January at Grace Church

Join us every Sunday at 5:30 p.m. for a free Community Meal followed by a worship experience led by our Praise Band and facilitated by our Pastor Mick Whistler.  It will be a time of worship including interactive video, live praise music, and lively discussion.  All are welcome!

Advent Season Begins

Come celebrate the Advent Season with Grace Church.  Advent essentially means “coming” in Latin, and that is what we are doing during the weeks before Christmas.  We are anticipating the “coming” of Jesus Christ as a baby in the manger, the gift given to the world over 2000 years ago.  And that is worth celebrating!  Advent celebrations begin Sunday, December 2nd with worship here at Grace at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.  At 5:30 p.m. we will serve a free hot meal, open to everyone in the community, and following that will be a video/discussion group based on the book “Christmas Gift’s That Won’t Break” by James W. Moore.  Everyone is welcome to join this gathering. 

 

 

 

Sunday, December 9th continues the celebration, with worship in the morning and Personal Prayer Time (PPT) at 4:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary.  Come enjoy the peace and quiet of the Sanctuary and spend a few moments in quiet personal prayer.  The free meal begins at 5:30 p.m. and the Advent discussion continues following the meal.

 

Sunday December 16th brings morning worship and then A Night In Bethlehem!  From 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Grace Church is transformed into 1st Century Bethlehem.  This free event invites the entire community to come and enjoy a warm meal and wander through the “marketplace” of Bethlehem, visiting the Jewelry Shop to make a necklace, the Carpenter’s Shop to create a keepsake, to sample baked goods from the Bakery, and even create your own pottery.  A very special baby arrives in the manger and we get a chance to welcome Him.  It is always a fun event, and we hope to see you there!  “Christmas Gifts That Won’t Break” discussion has been moved to Monday, December 17th at 6:00 p.m., so be sure to come back for that!

 

Sunday December 23rd we are in morning worship, and the Youth Group is selling cookie and candy trays to raise funds to support their programs and missions.  Sunday Night meal begins at 5:30 p.m. followed by the advent DVD/discussion.

 

Christmas Eve is Monday, December 24th!  We begin our celebration of the night that changed the world with a 5:00 p.m. Christmas worship led by the children and youth of Grace Church. 

 

At 10:30 p.m. a musical prelude begins in the Sanctuary and at 11:00 p.m. the Candlelight Celebration Service begins. 

 

 

 

Sunday, December 30th there will only be one worship service, at 11:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary.

November Events at Grace Church

Sunday, November 11th there will only be one service, a blended worship experience, at 11:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary.  During that service, we will be honoring our veterans, receiving new members, and presenting our 2013 estimates of tithes and offerings.  Following that service, there will be a carry-in lunch in Fellowship Hall.  At 4:00 p.m. we will have PPT (Personal Prayer Time) in the Sanctuary and that is followed by our Sunday Night Meal at 5:30 p.m.  Youth Group is at their regular schedule of 4:00 p.m. for Jr. High and 7:00 p.m. for Sr. High.

 

 

Sunday November 18th we return to our regular worship schedule, 9:00 a.m. Traditional Worship in the Sanctuary and 11:00 a.m. Contemporary Worship in Fellowship Hall.  Our 5:30 p.m. meal will be followed by the Community Thanksgiving Service at 6:00 p.m. at Crossroads Christian Church.  Youth Group schedule is to be determined – see Becky and Chad for more information.

 

 

 

Sunday, November 25th is regular worship schedule.  At 3:00 p.m. we are gathering to decorate

the church in celebration of Jesus’ birth!  Meal and Study to follow.  REVIVE! Worship will be at 7:00 p.m.

October Events

 

Halloween Party!  On Wednesday, October 24, 2012 Grace church will be sponsoring a free meal and Halloween party for families in our community.  Beginning at 5:30 p.m. we will offer a meal in Fellowship Hall for the entire family.  From 5:30 to 7:00 p.m., for kids from preschool through grade 5, we will offer crafts, games, pumpkin painting, a chance to make a mask, and much more! Come join in the fun!

