Dear Grace Community,
It’s exciting to see the progress of the Deep Roots Campaign. Your giving and pledging make incredible things happen. In the week between Christmas and New Year a large hole was knocked into the wall at the bottom of the north entrance stairs. It is now covered by boards. Doors and glass are on order, and when they arrive the next round of construction begins.
On Monday of last week, two different people asked me when we would start on the parlor renovations. No doubt it needs it, but the answer is, not yet. We are taking the construction and renovations one step at a time, and right now we’re focused on the security updates and renovations to Jacob’s.
However, we’re already sharing the community giving portion of the campaign. Earlier I shared about taking our gift to the International Rescue Committee. Then right before Christmas we had the joy of sharing with Hyde Elementary.
I contacted the school principal and asked if a few of us could come over and bring the check. Matthew 6:2-3 says, “So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.”
Following scripture entirely would have meant sending the check in the mail, which seemed anti-climactic, so I planned for something simple. I had Carolyn Benefiel (Grace tutoring founder and former director), Anne Woolsey (former tutoring director), and Lib Hooper (current tutoring director) go with me. I figured we’d go to the principal’s office, pray, give her the check and leave.
Instead we were met in the office by smiling students who said they were to escort us to the cafeteria. There we found classes lining up on the floor. To our surprise the entire school assembled to thank us. The principal began by asking all the students who attended Jacbob’s Learning Ladder to raise their hands. We were amazed at how many hands were in the air.
She went on to talk about how grateful they were to now be able to purchase equipment for their playground. Our gift allows them to get benches and shade devices. I was then invited to speak and told the students how glad we are to be their neighbors and that our God talks a lot about treating our neighbors well.
It was a delightful morning, and I’m glad that God surprised us with the unexpected. I’m grateful to you for making it possible.
In Christ,
Catherine
