Grace UM Church Staff Members
Pastor: Rev. Nelson T. Thayer

Director of Lay Ministries:  Barb Dittman

Secretary: Brittany Adams

Finance Secretary: Eva Palmer
Custodian: Bill Lamberton
Organist: Joseph Emanuele

Services are available on YouTube and our website www.graceoilcity.org

https://www.graceoilcity.org/worship-service-recordings.html

Sunday 7/28/2024 Sunday School @ 9:00 AM

Sunday 7/28/2024 Service @ 10:00AM

Rev. Nelson T. Thayer

Tenth Sunday After Pentecost

Sermon: How Is It With Your Soul?
Scripture: Ephesians 3: 14-21

Ushers: Tom Peebles and Judy Guyton

Greeter: Judy Hards

* Hymns:

      “God of Grace and God of Glory” #577

            Psalter: “Psalm 14 ”  # 747

Sunday School for Adults: New Space

You are invited to the 9:00 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

Sunday July 28

10:00 am

Morning Worship

Monday, July 29

6-8 pm

HOPE 21 open

Wednesday July 31

4-7 pm

T.O.P.S. meets in church basement

Thursday August 1

11 am – 1 pm

HOPE 21 open

Sunday August 4

10 am

Morning Worship

Coming Up: Communion on Sunday, August 11

ATTENTION:  Adult Sunday School on summer break.

PREPARING FOR SUNDAY’S MESSAGE

Worship in person or online!

“How Is It With Your Soul?” – July 28

Tenth Sunday After Pentecost

This week’s Sunday worship will be held at the church beginning at 10:00 am (summer hours)

Preaching Texts: Ephesians 3: 14-21

The following thoughts are excerpted from the e-publication Ministry Matters from August 2, 2016. 

“John Wesley opened all small group meetings with the question ‘How is it with your soul?’

That’s a far deeper question than, ‘How are you?’ I mean, how is your soul doing? How is your spirit faring? Really, how are you? It’s a jarring question because we often ask, ‘How are you?’ out of habit and can get impatient when someone has the nerve to tell us how they’re doing.

Perhaps it’s a question we like to avoid because answering it forces us to really take stock on the health of our souls ‒ which often leads to admitting that we may not be doing as well as we want others to think. It’s easy to get lost in all the demands of life. We go so much that we may be in danger of losing our humanity: losing the image of God in us. So it’s imperative that we reflect often on the question that Wesley opened meetings with: How is it with your soul?

This question steers me to analyze my life and my habits:

·       What are the things that I’m engaging in that bring my soul closer God?

·       What are the things that I’m doing that are putting a wedge between God and myself?

·       What are the things that I’m doing in my life that really make my soul shine brightly and flourish?

·       What are things I’m engaged in that are draining the life out of my soul?

It’s embarrassing to admit that I sometimes do things that aren’t helpful to my soul. Or to be more accurate: activities which aren’t that important but I give precedence and priority over God.

Maybe you could benefit from asking yourself, “How is it with my soul?” Or maybe you could help someone else by asking how their soul is and then genuinely listening to their response.

It’s an important question that we need to ask and answer more frequently.”

Inquiringly,

Nelson 

Happy Birthday & Anniversary to our Grace Family this week! Although some of these members may have been absent from our lives for a while, let us take a moment to stop and remember them in prayer on their special day.

July 28

Gale Boocks

Scott Flinchbaugh

Mark Hale

Kyel Harry

July 30

Edward/Susan Munoz

July 31

Bryan/Wendi Ziegler

Ray Cornelius

Nicole Snyder

August 1

Brian/Deborah Butchart

Mark/Shin Patterson

Joel Erion

Paul Mills

August 2

Ashlyn Shuffstall

Shelly Thomas

August 3

Chaval Russell

Pastor’s Message

People who grow up in certain Faith traditions share “corporate memories” with everyone else from that same tradition. “Cradle Catholics” all remember their first communion ceremonies and parties – and they share tales about the nuns in their parochial schools. Adult Lutherans remember years-long confirmation classes, and the summer camps and mission trips they took. Jewish kids remember struggling to learn enough Hebrew to get through their Bat mitzvas or Bar mitzvahs – and the fantastic parties their families threw to celebrate their accomplishments. Every Faith tradition has its “corporate memories” of common experience that bind members of the group together.

Methodists are no exception. To this day, I remember with great fondness the experiences I had at Wesley Woods – one of the summer youth camps operated by this annual conference.  I met Pastors who were counsellors there when I was a youth, whom I served alongside for much of my ministry (before they retired).  I met people in the District MYF (Methodist Youth Fellowship) who are still my friends. I even met people in the Wesley Fellowship at college who came from Grace Church: Oil City – and we still work together on various projects!