 

 

 

Grace Church offers low-cost Karate Classes for ages 4 and up each Thursday Night.  6:00 p.m. is Tiger Tikes for ages 4 – 8, 6:30 p.m. is for everyone ages 8 and up.  At 8:00 p.m. Advanced Belt classes are offered.  For more information, call the church office at 335-0460

 

New Member Classes will be offered each Sunday during October at 3:30 p.m. in Pastor Mick’s office.  This class is for anyone interested in joining the membership at Grace Church – long term worshippers, spouses of members, and new visitors. Learn why we worship God as we do, what we mean by Bring~Grow~Go, the history of the United Methodist denomination and of Grace Church. 

 

 

Sunday Night meals have resumed!   at 5:30 p.m. each Sunday a light meal is offered to the community in Fellowship Hall.  Following the meal, is a group discussion centering around the book “Beginnings:  An Introduction to the Christian Faith”  (Books are provided or you can just join the discussion without the book)

 

 

Personal Prayer Time will be Sunday, October 14th at 4:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary.  Come in and spend a few minutes with God in the peace and quiet of the Sanctuary. Perhaps use this time to pray for the future of our nation through the upcoming political election, or for the children of the world as the 14^th is Children’s Sabbath Sunday. The National Observance of Children's Sabbaths is a way for faith communities to celebrate children as sacred gifts of the Divine, and provides the opportunity for us to renew and live out our moral responsibility to care, protect and advocate for all children.

September Happenings

Sunday School starts a new session on Sunday, September 2nd at 10:00 a.m. throughout the church.  All adults classes are open to anyone, and encourage new participants.   Children’s classes are separated by age. 

 

 

 

Aldersgate (Adult Class) – meets in the Chapel/Prayer Room

Inquiring Homebuilders (Adult Class) – meets in room 109

Lifeseekers (Adult Class) – meets in room 107

Young Adult Class – meets in room 108

Grace Wanderers (Adult Class) – meets in old nursery in upper hall near the elevator

Preschool Class – meets in room 103A

Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade Class meets in room 103C

3rd, 4th and 5th grade Class meets in room 105B

6th, 7th, and 8th grade Class meets in the Youth Café, room 102

9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grade Class meets in the Youth Lounge, room 101A

Nursery Care is available for birth to age 3 in room 104B

Rock The Block Party

Sunday, August 12th from 4 – 6 p.m. Grace Church is gonna Rock The Block with our neighbors!  Join us for a great time!

Live Band, free meal, free back-to-school haircuts, carnival style games and prizes, Pop-A-Shot contests, scooter and pedal tractor races, visit with the Washington Fire Department and see the new ladder truck, Identi-Kid kits, and much, much more!

See you Sunday at 4:00 p.m.!

Welcome!

Traditional Worship Sunday Mornings at 9:00 a.m.

Contemporary Worship Sunday Mornings at 11:00 a.m.

For more detailed information, see Worship Services/What to Expect 

 

 

 

The July Mission Focus is for The Well At Sunnyside

Book Bags

Back-to-School clothes

Prayers for the kids

www.wellsunnyside.org

We appreciate the donations of socks that have come in so far this month. If you still have some to drop off, we will be glad to have them. When parents start to plan for their kiddos to start back to school, socks will likely be on their shopping lists, along with book bags and school clothes, which is what we are collecting for our July Challenge. Please drop off any donations of book bags or new or gently used school clothing for children of all ages during shopping hours on Tue. and Thurs. from 9 to 11 a.m. or Monday evenings during sorting hours (5:30 to 7:30 p.m.) We also hope that you will be praying for all God’s children as they enjoy their summer break and prepare to start back to school in August.

Looking forward to next month: In August, we will be asking for donations of shampoo and conditioner.

*Notice about summer donations: Due to our lack of storage at The Well, we are asking that for the summer months you only donate seasonal (summer) items when you drop things off. Meanwhile, you may place “out of season” (winter) clothing in the Salvation Army bins in our parking lot.

Also, as we mentioned previously:

Please do not drop off donations when we are closed. Sadly, many donations cannot be used as they are ruined due to exposure to inclement weather.

Thanks, as always, for your support as we work to help those in need in our community.

Welcome Pastor Mick

Grace Church is pleased to announce the arrival of our new pastor, Mick Whistler, his wife Renee, and daughter Emma.  Pastor Mick’s first Sunday here will be July, 8th.  Traditional Service in the Sanctuary at 9:00 a.m. and Contemporary Service in Fellowship Hall at 11:00 a.m.

