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GRACE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 14521 Northwest Blvd. Corpus Christi, Texas 78410-5501

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Grace United Methodist Church

14521 Northwest Blvd.

Corpus Christi, TX 78410

361.933.0109

www.ccgrace.org

The Good News 2018 Eleven years ago, our current Episcopal leader of the San Antonio Area of the United Methodist Church, Bishop Robert Schnase, wrote a book entitled Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations. This book was widely read and studied throughout the church. In that book, he identifies four of the five practices as Passionate Worship, Intentional Faith Development, Risk-taking Mission, and Service. The first of these practices Bishop Schnase mentions as a practice of a fruitful congregation is Radical Hospitality. One of the things Joan and I have both been struck by from the very beginning since we came to Grace is what an amazing culture of hospitality this congregation has. It’s just in your DNA. I’ve heard many people, even a number of those who have come as guests in the past few months, comment how welcoming this congregation is. When people enter our doors, you make them feel welcome. Our Welcoming Ministries Team is currently making steps toward

building on this strength of Grace by fleshing out our systems of hospitality and following up with people who come to visit. Easter is one of the primary times when folks who don’t normally attend a worship service are more likely to do so. This is an opportunity to practice our gift of hospitality as a congregation – to welcome them, to extend ―radical‖ hospitality on behalf of Christ and the church. However, Bishop Schnase is soon coming out with an updated edition of his book. He says now that as effective as those approaches are, a lot has changed in ten years. These practices outlined in 2007, have as their foundation what might be called an ―attractional‖ model.; how we welcome and engage people who visit our church. His rethinking of this for today shifts from an attractional model to a more missional model; a shift in focus from ―come and see‖ to ―go and do.‖ In the past, churches assumed that people would come to church if it provided excellent, welcoming worship services. Now, we need to learn the importance of taking the Christian faith out into their networks and neighborhoods. Easter is one of the most likely occasions for people who do not regularly attend church to visit a worship service. So it’s certainly important for us to welcome them when they come (and our Welcoming Ministries Team is making great

preparations for that). But there are increasing percentages of people who won’t just show up on their own. So in following Bishop Shnase’s lead, I challenge us to practice radical hospitality before people walk in the door. People who don’t normally attend church, although less likely today than before to come on their own, are much more likely to come if someone they know – like you – invites them. What a powerful thing such an invitation can be. We will begin an Easter sermon series on Easter Sunday, April 1, that will continue for six additional Sundays. It is entitled ―Something New‖ and will reflect on the Book of Acts. What we see in these Scriptures is the early church not waiting for people to come to them, but rather going out into their communities and the world to invite people to share this new life they had experienced through the grace of Jesus Christ. I am hopeful that this series might help those you invite or those who show up on their own on Easter to come back and continue to check out this thing so important in our lives – living as disciples of Jesus Christ in community with others. Walking in Grace,

The Good news

A Moment in Time…

The following was taken from an article found in the newsletter dated Feb. 28, 1978.

How is the world treating you?

When someone asks you this question it is a challenge as well as a greeting, for the world usually treats you the way you treat the world. You get back what you give. The world owes you a living only when it is in debt to you. The first part of the transaction is yours. You must contribute something the world wants and needs before you can honestly say the world owes you anything in return. The needs of the world are varied and great. The world needs youth who will stay in school and study hard enough to equip themselves to handle the kind of jobs that modern technology makes available. While they are in school the world does owe them a living, and this debt is paid through the love and affection of parents, and through opportunities for students themselves to earn at least a part of their way. On a larger scale, the world needs leaders whose aim is to serve the needs of the world for peace and opportunity, for law and order, for freedom and justice, for honor and integrity, for charity and helpfulness and for ethics and morality. The world owes you happiness only when it is in debt to you for living the

kind of life that makes happiness possible. Give to the world a happy, cheerful

disposition and give unselfishly of yourself through service to others. The world

is full of happiness, but your share depends mainly on you. How is the world

treating you? Ask yourself, how am I treating the world? Thought provoking to

be sure.

Mary Lutz Historian

...and the grace news

February 2018

Visitors: Colton Dixon Shawn Freeman Amanda Geary Magdalena Harwood Lisa & Jessalyn Newcomb Janice Radnor

Greg & Deanna Southerland Willie & Marjorie Sparrow Peter & Krystal Vaughn

Average - February

Worship: 8:50 154 11:15 117 Ash Wednesday 151 Nursery: 8 Monthly Average: 279 Small Groups (Sunday School) Average: 112

FINANCIAL REPORT THROUGH

FEB 28, 2018

FEBRUARY Received for Ministries - $71,176.45 Invested in Ministries - $75,381.85

