March 2018

ALL CHURCH POTLUCK

We will be having a pot luck after church on Sunday, March 4. Please bring a dish and join us.

MID-DAY PRAYER SERVICE

The Mid-Day Prayer Service will be held at noon on March 22, 2018 in the Koinonia Room (former parlor). The Worship Team invites you to join them in this time of prayer for the church, its members and staff, our guests, our neighbors, our communi-ty, our country, and our world. This short service also includes commun-ion and a time of quiet reflection.

EASTER TULIPS

This year we are only using tulips to decorate the sanctuary for Easter Sunday as many of our members experience severe allergies to lilies. There is a sign up sheet in the nar-thex if you would like to purchase tulips for this service. The cost is $15 per container and you may take them home following the Easter service.

Good News from…

HOLY WEEK EVENTS

PALM SUNDAY - At our 11:00 a.m. worship service on Palm Sunday, March 25, you are invited to pick up a palm branch as you enter the sanctuary and remember Jesus’ trium-phant entry into Jerusalem. During the first hymn, our choir will process into the sanctu-ary carrying palms and then place them at the foot of the cross. You are invited to follow the choir during this processional and then place your palm at the foot of the cross.

This year we are using palms for the service from the Presbyterian Hunger Program Eco-Palms Sunday project. By purchasing Eco-Palms, we are helping to provide fair wages, environmental protection, and development assistance for impoverished harvesting communities in Guatemala and Mexico.

GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE - On Thursday, March 29, noon to 8:30 p.m., you will have the opportunity to spend time in silent prayer and reflection, to watch and pray, in the columbarium courtyard next to the Koinonia Room. Prayer materials will be available. In the event of inclement weather, we will be in the Koinonia Room (former parlor). If you would like to help set up the Garden of Gethsemane, please contact Chris Laufer, 432.978.5801, or Barbara Wischmeier, 816.225.4411.

Jesus used the phrase, “watch and pray” on the night before his crucifixion. He took Peter, James, and John with him to the Garden of Gethsemane where he spent time in prayer. When he finished, Jesus discovered his disciples were fast asleep and he grieved that they could not even pray with him for an hour. Jesus warned them to “watch and pray” so that they would not fall into temptation.

MAUNDY THURSDAY - We’ll hold our Maundy Thursday observance on March 29, in the fellowship hall starting with a soup supper at 6:15 p.m. followed by the worship service at 7:00 p.m. Please join your Grace family around the table as we remember Jesus’ last supper with his disciples.

GOOD FRIDAY TENEBRAE SERVICE - On Good Friday, March 30, our Service of

Tenebrae will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the sanctuary at Grace. This somber service provides

us with the opportunity to remember the events of Good Friday, nail our sins to the

cross, strip the paraments from the worship space, and drape the cross. Everyone is

asked to depart in silence, reflecting on the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ.

EASTER SUNDAY— On April 1, the morning will start with an Easter breakfast at 10:00 a.m. in the fellowship hall. An Easter egg hunt will follow at 10:30 a.m. Also at 10:30 a.m., we will begin to flower the cross in the sanctuary. You may bring flowers from your garden or the store. Extra flowers will also be available. Worship will begin in the sanctuary at 11:00 a.m.

Grace Presbyterian Church

The people of Grace Presbyterian Church gather to seek and to worship God, and disperse, sharing and celebrating through love and service,

the grace of God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit..

FLOWERS

If you would like to order flowers for our Sunday worship services, there is a sign up calendar in the Narthex. The cost has increased to $50 per service. If you pay by check, please note in the memo line that it is for flowers. This will help us greatly with our ac-counting. Thank you!

This is another gentle reminder for those of you who have ordered special flowers for one or more Sunday worship services. If you haven’t paid for your flowers yet, please do so soon. Thank you in advance from your Worship Team.

