Welcome to this edition of Grace Notes
a Newsletter from Grace United Methodist Church, Arlington, TX. This newsletter comes to let you know about happenings at Grace, and to invite you to reflect on your walk with God as you strive to follow Jesus’ summary of the commandments: to love God, one another, and oneself.
Be ready to imagine the impossible!
*******************************
Greetings Grace,
I can tell that spring is in the air! It is a wonderful thing to be able to be awakened in the morning by the birds singing. They know how to greet the morning. They let me know it’s time to rise and get moving. As soon as the sun begins to rise, they start singing. Have you heard them? Have you heard the excitement as the morning ushers in?
The birds remind me that it’s morning. A new day has begun. Whatever happened yesterday is now in the past. It’s like their song is saying, time to wake and give God praise; get up and live in this new day!
I know God is pleased when we give him praise. Whether it’s through song, our words, actions; God is pleased when we give him praise. Scripture reminds us that “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good” (Genesis 1:31). We were made in his image; why not start the day with giving him praise?
There are many things that can pull us away from giving God praise as soon as we rise. Distractions, thoughts, emails, texts, people; things happen which cause us to make decisions as to if we will start the day with praise…..or not.
In our Tuesday night bible class, we talked about “Living the Faith”. It’s a learning process. It requires us to do something, consistently each day. In living out our faith, we can’t help but to give God praise. God has been so good to us, even the times when we don’t think we deserve it. God is consistent each and everyday.
I am excited, God planted seeds and they are growing! At Grace, we are growing. To God be the glory! Praise the Lord like the birds. Praise the Lord for all that he has done for you. Give God praise for the things he hasn’t even shown us yet.
How good it is to sing praises to the Lord!
Blessings and Peace,
Pam Pinkerton
Pastor’s Column
Grace and Peace to you,
The people of Grace UMC Arlington are “Running with the Vision”
We spent an outstanding month of March “Experiencing Grace” through the 2015 Women’s Conference and the early part of April during Holy Week. What grace was upon us all! I am grateful to all who worked hard (by the wisdom and power of God) to make these experiences so blessed and God-filled. I am basking in the realization that God is giving us the increase as we continue to plant and water together in the vineyard of God’s purpose and plan for our church.
There are exciting days ahead! Not just on our calendar, but days of blessing and open heavens await us as we continue to follow the path of our God-given assignment. I encourage you to get caught in this “rain” of the Holy Spirit that is falling on us during our services, seminars, prayer meetings, and special events. Make sure you monitor your monthly calendar for prayer dates and events. We are also planning a very special “Informational Meeting” on Sunday, May 3rd at 10:30 am. This meeting will bring you up to date on the discerning process of our Exploratory Committee and all of the new information that was gathered since our last meeting.
Finally, start marking your calendars, day planners, and electronic devices for July 24-26, 2015. These dates are set aside for our spiritual refreshing as we look to the 2015 Immersion in Grace!
Missed a service…, well order your CDs for listening, studying, sharing with others, and downloading onto your favorite device. The “6 Principles of Vision” series and the “Preparation for Vision” series is now available in the four pack album for your spiritual enrichment as we make plans to continue “Running with the Vision”.
We continue to love and pray for your growth in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Pastor Bates and Rona
****************************
Growing in Grace
I would like to take a moment and say “thank you” to everyone who supported the Easter Egg Hunt. It is a wonderful thing to see the children/youth working together, encouraging each other, helping one another.
Easter is a time we remember what Christ did for us. We are challenged to do things differently than we have in the past. Watching the youth fellowship together is living proof of that.
*******
Grace UMC on the “move”
I would like to extend an invitation to the women of Grace to attend a meeting with a group of women whose purpose is to know God, on Saturday, April 25th at 10:00 am. “Going Out to Welcome” is the focus.
Pam Pinkerton, Grace UMW President
I would also like to remind the men of Grace that “Man Up” will meet at 10:00 am on Saturday, April 25th.
*****Have information to share in Grace Notes about how God has shown up in your life? We’d like to hear from you. Please submit to Pam Pinkerton (Grace Media Dept)
UMNS Weekly Digest
United Methodist Women helping women in Cote d’Ivoire
ABIDJAN, Côte d’Ivoire (UMNS) — Eugenie Sowan Erse N’Ghessan is one of 48 women who received a micro-loan from United Methodist Women in the Côte d’Ivoire Conference. That loan started her business. N’Ghessan’s success is exactly what Dorcas Adou was praying for when she approached the international UMW office in New York three years ago and asked for $20,000 U.S. to start a program to help women become independent business owners. Kathy L. Gilbert has the story.
