Office Announcements
Office Hours : Monday - Friday, 8:30 - 3:30
CLOSED THURSDAYS
-GUMC Worship Services will now be Live Streamed on Sunday's at 10:30AM until further notice at www.facebook.com/grinnellumc.
Bulletins, inserts, and prayer list can be found here.
- 100+ People Who Care Organization List Here
-"The No Good Stay at Home Days” Book Sales to Support Local Missions
As many of you know, I wrote a little story for the children’s message on May 3rd and was able to share a reading of it with pictures during the online service. I was overwhelmed by the response and truly see God as the author who pulled this together is such a short time that week. After several people encouraged me to consider making it printed book, I got in touch with our local printers to look into what that would involve. Melissa Breeden works for Premiere Printing and is going to be a great help. As this is truly message of ministry for our community, I’ve decided to sell the paperback books for $10 each. Once the printing costs are covered, all additional income from the book will go to our GUMC local mission funds, including MICA, Tiger Packs and the Good Samaritan Fund. Details of distribution are currently being worked out, but if you are interested in getting a copy feel free to contact me at , or the church office. You can also order your book on the church's website www.grinnellumc.org or click HERE! Monique Shore, GUMC Lay Leader
- Check out our newsletter under the Resources tab for more information about all of our events and more
Blessed Community Meal Menu
Wednesday's @ 6 PM
Blessed Community meals plan on continuing through June. The meals have been very well received during the pandemic and we hope to continue to offer meals to the community and our church family while we are able. We are serving an average of 25 families and 60-70 individuals each Wednesday. If you or someone you know could benefit from receiving a meal, please sign up or refer them. A special thank you to the church staff for helping with the delivery and execution of the meals! The menu is subject to change, based on availability.
June 3: Smothered enchiladas, black beans, rice
June 10: tator tot casserole, corn, fruit
June 17: Ham or roast beef sliders, green beans, fruit
June 24: Baked chicken, roasted potatoes, fruit
Grinnell UMW Events
All UMW events are cancelled for June.
Reading plan forms are due June 20th. Put the form in the box in the UMW library, located in the Wesley Room.
Youth Announcements
-Confirmation
Our Confirmation youth, parents, and Faith Friends are in conversations now as to when we might gather for a day-long retreat safely. While we have been able to Zoom much of the remaining classes for our Confirmation year, we have really missed out on the fellowship and family-bonding that happens at our traditional Spring retreat. So, we are working on a date to gather. When that happens, I invite the congregation to be a part of filling our traditional goodie bags. We did not have a chance to fill these earlier this year, so be on the lookout for that request and think about what notes/goodies you might include to support these young persons in their walks of faith. Once the retreat is set, we will then be in conversation with the worship taskforce as to when we might also be able to gather for a Confirmation Sunday worship as well.
In faith and love, Ashley
-ACES
Even in the midst of social distancing, we are finding ways to be connected. Sunday School & Family Resources: lives/recorded with Cokesbury Kids on Facebook (Ashley posts these on the Grinnell UMC Facebook page)
CRAFTS HERE ; SNACKS HERE ; ACTIVITY SHEET FOR YOUNGER AGES HERE, FOR OLDER AGES HERE
(STOP BY THE CHURCH OFFICE FOR PAPER COPIES)
-Mission Trip 2020
It would be this time of year that I would be writing for our final preparations for our summer mission trip. Unfortunately, like so many other things this year, this year’s mission trip to Pennsylvania will be cancelled; there are just too many unknown things with this virus, and we want to make sure we “do no harm.” As things continue to develop this summer, I hope there are some other ways that we can come together for mission, and I will keep you posted.
-Senior Sunday
As of the time of writing this, I do not yet have a confirmed date for our Senior Sunday 2020, but we are still planning on getting all of our High School graduates together for one great worship together. As our worship taskforce gathers to determine how we can come back together safely, we will have a better timeline as to when and how we can create a meaningful worship with this group. In the meantime, please continue to send cards and other congratulations to these grads as they find ways and spaces to celebrate this grand milestone!
