IN THIS ISSUE

January 2017 Scriptures, Greeters, etc. 2 Calendar 3

Sunday School 4

Children’s Activity 5

Upcoming Events 6,7

Tidbits 8

New Member Spotlight 9

Missions 10,11

Choir 12

Weekly Education 13

Year End Information 14

Trustees 15

A Special Thank You 15

From the Pastor Back page

Celebrating God’s love, seeking God’s direction together

Growing In Grace A publication of Grace United

Methodist Church 1209 Country Club Road

Newport News, VA 23606 (757)595-0017

www.graceumcnn.org admin@graceumc.hrcoxmail.com

Pastor: Rev. Hank Teague

hankteague@vaumc.org

Sunday Services: Early Worship: 8:45 am

Traditional Worship: 11:00 a.m.

Sunday School 9:45-10:45 a.m.

Growing in

2

Scripture Readings:

January 1 - Betty Jo Jackson Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14 (UMH 795);

Ephesians 3:1-12; Matthew 2:1-12

January 8 - Gynetha Conway Isaiah 42:1-9; Psalm 29 (UMH 761);

Acts 10:34-43; Matthew 3:13-17

January 15 - Sally Taylor Isaiah 49:1-7; Psalm 40:1-11 (UMH 774);

1 Corinthians 1:1-9; John 1:29-42

January 22 - Tina Fields Isaiah 9:1-4; Psalm 27:1, 4-9 (UMH 758); 1 Corinthians 1:10-18; Matthew 4:12-23

January 29 - Betty Hill Micah 6:1-8; Psalm 15 (UMH 747);

1 Corinthians 1:18-31; Matthew 4:12-23

(Readings may vary for services. Readings listed above are from the Lectionary.)

Counting Team #5 *Blackie Jackson

Betty Jo Jackson Rusty Dame Susan Dame

Lockup:

Jan Tyler

1st - Bob & Carol Codner 8th - John & Olivia Anderson 15th - Frank & Audrey Wiggs 22nd - TBA 29th - TBA

Ushers:

Team #4

Blackie Jackson,

Bryan Jackson

Acolyte for January:

3

7 Trustees

Every Sunday

Early Service 8:45 am Sunday School 9:45am 9:30-10:00 Chapel Choir

Traditional Service 11:00 am

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2

3 4 5 6 7

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

29 30 31

January 2017

7 Trustees

10:30 Points of Grace

Office Closed

7 Finance/ Stewardship

9 ABC/Senior Breakfast

1:30 Mary/Martha Circle

7 SPRC

10:30 Points of Grace

CALENDAR Every Sunday

Early Service 8:45 am Sunday School 9:45 am 9:30-10:00 Chapel Choir

Traditional Service 11:00 am

7 Church Council

5 Chancel Bells 6 Praise Choir 6:15 Chancel

Choir

5 Chancel Bells 6 Praise Choir 6:15 Chancel

Choir

5 Chancel Bells 6 Praise Choir 6:15 Chancel

Choir

5 Chancel Bells 6 Praise Choir 6:15 Chancel

Choir

9:30 Chapel Choir Practice

9:30 Chapel Choir Practice

9:30 Chapel Choir Practice

9:30 Chapel Choir Practice

8:45 Early Service 11:00 Traditional Service

Office Closed

12:00 Potato Bar

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Children’s Sunday School

(Preschool through Elementary)

Both of our classes meet in the upstairs children’s

wing and begin immediately following choir practice.

We meet together at 10:00 am in room 18 for an intro-

duction to the lesson of the day. In January we will be

studying Jesus’ boyhood and early ministry.

The Stars class moves to room 21 for additional activi-

ties (grades k-1).

The Seekers class stays in room 18. (grades 2-5).

After the children’s message during worship, the children who go up

to the nursery also have activities related to the same lesson that the older

children study.

HELP wanted: As dedicated as they are,

our teachers occasionally get sick or go

out of town. We need to have a list of

people willing to substitute on those

occasions. Please consider helping in

this way and contact Jane LeGault (594-

9059) or Marian Harper (599-5362).

