Upcoming Events!

Ash Wednesday Worship Service will be on February 13, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary. 

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the season of Lent. Lent is a time when we as Christians prepare for Easter by observing a period of fasting, repentance, moderation and spiritual discipline.

Ash Wednesday emphasizes two themes: our sinfulness before God and our human mortality. This service focuses on both themes, helping us to realize that both have been triumphed through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

During this Ash Wednesday service, Pastor Mick will lightly rub the sign of the cross with ashes onto the foreheads of worshipers who wish to have this done. Not everyone chooses to have the ashes imposed.  The use of ashes as a sign of mortality and repentance has a long history in Jewish and Christian worship. Historically, ashes signified purification and sorrow for sins. 

It is traditional to save the palm branches from the previous Palm Sunday service to burn to produce ashes for this service. The ash cross on the forehead is an outward sign of our sorrow and repentance for sins.

—Adapted from The United Methodist Book of Worship

 

Parents Night Out!   On Thursday, February 14th, the Joplin Mission Team will provide childcare for children 1 – 12 years old from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in exchange for a donation to support the mission Trip to Joplin this June.  Parents can drop their children off for an evening of games, crafts, and fun (dinner and a snack provided) so they can go out and celebrate Valentine’s Day.  Emergency Medical Forms and contact information must be completed at the time of drop off.   Come support the Joplin Mission Team and get a night out at the same time.  Reservations are required by February 11th to allow us to plan adequately for the meal and games.  Please call the church office at 740-335-0460 to reserve a spot for your child!

Sunday Night Community Meals

We invite the entire community to join us for a hot meal each Sunday Night at 5:30 p.m. in Fellowship Hall.  Following the meal, Pastor Mick, our praise band and music director will lead us all in worship through song and open discussion.  We look forward to seeing you for this fun and free event each Sunday. 

A Night of Hope and Healing

 

Grace Church would like to bring to your attention “An Evening of Hope and Healing” for the victims and community of Newtown, CT.   This event will be hosted by Max Lucado and begins on Tuesday, January 15 at 6:00 p.m. live from Bridgeport, Connecticut.

The event will include Christian artists Chris Tomlin, Mandisa, Casting Crowns, Tobymac, Steve Curtis Chapman and his wife MaryBeth, Bldg 429, and Laura Story. Author and Pastor Max Lucado will share messages of encouragement, along with Louie Giglio.

This free event is designed to bring comfort to the community through music, prayer, and uplifting messages. 10,000 tickets were given to the victims’ families and citizens of the local area.

This event will begin at 6:00 pm ET and is available through livestreaming online, one time only, accessible through a link you can find on www.maxlucado.com and then click on the green heart (like the one above) to get to the link. 

It is sure to be a moving and powerful experience.

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.