The time is about 2 p m on a Sunday afternoon. I think to myself, "I can get a quick nap in before 6:00." So I lie down to read with Alice, my cat, hoping to fall asleep sometime. I look at the clock again. 4:30, and I have yet to fall asleep. I need to build up my energy before the hour-long rehearsal. After 5:00 rolls around, and no sleep has been achieved, I decide I might as well head over to the church to get things ready for the rehearsal. "Well, Alice," I say, "Here goes another hour of my life." Alice inconsiderately yawns her cat breath in my face and goes back to sleep. I get to the church and trudge up the long stairs to the balcony. Why do those stairs keep getting longer the more you go up them... or maybe that is just me. After I get the bells set up and the music out, I anxiously wait for them to arrive. Them. The eleven youths, ranging in age from fourth to tenth grade. Them. Who, no matter how early in the morning I have them arrive at the church, always seem to have more energy than I could dream of having. Them. Whose giggles and jokes seem never-ending. Them. I could not imagine directing such a talented group with anyone else, and enjoying it as much.

I am sure you have all heard the noises coming from the balcony before and during services—musical noises only, hopefully. Half of the time, the Spirit Ringers are responsible for the "melodious" tones. Who are the Spirit Ringers, really, you ask? To most of us, they are a group of talented, energetic youth, but they are better known as the youth hand bell choir at Grace. The ringers all bring their own elements to the group: Energy, (that is a given), musical talent, (which is astounding), and personality, which they all expose when playing their music. People have asked me "How can you manage all those young people, with their conflicting ages and interests?" I usually shrug and smile. When I think about it though, I hope I am bringing out a commonality in all the ringers, increasing their interest in worship through music. I think they are also enjoying the fellowship together, though they probably wouldn’t admit it.

Besides, directing isn’t so bad. I get to hear all the gossip going on in high school from the two Emilys and Amanda, get to hear what the middle school band is playing transcribed to hand bells by the sixth graders, and endless tinkering from Miranda and Elias. But it is all music to me.

James Wright

February is nearly here and January seemed to fly by so quickly. How are you doing on your New Year’s Resolutions? (Refer back to the January Grace Forum.) If you haven’t made your list yet, it still isn’t too late. However, remember that the list doesn’t do any good unless we act upon it.

Christmas 2002 was a wonderful season filled with songs, giving, receiving, love, caring, sharing and spiritual uplifting. However, first and foremost it was the celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. What a wonderful gift God gave to us. Christmas is not something that should be celebrated on just one day but 365 days of the year. The Christmas spirit and God’s love should be and can be experienced throughout the year. The impact of this one baby has been earth changing and life changing. All that God asks is for us to open our heart and let his son, Jesus Christ, enter in to lead and guide us. What a powerful and wonderful God we serve.

Prayer has a powerful impact on both the one being prayed for and the one praying. We must never forget that God still answers prayers. They are answered in his way and in his timing. Please lift up in prayer the joys and concerns of our congregation and others.

OUR PRAYER

Dear Lord and Heavenly Father, we thank you for your blessings, your love, and your continual concern for our well-being. As we move deeper into this new year help us to be more aware of your handiwork and your miracles. Opportunities to serve you always abound all around us and we pray for your guidance and wisdom as we reach out to serve. Help us Lord to be more sensitive to those with broken hearts and crushed spirits. Our hands are your hands Lord, and our voices and arms are yours as well. Use us Lord in whatever ways we can best serve you.

