IN THIS ISSUE

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

September 2013

Scriptures, Greeters, etc. 2

Calendar 3

Youth/Children 4,5

Kids, Birthdays 6,7

Tidbits 8,9

Choirs News 10

Marriage Encounter 11

Missions / Salty Service 12

WEP 13

Trustees 14

Charge Conf. / Ranhorne 15

From the Pastor Back page

Growing In Grace A publication of Grace United

Methodist Church 1209 Country Club Road

Newport News, VA 23606 (757)595-0017

Fax (757)599-1550 www.graceumcnn.org

admin@graceumc.hrcoxmail.com

Pastor: Rev. Steven Barbery

Sunday Services: Early Worship: 8:45 am

Traditional Worship: 11:00 a.m.

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

G r o w i n g I n

G r a c e

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Scripture Readings: September 1 ~ Regina South

COMMUNION SUNDAY Jeremiah 2:4-13; Psalm 81:1, 10-16 (UMH 803)

Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16; Luke 14:1, 7-14

September 8 ~ Maggie Keator Jeremiah 18:1-11; Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18 (UMH 854)

Philemon 1-21; Luke 14:25-33

September 15 ~ Lindsay Hobson Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28; Psalm 14 (UMH 746)

1 Timothy 1:12-17; Luke 15:1-10

September 22 ~ Betty Hill Jeremiah 8:18-9:1; Psalm 79:1-9 or Psalm 4 (UMH 741)

1 Timothy 2:1-7; Luke 16:1-13

September 29 ~ Logan Whitley Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15; Psalm 91:1-6, 14-16 (UMH 810)

1 Timothy 6:6-19; Luke 16:19-31

*Readings for the worship services will generally be chosen from the scriptures above.

(Readings may vary for special services.)

Counting Team #5

*Blackie Jackson

Betty Jo Jackson Susan West

Tom West

Lockup:

Carl Brakman

1st ~ Ann Talbot, Betty Sharpe, Ed Long 8th ~ Connie Keator & Ginger Root 15th ~ Iris Layton & Dorothy Hanrahan 22nd ~ Joanna Simonsen, Catherine Tidd 29th ~ Jeri Davenport & Pat Wainwright

Ushers:

Team #4

*John Thompson Glen Banks

Bryan Jackson

Acolyte for September:

Baker McFall

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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

September 2013

Every Sunday Early Service 8:45 am

Sunday School 9:45am Traditional Service 11:00 am

2:00pm Nepali-Speaking Worship

Chapel Choir 9:30-10:00 am Cherub Choir 10:00-10:20 am

9 Salvation Army Sandwiches

1:30 pm Points of Grace

Preschool Begins

9 Senior Breakfast

Mary/Martha Circle

7 Trustees

9-12 Preschool

Open House

6 Praise Choir No Chancel

Bells 7:15 Chancel

Choir

6 Praise Choir No Chancel

Bells 7:15 Chancel

Choir

6 Praise Choir 6 Chancel

Bells 7:15 Chancel

Choir

6 Praise Choir 6 Chancel

Bells 7:15 Chancel

Choir

Office Closed 10:30 UMW

Board Mtg.

Play to Learn Begins

Noon Potato Bar

7 pm Preschool Parent

Orientation

Begins 9/15

7 pm Church Council

7 Stew/Fin Mtg.

Chapel & Cherub Choirs

Begin

Noon 4th Sunday Fellowship

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Summer Mission Trip Report

Our youth group just completed a 5-day mission trip in Roanoke, VA.

They participated in the REACH project (Real Experience Affecting Change) which serves the impoverished South East Roanoke community. Baker McFall, Johnny O’Neill, Guadalupe Flores, Philip Michael Burke, Samantha Jackson, Carrie Frost, David Brakman and Adam Brakman served in various ways. They helped out at a local food bank, cleaned trash out of the Roanoke River, helped at the Rescue Mission Thrift store, and made door hangers with encouraging messages for homes in the community. We thank them for their hard work, as well as, our chaperones, Ford McFall, Cindy Brakman, Gail Hartjen, and Garrett Ouzts for their assistance. You will hear more about their trip at a later date when they share more with you about how they carried out the REACH motto “Here are my hands. How may I serve?”