-Virtual VBS
We are distributing our first ever Virtual VBS box on Sunday, May 31st, and we will run VBS from June 1st through 5th. We had 31 families sign up for these, which is an awesome turn out--thank you!!! Each box includes snacks for each family member to try for each day, crafts for each family member for each day, science experiments for each day, games for each day, stories for each day, and songs for each day. Most of the ingredients needed for all of these are included plus the lesson plans! Then, June 1st-5th each night at 6:30pm, we will have a Facebook live that will include various other games/experiments/crafts to do with the congregation and families. So, even if you didn’t sign up for a box, you can still get in on the VBS fun! We hope you can join us for this virtual event!
Committee Announcements
-Connections Committee
Connections Committee has been busy helping promote fellowship among our members!
We've been placing pink plastic flamingos in yards around town to let people know that others are thinking of them during this time of uncertainty. The flamingos are bringing smiles to people's faces and we want you to help us share the flamingo love! Do you know someone who could use a pick me up or a sign that we're thinking of them? Email Allison Haack at haacka23@gmail and we'll add them to our list of flamingo recipients.
Another fun way people are staying connected is through Gnomes on Facebook! Chris Bair and his daughter Liz have been carving adorable little gnomes and delivering them to church members. People are naming their gnomes and sharing photos of their fun activities on Facebook. If you'd like a gnome friend or know someone who would, email Chris Bair at baircr@grinnell.edu.
We may not be able to gather in person for a meal, but Jennifer Cogley and church staff are keeping the Blessed Community Wednesday meal going! Find the menu on the church website or Facebook page. Call the church office at 641-236-3757 to reserve your meal by Wednesdays at 10am. Meals can be picked at at the Park Street entrance between 6:00 and 6:30pm.
Do you have an idea of how we can be in Christian fellowship together from our own homes? Email Connections Committee chair, Allison Haack at haacka23@gmail.com.
- Service Committee & 100+ People Who Care Organization: (full list here)
The GUMC Service Committee would like to bring to your attention an initiative that is underway in the Grinnell community to help meet basic human needs in this COVID-19 pandemic. We ask you as a GUMC member to consider giving to these organizations, as generously as possible, in this strange, new time. This is a time of great community need. Undoubtedly members of our church and surrounding community are being directly impacted. These opportunities can help in meaningful, concrete ways to extend GUMC’s ministry and mission. You are welcome to send your donation directly to the church office with the check made out to GUMC and the recipient of your donation noted on the memo line. On-line payments are also available at www.grinnellumc.org/ways-to-give.
-SPRC Committee - Pastor Dave Thank You Party
As we all know, making plans under COVID19 conditions is complicated, to say the least! But we also know how important it is to celebrate Pastor
Dave's time with us. We know his final Sunday with us will be June 21st. Our intention is to plan a way for folks to offer thanks and gratitude that afternoon in a way that honors physical distancing guidelines. Exactly what that will look like isn't clear at this point, but we will announce details via email, Facebook, and an announcement during worship no later than June 14th. What we know for sure is that cards and notes of appreciation are something that can be done regardless. So we invite and encourage you to prepare a card which can be delivered that day or sent to the church ahead of time. If you have questions, ideas, or want to get
involved contact any of these members of the SPRC task force: Scott Sharp, Carolyn Grosenbach, Carol Jordan, Nancie Coomes, Monique Shore.
District News
-Read the NEW Letter from Bishop Laurie HERE.
-Basic Lay Servant Training Opportunity-Rescheduled to July 10-11, 2020
This course is foundational for all courses in Lay Servant Ministries. Participants are encouraged to discover and employ personal spiritual gifts as God intended and to consider the importance of exercising servant leadership, developing future leaders, remaining rooted in consistent spiritual practices, and being part of a group that holds members accountable in their discipleship. An opportunity to attend The Introduction to Lay Ministry: The Basic Course at Linn Grove UMC. See details and register HERE.
-2020 UMC Summer Camp Announcement (full article here)
COMMUNITY NEWS
-Grinnell Food Coalition is working at getting grocery vouchers to individuals and families
that have recently experienced a change in job, finances, etc. due to COVID-19 or were previously
food insecure. If you or someone you know is in need you can contact them at
localresources@ahrensfamilyfoundation.org or 641-236-5518 ext. 109. For more information see
the attached pdf or visit their website https://ahrensfamilyfoundation.org/local-resources/