Fourth Sunday After Epiphany

January 28, 2018

Church News and Events

The installation of Pastor Larry Boudon will be held on Saturday, February 3, at 3:00 p.m. with Bishop Gordy presiding. There will be a reception immediately following in the Fellowship Hall. Child care will be provided.

Name Tag Sundays: Thank you for wearing a name tag! These help our newer participants and all of us to get to know each other's names better. And to help Pastor Larry get acquainted, please wear a name tag whenever they are laid out. Your help will be much appreciated!

Writers of Grace will not meet today, due to the congregational meeting. Writers will resume meeting February 25. The Novels group of the Writers of Grace is suspending meetings. Poetry Pie will be held January 29 in Room 101 of Grace Church at 6:30 p.m.

End of Year Contribution statements for 2017 are in the final stages of completion. They will be placed in the green hanging folders for each family, located at the top of the ramp hallway. Please pick these up, and help us save on postage, and review them so changes can be made if needed before the tax rush. If you have any concerns or comments please contact Janet Rawl, Financial Secretary, at finance@graceor.org. Remaining 2018 offering envelopes will also be placed in the appropriate folders. Additional offering envelopes are available in the office if needed, take one and note your name and envelope number for our use.

Thanks to all who have donated books for our Little Free Library. It is officially registered and marked now—take a look.

A Joyful Noise: First Harmony (for age 6 and up) rehearses from 3:00-4:00 p.m., Wednesdays. Ringspiration handbell choir rehearses at 5:45 p.m.; Chancel Choir at 7:00 p.m. All are welcome!

Until All Are Fed, the Third Annual Southeastern Synod Advocacy Gathering will be held on Saturday, February 10, at Redeemer Lutheran Church (731 Peachtree St. NW, Atlanta, GA 30308). The program runs from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.; lunch is provided. For more information and to register, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/until-all-are-fed-tickets-41116530650?aff=eac2

The semi-annual meeting of Grace congregation will be held today, January 28, at 1:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. At this time we will vote on the 2018 budget. A light lunch will be available immediately following the 11:15 service. Please plan to attend this very important meeting.

February 4th is Scout Sunday. Boy Scout Troop 224 received its charter under the sponsorship of the Men’s brotherhood on April 29, 1952. Troop members have been invited to attend one of the services . Please welcome them warmly!

2

Learning Opportunities at Grace

Children and Youth Sunday School: All classes meet at 10:00 a.m. The children meet in Jacob’s Ladder (the room beside the nursery). Youth meet upstairs in the youth room (at the top of the stairs to the right).

Adult Sunday School: Sylvia Countess is leasing a discussion of the ongoing relationship between Israel and Palestine. Sylvia is a deaconess in the ELCA who spent several years in Palestine and witnessed first-hand the relationship between these two countries. The class meets in Room 101 at 10:10 a.m. All are welcome to attend.

Monday Morning Bible Study class has resumed—come and bring a friend!

Come join the Thursday evening Bible Study this year for a "stratified sample" of the Bible! Following the book, 3:16 Bible Texts Illuminated, written by Computer Scientist and professor Donald E. Knuth, we will look at verse 3:16 from every book of the Bible in no particular order, one book a week. The verse will be examined in detail, and it will be related to neighboring verses and the book as a whole. Feel free to pop by at 7:00 p.m. whenever you have a free Thursday night!

The Mental Health Ministry will host a program entitled “How Can We Better Serve Those with Mental Health Challenges” on Saturday, February 10, at 1:00 p.m. in the fellowship hall. Grace member and mental health family advocate Diane Weaver will explore how those with mental health issues are treated differently than those with other brain disorders; what steps individuals and caregivers can take to ensure treatment for themselves and loved ones; and ways in which stigma affects everyone. Prior to moving to Tennessee, Diane was a trainer for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) North Carolina and chaired the Protection and Advocacy Committee for Individuals with Mental Illness of the NC Governor's Advocacy Council. Please join us for this important program! It is free and open to the public; child care is available.

Alpha Is Here: Thank you for your prayers and support for our venture into Alpha. It is an opportunity for folks with questions about the Christian faith to explore and consider it and if you are a Christian, to deepen your faith and help you become more comfortable with saying "Come and See" to friends or others

who might be seeking more meaning in life. We are blessed to have 30 people participating. If you are interested in Alpha, see Nancy Munro, Christy Gipson, Judy Goans, Paul Gurecki, Pat Hope, or Josh Williamson. You may want to consider attending the fall course which will start in early September. Alpha will not meet on February 2.

All sessions except March 4 will start at 6:15 p.m. and end promptly at 8:30 p.m.; child care will be provided. On Sunday, March 4 we’ll have an afternoon retreat (at the church) starting with lunch at 12:30 and ending at 5:00 p.m. Please keep all who are attending and all the team supporting it in your prayers.

ESOL classes are back in session!

3

What is OLSE? Other Languages for Speakers of English, a spontaneous outgrowth of our ESOL program. Currently, we have three ongoing classes! Spanish, taught by our very own Jeniffer Navarro, meets Thursdays from 6-7 p.m. in Room 101. Chinese, taught by native Mandarin speaker Lotus Wang, meets Fridays from 9:30-11:00 a.m. in Room 101. Korean class, taught by native speaker Aileen O’Kada, meets on 1st, 3rd, and 5th Tuesdays, at 5:30, p.m., in Room 101. Russian will resume soon. All are free and open to anyone, Grace member or not.

Fellowship

Wild Women Weekend: Kathy Olsen was scheduled to attend but is now unable due to a conflict. She would like someone to take her spot. Please contact her or Donna Gurecki. The weekend is Friday, March 9, through Sunday, March 11, at Lutheridge, in Arden, NC.