Clark Atlanta University names new president
ATLANTA (UMNS) — Ronald A. Johnson has been named the fourth president of Clark Atlanta University, one of The United Methodist Church’s historically black colleges. Johnson, currently dean of Texas Southern University’s Jesse H. Jones School of Business, will assume his new role July 1. He succeeds Carlton E. Brown, who will retire June 30.
Norway-Zimbabwe partnership founded on chabadza
CHITORA, Zimbabwe (UMNS) — Fifteen years ago, Cyclone Eline took out a bridge between part of the Chitora community and a United Methodist health clinic, as well as a local school. In the past year, the community has dug out and hauled 24 truckloads of stone and river sand to rebuild the bridge. The project is one of 15 underway through the Zimbabwe-Norway Partnership. Vicki Brown reports.
Liberian bishop visits schools reopened after Ebola
SIAFFA-KEH, Liberia (UMNS) — The bishop of The United Methodist Church in Liberia urged students to take learning seriously because the church and the country are depending on them as future leaders. Bishop John G. Innis visited United Methodist schools that had been closed since July because of Ebola.
Welcome to the church of ‘holy chaos’
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (UMNS) — Known as a church of “holy chaos,” the Haywood Street Congregation is a United Methodist mission church launched in 2009 as a place of welcome and ministry for people who are homeless or otherwise living on the margins in downtown Asheville. Duke Divinity School’s Faith and Leadership reports how the church is an example of “entrepreneurial and innovative ministry.”
Full versions of the stories with photographs and related features can be found at www.umc.org/news
UMC Mission Moment
The Advance, an official program of The United Methodist Church for voluntary, designated second-mile giving, connects donors with more than 850 projects around the world. The projects cover a range of mission work, including strengthening healthcare networks, training pastors, educating young children, providing access to HIV/AIDS care, building new churches, and providing disaster relief to communities. There are Advance projects that cover broad geographical regions throughout the world (Let’s Go Fishing. Connecting the Church in Mission).
Volunteer Opportunites
Children & Youth Sunday School and Children’s Church – see Wilma Davis for more information
Outreach – see Paul Toviessi for volunteer and more information.
Hospitality Volunteers needed - See Pam Pinkerton for scheduling and more information.
a Newsletter from Grace United Methodist Church, Arlington, TX. This newsletter comes to let you know about happenings at Grace, and to invite you to reflect on your walk with God as you strive to follow Jesus’ summary of the commandments: to love God, one another, and oneself.
Be ready to imagine the impossible!
*******************************
Greetings Grace,
I can tell that spring is in the air! It is a wonderful thing to be able to be awakened in the morning by the birds singing. They know how to greet the morning. They let me know it’s time to rise and get moving. As soon as the sun begins to rise, they start singing. Have you heard them? Have you heard the excitement as the morning ushers in?
The birds remind me that it’s morning. A new day has begun. Whatever happened yesterday is now in the past. It’s like their song is saying, time to wake and give God praise; get up and live in this new day!
I know God is pleased when we give him praise. Whether it’s through song, our words, actions; God is pleased when we give him praise. Scripture reminds us that “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good” (Genesis 1:31). We were made in his image; why not start the day with giving him praise?
There are many things that can pull us away from giving God praise as soon as we rise. Distractions, thoughts, emails, texts, people; things happen which cause us to make decisions as to if we will start the day with praise…..or not.
In our Tuesday night bible class, we talked about “Living the Faith”. It’s a learning process. It requires us to do something, consistently each day. In living out our faith, we can’t help but to give God praise. God has been so good to us, even the times when we don’t think we deserve it. God is consistent each and everyday.
I am excited, God planted seeds and they are growing! At Grace, we are growing. To God be the glory! Praise the Lord like the birds. Praise the Lord for all that he has done for you. Give God praise for the things he hasn’t even shown us yet.
How good it is to sing praises to the Lord!
Blessings and Peace,
Pam Pinkerton
Pastor’s Column
Grace and Peace to you,
The people of Grace UMC Arlington are “Running with the Vision”
We spent an outstanding month of March “Experiencing Grace” through the 2015 Women’s Conference and the early part of April during Holy Week. What grace was upon us all! I am grateful to all who worked hard (by the wisdom and power of God) to make these experiences so blessed and God-filled. I am basking in the realization that God is giving us the increase as we continue to plant and water together in the vineyard of God’s purpose and plan for our church.
