Hanging of the Greens

No, you're right.  It isn't even Thanksgiving yet!

But because we want you to have plenty of time to clear your calendars, we do want to announce the annual "Hanging of the Greens" will happen on Tuesday, December 2, starting at 8:30 a.m.

No special talents are required (although if you are tall, that comes in very handy!).  No advance registration is required, but it would help the church out if we knew you were coming.  An email to tom.stelzer@grace-nalc.org would be greatly appreciated.

Sympathies to the Hertz family

Our deepest sympathies are extended to Steeg and Diane Hertz on the tragic death of their 37-year-old son David, who died as a result of an automobile accident early Monday morning (October 27).

Calling hours for David will be Sunday, November 2 from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. at the Littleton & Rue Funeral home.  The funeral service will be held on Monday, November 3 at 10:30 a.m. at Grace Lutheran Church.

This link will take you to the obituary as posted on the funeral home website, where you may leave notes of condolence to the family:  http://www.littletonandrue.com/obituary/David-Edward-Hertz/Columbus-OH/1446405

Devotional Life of a Disciple

You won't want to miss the upcoming seminar titled "The Devotional Life of a Disciple." This will be held at Grace on Saturday, November 1 from 9:30 - 11:30 a.m.  The seminar will be led by Bill Mowry of the Navigators organization in partnership with Pastor Powell and Tom Brodbeck. 

This seminar is designed to help busy people deepen their walk with God. As a result of this two-hour investment of your time, you will ...

• Discover the #1 time tested spiritual practice that moves people toward maturity in their faith.
• Discover biblical principles that will motivate and shape your life of discipleship.
• Practice the four principles of Stop, Look, Listen and Respond in building a walk with God.
• Develop practical tools on how to read, meditate, and apply the Scriptures to your life.
• Develop a simple and transformational plan to deepen your walk with God.

There is no cost to attend, but we do ask you to let us know you will be here so that we have sufficient handouts and other materials.  You can RSVP by emailing Tom Brodbeck (click here) or by using Sign-Up Central on Sunday morning.

Biz Basics

Each year Biz Basics, a local outreach ministry and part of the Springfield Christian Youth Ministry, sponsors a fall sales project as its initial ministry project.

The Biz Ba$ics Sweet Treats sale is NOT a fundraiser, it's a business enterprise! Every week 20 Hayward Middle School students gather after school at Southgate Baptist Church to learn about business with the help of Cedarville University business students. All profits go directly back to the students, who are learning about budgeting and saving along the way.

Locally made Gourmet Buckeye Crunch, Fall Harvest Crunch, and handmade chocolate pizzas are all up for order again ... for pictures and descriptions click here: http://crushtheodds.us9.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=bfc4a7e7b3d1f11baf0c591b8&id=36ba1d045f&e=67cab156dc 

To place your order by Monday, October 27, click here: http://crushtheodds.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bfc4a7e7b3d1f11baf0c591b8&id=3f5dc99f1f&e=67cab156dc

Thanks for helping to spread the word, and for helping Springfield kids "crush the odds with the love of God"!

Grace is prayerfully considering starting a similar ministry with students at Roosevelt Middle School.  Please pray as this decision is made.

Congregational Meeting

Just a reminder that a special congregational meeting will be held on Sunday (October 19) immediately following the 10:45 a.m. service.  This is a non-standard time for such a meeting, so don't get caught off guard by that!  It was scheduled that way so that Sunday School classes would not be disrupted.

The purpose of the meeting will be to determine if we want to establish a Call Committee to call a new Associate Pastor once Pastor DeBord moves to half time in July 2015.

Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity has an opportunity this coming Friday and Saturday to collect donations, which will all come directly to Clark County Habitat, at the grand opening of the Goo Goo Car Wash at the corner of Bechtle and North St. 

Habitat needs volunteers to collect the donations at the following times: 

• Friday evening from 4-8 pm 
• Saturday from 8 am to 12 pm
• Saturday from 12 pm to 4 pm
• Saturday from 4 pm to 8 pm. 

