VBS for this year:
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God_Works_a_Football_Miracle | Acolytes | November_Birthdays | November_Anniversaries United_Methodist_Women | Thank_You | CHORALE | Little Oy Getting to Know Our Church Family… Nita Christopher -By Karen Knight
Nita was born and raised in New Delhi, India. She has lived with her family in the United Arab Emirates where her father is currently employed with an oil company. Her younger sister is currently a student in North Carolina. Nita came to the United States four years ago as a graduate student at the University of Illinois-Chicago. She is currently employed as an architect with BLDD Architects in Champaign. Being used to a warm climate, Nita said it was challenging getting used to the seasons in the Midwest. She enjoys outdoor activities particularly running and badminton. Nita likes various types of music and just started piano. She has been singing since she was a child. Nita also likes to dance and sketch in charcoal.
This summer, Nita became engaged to James Kumar. Her fiancé received his master’s degree from the University of Illinois and started his medical residency this summer. Having always lived in highly populated areas, she had to adjust to this agriculture-oriented area. On November 24, Nita and James will be married in Madras, India. Nita said that Christian weddings in India are similar to those in the U.S.; however, she will wear a sari. In India, the receptions are very large and colorful. About 1,200 guests including family friends and neighbors, old and new, are expected to help celebrate the couple’s new life together. Gary Ricketts, Managing Editor Gordy Wilson, Editor Forum Staff: Harriet Cline, Herschel Cline, Karen Knight, Paul Kunkel, Karilyn Newnam, Janice Roy Looking Ahead:
· The Music of Grace: Concert showcasing the talent of our church --December 5, 6 PM · Sons and Daughters: Local Contemporary Christian Group with Andy Burnett--January 9, 6 PM This year we are trying a new way to share the blessing and bounty of Thanksgiving with community members in need. Rather than a “production line” assembly of foods for delivery, we’ll be taking a more personalized approach.
The Invitation Please consider sponsoring a family for their holiday meal. Here’s how it would work: 1. Grace Church members will sign up to help a single family. You may do so singly or ask to be paired up with another volunteer. You will be like Jesus’ disciples-- sent out in a personal and caring way. 2. empty tomb will give us names, addresses, and contact numbers of households who would benefit from and be willing to participate in this family to family outreach. 3. Mission organizers at Grace will make the volunteer teams and assign community partners. We’ll also provide guidelines for contacting people and for the meal menu. 4. The Grace Church participant will contact the partner family to ask about foods and delivery times, then will shop for the meal ingredients and deliver them. 5. Each Grace Church participant will have a chance to evaluate this way of doing share-a-meal.
Cost to Participants Approximately $25-$35 for the meal (depending on size of receiving family and how smart a shopper you are); time and fuel to deliver the meal; courage to try something “outside your comfort zone.”
Benefits Hopefully more people can participate because the times are flexible and will fit into personal schedules. God may surprise us with blessings we don’t even expect–that’s why we’ll evaluate afterward.
Please let us know of your interest by using the tear-off form below. You may mail it to the church , drop it off at the church office, or drop it in the collection plate. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name_____________________________________ Phone____________________________
Gifts to offer: ___cash; ___car; ___courage; ___curiosity (Check all that apply)
Size of family I/we can sponsor: ___small; ___medium; ___large
EITHER: ____I/our family would like to participate singly OR ____Please pair me/us with another volunteer
Deadline for signing up is November 14th.
REFLECTIONS AND PRAYER FOR
NOVEMBER Gary Ricketts November is a transition month for many. For some, it provides a finish to the harvest season. For some, it simply marks the passing of Halloween and the coming of Christmas. However, there is a significant holiday in the month of November and that is “Thanksgiving”. This holiday often gets lost in the shuffle, but should not. It should have a significant meaning in our lives. For it is a time when we give thanks for the bountiful harvest, the many blessings that have been bestowed upon us, and the guidance God provides for us. It is also a time for families to get together, pray together, fellowship together, and eat together. It is a time for both physical and spiritual nourishment. Who will ever forget the great Thanksgiving feasts that we have been privileged to be a part of? In fact, the true meaning of Thanksgiving should be experienced every month of the year, not just in November. This year, don’t let Thanksgiving get lost on your calendar. Give it the attention that it truly deserves. Prayer has a powerful impact on both the one 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.
PrayerDear Lord and Heavenly Father, we truly thank you for the many blessings that you have bestowed upon us. We pray for a thankful heart, not just today, but throughout the year. Help us to never forget that you are in control, and we are to be your humble servants. We need your guidance and direction in our lives, and so we pray for an open heart and open mind. Help us, Lord, to have spiritual eyes to see what you see, and spiritual ears to hear what you hear. Help us to be willing to reach out to those in need. We lift up the joys and concerns of our families and our church. Through Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.