It's no mistake that Methodists tend to remain Methodists throughout their lives. We share a common language (“sanctification,” “connectionalism,” “conferences,” “PPRC,” “circuits,” “itineracy,” and a bunch of other strange words). We know a lot of the same people (Pastors who once served our congregation and then moved on, common District Superintendents, etc.). And – of course – we sing the same hymns!

As Chair of the conference Commission on Archives and History, I occasionally run across the histories of families who became Methodists under the preaching of Wesley in Ireland, then emigrated to America and founded Methodist churches here in western Pennsylvania. They found other pioneers here who had also met Christ through the Methodist preachers, and together they formed churches in the wilderness.

Linda and I have met fellow Methodists in southern Africa, the Philippines, England, Puerto Rico, and several US states – and in each case we have found people that are as close to us as any blood relation – across racial, national, economic and language barriers. Of course, that’s true because we are first members of the household of Jesus Christ. But our Methodist roots make the connection even stronger.

This isn’t to say that you must already possess this heritage before you can become part of a Methodist Church family. God forbid! But it does mean that our churches are in the business of building life-long experiences with God that unite us with fellow believers. Methodists have a “peculiar” (Wesley’s word) and intimate way of relating to God and each other. And we’re eager to share that intimacy with others. We don’t want anyone to feel “left out” or “alone” or “untouched by Grace.” We want the fellowship to expand.

So if you find our traditions or expressions a bit “strange” sometimes, please bear with us. We’re not trying to “fence you out.” It’s just the peculiar way we’ve been taught to be. It has become something of the glue that holds us together. Ask us to explain ourselves if you don’t understand – we’ll be glad to include you in the “inside jokes.” Maybe some day you’ll laugh at them, too!

Nelson

Statement of thanks from Rev. Dr. John D. Miller

What have I learned in my ten months with you grace-filled people?

I have seen again how a caring presence can be helpful in healing. I have learned that I was first seduced into approaching Grace UMC as a problem to be solved.  How ego driven and foolish.  I have learned, again, that my patience with the administration at institutional levels is lacking.  They have their own agendas and measures.  I had learned administration as a skill.  I do not consider it a gift.  A wise woman wrote; “If you work from your skills, you will soon be exhausted.  If you work from your gifts, you will be constantly renewed.”  This year has been exhausting and renewing as I learned again the difference between problem solving and people caring.

I have made new relationships I value.  I have been forced out of my woodland office into communion with caring people.  I have enjoyed my journaling, reading, and sermon preparation that pushed me to a deeper openness to the Spirit’s formation in my life.  I regret many opportunities I missed to be a better pastor.  I have embraced my own shortcomings and celebrated ways the Spirit has used my gifts. 

Forgive me what I have done or left undone - anything that did not help the Spirit’s healing of relationships and Grace UMC!

Thank you for the opportunity and invitations to be in your lives.

I love you!

And in my pastoral role, good-bye.

I may have failed retirement, but I couldn’t have failed in a better church with better people.  Bless the Lord!

With love and peace,

John

PS The pictorial journey of my “year of failing retirement” is amazing. And Diane is adding to her memory garden the plants your loving gave.  Thanks again from us both.

BarB's Blurbs!

Prayers of Joy and Concern

Health concerns:

Rev. Joe Martin

Amy, Judy Hards’ sister  

Matt Henderson

Jan Angrove

Josh Keebler

Blaine Beers

Bette Magness

Tom Boocks, Gale Boocks' cousin

David Miller

Jason Cox

Deb Rae Miller

Anita Eberle

Josie McMullen

Don and Sherry Emick

Cork and Carol Nelms

Carson Fennick

Chip & Peggy Nunemaker

Rev. Mark and Vickie Fisher

Bonnie Rihel, Marcia Campbell’s sister

Kathy Flockerzi

Kate Shaffer

Sandra Gagolloti and her sister, Laurie

Gracie Singleton

Sandra Gagolloti’s pregnant niece

Ginny Taylor

Marcia Hannan, sister of Rita Hale

Jim Whaley

Lily Williams

Grieving:

Other:

Adrianna – HS student at crossroads.

Praise/Announcements of JOY:

Andy, Judy Hards’ nephew is cancer free.

Ministries:  

The ministry of Grace Church in our community and around the world.

Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi and incoming Bishop Sandra Steiner-Ball

District Superintendent Rev. Deborah Ackley-Killian