We lift up the joys and concerns of our church family and our own personal prayers. Where strength is needed, wrap your strong arms around us; where love and warmth are needed, provide us with a loving touch; and where confusion exists, guide us with the clarity and direction of your word. Through Jesus Christ we pray. AMEN

CELEBRATING THE JOYS OF LIFE

Eric and Melissa Hays – parents and grandparents were here for his graduation from the U of I

Gary and Audrey Ricketts – joyful Sunday school class Christmas party

Janet Fredericks – daughter graduated in special education

—church decorations for the holidays

—safe travel for children in trip to Quad Cities

Marcia Burns – visit from her mother, uncle and Vorhees family

Karen Henderson – mother getting moved and settled

--kids and adults helping with Christmas play

Martha Rosenberry – baptism of grandchildren

-- family support of Doth and Steve Roos

Georgia Hillery – beauty of the season

-- her niece had surgery and the lympth nodes were clean

Entwistles – beauty of winter season both spiritually and in nature

Jim & Doris Roush – having granddaughter Jessi, in church with them

Dan Meador – having daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren in church with him

Benjamin King – Christmas Eve snowfall

Mary Brimm – for van drivers

Margaret Tsiang – safe arrival of daughter and granddaughter in China

Ted & Jessica Hartke – Jessica’s brother became engaged

Ellen Fondren – wonderful times of Christmas with family, friends and others less fortunate

Searings – 20 youth and 6 adults enjoyed the church lock-in

Carolyn Dickey – thanking God for a good and prosperous New Year

Matt Peters – ringing in the new year with

friends

Todd Searing – fellowship with friends over Winter Break and the Ohio State victory

Joy Valentine – Karen Henderson sharing her musical talents

Joan Newcomb – having Mary Thompson back from Washington

Janice Roy – son, David, is getting married in Florida

Ted & Sue Livengood – Ted’s father recovering after being hit by a car

Blair Hammond – Patsy is on long haul to recovery

Kay Weidner – grandson’s surgery went well

Wanda Adams – wonderful to be great grandma to Seth James Adams

Herschel Cline – Harriet’s sprain is improving

LIFT UP OUR CONCERNS TO THE LORD IN PRAYER

Janet Frederick – hoping Kimberly can find a teaching job

John Melton – passing away of his wife of 30 years

Mandy Wood – travel mercies for a friend

Christine – upcoming surgery

Carters – healing of Jeff’s fractured finger

Jill King — Peter Dumich’s treatment

—Juanita Henry’s sister passed

-- Ali having wisdom teeth out

Berniel Stinebring – Genille’s health

Georgia Hillery – Nancy Bible

Dick Kesler fell and received multiple injuries including seven broken ribs and his collar bone

Mary Brimm – health of Helen Koss

Ellen Fondren – friends dad passed away

-- classmate’s husband passed away

Pam Lukemier – family of Mary Keck

Jeannie Barnett – mother’s up-coming surgery

Genelle Ingram continuing health problems

Karen Henderson – safe travel for her and Amanda on trip to Ohio

Martha Rosenbery – health problems and waiting for test results

Blair Hammond – Patsy’s rotator cuff surgery

Alison Smith – co-worker’s house burned on Christmas Day

Tod & Lisa Searing – family of Joe Ackerman who took his own life on Christmas Day

Men’s Breakfast Group – concern for Dick Kesler’s recovery

Ted & Jessica Hartke – co-worker’s wife has terminal illness

-- co-worker’s brother committed suicide on New Years Eve

-- travel mercies for vacation to Hawaii

-- a friend Chuck Luflen, recently passed away

Concern for Ed Osborne and Family. Ed’s father passed away

Herschel Cline – Harriet fell on ice and sustained a bad sprain in her right leg

Johnston’s – Dale’s grandmother, Adelaide Lovitt is in intensive care

Pat Price – concern for mother and up-coming decisions about moving

Matt Peters – travel to Detroit for Auto Show

Valentines – Cathy Moeller’s health

Marsha Durbin – strength and healing for her sister, Paula Wright, and children in tragic death of husband/father on News Years Day

Janice Roy – for those ill in hospitals, nursing homes and shut-ins

-- Cathy Moeller

-- Fay Hutts

Robin Styan – Martha Rosenbery’s health concerns

Ted & Sue Livengood – patience and continued healing for Ted’s father

Dale & Marge Hubert – concern & prayers for Dick & Evelyn Kesler

Eric Hays – travel mercies for Matt Peters and friend

Ray Allen – Bee still in pain from shingles

Bob DeJong – Harriet Cline

-- Dick Kesler

-- All people in need and caregivers

Kay Weidner – A child in Children’s Memorial Hospital having a rare liver tumor surgery

