April 17, 2022 Newsletter

Mid-week services to begin.

Vicar Dave O’Brien will begin to hold mid-week services starting on 4/20/22 at 7:00 PM in the chapel. If you have a schedule conflict that doesn’t allow you to attend Church on Sunday, or if you just want to come and commune with us, all are welcome!

Congregational Meeting 10:45 Sunday April 24, 2022

Just a reminder that we will have a special congregational meeting between services on Sunday April 24, 2022 to vote on accepting Pastor Brenda as our new Pastor. Please plan to attend. Voting to call a pastor is only permitted by members in attendance at the Congregational Meeting per the terms of our Current  Constitution. Therefore mail-in and other proxy voting cannot  be accepted.

Behind the scenes at Grace ….by Gretchen

1. We have a first sighting of Spring! The Lawn Crew is working on last year’s leaves and a general cleanup!
2. The hyacinths and daffodils are blooming!
3. The collection of “treasures “continues to grow – don’t forget the Youth Humongous Rummage Sale to contribute and to shop the end of April.
4. Personal Needs and the Food Pantry continue to help people in our community. When shopping please think about these 2 groups. Items can be placed in the Graceful Giving Room.
5. We are having more groups back which is a good thing. To keep our kitchens welcoming and sparkling PLEASE do not leave dishes, even if washed in the dish drainers. Please put them away. We have also been finding a number of dishes that have been put in the drainers and in cupboards that are not clean which is not safe. Any questions see Gretchen.
6. With more groups we are also enjoying more food and snacks which is great. Please remember to mark your food items with name of group and if prepared food the date prepared. Refrigerator and Freezer checks have been resumed by the Parish Nurse. Food that is unlabeled and /or expired will be removed. Labels are located on all refrigerators and Brenner Hall freezer. Any questions see Gretchen.
7. Remember: Grace is not the building but the people of Grace doing God’s work!

What Easter tells us about calling our next Pastor to Grace.

This week we celebrate the resurrection of Our Savior Jesus Christ.  The following Sunday April 24^th the people of Grace will gather to vote on whether Reverend Brenda Peconge is to be our next Pastor.

Several weeks ago, following the service in which Ryan Moore, Chair of The Call Committee, informed the congregation of the recommendation to Call Pastor Brenda, I was approached by a long-time member.  The woman asked me this question: “Did I hear that correct, Grace is looking to call a woman to be our  Pastor, and that woman is married to another woman?”  When I responded “Yes,” the member immediately replied, “I think that is terrific.”

There are members of Grace whose upbringing may make it harder for them to accept any female, especially one in a non-traditional marriage was called by the Holy Spirit to enter the clergy and to eventually be called to Grace to serve as our Pastor.  However, consider the Easter story and Mary Magdalene.

Many biblical accounts tell us that Mary was the first to see and speak to the   resurrected Christ. Thus, a female, Mary was the first person to “Preach” the Good News of the Resurrected Christ when she ran to inform The Disciples that Christ had risen from the dead.

Little is known about Mary Magdalene’s personal life.  Many including an early Pope tried to diminish her role in the church by suggesting she was a promiscuous woman or that she had been possessed by numerous demons prior to coming to know Jesus. More modern thinking is that rumors of her promiscuous lifestyle, were due to confusion with another woman.

Mary may not have been promiscuous, but as a human she was born into sin.  Regardless to whom Pastor Brenda is married, she is human and therefore was born into sin. Weekly we confess that we cannot free themselves from sin.  The Good News is we have all been saved from our sins by the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Let us all join together to proclaim the message of God’s Love. The message is what is important, not the gender nor personal life of the messenger.

David Charvat – Council President

Sing we to our God above, Alleluia!

Praise eternal as his love; Alleluia!

Praise him, all you heavenly host, Alleluia!

Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Alleluia!

Hold onto your dust cloths and mops!

Did you know that cleaning has a psychological effect!!!!

Really. Science has confirmed that it is not all in your head, but cleaning can really cheer you up! The act of Spring-Cleaning has been around for years, and  research has been done on how it affects our moods. One study found that cleaning “sparks a level of excitement and enthusiasm almost like a mini-adrenaline rush” This study found that people felt cleaning “gave them piece of mind” and “they felt accomplished and in control after a deep clean “. Hmm?

A study done by the Clorox company found that an “extra hour of cleaning per week can increase reported levels of happiness by 53%” ! They also found that maintaining a clean space has all sorts of benefits including better sleep, increased productivity and can improve the ability to focus.

Another study by Princeton (2011) found that “visual clutter like a messy home can interfere with the ability to concentrate and be productive”. Keeping an organized house has been associated with healthy eating choices and generosity.

So how is your spring cleaning going???

Things have changed. That can be good, or it can be bad. Let’s choose good!  Let’s look at the possibilities to redirect the sails and navigate through new, exciting ways to do “all the things”!

(Jody Combs)

We can’t just hope for a better day; we have to work for a brighter day.

(Dolly Parton)

People who wear uncomfortable clothes have always been uncomfortable to be around.

(Designer Tommy Hilfiger)

April Showers bring May Flowers and some nasty storms! Do you know what to do if there is a Severe Thunderstorm Warning, Tornado Watch  or Tornado Warning at Grace???

1. Stay inside the building. Do not leave the building until 30 minutes after you last heard thunder (lightening can strike up to 5 miles away after the storm has passed).
2. Move away from glass windows and doors and skylights (there are skylights in the main hall outside the big church) to an inside room.
3. Do not use phone landline, or plumbing (dishwasher, running faucets, and /or toilet) as they can be conductors of electricity.
4. Be alert as severe storms can breed tornadoes quickly.
5. Follow above in a Tornado Watch and be prepared to move as it can quickly change to a Warning.
6. If you hear the Tornado Siren and or a Tornado Warning has been announced move quickly to rooms without windows (check out where these are – Sacristy, Graceful Giving Room Bathrooms by big church and by Brenner Hall. We also have the 2 basements with Storm Shelter signs – across from the church office and the door at the back of the chapel. A flashlight is located to the left going down the steps in both basements.
7. If you are unable to leave where you are, crawl under pew and or table and protect your head with personal belongings or even a hymnal.
8. If the building has been damaged and you smell gas move as quickly as possible away from the area. Move away from electrical lines. If the building  has been damaged do not return to the building until authorities say it is safe.

We will be having a Severe Storm /Tornado Drill within the next 2 months.

This is the day the Lord has made.

Let us rejoice and be glad in it!

~Psalm 118:24