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!
In just a few short weeks, our children and youth will be headed back to school.
I remember what it was like having to prepare for a new school year, after a summer of lazy days and staying up all night.
Do you remember what is was like to shop for school clothes, purchase school supplies, and pick out the perfect backpack? I do. I also remember how I felt, anticipating seeing old friends and wondering about meeting new ones.
Custodians are making last minute repairs and cleaning classrooms. Teachers around the metroplex are beginning to prepare classrooms so that they are ready by the time school starts.
What can we do to help prepare our students to get ready for the new year? You guessed it! Lift them up in prayer.
In these next few weeks, I encourage you to lift up in prayer, not just our children and youth, but anyone who may be beginning or returning to school.
Some students will be returning to the school they attended previously while others may be transfering to a new school. Going back to school after being away and establishing new routines, can be overwhelming. However, prayer changes things!
Through prayer we ask God for protection, strength, wisdom, direction. Through the Word, we get a better understanding of what God has promised us. We receive confirmation and clarity from Gods Word.
Joshua reminds us in the following scripture that God is with us wherever we go,
“Have not I commanded you? Be strong, vigorous, and very courageous. Be not afraid, neither be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go”. Joshua 1:9 (AMP)
As we move through these next few weeks, let us all be reminded that God is with us wherever we go because He has already prepared the way.
Blessings & Peace,
Pam Pinkerton
Pastors column
Grace and Peace to you, An Important Announcement!
I bring you good tidings of great joy! After the diligent work of members of the Administrative Council, the Discernment Team, and the Transition Team, the entire Grace UMC Arlington operation is moving to a new location.
This means all of our Worship Services, Bible Studies, Activities, Practices, and Administrative Operations will be relocating to 2020 South Collins Street.
Many of you know this to be the current location of the Church of the Good Shepherd UMC. We will be sharing worship space, classrooms, and office space with wonderful members of COGS (as they affectionately refer to themselves).
The first service at the new location will be Sunday, September 13th, at 9:00 am. During the course of the transition, we will continue to keep everyone updated as to the logistical arrangements of the move. With this being said, I want to thank God, through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who has blessed us to be able to continue striving to walk out our vision of “bringing people into a life changing relationship with Jesus Christ”.
On Sunday, September 2nd, (First Sunday in September), we will show honor to our current sanctuary and holy items, with a wonderful praise celebration as we decommission this sacred space. Let’s continue to thank God for supplying our every need as we, “…walk by faith and not by sight”.
We continue to pray for your growth in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Pastor Bates and Rona
Volunteer Opportunities
Fantastic opportunities available!
Volunteers are needed to service the fellowship activities before our Faith Enrichment Classes. Responsibilities include: setting up the hospitality table, making coffee and purchasing items for our fellowship time. Volunteers are also needed for cleanup afterwards.
For more information and to sign up, please see Pam Pinkerton or Evette Brazille.
***
Volunteers are needed to assist with the children Faith Enrichment classes. Ministry Safe training is required. Please see Wilma Davis for more information.
***
Business students, persons who desire to be business owners, or retired individuals, Interested in learning QuickBooks to help with church books? Please see Phyllis Scott if you are interested.
Thank you!
To everyone who prayed, participated and/or attended the 2015 Immersion in Grace – thank you! As a reminder, if you would like to order Immersion 2015 or One Glorious Service CDs, please see Rev. Penny immediately following the worship service.
UMW/Man Up
United Methodist Women and “Man Up” will meet Saturday, August 22, at 10:00 am.
All women are invited to attend.
UMNS Weekly Digest
Bishop leads peace trip to Japan, 70 years after bombings
NEW YORK (UMNS) — In early August, United Methodist Bishop Mary Ann Swenson will lead a World Council of Churches delegation to Japan for 70th anniversary commemorations of the atomic bomb attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II. Group members also plan to encourage their governments to ban nuclear weapons. Linda Bloom reports.
Claflin University receives top honors
HAMPTON, Va. (UMNS) — United Methodist-related Claflin University was named the 2015 HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) of the Year at the annual AARP HBCU Awards presented by Hampton University, taking awards for best college and best alumni association. Claflin and other colleges in South Carolina were lauded for standing with their communities in the hours following the historic removal of the Confederate flag.
Liberia honors churches for service during Ebola outbreak
MONROVIA, Liberia (UMNS) — Prayers and action undertaken by the Liberian Council of Churches during the Ebola outbreak of 2014-2015 have been honored by the Liberian government with the distinction of “Commander, Order of the Star of Africa.” Julu Swen, Liberia Conference communicator, has the story.
Commentary: Toward a theology of barbecue
DENVER (UMNS) — “Barbecue, theologically speaking, is about bringing people together, creating a space where we can recognize the divine in each other,” writes Adrian Miller, a certified barbecue judge and lifelong member of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. In a commentary for Duke Divinity School's Faith and Leadership, he writes about barbecue's historic role in church culture, especially the African-American church.
Procession of hopefulness: Church and school partnerships
OMAHA, Neb. (UMNS) — Every afternoon at 3:15, the Rev. Chad Anglemyer watches what he calls “a procession of hopefulness.” He sees 50 or more students making their way across a busy street from nearby Burke High School straight to the doors of St. Luke's Teen Center. That’s just one example of a successful church-school partnership that Vince Isner highlights in Interpreter.
Full versions of the stories with photographs and related features can be found at www.umc.org/news
Save the Dates
Sunday School Explosion!
Sunday, September 20, 2015.
John Elliott Scholarship Program:
Sunday September 20, 2015
Grace UMW- United Methodist Women’s Day
Sunday, September 27th
Be ready to imagine the impossible!