SHARE YOUR STORIES

~ Star Word Stories: We each re-ceived a “Star Word” on Epiphany Sunday – a word/gift for us to pray about and see how the Holy Spirit might work in our lives through this word/gift. If you have a Star Word story to share, please let Cheryl Homsher know, and we’ll figure out a way for that to happen (if you didn’t get a Star Word, words are still available in a basket in the narthex – feel free to pick one; or let me know, and I’ll pick one to send to you)

~ Manna Bag Stories: If you have a good story to share about giving away one of our Manna Bags, please let Cheryl Homsher know and we’ll figure out a way for you to make that happen. (pastorcheryl@suddenlinkmail.com)

COMMUNION PREPARATION

The Worship Team is looking for four teams of volunteers to pre-pare the communion elements on a quarterly rotation. Please visit with Chris Laufer (cclaufer@sbcglobal.net) or Jan McDaniel (saxlady@bjmcdaniel.net) if you are interested in helping with this ministry.

GRACE LAWN MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE for 2018

WEEK DUTIES

Mower Weed Wacker Blower Remarks

Mar 25-31 Rane W. Rane W. Rane W.

Workday 24th

Apr 8-15 Ralph T.

Apr 22-28 Stu D. B J

May 6-13 B J

May 27-Jun 3 Ralph T. Craig B.

17-Jun 24-Jun Rane W. Rane W. Rane W.

8-Jul 15-Jul Craig B.

29-Jul 5-Aug Hycent W. Hycent W. B J

19-Aug 26-Aug Hycent W. Hycent W.

9-Sep 16-Sep Stu D. B J

30-Sep 7-Oct Ralph T.

Rane W. Rane W. Rane W. Workday 27th

21-Oct 28-Oct

PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS: The family of Jennifer Snell (died Feb. 9); Rudy Rendall (Mabee Center Re-hab); Dan Foreman (hospice); Homebound members Barbara McWilliams, Charlene White, and Audrey Larson; Raquel Mendoza (cancer); Sylvia Laufer (surgery); baby Jeffery Laufer (tests); St. Andrews Presbyterian Mission; New-ly installed elders: Hycent Angwafo, Jim Blischke, Judy Brown, Alana Carl, Judia Foreman, Jeff Laufer; Our Iraqi city prayer partner, Samawah.

2018 budget

Volunteers needed

Line Items Estimate Costs for 2017 2018 Budget

RECEIPTS

COTJ 5,280.00$ 9,000.00$

Net Royalty Interest 274.23$ 250.00$

Loose Offering 46,106.38$ 34,000.00$

Pledges 245,874.11$ 204,926.00$

Total RECEIPTS 297,534.72$ 248,176.00$

EXPENDITURE 297,534.72$ 248,176.00$

Total BLDG & GROUNDS 45,075.88$ 38,730.00$

Total CHRISTIAN ED 5,170.27$ 4,422.00$

Total SERVICE 2,850.00$ 2,850.00$

Total MISSION 32,605.99$ 20,000.00$

Total ADMIN/FINANCE 25,207.05$ 23,105.00$

Total PERSONNEL 172,090.15$ 175,604.10$

Total WORSHIP 14,728.17$ 6,000.00$

Total Expense 297,727.51$ 270,711.10$

DIFFERENCE (22,535.10)$ -8.3%

ST. ANDREWS MISSION

With a heavy heart but hope for a rejuvenated future, the Board of St. Andrews Presbyterian Mis-sion has closed the preschool three and four year old pro-grams effective the end of the school year due to financial is-sues. With a declining enroll-ment in part due to other educa-tional programs available locally as well as decreased contribu-tions, the Mission can no longer afford the classroom programs.

For the time being, St. Andrews Mission will continue to offer utility and prescription assis-tance to needy seniors, veterans and other Midland County resi-dents with donated funds, the Atmos Energy ‘Share the Warmth’ program, and the Abell-Hanger Utility Assistance Program. Additionally, the Socks and Underwear Program

is still on the agenda and the food pantry is still available.

Meanwhile we are seeking your enthusiasm, ideas, and help to ascertain what else God may be calling us to do for those less fortunate in Midland or even a way to reinvent our school pro-gram. Any ideas for new pro-grams, other churches that might join us in our efforts, or other non-profit organizations that might share the beautiful building, etc. are welcome. Please watch for a special Mis-sion committee meeting to share your thoughts soon.