There are exciting days ahead! Not just on our calendar, but days of blessing and open heavens await us as we continue to follow the path of our God-given assignment. I encourage you to get caught in this “rain” of the Holy Spirit that is falling on us during our services, seminars, prayer meetings, and special events. Make sure you monitor your monthly calendar for prayer dates and events. We are also planning a very special “Informational Meeting” on Sunday, May 3rd at 10:30 am. This meeting will bring you up to date on the discerning process of our Exploratory Committee and all of the new information that was gathered since our last meeting.
Finally, start marking your calendars, day planners, and electronic devices for July 24-26, 2015. These dates are set aside for our spiritual refreshing as we look to the 2015 Immersion in Grace!
Missed a service…, well order your CDs for listening, studying, sharing with others, and downloading onto your favorite device. The “6 Principles of Vision” series and the “Preparation for Vision” series is now available in the four pack album for your spiritual enrichment as we make plans to continue “Running with the Vision”.
We continue to love and pray for your growth in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Pastor Bates and Rona
****************************
Growing in Grace
I would like to take a moment and say “thank you” to everyone who supported the Easter Egg Hunt. It is a wonderful thing to see the children/youth working together, encouraging each other, helping one another.
Easter is a time we remember what Christ did for us. We are challenged to do things differently than we have in the past. Watching the youth fellowship together is living proof of that.
*******
Grace UMC on the “move”
I would like to extend an invitation to the women of Grace to attend a meeting with a group of women whose purpose is to know God, on Saturday, April 25th at 10:00 am. “Going Out to Welcome” is the focus.
Pam Pinkerton, Grace UMW President
I would also like to remind the men of Grace that “Man Up” will meet at 10:00 am on Saturday, April 25th.
*****Have information to share in Grace Notes about how God has shown up in your life? We’d like to hear from you. Please submit to Pam Pinkerton (Grace Media Dept)
UMNS Weekly Digest
United Methodist Women helping women in Cote d’Ivoire
ABIDJAN, Côte d’Ivoire (UMNS) — Eugenie Sowan Erse N’Ghessan is one of 48 women who received a micro-loan from United Methodist Women in the Côte d’Ivoire Conference. That loan started her business. N’Ghessan’s success is exactly what Dorcas Adou was praying for when she approached the international UMW office in New York three years ago and asked for $20,000 U.S. to start a program to help women become independent business owners. Kathy L. Gilbert has the story.
Clark Atlanta University names new president
ATLANTA (UMNS) — Ronald A. Johnson has been named the fourth president of Clark Atlanta University, one of The United Methodist Church’s historically black colleges. Johnson, currently dean of Texas Southern University’s Jesse H. Jones School of Business, will assume his new role July 1. He succeeds Carlton E. Brown, who will retire June 30.
Norway-Zimbabwe partnership founded on chabadza
CHITORA, Zimbabwe (UMNS) — Fifteen years ago, Cyclone Eline took out a bridge between part of the Chitora community and a United Methodist health clinic, as well as a local school. In the past year, the community has dug out and hauled 24 truckloads of stone and river sand to rebuild the bridge. The project is one of 15 underway through the Zimbabwe-Norway Partnership. Vicki Brown reports.
Liberian bishop visits schools reopened after Ebola
SIAFFA-KEH, Liberia (UMNS) — The bishop of The United Methodist Church in Liberia urged students to take learning seriously because the church and the country are depending on them as future leaders. Bishop John G. Innis visited United Methodist schools that had been closed since July because of Ebola.
Welcome to the church of ‘holy chaos’
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (UMNS) — Known as a church of “holy chaos,” the Haywood Street Congregation is a United Methodist mission church launched in 2009 as a place of welcome and ministry for people who are homeless or otherwise living on the margins in downtown Asheville. Duke Divinity School’s Faith and Leadership reports how the church is an example of “entrepreneurial and innovative ministry.”
Full versions of the stories with photographs and related features can be found at www.umc.org/news
UMC Mission Moment
The Advance, an official program of The United Methodist Church for voluntary, designated second-mile giving, connects donors with more than 850 projects around the world. The projects cover a range of mission work, including strengthening healthcare networks, training pastors, educating young children, providing access to HIV/AIDS care, building new churches, and providing disaster relief to communities. There are Advance projects that cover broad geographical regions throughout the world (Let’s Go Fishing. Connecting the Church in Mission).
Volunteer Opportunites
Children & Youth Sunday School and Children’s Church – see Wilma Davis for more information
Outreach – see Paul Toviessi for volunteer and more information.
Hospitality Volunteers needed - See Pam Pinkerton for scheduling and more information.