Grace Notes Newsletter - October 2020

Happy October All!

Your Grace Notes newsletter is in email form this October 1 - Or subscribe to this blog. I would like to let you know I’ll be in the Church Office afternoons, Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursdays until 4 pm in the Month of October. 

Notes of thanks:

The Hahn family would like to thank our Grace church friends for the prayers, cards, and messages of concern and sympathy due to the loss of our Mother. The lovely cards brought us peace and comfort during this difficult time. We have missed our church family and look forward to seeing everyone again soon. Sincerely, Rob and Gail Hahn

Again, dear friends, I wanted to say how wonderful it was for Dan and me to see your faces and participate in the Grace Charge Conference [Saturday, Sept 26].  I never thought I would be able to do this again, so it was very special for me.  (Amazing how ordinary things become so special—and bad things like Covid-19 have unexpected silver linings.) We are so grateful to be with our children and grandchildren in California, but it goes without saying that because of the many years I spent with you I still miss Virginia and my Grace Church and Middletown friends very much. Blessings to all until we meet again! Susan Garrett 

It was a great pleasure for me to meet with all my Grace Church friends. Blessings in your vital ministry. Christopher Morse

Great seeing all of you today. All of you looked so wonderful. Thanks to all of you for the hard work. We had attendees from NY to California! I'm not sure any other Charge Conference will be like this for Steve this year! Clay Knick

Note: the Charge Conference reports which includes reports from the pastors above is viewable HERE. A printed booklet will be available sometime this month.

Youth Project: Breakfast items collected Sat Oct 24

Thank you to all who donated to the school supply drop off for Bright Futures in August.  We collected seven over-flowing tubs of school supplies.

On Saturday, Oct 24 starting at 10:00 the Youth Group will be collecting breakfast items for Bright Futures in a similar drop off method. 

Items needed:  granola or breakfast bars, single serve applesauce, individual packages of oatmeal, pop tarts, etc.  Thank you very much for those willing to help feed breakfast to our school children in our community. For more information contact Charlie and Lisa Higgs or Lisa Knick.  

Healthy Church Team Met September 8

Attending:  Clay Knick, Sherry Jenkins, Randy Jenkins, Betsy Jenkins, Katie Fauver, Carolyn Bell

Clay opened the meeting with prayer.  He reported that he gave Mary Lou and Lucy permission to go down to Thrift Shop and clean and put things away, which they have done.  The Thrift Shop will remain closed.  Mayor Charles Harbaugh had previously contacted Clay about using the church kitchen for the Farm to Table event.  He was told this would not be allowed.  There have been no other requests from individuals or groups to use the building, but should there be they will not be allowed.  Clay said Robin is coming in to the office periodically.  Carolyn suggested that there be a dedicated time/day that she is in the office so members know when she is there if they need information. 

Katie Fauver provided the latest Covid-19 Data for the area.  She said that the trend for positive cases has recently been trending down, however with school starting and the recent Labor Day holiday we may well see an increase in cases in the next few weeks.  Her recommendation is that the church remains closed at this time.  Everyone was in agreement.  Sermons will continue to be available on the Church’s website, Facebook and YouTube.  It is also available through a Sermon by Phone option.  Clay noted that there has been an increase in viewers of sermons recently.

Carolyn gave a brief financial report that donations for August were nearly $17,500 and expenses were $12,150.  Financially we are doing well and meeting all obligations.

The next Healthy Church Team meeting will be Monday, November 9, 2020. There being no further business the meeting was adjourned. Respectfully submitted, Carolyn Bell

COVID-19 Data as of: Monday, September 7, 2020

• Cases: 6,226,879
• Deaths: 188,051
• New cases in last 7 days: 292,055

Virginia:

• Total Cases: 127,571
• Total Hospitalizations: 9,902
• Total Deaths: 2,684

(Fairfax County and Prince William County have highest number of cases in VA)

UMCOR continues to help those affected by natural disasters. The need from recent storms, winds, wildfires is great. Click here to help if you can. 

AbbaCare and Other VA Pregnancy Centers Targeted

In recent weeks, some organizations who believe differently about the abortion issue have made malicious accusations and false claims against many Virginia pregnancy centers, including AbbaCare, in the media. These unfounded and unsolicited allegations are meant to discredit the compassionate work and professional reputation of AbbaCare and others like us. We also have reason to believe that the attacks may be a precursor to legislation that these groups plan to introduce in the Virginia legislature early in 2021. As a friend of AbbaCare, you can support us in these difficult times by:

• Remembering our ministry in your prayers, as we respond with truth and grace to any inquiries that may come our way.
• Staying informed about any new legislation that may target life-affirming pregnancy centers in Virginia in the coming months.
• Contacting us directly with any questions or concerns.

As always, we rest in the truth of 2 Timothy 1:7 - "For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." Thank you for your love, encouragement, and support as we stand for life in an increasingly hostile culture.

Race Relations Conversations facilitated by Rev. Jean McDonald-Walker and Mrs. Sadie Nelson, based on the book Be the Bridge: Pursuing God's Heart for Racial Reconciliation. Starting on Thursday, October 8 at 6:00 pm. Please join us for this opportunity to study the book & engage in conversations on racial reconciliation. Please email vamarketst@gmail.com if you would like to participate.  We will send you the Zoom link. Thank you, hope to be in conversation with you! Keiko Foster (Market Street UMC)

'Dismantling Racism' Events Around the connection, United Methodists are gathering online and in-person to do the difficult work of dismantling racism. Find an event to attend or watch the video of one that has already occurred.

Upper Room - Because Grace subscribes to The Upper Room daily devotional, we are reaching out to you to offer additional resources (free of charge) for responding to the presence and call of the Good Shepherd in the midst of such unsettling times. We are experiencing the convergence of at least three storms—pandemic, economic downturn, and social upheaval over the bitter fruit of persistent racism. Where is God in the midst of this “perfect storm”? How do we hear and respond to God’s presence and call in the midst of such anxiety and anger? These are the pastoral challenges for which we offer these resources. 

Morning Prayer with The Upper Room via Facebook Live, every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 11 a.m. (CT). These guided prayer experiences are archived so you may join us at your convenience if you miss it live. 

Resources for Spiritual Wellness in Anxious Times. For navigating the pandemic, this link makes available to you a robust list of timely practices—for individuals and families as well as your faith leaders. Included are digital devotionals, videos, eCourses, podcasts, etc., all of which can be accessed and distributed free of charge to everyone in your congregation.  

A PDF File of the September/October issue of The Upper Room is available to our standing order churches. Because you are a paid subscriber, we want to provide this service to you since we realize many readers are currently reticent or unable to pick up their copy of the devotional guide because of the virus or closed church office.

Also note the Upper Room devotionals continue to be available here at Church. Please feel free to pick one up during office hours.

The November newsletter deadline is October 27 by Noon. Please share notes of thanks and Thanksgiving greetings and pictures. 

As always you can catch video of Pastor Knick on Sunday mornings at 10 am on Facebook. It will also be posted on YouTube and our Blog as soon as I can get to it. If you know someone with no Internet access, please do share our Sermon by Phone number: 1-540-283-9254. I usually have the latest sermon loaded by Monday.

Here is the Blog Post for this last Sunday. In my opinion this was a great sermon to listen to this week in particular with the debates coming up, then again after!

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