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GraceNotes A Monthly Publication of the Congregational Activities of Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church in Newton, NC

Volume 219, Number 6 ___ _ ___ ___ _ June 2016

Celebrate Father's Day

June 19th

Honor your Heavenly Father

as well as your earthly father!

First Communion instruction will be offered on Wednesday,

June 1st, at 6:00 PM. This class is required for all who

wish to partake of the Lord's Table and receive the

elements.

Where ever you are this summer, remember to attend Worship.

God deserves our praise and worship every day.

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From the Pastor’s Pen…

Dear Brothers and Sisters at Grace, As many of you know, I have struggled for over a year with my eyesight as the result of being diabetic. For about the past 8 months, I have been plagued with trying to see clearly, and sometimes at all. It has been a frustrating and challenging time. When one cannot see, it makes life very depressing and almost not worth doing anything. Enjoyment is taken away from most things. Reading, which has been one of my favorite things in life since I was a young boy, is futile. I am reminded of the many in this world who are spiritually blind. There are people who never think of what Christ did for them on the cross, never pray before they go to sleep at night, never rely on God for anything. What a hopeless life. These are the people who find hope and meaning in the material things of life. No boundaries when it comes to the party life, meaningless relationships, whatever makes you happy kind of life. These are the spiritually blind. This week, I was fortunate enough to have my ophthalmologist, Dr. William Branner, take out my old worn out lens (cataract) in my right eye and replace it with a clear new lens. Man, the improvement is overwhelming!!! I would say, it is a miracle!! Jesus healed the blind man and he could see again. I know the feeling! But Jesus is interested more in our hearts being healed of blindness than our eyes being able to see again. He wants our hearts and souls to see him for who he really is. That is a condition of spiritual 20/20. And that is accomplished by giving over to him our lives, our time, our possessions, our all. I hope you will make a commitment to exercise your eyesight as we enter into the summer months. Be in worship, Give your all. Share your time and talents with Him and His people. Then you may see some things you've never seen before! Blessings! Pastor Gil Gilbert

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WORSHIP ASSISTANTS FOR JUNE Communion Assistants - Don & Nicky Jarrett Ushers - Ricky & Cindy Bivens, Tim Leatherman, Joe Whisnant Greeter - Altar Preparation - Lula Ingle, Martha Johnson Children's Church - Emilee Bumgardner, Sheila Drum, Helen Leatherman Nursery - Emilee Bumgardner, Sheila Drum, Helen Leatherman

FLOWER CHART FOR JUNE 6/05 - Betty Lynch 6/12 - Rebecca Speagle-Rogers 6/19 - Bobby Wright 6/26 - Carl Beam If you wish to give the flowers for a given Sunday, please list your name on the chart in the narthex. You are responsible for ordering the flowers from a florist of your choice; we do not have a standing order with any florist. The liturgical color

of the day is listed to assist you in selecting flowers appropriate for that Sunday. You should contact the Church Office so that the correct information is placed in the bulleting for that Sunday. Please notify the Church Office the Thursday prior to your selected Sunday. You can call the Church Office between 9 AM and Noon each weekday, leave a note on the desk, or send an email to let us know the occasion or memoriam for this wonderful gift of beatification of the worship.

ATTENDANCE AND GIVING TO OUR LORD’S WORK FOR APRIL/MAY 2016

04/24/16 05/01/16 05/08/16 05/15/16 05/22/16

SCS 34 34 40 39 41

Worship 71 83 106 76 93

General Offering 1,700.00 5,174.00 2,479.00 2,177.00 1,417.75

Learning Hour 332.00 16.00 124.00 223.00 140.00

Building Fund 90.00 215.09 13.00 175.00 20.00

First Sunday Lunch 0.00 0.00 175.00 0.00 0.00

Second Sunday Breakfast 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 33.00

Cemetery Fund 0.00 .64 51.68 0.00 13.20

Fellowship Hall Usage 0.00 50.00 50.00 0.00 0.00

Local Outreach - ECCCM Golf 0.00 80.00 75.00 0.00 0.00

Memorial Fund - D.Leatherman 0.00 0.00 0.00 95.00 145.00

General Fund Checking Account Balance as of 4/30/16 is $(30,111.05) (Brackets indicate a negative balance).

