This is the place to listen to the latest digital message from Grace and also to catch up on those that you may have missed!  From July 20th. Pastor Ed's sermon was "Climbing Toward Your Dreams"  From the Heart of Worship, Eric Snyder's message was "So What About Pain and Suffering?" If you would like to browse the prior sermons,  click here for a list.

      This is an opportunity for persons grieving the loss of a special relationship to share and receive support in a confidential, relaxing setting.   The next monthly outing will occur July 28, 2008 at 11:30 a.m. at a local restaurant.   Julie A. Guistwite, M.S.W., L.S.W. Continuing Care Coordinator at Hoffman-Roth Funeral Home & Crematory will facilitate an educational discussion on the importance of seeking the support of others after the death of a loved one.   To register and for further details contact Hoffman-Roth Funeral Home & Crematory at (717) 243-4511.
 

Another Milestone at Grace Church! 10 Year Anniversary for this special ministry "Our Sunday Morning Gathering"! The Gathering began in September 1998 and has been held every Sunday except one; since it began 10 years ago.

The Gathering is a 20 minute segment of our Sunday Morning Line-up of worship Service and Sunday School. It begins at 9:30 A M and is held in the Gathering Area and you can expect good coffee, donut holes, juice, other goodies and a great time to mix with the congregation at Grace!

This Month, it's HATS OFF to the Following Committed Folks (many behind the scenes) that make the ministry work: Those that do Saturday job of picking up & setting up: Darlene & DIck Wimer, Lois & Harvey McCommons, Marlene & Dick Cockley, Joyce Myers and Connie & Greg Wells.

Sunday @ 8AM (put the Goodies out); Nancy Lozier, Elsie Finkey, Sandi Edstrom, Anita Henry, Kristen Henry, Nancy & Joe Horn and Emma & Dave Kuhn.

     If you are currently dieting or trying to maintain a weight loss or healthier eating habits, consider adding faith-based small group sharing to part of your arsenal.  Join us for a new small group ministry - "Body and Soul."  Come together for support, encouragement and accountability.  The structure of group meetings will be determined by the nee

     The Missions Giving Team is organizing a group of people to help pick fruits and vegetables for Project SHARE.   Throughout the spring, summer and fall, Project SHARE invites groups to local farms where the farmers so graciously donate their produce.  Grace Church has committed to June 16 and August 18th.  Eight to  ten volunteers over the age of 12 years old are needed.  We will meet at Project SHARE at 5:15PM to leave by 5:30PM.  Please contact Jen Ramos at 448-7661, and let h

      "What Every Church Member Should Know About Poverty" is an adult class that will be offered in the month of August during the Sunday School hour. Please sign up for this class by July 15th so that we can order sufficient materials. The sign up sheet is located at the Connection Point in the Gathering area. If you have any questions please contact Christine Lay by e-mail at clay@cdschools.org.<

Greetings from Unalaska!
 
We hope this note finds each of you well, and pray God's blessing on you and your ministry!  We always are thankful for the many ways you all strengthen our ability to do ministry through your prayers and support.  Please know that we are here doing the work God has for us because you are our partners in this ministry!
 
I am attaching our most recent newsletter, and a brochure we have developed to help people know more about Unalaska, and the mission and ministry we have out here. Please feel free to distribute them as you wish!

     The Schools of Christian Mission will be held at Bucknell University, Lewisburg this summer.  The Four Day School is 10-13 July 2008.  The Fast Track School is 11-13 July and the Sampler Day for Clergy and Laity is 10 July.  For further information and registration forms call Lydia Hazlett, 249-1381 or Lois Kielkopf, 258-3048  The deadline for registration is 10 June.
 

      Grace UMC is currently interviewing candidates for the position of Coordinator of the Heart of Worship Service. This very important position is a non-compensated staff position that reports to the Sr. Pastor.  All interested candidates please submit a resume to the church office to the attention of Deb Johnston, S.P.R.C. Chairperson or to pastor Bruce via email at bfensterbush@gumc-carlisle.org.

     How many times have you had a question about a ministry, activity or program at Grace Church? Have you ever wondered who to contact about a specific aspect of our ministries, but no clue where to find out? Do you sometimes find our church to be so large that it is difficult to know how to connect to something that sounds interesting? You’re not alone – we have found this to be a common situation in such a busy and active church. A marvelous tool is being created to help anyone finding themselves not sure where to go for questions or information.

     The Connection Point now has a “Grace Church A to Z” notebook – one concise place where we can find information and a contact person for every ministry occurring in our church. We are still compiling details on some ministries and teams, but we hope through the month of April to have the “A to Z Notebook” completed and containing everything happening in our active church home.

     Summer Sunday School =  Traveling  Sunday School.  Every other week we will be heading off campus either on Gus or on foot to explore our faith OUTSIDE the walls of the church.  Join us from 9:50-10:50 !