Job Opportunity

We are looking for a part-time Coordinator of Children and Youth

Ministries. If you have any contacts, please let the Staff Parish

Committee know by contacting Frances Porter 595-4506.

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District Youth Rally Day Sunday, September 29 from 3-5pm. All youth, leaders, and friends from the District

are invited. Location TBD but please mark your calendars! There will be a sign-up sheet on the youth bulletin board for those interested so

folks can coordinate rides.

The district is sponsoring fall retreats at Camp Piankatank. The Middle School Retreat (6th-8th grade) will be October 11-13, and the High School Retreat (9th-12th grade) will be November 8-10. These retreats are open to all churches in the district.

In addition, there are also Conference retreats at Eagle Eyrie in Lynchburg. The Conference Middle School retreat is November 8-10 and the Conference High School retreat is December 6-8. Go to vaumc.org for more details.

If you have any questions, you can contact Jonathan Diggs, York River District Youth Director, at youth@yorkriverdistrict.org.

Make an effort to present yourself to God as a tried-and-true worker, who doesn’t need to be ashamed

but is one who interprets the message of truth correctly. 2 Timothy 2:15 (CEB)

ALL CHILDREN AND YOUTH are invited to come to Christian Education on Sunday mornings between the services! Thank you to our wonderful teachers dedicated to leading Christian education in the 2013-2014 school year:

Children & Youth Teachers — Susan West, Susan Dame, Melissa Mygas, Janet Norris, Gloria Moore, Tim Hart

THANK YOU! I am so very grateful for your prayers, your encouragement, your well-wishes and words of thanks. The congregation of Grace has been most loving

and I will deeply miss leading the youth and children and sharing in worship with you all. The ice cream reception was a wonderful event, and I will especially treasure my Points of Grace scarf and wear it proudly this winter. May God bless and keep you all! -Juliana Smith

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September Birthdays Happy Birthday To You! Happy

Birthday To You! Happy Birthday Dear…..

Are you stressed? Do you want to improve

communication in your family or relationships? Do you need someone to

talk to? Contact the Peninsula Pastoral Counseling Center

873-2273 peninsulapastoral.org

Happy 60th Anniversary to Grace! As you know from previous newsletters, Grace is celebrating 60 years as a church. We are going to

“Celebrate 60 years by serving for 60 more”. At the same time that we are planning for a celebration later in the fall, we are also going to begin a visioning process. We would like everyone to be involved in both the celebration and the visioning. Look for more information in the church bulletins

in September and the next newsletter.

1 Nicholas Wojciechowski 13 Amy Taylor 27 Miriam Elliott

Matthew Hale 21 Sally Taylor 28 Brandon Moore

5 Billie Ballard Valerie Fox 29 Gary Wojciechowski

6 Neva Parker 24 Irene Franks Sarah Stinebaugh

7 Douglas Mcdowell 25 Stefan Mygas David Brakman

8 Ann Hull Leslie Dame Peyton Hale

11 Amanda Halstead 26 Mitzi Emblidge 30 Eileen Patterson

Matthew Halstead

“Education is learning what you didn’t even know you didn’t know.”

—Daniel J. Boorstin

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NOTE CARDS FOR SALE United Methodist Women are selling note cards featuring

some of the stained glass windows in the sanctuary. There are 12 different cards in a pack for $10.00. All proceeds will be

used for mission outreach at home and around the world. We appreciate your support.

JOIN US! The September Senior

Adult Breakfast meets at THE WARWICK RESTAURANT

located at 12306 Warwick Blvd, Newport News, VA 23606,

on Monday, September 9, at 9:00am. Everyone is welcome!

POTATO BAR It’s September and time for the Second Sunday Potato Bar lunches to resume. The next one will be Sunday, September 8 following the 11:00 worship service. Price will remain the same: $6.00 for adults and $3.00 for children over two. Price includes your choice of a white or sweet potato with all the toppings, tossed salad, home-made soup, dessert, and beverage. If you don’t get an opportunity to fill out a registration form and still want to attend, it is never too late. Call Betty Hill (930-0790) or Joan Heaton (898-6006). Please plan to join us for a wonderful time of fellowship and good food.

Welcome to all the CNU Students!

You are invited to join in with all Grace UMC’s activities and

events.

