Grace owes its existence to First United Methodist in downtown Urbana. Over the years, we have shared various activities. We have even exchanged members. About ten years ago, one of their members found her way to Grace. Betty McClurg had moved and Grace was closer to her new residence and more convenient.

Although not a native, Betty’s history in Urbana has interesting roots. The family of her late husband, Ted, owned the McClurg Hotel, which was located where the American Legion building is now. Betty says that under the carpet in the entrance, the original mosaic floor with "McClurg" is still visible.

Betty was born in Independence, Iowa. She became an Army nurse during World War II.

Romance bloomed when she and one of her patients, Ted McClurg, met. They were married in the chapel on the base. Betty says the wedding guests wore slippers and bathrobes or nurses uniforms.

After the war, the McClurgs moved to Urbana. Their house was where Lincoln Square now is. The family eventually included a son, Ernie, and daughter, Beth. Now, Betty also has two grandchildren.

For many years, Betty worked for Dr. Atkins where Grace’s Nancy Welch was also employed. In 1983 after retiring, she joined a quilting group at First United Methodist in Champaign. She still quilts with that group. In 1986, she helped organize an evening quilting group at Grace. (See Quilters article.)

Betty has traveled extensively in both the U.S. and Europe. She is an avid reader and also likes to work crossword puzzles. At home, she usually has a quilting project going. Wall hangings are a favorite way to try new patterns and creative ideas. Betty contributes many of these wall hangings to the UMW’s annual bazaar.

If you find yourself free on Tuesday evenings, drop by the quilters’ room at the church. Betty will enrich your life with both her craft and her conversation.

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A recent Wednesday evening Wellspring service was devoted to how we pray. Prayer was defined as communication with God.

It was discovered that the different means of prayer were pretty much equal to the number of people present.

One intriguing strategy for walkers is to pray for the occupants of each house you pass.

If you’re not a walker, you can pray when driving. However, the traditional attitude of prayer is not recommended for drivers!

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Callie and the Spirit Ringers will be heard at several area churches.

Please let Callie and the kids know how proud we are of them!

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Rummy                                                               Go Fish

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That time of year has come again,

When we rake, fertilize, and mow.

It is often a hectic time of year,

Because we try to catch up on tasks long overdue.

Weeds appear, bare spots must be re-seeded,

And the mower must be put in good running order.

But it is also a time of warmth and beauty.

Flowers bloom, birds build nests and trees leaf out.

We can’t afford to neglect

The lawn around our home.

Neither can we afford to neglect

What can be called our spiritual lawn

Our spiritual lawn needs much nurturing also,

Including fertilizing, raking and mowing.

This is done by bible study, church services and caring,

Along with daily prayer for guidance and direction.

Weeds often creep into our spiritual lawn,

Planted there by the devil himself.

Such weeds as despair, feeling that no one cares,

Feeling out of touch with God

and feeling over burdened.

We need to weed our spiritual lawn

Through our faith, Bible study and prayer.

We also need to mow our spiritual lawn

By letting God lead us and guide us.

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1. Like the name "Christian", the label of ridicule for the first "Methodists" was coined because of their: [a] inclination to set up committees, [b] scientific study of the scriptures, [c] organized lives of piety , [d)] plans to set up a new church structure.

2. John Wesley, known as the founder of Methodism, once set out to be: [a] a missionary to the American Indians, [b] a chaplain in the British Navy, [c] a book and music publisher in London, [d] a student of Calvin’s teaching in Switzerland.

3. John Wesley was a recognized ordained member of the clergy with [a] the Scottish Presbyterians, [b] the Salvation Army, [c] the Church of England, [d] the Moravians.

4. These Wesleys, Samuel, Charles and John, were related as: [a] father and two sons, [b] grandfather son and grandson, [c] three brothers, [d] not related at all.

5. Because of sparse population and great distances in the American pioneer west, early Methodist clergy were often identified as: [a] circuit riders, [b] members of the Pony Express, [c] itinerant wanderers, [d] world travelers.

6. Peter Cartwright, a famous pioneer Methodist Preacher once visited Urbana and chided the congregation celebrating a new church building for their "extravagant expenditure" for: [a] a chandelier in the entry foyer, [b] the elaborate choir robes, [c] the paved parking lot, [d] the central heating facility.

