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Volume 2, Issue 7
Click page number below:
[1]
[2] [3]
[4] [5]
[6] Nametags
July Activity Calendar
Getting to Know
Our Church Family…
Page 1
Brenda Husler
According to Brenda Husler, she came to Grace
through the back door. The late Lois Mickey, Brenda’s neighbor, invited her to
attend Bible study. From Bible study (she has now done four), Brenda bravely
took on organizing the annual garage sale, a job she has capably handled for two
years.
Brenda was born in Oregon and grew up
in Louisiana. For many years, she lived in the Washington, D.C., area where she
worked in high tech sales and recruiting. After a low point in her life, she
met Mark Husler. They were married December 23, 2002. Her family now includes
four stepdaughters and two grandchildren. She is looking forward to having
fifteen-year-old stepdaughter, Abby, visit this summer for a month.
Although currently looking for
employment, Brenda keeps quite busy. She runs the back office for Mark’s
remodeling business, Brothers, Inc. Several years ago, Brenda started
collecting miniature porcelains, chickens, and eggs. She also has a dollhouse.
Computers are a continuing interest for Brenda. She has a degree in computer
science.
At Grace, Brenda is the financial secretary for the church and helps in the
office when needed. She will be taking on the responsibility of organizing the
greeters for worship services.
Working with older people is
enjoyable and important for Brenda. She regularly attends the worship services
at Canterbury Ridge and feels this is a positive outreach for our church.
Finding a kindred spirit in Lois Mickey, Brenda was her caregiver during Lois’
final days.
Grace has been the catalyst for Brenda’s spiritual transformation and, for the
first time in her life, she really feels the fellowship of Christian community.
Page 2
Super Summer Sunday School is in full swing with a
summerlong Puppet Theatre Workshop in the Education Wing. Children ranging from
3 years to 11 have been making papier mache puppets and will continue to create
characters as the summer rolls along. The end result will be the launch of a
puppet ministry here at Grace.
Why puppets you may ask? There are several qualities of puppets that make them
a very effective tool for ministry. Here are a few thoughts from Puppets with a
Purpose. Puppets have been around for over 2,000 years as both an art form and
a means of communication. Puppets are moving. They are given a voice that can
bring the audience to tears and to laughter. Puppets entertain as well as
educate. Puppets draw people in and then deliver a lesson - a lesson that might
be remembered in the setting of the puppet stage. Puppets are safe. Because the
puppet characters are not real people, it is an ideal medium for the discussion
of sensitive issues. We recognize ourselves in the puppet skits yet there is a
"safety glass" between the action and the audience. Puppets are for both
children and adults. Children relate to puppets because they are natural
puppeteers as they give voices to their inanimate toys. They can use puppets to
try on different personalities and role play. Early puppetry, however, was used
as an instructional tool for adults. They were used to advise people on the
right way to live.
Puppets are versatile. Just about any material can be used and with any
setting. They don't take up a great deal of space, and they can be packed up
for a road show. For more information about puppet programming around the world
check out http://www.unicef.org/puppets.
We have already seen the imagination of our children blossom as they develop
their own unique puppet characters. They are using a wide range of skills, and
it has been an opportunity to speak of God's love for what is different in each
of us.
Another big event this summer is our very own Philo Road Kid's
Fair, August 1-4th, 5:30-8:00. A light supper will be served from
5:30-6:00. This year's theme is "Hero Quest". Children, ages 3yrs - 5th grade,
will search for clues in an inner city setting and find the real heros in their
lives. Through crafts, games, bible stories, and a clues scene lab, our
children will have fun and learn. HQ III, our bloodhound puppet, and the
Commissioner, will be on hand to help out and lead the way.
There will be a parent/tot area again this year. Our parents have requested
some structure for this program, so we will be adding a story time, puppet
shows, music, and a play area.
We will have a closing ceremony Wednesday night for both parents and children
with music, food, and a recap of the week. We hope to make this a significant
event for the children and for all who are involved in the program. The entire
building will be humming that week, so jump right in and have some fun with us.
