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Gary Ricketts, Managing Editor Gordy Wilson, Editor Forum Staff: Harriet Cline, Herschel Cline, Karen Knight, Paul Kunkel, Karilyn Newnam, Janice Roy Looking Ahead:· “Little Oy on the Prairie” Klezmer Group: toe-tapping “Jewish Jazz” November 7, 6 PM · The Music of Grace: Concert showcasing the talent of our church December 5, 6 PM
Getting to Know
Our Church Family…Doris and Jim Roush
—by Karen Knight Jim Roush gives his wife the credit for finding Grace. Their neighbor, Leroy Biehl, also stimulated their interest in Grace. Doris and daughter, Jann, first visited eventually followed by Jim. They joined in 1975. The Roush family includes Jann and her husband, Darren Meyer, and their two children. The Roush’s granddaughter, Jessie, is a graduate of MacMurray College. She is now working in St. Louis. Grandson, Brent, is a junior at Illinois State University. Jim grew up on a farm near Sycamore in DeKalb County. He majored in agricultural economics and received three degrees from the University of Illinois. His education was interrupted by time spent in the army where he served with the combat engineers in Korea. Jim is retired from the U of I where he taught, counseled students, researched, and carried out extension activities for 42 years. He has been involved in many activities at Grace, but one that is especially important to him is the Wednesday morning Men’s Breakfast Group. In addition to the weekly breakfast and discussion of how Christians should react to some current happening in the world, this group organizes the sweet corn project and annual pancake breakfast. This group is also responsible for the maintenance of the food pantry and for making food deliveries to needy families in the community. Doris grew up in rural Homer. As a new bride, she began to develop an interest in decorating when limited finances encouraged her to furnish their new home from the Salvation Army store. While working at the U of I, Doris became interested in antiques through two fellow workers. She retired from the university when Jann was born. About thirty years ago, she began handling estate sales but has now retired from that as well. Her expertise has been appreciated at church garage sale time. Along with antiquing, Doris enjoys refinishing furniture, decorating, and cooking. Doris is currently on the church council. Jim and Doris feel the people of Grace are like family. They like the friendliness and diversity of the congregation. Grace Hosts Southeast Urbana Meeting —by Gordy Wilson
Roger McClintock, coordinator of the Center, told us about various projects we could work on while we were there. He mentioned that the priorities at the time were filling flood buckets and making school desks for children in Haiti, so we jumped right in! We had taken school bags and supplies, sewn and purchased by the United Methodist Women, to donate to the Center. Mary Hackl and Norma Ripkey manned the sewing machines and began turning out even more: 24 in just three hours. Some of us sorted and filled 113 additional bags with supplies. Blair Hammond worked on desks, sanding and varnishing two of the large, four-person desks before the day was over.
