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If you would like to receive Pastor Mike's Sunday Letter by email, or if you would like to receive mailings for Grace International or Grace Years, please click here:
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Sunday Worship Times
+9:00 a.m. (traditional)
+10:30 a.m(explore/international)
Sunday School
+10:30 a.m.
Office Hours
Monday-Friday: 9-noon, 1-3
Phone
217-328-1414
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Holy Week and Easter 2012
Our GRAND EASTER SUNDAY worship will take place at 9 a.m., April 8, in our sanctuary. This familiar worship will include the singing of "Christ the Lord is Risen Today," the reading of the resurrection story from John 20, and an array of choral and instrumental music. The sanctuary will be adorned with our handmade Easter banners, the Christ candle, and Easter flowers.
Our EASTER EVE (April 7) worship will begin at 7 p.m. outdoors at the campfire. We will light the Christ candle and process behind it into the sanctuary. A series of Bible stories will be shared, immersing us in the narrative of God's salvation. A solemn time and space for renewing our baptismal vows and recommitting ourselves to the Christian faith will be provided. A joyful sprinkling of baptismal waters on the congregation will remind us of the joy of that faith. And the evening will culminate with communion and a banquet in the fellowship hall.
The church will be open on GOOD FRIDAY (April 6) from 1-3 p.m. for you to come and pray and meditate. There will be music and reading materials available. You may come at any time during this period and stay as long as you are able.
Our traditional MAUNDY THURSDAY (April 5) worship will be held at 7 p.m. to remember how Jesus served his disciples the last supper and how he washed their feet. The word "Maundy" comes from a Latin word meaning "command." We remember on this night that we have been commanded to love one another.
Our PALM/PASSION Sunday worship (April 1) will be held at 9 a.m. Everyone will receive a palm branch as a gift to take home. We will also be hearing the story of the arrest, crucifixion, and death of Jesus.
There will be only one combined worship service Palm/Passion Sunday. The International 10:30 group will meet with the 9 a.m. congregation. Likewise, we will also all be meeting as one congregation on Easter Day--at the 9 a.m. time. |
United Methodist Special Offerings
Members of The United Methodist Church join together in several special offerings during the year to support worthy causes and ministries. In March, we have been contributing to the ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING offering, to support the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR.) Click Here to get more information on UMCOR. Grace Church has given $648 to this cause, as of noon on March 23.
Our next offering will be on Native American Ministries Sunday, April 22. This offering will help start new churches which can fruitfully share the gospel among Native Americans. It will also help pay for scholarships for Native Americans at United Methodist seminaries. You can read more about these ministries if you Click Here.
Offering envelopes will be available in the pews on April 22 for our Native American special offering.
Talk to Barb Wood, our lay member to annual conference, for more information. |
Grace Grieves Three Member Deaths in March
Grace Church lost three valued members during the past month, all in their 90s.
 | | Eunice Mayood, mother of Mary Ann Hudson, passed away on February 25. She became a member of Grace in 1976. |
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Marvene Armstrong, mother of Kay Weidner, passed away on March 4. She and her husband, George, started attending Grace about 6 years ago. |
 | | Byron (Bud) Willard, husband of Rhoda, passed away on March 13. He became a member of Grace Church in 1974. |
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News Bits
Plans for Vacation Bible School are moving ahead. We will be working with the members of Quest Church this summer to provide Bible School at our location. See Julie Smith or Karen Knight for more information.
Becky Withers is the new coordinator for our communion stewards. She is in need of a few more volunteers who would be willing to prepare communion for worship service 2 to 4 times per year (depending upon the number of volunteers). Please let her know if you would be willing to help out.
We are also in need of people to prepare food for funeral meals. We sometimes feed 60 or more, so many hands are needed to make lighter work of it. Please contact the office if you would like to help us minister to grieving families.
The softball team will play in the C league this year. Richard King is the manager/coordinator. See him if you would like to play--or contact the church office.
The furnace at the parsonage needs to be replaced--and the trustees have approved the bid from Quality Heating and Air Conditioning to do the work. A new unit will be installed at the end of March. This is not a cost we anticipated, so contributions toward this need will be welcomed. More information will be forthcoming from the finance committee.
Richard King, treasurer, reports that our income to date (March 22) is $45,240 and our expenses to date (March 22) are $45,024. In addition to these general funds, we have also received (and disbursed) $1,350 to the Gorans, our missionaries in the Ukraine, $142 for Imagine No Malaria, $648 for One Great Hour of Sharing, $915 for empty tomb, and $590 for paying off the roof replacement. |
Grace International Programs in Full Swing
Our programs with and for our international neighbors continue with energy and enthusiasm. The anchor program is our 10:30 worship service, attended by 10-20 each week. That service involves music, prayers, Bible lessons, sermons, and discussion groups (in Chinese and English.)