Stayed tuned as we gear up for another high energy week.
For more information about any of the children's programs, contact Marcia Burns,
Linda Entwistle, or Luann Wiedenmann.
Page 3
UMW News
Thank you to Joan Newcomb for
hosting the June picnic. The food was delicious, the weather was beautiful, and
everyone had a great time! Thank you!
Arts for Cunningham Update –
To date, over $2,600 has been raised at the Arts for Cunningham event. Thank you
for your support of this project.
Saturday, Oct. 23 is the date
set for the
Fall Festival.
If you are interested in helping, please
contact Patsy Hammond, Karilyn Newnam, Joy Valentine, Joan Newcomb, or the
church office. We need lots of help!
Attn: Men and Women – Mission Opportunity at
Midwest Mission Distribution Center, Springfield
We have booked a block of time (9 am to noon) to
work at the Midwest Mission Distribution Center in Chatham, near Springfield on
Saturday, Aug. 28. The Center provides emergency disaster relief supplies such
as school bags, health kits, bedding packs, and flood buckets. The center works
through UMCOR, Church World Service, and the American Red Cross. The work
involves sorting items for kits. We hope to have enough interested persons that
we can take the van. Tours are provided of the center for those who have never
been there before. After working at the center, we plan on eating at a
Springfield restaurant before returning to Urbana. Please contact Karilyn
Newnam, Patsy Hammond, or Mary Hackl for more information.
Page 4
REFLECTION AND
PRAYER FOR JULY
Gary Ricketts
It’s raining hard, and thunder is booming everywhere. The sky is dark overhead,
and the TV indicates that a tornado watch is in effect until later tonight. It
could make one a little uneasy. However, the one who created the thunder and
the storm clouds also created you and me. If we dwell on the thunder and dark
clouds we do not find calmness and peace. However, if we dwell on the creator
and his love for us, we can find comfort.
So it is when the storms of life
tend to weigh us down. God is always there to offer comfort, strength, and
peace. He can calm the storms of our hearts and our minds. He offers a canopy
of protection by wrapping his loving arms around us. As the rain pours from the
clouds to nurture the plants on earth, so does God’s love pour down on us, to
nurture our spirit and our spiritual growth.
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.
Prayer
Dear Lord and Heavenly Father, thank
you for helping us to find peace in the middle of life’s storms. You, O Lord,
help us to rekindle our spiritual flame when it seems to be extinguished. You
never give up on us, even when we give up on ourselves. Thank you for being a
loving and caring Heavenly Father. Help us to know your will and to do your
will. We are your children, and as such, we need your love, guidance, and
wisdom.
We lift up the joys and
concerns of our families and our church. Help us to be the obedient children
that you want us to be. Through Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.
JENNY
AND THE UNTOUCHABLES
Inspired by God
Penned by Gary
Ricketts
May 19, 2004
Jenny was a high school junior, and a
very friendly and outgoing person. She was a good student and a very strong
Christian. God played an important role in her life and in that of her family.
It was usually very easy for her to get along with her classmates, except for
one group of girls. There were four girls in her class who were
anti-everything. They called themselves the “Untouchables”, and that is the way
they seemed to want it to be. They had very bad reputations around the school
and community. Jenny spoke to them, but they seldom spoke to her. The only
times they asked her to do anything was when they knew she would refuse because
of her beliefs.
Jenny felt the Lord calling her to help these
girls. However, they made fun of her a lot, and she had been hurt quite often.
She and her mother talked about this situation a great deal. Her mother didn’t
want Jenny to continue to be run down by the “Untouchables”. However, she
didn’t want to interfere with the mission that God had placed on Jenny’s heart.
Her mother told Jenny that the entire family would continue to pray for her and
the situation with the “Untouchables”. For some reason Jenny felt in her heart
that the four girls were not as bad as they tried to portray themselves. She
was going to pray about the situation even harder and continue to ask God for
direction.
