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news this month
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All are welcome to a special piano recital on Sunday, May 18, at 2:00 PM at The Grantham Church. It is being arranged by Patti Hess for the The Ann Shurtz Piano Studio and is intended to benefit The Wednesday Club. The theme is "Musician to Musician Benefit Recital."
Current student members of The Wednesday Club and aspiring members will perform advanced works. Free will donations will be accepted for continued support of this non-profit performing venue for their musicians. Light refreshments will be served following the recital. Questions can be directed to Patti Hess at 697-6241.
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Terry Brensinger's Sabbatical
Updates and photos can be found here.
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 Auction raises over $13,000 for summer missions trip! [more] |
Environmental Stewardship Happenings:
Please join in! 
- Birding opportunity – Rich Stevick has been spotting many different species of birds on his walks to church on Sunday mornings. Anyone interested in joining him at his home at 7:30 A.M., any Sunday morning he’s in town, eating breakfast, and then walking together to church, call Rich at his home (697-5526) or contact him by e-mail at rstevick@messiah.edu. Contact Lynn Brown or Sara Donovall if you have any questions (697-0790).
- If you were able to attend the elective Sunday School class on April 6, you heard a great presentation from Annette MaCoy about native plants and sustainable gardening. If your "green thumb" is itching to try out a new way of gardening, please join our group as we travel to Meadowwood Nursery in Hummelstown, Saturday, May 3, at a time to be announced. This nursery is holding a one-day sale to the public of native plants which include trees, shrubs, herbaceous perennials and more! Pre-orders will be taken by Josh Dourte until April 25, but plants may be purchased on site as well. You can find more details, a sign up sheet, and information about this trip on our bulletin board near the church nursery.
- On Sunday, May 4, we welcome all to join us for our regular meeting in Room C7 following the second service as we will discuss home cleaning products and environmentally friendly alternatives.
- Finally, on Sunday, May 25, come for a joyful worship time focusing on creation and remembering our role as stewards in God’s world. The guest speaker will be Dr. David Foster, Associate Professor of Biology and Environmental Science, Messiah College.
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Spring/Summer 08 Sermons — Preaching Schedule here. |
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How Can I Keep From Singing?
Sunday, May 4 at 6:30 p.m.
You will not want to miss our Spring Concert of Worship on May 4 at 6:30 P.M. This concert will feature music by our Chancel Choir, including "And the Father Will Dance" by Mark Hayes, "Come Ye Sinners" arranged for voices and handbells by Kathryn S. Bonner, "Steal Away" arranged for voices, piano and solo clarinet by Howard Helvey, "Total Praise" arranged by Dave Williamson, and several others. Music by the Grantham Brass includes "How Deep the Father's Love," "Rock of Ages," and "It is Well." The Junior Singers will sing “Hamba nathi” (“Come Walk With Us”) with the Chancel Choir and will also perform "The Most High God" by Mark Hayes. In addition, there will be music by our own Grantham Ringers and several opportunities for congregational singing.
Mark your calendars now and bring your family and friends on May 4 for this inspirational and joyous offering of praise to our God!
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Contact:
- Preschool: Lisa Weaver
(h: 432-5346)
- Elementary: Beth Huffnagle
(w: 766-0531; h: 697-7093)
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  Calling All Heroes: Bible Adventure Awaits!
Mark your calendars now for the best week of June — VBS! Plan on joining us during the mornings of June 23-27 for a week of high-seas adventure. We will meet Bible heroes and go on a quest to learn what it means to be a real hero — with God’s help.
Preparations are already underway for swashbuckling stories, crafts, songs, snacks, games, and science experiments. Adults and teens, get in on the fun by signing up to help, even if you can’t join us every morning.
We will form crews for age 4 through fifth grade (completed), and pre-registration is required, beginning June 1. Our pre-school schedule will be slightly abbreviated this year; watch for additional information.
