GRACEUMC Grace Notes

January/February 2014 The Monthly Newsletter of Grace United Methodist Church of Lynn, MA.

1.

Dear Grace UMC Family,

In the last big snowstorm, we changed our profile pictures on the church website

and facebook page to a picture of snow. Smooth, fresh beautiful snow. As a New

England transplant, I’ve had to adjust to the winters here. Frigid temperatures, a

sturdy shovel and… a strong back! I have also found that gear is important.

When I go out into the winter weather with the right gear on, I stay warm and the

rain, sleet, and snow don’t bother me. I have even come to appreciate the stunning

beauty of winter, the gentle deep drifts of snow and the magnificent ice storms. I

am also acutely aware that when I am not prepared or have inadequate protection

or utilities break, the temperature and elements can be harrowing.

In many ways, this is an apt comparison for our lives. It is the nature of life.

Storms will come. They always do. When we are centered in Christ and clothed

in the light, however, we are prepared for whatever comes. Our prayers and

disciplines strengthen us and remind us that we can trust God. Even when storms

seem overwhelming, we know we can lean on and draw strength from God’s

steadfast love and our church community. We know that we are all one and that

nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

What spiritual disciplines will help keep you centered in the love of Christ this

year? Reading the Bible? Daily prayer? Acts of charity? Tithing? Working for

justice? Attending worship? Fasting? The beginning of the year is a great time to

commit to one (or more!) of these disciplines. Join us as we explore these more

closely in upcoming worship services. But beware: they can be wonderfully life

changing!

Blessings for 2014!

Grace and peace,

Ted Crass

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Clothes Closet The Clothes Closet is open on

Saturdays from 10-12.

We’re now accepting Winter

clothes. Clothes, shoes, boots,

new underwear and socks can

be dropped off on Sunday mornings or Mon.-Fri. 9am

-1pm. It’s best to call first.

781-599-4050

Go to www.gracelynn.org

To check for changes/updates to the church calendar

Finance Report

What a great Stewardship

Campaign in 2013. Grace

Church exceeded expectations.

Thank you all for responding

to the campaign. Grace has

also ended 2013 in excellent

shape financially and looks

toward 2014 with a balanced

budget. We are positioned to

live out our newly created Mission and Vision.

Thank you!

Joan Comeau

Finance Chair

English Language Learners (ELL)

Some students come and go,

but one of our students,

Antonio, comes loyally every

week. His passion for learning

English and English quirks is

very inspiring. His only free

night is Wednesdays and his desire for improve-

ment pushes him to ask piercing questions.

What a very wonderful service Grace provides

our Lynn community.

The Adult Class that

meets in the room off

the Sanctuary on

Sunday morning at

9:30 is currently

studying the Gospel

of John. Facilitation of this class is shared

among the participants. We use the Serendipity

Bible for Study Groups as a guide for our

discussion. All are welcome - no preparation

before class is necessary. Come every week, or

as one is able..

Are you receiving the Weekly E-News? If not, please let Chris know at

graceumcolynn@verizon.net

or call the church office at 781-599-4050.

Contact Information

Pastor: The Rev. Ted Crass

Administrative Assistant: Chris Alexander

Wyoma Square: 374 Broadway

Mailing address: Grace UMC of Lynn

P. O. Box 8070

Lynn, MA 01904

Church Office Open Daily 9am-1pm

Church Office Phone: 781-599-4050

Fax: 781-599-6136

E-Mail: graceumcoflynn@verizon.net

Website: www.gracelynn.org

Pastor’s Contact Information:

Office: 781-599-4050

Parsonage: 781-595-2851

E-mail: tfcrass@gmail.com

Pastor always available by appointment.

Addresses and E-mails Help keep our directories up to date!

Please remember to send any new or changed

contact information to the church office.

New e-mail:

Dana Barclay: dbarc305@gmail.com

Cheryl Robbins:cherylrobbins11@gmail.com

781-595-4219

Please send all information

for the March Newsletter

to the Church Office by

Sunday February

16th. Dates for the March calendar and

articles are appreciated as early as possible!

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Happy New Year! ……After a

couple of months off, its time to

get back together again;

although I think most of us like

having this break, we also know that there is much

the United Methodist Women of Grace have to do.

Our next meeting will be held on March 4th

at 6:30

pm- We will again hold our annual March Auction

this year’s theme will be a regift auction. Did you

get a gift for Christmas that you can not use, maybe

its not your style or color, maybe someone in the

UMW will be able to use it. Wrap your gift and

bring it to the auction. I challenge you all to invite

someone new to UMW, there just may be something

extra for you and your guest. All women of the

church are invited and encourage to attend.

