Helena Ham died this week. We have not been able to obtain any other information regarding services, but will pass that along when it is available. Please keep Helena and all who mourn her death in your prayers.
Celebrate Sunday School
It’s time to gather for a celebration! Sunday School for children and youth begins again on Sunday, January 9 with, what else, a party! Let’s celebrate being together again with a Celebrate Sunday School party. There will be streamers and confetti, along with special drinks and snacks. The only other thing we need is YOU!
Room Locations for Celebrate Sunday School Preschool — 2nd Grade will meet in Room 204 3rd Grade will meet in Room 301 4th and 5th Grade will meet in Room 204 Middle School and High School will meet in Room 208
This will be a bit of a reset as we start anew after the pandemic. With all of the adapting, reshaping, and updating that we have all had to do, it’s time for a festive gathering as we start the new year. You are invited and we pray you’ll join us on Sunday, January 9 at 9 a.m.
Contact Coreen Witke (coreenwitke@gracedesmoines.org or 515.255.2131 ext. 230) for more information.
Grace is hiring a youth director! If you are interested in a part-time position that is filled with fun, community engagement, and investing in students' lives, please send a cover letter and resume to Pastor Nate at natenims@gracedesmoines.org.
Articles for the February edition of the Chimes newsletter are due January 15. Please submit complete articles to charlenehjort@gracedesmoines.org, or drop them off in the office.
The Prayer Shawl Ministry will meet this Sunday, January 9, at 3 p.m. in the Library.
Applications are now available in the church office for the 2022-2023 Grace Foundation/Bolsinger Scholarships. An electronic copy is also available on the Grace UMC website, located at https://gracedesmoines.org/giving. Applications are due by March 31, 2022.
There is a new application for 2022. Please make sure you have the correct application.
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A wide variety of scholarships for all college students are available through the Iowa United Methodist Foundation. Applications must be submitted by March 1, 2022.
Please visit the foundation’s website at iumf.org/scholarships for complete information.
The January - February edition of The Upper Room is now available to be picked up at the church. Small- and large-print versions are available. You can find the Upper Rooms in their new location in the church entryway, near the office.
Reading the Bible in One Year - Classes Meeting Now
Our class focusing on reading the Bible in a year started this week. We have two sessions each week, both of which will cover the same lesson. Both groups will be using The Bible Year as a guide to the readings. One session meets Monday evenings from 6:30 to 7:30, and the other meets at 7 a.m. on Thursday morning. You may attend in person or virtually, so pick the class time that works best for your schedule. Contact Cpreen Witke at 515.255.6400 ext. 230 or coreenwitke@gracedesmoines.org if you have questions.
Every fall, the Grace Administrative Board sets goals for the future. For 2022, the Administrate Board has set five goals:
1. Evaluate our current administrative and committee structure
2. Bring people who have been worshiping online into a closer connection with Grace.
3. Create a task force to explore ways Grace can connect with young adults and support their spiritual journeys.
4. Involve more people of all ages in Christian Education and/or spiritual growth.
5. Increase the social justice and outreach influence of Grace as we ask ourselves and the community, where are we needed for service and advocacy?
To make these goals a reality, the Administrative Board needs your help, especially on our goals for expanding our outreach and membership to our online community, engaging young adults, and updating our Christian Education program with more opportunities for spiritual growth and community connections.
Youth Group meets each Sunday from 5 to 6:30 p.m. by the garages, or in the Activity Center depending on the weather. Anyone in High School or Middle School is invited to join...all are welcome!
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.
Worship With Grace Online
Although we have resumed in-person worship, the following options for attending virtually remain available to you.
