The Grace Forum

Getting to Know Our Church Family…

Martha Rosenbery

In life, at one time or another, we all get lemons, some more than others. Although the adage is "make lemonade," that is not easy for everyone to do. Martha "Marty" Rosenbery has had some experience in the lemonade-making department. She has lost a husband and both parents in a short space of time and there have been chronic family illnesses to be dealt with.

Marty was born and raised in Champaign-Urbana. From the time she was seven, Marty knew she wanted to be a nurse. For the past twenty-three years, she has worked at Carle, the last seven in pre-op scheduling.

Although a member of our neighbor, St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, Marty started attending Grace with Don Rosenbery. In October of 1996, they were married and Marty transferred her membership to Grace. Although Don passed away in 2001, Marty has continued to call Grace her church home. She has served on the missions committee, church council, and attended the Seekers Sunday School class. When Carle began the parish nurse program, Marty graduated from the first class. She was Grace’s parish nurse for two years providing blood pressure checks, home visits, and facilitating classes on health related topics. When others have gone through difficult times, she has provided encouragement through her strong faith.

Because she was a caretaker for her parents, Marty has not had a lot of time for relaxation. She does enjoy camping and spending time with her daughter, Karren, and grandchildren Kaisha, Jaden, and Meghan. She also has a son, David, and three more grandchildren.

Plans for the future include marrying her fiancé, Pete Weller, in June. Beyond that she said, "When I grow up, I want to retire."

About Grace Marty said, "It has been one of the nicest church homes I’ve ever been in. The true caring of the folks around here has been amazing. I call it amazing Grace."

Angels are everywhere these days. There are television shows about angels, books about angels and some of us are fortunate enough to have a person in our life that we can consider our personal angel. Grace Church has its personal angels. They are called the Grace Angels and are one of the newest musical groups at church. They sang for worship services this fall as well as participating in the Christmas music program in December.

The group began this Fall and the girls selected the name for the group. Currently, the members are:

Carly Johnson (Wiley School), Miranda McCarthy (Yankee Ridge), Konnor Williford (Urbana Middle School), Mariah Flaishan (Wiley), and Kaisha Dalton (Prairie).

.As with most young people, these girls are busy with other activities. Some of the activities they are involved with include Scouts, band, peacemakers, sports, piano lessons as well as choir.

Grace Angels meets every Tuesday evening at 6:30 pm in the sanctuary for practice, under the direction of Gordy Wilson. We are very fortunate to have these young people share their talents with the church and for Gordy, who directs them and makes this experience fun for the girls. All girls from 3^rd to 8^th grade are invited to join and will be welcomed.

Inspired by God

Penned by Gary Ricketts

December 1, 2003

Jimmy Brown was ten years old, but looked and acted much older than his actual age. He was a very likable kid with an easy smile. Life had been hard on Jimmy, since he had lost his father when he was three. His mother worked long hours as a waitress, but had been in poor health for several years. Jimmy and his mom had to wear second hand clothes, because they were very poor, but that didn’t keep them from going to church every Sunday and putting some money in the collection plate. They were prayer warriors and didn’t a let a day go by without saying their prayers. They thanked God for what they had and their strong mother-son relationship.

Jimmy had his heart set on buying his mother a special gift for Christmas. It was a beautiful clock with an angel on top. He went by the store every couple of days and looked longingly at the clock. He was trying to save enough money to buy the gift, but was still $5 short and Christmas was only two days away. Many people knew what Jimmy wanted to buy for his mother. They included a neighbor, the postman, a schoolteacher, the pastor and the store owner.

On Christmas Eve Jimmy made one last trip to the store. It was nearly closing time. As he gazed through the window where the beautiful clock usually was, tears came to his eyes and he looked down. He could hardly believe what he saw. There lay a $5 bill right at his feet. It was just the right amount he needed. With a shout of joy he picked it up and ran into the store and told the clerk what he wanted to buy. He was told that the last two had been purchased that morning. With slow and saddened steps he walked home. No gift for Mom this year he thought, I will just give her the $5 I found plus the money I saved.