Our English language classes, taught by members of Grace Church, are offered on Sunday afternoons, Wednesday evenings, and Friday evenings. In addition to the English class on Friday evenings, Pastor Mike teaches a Bible study, currently working through the Book of Exodus. Brenda Husler is the Dean of the English language program.
The group also has enjoyed a number of fellowship dinners, conversation evenings at the parsonage, and trips to visit places of interest in the United States. The most recent trip, over spring break, was to Nashville, Tennessee.
Enjoy the pictures below.
 | | Our most faithful English student this year has been Yongsong Cai (on right) who attended almost 80 different classes with us. He left this past week to return to his native China, but not before Brenda organized a going away party for him. He is pictured here with Thierry Kigwezya from the Congo and Pastor Mike. |
 | | A group of 16 folks from Grace Church pose for a photo at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel atrium. They also visited Broadway street at night, the Country Music Museum and Hall of Fame, the State capitol, the Tennessee State museum, and two 'soul food' restaurants. |
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Getting Ready for 2012 Corn
A tradition at Grace Church is the growing and selling of sweet corn. Proceeds from the sale of the corn (6 acres worth) go to missions.
We appreciate everyone, from within the church and outside the church, who helps with this project. On the morning of March 23, Teresa Payne (from Villa Grove--and the Newman United Methodist Church) and Charles Deckard (from Philo) were working the field.
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Bible Reading Project Continues
Members of Grace Church are reading through the Bible 'in one year.' If you haven't started your program yet, we're eager for you to join us.
There are three elements which go into a successful 'read through the Bible plan.' First is commitment. Second is a Bible which is readable for you. And third is a plan.
You supply the commitment. The church can help with the other two. If you would like to sample several versions of the Bible (to see which is most readable for you) check out this website: http://studylight.org/
If you are not a web-type person, check with the church office, Pastor Mike has a variety of biblical versions he will be happy to let you browse--so you can make a selection.
If you are looking for a plan, check out this website: CLICK HERE You can start on any day--and this plan will take you through the Bible in one year's time. Again, if you are not a web type person, check with Linda at the church office and she can make you a paper copy of this plan. |
April Anniversaries
Brenda and Bill Carter 9 |
April Birthdays
April Birthdays
Brenda Husler 4
Doris Silver 13
Roberta May 15
Matt Peters 15
Emma Searing 19
David James 24
Brenda Carter 27
Jan Jones 27
Bob Hackl 30 |
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Hospitalized
Ruth Newman was in Carle Hospital a couple times this past month. She is now temporarily at Champaign County Nursing Home.
Care Centers
Martha Vorhees (mother of Marcia Burns)
Betty Shaw (sister of Rhoda Willard)
Suzanne Clabaugh |
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Those in the Military to keep in prayer:
Tony Burgstrom, son of Pam Lukemire (stateside)
Chris Harward, son in law of Robin Styan (Texas)
Josh Stone, husband of Emily (Knight) Stone (stateside)
Floyd and Virginia Bailey's grandson Zac (stateside)
David Anderson, Matt Peters' uncle (stateside)
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College Students to keep in prayer:
Courtney Adams (U of I) and Carly Adams (Parkland)- granddaughters of Wanda Adams
Aimee Black (MacMurray College), Stacy Black (EIU), Matthew Carley (Walsh State), and Sarah Carley (Purdue)- great-grandchildren of the late June Black
Adam Burns (UIUC) and Julia Burns Petrella (grad school-UIUC)- children of Marcia and Scott Burns
Jeff Carter (Southern IL)- son of Brenda and Bill Carter
Konnor Williford (Parkland), Quenton Garrett (Parkland), and Kolton Williford (Olivet Nazarene)-grandchildren of Carol and Carl Erb
Alec Gillespie (SIU) and Austin Millis (DACC)- grandsons of Bob and Mary Hackl
Emily Gladson (Ball State, Indiana)- granddaughter of Bill and Marilyn Gladson
Rachel Jannusch (EIU)- granddaughter of Betty Clark
Benjamin King (UIUC)- son of Sharon and Richard King, grandson of Mary Thompson
Scarlette Lee (Parkland)-daughter of Mike and Jie Smith
Stephanie Millikan (grad school, UI-Chicago)- granddaughter of Irene Millikan
Rebekah Nortrup (grad student), Abigail Nortrup, and Sarah Nortrup (all at Purdue)-granddaughters of Shirley Nortrup
Sean Preston (Drexel University, Philadelphia)- grandson of Alpharetta Preston
Sara Rivier (grad school- UIUC)- daughter of David Rivier
Nicole Schafroth (ISU)- granddaughter of Dean and Lois Schafroth
Mandy Wood (Parkland)- daughter of Barb Wood |
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