Charlene is back in the office, but working reduced hours for the next week or so. The office will be open from 8:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Monday through Friday until further notice.
In Loving Memory
Grace member Judith Walden died on February 16, 2021. Her funeral service will be held at Grace on Friday, October 22 at 11 a.m. Please keep the family in your prayers.
Grace member Lisle Shires died Thursday, October 14, 2021. Services will be held at Grace on Friday, October 29 at 11 a.m., with visitation starting at 9:30 a.m. on the 29th. Read his full obituary here.
Julie Green, daughter of Grace member Jane Hamilton, died Tuesday, October 12, 2021. Condolences may be sent to Jane at 2909 Woodland #203, Des Moines, Iowa, 50312. Please keep Jane and her family in your prayers.
Jack Kurtz, spouse of Cathy Kurtz, died on October 19, 2021. Services are pending at this time. Jack's family and loved ones appreciate your prayers.
On Saturday, October 30, at 1:00 pm, you are invited to join Grace members and others in the community for a community viewing and discussion of the Netflix documentary, “Pray Away”. This film is about gay conversion therapy and the impact it has had on individuals. The film runs around 1 hour and 40 minutes. Following the viewing, people will have the opportunity to participate in a panel discussion, small group breakouts or one-on-one conversation. It is open to the public, and is being hosted by Grace UMC, One Iowa, and Room for All.
Emerging Issues on October 31
The Church & Society Committee will be hosting an Emerging Issues Forum on Sunday, October 31 at 9 a.m. Our guest speaker will be Sara Borzo, with Metro Waste Authority. Borzo leads education and outreach for the organization. All are invited to this event that will be held in the Sanctuary.
Grace Preschool students will be celebrating their Harvest Festival on Thursday, October 28, so we are setting up a Trunk or Treat for them from 10 to 11 a.m. in the Grace parking lot. Follow the link to sign up for the event and start working on your car decorating ideas! Treats must be peanut & tree nut free, with dairy free and non-edible treats encouraged. We are anticipating about 80 students participating. Sign up for this fun event here!
Ione Shadduck will celebrate her 98th birthday on Thursday, October 28. Birthday greetings may be sent to her at 3431 Brookview, West Des Moines, IA 50265.
Helen Young is turning 100 on November 6! Let’s shower her with cards! Her address is AC101, 3520 Grand, Des Moines, IA 50312.
Youth Group meets each Sunday from 5 to 6:30 p.m. by the garages. Anyone in High School or Middle School is invited to join...all are welcome! Look for the fire pit and join in the fun. Any questions may be addressed to Nathan at 515-577-0190 or nathandelange@gracedesmoines.org or Patty at 515-979-1697 or pattylink@gracedesmoines.org.
The Youth Group Wreath Sale is going on now! Be sure to order your greenery by November 15!
2021 Thanksgiving Ingathering
It's time to gather things for Ingathering! This year we are collecting items for Personal Dignity Kits and Student Kits. Items are being collected on a table in the church coat closet. These items are used during natural disasters and, more generally, to help those in need.
Below are the items needed to complete each kit. If you have any questions about the items, you may contact Lisa Blair @ 641-223-2372...please text first or lb29nholding@yahoo.com or Jean Kerber at 979-733-3697. For information about making the cloth bags, contact Susan Ryon 515-829-6511.
Personal Dignity Kit Contents:
1 Bath Hand Towel - No kitchen towels and please avoid the larger plush towels. We have limited space in the bag.
1 Bath Washcloth - No dishcloths
1 Adult Toothbrush - No multipacks
1 Bar Soap - 3-4 oz
1 Shampoo - 15-18 oz
1 Deodorant - 2-3 oz - stick, roll on, or pump
1 1-gal Resealable Plastic Bag
$2 donation for razor and toothpaste
All items must be NEW.
Student Kit Contents:
3 Notebooks - 1 subject spiral 8” x 10 1/2”
1 Ruler - 12” long with metric
6 Pencils - unsharpened
1 Pencil Sharpener
1 Pencil Eraser - 2” or larger
1 Box 12 Colored Pencils
1 Box 24 Crayons
1 Pair of Scissors - student round tip
You are invited to join the Open Table on Thursdays from 6 to 7 p.m. in Room 201 at Grace. As the name implies, the Open Table is modeled off the belief in the Methodist Church that all are welcome to the communion table, and we likewise welcome ALL including our LGBTQI family, agnostics, and anyone who has been hurt by the church to our weekly discussions. We are an open-minded and open-hearted group meeting weekly to discuss faith, spirituality, and social justice. We strive to create a space where contemplation, conversation, and questions are welcome and uncommon hospitality can take root. We value open dialogue, foster relationships, and seek to create a community where we can both challenge and support each other as we explore what it means to live out our Christian faith.
If you are looking to reconnect with others following a year of COVID isolation, if you are interested in wrestling with questions of our common humanity, if you are searching for another way to hear God's voice, or if you just like the idea of sharing light snacks and soda with other flawed humans - please consider joining us for a night! Come to the table.
Blankets for Bidwell
The crafters of the church are going to be making Blankets for Bidwell! Bidwell needs 1,500 blankets in order to give one to each of the children they serve, and you can help in two ways. One is to donate money so that we can buy the fleece or the fleece kits to make the blankets. The second way to help is by assembling one of the blankets. There is no sewing involved, just lining up the fabric, cutting a fringe, and then tying knots. Contact Connie Cook or Linda Kent for more information. Monetary donations may be dropped in the collection plate or sent to the church office. Please note that the donation is for Blankets for Bidwell.
Worship With Grace Online
Although we have resumed in-person worship, the following options for attending virtually remain available to you.
