It’s time for our monthly Laundry Love! This is when we go to College Town Laundry at 3223 E 17th St, by the WSU Campus, and pay for laundry for people. This is a mission of our evangelism team, and we’d love for you to join us. We’ll be there from 2:30 – 5:30 pm on Sunday, August 14. Want to know more? Contact Catherine Neelly Burton in the church office, 684-5215.
It’s back to school time!
Our church is filled with students, parents, grandparents, teachers, professors, school therapists, tutors, and others who are gearing up for school. Each year we take time in worship to offer a blessing for the start of the school year.
We invite students to bring backpacks to worship on Sunday, August 21.
Pastor Catherine Neelly Burton leads a study called “Invitation to Psalms” this fall. The course is part of the Disciple Program.
During the 2014-15 school year a group at Grace completed the Disciple Bible Study overview of the Bible. This study is more focused and only 11 weeks. It is a study that emphasizes knowledge and faith formation.
Participants who engage in this study gain knowledge and confidence about the Bible.
This Bible study requires a high commitment and won’t be for everyone. The commitment is a weekly class of one hour and fifteen minutes and a couple of hours of homework a week It is fine to miss a class on occasion, but you need to make at least 75% of the classes in order to participate.
Materials for the class are a study Bible and study guide. The guides may be purchased at Grace for $13. You may also buy a study Bible from Grace for $25, or you may use one you already have.
The classes meet on Tuesdays at 10 am and Wednesdays at 6:00 pm. Classes begin on September 13 and 14 with an overview session. Sign-ups begin mid-August.
Look for more information on a bulletin board at church, in Grace this Week or by calling Catherine, 684-5215. Childcare is available for class upon request.
Dear Grace Community,
If you ever wonder if the Holy Spirit is moving, look no farther than our summer children and youth activities, particularly Vacation Bible School (VBS) and Mission Trip. Every year I watch in amazement as the movement of the Spirit unfolds.
VBS planning begins early in the winter. By the time mid-June gets here, countless hours have gone into decorating, music, snacks, dancing, games, and all sorts of other things. All of this happens to prepare for the children and families who spend the week at Grace learning Bible stories and experiencing the love of Christ.
I got to spend some time with our kindergartners and first graders one morning. We had some down time and looked through their VBS booklet. I noticed that the story of the day was about Moses. There was a picture in the book of a baby in basket in the bulrushes. I asked, “Do any of you know who this baby is?” One girl said, “No.” I thought, “How exciting! She gets to learn about Moses today, maybe for the very first time.” What a gift to share God’s stories with children.
I also got to spend some time in different rooms where the children traveled. I was amazed at the energy and enthusiasm our volunteers had for sharing love and Jesus with our children. The volunteers who faithfully helped the children paint the bottom of their feet in craft time were somehow as kind and patient with the 50th child as with the 1st; that’s got to be the work of the Spirit. Our story teller made each group feel like they were the first people to hear an incredible message, even the fourth time she shared it; again, that’s got to be the Spirit.
It’s harder for me to speak of the details of the Mission Trip since I didn’t go on the trip, but I can still speak to the ways I see the Spirit at work. It blows my mind that adults take vacation time and pay to chaperone this trip where they sleep on church floors and bunk beds, and they love it. That’s the Spirit.
It’s amazing to see the way the 22 youth from Grace represent at least six different high schools, and the ways that the Spirit breaks down all sorts of boundaries. And I love hearing from all of them about the ways they were challenged and encouraged during the week.
I am grateful for Kirk Anderson, Jennifer Snook, and the amazing volunteers who make these ministries happen. I am grateful for the families who share their lives with us at Grace. We have much to give thanks for.
In Christ,
Catherine
During the month of August, the sermons focus on the theme of “Keeping the Faith.”
Scripture comes from Hebrews and Luke. Catherine Neelly Burton preaches each week.
On Sunday, August 7, we celebrate the Lord’s Supper at both worship services. Each week we worship at 9 and 11 am.