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CROP HUNGER WALK Sunday, October 13, 2013

1:30pm @ North Riverside Baptist Church

The Missions Committee is encouraging Grace members and our community to

support the annual Church World Service CROP HUNGER WALK again this year. Maggie Keator and Johnny O’Neill will be heading it up for us. We will be walking three miles in recognition of the average walk people in other countries take to obtain fresh water and food. You can walk by completing a pledge form and bringing it with you the day of the walk, you can ask family and friends to contribute to your efforts, and/or you can support one of our walkers. You can contribute on line to our team at the Church World Service website at

http://hunger.cwsglobal.org/site/TR/2013FallCROPHungerWalk/TR-Fall2013?team_id=88218&pg=team&fr_id=17893

Last year 17 churches/groups participated in the Peninsula CROP WALK and raised $6,851.57. Grace had seven walkers and raised $402.00. Pick up pledge forms from the church office or call Maggie Keator for more information (812-0127).

UNITED METHODIST WOMEN

Summer is over and it is time for the United Methodist Women to get back to work. The Mary Martha Circle meets on the second Monday of each month at 1:30 p.m. in the Small Fellowship Hall. The Susanna Wesley Circle meets in the evening at 7:00 p.m., usually on the third Monday. Specific times, dates, and place are announced in the church bulletin. If you are not a member and would like to join us, we would love to have you.

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Choir News (11:00 a.m.) CHANCEL CHOIR The Grace UMC Chancel Choir will resume choir practice on Thursday, September 5, 2013 from 7:15-8:30. Note that this is a new time for choir practice. We are always excited to have new voices join us. You do not have to commit to rehearsal, you can simply join us on Sunday mornings if you wish. You do not have to be able to read music, we will teach you all you need to know. We

will meet Thursdays at 7:15 until we begin practicing for Christmas. Keep an eye on the newsletter and bulletin for those time changes.

CHANCEL BELLS The Grace UMC Chancel Bells will begin practice on Thursday, September 19, 2013 from 6:00-7:00 pm in the small fellowship hall. Note that this is a new time for the bell choir and a permanent change. We are always excited to have new ringers join us. You do not need to be able to read music to ring with us. We will teach you everything you need to know. CHAPEL AND CHERUB CHOIRS The Grace UMC Chapel and Cherub Choirs will resume practices on Sunday September 15,2013. The Chapel Choir meets from 9:30-10 and the Cherub Choir meets from 10-10:15 upstairs in the children's wing last classroom on the left. The Chapel Choir is for ages 6-10 and the Cherub Choir is for ages 4 and 5. The Chapel Choir learns about singing, ear training, how to play chimes and ring them for the service. The Cherub Choir focuses on music theory, ear training, music and movement and singing for the service. Both choirs lead the service in worship at least once a month between September and May. We are always excited to have new children join us.

We will be having a social on September 8th from 9:30-10 in the last classroom on the left upstairs in the children's wing for children and their parents. There will be refreshments for children and adults and I will be available to answer any questions that parents might have about children's choirs. I look forward to seeing everyone there. For more information on any choir please contact the Director of Music, Regina South, at 804-694-7756 or email at reginalsouth@gmail.com.

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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!

Newsletter by Internet As a part of our calling as Christians, we are to be good stewards of God’s resources. In an effort to live more fully into that calling, we are working toward providing the monthly newsletter by email. We understand that some people are not on the internet or some may just prefer a hard copy of the newsletter in their mailbox and that is okay because we will still print copies for those that are interested. For those that are on the fence and not sure whether or not to provide email, it costs for the paper, printing, and mailing the newsletter. There is also a time factor involved for the volunteers that gather each month to put together, fold, tape, and label the newsletters. This time could also be used for other ministry opportunities. Please consider providing your email address to the church office to be added to the email list.

Marriage Encounter - United Methodist Weekend in MD!

Are you looking to make your good marriage even better? The Marriage Encounter Weekend exists to help a couple learn how to recapture the love and affection that first brought them together - and to build on that foundation to make their good marriage even better. Couples learn a method of non-confrontational communication that can tear down the barriers that have arisen and that separate them. The Marriage Encounter message is that marriage is for lovers! The weekend is for all couples who harbor a desire for more intimacy in their relationship. It offers each couple a chance to rediscover each other. Why not chance falling in love all over again?

