April 15, 2014

In This Issue

Like Chocolate?

Holy Week And Easter

York Connection

Blankets For Karmanos

One Great Hour of Sharing

Ronald Mc Donald House Cooks Needed

Thank You

In the Life of Our Congregation

Attendance

March 16    182
March 23    173
March 30    157
April 6         207

Concerns
Dorothy Hart; Dick Milford, Robb Albrecht, Kathy Levillier; David Roberts

Birth

Isabella K. Wallace, born to Shelly & Dan

Visitors
Randy Wiseman; Sam McKee; Reese Thomas; Diana Mente; Shelly, Dana and Isabella Wallace; Alison Drzinski; Ashida Milly; Mike Mullen; Myra McInerney

Deaths
William (Bill) McNutt, father of Carol Krohn; Marty Coakley; John Kozel, former sexton; Charlotte Stremsterfer, mother of John

Stephen Ministry

April 20
Acts 10:36

I'm sure you have heard about the Good News for the people of Israel that there is peace with God through Jesus, the Messiah, who is Lord of all creation.

April 27
Acts 2:28
You will give me back my life, and give me wonderful joy in your presence.

Stephen Ministry

Hours

March

11 hours, 45 minutes

GIPC is a Stephen Ministry congregation. Contact a pastor or Julie Gloor for more information about this ministry.

GIPC Connections

Our Website:
www.gipc.org

GIPC Church Calendar

Visit us on Facebook!

Follow Us on Twitter: GIPresbyChurch

Subscribe to our sermon podcast on iTunes: "Grosse Ile Presbyterian Church Sermons"

Check out what's happening nationally:

www.pcusa.org

Like Chocolate?

Join the Green Team's Spring Clean up on May 3rd, 9 am. to noon. Chocolate will be served to the workers!

Holy Week And Easter

"Easter isn't just a Sunday - it's a season. The season of Easter is intended to be a joyful time for celebrating the presence of the risen Christ in the church.
Of course, Easter really isn't just a season either. In the fullest sense, Easter is a new way of life - in which we are "dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 6:11), called to "walk in newness of life" (Rom. 6:4). Every year, for fifty days, the church celebrates and rehearses this new way of life in the Season of Easter - as we await its completion in the fullness of Christ's reign."

(Presbyterian Mission Agency, Worship: "Season of Easter")

Come together for Holy Week and Easter . . .

April 17th

Maundy Thursday Service with Holy Communion at 8:00 p.m.
April 18th

Good Friday Worship-1:00 p.m.
April 20th

Easter Sunday Morning Worship Services - 7:00 Sunrise Service; 8:15 and 10:30 Services.

Join your church family for Easter Sunday Breakfast between services. Serving between 8 and 10 am.: Egg casserole, sausage and French toast strips, fruit, rolls, and beverages. Cost: $4/person or $12/family.

York Connection

Grief Support Group: "Finding Hope"

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." Matthew 5:4

A new Grief Support Group will begin on April 29th at 1:00 pm. at the home of Sue Hurst.
There are many ways to grieve the loss of a loved one; some do so privately, others join a grief support group to share their grief with others who are also grieving.

This group, using the writings of Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D. from the Center for Loss will be mostly focused on those who are grieving the death of a family member; spouse, child, parent, etc. The goal of the group is to help move from grieving into hope and healing. Our resource books are "Understanding Your Grief: Ten Essential Touchstones for Finding Hope and Healing Your Heart" and "The Understanding Your Grief Journal".
We will meet weekly for ten weeks and move through the
Touchstones. We will celebrate the end of the group by acknowledging what we have learned about our growth. Per Dr. Wolfelt, growth means: encountering pain, change, a new inner balance with no end points, and exploring our assumptions about life.

Each session will be about 90 minutes long. For more information, please contact Susan Hurst, group leader
at 734-671-1530 or hursts@wowway.com

Book cost $25-scholarships available, see Jan Holmes.

York Tips

Safety Tips for Seniors Living Alone:
More and more seniors are choosing to live on their own. Living independently can be good for one's mental health, but steps must be taken to prevent accidents and ensure that help will reach you, when needed:
1. Avoid slippery floors: place non-slip floor mats at entries and in bathrooms and install safety bars in bath tubs, showers, and beside toilets to help prevent falls.
2. Remove tripping hazards: electrical cords, rugs that don't lie flat, and poor lighting are all common causes of falls within the home.
3. Use a medical alert system: these provide affordable, one-touch access to emergency personnel, should you need help.
4. Include neighbors on your contact list: If they know you and your habits, they are more likely to notice when something is awry. (Raise a window shade each morning to signal you are ok.)
5. Test smoke alarms regularly: change the batteries when you reset your clocks in the spring and fall.
6. Organize a daily check-in: ask someone to call you, daily. Medical alert systems also offer this service.
7. Avoid climbing: climbing is a common cause of falls. Keep the things you need within easy-reach.
8. Install a lock box on your door: these allow family members, friends, trusted neighbors and emergency personnel to access your home when you're unable to get to the door.
9. Keep lists of medications, allergies and personal information in your wallet or purse: an invaluable resource to emergency medical personnel, when they arrive.
10. Take your medical alert system with you, when you travel: notify your medical alert provider so they can update your location information.

(Lifestation Medical Alert Systems)

"LIFE" Notebooks

Insert #3 ("Final Arrangements") plus back insert are available at the Crossroads.

Sending Sunday ~

Blankets For Karmanos

On April 13th, Kathy Benton, Vicki DesJardins, Judy Dever, Julie Guarjardo, Jan Holmes, Debbie Krauss, Cyndy Nemon, Carole Poleski, Nancy Repp, Sang Im Richardson, Barbara Thayer, and Vicki Uday were recognized for their beautifully handcrafted donations to the Breast Center at Karmanos Cancer Hospital. Since January, this knitting group has been making blankets for patients undergoing chemotherapy. Patients will receive a blanket tied with a ribbon and accompanied by a note of encouragement.

"May these blankets be a sign of God's healing presence; may they warm those who are weary, surround those who suffer, and encircle those who are in pain. Amen."

One Great Hour of Sharing

Lent

The One Great Hour of Sharing, a special offering taken during Lent, supports the Presbyterian Mission Agency ministries. Your gift provides hope, resilience and faith through the Presbyterian Hunger Program, Self-Development of People and Presbyterian Disaster Assistance. Please give generously.
Special OGHS envelopes may be found in the Sanctuary pew racks and at the Crossroads.

Ronald McDonald House

We are looking for volunteers to cook dinner at the Ronald McDonald House on Friday, April 25 and Friday, May 23. Dinner will be served at 6:00 pm, so we will car pool and leave from the church parking lot at 4:00. Signup sheets are at the Crossroads. If you have any questions, please contact Kathy Benton at 675-3199.

Thank You

Dear ones at GIPC,

Thank you so much for the prayers, well wishes, cards, food, visits and flowers during my recent hospitalization and convalescence.
It means so much to be remembered by so many.

I hope to see you soon!

Mary Johnson

The Spire is a publication of the Grosse Ile Presbyterian Church, 7925 Horsemill Road, Grosse Ile, Michigan. The purpose of this newsletter is to share news and information about GIPC and our denomination.

Contributions are invited and encouraged. The Communications Commission reserves the right to accept or reject submissions and to edit to fit available space or for style and consistency.

Material is due six business days before the first or the fifteenth of the month. Emailed submissions should be sent to spire@gipc.org.

Please contact the church office or a member of the Communications Commission if you have any questions. Communications Commission: Sue Ashley, Marta Kramer, Ray Kramer, Carl Krohn, Nancy Morrison