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
denominations, they provide funding for orphan and refugee relief missions and evangelism in East Africa. Money collected is sent directly to partnering bishops to provide school fees, tuition, books, and uniforms for children in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. Drop by the display in the Parish Hall and purchase something and bring a friend! The sale is open to the public on May 1st from 11AM to 2 PM. Clean Water Project: As part of the Millennium Development Goals, efforts ensuring environmental stability were sponsored through Episcopal Development and Relief during the season of Lent. Members of Grace Church contributed $238.34 toward the effort. Harvest for Hospitality: Share with Farmworker Ministry during the Fifty Days of Easter. Harvest for Hospitality is a campaign working to ensure the long-term viability of the Episcopal Farmworker Ministry and its mission. The Episcopal Farmworker Ministry started in 1982 with a single outreach worker who provided transportation to service agencies, assisted with translation, offered English classes and organized recreational activities to the then-mostly Haitian migrant workers. From the start, the goal was to provide comfort and assistance to those toiling under severely challenging conditions, yet whose efforts contributed significantly both to the state’s economy and its residents. Working primarily in the Harnett, Johnston and Sampson County areas, Episcopal Farmworker Ministry focuses on responding to the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of farmworkers in three principal ways:
direct services, such as clothing, food and transportation to medical care and church services developing and supporting programs that work toward the empowerment of farmworkers encouraging leadership development, advocacy and education aimed toward a systematic change of agricultural policy at local and state levels.
The people EFwM serve are not invisible transients; they are real people, with identities and families, hopes and dreams, fears and worries. They are us, because we are all God’s children. We cannot turn our back on our brothers and sisters in need. They do so much for us; it’s time for us
to reciprocate. Please fill the GREEN mite boxes located in the Parish Hall. Bishop Skirving will match $50 for each three contributions of $50 received. Shoe Boxes: Don’t wait for the fall; start working on your contribution to our centennial project of a100 filled shoe boxes for the Christmas Child Project (Samaritan’s Purse). Start NOW! See the from Kay Horne for more instructions. Blessings in a Bottle: Our annual Blessing in a Bottle campaign will be held in May and June. Empty baby bottles will be available on the bookcase by the rector’s office. Please fill your bottle with loose change - no pennies please! - or a check made out to Grace Episcopal Church (memo line: Blessings in a Bottle). Monies collected are used to assist women with crisis pregnancies. Additionally, if you would like to donate supplies to Living Hope Pregnancy Support Services, the center is in need of: spring/summer maternity clothes, all sizes; receiving blankets; diapers and Pull-ups; baby bath soap and lotion; bottles; newborn or size 0 – 3 month size onesies, sleepers, gowns, socks, bibs and outfits; gently used spring/summer clothing, sizes NB – 3T.
Dates to save: Founders’ Day – May 3, 2015; Centennial Celebration – July 19, 2015 Please remember to submit your Grace and Christ the King Story and pictures
Bits and Pieces . . . Former parishioners, Lois and Maurice Cursio, have donated a large vintage crucifix to Grace Church. It will be hung in the foyer at Grace House. A BIG thank you to Sheryl and Gary Bauer for purchasing new energy efficient LED light bulbs for the sanctuary nave. Say goodbye to the strobe effect over the pulpit (we hope!). Congratulations to William Horne on his promotion to Captain, US Army. Next stop:Ft. Hood, Killeen, Texas.
OUR APRIL STEWARDSHP DATE 04/05/15 04/12/15 04/19/15 04/26/15
ATTENDANCE
OFFERING $ 4,390.00 $ 682.00 $ 440.00 $ 7,081.27
Total
$12,593.27
Our weekly Ministry needs are $ 2,487.29
$ 9,949.16 2,644.11 Over
SPECIAL GIFTS______ Families First Cash $ 20.00 Help Mission $ 20.00 Food Pantry $ 200.00 50/50 Farmworkers $ 76.70 Fellowship $ 120.00 Memorials $ 150.00
Budget needs YTD Income YTD
$ 42,283.93 $ 43,367.21
SERVICE SCHEDULE Day/Service
Lectors
Usher/Greeter
Donna T© Ray T
John D
May 31 Trinity Sunday Lisa R Lutheran HE 9:30
Lisa R© Kay H
Bill H
June 7 Pentecost 2 HE II 9:30
Jerry J© Lisa R
John D
May 3 Easter 5 HE II 9:30
Acolytes
May and the first Sunday in June Altar Guild
Fellowship of the day Paula B
Vestry People
same as above
Hillie H
Kay H Connie G
Lynn C Dulcie B
Paula B
Alice M Paula B
Peggy B Ray T Avis H Connie G Shirley Jo S _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ May 10 Jerry J© Bill H Shari G Elsie C Kay H Easter 6 `` Sarah C Kay H Connie G Jerry J H.E. 9:30 Shirley Jo S Lutheran _ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ May 17 same as Easter 7 Connie G Gary B © Jerome W above Alice M John D HE I 9:30 Alice M AliceM ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________ May 24 Ruth G Pentecost Sarah C Jerome W © Willie W Paula B Jamie F Paula B HE II 9:30 Donna T Ray T volunteer
Lisa R
THANKS FOR FINDING A REPLACEMENT (and letting Anne & Connie know) IF YOU CANNOT SERVE YOUR SCHEDULED TIME.
Grace Episcopal Church 105 S Madison Street Whiteville NC 28472
May 2015 Sunday
3 Easter 5
Monday
4
Tuesday
5
9:00 choir 9:30 Episcopal HE II FOUNDERS’ DAY Pot Luck Meal
African Team Min.
10 Easter 6
MOTHERS’ DAY 9:00 choir 9:30 Lutheran HE
17 Easter 7
11 7 PM Compassionate Friends Meeting
18
Wednesday
6
7
6 PM HE II 6:30 Bible study & fellowship meal
5 PM Choir rehearsal
12 noon Clericus 13 @ St. Andrews on the Sound, Wilmington
6 PM HE II 6:30 Bible study & fellowship meal
19
20
9:00 choir 9:30 Episcopal HE II Harvest Boxes Due 31Trinity Sunday 9:00 choir 9:30 Lutheran HE
25 Office Closed 26
27 6 PM HE II 6:30 Bible study & fellowship meal
2 10-11 AM
11 AM-2 PM African Team Min. Open to the public
Fellowship committee sets up for Founders’ Day Pot Luck
8 office closed
15 office closed
21
Saturday
1 office closed
10 am Garden Club set up for meeting
6 PM HE II 6:30 Family Night 6:30 Vestry Mtg
Friday
14 5 PM Choir rehearsal
9:30 Episcopal HE I No music
24 Pentecost
Thursday
9
16
11am-1pm Garden Club mtg. Parish Hall
22 office
23
closed 5 PM Choir rehearsal
28
29 office
5 PM Choir rehearsal NC Synod Assembly Greensboro, NC
closed NC Synod Assembly Greensboro, NC
30 NC Synod Assembly Greensboro. NC