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• June 29:  Destination Unknown! with Allison United Methodist.  Leaving Grace at 6:30 for a mystery destination.  Returning at 8 PM.  Come be part of the fun.  PLUS!!! BOB ANOKA is in town!  Come for a Bob Anoka pizza chill-in in the youth wing from 5:30 -6:30.    
  
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  COMING UP:  DEADLINES! -HERSHEY PARK:  Register with Dave Billman () by July 13^th and CANOEING the SUSQUEHANNA:  Register with Kendra/Dave Hatch ( and release form) by July 20^th.

Click on the attachment to see a listing of meeting dates for  standing committees and teams for 2008  Please contact the team leader for specific time and location.  Revised 1/2/08.

      Knitted in Love will no longer meet Thursday evenings at 7. We have  decided to meet once a month. We will meet the third Sunday of each  month at 3-4:30 pm in Room 3.  We  will be near the kitchen to occasionally end with a meal together  - our special "Knitters Day Out" 

Everyone is encouraged to bring 4 cans of tuna to Grace Church on the 2nd Sunday of every month, to help Project S.H.A.R.E. feed people in need in our community in Jesus' name.  Please put cans in the box in our Gathering Area.  Financial help is also appreciated by Project S.H.A.R.E.  You can drop tuna at our Church Office during the week if you forget on Sunday.  Be blessed to be a blessing!  "...for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink..." Matthew 25:35a

      After renovating an old apartment building, Grace United Methodist Church opened its Youth Center for Carlisle students, “Sometimes there are no parents at home because they’re working or just can’t be there...   It’s great to be able to provide a space for them. It’s a nice and safe place for students to come and do some positive things.”  Stephanie Kribs, Youth Director

Every month with five Sundays, we help proclaim Christ's saving love around the world by giving generously to our "Fifth Sunday" quarterly Missionary Offerings during our morning worship services. This offering is for the missionaries Grace Church helps support: Our new domestic missionary, Rev. Daniel Wilcox, in Unalaska, Alaska (look for an introduction to Pastor Wilcox and his Alaska Church in our August "Touch of Grace" newsletter); Helen Lovelace, in the Ukraine; and our person in mission in Sierra Leone, Africa.

We offer engaging Bible-based classes for kids and youth of all ages every Sunday morning from 9:50 to 10:50 (click "read more" for list of classes).  No pre-registration needed! Email Dianne Otto (Director of Children’s Ministries) or Steph Kribs (Director of Youth Ministries), or call either of them at 249-1512, for more info.

Welcome U.S. Army War College Class of 2008!  Every year we're blessed to have War College students and families worship and serve Christ in fellowship with us at Grace Church. Even though your year of USAWC study seems to slip by much too quickly for us, we treasure the relationships we build and the memories we make!  It's a privilege to get to know you. Come and grow!

Our Church family supports McCurdy Christian School in New Mexico through United Methodist Women and General Board of Global Ministries by collecting UPC barcodes (with "Graduate Boy" symbol) from Campbell's "Labels for Eduction" program.  Save UPC/symbol from Campbell's Soup, Pepperidge Farm Goldfish, V8 Splash and more!  Complete product list here. Read more for info on what to save and location of collection points at Grace.

     New Beginnings is a three-session class designed for people like you who are thinking about joining our Grace Church Family!  Learn about what makes us United Methodist, tour our campus, explore your spiritual gifts and discover how you can be nurtured in your faith.  Sessions are usually on Sunday mornings from 9:50-10:50, in Room 10. To find out when the next New Beginnings is scheduled or if you have other questions, please call the church office.   Quality free childcare is available.

Skatepark, a community Christian skateboarding ministry hosted by our friends at the Carlisle Brethren in Christ Church, started Thursday, March 29, from 5:30-8:30 p.m., and runs every Thursday through November. Several Grace Church families plan to skate each week - see you there! Contact Gene Dunning at Brethren in Christ Church for more info.

The Alpha Course is back at Grace! Over 8 million people around the world have attended Alpha! It's an opportunity for anyone to explore the meaning of life and Christian faith in a relaxed, non-threatening setting, over a shared meal. Leaders of the current course are Rae Ann Myers & Clint Kauffman.  To find out about upcoming Alpha sessions, call or email our Church Office.

Watch our first webcast!  Who Made God? The message by Lay Speaking Minister Steve Bloom, from our December 31, 2006, Heart of Worship service. Here is a small version of Who Made God? in case your internet connection is slow. You will need the free Quicktime to view the webcast.

Heading off to college?  Our College Connection offers you a no-obligation, no-strings-attached way to stay connected to your Grace Church family during your college years.  Simply provide us with your name, year, college address & e-mail, and we'll match you with a Grace member or family who will help to fill your college mailbox.  You'll receive a couple of care packages to share with your friends too!  Contact leaders Dani Grim or Cindy Zientek to make the connection!