If you have any questions, thoughts, or inspiration, please do not hesitate to talk with the current Grace Board members, Suzi Thompson, Judy Brown, Judia Foreman, or David McWilliams.

MISSION

The Service Team has designated the month of March as Breaking Bread Kitchens food drive month. Breaking Bread Kitchens is in extreme need of canned vegeta-bles and ranch dressing. They will accept any variety of vegeta-ble. Large cans are preferable as are large bottles of ranch dress-ing. You can drop off your food items in the Narthex and they will be delivered to Breaking Bread Kitchens. Also don’t forget that Grace volunteers to work at the kitchen every third Friday of the month. Please keep Breaking Bread Kitchens and their work to feed the needy of our community in your prayers.

BREAKING BREAD

Breaking Bread Kitchen serves hot meals five days week, often serv-ing over 100 meals an evening to people in need. Join us every third Friday of the month and lend a helping hand at the service line, pour a glass of tea or water for Breaking Bread Kitchen’s patrons or even scrub a pan or wash the tables.

Next Serving date: Friday, March 16

meet at the church by 4:45 p.m. or at Breaking Bread by 5:15 p.m.

OUR ANNUAL CHURCH RETREAT

Our Church Family Retreat has been cancelled. We were required to reach a minimum attendance of 20 members. We fell shy of that amount so regretfully we will not be able to keep our arrangements for the April trip. We will have the opportunity to gather together next summer.

THANK YOU RULING ELDERS!

We extend a heartfelt thank you to our church lead-ers who have recently completed their terms on the session (governing council). Ruling elder Suzi Thomp-son has served on the Worship Team and the Service Team ; Ruling elder Ralph Truszkowski has served on the Christian Education Team and the Resource Team; Ruling elder Kay Brockman has served on the Resource Team and the Worship Team. While they are getting a break from leadership roles, we know that ruling elders as spiritual leaders, are ordained for life. We appreciate their continued prayerful pres-ence among us as their ministry takes new forms.

We are grateful for the newly ordained and installed elders who will be serving in the years ahead: Hycent Angwafo, Jim Blischke, Judy Brown, Alana Carl (youth elder), Judia Foreman, and Jeff Laufer. Welcome to this ministry!

THANK YOU Dear Grace Carolers, What a joy to see the smile on Dan’s face as he joined you from the chair in rejoicing in Christmas carols. The songs and the delicious treats warmed our hearts as we celebrated with the carolers.

God bless, Judia and Dan

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

John McDaniel 3/02, Jim O’Briant 3/03,

Joshua Piper 3/03, Madilyn Boaz 3/5,

Stu Dirks 3/07, Megan Renee Rico 3/08,

Jake Laufer 3/09, Mary Taylor 3/10,

Danny Koonce 3/11, Kelsey Carl 3/12,

Cheryl Homsher 3/13, Austin Killam 3/13,

Joy Alexander 3/14, Roger Artley 3/20,

Nora Delting 3/20, Kathy Embry 3/24,

Albert Karch 3/31

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

Ryan & Elyse Starr 3/04,

Mark & Susan Kelley 3/17

VOLUNTEER COMMUNION SERVERS

March 4: Kevin Miller, Jan McDaniel, Alana Carl,

Chris Laufer, Jim Blischke

ASSISTING ELDER: Jan McDaniel

GREETER: Roger Clark

USHERS:

March 4: need volunteers

March 11: need volunteers

March 18: need volunteers

March 25: need volunteers

TIME WITH YOUNG

DISCIPLES

March 11: Chris Laufer

March 18: Mary Taylor

March 25: Suzi Thompson

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Midland, Texas Permit No. 384

Grace Presbyterian

Church

2801 N. Garfield Midland, Texas 79705 432-684-6542 Fax: 432-684-3892 Web address: gracemidlandtx.org Email address: gracemidland@suddenlinkmail.com

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Good News from Grace is published monthly. Newsletter articles are due March 21, 2018 for March 26, 2018

Pastor: The Reverend Cheryl Homsher Administrator: Adalinda Carl; Director of Music: Barbara Wischmeier;

Director of Children Ministries: Kelcy Truszkowski Presbyterian Children’s Homes & Services Specialist: Brenda Seller