YEAR TO DATE

Received for Ministries - $123,921.11 Invested in Ministries - $131,319.78

14521 Northwest Blvd TMF Loan

Balance January 1, 2018 - $1,800,654.84 Year-to-date Payments $30,128.28

Balance February 28th - $1,770,526.56

Expanding the Mission

Received Year-to-date $30,888.11 Year-to-date Payments $27,800.86

April 2018 Altar Rail Offerings

will go to support Outreach Ministries

Church OfficeChurch Office Main: 361.933.0109 fax: 361.933.0154 Pastors: Reverend Dr. Jason Fry ext 205 revjasonfry@gmail.com Home: 361.933.0702 Cell: 830.992.0181 Reverend Rebekah Rochte ext 204 rebekah.rochte@gmail.com Cell: 540.288.7141 Director of Youth Ministry: Victoria Low ext 203 youth@ccgrace.org Director of Children’s Ministry: Debbie Shannon ext 206 children@ccgrace.org Director of Communication: Kristen Veit ext. 200 communication@ccgrace.org Office Manager: Ira Besse ext 202 graceumc@ccgrace.org Property Manager: Phillip Christian Cell: 361-443-0094 Financial Secretary: Cathy Chaloupka ext 221 finance@ccgrace.org Pianist: Mary Anne Christian musicmamdoremi@gmail.com Director of Music Ministries: Michael Perez michaelkrisperez@yahoo.com Worship Media Coordinator: Landon Horton ccgracemedia@gmail.com Wesley Counselor: Erica Garcia egarcia@mhm.org

Adult Ministries The Young at Heart group will be collecting and recycling #5 Medicine Bottles as an outreach project. We are asking for the congregation’s help. When a large number have been collected, they will be sent to Matthew 25: Ministries.

While many bottles are accepted by this program, we will start by accepting just the #5 amber bottles. How to recycle medicine bottles

In developing countries, medicines—when actually obtainable—are often dispensed into hands, pockets, leaves or any other available container. Matthew 25: Ministries accepts donations of empty plastic pill bottles for inclusion in shipments of medical supplies and for shredding and recycling. The pill bottle program fulfills the dual needs of improving medical care in developing countries and caring for our environment. This plastic recycling program keeps thousands of bottles out of landfills each year.

Please adhere to the following guidelines:

Bottles must have an all plastic lid.

Sort bottles by color and type.

Remove labels, leaving no glue or residue. (Try Olive or Coconut

Oil for best results)

Wash bottles in very hot water and dish soap.

Rinse and dry thoroughly.

Replace lids on clean, dried bottles.

Place clean, recapped bottles in large Ziploc bags marked ―Clean Bottles‖ and placed in the container provided for this in the church entranceway.

Attention Ladies

UMW Meetings in April

UMW JOY Circle will meet on Wednesday, April 11 at 6:30pm in the Oak Park Center. Bring your favorite snack and join us for food, fun and a lesson by Janette Archer entitled Grief and Hope. Hope to see you there.

UMW HOPE Circle will meet on Tuesday, April 17

at 9:15am in the Fellowship Hall. Join us for

refreshments, fellowship and a lesson. Hope to see

you there.

Spring has sprung!!!! It’s time to start cleaning out all your closets to make room for your spring

and summer attire. We’d love to have those gently used treasures to share with the less

fortunate in the community. As always, we are in

need of men’s clothing, especially small sizes, for the homeless who frequent our doors. Thanks

for helping UMW meet our mission goals because

of your generous contributions.

Blood Drive

Update

During the February blood drive we had 21 donors and 5 deferred. Each unit of blood can help as many as three people. Sixty-three lives were saved through your generous giving. Thanks to each of you. Our next blood drive will be in July, plan to donated and receive a voucher to a hooks baseball game. We hope everyone stays healthy, but should you need blood, call the church and they can pass it on to us. We have the paperwork you will need. Give blood, save a life.

Missions and Outreach Update

Mission and Outreach Meeting: Thursday, April 19,

6:00 PM Are you ready to change the world in the name of Jesus Christ? Join us at our next Missions and Outreach meeting as we celebrate the awesome things that have already been done and begin strategizing for mission trips and other efforts the months ahead.

LIVE N LEAP Luncheon & Style Show

The United Methodist Women at Grace presented a Luncheon

and Style Show benefiting Jillian Williams’s LIVE N LEAP foundation on March 24. The event was a huge success!

We could never have held this event without the wonderful

support, from all of you at Grace, who purchased tickets and for

those who donated tickets to others. Thanks to all who made

monetary contributions. Special thanks to the church staff for

their time and efforts. This includes Ira Besse, Phillip Christian,

Ben Perez, and Kristen Veit. Thanks to Hannah Horton for her

help with the music and lighting. A big round of applause goes

to Julie Tilton for planning and presenting the fantastic style

show, from 2 Jewels at 5 Points Shopping Center, using our

outstanding models from Grace UMC.