A
few weeks later, Kary, the leader of the “Untouchables”, was in a serious
automobile accident. She had a concussion, a broken leg, and a broken arm. As
soon as Kary was out of intensive care, Jenny went to visit her. After telling
about the accident, Kary asked a very surprising question: “Have you been
praying for me?” “Yes,” replied Jenny. “Why would you pray for me when the
other girls and I have treated you so badly?” asked Kary. “Because I felt that
you weren’t as bad as you tried to let on”, replied Jenny. “I felt led by God
to befriend all four of you.” Kary was quiet for a few moments and then
indicated that she knew Jenny had been praying for her. She also indicated that
she had never seriously thought about God, until she was recovering from
surgery. They had a very good visit, and Kary asked her to keep praying and to
come again. Jenny visited every other day and continued her visits when Kary
was well enough to go home. In fact, there seemed to be a friendship developing
between the two of them. One afternoon, Kary asked Jenny to tell her about God,
and this continued with each visit. Jenny gave her a bible to read and pointed
out key verses to her.
When Kary was able to go back to school on
crutches, she asked Jenny to help along with the other three girls. They
noticed a change in Kary, and they knew that it had to be Jenny’s influence that
had brought it about. One day Jenny asked Kary if she would like to attend
church that next Sunday. After some thought, Kary replied positively. She
followed through on her promise and attended church with Jenny and her family.
They welcomed Kary with open arms and so did the church congregation. She had
never felt so loved.. Her mother and father had separated when she was five
years old. She had only seen her father a few times since then. Her mother
worked two jobs to make ends meet, and was not able to spend much time with her.
The two girls continued their weekly bible study
and going to church together. One day, the other three girls came to Jenny and
apologized for their past actions. Kary had kept them posted on what was going
on. They also asked if they could join the weekly bible studies. Jenny quickly
responded that they could. Eventually they, too, began attending church, and
within a year all four were baptized and became members. It is interesting to
note that the “Untouchables” are now fondly referred to as the “Lovables”, and
the numbers continue to grow. All of this resulted when a young girl responded
to God’s calling to reach out and touch the hearts of the “Untouchables”.
Page 5
Wedding Shower for Susan Crackel
Saturday, July 17 at 2:00 pm
At
Mary Bauling’s
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
R S V P
to
Mary Bauling 328-2008
Or
Janice Roy 684-2985
Thank You
Thanks to Bill & Joy for the visits. Thank you for all the
cards, phone calls and all the prayers before and after my operation. They were
really appreciated.
Carl Erb
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Friends at
Grace,
It seems
forever since we last saw some of you and we sure do miss you. But, you know
we’ll be back the Good Lord willing. Thanks for all your concerns, the visits,
cards, calls, food and especially the prayers. The food was scrumptious. We
always knew we had the best cooks around.
Rev. Mike
we can’t thank you enough for taking time out of your vacation to check on us.
It meant a lot to lay in the hospital bed and get your call. We did appreciate
all your calls, love and concern.
We all know
the Good Lord giveth and he taketh away. Recently He presented us with a new
baby great-granddaughter; Bobby & Martha’s granddaughter, Bailey Erin.
He is in
control so all will be fine. God Bless you all!!!
In Christ,
Dale & Marge
Hubert
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I want to thank you for your prayers, cards, and visits
during my operation and recovery. The healing process is ongoing and I am
feeling better each day.
Ron Stinebring
July
Birthdays
July Birthdays
5 Rudy Taborn
7 Kay Weidner
Cory Wilson
9 Shirley Lovenguth
13 Rev. Mike Smith
15 Victor Christman
Judy Deloney
17 Patrick O’Connell
18 Joe Carter
28 Katie Carroll
Nametags
We want to remind everyone to wear their nametags. This is
very helpful for new people when they come to Grace. If you would like to order
a nametag, please fill out the form below. You can put this in the collection
plate or mail to the church office.
Name(s)
________________________________________________________________
______ Pin back ($3.00) ______ Clip back ($3.00)
______ Magnetic back ($4.00)
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