Greetings Friends:
For those who have registered, the Aldersgate Prayer Weekend begins at 7 pm on Friday evening. Everyone is invited to join the Aldersgate Team in Fellowship Hall during the Sunday School hour.
In keeping with the weekend’s prayer emphasis, our morning message will be Discovering Positive Practices
of Prayer. The Sermon Text is taken from Philippians 4:1-9. The Agape Bells will provide special music.
Spirit Alive Worship Service: Join us in the sanctuary on Sunday evening at 6:45 pm. The Collective band will be leading worship and giving a testimony, and Pastor Caleb, our college ministry pastor will be holding a vision service for the campus ministry for the present and future. “The Collective” is a ministry made up of various local ministries that are coming together to reach the I.U.P. community.
Thank you to all the ladies who helped make no-sew blankets for the mission trip to Bethel Bible Village. We have an additional session scheduled for Monday, February 24 at 6:30 pm in the parlors. Everyone is welcome to come help make more blankets so we have enough to take for everyone. Please see Sue Stitt or Donna Overdorff with any questions.
Senior Adults: Enjoy a delicious lunch and learn how to make beautiful Pysanky (Ukranian) Easter Eggs! Thursday, March 19, beginning at 10:00 am in Fellowship Hall. Sign up in the Welcome Center and pay the $5 registration fee to the church office by March 09. Fee includes decorating supplies and lunch. If you have any questions, please contact Donna Overdorff at 724-464-7552 or email donnajeanoverdorff@gmail.com.
All-Church Cookie Decorating Event: Learn how to make professionally decorated cookies with Grammy Pammy on Saturday, March 21, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm in Fellowship Hall! Sign up in the Welcome Center and pay the registration fee of $45 by March 12 to the church office. Fee includes cookies and decorating supplies. If you have any questions, please contact Donna Overdorff at 724-464-7552 or email donnajeanoverdorff@gmail.com.
Reminder from Mary Beth Rine, childcare coordinator – if your clearances are expiring – a safe sanctuary class is being held on Saturday, February 29 at 9:00 am in the Parlor Room 101. This class will include instruction on the safe sanctuary policy and how to update clearances. Sign up in the Welcome Center.
Hey Youth! Grab your friends and come to the 3rd Annual Grace Youth Lock-in!!! Friday, February 28th – Saturday, February 29th. Check-in: 9:00 pm on Friday. Pick-up time: 7:00 am on Saturday. We spend the night in the church so drop-off and pick- up is there. Sign up in the Welcome Center or in the youth room. Permission slips are required and must be filled out by parents! Any questions, contact Becky McAnulty at 724-422-2300.
Got Cabin Fever? Food, fun and fellowship for all at the College Lodge, 239 College Lodge Road in Indiana on Friday February 28, 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm. You can enjoy the winter slopes or the cozy fire! Sign up in the Welcome Center or call the church office by February 23. Drinks and main dish provided. Sponsored by the Lifers Grace Group! Bring: your sled riding equipment and attire, covered dish to share, and games.
Ash Wednesday.
Everyone is invited to join us for the Ash Wednesday worship service and imposition of ashes on February 26 in our sanctuary. There will be no dinner, small groups or classes on Ash Wednesday.
PLEASE REMEMBER: There will not be Wednesday Night Dinner, classes or rehearsals on Ash Wednesday, February 26.
Thank you note received:
Dear Grace Church members:
We have been trying to keep up with individual thank you notes as much as possible, but know we have dropped some balls along the way.
We would like to tank all those we have missed and the entire congregation for their prayers, cards and words of encouragement these past couple of years. We would not be where we are today without the prayers and God’s intervention.
We have so many “God Stories” through the journey. We are blessed.
Thank you all. You are loved and appreciated.
Ray and Melanie Reinbold
What a rich history we have here at Grace Church! The original congregation first met in the home of John Lucas about three miles out of town. As the group of Methodists grew, they met in the old courthouse. Then in 1837-38, it was deemed advisable to build a church on the corner of Water Street and Carpenter Avenue. Growth was rapid, and in 1875 a larger church was build on the ground where our present building stands.
Shortly after the turn of the century, Methodist membership grew so fast that an even larger facility was needed. And this is where our story begins!
While cleaning up and clearing out in the church parlor recently, we came upon a real treasure in the form of a notebook/journal kept by the former Langham Sunday School Class. Over the next few weeks, we would like to share some snippets from the journal. The journal begins…
The history of the Langham Class began on May 24,1914 when Mrs. Nicolas (Clara) Langham “started a Sunday School class of young people not registered.” The quote from her diary continues, “Had four young women. Hope I can build up a class.” On September 20, she wrote “My class effected an organization today”
Under Mrs. Langham’s enthusiastic leadership, the class continued to grow…and the Golden Rule Class officially organized and soon recognized the need for a new church building. The class dedicated all its efforts to the building of a new church, and a fund called the Corner Stone Fund, was begun.
With the United States entry into World War I, plans for the new building were tabled. Class efforts turned towards the war. Members made candy and sent a box to each man from the Church who was in camp. Members also raised $50.00 to purchase and distribute yarn and woolens for the men. Money was withdrawn for the savings account to buy War Savings Stamps and Liberty Bonds, and the class gave substantial aid to the Red Cross by sponsoring an entertainment which netted $230.00, and by donating $300.00 to the Red Cross Auxiliary.
When the war ended, there were new appeals for aid, and the Golden Rule Class responded by adopting two French orphans at a cost of $30.00 each for one year. Money for this project was raised from voluntary contributions placed in a special box.
(Check back next week to continue this inspiring story)
Have a great week! See you in church!
