Blog (Page 13)
News and thoughts
Summer Camp Registration is Open
Yes, there is still snow on the ground outside, but it is time to start thinking about summer camp. Registration is open for the Ohio Conference UCC’s summer camping program. Registration info and a list of the camps can be found at http://www.ohioucc.org/outdoor-ministries/. Remember, as in past years, Endowment will pay 50% of the early registration fee (what is charged if you register by 31 March), so get registered and then get your request into Endowment and enjoy the life changing…
Midweek Lenten Services
Again this year, we will be gathering Wednesday evenings during Lent (until Holy Week when we will have a Maundy Thursday service) for a light meal of bread and soup, followed by study and a craft activity. Bring the kids and join us at 6:00 PM, we promise we will be done by 7:30 PM. If you or someone you know doesn’t drive at night and needs a ride, please call the church office and we’ll arrange transportation. Feb.17 –…
Combined Forces! Christian Service and Membership Action Boards
During 2015, the Membership Action Board repeatedly discussed the need to evaluate the current makeup of boards as set forth by the GUCC Constitution. Challenges related to burnout of members and friends continually serving on boards, difficulties in schedules, and changing work, school, and family commitments have provided an opportunity to reframe and refresh the way we do things. At the same time, Christian Service Board members were also finding themselves having similar discussions and wanted to figure out a…
Sermons
You may have noticed that the sermons hadn’t been posted in a while. We had some technical difficulties getting the recordings off the computer at church. Those difficulties have been taken care of and you’ll see 3 sermons from Advent (not including the children’s pageant) will be posted shortly. Also, 3 sermons from January (we didn’t get the 10th due to the power issues we had during the service). We’ll try to stay on top of posting them within a…
Game Day
GAME DAY- February 7 – Super Bowl Sunday – We are planning a game day after the worship service. Pizza and drinks provided. Bring your favorite games and snacks. Church will be casual dress that day…wear your favorite team colors! All ages are welcome! We promise we will have you home in time for the Super Bowl. Join us for fun and fellowship. Sign up sheet is on the office window.
Lent is…
Lent begins on Wednesday February 10 with Ash Wednesday. It is a time for 40 days of fasting, prayer, meditation, and self-examination. It runs through Holy Week. Lent is a time when we turn our gaze toward Good Friday and ask ourselves, ‘what did I do to force someone who loves me this much to go through something this awful?’ We see this scene and ask, ‘Lord, what can I do to stop this? How can I lighten Your burden,…
German Potluck
More than 36 hours later, I’m still full from all the good food we shared yesterday as part of our year-long bicentennial celebration of Grace UCC. Yesterday, we especially celebrated our heritage in the German Reformed Church by reciting the Lord’s Prayer (auf Deutsch) during worship and eating German food afterward. Be on the lookout for info on more special events during our bicentennial year.
Some thoughts
My dear Grace UCC family, What a year this has been… one filled with grace and love, one filled with compassion and wonder, one filled with faith and growth, one filled with God. I was called by God many years ago to ordained ministry, as Pastor and Teacher. For a while I didn’t listen to God’s call on my life, I didn’t want to. I wanted to do something else, be something else, live something else. But God is a…
Souper Bowl of Caring 2016
for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me Matthew 25:35 (NRSV) The quote from Matthew is central to several of our core values, namely, love and welcoming community. This year, for the 16th consecutive year, we are participating in the Souper Bowl of Caring to benefit the hungry of Fairfield County. We’ll be collecting non-perishable food items (and money) that will go to…
Wonder
I wonder as I wander out under the sky, How Jesus the Savior did come for to die. For poor on’ry people like you and like I… I wonder as I wander out under the sky. … .written by American folklorist and singer John Jacob Niles. I have been doing a lot of wondering this season of Advent, Christmas time and as we move into 2016. Wondering about the world in which we live, wondering about peace and love, wondering…