Joan O’Connell – travel mercies for U. H. S. students and chaperones going skiing

Julie Smith – concern for her dad who lost a brother to cancer recently

Mary Thompson – Marge Ladwig’s health

Georgia Hillery – Cathy Moeller’s recovery

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

I thought I should write a few lines to tell those of you who did not know that there was a fire at my house over the weekend. Luckily no one was killed—although the person responsible suffered severe burns and was transported to the state capital for treatment—and none of my own property was damaged. Nevertheless it was quite traumatic there for a while!

Thank you for the love, good wishes and offers of help. I am truly blessed to have you in my life and look forward to our continued mutual service of the Lord. —Tim Bowlby

To the people of Grace United Methodist Church

My girls and I would like to thank you for the Thanksgiving basket. You enabled us to have a nice dinner together as we praised the Lord for his many blessings. Bless you all.

Susan Rhodes and Family

Library News

Inspired by God

Penned by Gary Ricketts

January 14, 2003

I called God today to share a burden,

And receive healing for an aching heart.

However, in place of peace

I received an annoying busy signal

How could God do this I asked?

What about my urgent need?

This is not right I thought.

Did God simply take his phone off the hook?

Suddenly a thought came into mind.

God’s spiritual line is always open.

Why then did I receive a busy signal?

Perhaps I wasn’t really in tune with God.

Maybe my prayers were just

Bouncing off the walls.

Perhaps I didn’t really believe that God cared,

Or anyone else for that matter.

Maybe my prayers were defeated

Before they ever left my mouth.

Perhaps the statement; "O Ye of little faith",

Really pertained to me and my faith.

Then I decided to try again

And this time my call went through.

I shared my burden with God

And he set my heart at rest.

Another thought quickly came to mind.

How often does God receive a busy signal,

When he tries to reach me

About a very important matter.

Yes, I must be patient and have faith,

And wait on God’s answers to my prayers

Even with a busy life, my spiritual telephone line

Must always be open to God’s call.

From: Stephen Wright

Subject: Friends

Dear Friends at Grace,

I don’t know where time goes because I have been meaning to do this for such a long time and, well, for one reason or another it has not happened. I’ve just been looking at your website and see a great many faces I recognize and even more that I don’t. I find it hard to believe that it was four years since Claire, the children and I shared fellowship. Things here are good and God has bestowed many blessings on us during the period. Richard has grown such a lot and is 9. His interests are scouting and going to church. Juliette? Well she is into gymnastics 7 going on a teenager. Kiowa is now nearly 4 and a bundle of trouble. Makes the other 2 look like little angels. No, better make that big angels. He swims like a fish already.

Claire is teaching at the moment but has a feeling that God is calling her to do something different but God will make his intentions known when the time is right. I am managing a horticultural therapy nursery and enjoy almost every minute of it.

We are living near Stratford upon Avon if anyone ever wants to come over. We are involved with our local church. We just settle in to one then we move on again

We think regularly and fondly of our time in America and our many friends that we made. I would like to say a great many hellos to a lot of individuals but that isn’t practicable.

May God show you all many blessings and many works. Love,

United Methodist Women will not be holding regularly scheduled meetings this year. Instead, we will sponsor events and small groups that we hope are of interest to all women while also reflecting the United Methodist Women’s purpose of mission, Bible study, fellowship and assistance to women, children and youth around the world.

Events tentatively planned for Spring, 2003 include:

Sunday, March 2 – Soup and Sandwich Lunch after the 10:30 worship service. Free Will Donation. If you would be willing to donate soup or sandwiches, please contact Joy Valentine or Patsy Hammond. Come for some good food and fellowship!

Book Club – if interested, please contact Barb Wood.

Tray favors for nursing home – if you can help, please contact Karilyn Newnam.

