evenings at 6:30 in the choir room for choir practice. You do not have

to be able to read music to sing - just come with a smile!

CHANCEL BELLS The Grace UMC Chancel Bell Choir did a marvelous job assisting in the services in December. The

bells have taken a well deserved break and will resume practice on Thursday January 7, 2016 at

5pm in the Small Fellowship Hall. We welcome you to join us Thursday evenings at 5pm in the

Small Fellowship Hall. You do not have to be able to read to music to play the bells. We will teach

you everything you need to know!

CHAPEL AND CHERUB CHOIR The Grace UMC Chapel and Cherub Choirs did a wonderful job in our Christ-

mas Pageant and assisting with the services in December. They have taken a

well deserved break and will resume practice on Sunday January 10, 2016 at

the regular times for each group. Please bring your child to join us. The

Chapel Choir is for ages 6-10 (who can read), and the Cherub Choir is for ages

4 and 5. The Chapel Choir learns how to play Chimes and to sing, and also

learns about ear training, theory and instruments. The Cherub Choir learns to

sing and learns about theory and rhythm instruments. We meet upstairs in the

Children’s wing, last classroom on the left on Sunday mornings. The Chapel Choir meets at

9:30 am and the Cherub Choir at 10 am.

Psalm 105:2

“Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works!”

For more information on the music program at Grace contact Regina South at ReginaLSouth@gmail.com

Early Service and Praise Choir (8:45 A.M.) Our Early Service welcomes you with lively music, joyful worship, heartfelt sharing, and a friendly “hello”. The Praise Choir practices each Thursday evening at 6 – everyone is welcome to join. If you would like to participate in any other way, from getting to church in time to welcome early arrivals to helping with sound or visual presentations to serving communion, let the pastor know. And bring a friend with you to church!

CHOIR NEWS

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GRACE PRESCHOOL (WEP)

WEEKDAY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM

As we begin to experience some winter weather, we focus on how some

animals live in the colder climates. We discuss “hibernation” and how that

helps them to survive the cold. We also talk about the birds and how some

fly to warmer places for the winter, and others stay in our area. We usually

make bird feeders to “help” the birds in their search for food at a time when

food is less plentiful.

Finally, we read the story “Stone Soup” and how some villagers were reluctant to share with

strangers who were hungry. We then make our very own stone soup, with all the children

bringing in an ingredient for our soup. The story is a great lesson in sharing and cooperation -

two very important messages on which we focus with the children. In addition to the academic

side of preschool, we strive to teach them and reinforce ways to treat other people with kind-

ness and love - just as Jesus taught us - to love our neighbors.

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

PRESCHOOL REGISTRATION

Registration for Grace Preschool classes for the upcoming 2016 - 2017 school

year begins Tuesday, February 2nd. We offer classes for 2 ½, 3 and 4 year old

children. If you have any questions regarding the preschool, or are interested

in getting a few brochures to share with some friends or neighbors, please con-

tact Beverly Ouzts at 595-0032.

Grace Preschool holds a FOUR STAR rating through the Virginia Star Quality Initiative

(VSQI). VSQI is a quality rating and improvement system for early childhood classrooms

across the state of Virginia. Participating schools are evaluated every two years and given a

rating which is based on a scale of 1 - 5 stars. Schools are assessed on the following four

standards:

Staff Education, Qualifications and Training

Interactions with Children

Structure

Environment and Instruction

A significant percentage of the foundation for a child’s intellect, personality and skills will

develop before the age of 5. It is imperative that the early years be filled with high quality

learning experiences so that children who enter kindergarten are healthy and ready to learn.

More information about the Virginia Star Quality Initiative can be found at:

www.smartbeginnings.org/QRIS.

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A big “THANK YOU" to all who donated flowers in 2015.

Sign Up NOW for 2016

The flower calendar is available for the New Year. You may sign up by

calling the church or Lou Thomas (596-4166) or by writing your name

on the flower calendar which is located on the office door.

If you have any questions, please contact Lou Thomas.

Flowers may be donated in memory or in honor of a person or

occasion or simply to the glory of God.

From our

Financial Secretary... please check your year-end

statements for accuracy and

contact Blackie Jackson at

930-8874 with any questions.

2016 Offering Envelopes are available in the

Narthex. Please check for yours if you have not already picked them up.

Thank You! Thank you for your generous support

of the ministries of Grace UMC in 2015.

Your gifts not only kept the lights on and

the building open, but also supported our

worship, music, education, youth and

children’s programs, and missions locally

and around the world.

BUDGET UPDATE THROUGH DEC. 31, 2015:

BUDGETED $245,841 RECEIVED $219,011

CAPITAL CAMPAIGN INFO THROUGH DEC. 31, 2015:

BALANCE OWED ON LOAN $67,739

READ THE WHOLE BIBLE IN 2016!!

Reading guides available in the Breezeway and Narthex. Let 2016 be the year that you read and get to know your Bible. Pick up your daily reading schedule for January today – it assigns just four relatively short readings a day. Begin reading with today’s reading, or catch up from the beginning of the year with a bit of extra reading.

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continued from back page From the Pastor’s Desk (cont’d)...

Based on this information I began to wonder if perhaps we need to re-think the way we

attempt to keep our resolutions. In other words, we need a way to “change the way we

change.” So I looked into this and I have found how we can more effectively yield to be

transformed by God’s Holy Spirit.

I hope you and your invited guest will grow spiritually and be enabled to change the way

you change over the next few weeks as we “ReThink Resolutions” together at 8:45 and

11:00 am at Grace UMC.

In Christ,

Pastor Hank

Lyle

Gloria

Roger Alex

Jan

Mary Ann

Chris

Betty Jo

Dave

Every good wish for the Christmas season

and throughout the New Year.

Happy New Year 2016

From Your Trustees

TRUSTEES

Thanks from Peninsula CROP Walk (excerpt from recent thank you note)

“Thank you for your participation in the 2015 CROP Walk. We are grateful for the enthusiasm that your congregation brings to the Walk. We really appreciated the willingness of your congregation to be the “host”

church for the Walk with no prior notification. This was a real blessing and “saved” the Walk for this year. The Walk raised $6,337.15. Your congregation contributed $1,152.00. Thank you for your willingness to make this happen.”

~Leroy Griffin, Peninsula CROP Walk Chair

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION

U.S. Postage

PAID Newport News, VA Permit No. 1827

Grace United Methodist Church 1209 Country Club Road Newport News, Virginia 23606

Return Service Requested

From the Pastor’s Desk...

I Resolve

Recently Pastor Chuck Root joked to me that he makes (and keeps) the same resolution

every year- to refrain from eating Brussel sprouts! He may be the only person I know who

always keeps his New Year’s resolutions.

I’m sure Chuck and I and you, the people of Grace, each welcome 2016 with

anticipation. We eagerly look forward to 2016’s challenges, opportunities, joys and

successes. Many of us see this new year as a time of new beginnings, to make some

positive personal changes. It’s an opportune time to pause, reflect and resolve to live better,

more faithful lives to the gospel of Jesus, and/or a more healthy lifestyle. Hence, many of us

make New Year’s resolutions, but for many reasons most of us are not as successful as

Pastor Root. This is one reason why I’m excited about our New Year message series called

“ReThinking Resolutions.”

The Opinion Corporation of Princeton New Jersey reports that most people do not

succeed in keeping their New Year’s resolutions. Here are a couple of statistics drawn from

their 2008 survey:

8% of Americans who make resolutions report always achieving their resolutions

19% achieve their resolutions every other year 24% report failing on every resolution every year. continued on page 15