SEPTEMBER 2020
AMAZING GRACE MAKING DISCIPLES OF JESUS CHRIST FOR THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE WORLD THROUGH
CHRISTIAN GROWTH, COMMUNITY OUTREACH & LIFE SKILL DEVELOPMENT
NEWSLETTER
Meet Dallin, Our New Choir Director Dallin Baldwin is currently a doctoral student studying choral conducting at the University of Notre Dame. Originally from Arizona, Dallin began playing the piano and singing in choir as a young boy. He studied organ performance and choral conducting at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. Dallin has performed organ recitals in various locations, including St. John’s Cathedral (Boise, ID), the Cathedral of the Madeleine (Salt Lake City, UT), the United States Air Force Academy (Colorado Springs, CO), and Brigham Young University (Provo, UT). Dallin has performed with the acclaimed Brigham Young University Singers on tours (Northern California and Nevada) and at the national convention of the American Choral Directors Association (Kansas City, MO, 2019). Before working at Grace United Methodist Church, Dallin worked as organist and choir director at St. Mary's Episcopal Church (Provo, UT). Dallin and his wife, Carlee, enjoy going to the theater, game nights, and cooking together. He is extremely excited to join the community at Grace and to praise God together through music.
Choir to Resume The Chancel Choir will begin meeting again every Thursday evening at 7:00 pm, starting on Thursday, September 10. While we know that things will be different due to the safety precautions we must take, we hope to still foster a sense of musical and spiritual growth through participation in the choir. All are welcome to attend. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Dallin Baldwin at dbaldwi2@nd.edu.
~Dallin Baldwin, Choir Director
We will not be practicing music as an entire choir. Dallin will be selecting specials and involving small groups from within the choir to perform the small group pieces. As he rotates between groups, the rest of us will be looking at what it means to live as a musician during this time. Dallin will also be looking at the possibility of leading handbells/chimes for whole group participation since that is something that can be done at a safe physical distance. Pastor Stacee has asked me to be in ministry with the choir, and I’d love to hear your thoughts at what that means.
~Pastor Kerry (kerryhclear@yahoo.com / 574-361-6011)
ASSOCIATE PASTOR: Pastor Kerry Clear
RETIRED RESIDENT PASTOR: Rev. Bill White
MINISTERIAL CANDIDATE: Heidi Clear
MUSIC DIRECTOR: Victoria Garrett
CHOIR DIRECTOR: Dallin Baldwin
WEDDING CORDINATOR: Chris Rowe DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION & PROGRAMMING: Melodie Ringer
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF CHILDREN’S MINISTRIES: Amy Hendrickson
CHURCH SECRETARY: Jennifer Robinett
MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY: Judy Clady
PRESCHOOL TEACHERS: Amy Hendrickson, Director Nancy Creech Melodie Ringer Alyssa Kukla Sandra Trovatore
NURSERY: Amy Seese Connie Harmon
BUSINESS ADMINISTRATOR: Bob Suter
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On some days, I am feeling this psalm right now. Tired.
Heart low. Eyes downcast. Overwhelmed. Too discouraged to place much hope in the future. What about you? What are you feeling?
I have lowered my gears like a car climbing a mountain in fourth, shifting down to third, and then to second, and finally to first. I expend just enough energy to cross this mountain - this mountain of our time, of this season. This season of transition. This season of a pandemic. This season of everything being new and nothing being new. This season of violence and eyes being opened. This season of restlessness and this season of waiting. What about you? What season is this for you?
O Lord, our great healer, keep anxiety from clogging the catalytic converter.
O Lord, our peacemaker, keep anger from burning out the engine.
O Lord, who is the great I AM, keep fear from misfiring across the spark plugs.
I try to make a plan for the next month, but it seems fruitless. I try to make a plan for the next week, but it will probably be cancelled.
So, I just try to make a plan for the next day and commit to just getting through the next breath. What about you? For what are you planning?