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FREE LODGING at Roxbury During Camp Meeting
Again this year, Grantham Church has a hotel-style room available in the C.B. Byers Conference Center during Roxbury Holiness Camp's annual Camp Meeting, August 1-10. This year's theme is “Everything You Need,” and the evening speakers are Jay Smith and Jeff Baxter. There are separate sessions for all age groups. Anyone from Grantham Church can apply to use the room -- look for an application at the welcome centers. Questions? Contact Edie Asbury at 766-6070 or easbury6@comcast.net.
-- Edie Asbury |
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World Prayer Team
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Kris Garis will be the speaker for the World Prayer Team meeting on Sunday, May 18 at 6:30 P.M. Please put this on your calendar. Kris, a member of the Souderton BIC, is a graduate of Messiah College with a degree in elementary education. Later she received her Master's Degree in reading from Temple University. She was on the Board for World Missions for a year. Since January 2004, she has been serving in Thailand with Brethren in Christ World Missions. Come and hear how God is answering prayer for Kris and the team.
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Church & Community Yard Sale
May 24, 2008
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Library News
Are you looking for something that you think the library might have? The church library's online catalog has recently changed its location, and there are now two easy ways to access it: Go to Library under the Resources tab, and click on the online catalog link. OR go directly to libraryworld. com/opac and type "Grantham Church Library" to log in.
The search tips remain the same. When searching by keyword, use major words, not common words like "the." Use a question mark <?> to allow for various word endings, such as lov? for love, loves, loving, etc. (but NOT in title searches).
When searching by title, include every word and punctuation mark. The author and title card file is also still available in the library for anyone who prefers to check in the traditional way. As always, ask for assistance if you don't find what you want!
-- Edie Asbury
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Letters from Missionaries
You can join our missionaries in prayer and praise as you read letters we’ve received from them. Copies of those letters can be found in the wall pockets adjacent to the Missions bulletin board in the narthex. Please help yourself.
- A Holy Temple from Steve and Reenie Ginder, BICWM personnel on staff at the Evangelical Bible College of Malawi;
- March update from Phyllis Engle, recently transferred from the Theological College of Zimbabwe to The Theological College of Central Africa, Zambia;
- Noticias de Honduras from Nathan and Cathy Bert, continuing their ministry in Honduras with Brethren in Christ World Missions.
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children's ministries news
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VBS
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Mark your calendars now for the best week of June!
Vacation Bible School
June 23-27
Contact Beth Huffnagle at 766-0531 or huffnagl@granthamchurch.org to volunteer!
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June/July
Geoffrey Isley
Photographs
20 Years of Body Life
September/OCTOBER
Helene Norman
Paintings
November/December
Seeing the Savior: Images from the Life of Christ, a CIVA traveling exhibition
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Art Gallery News
This year our gallery will host another group of exhibitions intended to teach, inspire and delight.
Later this summer I am putting together a show of color photographs taken over the years since I have been attending the Grantham Church, focusing on some of the images I’ve captured at various community life happenings, picnics, services, etc.
I started taking pictures for BodyBuilder covers several years ago, and I always end up with more images that we have covers for, so here’s a chance to see if you made the cover!
This fall we’ll be hosting an exhibition of new work by Grantham painter Hélene Norman, a European transplant and former missionary in Africa, Messiah faculty spouse, and now a Messiah art major! We look forward to seeing her work and hearing some of her story.
Rounding up the year we’ll have a Christians in the Visual Arts (CIVA) traveling exhibition of images mostly by living Christian artists. This collection of 35 images is especially designed to educate children about how to “read” Bible stories in pictures.
— Geoffrey Isley
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Women of Faith Conference
Ladies, can you imagine what it is like to worship God along with up to 16,000 other women in the Verizon Center, Washington, D.C.? Here's an opportunity for you to experience that at the Women of Faith Conference on July 11-12. Check with Edie Asbury for the availability of reduced-rate seats and/or information on sharing transportation and hotel accommodations. Contact Edie at 766-6070 or easbury6@comcast.net.