To volunteer, call Habitat at 325-2514.
 
By the way, car washes will be free to everyone all day both days. 

Harvest America Simulcast

You are invited to join us on Sunday, October 5 at 7 p.m. for this year's Harvest America simulcast.  We will meet in the new Grace Community Center, and participate in this worship event as it is projected onto the large screen.
 
Harvest America is an annual live nationwide event, streamed to thousands of host locations including churches, theaters, and living rooms. Harvest America is more than just a webcast, it is the body of Christ banding together to proclaim the gospel live across the nation.

The goal of Harvest America is to impact a nation desperately in need of hope. The event features top Christian artists and a clear gospel message by Greg Laurie.  This year's lineup includes MercyMe and Phil Wickham. 

Greg Laurie is the senior pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, California and Harvest Orange County in Irvine, California. He began his pastoral ministry at the age of 19 by leading a Bible study of 30 people. Since then, God has transformed that small group into a church of some 15,000 people. Today, Harvest is one of the largest churches in America. Along with his work at Harvest Ministries, he served as the 2013 Honorary Chairman of the National Day of Prayer, and also serves on the board of directors of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. He holds honorary doctorates from Biola University and Azusa Pacific University.  Greg has a daily nationally-syndicated radio program, A New Beginning, which is broadcast on more than 700 radio outlets around the world, as well as a weekly television program.

Grace is one of more than 3,300 host sites for this year's event.

Cost of Poverty Experience

Grace will host a Cost of Poverty Experience (C.O.P.E.) on Wednesday, October 1 from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. in our Community Center. Registration begins at 6:15 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.

This will be one of the most powerful events you will ever attend as you experience firsthand the impact of poverty in our community. 

There is no cost to attend.  Child care is provided.  Contact Tom Brodbeck at tom.brodbeck@grace-nalc.org for more information or to register in advance.

Bob Lezenby

Former Grace organist Bob Lezenby died early Monday morning, only a few days after moving into hospice care in Dayton.  A few weeks ago Bob fell at his apartment and suffered severe head trauma. He was not able to recover from that incident.

At Bob's request there will be no memorial service.  His body has been donated to Wright State Medical School, also at his request.

Welcome to your new home!

After 15 years in its temporary quarters (also known as the Grace narthex), our 90 year old bell was hoisted to its new home above the main entrance to the Community Center today!

Help for the Drowning Victim

Earlier this week our community experience the tragic drowning of nine-year-old Colin Jenkins. 

Colin was active in one of our outreach ministries: the STARS program of Springfield Christian Youth Ministries (SCYM). He has also attended Camp Boost. 

Our friends at SCYM have asked us to consider taking two actions to minister to this family:

1) Pray for the Jenkins family, and also for the SCYM staff, they minister the comfort of Jesus and receive his comfort as well; and

2) Consider making a donation to help the Jenkins family during this time. SCYM has set up a "Go Fund Me" site and would love to help our community rally around these hurting people.

Construction Clean Up

Beginning this Saturday, August 23, we will be coming together at Grace to clean up the facility as the Ministry Expansion Project winds down.  Our efforts will save the church thousands of dollars (since we won't need to pay an outside group to do the work). 

Bring your own basic cleaning supplies.  We'll supply anything special that will be needed. 

We will be at the church from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., so come anytime and work for however long you can.  There is much to do, and something to do for everyone of every age.

Email Karen Brodbeck at karen.brodbeck@sls-sixsigma.com if you have questions.

Obituary for Reverend Ray Garrett

The Reverend Rufus Raymond Garrett died peacefully on Tuesday, August 5, 2014. He was 93 years old.

Pastor Garrett graduated from Wittenberg University in 1949 with a Bachelor's Degree and from Hamma Seminary in 1952. His first call was in Roseville, Ohio with the Roseville Parish. He then served Trinity in Springfield, Ohio until his retirement in 1986. He was also an interim pastor at Grace before Pastor Powell was called.