Sunday School

YOUTH SUNDAY SCHOOL for Middle and High School students

Youth Sunday School Class meets in the

Youth Room on the main hallway. With their

Teacher, Garrett Ouzts, they are discussing

the book “The Redemption of Ebeneezer

Scrooge”.

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Children’s activity page

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(Developed by the Lombard Mennonite Peace Center)

Workshop Outline 9:00 – 10:30 Introduction: The Nature and Role of Conflict Conflict in the New Testament: Finding Renewal in Conflict

10:30 – 10:45 Break

10:45 – 12:00 Self-Assessment Exercise: Understanding and Improving Your Own Style of Response to Conflict

12:00 - 1:00 Lunch

1:00 - 2:30 Interpersonal Peacemaking Skills: How to be Effective When People are Angry

2:30 – 2:45 Break

2:45 – 5:00 Congregational Conflict: Understanding Conflict in Groups and How to Manage It

This workshop will offer 0.5 CEU. Both workshops are identical:

Workshop 1 Date: Saturday, January 28, 2017 Registration Deadline: Friday, January 13, 2017 Location: Benn’s UMC, 14571 Benn’s Church Blvd., Smithfield, VA 23430

Workshop 2 Date: Saturday, February 25, 2017 Registration Deadline: Friday, February 3, 2017 Location: Lower Church UMC, 120 Lower Church Road, Hartfield, VA 23071

Facilitator Rev. Seonyoung Kim, District Superintendent of the York River District

Registration Cost: $25 (Participant’s Workbook - $15 and Lunch - $10)

Please make a check payable to York River District Mailing Address: York River District of The UMC

6515 George Washington Memorial Highway, Suite 203 Yorktown, VA 23692

Contact: Phone: (757) 596-3476 Email: YorkRiverDistrict@vaumc.org

NOTE: Please register by sending your payment to the York River District Office by the deadline of the workshop you plan to attend. Thank you!

Upcoming: Conflict Transformation Skills for Churches

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Upcoming Events

UM Day at the General Assembly and 25th Anniversary Celebration The Conference Legislative Network is making plans to observe the 25th UM Day at the General As-sembly in 2017. The first event will be a celebration to be held at Centenary UMC in Richmond on Sat., January 14, beginning with lunch at 12 noon. There will be specially invited guests, former and future participants. Jim Winkler, former head of the General Board of Church and Society, will be the key-note speaker. A special video presentation is being developed and the day will feature special music.

UM DAY ITSELF WILL BE ON THURSDAY, FEB. 2. Questions? Registration questions may be directed to the Rev. Barbara Lewis at (447) 594-6241 or email at BarbaraLewis@vaumc.org.

General questions may be directed to the Rev. Pat Shipley at (804) 353-1387 or email at plsrevdoc@aol.com or to the Rev. Randy Harlow at (434) 941-4092 or crhncboy@aol.com. Grace UMC contact Maggie Keator at (757)812-0127 or maggiekeator@netscape.net for carpooling information.

JOIN US! The Adult Breakfast Club (ABC) will meet at

the Warwick Restaurant, located at 12306 Warwick Blvd., Newport News, on Monday, January 9th at 9:00am.

Everyone is welcome!

POTATO BAR

Our Second Sunday at Grace Potato Bar will resume on January 8th after the 11:00 AM worship.

Registration forms will be in the bulletin January 1, 2017. Our usual menu options will be available, white or sweet potatoes, soup, salad and dessert plus all the toppings for $6 a person. Hope to see you there.

Points of Grace Points of Grace will meet January 2nd and January 16th in the small fellowship hall from 10:30 am until 3:30 pm. Please come for an hour or two, or stay all day. A light lunch will be provided or you may bring your own. We have many pro-jects that we are working on, you don't have to know how to sew or knit, you could stuff, pin, cut or paste. It is a won-derful way to get to know others, and it will benefit those less fortunate. Every-thing we make is freely given away. Please join us for fellowship and fun!