NOTE: The financial report will be in the newsletter each month and will be not be published in the weekly worship bulletin. Because the newsletter is distributed the last Sunday of each month, the attendance and giving figures for the last Sunday will be carried over to the next month’s newsletter.

THE FRED T. FOARD SENIORS will meet at Noon on Wednesday, June 1st, at Plateau Methodist.

Gabrielle Scronce will be the speaker. Gabrielle has a PHD in Nursing for the Aging. Everyone is invited to attend. They will also be taking a bus trip to the Billy Graham Library on June 15

th with

lunch at Cracker Barrel. Watch the bulletin for more details. (LH)

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MEN OF GRACE PRAYER BREAKFAST will be held on Saturday, June 11th, at 9:00 AM at the Blue

Moon.

FIRST COMMUNION INSTRUCTION will be offered on Wednesday, June 1st at 6:00 PM. This class

is required for all who wish to partake of the Lord's Table and receive the elements. Parents who feel that their child is ready to come to the Table are also expected to attend this instruction. Please indicate your desire at the bottom of your Worship Today Form. (PG)

CHRISTIAN SYMPATHY, love and prayers are extended by the People of God at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church to several families and loved ones in their hour of bereavement. May God comfort all who mourn. Norma Weber entered the Church Triumphant on Saturday, April 30

th. Norma was the

mother of Karen Gilbert. Rev. Mary Moser Cobb entered the Church Triumphant on Sunday, May 1

st. She was

married to Rev. Dr. John Moser Cobb. Donald Leatherman entered the Church Triumphant on Thursday, May 12

th. Donald was the

husband of Nell Leatherman.

WE SAY THANKS to our Choir members for another year of dedication for leading the congregation in song. Choir practice will resume in August. In the meantime it is hoped that our talented singers in the congregation will fill in for choir members when needed. (JH)

KATHY WILL BE OUT OF THE CHURCH OFFICE for vacation beginning Friday, June 3rd

and will return to the Office on Thursday, June 16

th. You can leave messages for her, but if you have an

urgent need please contact Pastor Gil at 704-236-5483. The Sunday Bulletin for June 12th will be

printed on June 2nd

so if you have anything for that bulletin, please see that the Church Office receives it by June 1

st. (KH)

AGAPE DAY CAMP FOR ALL YOUTH is being offered through the Agape/Kure Beach Ministry and St. Paul Lutheran Church, Newton. The camp is open to all youth in 1

st through 8

th grades. It will be

held Monday, July 19th through Friday, July 22

nd from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM on the Mission Campus of

St. Paul which is located at 4595 Startown Road, Newton. Registrations must be submitted by June 16

th and the cost is $130.00 per child. Registration forms are available in the Church Office. (JJ)

NALC NEWS FOR MAY is available in the narthex. The article from Bishop Bradosky is about his trip to Slovakia. "Holy God, Holy Lives" is the theme for the 2016 NALC Convocation. You will also find articles regarding the North American Lutheran Seminary, Multi-National Mission and Leadership Conference, Maintaining Unity, and other informative articles. Take and read. (KH)

NEWS FOR THE WOMEN OF THE NALC for April & May is now available. Several copies of the newsletter are on the bulletin board across from the Pastor's Office. The Annual Gathering will have a theme of "Holy Families in Today's World". This issue also includes a lovely Mother's Day prayer. Take a copy, read it, and return it to the bulletin board for others to read. (KH)

FROM SAFE HARBOR RESCUE MISSION: You guys have always been so supportive of our ministry! We thank you so much for the food, etc. that was donated to us this past week. Praying blessings down upon you. God bless you.

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ARE YOU A CARROT, EGG OR COFFEE BEAN? A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life, and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it, and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved a new one arose. Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water. In the first pot, she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs and the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil without saying a word. In about twenty minutes, she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, "Tell me what do you see?" "Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied. She brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they got soft. She then asked her to take the egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg. Finally, she asked her to smell and sip the coffee. The daughter smiled, as she smelled and tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, "What's the point, mother?" Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity- boiling water-but each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior. But, after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water they had changed the water. "Which are you?" she asked her daughter. "When trials and adversity knock on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?" Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity, do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength? Am I the egg that starts with a passive heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside, am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and a hardened heart? Or, am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you become better and change the situation around you. When the hours are the darkest and trials are their greatest do you elevate to another level?