Circle Meetings:

Hope Circle March 6th

@12pm -Bright Room

Joy Circle March 18th @ 6:30pm-Fellowship H.

Please plan ahead on attending our April 1st meet-

ing, as we plan to have a guest speaker on Human

Trafficking. Our organization, United Methodist

Women is resolute in its stance against the exploita-

tion of the helpless and those who are forced to sub-

mit to civil injustice as a result of their basic needs

or position in society. United Methodist Women

have been active in fighting human trafficking for

more than a decade. More than 27 million people

internationally have fallen victim to human traffick-

ing, and the epidemic has become the second largest

criminal activity behind the sale of illegal arms. As

advocates for social justice, United Methodist

Women will continue to work for the rights of those

exploited by this cruel trade and end this all-too-

prevalent form of modern-day slavery. This meeting

will be open to all members of our congregation, so

keep this date saved.

Please keep in mind that sometimes meetings may

have to be cancelled due to weather, please call me if

you have any questions.

Pam Mavrelion

617-257-0673

Solar Panels

Solar panels, or solar modules as they are some-

times called, are typically installed on the roof.

These panels are made up of photovoltaic (PV)

cells, which convert sunlight into direct current

(DC) power. Solar is environmentally friendly and

clean!

GO TO WEB PAGE TO FIND OUT MORE:

http://bostonsolar.us/solar-basics/

Your Trustees want to reduce the electrical utility

bill we pay to National Grid. Contact Dana Bar-

clay or any Trustee for more information.

Photovoltaic research and design over the past 18

months has resulted in historic advances in effi-

ciency and technology. During the years 2007-

2011, research labs made strong headway in the

race to improve solar panel efficiency. The solar

industry’s challenge has always been to develop the

smallest, most efficient and least expensive

device possible.

More than 20 years ago, the Souper Bowl of Caring

began with a simple prayer from a single youth

group:

"Lord, as we enjoy the Super Bowl

football game, help us to be mindful

of those without even a bowl of soup

to eat."

Since that day, more than $81 million has been raised

for local charities across the country through Souper

Bowl of Caring.

Be part of this movement by giving generously.

Your donations may be placed in the Souper Bowl of

Caring Pots or mailed to the church. Checks can be

written payable to Grace UMC; please be sure to in-

clude "Souper Bowl of Caring" in the memo line.

Every dollar collected at Grace will be matched by

the Lynn United Methodist Cluster Ministries and be

sent to My Brother's Table.

A Christmas Success! Our children's community theater group, "The Melodies" scored another success

with their presentation of "Elf Off The Shelf" on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 7 and 8. Both performances were

sold out and the audiences were wonderful! 3 year olds gave a great rendition of "Up On the Housetop", and

our Gracenotes, ages 10 through 16 sang and danced their way through several Christmas songs. Melodies,

ages 4 to 10, performed a one act play, telling the story of what happened when "The Elf On the Shelf" came

off the shelf and tried to find his way home to the North Pole. A happy ending brought everyone together with

Santa and Mrs. Claus, where they enjoyed their curtain call, that this was "Mostest, Bestest Christmas"!

Thanks to everyone who attended the show, and to all who continually support the children in so many ways!

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5

Thelma Butler, Barbara

Davis (Life Care Center),

Hazel Fuller (Putnam Farm,

9 Summer Street Apt. 342

Danvers MA 01923), Helen

McKeen(Grosvenor Park,

Salem).

Our prayer concerns. We hold in prayer:

The St. Pierre family, Rev. LaTrelle

Miller Easterling, Kebea Mulbah,

Deb Reeves’s sister Jackie, family

of Brad Snow: Patricia Spanks,

Burt Sargent, Lucy Smith, Lillian Hunt, Juanita

Webber, Sandra Kittner (friend of Bev Francis),

the Teague and Power families on the death of

Judith Horne, Betty Widell, Isabelle McSweeney,

Al Shaw, family of Joe Robinson, the family of

Marjorie Buckley, Joe Gauvain, Marge Murray,

Maxine Watkins, Ginny Galvin, Sylvia Parker,

Peter LaBranche, Leah and Shawn LaBranche

and family, Lucy Pearson, Nan Small, Ethel Cot-

ter, June Norwood, Judy Linkenhoker, Kris

Bruhm, Madeline Frier, Don Belben, Jan Nu-

gent, Dorothy Rizzi, Ruth Kalapinski, Michelle

Tarasuik, Thelma Butler, Hazel Fuller, Millie

Senices, Augusta Duncan, Jean King, Chris

Luca, Dawn Johnson, Robert Teague.