Upcoming date: Nov. 1-3, 2013, Easton, MD For more information speak to Chuck and Ginger Root, or to register for any of the Weekends, simply go to the website: www.encounter.org and sign up using your credit card. For questions or if you would like a brochure with registration form mailed to you, contact Brent & Carole Burdge, at (302) 529-9261 or email: BCTandem@aol.com.

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MISSION OPPORTUNITIES FOR GOD’S SALTY SERVANTS

LOOKING AHEAD TO PORT An opportunity to serve our beloved brothers and sisters in Christ

The Mission Committee has received the dates of the two weeks in which our day/night assignments will fall:

December 4-11, 2013 at Peninsula Korean Baptist Church February 26 – March 5, 2014 at Orcutt Baptist Church.

We will let you know as soon as we receive the day/night assignment for each of those weeks. During our assigned time we will be needing volunteers to help make the dinner and breakfast, welcome and sign our guests in for the night, spend the night and store and pass out their belongings.

In addition to these two possibilities to be blessed in service to God, we would also like to offer even more blessings!!

PORT is in need of additional help during the following weeks:

December 19-26, 2013 at Noland United Methodist Church December 26-January 1 at Noland United Methodist Church January 1-8, 2014 at 1st Baptist Church, Newport News

It is difficult to fill volunteer positions during these weeks. In order to support Noland United Methodist Church and 1st Baptist Church in their mission outreach to the homeless during this time, additional volunteers can join other churches that are in charge of each day/night assignment at these host churches.

Help is especially needed on Christmas day!! Will your most precious gift during the holiday season be serving others? Please pray about it and consider giving this gift to the glory of God.

Sign up lists for our PORT dates in December and March will be available at church a few weeks prior to each date. If you would also like to serve by helping during one or more shifts at Noland and/or 1st Baptist, please contact Susan DeVane (930-0233, bdevane@cox.net) with the dates and times you could be available. The PORT director would like to have this information as soon as possible, so please provide this information as soon as you are able. You may also leave a note in the Missions Committee mail box near the church office.

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Weekday Educational Program Fundraisers

1. HARRIS TEETER On your next trip to Harris Teeter, as you are checking out, just ask the cashier to link your VIC card to Grace Preschool by using our code #4811. If you don’t remember the code number, they can look it up for you! You can also visit harristeeter.com or call 1-800-432-6111. Each time you use your VIC card to purchase Harris Teeter Brand products, H.T. Traders, Harris Teeter Naturals, Harris Teeter Farmers Market, Hunter Farms, Top Care, More Value, Highland Crest, yourpet, yourbaby and yourtot, a percentage of those purchase dollars goes to our school. Prescriptions filled at the Harris Teeter Pharmacy are also included! To those of you who participated last year, it is necessary to RELINK on an annual basis. Your card can be linked to other schools also, and the proceeds will be divided between the schools.

2. CARTRIDGES FOR KIDS This is an environmentally friendly fundraising opportunity to schools and other organizations. The next time you change the laser or inkjet cartridges in your copiers, printers, fax machines, etc., whether at home or at work, just slip the empty cartridge into the box that your new cartridge was packed in, bring it in to church and put it in my mailbox outside the church office. They also collect used cell phones, PDA’s, DVD’s, iPods, laptops, MP3 players, digital cameras, video games & consoles, scientific graphing calculators, GPS devices, tablets, eReaders and notebooks. Please spread the word to your business or spouse’s business to save those cartridges for Grace Preschool!

3. CAMPBELL’s SOUP UPC CODES With cooler weather on the way, start saving those UPC codes from Campbell’s soups, Pepperidge Farm, and Swanson. They also accept UPC codes from BIC products (pens, pencils, highlighters, markers, etc.), as well as, Wolfgang Puck and Pop Secret products. To add to the list, UPC codes from GLAD Food Storage, Emerald Nuts, Post cereals, and Dannon Kids

Yogurts can be submitted. Prego & V8 lids are also accepted. Should you have any questions about any of these fundraising projects, please feel free to stop by my office or call me at 595-0032. Thank you for your support! Beverly B. Ouzts, Director

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NOTES FROM YOUR TRUSTEES

- by Gloria Champine

Two contractors have submitted bids for the repairs

to the Church roof(s). After considerable discussion, it was decided to go back to them with the option of replacing the entire roof at one time and also to pursue the repair work in stages. The handicap ramp roof will be included with the main roofing needs. Your Board was confident that either contractor would do a good job. Even though the lighting for the Sanctuary has dropped in priority, options are still being considered for enhancing the lighting on an as needed basis, replacing bulbs and lowering lights to make them more accessible. We need to keep an eye on the flat roof over the Brides and Choir rooms. The Choir room had a small leak after recent rains. Additional items: One of the dining room chairs at the

Parsonage has been sent out to be re-upholstered and the Victorian- style couch has been donated to the Boys and Girls Thrift Shop.