HELP WANTED: LAWN MAINTENANCE PERSON Over the past years, Don and Nicky Jarrett have done a masterful job of keeping the lawns mowed and the church property and cemetery neat and presentable for Sunday mornings. At the April Board meeting, the Board regretfully received their resignation from this duty and need to give attention to other areas of their lives. The Board commends Don and Nicky for the wonderful job they have done and Don has agreed to remain faithful to the job until the hiring of a new person to continue this much needed task. If there is anyone in the Grace congregation who would like to apply for this position (lawn equipment is provided) and might need a some extra income, please see Don/Nicky Jarrett or Tim Eckard. If there is no hire from within the congregation, the Board will move to hire a lawn maintenance company to take care of the landscaping and mowing needs of the church which means more costs to the congregation.

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JUSTIN WHALEN has completed his Confirmation studies and affirmed his Baptism on Pentecost Sunday, May 15, 2016, making a public profession of the faith into which he was baptized. We rejoice in Justin's desire to profess his faith and take on adult responsibilities in sharing the Lord's mission here at Grace and beyond.

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THE FLOWER MINISTRY FOR TRINITY RIDGE WAS A COMPLETE SUCCESS! We had 14 'ANGELS' who participated in the assembly and delivery of the flowers. There are so many more people that took part in this ministry by praying, printing the scripture cards, contributing the card caddies and vases. We gave bud vases with a peony and a scripture card to 94 residents at Trinity Ridge and 2 large arrangements with 25 flowers in each to be used in the main room of the memory care area. Thanks to all who participated! Keep saving those bud vases for future projects. (IS)

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A FEW MORE VOLUNTEERS for children's church/nursery leadership on Sunday mornings would be most welcomed. If you didn't complete the Time and Talent Form at the end of last year, feel free to use the Worship Today form and add your willingness to participate in all the many duties and activities around the church. (JH)

DONATIONS FOR ECCCM should be placed in the plastic tub in the basement which has the yellow label, "ECCCM". Be sure you place your donations in the intended organization's receptacle. ECCCM needs your continuous help to keep the Food Pantry and Homeless Shelter supplied. They are asking for items for children (toys, blankets, and clothing), food, toiletry items (shampoo, tooth paste, tooth brushes, combs, brushes, etc.) and grocery bags. Any items brought to the church for this ministry will be delivered to ECCCM. Be reminded that they can no longer accept used egg cartons. (JB, KH)

REQUEST FROM CHURCH OFFICE: Because the Church Office is often used by other people, Kathy does not always know if things left in the office are items she needs to deal with. Please leave a note on items left for her use or information. If there is no note, Kathy will assume it was left behind by mistake and simply place the items on the table in the hallway for the person that left it. (KH)

THE MOTHER'S DAY FLOWERS were much appreciated. Thank you to Ricky Bivens, Tricia Panek and Shelley Scronce for heading up and carrying out that project. (JH)

HAVE YOU SEEN an antique auto harp around the building? If so, please contact Joy. We were hoping to have someone play it at the October Hymn Sing in the Union Church.

OCTOBER HYMN SING is coming. Start thinking about your favorite hymns. This time of year we always ask for special requests, and will use many of those you like at the Hymn Sing event, as well as in other services. List your favorites on the back of the Worship Today Form by title or hymnal with page number. They do not have to be found in one of our 3 hymnals. (JH)

TO KEEP UP WITH THE LATEST NEWS around the Church there are several online resources. If you do not have access to the internet maybe a family member or friend could show you some of the resources. The following links are very informative. North American Lutheran Church - NALC http://thenalc.org Carolinas Mission District http://carolinasnalc.org Women of the NALC - WNALC http://thenalc.org/congregationally-focused-womans-ministry Samaritan's Purse www.samaritanspurse.org

THOSE SERVING AS NURSERY ATTENDANTS AND CHILDREN'S CHURCH LEADERS are asked to record those attending both of these events each Sunday morning. There is a clipboard with an attendance sheet attached. Please list first and last names if at all possible. At the end of worship the sheet can be placed in the Church Office mailbox or on the desk in the Church Office. Volunteers are greatly needed to serve in these areas. Please notify the Church Office if you would like to help. (JH)

THANK YOU to all who donated large floral vases. They are greatly appreciated. (JH)

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WORSHIP TODAY FORMS are a valuable tool for the Church Office. Attendance is recorded each

week so we ask that you complete the form for all family members present, including children. You only need to use one form for each family. The address information only needs completed if there is a change or correction that the Church Office needs to be aware of. We encourage first time worshippers to complete the entire form. The form is also a record of your communion which is kept in the Church Records. There is also a place for prayer requests. And the entire back of the form can be used for other appropriate notes for the Pastor or Church Office. (KH)

CONGRATULATIONS to all graduates but especially to two of our own: Madison Speagle and Evan Collins. Madison is graduating from Fred T. Foard High School on June 11

th with highest honors.