 

 

On Sunday, July 8th at 5:00 p.m. Grace Church will officially welcome Pastor Mick Whistler, his wife Renee, and daughter Emma with an old fashioned Ice Cream Social. The meal will begin at 5:00 p.m., provided by the Caring for The Church Family Team, and Homemade Ice Cream will be served by Phil and Marge Free, with a delicious topping bar as well. Entertainment will be provided by Stacey Wilt and her band. The menu will be hot dogs, sloppy Joes, coney dogs, baked beans, and chips. A free will offering will be accepted.

Please come out and enjoy the evening and help Pastor Mick and his family feel welcome at Grace Church.

I scream, you scream, we all scream for Ice Cream!

June Happenings at Grace Church

Operation Overboard begins on Monday June 18th through Friday, June 22nd 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Each night at 5:00 p.m. we will begin with a free community meal in Fellowship Hall.  Opening Assembly for VBS will be at 6:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary.  After a fun night of snacks, crafts, Bible Stories, and games, children can be picked up at 8:30 p.m. from the Sanctuary.

Invite your friends and neighbors!  This is going to be a fun week where children from preschool through 5th grade learn how to “Go Deep With God”!

 

 

 

Sunday, June10th, join us for an All-Church picnic at 12:30 p.m. in Fellowship Hall (due to the heat expected Sunday).  Bring a dish to share, picnic style food, and the Caring for the Church Team will provide chicken, hot dogs, baked beans, chips, and drinks.  Remember those yard games and board games to make the day fun for everyone!

 

Also on June 10th we will host Personal Prayer Time in the Sanctuary at 4:00 p.m.  Come and spend a little time in the cool and quiet with God. 

Sunday June 3 Schedule of Events

On Sunday, June 3rd Grace Church will only have one worship service, at 11:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary. 

 

This is a special service of love and commitment to honor Grace’s long term members, with a focus on those who have been members for more than 40 years.   Sunday School is at the regular schedule time of 10:00 a.m.

 

 

 

Following this 11:00 a.m. worship service will be a carry-in lunch in Fellowship Hall to honor Pastor Ron’s four years of service at Grace Church. Ron has been appointed to Scioto Ridge United Methodist Church in Hilliard effective July 1, 2012 and this will be his last Sunday preaching here at Grace.  There will be a brief, but entertaining, recognition ceremony following lunch. 

Everyone is welcome to attend!

May Highlights

 

Grace Weekday Ministries for Children will celebrate graduation of the Enrichment for Threes Classes and also hold the Preschool Graduation Ceremony on Thursday, May 24th.  Congratulations Graduates!

 

 

Wintersong Village Worship will be on Sunday, May 27th at 10:00 a.m.

 

Be The Church Sunday, May 6, 2012

There will be only one worship service this Sunday, May 6th at 9:00 a.m. in Fellowship Hall

This Sunday we put our faith into action and go out into the community to Be The Church

We will gather at 8:30 a.m. for a light breakfast in Fellowship Hall, worship together at 9:00 a.m. and then go out into the community to be the hands and feet of Christ.

This year, the ministry areas will be:

Be The Church @ the station – Teams will be going out to an area gas station and praying for the people encountered there

Be The Church @ the residence – Teams will be going out to area long term care facilities and engaging the residents with songs, worship, games, etc..

Be The Church @ Generation Genesis – The children will be learning about what it means to serve and why we serve others, and putting health kits together for the United Methodist Committee on Relief

Be The Church @ the block – Teams will be going out into the neighborhood surrounding Grace Church, praying over the houses, and praying with people encountered.

Be The Church @ the park – Teams will be going out to clean the bike path and to paint outbuildings at a local park

Then at 5:00 p.m. everyone is welcome to gather back in Fellowship Hall for dinner and to share the stories of the people encountered and the activities accomplished. 

Come dressed appropriately for your ministry Team focus and we look forward to seeing everyone on Sunday!

