Announcements

Happening this week at Garden of Grace:

Announcements

To improve everyone’s worship experience, we encourage worship leaders to use either the stationery or lapel microphones. When your time to participate in worship leadership nears, please be at a microphone.

The design and ongoing maintenance of the Garden of Grace UCC website is a donation of labor, time and talent by Richard Kiraly, member of Garden of Grace.

This week at Garden of Grace:

1 p.m. Sunday, June 9, Rite of Memorial in our garden for James E. Sumter.
9:45 a.m. Sunday, June 16, Choir practice, led by Andy Farmer, jandyfarmer@yahoo.com.
11 a.m. Sunday, June 16, Sunday celebration. The message: “Bacon Grease and Abounding Grace.” Recognition of fathers will be a part of our celebration.
12:30 p.m. Sunday, June 16, Board of Trustees’ meeting.

Mary Perry, tutu61tall@yahoo.com, and John Swindler, jswin5296@sc.rr.com, are coordinating plans for our Platinum Extravaganza 20th Anniversary Celebration, Aug. 24-25. Dinner and dancing will be from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24 at Fort Jackson’s Officers’ Club, 3630 Semmes Road, Columbia. The club’s web site is fortjacksonmwr.com/o_club/ Melissa Goings will coordinate decorations. Tickets are $35 each.
Congregational and community awards will be presented Sunday, Aug. 25. This also marks the beginning of our six-weekend celebration, leading up to S.C. Pride Sept. 28-29.

Deacon Candidate Tamika Scott-Wilson, tamika2483@hotmail.com, is forming a Praise & Worship Team. She needs team members for this new ministry.

Alma McAlister makes bright pillows as a part of the “million pillow” project for those in need. She serves in this new way with our HIV/AIDS ministry and children’s ministry.

Deacon Linda Renner leads a GLBT Couples workshop series Saturdays, June 15 and 29, and July 13 and 27. The series is open to six couple and prior registration is required.

Garden of Grace sponsors a Tanzanian child with $35 monthly. Trustee Jennifer Schneider, jenandkris2002@gmail.com, posts a calendar for monthly sign up. Checks should be made to Trustee Jennifer Schneider.

Adult Night Out will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 19. Deacon Lenore Stackhouse, lenorestackhouse@gmail.com, has more information.

We celebrate Sunday, June 23, the completion of Linda Renner’s first three-year term as deacon. Celebrate with us!

Shrimp, fish, and Beaufort stew will be served at our quarterly building fundraiser, following Sunday worship July 28. Membership class also will be taught that afternoon. A sign-up sheet has been posted.

The annual meeting of the Southeast Conference United Church of Christ is June 13-15 at Atlanta’s historic First Congregational UCC. Representing us will be voting delegates Melissa Huettner and Jennifer Spears. The meeting is open to all.

Our Children’s Ministry has multiplied! Nursery School for ages 4 and younger is available throughout worship. Children’s Church for ages 5 and older will allow our young people to share in worship leadership. Special “youth section” seating is available. Loretta Cobb, lorettaacobb@aim.com, coordinates the nursery; Jessica Grello, jgrello@windstream.net, the children’s church. Sheila Smith is preparing a list of children’s birthdays so that we can celebrate with them.

Expansion of our Children’s Ministry, including the creation of a youth choir, and expansion of our AIDS/HIV ministry, including the start of a support group, are some of Garden of Grace 2013 visions.
Just a few of our other goals include celebrating March 10 our pastor’s 10th anniversary with us and celebrating Aug. 24-25 our 20th anniversary.
Construction of a new altar, designed especially for us; increased community outreach; increased ministry for couples and singles, and pay down of our mortgage also are on tap.

We are collecting non-perishable food items for Harvest Hope Food Bank and housing supplies for USC’s Housing First program. Collection boxes are in the entryway of the church.

Retired teacher John Faulkner, JFaul37010@aol.com, will provide free tutoring for Garden of Grace children.

$25 service fee will be charged for all returned checks.

Two visually impaired men are in need of rides to church. Carl Preston lives off Farrow Road in northeast Columbia, 803-699-0340. Steve Waites lives in Gaston, 803-794-6211.

Aluminum cans are being collected. Jennifer, jennifervspears@aol.com, and Lois Spears, loistalk1948@aol.com, handle this recycling ministry.

Have you wanted to help on the Apron Angels (Hospitality Team) but did not like to greet people – just a little shy? Well, now you can help. In 2013, we are asking for help with donations, such as coffee cups, lids, snacks, and much more – and you don’t have to be a member of this team!

Photos are taken for use on our web site or face book pages. Please let the photographer know if you object to your photo being used for this ministry.

Care Circles gather to share in prayer, devotion and fellowship. These are great places to find friends and ministries.
Deacon Linda Renner, lgrenner@aol.com, gathers at 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays at the church.
Adult Night Out, led by Deacon Lenore Stackhouse, lenorestackhouse@gmail.com, dines out at 7 p.m. third Wednesdays.

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