1/22 Linda and Brian Patten

1/25 Kate and Joseph Gauvain

2/14 Beverly Gilbert-Morse and Everett Morse

1/14 Victoria Wiles

1/15 Irma Hopkins

1/15 Samantha Chen

1/15 Adriano Perez

1/17 Sarah Caliento

1/17 Lily Jean Power

1/19 Gail Caputo

1/19 Tara Osgood

1/20 Kristen Walsh

1/20 Sean Hemenway

1/21 Sharon MacLean

1/21 Marc Iudiciani

1/22 Eleanore Anderson

1/24 Gage McManus

1/24 Patrick McManus

1/26 Katrina Cox

1/27 Doneeca Thurston

1/30 Dawn Johnson

1/1 Hazel Shaw

1/2 Deborah Reeves

1/2 Elijah Fernandez

1/3 Garreth McCormick

1/4 Alex Patten

1/7 Bridgette Barr

1/8 Sarah Fellah

1/9 Patricia Baird

1/9 Jacob Miller

1/10 Sarita Chen

1/12 Glenn Johnson

Thanks to all who baked and purchased cookies. We

made $160.00 which will help defray the cost of

fellowship supplies. Thanks for making our annual

cookie walk a success!

Sarah Caliento

2/1 June Coombs

2/1 Dolores Haddon

2/1 Emma Reeves

2/1 Peter LaBranche

2/2 Laura Mulbah

2/4 Kimberly Erskine

2/5 Larry Gray

2/6 Lorraine Lorenzen

2/6 Margie Richardson

2/7 Nick Iudiciani

2/9 Kimberly Power

2/9 Jordon Dana

2/10 Easter Wheeler

2/10 Christopher Soetan

2/11 John Teague

2/14 Rhisa Duntley

2/15 Patrick Burke

2/15 Nicholas Mavrelion

2/15 Marisa Hezekiah

2/16 Burt Sargent

2/17 Emily Robicheau

2/17 Glendon McCormick

2/17 Tyler Drillis

2/21 Nancy Knowlton

2/23 Kristan Davies

2/24 Isabelle McSweeney

2/25 Vivian Fabrizio

2/26 Michaiah Fernandez

2/27 Jean King

2/27 Dave Richardson

2/28 Georgia Iudiciani

Our deepest sympathy to Helen

McClaren and family on the

passing of her sister.

The staff members of Grace UMC

send their sincere thanks and

appreciation for the generous

Christmas gifts to them from their

Grace family.

Pastor Ted, Chris Alexander,

Barbara Moore, Terri McKeon and John Spanks

Thanks to the Newsletter Crew!

Thank you to our faithful volunteers who put

together the December newsletter: Colleen

Carter, Joan Day, Delores Haddon, Florence

Hezekiah, Irma Hopkins, Helen McClaren, June

Norwood and Marilyn Shaw.

Call Chris if you’d like to help out. 781-599-

4050

Parker Funeral Home RICHARD D. PARKER

FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED SINCE 1919

35 Franklin Street Tel. (781) 592-0514 Lynn, MA 01902 Fax (781) 592-5516

Since 1965 Over 48 Years of Service Est. 1918

Tel. (781-598-3500

Fax (781) 592-2223

OSBORNE PHARMACY & HEALTH-CARE CENTER

“Prescription Services & Home Health-Care Needs”

BILL BOORAS, B.S., R.P.H. -1963

Pres. & Treas. 59 Essex St.

KEN LUFKIN JR. B.S., -1992 Cor. Eastern Ave

Home Health-Care Mgr., Cert. Fitter Lynn, MA 01902

781-599-4500

We offer thanks and appreciation to all these

companies that support the ministries of Grace United

Methodist Church of Lynn.

6

Richard

COVERT 334 Broadway (Wyoma Square) Lynn, MA 01904

Your "Concierge" Claims Center

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665 NORTH SHORE ROAD

REVERE, MA 02151 Rt . 1A South (1 mile from General Edwards Bridge)

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CALL 781-599-4050

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LOOK FOR UPDATES

in the CHURCH BULLETIN

and WEEKLY E-NEWS:

NEW!

Www.lynnmausa.com/covert

HDTV

DVD

APPLIANCES

SCANNERS

7

“GRACE NOTES” Vol. 6, Issue 1& 2

January/February 2014 published monthly

GRACE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF LYNN

P. O. BOX 8070

LYNN, MA 01904-0070

781-599-4050

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Non-Profit Org.

U. S. Postage

PAID

LYNN, MA 01902

PERMIT NO. 283