 

National Day of Prayer is Thursday, May 3, 2012.  Listed below is the schedule of events in Fayette County:

6:45 a.m. Teen Breakfast - Heritage Hall

11:00 a.m. Senior Citizen Lunch - Commission on Aging

Noon Service at Court House Gazebo (rain location, Grace United Methodist Church 301. East Market St, WCH)

7:00 p.m. Worship at Harrison Street Church of God

7:00 p.m. Worship at New Holland Church of Christ

7:00 p.m. Children’s Service at Rose Avenue Community Center

 

Women of Grace Banquet to be held Friday, May 11th at 6:00 p.m. in Fellowship Hall.  Tickets are $10.00 each and $5.00 for children.  Reservations are due to the office at 740-335-0460 by Friday, May 4th.  Hope to see you there for some great food, friendship, and entertainment!

April at Grace Church

The Joplin Mission Team will be meeting at noon following the Contemporary Service in Fellowship Hall on Sunday, April 15th.  If you are interested in going to Joplin to rebuild and restore, contact Becky Barnard or call the church office. 

 

Court House Manor Worship will be Sunday, April 15th at 2:30 p.m. at court House Manor.  Come out and enjoy a worship service with the residents. 

 

Personal Prayer Time will be Sunday, April 15th at 4:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary. 

Friday Morning Bible Study begins April 20th at 9:00 a.m. in the Mark House.  It’s not too late to join!  Call the church office at 335-0460 to sign up and have a book ordered.  The study will be “James:  Mercy Triumphs”

 

Year of Invitation Retreat will be from 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon on Saturday, April 28th in Fellowship Hall.  Come share your experiences with Unbinding Your Heart!

 

There will be only one worship service on Sunday, April 29th.  We will have Sunday School at 10:00 a.m., and a blended worship service at 11:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary.  Following that, there will be a congregational carry-in lunch in Fellowship Hall.  Hope to see you there!

Easter Worship Schedule

He is Risen!

Join us for Easter Worship

7:30 a.m. SonRise Service in Sanctuary, with breakfast to follow in Fellowship Hall

9:00 a.m. Traditional Service in Sanctuary

10:00 a.m. Sunday School

11:00 a.m. Contemporary Worship in Fellowship Hall

Remember to bring fresh cut flowers to place on the living cross, which will be at the corner of North and Market Streets

Easter Egg Hunt

Saturday, April 7, 2012 at 10:00 a.m.

We will begin registration at 9:30 a.m. in Fellowship Hall.

Crafts, games, and prizes will begin as children arrive, with the egg hunt starting promptly at 10:15 a.m. for ages 2-12.

Please invite your friends and neighbors and coworkers to come enjoy the fun and hear the Easter story of our Risen Lord! This event is open to the community, and it is always more fun to have more children to hunt for eggs!

Any youth interested in hiding eggs should come to a Pizza-Stash party at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, April 6^th (we will eat the pizza and stash the eggs). Egg stuffers are welcome to come early on Friday at 3:00 p.m.

All are welcome to participate, contact Nicole Henderson-Johns to sign up to help!

30 Hour Famine

What Is The Famine? The Famine is students around the world loving God and fighting hunger. This is a chance for our youth to join other groups of students all over the world in learning the truth about hunger, poverty, and injustice — then overcome it all with love.

Worldwide, 925 million people are hungry. Every day, as many as 11,000 children under age 5 die due to hunger-related causes. That’s one kid every 8 seconds.

The Famine gives our youth a chance to do something about it — to rise up and serve the hungry. It is our youth, going hungry — so others don’t have to. Every year, hundreds of thousands of students do the Famine. They go without food for 30 hours. They learn what it takes to overcome hunger. And they raise funds to help feed hungry children and families around the world. They refuse to be told they can’t make a difference. Every $30 raised by our group can help feed and care for a child for a month. And because the Famine is powered by World Vision, you’re not just feeding kids for today — you’re helping them and their families overcome poverty for a lifetime.

The Youth of Grace Church will be starting their 30 Hour Famine on Friday, February 24 and concluding with a Break The Fast Meal at The Well at Sunnyside on Saturday, February 25th at 6:30 p.m.

Won’t you consider sponsoring one of our youth with a $30 donation? If we can get 12 people to sponsor each youth with a $30 donation, we can feed over 20 children in the Horn of Africa (Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, and Tanzania) for a year! The Horn is experiencing the first true famine of the 21st century, and the youth of this world are the ones who have the power to effect this tragedy. Please mark your donation “Famine” and mail it into the church at 301 E. Market Street, Washington Court House, OH 43160 or place it in the Usher’s plate. 

Learn more at http://www.30hourfamine.org