From the Editor

 

Several nights ago when we were in the midst of one of our spring monsoons, the cats had all found comfortable, safe places – one was hiding under the bed, another on top if the refrigerator, and Reuben, Killer Extraordinaire, was in bed with me, lying on top of my chest.  Suddenly a horrendous clap of thunder sounded right outside the window.

“YAGHH!!” says I, as Reuben digs in with all four paws and bolts across the room.  Talk about getting your attention . . .  I couldn’t blame him; it was that kind of thunderclap.

Looking down I saw, like tire treads in the dust, a double row of claw marks oozing fresh blood across my chest.

It was hours before I saw any of the critters after that.

 

What gets your attention?  Drop us a line and tell us about it!

 

Carl

 

 

 

 

 

 

newsletter@grace-pres.org

 

Our Worship Schedule

Contemporary Service
Sunday School hour Traditional Service          

8:45 - 9:45
10:00 - 11:00
11:15 - 12:15

Grace Presbyterian Sunday School

Nursery – Room 103

Kathe Walker

Judy Thigpen

 

 

 

2 Year – Pre-K – Room 112

Wendi Glenn

Frances Kitterman

We Believe

Debbie Metoyer

 

 

 

 

K – 5 – Room 117

Susan Lawson

Michelle Miles

We Believe

Cathy Bendall

 

 

 

 

6th Grade – Up – Room 109               

Carl Jones

 

Contemporary Issues

Discussion – Sometimes from the Bible, sometimes from curent events, exploring the question “Just what does this mean to us?”

 

 

 

Adults

 

 

 

In-Betweeners – Library

 

Discussion – This is a new adult class for young adults, college aged through 30’s.  Clyde Getman will help coordinate class materials

 

 

 

 

Bible Discovery – Session Rm.

John Dotson

Bill Bendall

 

Study – I Corinthians

 

 

 

 

Friendship Class – Room 101

John Price

 

 

Discussion – Book of Acts, Titus

 

 

Call Sara Lawson, S.S. Superintendent, 867-3431, or Suzanne Getman, Asst. Superintendent, 382-7777 with questions or if you are interested in joining one of these classes.

From the Pastor

EXPLORING FREEDOM

When Patrick Henry proclaimed the famous statement, “Give me liberty or give me death,” everyone in the room knew what he meant. Henry believed that all people were created to live free from the bonds of tyranny. Consequently, a war was fought and thousands died to secure that freedom for us as citizens of the United States.

 

When the apostle Paul wrote, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free,” the churches in Galatia knew what he meant. One had died to secure the freedom for all who would believe. Just as Paul did not want the Christians in Galatia to become slaves to the tyranny of the law, neither does he want those of us who believe now to live in bondage to the law either.

 

Martin Luther called Paul’s letter to the Galatians, “the Magna Carte of Christian liberty.” A letter regarded with such esteem by someone so prominent as Luther and with such a powerful message imbedded in it deserves our close attention. That is why I will be preaching a series of sermons on the central theme of Galatians, which is freedom.

 

Beginning the second Sunday of May and going through the first Sunday of June we will learn about the cost, the fear, the benefits and the responsibilities of our freedom in Christ.

 

I urge you to read this little letter to the church in Galatia so that you may gain a richer understanding of this great freedom that was won for us at such a great cost.  

 

Grace and Peace,

Larry

 

Katelyn Vawter graduates from University of Memphis on May 3 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Theater and a minor in English literature, magna cum laude.  Her parents, Bob and Janet Vawter, are very proud of her accomplishments.  Katelyn has accepted a position with the traveling Missoula Children's Theater out of Missoula, Montana.  She leaves May 26.  Ask her about her new job!  She is excited about it!

 

Did You Know . . .

How the Third Thursday Dutch Treat lunch at O’Charley’s started?  Several years ago one of our members invited a visitor to join her for lunch at O’Charley’s Restaurant.  This member thought it would be fun to invite other members to join them so the visitor could get to know members from our church.  Eleven ladies attended that first lunch and decided this would be a good event to have each month.  Since they met on the Third Thursday of the month they decided to continue with that date.  By the way, the visitor became a member of the church soon after the lunch event.

 

 

Circle Meetings For May

Circle # 1                Tuesday May 13, 2008 at 10:00 AM at the church

 

Circle # 2                Tuesday May 13, 2008 at 10:00  AM at the home of Rosalie Fox.

 

Circle # 3                Tuesday May 20, 2008 at 10:00 AM at the church and go to lunch after the Bible Study

 

Circle # 4                Monday May 12, 2008 at 7:00 PM at the church

 

Board meeting        Monday May 19, 2008 (NOTE THE DATE CHANGE) at 7:00 PM at the home of  Jan Evans.

Children’s Ministry Enrichment Training

Don’t miss this awesome opportunity to enrich your skills with Children’s Ministry!

 Whether you are a Sunday School Teacher, Event Planner, Children’s Church Volunteer , or VBS Volunteer or just an all around helper this training is for you.  Let’s be faithful stewards of this valuable time for God’s Children.


Topics include: 

·         Check your Commitment

·         Check your Preparation

·         Check your Understanding of Children

·         Check your Patience

·         Check your Discipline – make it Disciple

·         Check how interesting you are

·         Check your ability to Involve Children

·         And much, much more!

Join Beth Turner @ one of the two scheduled dates coming soon @ Grace. 

Sunday, April 27th @ 2:30 –4:30

OR

Sunday, May 4th @ 2:30 – 4:30

KidsOwn Worship® Children’s Church

Is coming to Grace – Starting May 18th !!!!