Revolution Youth WNL… It is a great place to connect with other students and hear biblical teachings on issues students face. Join us every Wednesday during the school year from 6:00pm-8:00pm. There is a meal provided and a donation of $3.00 per person is accepted to cover the cost of food. Revolution Youth Uprising… Sunday morning from 10:00-11:00 The bible is filled with stories of miracles and inspiration, but it wrestles with stories of pain and loss. This month, the youth will be digging into the story of God that we find in the Bible. Revolution Youth Outreach for April 8th… 12:30 Lunch in Youth Cave 1:00-3:00 Thrift Shoppe to help organize and clean 30 Hour Famine!!! Information COMING SOON!

Memories… Colton Dixon Concert

Dear Friends,

What is a disciple? A disciple is a student or follower of a particular teacher. Discipleship, then, is the way we intentionally learn from our teacher and embrace their way of life, becoming more and more like them. As Christians, we are disciples, or students and followers, of Jesus Christ. When we think about examples of the life of discipleship, we immediately think of the twelve disciples who walked with Jesus, or Mary who sat at the feet of Jesus, or the countless people who became part of the early Church. The life of discipleship is about sanctification, i.e. opening ourselves up to how the Holy Spirit is working in us to make us more like Jesus.

Growth as a disciple is not the work of a moment, but the hard and holy work of a lifetime.

After all, as discipleship coach Phil Maynard puts it, ―Discipleship is not just about education. It is about transformation.‖ It is not merely a matter of creedal assent (although that’s important, too!) or a checklist (although there are tools that can help us methodically develop our spiritual lives!), but active, transformational engagement in an embodied faith as we closely follow in the footsteps of our Lord. How do we go deeper with our faith in a way that engages not only our heads, but our hands and hearts as well?

Paul wrote,―Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved

us‖ (Ephesians 5:1-2a). That’s our goal as disciples of Jesus – to be his imitators! We don’t just want to know about Jesus; we want to be like him! As imitators of Christ, we engage in intentional, holistic formation so that we might grow in the knowledge and love of God. The disciple both sits at the feet of Jesus and walks in his footsteps; in so doing, the disciple engages not only in the intellectual and spiritual exercises, but also learns to live as Jesus lives, to want what Jesus wants, to love as Jesus loves.

We are called to help each other and our wider community become deeply committed disciples

of Jesus. I encourage you to reflect on your own faith journey and how you are taking advantage of resources and opportunities that help you deepen your understanding of the things of God. I also challenge you to identify one way you can open yourself up even more to the power of the Holy Spirit at work in you. Maybe you’ll join a class, start a new Bible study group, help out with a mission project, or come to worship more often. Whatever that next step may be for you, know that Pastor Jason and I are here to help you discern what God is calling you toward and how you can continue to grow in having the mind of Jesus Christ our Lord. Yours in Christ,

From Phil Maynard’s Membership to Discipleship (N.p.: Excellence in Ministry Coaching, 2015).

RightNow Media It’s like ―Netflix for Christians,‖ and it’s FREE to you! Explore the huge library of videos that are great tools for group and personal study as well as kid-oriented family fun. Our Grace UMC channel will highlight recommendations that tie into the wider life of the church. Need to set up your account? Contact Pastor Rebekah to receive the invitation email.

Easter Sermon Series – “Something New” It’s difficult to overstate what a cataclysmic event the Resurrection of Christ was in human history – and even the history of the cosmos. Jesus rising from the dead changed everything. And it wasn’t because someone who had died miraculously came back to life. According to what we read in Scripture that had happened before (Lazarus, the widow’s son, Jairus’ daughter – even in the Old Testament, an account of the prophet Elijah bringing the widow’s son back to life). But as miraculous as it was for all these people to be brought back from death – they still all later died. Jesus’ Resurrection really was ―something new.‖ And it didn’t stop there. We begin to see the implications of God bringing about something new in the Book of Acts. This is what we’ll be exploring in the Easter season.

Dinner Disciples Do you like food? Do you like Jesus? Sign up for a dinner group! A variety of times and locations are available for this 6-week adventure in food, fellowship, and faith. There is still time to RSVP, so contact Pastor Rebekah to help you find a group!

We Have an App! Connect with us on your phone! Download the ―My Church‖ app by eChurch and look up Grace United Methodist Church or enter the keyword ccgrace to link up with us. Check back for announcements, interactive Points to Ponder, devotionals, class registration, and more!

Classes available for 2-4 years old,

K-2nd Grades, 3rd–5th Grades

Wednesday Night Live 6-8pm

Kinder-5th grade Dinner, Activities, Games,

Lessons and FUN!!!

While children are always welcome

in Worship, childcare is provided

for children, Newborn - 3-years-old

in the nursery by an excellent staff

trained in CPR and First Aid.

Mark Your Caledars…

VBS 2018

July 8 - July 12