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Grace UM Church Staff Members
Pastor: Rev. Dr. John D. Miller
Director of Lay Ministries: Barb Dittman
Secretary: Brittany Adams
Finance Secretary: Eva Palmer
Custodian: Bill Lamberton
Organist: Joseph Emanuele |
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Services are available on YouTube and our website www.graceoilcity.org
https://www.graceoilcity.org/worship-service-recordings.html
Sunday 5/12/2024 Sunday School @ 9:30 AM
Sunday 5/12/2024 Service @ 10:45 AM
Rev. Dr. John D. Miller
Seventh Sunday of Easter
Ascension Sunday Mother’s Day
Sermon: Mothers: Descendants of the Ascendant One
Scripture: II Timothy 1: 3-7 (NRSV)
Ushers: Tom Peebles and Judy Guyton
Greeter: Helen Chapel
* Hymns:
“Christ is Alive” #318
“Glory be to the Father” #70 |
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Sunday School for Adults: New Space
You are invited to the 9:30 Adult Sunday School Class which will now meet in a more convenient space: the former Kindergarten room in the hallway off the sanctuary and just beyond the “Pastor’s Office.”
Looking Ahead
May 12th Mother’s Day – Recognition of all women who
have a mother.
Ascension Sunday –
Things are Looking Up (Acts 1:1-12)
ABC Life Center - Baby Bottle distribution
to support their ministry
May 18th The memorial celebration of Dan Wrhen’s life will be held in the Grace UMC sanctuary at
11:00 a.m., Saturday, May 18.
May 19th Pentecost – Wear RED to signify the filling
by the Holy Spirit |
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May 12th Worship: 7th Sunday of Easter, Ascension Sunday, Mother’s Day
It is not often you can get 3 celebrations to align on the same Sunday, but May 12, 2024 is one of those days. We will use the traditional post-resurrection greeting for the last time in the Easter liturgical season: “Christ is Risen! Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia!” For Ascension Sunday, we will acknowledge Jesus’ conversation with the disciples. The “end times” becomes less important than the ends of the earth. And is often the case, they are caught standing and looking, not ministering. Mothers of the faith are another of God’s rich resources to form the church today and into the future. Our invitation: Come and worship as we look at “Mothers as descendants of the Ascendant One.”
Ruth M Smith Center: Warren Gives – May 15th
The Ruth M Smith Center is a residential facility that serves the needs of youth and vulnerable adults. Located within the boundaries of the W Pa Annual Conference, the United Women in Faith (formerly, United Methodist Women) provide support. The Community Foundation of Warren County sponsors a one-day event from 6:00 AM to 10:00PM to receive on-line gifts for charitable organizations within Warren Conty, including the Ruth M Smith Center. Each organization becomes eligible for a proportion of the Community Foundation annual grants. Please support Ruth M Smith Center on May 15th at “warrengives.org.”
Dan Wrhen Memorial: May 18th
The memorial celebration of Dan Wrhen’s life will be held in the Grace UMC sanctuary at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, May 18. Linda and family invite you to join them as they remember and celebrate Dan’s life among us. Visitation time will be before the service.
Pentecost: May 19th
Wear RED for Pentecost as the Spirit fills the apostles with a spark that is fanned into a flame by the Breath of God. |
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PREPARING FOR SUNDAY'S MESSAGE
Come and Worship!
"Mothers: Descendants of the Ascendant One": May 12
Seventh Sunday of Easter
Ascension Sunday Mother’s Day
What Holy Day (Holi – day) is Sunday, May 12th?
Though Ascension Day is Thursday, May 9th, we will acknowledge Christ’s ascension on Sunday the 12th. The traditional scripture readings are Luke 24:44-53 and Acts 1:1-11. Since they have the same author, I’d suggest pondering both for different insights. However, Sunday is the 7th Sunday of Easter season. The reading from Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 has Peter encouraging a gathering of 120 or so followers of the ascended Christ to pick an apostolic replacement for Judas Iscariot. Matthias was choosing by the casting of lots. However, it is also Mother’s Day.
Is it possible to weave all three themes together? The sermon title is “Mothers: Descendants of the Ascendant One.” The scripture passage is II Tim 1: 3-7. Join in worship at 10:45 in the sanctuary or on-line to see what strange macramé is woven together. Looking forward to seeing you, or being seen by you, this Sunday.
