New Members Join Easter

Seven familiar faces joined Grace Church on Easter Sunday on Profession of Faith:  Sandy and Steve Ater, Roberta May, Dave Sawlaw, Wendy Huang, Rose Hsueh, and Fan Bai.

May 2 Special Charge Conference   

   Our District Superintendent, In-Sook Hwang, has called a special charge conference for 7 p.m. on May 2 (Wednesday) for the purpose of voting on whether Alison Smith should be recommended as a candidate for ordained ministry.  Alison has been interviewed by Grace's Pastor Parish Relations Committee along such lines as:  her gifts, graces, and call to this work, her education, her spiritual and financial needs as she enters the ministry, and her questions and concerns.  The committee will give their report and answer questions prior to this vote.

Pastor Mike and Alison at her graduation from Wesley Theological Seminary in 2010, standing outside the National Cathedral in Washington D.C.

New Air Conditioner and Furnace   

The trustees have installed a new air conditioning-furnace system in the parsonage.  After taking several bids, they went with Quality Heating and Air Conditioning.  The need for the change was urgent, as the old furnace had a hole in the heat exchange, making it dangerous for those inside the building.

The finance committee would have preferred to delay the bill until fall, when our two year roof fund rasing is completed.  But due to the urgency of the situation, they decided to borrow the money until we can organize another fund drive.

We put a new roof on the church in 2010.  The cost of that project was $40,000.  We asked the congregation to make special donations toward it--and we have received over $37,000 in less than two years.   Our loan for the new roof will be paid off this summer. 

In the fall, the church council will be approaching the congregation with a list of church and parsonage priorities which should be addressed next.  We will conduct another financial drive to meet these responsibilities, and the cost of the new furnace and air conditioner (almost $9000) will be included in this fund drive.   

In the meantime, any donations toward the work just completed will be appreciated.

If you want more details about the units which were installed, ask Walt Crackel or Duane Schwartz.

Church Softball Team Season Begins   

The church softball team has begun its summer season.  Our coach is Richard King.  You can play or come root for the team.  May games are as follows:

May 7th--9 p.m.--at Dodds Field 6

May 14th--6 p.m.--at Dexter Park

May 21--7 p.m.--at Dodds Field 1

No game on May 28.

Click Here to check out the Season schedule

Updating Our List Serve   

Update on Corn Planting

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. 

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.