She is the daughter of Jeff Speagle and Rebecca Speagle-Rogers and the granddaughter of Alan and Stormy Shull. After graduation she will be attending East Carolina University. Evan is also graduating from Fred T. Foard High School and is the son of Randy & Elizabeth Frye. May God bless them as they move forward with their lives, and may everything they do bring glory to Him.

OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD UPDATE (from Franklin Graham)

We praise God that over 11 million shoebox gifts were collected around the world last year. This would not have been possible without your church's partnership. Each of these shoebox gifts is an opportunity to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with children, families, and communities. In more than 100 countries, local churches are following up with shoebox recipients through The Greatest Journey discipleship program. These Bible lessons help children grow in their faith and spur them on to share the Good News with their relatives and friends. Your church's support encourages national leaders and inspires local churches overseas to keep reaching their communities with the Gospel. (KH)

SIX TINY STORIES "WITH GREAT MEANINGS" Words to live and love by for your lifetime. It is a beautiful list of sayings that will make your day.

Once all villagers decided to pray for rain, on the day of prayer all the people gathered, but only one boy came with an umbrella. That's FAITH!

When you throw a baby in the air, she laughs because she knows you will catch her. That's TRUST!

Every night we go to bed, without any assurance of being alive the next morning but still we set the alarms to wake up. That's HOPE!

We plan big things for tomorrow in spite of zero knowledge of the future. That's CONFIDENCE!

We see the world suffering, but still we get married and have children. That's LOVE! On an old man's shirt was written a sentence 'I am not 90 years old ... I am sweet 16 with 74

years experience. That's ATTITUDE! Have a good week and live your life like the six tiny stories !

CONGRATULATIONS to Herb and Libby Travis and Cindy Bivens on their completion of their first Via de Cristo weekend #42. Congratulate them and ask them about their experience. If you would like to know more about Via de Cristo or how to attend a weekend contact Pastor Gil & Karen Gilbert, Sherry Biggerstaff, Ricky & Cindy Bivens, Sheila Drum, Don & Nicky Jarrett, Mike Pisko, David & Iris Sigmon, or Herb & Libby Travis. Come Holy Spirit!

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MESSAGE FROM A BROKEN TYPEWRITER (Even though it is difficult, please read the entire article)

Evxn though my typxwritxr is an old modxl, it works quitx wxll xxcxpt for onx of the kxys. I havx many timxs wishxd that it workxd pxrfxctly. It is trux that thxrx arx forty-onx kxys that function wxll xnough, but just onx kxy not working makxs thx diffxrxncx. Somxtimxs it sxxms to mx that our church is somxthing likx my typxwritxr -- not all thx kxy pxoplx arx working propxrly. As onx of thxm, you may say to yoursxlf, "Wxll, I am only onx pxrson, I don't makx or brxak thx church." But it doxs makx a big diffxrxncx, bxcasx a church, to bx xffxctivx, nxxds thx activx participation of xvxry pxrson. So, thx nxxt timx your xfforts arx not nxxdxd vxry much, rxmxmbxr my typxwritxr and say to yoursxlf, "I am a kxy pxrson in thx congrxgation and I am nxxdxd vxry much." This is what happxns to thx wholx church, and multiply this by many timxs -- thx whole thing just doxs not makx sxnsx! (So, don't be a broken key - be a useful one.)

