The Apostle monthly newsletter for
Grace Episcopal Church 105 S Madison Street, Whiteville, NC, 28472 www.gracechrist.com T: 910.642.4784
PLEASE KEEP IN YOUR PRAYERS: Peggy Blackmon, Carol and Jacob Brack, The Deans Family, Brenda Horne (our church housekeeper), Ruth & Johnnie B. Glass, Shirley Jo and Seth Smith Sr., Harold & Marie Hughes, Jack & Alice Babb, Lisa Richey’s mother (Edna Bearnes), Elsie Campbell’s niece (Brenda), Jerry Jupina’s brother (Michael), the Jupina’s daughter (Vicki Di Muzio), Margaret Palmer’s father (Shep), Peggy Blackmon’s sister-in-law (Jennifer Yoder), Kay Horne’s uncle (Jack Terrell), Jacqui Lye’s husband (Michael Newton), Alice Murphy’s brother (Tony), Amy Strickland’s nephew (Wesley), all in war’s way, the unemployed, underemployed, and those in financial crises. A complete list of prayer requests is located in the on the bulletin board by the rector’s office.
The Feast of Pentecost – May 24th The Feast of Pentecost commemorates the gift of the Holy Spirit and marks the birthday of the Church. Please wear red on Sunday, May24 to help celebrate this joyous day.
including the Lutherans of Christ the King
May 2015 Loving God, as a mother gives life and nourishment to her children, so you watch over your Church. Bless these women, that they may be strengthened as Christian mothers. Let the example of their faith and love shine forth. Grant that we, their sons and daughters, may honor them always with a spirit of respect. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen. North Carolina Synod Assembly (ELCA) The Synod Assembly is the official annual gathering of the NC Synod of the ELCA for the purpose of conducting business as well as gathering together for worship, learning and fellowship. This year, the proceedings of the Assembly will be live streamed. For further information, see the assembly web page at http://www.nclutheran.org/about/assembly.php. After faithfully serving for over 18 years, the Rev. Dr. Leonard H. Bolick, bishop of the NC Synod-ELCA, is retiring. An election for the new bishop will be held at the 2015 NC Synod Assembly. For more information see http://www.nclutheran.org/about/bishoptransition.php. The newly elected bishop will be installed on September 12, 2015 at Christ Lutheran Church, Charlotte, NC.
A big THANK YOU to Jamie Faulk and the choir for the glorious and spirited music at our Easter service and to the Altar/Flower Guild for the floral arrangements. Alleluia! Christ is alive!
A Pot Luck Lunch will be held following the service on Founders’ Day, May 3. Please sign up on the sheet posted on the bulletin board by the rector’s office. Bring a dish to share and enjoy the food and fellowship as we view a slide show of parish pictures. The ‘sermon time’ that day will be a brief reading of our parish history. Sunday, May 10 is Mother's Day. Mother’s Day is essentially a secular holiday, yet Christians have, throughout our history, taken that which is secular and re-visioned it with sensitivities of our faith and thereby elevated that expression into something deeper – in this case – Motherhood as part of the Divine Plan. That said, Motherhood and the relationships thereof, are fraught with all the dynamics of human relationships. With that in mind, may we all give thanks for our mothers with this prayer:
BUILDINGS & GROUNDS Repair of the rotted fascia board at Grace House has been completed. A contractor has been selected and work will begin soon on the interior repair of the damaged dry wall. An electrician has been contacted to replace the bulbs in the sanctuary (hopefully eliminating the ‘strope light’ effect over the pulpit). Plans are going forward to clean and whiten the riser faces of the church and office steps.
OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES - How YOU can serve African Team Ministries will be here April 26 through May 3, just in time for Mothers’ Day. Want to give an unusual gift? Looking for a unique treat for yourself? During the first two weeks of May, we’ll be selling craft items and jewelry from East Africa. African Team Ministries is a Christian ministry working as an intermediary between African and American churches. With help from Episcopal, Methodist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, and Anglican