He is survived by his son, Daniel Garrett and daughter, The Rev. Constance Shultz. 

A private service will be held for the family.

Narthex Carpeting to be Removed

As a part of the construction process that is very quickly wrapping up, we will need to remove everything from the narthex following the worship service on Sunday (August 3).  That includes such things as the Welcome Center, the cry area chairs, Bible rack, pews and other miscellaneous items.

If you are able to stay around to help, it would be very much appreciated.

Related to that, there are a number of coats in the coat room that will be in the way of new carpet installation.  Most, if not all, of these have been there for quite a while.  Please double check the racks to see if anything looks familiar.  The unclaimed items also include a tiny little white sweater and a set of brown nursing scrubs.

All of this is a good time to remind you of the Open House and Dedication events scheduled for Sunday, September 7.  A formal dedication will happen between worship services that morning and we will return for a church-and-community-wide celebration picnic at 4 p.m. that afternoon.  The day will cap off with a vesper service around the cross (so bring your bag chairs!).

Pastor Powell Speaking to the NALC

Pastor Powell is scheduled to speak at the annual convocation of the North American Lutheran Church at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, July 25.  He will talk about the impact of the discipleship ministry in our congregation.  You can listen to his remarks "live" if you tune into the video feed on the NALC website:  http://thenalc.org/2014-convocation-videos/

This meeting of the NALC includes pastors and delegates from churches all across the denomination. The 2014 convocation is being held at the Citadel in Charleston, SC.  Grace is being represented by Pastor Powell and Council President Mark Klopfenstein, so you might even see them listening attentively if the cameras pan the congregation!

Funeral Arrangements for Margaret Rice

Our deepest sympathies are expressed to the family of Margaret Rice who passed forward on Friday morning, June 27.  Margaret is the mother of Grace member Denise Crenshaw. 

Funeral arrangements are as follows:

• Visitation will be from 12:00 - 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 1 at Littleton & Rue Funeral Home.
• The service will follow at 2:00 p.m. at the funeral home.  Pastor Powell will be officiating.

Funeral Arrangements for Jack Bishop

Our sympathies are extended to the family of John "Jack" Bishop, who passed forward on Friday, June 20 after an extended battle with cancer.  His funeral arrangements are as follows:

• Visitation will be from noon - 1 p.m. on Thursday, June 26 at Littleton & Rue Funeral Home.
• Service will be at 1 p.m., immediately following the visitation.

Pastor Powell will be officiating at the service.

The complete obituary may be viewed by clicking here.

A Change in Plans ...

We were just informed that the funeral service for Carl Schlub will now be held at Grace Lutheran Church instead of at Littleton & Rue Funeral Home as previously published on this blog and in the obituary in the Springfield News Sun. 

The service will be at 1 p.m., with a light luncheon to follow.

Funeral Arrangements for Carl Schlub

We received word that Grace member Carl Schlub passed forward.  Funeral arrangements are as follows:

• Visitation will be at the Littleton & Rue Funeral Home on Tuesday, May 13 from 6-8 p.m.
• Funeral will be at the Littleton & Rue Funeral Home on Wednesday, May 14 at 1 p.m. 

The First Beams

This morning (Thursday) Kapp Construction began erecting the steel beams for the Community Center. Be sure to take a peek when you come for services over the next few days.  Please remember, though, that this area is a hard hat zone, so peek through a window or from afar!!

Youth Wing Dedication

Wasn't Sunday's dedication of the new Youth Wing wonderful?  We are now looking for any pictures that you might have taken during that event.  Please email them to tom.brodbeck@grace-nalc.org or bring them to the Grace office on a thumb drive or CD.

Also, as donated items are received for this new space, we will be in need of volunteers to assemble any of those pieces that require it.  If you would be interested in helping out with this project, you are encouraged to make yourself known through the Sign-Up Central or by emailing karen.brodbeck@sls-sixsigma.com.

