Greetings Friends!
DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME begins on Sunday, March 8. Don’t forget to set clocks to spring forward before you go to bed on Saturday night so you won’t miss worship on Sunday when we will be celebrating baptisms and reception of new members.
We ask that you keep our Mission Team in prayer as they journey to Bethel Bible Village in Tennessee on Saturday. Thirty-three folks are on the team led by Larry Catlos. If you would like to know more about Bethel Bible Village, please check out their website: https://www.bethelbiblevillage.org/about/
Pastor Bill’s message this Sunday is titled God So Googled the Kosmos! The sermon text is taken from John 3:1-17.
Please come to to greet and welcome folks from around the neighborhood when we host the Love Indiana Community Prayer Gathering this Sunday, March 8th from 5 – 6 p.m. in our Fellowship Hall. Please join other community church members for worship and prayer for our community. Everyone is welcome. (Please note that the Whisper Bible Study Class will not meet on March 8 so that all may attend the Prayer Gathering.)
COURAGE & Cancer, a group for those living with cancer, will meet on Sunday, March 8 from 3 – 4:30 p.m. in the Welcome Center. If you or someone you know is interest, please join us for fellowship and information,
ATTENTION YOUTH & PARENTS
Join us this Sunday evening, March 8th during the regular Youth Group time (6:30 – 8:00) in the Youth Center to meet our new Youth Director, Bethany Gearhart.
We’re headed once again to Winter Jam on Saturday, March 28. The cost is $25 per student. For additional details and to reserve a ticket, you must sign up by March 8th. You can sign up in the Youth Room or the Welcome Center. Becky McAnulty can answer any question you may have about Winter Jam at 724-422-2300.
It’s time to begin bringing in wrapped candy for the Great Easter Egg Hunt and Breakfast planned for April 4 at 9 a.m. Drop off candy donations in the box at the Kid’s Check-In. There will be and Easter Egg Stuffing Party in the Kid’s Wing after the 11:00 worship service on Sunday, March 22. Help us fill the plastic eggs for our Egg Hung on April 4.
On Friday, March 20 from 9:30 – midnight, the Church Courtyard will be set up for the Midnight Mission to welcome and interact with college students. Please help with donations of bottled water, soda, baked goods, cookies and other sweet treats. Donations may be brought to the church by March 19. If you have questions, contact Phil Floyd at 724-840-3094 or phil.floyd@cru.org
Jim Gaiko is starting a new 13-week Men’s Bible Study covering the first two sessions of 33 The Series–Authentic Manhood. This is a gospel-centered video series that presents the timeless truths of Authentic Manhood in a powerfully new and engaging way. The study will be on Thursday mornings from 6:30 – 7:45 am in Room 205, beginning on March 26. The total cost is $30 ($15 each for Volumes I and II.) Pay $15 on the first day of class for the first volume. Please sign up in the Welcome Center.
In honor of Pi (π) Day on March 14, your Outreach Committee is sponsoring Pie and a Pen Day. You can easily join in the fun and treat a friend or neighbor. Just take a pie or other baked good with one of our custom Grace pens to a neighbor, sharing the love of Jesus. To encourage this outreach event, our Pastors have volunteered to be pied in the face. If the congregation shares a pie (or other baked good) with 50 neighbors, our Contemporary Worship Leader, Will Pinos, will take the pie to his face. If we reach 75 neighbors, both Will and Pastor Kathy get pied. And if we manage to reach 100, Pastor Bill gets pied along with Will and Pastor Kathy! There is a BIG bonus for reaching 200 pies: Our District Superintendent, Jim Pond will also get pied!!
Let’s make it happen folks! Outreach Committee members will be in the Welcome Center this Sunday to pass out papers with instructions. Pick up you pens with the instruction, and have fun with this great outreach opportunity. Share a Pie.Share a Pen.Share Jesus!
Book Sale Fundraiser for Camp Scholarships: Start gathering your donations! We are accepting books, CDs and DVDs for our book sale on March 20-21. All money raised will go directly to youth campers’ scholarships! You may drop you donations off in the first floor of the GIM building at 728 Church Street during the following times: Wednesday, March 11 from 5 – 8 p.m.; Thursday, March 12 from 5 – 8 p.m.; Sunday, March 15 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; and Wednesday, march 18 from 5 – 8 p.m. PLEASE: Do not drop off at the church or the church office. No textbooks, magazines, cassettes, VHS Tapes or games can be accepted.