Touching the heart of God, changing the hearts of kids!

Offered during 8:45 AM and 11:00AM worship services.

Children 4 years old through the 4th Grade are encouraged to attend- they will process out of the Sanctuary just after the Children in the Chancel – Children’s Time each Sunday.  Children’s Church will be held in the Mother’s Day out room adjacent to the Nursery.

5th grade – high school young people will be encouraged to be CC Assistants learning Leadership skills and supporting the younger children of the Church.

At KidsOwn Worship® Children’s Church, kids sing…shout…and celebrate God’s  goodness and love.  Program components include:

·         Bible theme each week

·         Interactive Bible Adventures

·         Interactive creative participation in prayer

·         Offering

·         Children’s Worship  music and motions

·         Science experiments

·         Object lessons

·         Video clips

·         Theophilus the Faith retriever Puppet

and Much much more!  

Children’s Church is where Grace’s preschoolers and elementary children will build their worship foundation. The curriculum is designed to go through every bible book & significant scripture story every four years.

When Children Worship God AMAZING things happen!

 

Leading or helping with children’s church lessons is easy!

These easy-to-use children’s church resource makes leading children’s worship time a snap! This Children’s church program will give us all we need in each quarterly kit to produce —13 engaging, 45 minute sessions that get your kids exploring why God is worthy of their praise. Prep time for leaders is approximately 1 – 1 ½ hours . 

This kids’ church program is ready to go—and you’ll love participating in it! I have participated in starting, coordinating and leading CC at our last two churches.  It has been a blessing in my life. 

We have most all our leaders designated – but still in need of some extra hands – requiring no preparation.  Thank you to all who have supported me in getting Kids Own Worship going. 

If you have a love for Children and desire to equip the children of Grace please prayerfully consider how you might be used in this vital new ministry.  Men as well as Women and Young adults are encouraged to volunteer.  I get excited just talking about it!  See me at church or Call me to discuss how you might be involved.  907-9454

In Him, 

Beth Turner

 

From the Presbyterian Women

On April 4, 2008 all of us at Grace Presbyterian lost one of our PW faithful, Sandy Harrold.  Sandy was an active member of PW attending her Circle meetings, leading the Bible Study and participating in all the PW activities.  We all remember her beautiful smile as she sang in the Chancel Choir, played in the Bell Choir, participated as a volunteer with the Boy Scouts of America and served as a member of the Raleigh-Bartlett Civitan Club.  Sandy was an avid quilter and an accomplished decorative artist.  She displayed her talent at many crafts fairs.  Many of us own lovely decorative wooden figures that she made and we will always cherish.  Sandy leaves her husband, Bob, two sons, David and Michael plus two daughters-in-law and five grandchildren.  A lovely Memorial Service was held at Grace Presbyterian Church on Wednesday April 16, 2008 followed by a reception hosted by Grace Presbyterian Women.  All of us are so thankful to God that we were able to know and love our sister, Sandy.

 

 

 

Spring Gathering

 

Twelve members from Grace Presbyterian Church attended the PW Annual Gathering at Parkway Gardens United Church on Saturday, April 5, 2008. Jean Starnes, Annual Gathering Chair and Spiritual Enrichment Rep., Jean Markham, Search Committee Chair, Dot Hathaway, Historian and Sara Lawson, Newsletter Editor were thanked for their participation on the PW Coordinating Team for 2007.  Dot Hathaway, Historian and Sara Lawson, Newsletter Editor were welcomed to the PW Coordinating Team for 2008.  Congratulations to our four PW from Grace Presbyterian.  Grace PW was awarded a $100.00 grant to be used for gasoline for our church van.  This grant was given to Day Trippers for use of scheduled trips  without putting a financial burden on the participants. Sandy Kehrli was recognized as a recipient of The Honorary Life Membership for 2007 from Grace Presbyterian PW.

 

May 2008

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

 

4 

Silent Auction

Continues

Bell Choir

5:00 pm

Youth Study 6pm

5

Boy Scouts

7:00 pm

6

Congregational Life 7:00 pm

Boy/Cub Scouts

7:00 pm

7

Property Committee  6:30pm

Youth B S – 6:30pm

Choir – 7:30 pm

11

No Youth Group Meeting

12

Commitment  Committee

7:00 pm

Boy Scouts

7:00 pm

13

Pre-school graduation

6:00 pm

Boy/Cub Scouts

7:00 pm

14

Youth Bible Study

6:30 pm

Choir – 7:30 pm

18

Children’s Church Begins

Youth Picnic

Worship Comm. 3:30pm

Bell Choir -5:00 pm

 

19

Session – 7:00 pm

Boy Scouts

7:00 pm

20

Boy Scouts/Cub Scouts

7:00 pm

21

Youth Bible Study

6:30 pm

Choir – 7:30 pm

25

Bell Choir

5:00 pm

YAP Game Night 6pm

26

Boy Scouts

7:00 pm

27

Boy Scouts/Cub Scouts

7:00 pm

28

Youth Bible Study

6:30 pm

Choir – 7:30 pm

 

 

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

1

 Praise Band

6:00 to 8:00 pm

Christian Ed.

6:30 pm

 2

 3

 Silent Auction

  in sanctuary                

8

Praise Band

6:00 to 8:00 pm

9

 

10

Scrapbooking in

Sanctuary

3:00 to 11:00 pm

15

Praise Band

6:00 to 8:00 pm

16

17

Youth Yard Sale 8am

22

23

24

29

Praise Band

6:00 to 8:00 pm

30

Game Night

Youth Lock-In 7pm

31