MISSIONARY UPDATE Pastor Didi Panzo and his wife, Serafina, are serving through the NALC in the Christian Community Development Network. They are currently in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Pastor Panzo writes the following update: On March 13, 2016 we had our first organizational meeting with some key leaders in town. Serafina and I explained why we were sent as missionaries to the DRC and also explained to them the crucial work that is involved in helping families regain their moral, cultures and spiritual values, as we can connect all our concerns to God. We described in short what we did in Ecuador and the results that were obtained. The concerns are well known to those who attended the meeting but expressed their ignorance in matters and we encouraged the audience not to neglect the program but on the contrary to serve all as God’s voices to the voiceless. Our next meeting will be on April 17 at 3:00 PM as we will be planning the first activist’s training that will happen around the month of June. The need of saving and strengthening families is great but requires lots of prayers. As the time of election is approaching, lots of political tensions are facing the population of the DRC and we don’t know what will happen by the end of the year. People are gathered in group arguing with each other and projecting what is uncertain for the future of the country. Living life is very expensive but the salary for workers is low. The younger generation (from 10 to 20 years old) is engaged in vandalism, robbery and assassination. Prostitution of teenagers is considered as normal. Drunkenness and domestic violence are frequent. Orphans are in need of help and a huge number of them spend their lives on the streets. Five of them knocked on my door one morning in need of food, and we were able to provide as we could. The country seems in the dark and it’s in need of Jesus’ light.

Prayer Requests: Pray for the abandoned children, pray for the DRC's economy, pray with us for God’s provision, pray for women in domestic violence, pray for our safety . For more information or to provide direct support to the Panzo Family - please visit the NALC's Website: Panzo Family. (KH)

CLEAN-UP DAY had few but mighty helpers. Thanks to Randall Childers and Don and Nicky Jarrett for their help. (JH)

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NEW VERSION OF FOOTPRINTS Imagine you and the Lord Jesus are walking down the road together. For much of the way, the Lord's footprints go along steadily, consistently, rarely varying the pace. But your footprints are a disorganized stream of zigzags, starts, stops, turnarounds, circles, departures and returns. For much of the way, it seems to go like this, but gradually your footprints come more in line with the Lord's, soon paralleling His consistently. You and Jesus are walking as true friends! This seems perfect, but then an interesting thing happens: Your footprints, that once etched the sand next to Jesus', are now walking precisely in His steps. Inside His larger footprints are your smaller ones, you and Jesus are becoming one. This goes on for many miles, but gradually you notice another change. The footprints inside the large footprints seem to grow larger. Eventually they disappear altogether. There is only one set of footprints: they have become one. This goes on for a long time, but suddenly the second set of footprints are back. This time it seems even worse! Zigzags all over the place. Stops. Starts. Deep gashes in the sand. A veritable mess of prints. You are amazed and shocked. Your dream ends. Now you pray: "Lord, I understand the first scene with zigzags and fits. I was a new Christian; I was just learning. But you walked on through the storm and helped me learn to walk with you." "That is correct." " ... and when the smaller footprints were inside of Yours, I was actually learning to walk in Your steps; followed you very closely." "Very good. You have understood everything so far." "... when the smaller footprints grew and filled in Yours, I suppose that I was becoming like you in every way." "Precisely." "So, Lord, was there a regression or something? The footprints separated, and this time it was worse than at first." There is a pause as the Lord answers with a smile in his voice. "You don't know? That was when we danced." "To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under Heaven. A time to weep, a time to laugh; A time to mourn, and a time to dance." Ecclesiastes 3:1,4 -- Author Unknown

ATTENTION THRIVENT MEMBERS! You can help provide funds for events held at the church, rather than using money from offerings. Any Thrivent member can now apply at Thrivent.com for a Thrivent Action Team along with other volunteer helpers to do a helping project for others or the church. Upon acceptance, they will receive a $250 Visa gift card to use as seed money, tee shirts for up to 25 volunteers and a Thrivent Live Generously banner. These funds can be used for fellowship events, worship events, educational events, and service projects. If you have a Thrivent policy of any kind, please look into using this resource to help with events at Grace. (KH)

VBS IS COMING - ARE YOU READY??

It is never too early to plan for Vacation Bible School. We have set the date for Sunday, July 31

st through Thursday,

August 4th. We will be learning about "David: Hero of God".

Come and see what happens to a young boy! The evenings will begin at 5:30 with a meal. Come one, come all. classes for age 0 - 99. No one is ever without a class. Plan now to attend (and help with) this exciting event. Please contact Nancy Leonard if you can help in any way. (NL)

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Grace Notes

Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church N.A.L.C.

4536 Hickory Lincolnton Highway

Newton, NC 28658

Dated Material - Please Deliver Promptly