PARISH ANNOUNCEMENTS -- Sunday, August 22, 2010
During the summer there is one Sunday Service at 9:00 am.
We will resume two morning services (8:00 and 10:30) on September 12th.
Nursery hours are offered from 9:00 to 11:00 am.
Wednesday’s 12:10 pm service is suspended during August,
it will resume on September 1st.
Summer Preaching Series continues: Today - Holy Communion; Aug. 29 – Post- Communion Prayer, Dismissal.
Back to school! The Fourth Sunday Collection today will go to St. Matthews School in Haiti. The kids are eager to return to school, but families face almost insurmountable obstacles – the cost of textbooks, for example is $38-$75 per child per year depending on grade. Help get the kids into school! Thank you.
The Bonhoeffer reading group meets Thursdays during July and August. Our next meeting is August 26 in the Connector. Join us at 6:00 pm for dinner, 7:00 pm for the book study. All are welcome.
Safe Church Training: Nate Brown will conduct a workshop for parish volunteers Saturday, August 28, 2010 in the Connector from 9:00 am to noon. The workshop meets the requirements for parish volunteers including those who work with children/youth, and Eucharistic Visitors, but not for clergy or church employees. In order to prepare materials in advance, please contact Hilary at hbw@gracechurchamherst.org by August 25th.
Education for Ministry is a four year Diocesan sponsored program (students commit to one year at a time), whose aim is to help laity connect to their vocation and ministry. At each seminar the group worships together, examines and studies scripture, and explores the art of theological reflection. Trained mentors help students through this process. The cost is $350.00 (scholarships are available). Classes start in late September (Monday evenings in South Hadley) and end in early June. Contact Veronica Chapman or Donna Schneider for more information (ticachap@comcast.net, donnadebs@netscape.com).
Iftar – A fast-breaking dinner in Ramadan- a gift from the Rumi Club: Please join us this evening at Wesley United Methodist Church, 98 N. Maple Street in Hadley from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. We will start getting acquainted at 7:30 – begin eating at 7:45 – an Imam will speak briefly about the evening will end at 9:00 p.m. Reservations are necessary Names are needed for a headcount, and name-tags. Please contact Zina Tillona (tillona@frital.umass.edu).
Clutterers Anonymous (CLA) is a twelve-step program for people who share a common problem with an accumulation of clutter. There is a new group meeting on Friday evenings at the Bangs Community Center at 7:30 pm. All are welcome.
Coffee Hour treats: Please bring fine snacks (purchased or homemade) to share at coffee hour next Sunday if your last name begins with letters T - Z.
Volunteers Wanted—Try it, you might like it.
If you are getting sick and tired of these same announcements, just jump in and give one of these volunteer opportunities a try. Take a trial period and see if it is right for you.
The Outreach Commission is looking for volunteers to join us at the Not Bread Alone Soup Kitchen in Amherst. We prepare a healthy meal, help serve 50-100 hungry people, and clean up. Grace Church goes every second Saturday, from 9:30am to about 1:30pm, though volunteers are welcome to come just part of that shift if they can't work the entire time. If you are interested, please contact Chris Hoffmann.
Try the Altar Guild: Three new members are needed after the 10:30 Sunday Service to fill out the schedule. Training and a partner will be provided. With enough volunteers, you would be needed only once a month. Could you spend part of your coffee hour once a month to help with this important service? Men, women, teens with transport or a parent to help - are welcome. If you would like more information, call Janet Teng at 253-3659.
Mic (as in microphone) Ministry. Help with this easy task, and benefit many. All you need to do is adjust the speaker volume, and plug in a recording devise to record the sermon. The equipment is in the vestibule of the clock tower. Someone will show you what to do, and it only takes a few minutes before and after the service. Getting this done would allow everyone to hear the service and enable people who can’t get to church to hear the sermons on the Website. Contact Annie H. if you are interested (256-6754 or annie@gracechurchamherst.org). Several volunteers could set up their own schedule.
Ushers wanted for 10:30 a.m. Sunday Service this fall: Welcome people to church--only two Sundays per quarter (more if you’d like). All you have to do is arrive 20-30 minutes early, pass out the bulletins & announcements, help coordinate the collection, and help tidy up after the service. Contact Kitty Dougherty if you can help, or would like more information (kitty@kdougherty.net).