The Messenger - November 2011 - (Page 5)

3 The Messenger Making Gentle A Bruised World NOVEMBER 2011 State of the Church, cont. GLO (Grandview’s Local Outreach) allows families with children of all ages to be in ministry together. GLO’s annual retreat at Gretna Glen provided opportunities for service and intergenerational interaction. A bike tune-up day and blood drive again welcomed neighbors. Other GLO events this year included packing 72 backpacks for local homeless students and GLO’s winter work day at Gretna Glen. Another intergenerational event was the Fall Blast at the Hornings’ Farm, which drew over 100 people despite cool, rainy weather, and the Golden Delicious Applesauce-making event. Back in January, a Chili Cookoff warmed us up. Powerpacks nutrition ministry, with leadership from Amy Heth, expanded to two schools, Shaeffer and Wickersham. Shoo-fly pies, mosquito sculptures, and a basketball shoot were all part of fun-filled way to raise funds for Imagine No Malaria. Crab Fest raised $2,300 to fight leukemia and lymphoma. We packed 10 flood buckets and some members went to the Manheim area to help people restore their homes after the flooding. We donated so much computer equipment to UMCOR’s Mission Central Computer Ministry—more than a van load—that we won a refurbished laptop and projector. We sent $1,000 and a board member (Jenn Desmarais) to Shalom Partnership. In May, in a joint ministry with First Presbyterian Church called iHope, we welcomed a refugee family from Burma. Carolyn Kendall and Luci Steele have been instrumental in tutoring them in English. Others have provided transportation, hospitality, and household items. Tom’s Shoes “A Day without Shoes” had some people walking around barefoot on a work day. To demonstrate what it is like to lack shoes, Jenn Desmarais set up a sample pathway with gravel and sharp stones in the Gathering Room one Sunday, and people were invited to take off their shoes and walk across. World Communion Sunday called us to focus on the “bread of life” (literally and figuratively). The sale of loaves of bread raised enough to send 15 Ototello-language Bibles to the Democratic Republic of Congo. More than half a dozen Grandview members walked in the CROP Walk. Partnering with Lancaster Church of the Brethren, we were able to help raise funds for a specialized wheelchair for neighbor Jim Sebest, who was paralyzed in an ocean swimming accident. United Methodist Women held an Epiphany Potluck and a spring event called “The Garden of Caring and Sharing.” One circle spent time learning about immigration. A reading group, meeting at Dorothy Killebrew and Bob Neuhauser’s home, gathers every other month to discuss some of the excellent and varied books on the UMW reading list, as well as others. Still to come this year are the Ham Dinner on December 11 and the Advent Breakfast, a gift from the staff to the church, on December 12. Worship The year began with a maid in King Herod’s household (played by Chloë Vassot) telling about strange visitors who arrived, following a star. Joe Graeff, Walt Zollinger, and Tony Staherski played the role of the Magi.Lent was focused on discernment. How do we hear God’s whisper and have the courage to respond? The season brought a wonderful surprise: an email from an Indiana woman, Julie Pearson, who had folded 1,000 paper cranes in honor of Daythal Kendall and wanted to bring them to Grandview. It’s a long story, but 5

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Messenger - November 2011

The Messenger - November 2011
Contents
Council's Corner
Youth Ministry
Mission, Faith & Action
College Connection
Reflections of Gratitude

The Messenger - November 2011