Rev. Dr. John D. Miller
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REV. NELSON T. THAYER – Pastoral Appointment to Grace UMC
On Sunday, May 5th, Cindy Fultz announced to the congregation the appointment of the next pastor, the Rev Nelson T. Thayer. His appointment will begin July 1st following completion of the Rev Dr John D Miller’s ministry with Grace UMC.
Nelson, and wife Linda, come with an amazing array of gifts and experiences in ministry. After serving 40 years as a Pastor in the WPAUMC, Nelson retired in 2016. A graduate of IUP (BA) and Wesley Theological Seminary (MDiv), he also completed five units (2,000 hours of clinical supervision) of Clinical Pastoral Education. While serving local churches, Nelson also served as a staff Chaplain at Cumberland (MD) Memorial and West Penn (Pittsburgh) Hospitals, volunteered as an ambulance EMT, helped to found a Meals-on-Wheels program, built houses with Habitat for Humanity, served as a Mission Ambassador to Southern Africa (Republic of South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe), co-founded and directed the Mission Barn (a charter member of the UMCOR Relief Supply Network), chaired several Conference committees, and sang in multiple choirs and community choruses. He currently chairs the WPA UM Commission on Archives and History. He and his wife, Linda Thayer, are parents to 3 children (and 2 grandchildren) and currently live in Franklin, PA. |
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Baby Bottle Boomerang: Fill A Bottle
The Life Center in Franklin provides a ministry of life changing services to meet the physical and spiritual needs of women and men facing an unplanned pregnancy. Pick up and fill up a baby bottle with coins and bills from now until Father’s Day. Bottles are available in the Grace UMC sanctuary or the office. More information is available at “herlifecenter.com.”
Pick your bottle: Mother's Day, May 12, 2024
Return your bottle: Father's Day, June 16, 2024 |
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From The Pastor's Desk:
Graduating?
If you are graduating from high school, college, or other degree/certificate program in 1924, Grace UMC would like to recognize your accomplishment. The tradition has been to acknowledge Grace graduates on the first Sunday in June. Plans are being made. Please contact to the church office 814-677-3013, or the secretary at secretary@graceoilcity.org. (Grace family members: Please pass on the names of 2024 graduates so we don’t miss someone.)
An Invitation to Join
If you have even considered becoming a member of Grace UMC, and wonder what that entails, call the church office, 814-677-3013, or email me at jdmiller@graceoilcity.org.
Scholarships for Graduates: June 1st deadline
A scholarship fund is part of the legacy of Grace UMC. We are seeking members to help review the scholarship process and help accept and review any applicants. We expect to make applications available in the near future. Please contact either Cindy Fultz about your willingness, or call the church office: 814-677-3013. |
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In Time of Pain and Sorrow: Israelis and Palestinians
I am fully aware that the public press, government and propaganda sources do not encourage the distinction between the horrific acts of Hamas, a terroristic military group made up of Palestinians, and the Palestinian people themselves who live in Gaza and on the West Bank. Furthermore, we seem unable to distinguish between our support for Israel and the actions against Hamas and the devasting effect on all the Palestinians of Gaza.
When I ran across the 1870 "Appeal to womanhood throughout the world" by Julia Ward Howe, later known as the Mother's Day Proclamation, it’s prophetic challenge seems as needed today as then.
Arise, then... women of this day!
Arise, all women who have hearts, whether our baptism be that of water or of tears! Say firmly: We will not have great questions decided by irrelevant agencies. Our husbands shall not come to us, reeking with carnage, for caresses and applause. Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn all that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and patience. We, women of one country, will be too tender of those of another country to allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs.
From the bosom of the devastated earth a voice goes up with our own. It says: Disarm, Disarm! The sword of murder is not the balance of justice. Blood does not wipe out dishonor, nor violence vindicate possession. As men have often forsaken the plough and the anvil at the summons of war, let women now leave all that may be left of home for a great and earnest day of council.
Let them meet first, as women, to bewail and commemorate the dead. Let them then solemnly take council with each other as to the means whereby the great human family can live in peace, each bearing after his own kind the sacred impress, not of Caesar, but of God.
In the name of womanhood and of humanity, I earnestly ask that a general congress of women, without limit of nationality, may be appointed and held at some place deemed most convenient, and at the earliest period consistent with its objects,
to promote the alliance of the different nationalities, the amicable settlement of international questions, the great and general interests of peace. |
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The United Methodist General Conference
The 2020 postponed General Conference adjourned on May 3rd having completed the 2020 postponed General Conference. There are excellent wrap-ups at UMNews that will allow you to get accurate summaries of decisions and directions. During our offering time on Sunday, we will show the Wrap-up video that shows how the UMC continues to be an instrument of Christ for the world.