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Happy Birthday To You!

Remember to visit us on

Facebook for photos

and updates!

1 Sandi Daughtrey 17 Katie Burke

3 Beth Collado Tanis Mayo

5 Molly White 20 Mills Hoyt

7 Phillip Burke 21 Jimmy Harris

8 Margaret Mumford 26 Cassius Rogers

11 Valorie Hilbmann 27 Phillip Michael Burke

Ray Nobles Jan Tyler

12 Laura Fields 29 Jeri Davenport

13 Jessica Smith 30 Norma Banks

14 Joanna Simonsen

15 Lester Knight

16 Calypso Aladjabu

Debbie Vause

Just a friendly reminder for the new year:

Put any church events or meetings on the calendar in the

church office.

Use a pencil.

Include time and location of each event.

Fill out Facility Use form when using church space for private

events or when borrowing church-owned items.

MEETING & ACTIVITY SET-UP FORM

If you need a room set up a particular way for your event or

meeting, please fill out a

SET-UP FORM and place it in the

custodian’s mailbox at least 24 hours in advance of a work day. Forms

are available in the church office.

Thank you!

Points of Grace Mission November/December Giving:

5 lap blankets and 12 fidget bags to St. Francis Nursing Center. 8 mastectomy pillows to Silhouette. 4 red, white & blue lap blankets to the VA hospital. 190 candy bags for patients at the VA

hospital given by Grace UMC.

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In 2016 we welcomed 16 adults/teens and 6 infants/children into the Grace UMC faith

community. Of special note are the Christmas day baptisms of seven members of the

Corpstein family. Charmaine Corpstein and her children Zoe (12), A’-Jion (10), Sir-Nikolai

(4) and King-Maximus (2.) Charmaine’s daughter Kenya Bria Nelms (20) and 10 month-

old granddaughter Aria were also baptized on Christmas day. Maggie Keator is the

godparent of these five wonderful children. The Corpsteins’ new member spotlight will

be featured in a future edition of Growing in Grace.

This January 2017 New Member Spotlight shines on John and Olivia Anderson who

joined Grace on October 30th 2016.

Olivia comes to Grace UMC by transfer from her “home church,” Fred-

ericksburg UMC where she was very involved with the youth group.

During her teen years she also participated in several mission trips inside

the US and in Guatemala. During college she taught a Sunday School

class for special needs children. Currently Olivia teaches 3rd grade at

Palmer Elementary School and enjoys reading, cooking and exercising.

John also grew up in Fredericksburg and is transferring

from Fairview Baptist. That is where his brother, dad and he were baptized

together on Father’s Day when John was around eight years old. As a

child he sometimes participated in Sunday School and VBS; as teen he

played many sports- his favorite was ice hockey. After graduating from

Virginia Tech’s engineering school, John was hired as an Electrical Engi-

neer by Newport News Shipbuilding. He enjoys working on house projects,

learning how to fix/build things, and spending time with Olivia and Cooly

(their Siberian Husky.) The Andersons live in the Menchville area and typically attend

the 11:00 worship service. When asked about their choice to join Grace UMC they said:

While we have been Christians our entire lives, recently we felt a

calling from God to get more involved in the faith community and

to serve others. Since attending several churches in the area over

the last year, we have felt the most “at home” at Grace UMC. We

are ready to reaffirm our commitment to God and are looking for-

ward to strengthening our relationship with Him as members of

Grace UMC.

Welcome John and Olivia! Please add the Andersons’ contact info to your church di-

rectory and help them get involved in the life of the congregation by inviting them to

your social gatherings, classes and groups, elbow activities, activities and mission pro-

jects.

John and Olivia Anderson John’s cell 540-834-3324 Olivia’s cell 540-809-1065

454 Putney Lane JohnAnderson.VT@gmail.com ojCostello@gmail.com

Newport News, 23602

New Member Spotlight

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PORT REPORT Grace will serve a second time this PORT season at Orcutt Baptist Church on Saturday, February 25 through Sun-day, February 26, 2017. Volunteer sign-up will begin Sun-day, January 22nd.

