Our choirs present John Rutter’s extended musical work, The Gift of Life, in the 11 am worship service on April 22, accompanied by instrumentalists from the community. Setting a variety of sacred texts and new words, this is a choral celebration of the living earth and its Creator. Our choirs have been working hard on this and invite all to join together in worship as we praise God and rejoice in our gift of life!
This winter we ended our Grace Fair Trade sales. The ministry never made a profit, and any money received went to buy more products to sell. After the final sales, we had $1665.21 in our account and no plans to buy more products.
Wanting to honor the spirit of Fair Trade the Mission Distribution Team gave the money to two organizations that work with Fair Trade farmers and products. The first is Just Coffee, or Café Justo.
Just Coffee is located in Chiapas, Mexico and is an outreach of the PCUSA and Presbyterian Church of Mexico. Just Coffee works to pay farmers fair wages to grow and harvest coffee beans and then employs workers to turn the beans into coffee. We sent Just Coffee $1000.
We sent $665.21 to Alternative Gifts International for their work with Sustainable Harvest International which empowers local farmers in rural Central America. We are grateful for the Grace Fair Trade ministry and the way it now lives on through these two organizations.
Westminster Woods is holding a Women’s Retreat on April 27 and 28. Amy Baumgartner is the retreat speaker. She shares Biblical examples of how God has called people so that we can gain a better understanding of the ways God calls us. You may arrive Friday, April 27, and spend the night, or drive over for the day on Saturday, April 28. The cost is $75 for Friday and Saturday and $50 for Saturday only. Scholarships are available from Grace. Contact Laurie Mulford lmulford@cox.net or Catherine Neelly Burton Catherine@mygpc.org with questions. Registrations are due by April 2, 2018.
Imagine having no car payment or house payment; imagine having an emergency fund for the unexpected; imagine having vacations paid for before you take them. You don’t have to imagine it; plan for it!
Financial Peace University (FPU) is that plan!
It teaches God’s ways of handling money. Through video teaching, class discussions and interactive small group activities, FPU presents biblical, practical steps to get from where you are to where you’ve dreamed you could be. You learn how to get rid of debt, manage your money, spend and save wisely, and much more! Attend Financial Peace University, Dave Ramsey’s nine-week financial seminar.
The class meets Wednesdays from 6-7:30 pm, starting April 4 in the Parlor. The cost is $93 per family, and child care is provided (registration required). Want to register or know more? You can call Martin Burch at 684-5215 or go to https://fpu.com/1062483 and sign up for Grace’s class.
Each year we gather to worship on Maundy Thursday, the Thursday before Easter. On Maundy Thursday we commemorate Jesus’ Last Supper with the disciples. Some years we worship with a Tenebrae service. Last year we experienced the Living Last Supper drama.
In 2015 we did something new, and we’ll do it again this year. Recognizing that Maundy Thursday happened around a meal, you’re invited to share a meal together. In mid-March we begin sign-ups at the church. Several Grace members open their homes that night. You sign-up for a home and bring a dish to share. After a potluck supper those at the dinner share a short worship and communion service. Maundy Thursday is March 29.