The next morning when Jimmy and his Mother awakened and looked under the tree he became very excited. For there was the new baseball bat he had wanted for a long time. Just as he was about to give his mother the $5 bill and what he had saved, the doorbell rang. Who could be there at this time? When he opened the door no one was in view, but a package lay there. The card said "To Mom from Jimmy." "What could it be?" he thought. He took it inside and gave it to his Mother. When she opened it there was the beautiful clock with the angel on top. His mother loved the gift very much. Just then the doorbell rang again. When Jimmy opened the door no one was in view, just like before. However, there was another package, with a card saying "To Mom from Jimmy." When his Mom opened the box there was another beautiful clock with an angel, just like the first one. Jimmy was overjoyed and he told his Mother the whole story of how he wanted to buy this gift for her for Christmas, but couldn’t save enough money. On Christmas Eve he had found a $5 bill on the sidewalk at the store, but when he went inside there were no clocks left. He indicated to her how disappointed he had been.

His mother told him that she had wanted to buy him a baseball glove in addition to the bat but wasn’t able to save enough. "Now Jimmy, I don’t really need two clocks," she said, "so I will return one and use the money to buy you a new baseball glove." "We will save your money to use for a special occasion". They wrapped their arms around each other and shed tears of joy.

Jimmy then said, "Mom, God is really good and he does answer prayers." His mom responded, "Yes, dear, God does answer prayers and he sometimes does it in very mysterious ways."

By Gary Ricketts

The old year is past and a new year is here. On the minds of many a question is present," What will the new year hold?" This question hits us whenever a new year approaches, when we tackle a new project, when marriages and friendships break up, and when a church steps out in faith on a new vision.

I believe 2004 will be an exciting year for our church. Yes, it will have challenges, and we will be charting some unknown waters. However, if we ask our Lord for guidance and follow the guidance given to us, it will truly be an exciting 12 months. Much of the foundation for 2004 has already been developed. Now comes the time to put our shoulders to the wheel and help the vision to become a reality. With God’s guidance and direction our future will be clear and bright and we will reach our destination.

When you develop your new year’s resolutions for 2004 don’t forget to include the church. Pray about how God can best use your talents in the life of our church. Prayer is the firewood that fuels our furnace of life. Pray regularly for the leadership of our church and for the members both individually and collectively.

Dear Lord and Heavenly Father as we enter a new year, help us to make that entry with confidence and not with fear. Help us to develop our God given talents more fully so we can better serve you. We need your guidance and direction Lord, both individually and collectively, as we strive to make your vision a reality. Help us to approach all things with a loving heart and a willingness to serve you. Set us on the right path when we wonder astray. Through Jesus Christ we pray. Amen

The Newsletter Team has decided to produce a 2004 Lenten Devotional Guide. In so doing, we need your help. Please send material that is meaningful to you, to be included in this devotional publication. It may be something you already have prepared or you may want to write something new. The devotional material for each day will be restricted to ¼ of an 8 ½ x 11" sheet of paper. Please help us out and send in a lot of short devotionals.

All material must be emailed to Gordy or delivered to the church office by Sunday, January 25. It is our goal to have the devotionals ready for distribution by February 18, a week ahead of Ash Wednesday.

Please give this effort your prayerful consideration.

Since it is a new year, the "Scrapping Group" is changing slightly. Instead of just working on scrapbooks, we’re inviting anyone who has a craft project to work on, to join us once a month. This is the perfect opportunity to get those projects done while enjoying the fellowship of other crafters. We’re also expanding our meeting time.

Beginning with January 16 and 17, we’ll be meeting the third Friday night (7 – 10 p.m.) and Saturday morning (8 a.m. – 12 p.m.) of the month in Fellowship Hall. You may come to both sessions or just one if you like. Bring a snack to share, your own drink, and the craft project you are currently working on.