The Missions Committee was asked to share the following recipe, after it was served to the homeless in December 2016. Cornbread 1 stick unsalted butter 3 Tbs. sugar (we used 1 Tbs.) 3 eggs 1 (14 1/2 oz.) can creamed corn 8 oz. cream cheese 2 pkgs. Jiffy Corn Muffin mix Melt butter in microwave and pour into a 9x13 pan. Mix eggs, cream cheese, sugar and corn. Stir in muffin mix. Pour into pan and bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes. It is okay to increase oven temperature to 375 for the last 10 minutes to brown the bread.

January Food Donations The January monthly food donations will be given to THRIVE. All

nonperishable food items are welcome. Please place donations in the

bins in the narthex and outside the church office.

PACE During the first week of December Sandy Fisher delivered over 100 small items (toiletries, puzzle books, memo pads, candy) to be used as bingo prizes. The fol-lowing week Sandy was able to deliver 18 Christmas gifts for elderly participants who might not have received gifts at all. In addi-tion, Jean Stockman made 25 knit caps, 6 lap blankets and 2 lap robes. An anony-mous angel from Grace donated a brand new men’s winter jacket. Thank you everyone!

CROP WALK This year the CROP Walk made $7,795. Thanks to the Grace UMC coordinator, Marty Rogers, our church contributed $836. 75% of the money raised provide food to peo-ple in need around the world and 25% will stay in the local area with half going to THRIVE and the other half to the Peninsula Food Bank.

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Each year the Missions Committee uses the funds that are available

through special offerings made by the congregation to provide for people in need in the local community and around the world. During 2016, the

following monetary donations were provided:

THRIVE $600 The Virginia Peninsula Foodbank $300 The Society of St. Andrew $300 (in addition to contributions directly from

the congregation)

The Salvation Army $200 (food for their children’s summer program)

Africa University $105 (part of our annual apportionments)

Jocelyn Hepler - Cru missionary $300 at CNU

LINK $350 U.M. Mission School in $700 student scholarship Nakuru, Kenya

In addition to these contributions, our congregation also provided aid

in other ways: donations to Church World Service through the annual CROP Walk (Grace contributed $836); food for THRIVE, the Good Sa-

maritan Fund and LINK, including 54 bags of groceries worth $972 col-lected for LINK during the Thanksgiving food drive; clothing, toiletries and other items for LINK; shoes for THRIVE; snacks for CNU students;

Christmas gifts for elderly participants of the PACE program (see page 10 for details); Salvation Army Christmas stockings filled with items for children; hats, socks and gloves to keep the homeless warm.

Thank you for the many acts of generosity during 2016!

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After the very joyous fall and Christmas season, all Choirs took a break for Christmas after the 18th. Practice will resume on January 5th for bells and choir and on January 8th for the kids.

We invite individuals to join the chancel choir and bells which meet on Thursday evenings. The bells meet at 5:00 pm and the choir meets at 6:30 pm. We would love for you to spend your Thursday evenings and Sunday mornings with us. We also invite children ages 6-10, to sing, and learn how to ring chimes, with the Chapel Choir. Children who start in the Chapel Choir at age 6 must be able to read. The Chapel Choir meets Sunday mornings from 9:30-10 in the Children’s wing.

In Christ, Regina

Early Service and Praise Choir (8:45 A.M.) Our Early Service welcomes you with lively music, joyful worship, heartfelt sharing, and a friendly “hello”. The Praise Choir practices each Thursday evening at 6 – everyone is welcome to join. If you would like to participate in any other way, from getting to church in time to welcome early arrivals to helping with sound or visual presentations to serving communion, let the pastor know. And bring a friend with you to church!