Funeral Arrangements for Heather Dwyer

Heather Dwyer passed forward on Sunday evening. She had been struggling with significant health issues over the past several months.  Her funeral arrangements are as follows:

• Calling hours will be Wednesday, February 26 from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. at Littleton & Rue Funeral Home.
• Funeral service will be on Thursday, February 27 at 11:00 a.m. at Grace.

A meal for the family will follow.  If you can assist with the food, please contact the Grace office at (937) 399-6257.

As well, please remember Heather's family in your prayers, especially her children Abbie and Cole.

Funeral Arrangements for Joan Furrow

Betty Joan Furrow, mother of Grace member Dan Furrow, passed forward on Monday, January 27.  A graveside service will be held for her on Thursday, January 30 at 1 p.m. at the Oak Dale Cemetery Chapel.

Here is a link to her obituary:  http://www.vernonfh.com/index.php?P=8&FILENUMBER=2014-015-04

Funeral Arrangements for Mary Grieb

We sadly report that Mary Grieb passed away on Thursday, January 23 while in hospice care.  Her funeral will be held at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church on Tuesday, January 28 at 2 p.m. with burial to follow at St. Bernard's Catholic Cemetery.

You may view her obituary by following this link:  http://www.jacksonlytle.com/obituaries/Mary-Grieb/#!/Obituary

Funeral Arrangements for Sue Confer

Sue Confer, a long-time active member of our congregation, passed away on Saturday (January 18) following a five month battle with cancer.

Funeral arrangements are as follows:

• Visitation is from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 22 at Littleton and Rue Funeral Home.
• Funeral service is at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 23 at Grace Lutheran Church.

Grace will also host a meal for the family following the service.  If you would be interested in providing food for this meal, please let the Grace office know.

Here is a link to the obituary posted on the Littleton and Rue website:  http://www.littletonandrue.com/obituary/Sue-Ann-Confer/Springfield-OH/1333637 

Funeral Arrangements for Noel Kaech

With deep sadness we report that early Saturday morning, Noel (Edward) Kaech passed into eternity after his valiant battle with cancer. 

Funeral arrangements are as follows:

• Visitation:  4:00 - 7:00 p.m. on Friday, January 17 at Littleton & Rue Funeral Home.
• Memorial service:  11 a.m. on Saturday, January 18 at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church

Please continue to remember Bev and the rest of the family in your prayers as they journey through the grief process.

A gathering of family and friends will be held from 4-7 p.m. Friday in the LITTLETON & RUE FUNERAL HOME. Pastor Daniel M. Powell will preside over a service in celebration of Noel's life to be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday in Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church. - See more at: http://www.littletonandrue.com/obituary/Noel-Edward-Kaech/Springfield-OH/1331064#sthash.JIkTEfMr.dpuf

A gathering of family and friends will be held from 4-7 p.m. Friday in the LITTLETON & RUE FUNERAL HOME. Pastor Daniel M. Powell will preside over a service in celebration of Noel's life to be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday in Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church. - See more at: http://www.littletonandrue.com/obituary/Noel-Edward-Kaech/Springfield-OH/1331064#sthash.JIkTEfMr.dpuf

A gathering of family and friends will be held from 4-7 p.m. Friday in the LITTLETON & RUE FUNERAL HOME. Pastor Daniel M. Powell will preside over a service in celebration of Noel's life to be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday in Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church. - See more at: http://www.littletonandrue.com/obituary/Noel-Edward-Kaech/Springfield-OH/1331064#sthash.JIkTEfMr.dpuf

Christmas Decorations

There is always great joy when it comes to the annual "Hanging of the Greens."  But, alas, the joy subsides when it is time to take everything down and put it away.

It is, however, time to do so at Grace.  If you are available, we would appreciate your help this week -- on Tuesday in particular (January 7).  Please come to the church around 8:15 a.m. If you can't arrive until later, that's fine too.  All help will be appreciated!