PENTECOST – May 19th
Fifty days after the resurrection of Jesus as the eternal Christ for the world, the disciples had an experience that propelled them into the world by the Wind of God. They breathed in the Spirit and breathed out the Breath of God. The symbols of fire, wind, earthquake, tongues all mix together to confuse and infuse them and others with Christ’s message. RED is the liturgical color for Pentecost. Here is the invitation: On Sunday May 19th, Pentecost, wear RED as a celebration that the Spirit sets the church on fire. |
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Barbara Dittman, Director of Lay Ministries
Contact BarB at Grace UM
814-677-3013 Ext. 104
Office hours: Tues., Wed., Thurs. - 9:00 - 1:00 |
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BarB's Blurbs!
Celebrations and Get-togethers- On Thursday, May 23rd, we are going to have another get-together with our Towne Tower friends! Please note the change of day, from Tuesday to Thursday! The time is 2:00-3:30! The theme is "Patriotic Red, White, and Blue!" A sign-up sheet is on the table at the back of the sanctuary! If you can bring 1 dozen cookies, that would be great! Please wear red, white, and/or blue!
On Tuesday, June 18th, another time with our Towne Tower friends is being planned! The theme will be known soon!
On Thursday, June 20th, a get-together for secret prayer partners to reveal their identity is being planned! The time and location will be decided soon!
Some packets of notecards with the church's picture on them were recently purchased! They are available for people to use to send messages to their family or friends! If you would like to make a contribution to defray the cost of these notecards, please do so! Thank You!
The Parables of Jesus! Which is your favorite one? One of my favorites is the Prodigal Son! The father in the story runs to his son! Our Father reaches out to us everyday! He wants to be with us and give us a hug! Maybe we can hug some people this week and tell them that we love them! Sending my love and a hug to each one of you! BarB
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HOPE 21: “A clothing boutique ministry”
Operating Day: Mondays 6:00pm-8:00pm
*Please save your old plastic grocery bags and bring them in to the church to be used for bagging clothing.
Still excepting donations of clothing and accessories such as shoes, boots, scarves, hats, belts, gloves, coats, professional clothing, dance wear, uniforms, socks, jewelry,
and school/work bags. |
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Quilting and Fellowship
The Merry Quilters are stitching on Mondays from 10:00am until 3:00pm in the lounge/library next to Grace Hall. Both experienced quilters and and any who would like to become a quilter are invited to join us. Visitors welcome, too! Access to the lounge is currently through the room outside the ladies restroom on the ground floor. Bring a bag lunch if you’d like to join us for lunch at noon. Questions?
Call Cindy Fultz, 814-673-5058. |
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A Quarter for your Meter
Your thoughts may be worth only a penny, but your presence at the church during weekdays is worth much more. Oil City has metered the parking lot behind the church. Plus, they issue tickets for parking violations.
Here is the church offer. On the secretary’s desk is a small bowl with change for the meter. If short of change, step in, grab a coin, and help the Oil City Parking Authority a dime or quarter at a time, rather than $5.00 as a first-time violator (who was caught). You are loved and worth every penny, dime or quarter. |
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Prayers of Joy and Concern
Andrea Ziegler recovering from surgery
Sally Bowser at home recovering from heart issues.
Jim Whaley – medical tests
Kathy Flockerzi cancer treatments.
Anita Eberle is home but still recovering.
Adrianna – HS student at crossroads.
Medical/Health concerns:
Rev David, Vickie Fisher, Jason Cox, Josh Keebler, Dorothy Heckathrone, Don and Sherry Emick, DeAnna Mahle, Josie McMullen, Sue Reitz, Gracie Singleton, Linda Stine’s niece, Susan Maurer, David Miller, Blaine Beers, Chip & Peggy Nunemaker, Amy Dykins.
Kate Shaffer as she progresses through cancer treatment.
Marcia Hannan, sister of Rita Hale, for return of cancer.
Ginny Taylor as she progresses through cancer treatment.
Denny Perry who received a kidney transplant, prayers for healing.
May prayer emphasis will be praying over families and pastors.
The ministry of Grace Church in our community and around the world.
Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi
District Superintendent Rev. Deborah Ackley-Killian |
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