Summer Church Camps:
Even though it’s a bit blustery AGAIN today, it’s not too early to be planning your child’s Church Camp experience for this Summer. All of our Conference Camps have financial help available. Additionally, Grace Church will pay 1/2 tuition up to $250 for Grace kids to attend one of the camps. Applications are available in the church office or Welcome Center.
Thanks to a recent endowment from the McCullough Estate, funding is available for programs aiding those seeking recovery from drug and alcohol dependency. Applications are available in the church office and in the Welcome Center. Deadline for 2020 grant applications is April 30.
Ladies! You are invited to attend Women’s Fellowship on Tuesday, March 10 at 7 pm in the Parlor. Laura McLain will give an update on Hopeful Hearts, and we will plan activities for the rest of the year. Join us for an evening of food, fun and fellowship!
Grace Kids are having a Family Roller Skating Event at Valarena Roller Rink, 320 18th Street. North Apollo on March 28th from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. The cost is only $5 per person and includes skating, skate rental, pizza and a soda. Please sign up at the Kids Check-in Station.
JOB LISTING: Website & Social Media Director. Grace United Methodist Church is seeking employment of a part-time Website and Social Media Director to coordinate the electronic media at the church. The job description may be found on the church website at indianagrace.org. The hours to be worked and pay rate are included in the job description as well as the desired experience/education requirements. Interested candidates may submit their resume to SPRC@gracechurch.org or to eneiderhiser1@gmail.com.
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Completing the Langham Class Journal: (Parts I and 2 may be accessed on our website news)
(Note: As you read this journal, keep in mind that the Great Depression was from 1929 – 1933)
Mrs. Beck, chosen by Mrs. Langham, shared the goals of her predecessor, and the fine spirit and loyalty of the members thrived. Well over $10,000 was transferred from the Corner Stone Fund to the Building Fund when ground was broken for the new church on July 5, 1930. During the campaign for funds in January of 1930, the Langham Class had made an additional subscription of $7500, payable in five years.
In addition to meeting our building fund pledge of over $19,500, our class gave financial aid to other church projects including interest on the church debt, missions, parsonage repairs, flood relief, the annual church budget, World Service, a sound projector for the Primary and Junior Departments, and the nurses’ residence at Indiana Hospital.
By 1931, the new church was finished and ready for occupancy; the Church Parlors were designated for the largest women’s classes, including the Langham Class. Our classroom was furnished by the Langham family. The baby grand piano was a gift of Mr. Pat Maloney in memory of his wife, Louise Langham Maloney. The fireplace mantle is a replica of a famous colonial mantle which is now in a museum. Through the years, the Langham Class has assisted the Cary Class and the Women’s Society of Christian Service (WSCS) to provide new carpet, drapes and window shades for the parlors. The andirons are an original gift of Mrs. Dale (Zureta) Timberlake. Our most recent large purchase was a beautiful cherry drop-leaf table for the parlors.
Over the years, the most outstanding financial projects have been the taking of orders for Christmas cards and the selling of magazine subscriptions. Several thousand dollars have been earned from these sales.
Good teachers, wise leadership of officers, and cooperation of members have made possible the success of our endeavors. monthly business and social meetings, annual dinners, picnics and other social gatherings such as a Whittier Evening have contributed to the furthering of the wonderful class spirit which was present from the beginning. The class has been fortunate in counting among its members many talented musicians and readers. Many members have served and are serving as teachers in other departments of the church school.
Any history of the Langham Class would be incomplete without mention of the splendid counsel and help of Judge J.N. Langham and his daughters, Mrs. Roy Maloney and Mrs. Ray Baldridge. They have been a source of inspiration to members of the Class at all times.
All members will continue to strive to carry out the worthy aims and principles established by our esteemed founder, Mrs. Clara Langham, and by the capable teachers and officers who have succeeded her.
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An Added note in the journal: The Langham Class also made a contribution of $500 to Operation 48. This project was the purchase of the lot at the front of the education building.
The journal lists the names of 248 class members and 43 different teachers it’s inception up to 1961-1962. It also includes old church bulletins, newspaper clippings and event programs. What a rich portion of our history is recorded in this book! It will be placed in the church archives in the Resource Library–Room 204.
Have a great week!