Jim Fortune was head football coach at Green Meadow High School. This was a new consolidated school that had opened four years earlier. It had an excellent reputation both academically and athletically. In his twenty years of coaching, this was his best football team. The team was 11-0 and was to play for the state championship in just a few days. He had an outstanding junior quarterback, Jeff Snow, to whom college coaches were giving plenty of attention. Jeff was easy to coach and a very gifted athlete. He was also a very strong Christian. Coach Fortune was also a strong Christian and had been doing a lot of praying lately. There was a problem brewing that the coach wasn’t quite sure how to handle. So far his prayers had not been answered. Even though the team was undefeated, some problems were beginning to pop up that could ultimately destroy the team. The coach sensed that the five senior offensive linemen were somewhat jealous of Jeff. While they respected Jeff’s athletic ability, they were jealous of his faith and spiritual strength. When the day for the state championship arrived, the whole community turned out to support the team. However, the coach’s main concern was team unity and the senior linemen supporting Jeff. Shortly before the game, the five senior offensive linemen decided not to block for Jeff, and then see what would happen to his spiritual strength. The lack of team unity and support was evident from the first offensive series. The team hadn’t looked that bad all year. Jeff was sacked six times in the first half and had to scramble for his life on most plays. At halftime Green Meadow High School was losing 21-0. The players expected to get the toughest lecture that they had ever received. They knew that the coach was upset and greatly disappointed. Upon entering the locker room the coach simply said, “Jealousy has destroyed your teamwork. You were a great team, but now you are a losing team. You have ten minutes to decide whether or not you are going to play like a team, and give Jeff the support he deserves. Otherwise, I will have no alternative but to go to our opponents’ locker room and forfeit the game. When you have an answer write it out and slip it under the door”. With that, the coaches left and waited in the hallway, praying continuously. When nine minutes were up, a note was slipped under the door. It simply read, “We are a team, and we will win”. What happened the second half is considered one of the greatest turnarounds in football playoff history. Green Meadow High completely dominated the second half and won 35-21. No one came close to sacking Jeff in the second half, and he completed 18 of 23 passes. Coach Fortune knew that God had worked a football miracle. He didn’t ask about what happened in the locker room, but he had a good idea. He knew his thoughts were right when that next Sunday morning, five senior linemen sat beside Jeff in church. Coach Fortune thanked God for working a football miracle that touched young men’s lives, both on and off the playing field. -Gary Ricketts Acolytes-By Karilyn Newnam In the formal worship service at Grace, an acolyte is one of the first and last participants . The acolyte carries the lighted candle lighter from the rear of the nave to the chancel area where they light the candles on the altar. Near the end of the service, an acolyte lights the candle lighter from the candles on the altar, extinguishes the flames from the candles, and carries the lighted candle lighter to the rear of the nave. The following persons are currently involved in the acolyte program at Grace: Adam Burns, Ritchie Barnett, Joe Carter, Alex Ferguson, Ian Ferguson, Kenneth Johnston, Benjamin King, Randy McCarthy, Miranda McCarthy, Alec Morgan, Joey Smith, Kolton Williford, and Konnor Williford. This is an important part of the worship service and provides an opportunity for participating in the worship service. If this sounds like something you would be interested in doing, please contact Sharon King at 328-6491. 2 Adam Burns 5 Wanda Adams 6 Carolyn Dickey 15 Emily Wiedenmann 20 Patsy Hammond Genelle Ingram 22 Jeannie Barnett 24 Benjamin King 29 Mary Ann Hudson Madison Routh 30 Lucille Exton
19 Dale and Marsha Johnston
22 Judy and Jim Wright Thursday, Nov. 18 at 7 pm. Norma Ripkey will present the program about PrimeTimers and her recent mission trip to France. Everyone is welcome! Thursday, Dec. 2 at 6:30 pm – Christmas Salad Supper Thank you to everyone who helped with the Fall Festival. $1,700 was raised for mission projects. Dear Grace Friends: Thank you for all acts of kindness, in various ways, during the illness and death of my son-in-law, Robert (Bob) Hart. You helped me during a very difficult time. My faith is refreshed by your love and faithfulness. Love in Christ, Margaret Hudson
Join the CHORALE as they begin their 22nd season with a “Celebration of Life” concert to be given on Sunday, November 14th at 4:00 p.m. at Faith United Methodist Church in Champaign. Throughout this season the 60-voice choir, under the direction of Julie Beyler, will sing the music of peace. This concert honors the lives of loved ones we have lost and those who still share our lives an will feature words and music of renowned peacemakers. Sponsored by the Chorale, Heath and Vaughn Funeral Home, and Faith United Methodist Church, the concert is free and open to the public. November, 2004 Activity Calendar
Grace United Methodist Church
2004 South Philo Road Urbana, IL 61802
Phone: 217-328-1414 Fax: 217-328-9259 Email: urbanagrace@urbanagrace.org
J. Michael Smith, Directing Pastor Gordon Wilson, Director of Music and Communication Callie Knight, Assistant Director of Music Linda Entwistle, Administrative Assistant to the pastor Janice Roy, Office Manager Beth Morgan, Nursery Director Bill Valentine, Pastoral Visitor Bob deJong, Caretaker |
One
of the opportunities for participating in the worship service at Grace is to
become an acolyte. Open to children of third through eighth grades, acolytes are
a part of the formal worship service held the first and third Sunday of each
month. The word “acolyte” means ‘companion’ or helper to the pastor.