7. "Campmeeting time" for early Methodists refers to their: [a] weekend family tenting in the woods, [b] extended evangelistic periods held in tabernacles or tents with families providing their own tents or shelters for overnight, [c] the chance meeting of Civil War military men in their encampments, [d] summer Sunday School Picnics

8. An authentic Wesley hymn is: [a] Amazing Grace, [b] A Mighty Fortress, [c] Ave Maria, [d] Love Divine, All Loves Excelling.

9. The word "united" was attached to the name "Methodist" [a] with a merger with the Evangelical United Brethren, [b] to clarify the Methodist organization in the United States of America, [c] to support the slogan "United we stand," [d] to support the Union against the Confederacy.

10. The world-wide concern of United Methodists at the end of the 20th century was exemplified by: [a] the establishment of the African Methodist University, [b] funding from UNESCO, [c] lobbying for access to China and Southeast Asia, [d] transferring all conference investments to Habitat for Humanity.

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May is just about here, and with it comes beautiful flowers, fast growing lawns and productive gardens. Fields spring alive with their new plants, and farmers pray for ideal growing weather and a bountiful harvest come fall. The golf courses will be crowded, families will be planning vacations and school will soon be out. Baseball games will abound, fishing trips will be marked on the calendar and camping will begin full force.

Wait a minute. Where does God fit into all of this hurry, scurry and beauty? Have we forgot about God for the summer just like closing a book? For it is God that created beautiful lawn and flowers, productive gardens, fields to plant and bountiful harvests. May provides us an opportunity to see and enjoy God’s creations all around us. However, God is the Master Planner, the Architect of the Universe. It is he who can bring new life everywhere we look including in ourselves. The key is that we must appreciate this season, realize the power of God and pray for his guidance in our life each day.

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.

Dear Lord and Heavenly Father, as we prepare for another hectic summer schedule, help us to always keep you in the center of our activities. We lift up in prayer our service men and women, our president and the other leaders of our country and the world. Wrap your loving and protective arms around our military forces and the civilian men, women and children in war torn nations.

Oh Lord, you are our source of strength, confidence, and wisdom. Your bible is the guideline for our living. Your beauty abounds all around us. You are the author of new life and new growth. Give us spiritual eyes to see and spiritual ears to hear. We lift up the joys and concerns of our church family and our own personal prayers. Through Jesus Christ we pray. Amen

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(In Bulletin 4-13-03)

(In Bulletin 4-20-03)

In Bulletin 4-13-03)

On April 13 our church council took an historic vote in the life of Grace United Methodist Church. The vote was one of unanimous support for a new staff position, Director of Developing Ministries, but was also much more. With this vote, we stepped out in faith to pursue a vision of reinvigorating ourselves in our commitment to God, our community and this church. We have reminded ourselves of the original mission of this church to serve the children of east Urbana. I can not tell you how excited I am for our future, but let’s not kid ourselves. Anything worth doing involves a tremendous amount of effort and investment. I encourage us all to keep our church and its leadership in our prayers. Pray too that God provides a person for this new position with energy, wisdom, enthusiasm, and a deep desire to serve the Lord. Once the position is filled, offer the person your support not just with prayer, but with your ideas, your time and your energy. When we begin to get to know our neighbors and seed their input and partnership we will quickly begin to see the benefits and blessings that will be ours from God.

At the April 13th meeting I read from the 1st chapter of the book of Joshua. The children of Israel were encamped on the east bank of the Jordan river and were about to realize the conquest of the promised land in fulfillment of the covenant God had made with them. We too are about to move into our own promised land where we can do our part in establishing the Kingdom of God in east Urbana. I’ll close with a few words of encouragement the Lord spoke to Joshua:

"...Now proceed to cross the Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving them, to the Israelites. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, as I prom ised Moses...I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:2,3,&9 {NRSV}

Thank you,

Bob de Jong

Spiritual Formation

Go to Grace Church Calendar for May 2003

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Higher ground quartet

Featured southern gospel group

Immediately after the

music of Grace

Annual spring concert

Sunday, may 4 at  6:30 PM

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