I pray for a quieted spirit. I pray for an imaginative spirit. I pray for a burning spirit. I pray for a determined spirit. I pray for the spirit to lead me into the lap of our mothering God so I can close my eyes for a spell and feel the holy heartbeat that quiets the chaos. What about you? For what do you pray?
Mothering God, even a weaned child needs a parent’s comfort. Even a reliable car needs a tune- up. Even a faithful disciple needs quiet. Let my rest be marvelous in your sight. Let my life be a light. Let my prayers come from the depth of my very soul.
From the safety of God our Mother, our quieted heart can notice great change and welcome hope. From the solace of God our Father, the stilled spirit can delight in beauty more marvelous than it can imagine.
Amen. Let it be so.
Yours in Christ, Rev. Stacee
O Lord, my heart is not lifted up, my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother. PSALM 131:1-2a (NRSV)
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(Moses and the burning bush.) THEME: “Exodus People cry out
against injustice.”
(The Passover) THEME: “Exodus People listen
to the Lord.”
13 SEPTEMBER Presentation of 3rd Grade Bibles, Mission Moment SCRIPTURE: Exodus 14:19-31
(Moses parting the sea.) THEME: “Exodus People walk on
dry land.”
THEME: “Exodus People take just enough.”
27 SEPTEMBER SCRIPTURE: Exodus 17:1-7 (God provides water.)
THEME: “Exodus People are thirsty.”
4 OCTOBER World Communion Sunday SCRIPTURE: Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9,
12-20. (The Ten Commandments)
September Worship Focus
Picnic with the Pastors Wednesdays at 6:30 pm - September 9, 16, 23, and 30
Pack your own picnic basket, grab your lawn chair or blanket, and join the pastors at the labyrinth for a time of fellowship and activity. The first week we will be welcoming the Clear Family Singers who will share some fun and some hopeful songs. Each of the following weeks will have other special focuses, like perhaps an old fashioned hymn sing or other special guest artist. In addition to fellowship, we can all become more acquainted with Pastor Stacee and family.
This is a weather permitted event and we do ask that a mask is ready to be worn anytime you even have the chance of being less than six feet from someone outside of your family. In this time of responsible cautiousness, let us not lose our connection but instead thrive in the times.
2 "My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; 4 and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing." JAMES 1:2-4
Grace UMC Worship Service Update: The staff and Worship Committee are conferring on the worship schedule and location of services. As of the publication of Amazing Grace, the worship service schedule is:
9:00am - Service on the Lawn (Rain location in the Sanctuary) 10:30am - Online Worship
This schedule is subject to change, so please watch for updated information.
“The time is coming - indeed it’s here now - when true
worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth.”
JOHN 4:23-24
The Altar Gets a New Look
Thanks to the hard work of several volunteers, the pulpit has been returned
to the altar after being absent for several years.
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CROP WALK FOR HUNGER
The Youth will be walking in the Crop Walk this year on
September 27. Here’s the link you need to join or support the
Grace team! https://www.crophungerwalk.
South-Bend.
3rd Grace Bible Presentation On Sunday, September 13 the 3rd graders will be receiving their Bibles! Congratulations to: Adriana Jones, Caleb Leonard, Leah Jellison, James Gillen, Lola Timmons and Blake Young.
Raggedy Ann Preschool Raggedy Ann is looking forward to beginning the 20-21 school year on September 8. Melodie Ringer and Amy Hendrickson will be returning to teach. Currently, 20 children are enrolled. Class size is expected to be between 8-10 kids. We still have some space available. Call 288-4789 for information or visit gracemethodist.org.
