Good Morning, friends,
AN ANSWER TO QUESTIONS CONCERNING DISAFFILIATION
Denomination Discernment – Some of you have been asking, so we wish to give an update here. Because of ongoing disagreement in the UM church, there is a window open for considering disaffiliation. Grace Church leaders will be meeting with our Bishop and some of her staff on September 13th to discuss the future of our affiliation. This meeting is only an informational gathering meeting for our church boards. Immediately after that, we will begin having informational meetings over the coming months. The entire church will be invited to attend these meetings and to ask questions and to hear from the pastors and leaders.
Then Council will decide whether we should pursue disaffiliation, and if so, will request our District Superintendent to hold a special charge conference for a vote. Then in the late part of this year or very early 2023 we will have a charge conference vote to make the decision. All members of the church will have a vote at that time.
Please know that the pastors and church leaders here are committed to continue operating the church as we currently do. We will always present the Gospel as it appears in the biblical record which will be consistent with a holy and loving God. As always, we will continue to welcome all into our fold as we strive to become more like Christ. We are committed to the involvement of the laity as we engage, empower and expand the kingdom together, as one body of Christ. I am convinced that God will guide us, so pray, pray, pray.
-Pastor Bill Blair
YOUTH CARWASH
Please note the change in venue for the Youth Car Wash this Sunday, August 28 at 1 PM. Instead of the parking lot behind the church, the youth will be washing cars behind the Growth Center. The money raised will help to offset the expense of the youth retreat to Teen Quest Ranch, a youth mission assisting churches, communities, and families in winning, equipping, and empowering students for ministry through camping, student groups, ministry teams, and global evangelism. Lives are changed at TeenQuest! Your donation gets you a clean car and the opportunity to impact the lives of Grace teens.
PACK HOPE
Rice and bean meals open doors for missionaries in closed countries because governments allow missionaries to offer free meals. When people ask why they bring meals to them, the missionaries can tell them about Jesus. Many recipients must choose between basic nutrition or medicine. When we provide meals, they get to eat and have their medicines, too.
The Grace Church partnership with UNTO requires a $15,000 commitment to pack 45,000 meals. Please consider a donation to this project. Simply drop your check or cash envelope into the offering plate or mail it to the church office at 712 Church Street, Indiana PA. Be sure to write PACK HOPE in the memo line of your check or on the cash envelope.
We need YOU! If you haven’t yet signed up to help with this in-house mission, please don’t delay. You may sign up on our website (indianagrace.org) or sign up in the Welcome Center. This is a great opportunity for families, small groups or friends to work together on a very meaningful mission project.
The work schedule is as follows:
Unload Trucks 2 – 3 PM Thursday, Sept. 8
Pack Rice & Beans 6 – 8 PM Thursday, Sept. 8
Pack Rice & Beans 2 – 4 PM Friday, Sept. 9
Pack Rice & Beans 6 – 8 PM Friday, Sept. 9
Clean-up 8:30 – 9:30 AM Saturday, Sept. 10
As of Monday, August 22, our bean-o-meter registers $9944. Please help us reach our goal of $15,000.
GRIEF SHARE
A new Grief Share group will begin on Wednesday, August 31 at 6 PM in the Grace In Ministries (GIM) Building. If you or someone you know has lost a loved one and are experiencing grief and loneliness, we hope you will consider joining us for this Fall Session of Grief Share. It is a support group for those who are going through the loss of a loved one. Those who have taken the class have been blessed and are encouraging others to join. We hope you will have the courage to come as we walk this journey together.
FINANCIAL PEACE
Change your life with Financial Peace University. Say goodbye to debt with this proven plan. Never worry about money again! If this piques your interest, sign up for the Financial Peace class that begins on September 18th at 6:00 p.m. Joey McCombie will facilitate this class that will meet in Room 205 for six Sunday evenings beginning on September 18. The cost is $30 per individual (or couple). Sign up in the Welcome Center or call the church office to enroll in this class. Several members of Grace Church have eliminated thousands of dollars of debt in a short amount of time using this proven method. They now have true financial peace.
FALL MISSION TRIP
We are planning a fall mission trip to Mayfield, Kentucky from Saturday, November 12th to Saturday, November 19th. Mayfield and surrounding areas were devastated by a tornado last December.
We will be working on building new or repairing existing homes. Construction skills are valuable but are not necessary.