The tree that fell over the fence at the Parsonage was cut up and hauled to the street side by the UMM, along with the help

of Cindy and Adam Brakman, and stacked up for City pickup. A citation notice was received stating a pickup would not be done because of the size of individual pieces with a $30 per day fine, if not corrected by July 31th. Your Trustees were now quite concerned about disposal. Pastor Steve was up with Hannah and while looking out the window he noticed a city truck outside - picking up the debris. (He must have friends in high places.)

We hope to be able to repair or replace the linoleum in the Parsonage kitchen shortly.

The large trophy case in the Large Fellowship Hall is no longer needed by our Boy Scout Troop #27 and will be disposed of.

A big THANK YOU to Mark Hewes for his generous donation to the Trustees in memory of his Mother, and Father, Peggy and Don Hewes. Thanks again Mark, we certainly appreciate your gift. As always, your Board of Trustees will continue to seek to do the best job possible in maintaining the physical property of the Church and the Parsonage, and in spending our contributions for the greatest benefit to our Church. We welcome your thoughts, ideas and prayers.

TREASURER’S NOTES by: Betty S. Hill Budget Update through August 18, 2013: Budgeted $163,087~ Received $158,869

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continued from page 16 From the Pastor’s Desk (cont’d)...

talk of what it means to “be the church” in a general sense from a biblical perspective. But, it will also be specific about what God is calling Grace to do for the world. I hope that I haven’t raised anyone’s anxiety level – God will be with us. Please keep praying, reading your bibles, alone and in groups, and letting the Holy Spirit guide you. Grace and Peace, Pastor Steve

Mark Your Calendars

Charge/Church Conference Sunday, November 3 at 4:00pm,

at Warwick Memorial UMC

Ranhorne Memorial Trust Funds Available

The Grants Committee of the Ranhorne Memorial Trust Board will be accepting applications from September 1, 2013, to October 15, 2013, to fund projects that reflect and enhance our Church’s mission in this community and beyond. The grant procedure requires that all applications be reviewed each year. The awarding of a grant one year does not carry over from year to year, nor does funding in one year guarantee funding in future years. Grant requests will NOT be approved for items that would normally be part of the annual church budget. For mission trip applications, priority will be given to church members who have not previously participated in mission trips. The Trust Board will be selecting among the applications submitted, so all interested parties are encouraged to make their causes known. Applications may be obtained by contacting the Church secretary.

Al Abbitt, Chairman Ranhorne Memorial Trust Board

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

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From the Pastor’s Desk...

In last month’s newsletter article and in two sermons, I spoke of the need to pray. I pray that you have spent more time in the last month in prayer than the previous month, whether it is substantially more or even just a small amount more. If you have spent more time in prayer, did you notice any changes in your life or in the things for which you prayed? If the answer is “no”, that is okay. Please continue to spend some more time in prayer this month and you will start to notice changes. If you answered “yes”, what did those changes look like? Was it what you wanted or expected or something else? God hears and answers prayers in many ways and in God’s own time. That means we may not recognize the answer or it may come at a completely unexpected time. I am focused on prayer for several reasons. First, I believe it is a way that we communicate directly with God. Secondly, prayer is something that we all can do no matter what age or other limitations we may have. The last reason is that prayer is absolutely necessary. Grace UMC is celebrating 60 years this year (I will talk more about that later) and we need prayer to enable God to guide and prepare us – for the next year, 5 years, 10 years, 60 years and more. As we begin our fall kickoff, we are going to start conversations among the leadership, the Sunday school classes, and the congregation about our vision, through discernment from the Holy Spirit. These conversations are going to be a little different than previous discussions of vision. There will be

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