CHOIR NEWS

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GRACE PRESCHOOL (WEP)

WEEKDAY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM

The month of January is a time to catch our breaths

after weeks of preparation for Christmas, and all the

hustle and bustle that go with it. We begin to think

thoughts of snow!! We are going to be doing several

crafts that have to do with winter and winter weath-

er. We will be sure to make bird feeders to help the

birds that brave the cold weather here. We will also

be reading the story “Stone Soup” and making our own here at school. If

you’ve never had stone soup before, you don’t know what you are missing -

and yes, we really do make it with a stone!

During the month of December, we talked about people who do not have

enough food to feed their families and how we are blessed to have more

than we need! On show and tell days, the children were asked to bring in

one food item with their show and tell item. We collected six very heavy

bags for the Hampton Roads Good Samaritan Fund! We are so proud of

our preschoolers for sharing so graciously!

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A big “THANK YOU" to all who donated flowers in 2016.

Sign Up NOW for 2017

The flower calendar is available for the New Year. You may sign up

by calling the church or Lou Thomas (596-4166) or by writing your

name on the flower calendar which is located on the office door.

If you have any questions, please contact Lou Thomas.

Flowers may be donated in memory or in honor of a person or

occasion or simply to the glory of God.

From our

Financial Secretary... please check your year-end

statements for accuracy and

contact Blackie Jackson at

930-8874 with any questions.

2017 Offering Envelopes are available in the

Narthex. Please check for yours if you have not already picked them up.

Thank You! Thank you for your generous support

of the ministries of Grace UMC in 2016.

Your gifts not only kept the lights on and

the building open, but also supported our

worship, music, education, youth and

children’s programs, and missions locally

and around the world.

BUDGET UPDATE THROUGH DEC. 25, 2016:

BUDGETED $245,980 RECEIVED $235,406

BALANCE OWED ON LOAN $45,964

READ THE WHOLE BIBLE IN 2017!!

Reading guides available in the Breezeway and Narthex. Let 2017 be the year that you read and get to know your Bible. Pick up your daily reading schedule for January today – it assigns just four relatively short readings a day. Begin reading with today’s reading, or catch up from the beginning of the year with a bit of extra reading.

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continued from back page From the Pastor’s Desk (cont’d)...

fitting time to focus our attention into God’s purpose, priorities, and direction in our

daily walk of faith.

May our 2017 begin, end and continue with all the “People of Grace” hearing

and heeding Christ’s call to make and mature as His disciples.

Jan

Alex

Lyle Roger

Gloria

Betty Jo

Mary Ann

Chris

Dave Every good wish for happiness at

Christmas and throughout the New

Year.

Happy New Year 2017 From Your Trustees

TRUSTEES

Pastor F. H. “Hank” Teague

On behalf of the entire staff of Grace UMC, we would like to thank you for the generous

Christmas gifts, cards and monetary offerings. Serving you, our God and our community is a wonderful privilege. Thanks very much to all!

~Blessings, Pastor Hank

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION

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Grace United Methodist Church 1209 Country Club Road Newport News, Virginia 23606

Return Service Requested

From the Pastor’s Desk...

"Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the

cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? Luke 14:18

January is the time when United Methodist pastors and Staff Parish Relations

Committees discuss and prioritize the pastors’ ministry priorities for the new

year. These discussions are important tools for the growth and development of churches

and pastors alike. It’s important to set aside time and energy to examine the hows and

whys of ministry from time to time. Some church leadership teams even take a day or

weekend to get away for discerning and planning God’s goals for the coming year. Such

“planning retreats” are also valuable tools. Imagine how much time and energy we

spend each fall- formulating budgets and conducting financial stewardship campaigns.

Now imagine doing all of this but not having clear, common goals and a unifying

purpose as the basis for our budget and stewardship.

Just as goals and budgets are important for healthy churches so too are discipline

and discernment important for healthy disciples. And by healthy I mean disciples whose

faith is consistently maturing while also influencing others to begin walking as a

Christian disciple. In Luke 14 Jesus makes clear the importance of discipline,

discernment and planning for a maturing faith journey. As we begin this new year it’s a continued on page 15