We love because he first loved us.

~1 John 4:19

 

 

Final Update on Breakfast Boxes    

 On Tuesday, May 4, the last four of the 30 Breakfast Boxes were distributed to our Personal Needs clients.  To say that the recipients of these boxes were thrilled and grateful is an understatement.  Thank you to everyone who funded these boxes.  A project for Easter extended well into the Easter season!

 

Grace Zoom Bible Study

Saturdays 2:00-3:00 pm

The Gospel of Mark

Hearing the Word Read

Disciples and Demons

Jesus said, “I am.”

Messianic Secret

Jesus the Son

For Zoom access and other information: haaf.vgs@gmail.com

 

Behind the scenes at Grace….

by Gretchen

  1. The rain this last Sunday has really made everything grow and get greener. The Coral Bells and the Hosta in the garden by the office have doubled in size since last year. The Easter lilies are really starting to pop up.
  2. Still no mole mounds so hopefully they really have taken up residence at our nearby member’s house.
  3. Don’t forget if you go “Krogering” to get a Kroger card from Ron Hiatt as a certain percentage of the total is returned to the church.
  4. We are starting to prepare for the Interfaith Blood Drive June 26th and 27th! If you were unable to donate in April, please mark these dates down. Along those lines don’t forget to eat your spinach and get that iron built up!
  5. Interfaith always has a Celebration of Life program on Sunday evening. This year will be virtual so please watch for more information. The program involves music from various religions and has always been very interesting.
  6. Our Live Streaming project is making progress! Soon you should be able to watch Sunday’s Services on the web page and on Facebook. We have picked up a little speed as we move into the 21st century! Thanks to Mary Schneider’s diligence!
  7. Remember: Grace is not the building but the people carrying out God’s mission!

 

Bone Stuff!

 Answers to last week’s quiz:

  1. Smoking and drinking can increase the risk of osteoporosis.

Researchers are not sure if osteoporosis is from the smoking or from other risk factors associated with smoking. Smokers are often less active and do not eat nutritious foods. Women who smoke may have an earlier menopause, so they do not have the hormone estrogen which helps to protect from bone loss.

Drinking acholic beverages affects how hormones function in absorbing Calcium and Vitamin D. Alcohol can destroy osteoblasts which are the bone making cells. People who drink often do not eat properly so their nutrition is often poor. Alcohol has been found to delay or cause problems with healing bone.

  1. Skim milk and regular milk are pretty much neck in neck in supplying Calcium. Skim milk is better for us in that it has less fat. If you have difficulty   digesting milk soy, almond, cashew, and even oat milk has Calcium and Vitamin D added. Check out how much Calcium is in a serving of Almond Milk. The label for Silk Dark Chocolate Almond Milk has 45 % Calcium per Serving -so what is that in mg of Calcium (check last weeks Newsletter on how to calculate).     Regular, low fat or skim has 30%.
  2. Risk Factors for osteoporosis: you have already guessed that smoking and alcohol are risk factors.

Other risk factors.

  • Lack of exercise. We need weight bearing exercises to strengthen bones like walking
  • Low calcium intake. Not only is this important as we get older, but kids need calcium to start building strong bones while young.
  • Low Vitamin D levels. The best source of Vitamin D is sunshine but with concerns over skin cancer and use of sunscreen we do not get much from the sun. It is important to look for Vitamin D fortified foods like milk, yogurt, etc.
  • Certain medical conditions like irritable bowel or celiac disease – conditions where absorption of vitamins and minerals are difficult. Rheumatoid arthritis and even diabetes have been linked to increased risk of fractures.
  • Family history of osteoporosis.
  • Certain medications. This is why it is important to discuss bone heath with your family MD. Some medications like those who protect the stomach and antidepressants may interfere with absorption of calcium and Vitamin D but are especially important to your health so you need to discuss with your MD.
  • Low estrogen levels in women and low testosterone levels in men.

Vitamin D  

For calcium to be absorbed properly we need to have Vitamin D. So, the best source is the sun but due to the risks of skin cancer and sunscreen we have to find other sources. Living in Ohio and Michigan we also have times we don’t see the sun for a week or more. Your MD may prescribe Vitamin D medication.        Vitamin D is also found in food. So, like figuring out how much calcium is in food, you can calculate how much Vitamin D is in food. Look for the amount of Vitamin D listed on the label. It will also be listed as a % -example Vitamin D 25%. Take off the % sign and multiply the number by 4. Example Vitamin D 25 % is now    Vitamin D 100. Vitamin D is measured in units so it will be 100 units or I.U. (international Units). If you are over the age of 50 you should have between     800 – 1000 IU of Vitamin D.

Quiz:

  1. It is a good idea to have a flashlight next to your bed with dead batteries (true or false)
  2. When out walking always keep your hands in your pockets (true or false)
  3. If you use an assistive device like a cane, it is always OK to push your garbage can out to the street (true or false)

 

Bereavement Group

Our Grace Group has not been able to meet due to Covid but hope that by July we will be able to gather again. The current situation can make our grief and sadness over losing someone be it a family member, friend, and even a 4-legged friend even tougher. Since we have not been able to meet Chris who co-leads with Gretchen have set up a phone teleconference group. The group meets via phone on Fridays (except for the first Friday of the month when there is not meeting). The call is at 3:00 PM. You call 1-877-381-1617. You will then be asked for a conference code -7405195570 and then hit the # sign. Gretchen will be joining in. So feel free to join in if only to listen. Sometimes, listening to others just helps us figure out that we are not alone in our sadness and loss.

 

 

Just for Today! (Benjamin Stein)

 Just for today, I will not worry about “what’s in it for me. “I will think only about what I can do to help out in every situation.

Just for today, when I leave work, I will not dwell on how much I did or did not get done. I will look forward to the evening and be thankful for whatever I accomplished.

What will you do just for today?

 Say I love you to a family member, even your 4-legged family  member, or to yourself in the mirror! Be thankful for the vaccines, for the rain for the flowers – for what God has given us … The list can go on but think about your own version of “Just for Today “.

 

 

 

 

 

This is the day the Lord has made.

Let us rejoice and be glad in it!

~Psalm 118:24