Childcare is available if needed, just let Susan Ferguson know. Contact Susan at 367-5814 or suzbferg@net66.com if you have any questions.

Our house is sinking with the weight of books. We buy too many new ones, but I like old ones, too. Don't let a used book dealer come to the mall, for I'm a push-over, and you'll find me there. There are three totally different used books that I've picked up in recent months (couldn't resist): a novel, a historical record, and a reference book. Let me share some thoughts about them.

The Apostle by Sholem Asch, c. 1943.

A biblical novel, written in German by a noted Jewish writer and a Christian, this takes the story of Paul the Apostle and immerses it all in the historical traditions of Israel and Rome. I read it first (yes, all 754 pages) in 1945-46 as a high school junior, and wrote a book report for an English class. I read it again last year and was intrigued with three things: its comprehensiveness, the author's understanding of Jewish tradition and history, and the translator's total use of the old familiar King James Version for all the direct biblical references.

You may never read this book, but here's my suggestion to my friends: Go back somewhere and find a book you liked (or even didn't understand) and read it again. It might surprise, delight, or enlighten you. Or you may dislike it even more, but your own thoughts will be clearer.

Not many people that I know now bother to fix a "plate" in the cover identifying the owner, but my copy has an "ex libris" which says it all: "Books are keys to wisdom's treasure; Books are paths that upward lead; Books are gates to lands of pleasure. Books are friends. Come let us read." "This book belongs to (signed) Nina Petty."

The Noon Prayer Meeting of the North Dutch Church, Fulton Street, New York. By Talbot W. Chambers, 1358.

I really splurged on this one; probably spent 15 to 20 times its original sale price. But it is a truly antique book, preceding the American Civil War. New York was different then, but an unusual revival of religious faith and fervor began when working people from many different church groups began to share their "joys and concerns" at the old Dutch church. The impact spread quickly across the US and even internationally.

This accurate record of meetings, persons, prayers, and speeches documents the year-long "revival." I was intrigued with the comments from the clergy (even though this was primarily an expression of change in laymen). The Methodists were slow in responding to this happening, but in the service of thanksgiving, the Rev. Dr. Nathan Bangs, a Methodist who had been a minister for over 57 years, shared these words: "What is the effect of the present revival? It is not confined to time nor to place...It brings the different denominations together, makes them for a moment forget their denominational peculiarities; it tears down the sectarian prejudices, and makes them feel as one... I have been a man of war...all my days almost...but I have laid aside the polemic armour long since, and I felt it my duty to preach, brethren, upon brotherly love." (p. 246-7).

You’ll probably never even see this book, but here's another thought. Cherish the memories and inspiration that come from the past, and find the counterparts for today. The search may be rewarding in itself.

Handbook of Denominations in the United States by Frank S. Mead, revised by Samuel S. Hill_ 10th edition, 1995.

Another old book, already revised and reprinted, but I had never had a copy for myself. It's a reference book--just facts and figures. But I've looked at it again, and it occurred to me, with all the splits and mergers, names and divisions, rivalries and unpredicted developments, there has been a major impact by Methodism on Christianity in America.

You may not be a student of church history, but there are a few names and facts worth knowing. We look upon John Wesley as the founder of Methodism. He deserves the credit, but his was a time of theological debate, even a lot of bitter hair splitting, and his roots go back to the views of the Dutch theologian, Arminius, who opposed many of the ideas of John Calvin.

I scanned this book, and was amazed at the number and variety of denominations that trace their roots to the Wesleyan tradition. As a reference work, these edited statements of theology, organizational structure, and statistics on membership and finance, etc., are useful. But I found most valuable to be the introductory notes and the appendices (which include classification patterns for church groups, a glossary of terms, a bibliography, and an address index for church headquarters).

A final suggestion for readers of old books. Don't expect inspiration from a reference work, perhaps only facts and some understanding. But sometimes these help us from appearing foolish or failing to appreciate another's point of view.

Submitted by Paul Kunkel, December, 2003.