We hope one or more of these will "perk" your interest. If you are interested in helping plan and /or attend any of these and you have any questions, please contact one of the following:

Patsy Hammond – 367-2744

Karilyn Newnam – 328-2913

Joy Valentine – 367-1683

Barb Wood – 384-1163

If you have any suggestions, please let us know. Everyone is invited to participate and everyone is welcome!

Watch for other events in the future!

Feb. 8 - snow date for above

Getting to Know Our Church Family…

Music speaks to our hearts as no words alone can do. We are fortunate at Grace to have so many people willing to share their talent with us. For many of us, worship is made much more meaningful by the music that we hear. One of our multi-talented musicians is Karen Henderson. She prepares us for worship with her pre-service piano music and she shares her voice as a part of the Chancel Choir and the Praise Team.

Born in Kentucky, Karen lived as far away as England before her dad, the late Lewis Adams, retired from the army and the family settled in Urbana. The family also included her mother, Wanda Adams, and four brothers, one her twin. They became a part of Grace in 1964.

Karen has directed the junior choir and accompanied Sunday School music. She has played for worship services as well as for outreach programs such as Vespers at Florida House. She served on the education committee and can be counted on to help with UMW projects such as the garage sale and bazaar. This year Karen co-directed the Christmas play with Anne Parker and they are now co-organizing the women’s retreat for this spring. Karen is a member of the Angelus Handbell Choir, Chancel Choir, and the Praise Team.

In her free time, Karen enjoys reading and karaoke. She is also busy with her teenage daughter, Amanda. Like her mother, Amanda shares her talent by being a part of both the Angelus and Spirit Ringers handbell choirs. Karen and Amanda also share a love of animals and currently have three cats.

After having been a part of Grace, Karen has formed many lasting friendships over the years. Her hope is that thirty-five years from now Amanda can feel the same way.

Our hope is that Karen and Amanda will continue to bless Grace with their gifts of music.

—Karen Knight

Hi Everyone!!!

Thank you for having us at your friendly church. It is so nice to have friends like your people.

We have to pray for each other at all time

Jesus loves you,

Arlie and Julie Neaville

P. S. Thanks, Grace, for snacks!

February Special Days

Birthdays

Duncan Shepherd 2/1

Callie Knight 2/3

Jared Routh 2/6

Annie Carroll 2/11

Art Henris 2/15

Dan Schwartz 2/17

Pauline Durbin 2/19

Jerry Lukemire 2/19

Diane Weidner 2/19

Amanda Henderson 2/22

James Wright 2/23

June Schwartz 2/29

Anniversaries

Dale & Darlene White 2/3

Greg & Robin Styan 2/8

James & Marilyn Wright 2/14

December 30, 2002

Dear Family and Friends,

I have not been very good at communicating with all of you over the last year or so. I asked John to help me compose this. There have been many changes for me over that time. In the summer of 2001, I decided to sell my home in Urbana and move to Moorhead, Minnesota, where my son John lives. It was becoming more difficult to take care of my home and I wanted to be closer to family. In January 2002, I moved into Linden Tree Circle, an assisted living apartment building affiliated with Eventide Nursing Home in Moorhead. I have met many new people here, many of whom are Scandinavian in origin like me, but most are Norwegian instead of Swedish!

Over the last few months, I have gotten weaker and have had a number of falls in my apartment. Fortunately I’ve had no serious injuries, but in mid December entered Eventide Nursing Home. John is the Medical Director at Eventide and is there frequently. My address at the nursing home is: Marjorie Ladwig, South 7th Street, Eventide Nursing Home, Room 214, Moorhead, Minnesota 56560 . My phone number is the same: 218-287-5371.

USHER’S NEWSLETTER

Please attend usher training right after the first service on either January 26 or February 9.

Let’s remember those who may need help during this winter season. Offer a hand from the parking lot to the front door.

Sunday Evening, February 2, 2003 at 6:30 p. m.

Everyone Invited!

Come and hear "SOULS HARBOR"

A Night of Southern Gospel Music

An opportunity to make new friends and enjoy good music