For more information, please contact Larry Catlos at 724-463-7788 or 724-388-6032.
THIS SUNDAY AT GRACE
We’ve had many positive responses to the current sermon series, Wait! Does the Bible Really Say That? This week’s message is titled Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide. The scripture lesson is Titus 1:15-16
The next series is the Unshakable Kingdom and will include the sermon titles listed below. It will build on the E. Stanley Jones book, The Unshakable Kingdom and the Unchanging Person. Along with the sermon series, many small groups will be doing a study on the book. You may purchase the book for $7 at the church office or in the Welcome Center on Sunday morning, August 28th. (Note: Amazon price is $18, so this is a true bargain!)
If you want to read parts of the book that will augment the sermons, the suggested pages are listed below, along with the sermon titles.
Sept. 11 Pgs. 23-71 The Solid Rock
Sept. 18 Pgs. 72-103 The Kingdom’s Total Reign
Sept. 25 Pgs. 105-154 Call of the Wild vs. Call of the Kingdom
Oct. 2 Pgs. 178-200 Ambassadors in the Kingdom
Oct. 9 Pgs. 213-261 The Kingdom’s Salt and Light
Oct. 16 Pgs. 361-394 Kingdom Souring Requires Both Wings
Some of our Small Groups and Sunday School Classes will be doing a book study that coincides with the series. The Leader’s Study Guide was co-authored by our former pastor, Rev. Brad Lauster. If you are currently in a small group, please contact your group leader to let him/her know you are interested and need a book. If you would like to join a group for the study, please contact Bob Penrose at coachpenrose@gmail.com. This study will be a great opportunity to join a new group as well as a way for our Church to grow together in knowledge and faith.
GRACE KIDS
The After School Program starts up again on Sept 21st. Kids and Volunteers can sign up now on the After School Program link on Grace website. As always, we need many volunteers to make this program available to students in our community.
A Family Movie Night will take place on Friday, Sept. 30th at 6:00 PM in Kids Theater where we will have a great movie, popcorn and ice cream bars.
NEW MEMBER CLASS
Two new member classes are forming. If you would like to become a member of Grace Church, please fill out a connect card, contact one of the pastors, or call the church office at 724-463-8535. You may attend classes on Sundays or Wednesdays depending on your schedule. Sunday classes will be held between the services at 10:10 AM in Room 101, or Wednesday classes, 6 PM in Room 101. Classes will be held from Sept. 18, through Oct. 12, with participants being presented for membership during a worship service on Sunday, October 16.
CHANCEL CHOIR
Singers, please mark your calendars! The Chancel Choir will begin rehearsals again Thursday, September 1 at 7:00 in the Choir Room (203). This group is open to anyone who can sing – you don’t need to read music – just have a “singing” voice and willingness to join a caring and welcoming musical “family”. The Chancel Choir sings anthems and hymns in the Traditional Services September thru May. All singers are welcome to join this group.
MINISTRY MATTERS features the Music Ministries of Grace which provide a wide variety of ways to use your musical talent to enrich our worship services.
At Traditional Services, the Chancel Choir is instrumental in leading the hymns each week as well as providing an anthem. Debra Moore conducts the choir with Shanda Tomer on piano. The Sounds of Grace Orchestra plays monthly and features an inter-generational group of instrumentalists. Paul Rode conducts the orchestra. The Agape Handbell Choir is also conducted by Debra Moore and is open to youth and adults. The handbells play monthly at the traditional service. All of our music groups may be found performing for special events like cantatas, theatrical performances and more. There are also many opportunities for soloist, duets or groups to sing during worship services. To inquire about the traditional music program, contact Tina St.Clair, Traditional Music Director. All groups are anxious to welcome new members.
The music for Contemporary Services is led by Jonathan Gibbons, Media and Worship Director and Pastor Will Pinos. Using guitars, drums, saxophone, tambourines, and myriad other instruments, the group ushers the congregation into worship. Many people are involved on a rotating basis, and they are always eager to welcome new folks to their group. Besides leading worship for our contemporary services, they are often called upon to lead worship at Conference or District meetings, and numerous local fairs, festivals and events. To get involved, contact Jonathan Gibbons at the church.
JUST FOR LAUGHS (or maybe a groan!)
Did you know that the manufacturers of yard sticks are going to make them any longer?
Have a wonderful day,