*******************************
Greetings Grace!
In just a few short weeks, our children and youth will be headed back to school.
I remember what it was like having to prepare for a new school year, after a summer of lazy days and staying up all night.
Do you remember what is was like to shop for school clothes, purchase school supplies, and pick out the perfect backpack? I do. I also remember how I felt, anticipating seeing old friends and wondering about meeting new ones.
Custodians are making last minute repairs and cleaning classrooms. Teachers around the metroplex are beginning to prepare classrooms so that they are ready by the time school starts.
What can we do to help prepare our students to get ready for the new year? You guessed it! Lift them up in prayer.
In these next few weeks, I encourage you to lift up in prayer, not just our children and youth, but anyone who may be beginning or returning to school.
Some students will be returning to the school they attended previously while others may be transfering to a new school. Going back to school after being away and establishing new routines, can be overwhelming. However, prayer changes things!
Through prayer we ask God for protection, strength, wisdom, direction. Through the Word, we get a better understanding of what God has promised us. We receive confirmation and clarity from Gods Word.
Joshua reminds us in the following scripture that God is with us wherever we go,
“Have not I commanded you? Be strong, vigorous, and very courageous. Be not afraid, neither be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go”. Joshua 1:9 (AMP)
As we move through these next few weeks, let us all be reminded that God is with us wherever we go because He has already prepared the way.
Blessings & Peace,
Pam Pinkerton
Pastors column
Grace and Peace to you, An Important Announcement!
I bring you good tidings of great joy! After the diligent work of members of the Administrative Council, the Discernment Team, and the Transition Team, the entire Grace UMC Arlington operation is moving to a new location.
This means all of our Worship Services, Bible Studies, Activities, Practices, and Administrative Operations will be relocating to 2020 South Collins Street.
Many of you know this to be the current location of the Church of the Good Shepherd UMC. We will be sharing worship space, classrooms, and office space with wonderful members of COGS (as they affectionately refer to themselves).
The first service at the new location will be Sunday, September 13th, at 9:00 am. During the course of the transition, we will continue to keep everyone updated as to the logistical arrangements of the move. With this being said, I want to thank God, through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who has blessed us to be able to continue striving to walk out our vision of “bringing people into a life changing relationship with Jesus Christ”.
On Sunday, September 2nd, (First Sunday in September), we will show honor to our current sanctuary and holy items, with a wonderful praise celebration as we decommission this sacred space. Let’s continue to thank God for supplying our every need as we, “…walk by faith and not by sight”.
We continue to pray for your growth in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Pastor Bates and Rona
Volunteer Opportunities
Fantastic opportunities available!
Volunteers are needed to service the fellowship activities before our Faith Enrichment Classes. Responsibilities include: setting up the hospitality table, making coffee and purchasing items for our fellowship time. Volunteers are also needed for cleanup afterwards.
For more information and to sign up, please see Pam Pinkerton or Evette Brazille.
***
Volunteers are needed to assist with the children Faith Enrichment classes. Ministry Safe training is required. Please see Wilma Davis for more information.
***
Business students, persons who desire to be business owners, or retired individuals, Interested in learning QuickBooks to help with church books? Please see Phyllis Scott if you are interested.
Thank you!
To everyone who prayed, participated and/or attended the 2015 Immersion in Grace – thank you! As a reminder, if you would like to order Immersion 2015 or One Glorious Service CDs, please see Rev. Penny immediately following the worship service.
UMW/Man Up
United Methodist Women and “Man Up” will meet Saturday, August 22, at 10:00 am.
All women are invited to attend.
UMNS Weekly Digest
Bishop leads peace trip to Japan, 70 years after bombings
NEW YORK (UMNS) — In early August, United Methodist Bishop Mary Ann Swenson will lead a World Council of Churches delegation to Japan for 70th anniversary commemorations of the atomic bomb attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II. Group members also plan to encourage their governments to ban nuclear weapons. Linda Bloom reports.
Claflin University receives top honors
HAMPTON, Va. (UMNS) — United Methodist-related Claflin University was named the 2015 HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) of the Year at the annual AARP HBCU Awards presented by Hampton University, taking awards for best college and best alumni association. Claflin and other colleges in South Carolina were lauded for standing with their communities in the hours following the historic removal of the Confederate flag.
Liberia honors churches for service during Ebola outbreak
MONROVIA, Liberia (UMNS) — Prayers and action undertaken by the Liberian Council of Churches during the Ebola outbreak of 2014-2015 have been honored by the Liberian government with the distinction of “Commander, Order of the Star of Africa.” Julu Swen, Liberia Conference communicator, has the story.
Commentary: Toward a theology of barbecue
DENVER (UMNS) — “Barbecue, theologically speaking, is about bringing people together, creating a space where we can recognize the divine in each other,” writes Adrian Miller, a certified barbecue judge and lifelong member of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. In a commentary for Duke Divinity School's Faith and Leadership, he writes about barbecue's historic role in church culture, especially the African-American church.
Procession of hopefulness: Church and school partnerships
OMAHA, Neb. (UMNS) — Every afternoon at 3:15, the Rev. Chad Anglemyer watches what he calls “a procession of hopefulness.” He sees 50 or more students making their way across a busy street from nearby Burke High School straight to the doors of St. Luke's Teen Center. That’s just one example of a successful church-school partnership that Vince Isner highlights in Interpreter.
Full versions of the stories with photographs and related features can be found at www.umc.org/news
Save the Dates
Sunday School Explosion!
Sunday, September 20, 2015.
John Elliott Scholarship Program:
Sunday September 20, 2015
Grace UMW- United Methodist Women’s Day
Sunday, September 27th