Several of us began filling flood
buckets. It was a challenge getting all sixteen items into the five-gallon
buckets, but an even bigger one getting the lid on once it was full. We
discovered that sitting on it was the most effective method. A couple of weeks
after this trip, after Florida had suffered a second devastating hurricane, the
UMW started a church-wide drive to provide the contents for additional flood
buckets, and the congregation r Other projects that we participated in that day included sewing buttons onto jeans, cutting insulation for a new building on the grounds, and checking 23 health kits. Everyone agreed that it was a worthwhile and fulfilling day, and many have expressed interest in going again. We hope to have another trip in the future, and invite you to join us! Fall Festival, Saturday, Oct. 23, 8:30 am – 12 Features include: Coffee Shop – Patsy Hammond Tasty homemade rolls, coffee cakes, coffee Bakery Goods – Irene Millikan, Rhoda Willard Homemade pies, breads, rolls, cookies and other treats Plants – Virginia Sadler A variety of plants and starts of plants Jewelry – Jessica Hartke, Lisa Searing Second-time around jewelry at reasonable prices Harvest Table – Bobbie Ford, Shirley Jenkins, Norma Ripkey Jams, jellies, apple butter, caramel popcorn, homemade noodles Attic Treasures – Wanda Adams, Mary Hackl Gently used items looking for a new household Crafts – Karen Knight, Susan Ferguson, Karilyn Newnam An assortment of handmade items
If you have any questions or ideas, please contact Patsy Hammond, Karilyn Newnam, Joy Valentine, Joan Newcomb or any of the individuals listed above. If you can help with setting up for the Festival or can help on Saturday, Oct. 23, please let us know. Hope to see you there! Proceeds from the Festival go to missions. REFLECTIONS AND PRAYER FOR OCTOBER Gary Ricketts October is at our doorstep with its radiant beauty. God’s handiwork is there for us to behold and appreciate. Each season has its own special uniqueness and beauty. Like the seasons, we are unique creations: each different from the other. We are all special in God’s sight, each created with our own talents and abilities. God transforms the trees to bring out their radiant beauty. Are we willing to let him transform us? We too can be changed if we let God work his miracles in our hearts and lives. 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. PrayerDear Lord and Heavenly Father, we pray for your guidance and direction each day. Help us to be more appreciative of your handiwork, and more aware of the miracles you work in peoples’ lives. We need you, O Lord, even when we don’t realize it. Help us to be better servants. You, O Lord, have the answers to our questions and the solutions to our dilemmas. We lift up the joys and concerns of our families and our church. Through Jesus Christ we pray. Amen The following poem was found in Mildred Weidner’s papers by her family. It apparently meant a lot to her. It appeared in the 1979 Inspirational Booklet distributed by the Worship Committee of our church. It had been submitted by Ann Kief, a former member of our church, who now lives in Florida. If God Should Go On StrikeIt’s just a good thing God above Has never gone on strike Because He wasn’t treated fair Or things He didn’t like. If He had even once sat down And said, “That’s it, I’m through I’ve had enough of those on earth So this is what I’ll do.
I’ll give my orders to the sun. Cut off your heat supply. And to the moon – Give no more Light and run those oceans dry. Then, just to make it tough And put the pressure on, Turn off the air and oxygen ‘til every breath is gone.”
Do you know, He’d be justified If fairness were the game, For no one has been more abused Or treated with disdain.
And yet he carries on Supplying you and me With all the favors of His Grace And everything . . . . for free.
Men say they want a better deal And so on strike they go. But what a deal we’ve given God Whom everything we owe. We don’t care who we hurt or harm To gain the things we like. But what a mess we’d all be in If God should go on strike. Clarence C. Mills October DaysBy Herschel Cline
October days again are here With their golden harvest yield Of luscious apples on the tree And ripe corn in the field.
Grapes and pumpkins on the vines And hay laid in a bed. Across the landscape trees are turning From green to gold and red.
“Indian Summer” the seniors call it When it’s jacket-weather at night. While a blue haze rises from the fields, Wild geese are taking flight. Against the yellow autumn moon Coming up behind the hill; Soon the geese’s song is joined By the cry of the whip-poor-will.
There’s so much to please the eye and ear That our senses go almost numb; So much of life and growth are here We stand awe-struck and dumb.
It is harvest time; and we too can give. We can bless the lives of others; Be human cornucopias, Enriching our sisters and brothers.
So let us rejoice that God rewards labor, That seedtime and harvest abide, For if we plant and cultivate, His bounty will be supplied.
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Because
of our deep concern for the welfare and future of Southeast Urbana, Grace Church
hosted one of a series of meetings being held by the Southeast Urbana
Neighborhood Business Group. Mayor Tod Satterthwaite, Chief of Police Eddie
Adair, Public Works Director Bill Gray, Marketing Director Kathy Larson,
Community Development Director Libby Tyler, and Economic Director John Regetz
presented reports assessing the needs of our neighborhood and suggestions for
bringing about positive change. If you would like to participate in a survey
impacting the future of our neighborhood go to