-- Edie Asbury |
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The Grantham Women’s Club will meet Monday, May 12, 2008 at 7:30 P.M. in the Grantham Church, 421 Grantham Road. Mark Lehigh will present a program on “Wild Flowers Photography.” Ladies from the area are welcome. Bonus Books will be available at the meeting or by calling 766-5827. |
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Grandmothers in Prayer
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Each month a group of grandmothers from our church meet together to pray for our grandchildren. We use a study book to focus on specific areas of grandparenting as well as to encourage us in our own spiritual growth. Some of our grandchildren live nearby, and some live far away; some are very young and others are adults. It doesn’t matter how far away they live, or what their ages are, we uphold them in our prayers. Our group meets on the fourth Thursday of each month in the church parlor (A4) at 9:30 a.m. We welcome all grandmothers who would like to meet for a time of sharing and group prayer. For further information contact Anita Hare (790-0603). |
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The Lord gives us a great opportunity when He invites us to, “Call unto me and I will answer you!” (Jer. 33:3). We certainly have many areas in our lives, church, community, nation, and world in which we need God’s help. In what areas would you like the Lord to answer you about? Let’s not waste this great privilege! Join us in prayer at any or all of our prayer meetings:
- Tuesdays at 12:00 p.m.
Prayer Group in the library
- Wednesdays at 5:45 p.m.
Prayer Meeting in Room A-1
- Thursdays at 1:30 p.m.
Centering Prayer in Room A-2
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8 adult classes are held each week for adults on various topics from New Believers and Membership Exploration classes to Biblical studies and other subjects that change each quarter. For a current list of classes, check at the Welcome Centers or the listing here. |
ministries for youth and young adults
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20s & 30s
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[more 20s and 30s news] |
Auction raises over $13,000 for summer missions trip!
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Summer Youth Missions Trip
‘You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem [locally], in all Judea and Samaria [in your homeland], and to the ends of the earth [internationally].’ - Acts 1.8 NRSV
Every summer the Grantham Youth Ministry plans and organizes an opportunity for the youth to be involved in service somewhere in the world. The pattern follows that laid out by Jesus in Acts 1:8. Over the past two summers, the Grantham youth have gone to Macha, Zambia and Philadelphia, PA. As those trips represent international and local service, we are looking forward to our national trip this coming July.
As many of you are aware, we are organizing a mission trip to New Mexico, July 19 - 26. We will be working with the Navajo people through the BIC Navajo Mission. Our liaisons are Duane and Diane Bristow, BIC missionaries who have worked with the Navajo for years. This mission trip represents a unique opportunity for our congregation, however, as we are going with two teams. The youth team will be spending their days running a VBS for the Navajo while the adult work team will be focusing their energies on doing repairs and light construction around the mission station. This is not only an opportunity for more members of our church family to serve together, but also for all those involved, young and old, to build relationships, strengthen bonds and create a sense of unity. This is truly an awesome opportunity for us to be the church, the body of Christ, celebrating the gifts, talents, experience and energy of all generations as we serve our Lord side by side.
 As we plan for this trip, however, the financial realities of taking such a large group all the way to New Mexico may loom large. The main fundraiser for this trip was the Spaghetti Supper and Auction (a delicious meal served by our youth followed by a church-wide auction of a wide assortment of donated items). All proceeds from this event benefit youth missions, service opportunities, and YouthQuest. I would like to thank all of you for the support you have given our youth over the years and to explore ways that you can be a part of the wonderful opportunity we have this summer! How can you help make this trip possible?
Two years ago, when money was being raised for the Zambia trip, the record-breaking amount was over $20,000! For our congregation to be so active in supporting their youth is truly a blessing and a witness of generosity to others. I encourage you to think of the possibilities and opportunities that your giving opens up for our youth as we help them engage in service in a hurting world; to live Christ’s love for the physically and spiritually needy; and, to show compassion, humility and grace to all they encounter. These opportunities expand horizons and open eyes and we want to take advantage of every opportunity through which God may work in the lives of our youth. Your generosity allows for these things to happen and for us, like the apostle Paul, to avoid being a burden on those to whom we are reaching out.
Thank you so much for your continued and overwhelming support of our youth and their experience of missions and service.
-- David Stuebing, Minister of Youth
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