Exciting Things Happening With Our Children and Youth
W.O.W. to Resume in October W.O.W. (Worship on Wednesday) to be returning soon. Our Wednesday night basketball/neighborhood outreach ministry will be resuming in October in a modified manner. The exact details are still being hashed out, but we will not be serving a meal. Instead we will be serving bottled water (or other prepackaged beverage) and prepackaged individual food items. If you are at the store and see a sale on something, go ahead and pick it up and drop it off in the kitchen marked “W.O.W.” so we know that it is to be used on Wednesday evenings.
Our entry policy will be similar to what we have outlined for Raggedy Ann and involve masks, an at the door screening, and a Covid waiver signed by
parents. Our need for volunteers to be on sight Wednesday nights will be limited to a check in person (preferably one of our church nurses) and a person to distribute the appropriate amount of food supplies.
We will continue our tradition of sharing the love of Christ with the participants through our action of presence and in the study of the Bible and what it means for us today. Be on the look-out for more information soon.
W.O.W. DONATIONS
We are collecting bottled water, beverages and prepackaged
snacks in preparation for W.O.W. These items may be taken to the church kitchen
and labeled “WOW.”
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If you have never walked our labyrinth, late summer and early fall offer great opportunities to do that. Our labyrinth is a sacred space that is always open. Walking a labyrinth is a type of body prayer or walking meditation. It is not a maze or a puzzle to be solved but a somewhat meandering but purposeful path that can represent our life walk. You just follow the path to the center and then return by the same pathway. In the process of following the path, we are slowed down and helped to focus our minds and draw closer to God. The beauty of the labyrinth is in its simplicity. It becomes a profound and surprising way to experience God.
We will begin collecting items for the Rummage Sale on Monday, August 31. All items, with the exception of furniture, may be placed on the stage in the Great Hall.
We take clothing, household items, kitchenware, glassware, books, decorations, holiday decorations, linens, DVD's, CD's tools etc. Just about anything! Please make sure all items are clean.
If you want to help sort please feel free to come in any day the week of September 7 - 10 from
9:00 am - 4:00 pm. Any help will be greatly appreciated (all men and women are welcome and you don't have to belong to the UMW). Please wear a mask and gloves, which will be provided. We will do everything we can to insure protocol safety.
All proceeds go towards the UMW's Mission projects including our own Paper Pantry.
Need info or help call: Chris Rowe (274-5206) Holly Easterbrook (292-2526)
Memorial Bricks for Purchase
While you are walking the Labyrinth, you may also want to walk the Memorial Pathway
leading from the church to the labyrinth. It reveals a bit of Grace Church history and has become an amazing blessing.
May you walk in peace!
Twenty-one 4x8 Memorial bricks are now available for
purchase. The cost is $75 per engraved and installed brick.
Order forms are available from the church office or the
Welcome Center.
One Person’s Junk Is Another Person’s Treasure
RUMMAGE SALE
$3.00 bag sale Saturday
starting at 11:30 am
welcomed a baby boy on August 3. Jackson James
and Lexie are both doing great.
Our blood drive Sunday, August 9 was quite
successful. We had 22 people come through and
were able to collect 18 successful units. It was nice
to be back in the Great Hall.
Upcoming Events UMW RUMMAGE SALE
Friday, September 11 / 8:30 am-11:30 am Saturday, September 12 / 8:30 am-12:30 pm $3.00 bag sale Saturday starting at 11:30 am
CROP WALK - Sunday, September 27 / 2 pm The CROP WALK for Hunger raises money to support the global mission of transforming communities around the globe through just and sustainable responses to hunger, poverty, displacement and disaster. Twenty five percent of the funds raised support local hunger fighting efforts. To support Grace Church Walkers, visit https://www. crophungerwalk.org/southbendin/Team/View/134621/Grace-UMC- South-Bend.
Sympathy Our sympathy is extended to the Loutzenhiser family as they mourn the loss of Ellen.
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South Bend, Indiana PERMIT No. 109 3012 South Twyckenham Drive
South Bend, Indiana 46614 574.288.4789 www.gracemethodist.org
AMAZING GRACE NEWSLETTER
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