The next Men's Group meeting will be our annual Valentine's Day meeting on Saturday, February 1o, 2018. Coffee will be ready by 8:30 a.m. with breakfast at 9:00 a.m. All men and women of Grace are invited. The Men's Group will provide breakfast. A signup sheet is posted on the bulletin board outside the kitchen for men to use to indicate what you will bring to breakfast. A signup sheet from 2017 is attached for your information/reference. We need hot dishes, pastries, coffee cakes, bagels, fruit and juice. There is no charge for the breakfast, but donations are encouraged. All donations will go to CONTACT, as in previous years. Finally, to better plan for the food, we need to get a feel for how many folks will be coming. We look forward to having you join us. XYZ at FUMC — Xtra Years of Zest, a group for fun and fellowship for all seniors, invites you to a Valentine’s Day luncheon on February 14, at 12:00 noon, at First United Methodist Church. Please register by noon on February 9 to dgallaher@fumcor.org or 865-483-4357. Tickets cost $10.00 for food, fellowship, and a program.

(Continued on page 6)

Opportunities to Serve

Flower Calendar 2018: Much appreciation to those who have signed up to give altar flowers this year. There are now just three open dates for the first six months of the year--March 25, May 27, and June 24. You may sign up to give flowers in memory of a loved one, in honor of a special person, or in celebration of an event. Your donation of $25 will provide flowers for both church services. When you give altar flowers you may take them following church services if you wish. Otherwise, flowers are taken to those in need of a remembrance from Grace because of illness or other need. The calendar is located pn the wall above the mail folders.

If you have coupons from KARM and would like to donate them to the church, please put them in Judy Joy’s folder.

4

Worship Volunteer Schedule

Date February 4 February 11

Transfiguration February 18

Time 9:00 9:00 9:00 11:15 11:15 11:15

Lector/Reader

Crista Froeling Paul Gurecki Merry Ann Hansen

Audrey Elam Sigrid Ludemann

Chuck Thompson

Readings

Isaiah 40:21-31 Psalm 147:1-11, 20c 1 Corinthians 9:16-23 Mark 1:29-39

2 Kings 2:1-12 Psalm 50:1-6 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 Mark 9:2-9

Genesis 9:1-17 Psalm 25:1-10 1 Peter 3:18-22 Mark 1:9-15

Liturgist Robert Stewart

Diane Weaver Robert Stewart

Worship Leader

Randy Nesbit Betty Dagley Randy Nesbit

Acolyte Shenodoah Weber

Kennedy Weber

Lana Haese Taylor Moua Michelle Moua

Ashley Moua

Merry Ann Hansen

Beverly Bauman

Rick Rawl

Ushers David & Kathy Olsen

Mack Bailey / Ron Goans

Bill Moehl/Andy Moehl

Valerie Hansen

Steve & Marianne Johnson

Audrey Elam & Sigrid Ludemann

Jerry & Sharon Riley

David & Kathy Olsen

Judy Rosenberg/Richard Kerchner

Flower Guild Alicia Rudat Vickie Kitts Marla Weber

Offering Stewards

Ken Altes, Terry Domm Ken Altes, Terry Domm Ken Altes, Terry Domm

Altar Guild Marvel Burtis, Joyce Fox, Ruth Smiley

Marvel Burtis, Joyce Fox, Ruth Smiley

Marvel Burtis, Joyce Fox, Ruth Smiley

Prayer meeting is held on the third Tuesday of each month. The informal format includes scripture, time for meditation, music, and corporate and individual prayer opportunities. The next meeting is Tuesday, February 20 at 7:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary. All are welcome — bring a friend!

5

This Week at Grace

CR = Choir Room; FH = Fellowship Hall; JL = Jacob’s Ladder; N = Narthex;

O = Office; S = Sanctuary; SS = Sunday School Rooms

Sunday, January 28 7:45am 4th Day Reunion Rm 101 9:00am Contemporary Worship FH 10:00am Children/Youth Sunday School Varied 10:10am Adult Sunday School Rm 101 11:15am Traditional Worship S 12:30pm Lunch FH 1:00pm Congregational Meeting FH 6:15pm Alpha FH Monday, January 29 9-11am ESOL Class Rm 210 10:00am Bible Study Rm 101 11:00am Gentle Movement Class FH 5:15pm 4th Day Reunion Chapel 5:15pm Aerobics FH Tuesday, January 30 9-11am ESOL Class Rm 101 5:15pm Aerobics FH 5:30pm Korean Class Rm 101 6-8pm ESOL Classes Rms 210-213 7:00pm Stephen Ministry Rm 107 Wednesday, January 31 9-11am ESOL Class Rm 101 11:00am Gentle Movement Class FH 3:00pm First Harmony S 4:00pm Prayer Shawl Knitters N 5:45pm Handbells rehearsal S 6-8pm ESOL Class Rma 210-213 7:00pm Choir practice S

Thursday, February 1 9-11am ESOL Class Rm 101 10:00am Blanket Workshop FH 5:15pm Aerobics FH 6-8pm ESOL Class Rms 210-213 6:00pm Spanish Class Rm 101 7:00pm Bible Study Rm 101 Friday, February 2 9:30am Chinese Class Rm 101 10:00am Food Pantry 11:00am Gentle Movement Class FH 5:15pm Aerobics FH Saturday, February 3 3:00pm Installation of Pr. Larry S 4:15pm Reception FH Sunday, February 4 7:45am 4th Day Reunion Rm 101 9:00am Contemporary Worship FH 10:00am Children/Youth Sunday School Varied 10:10am Adult Sunday School Rm 101 11:15am Traditional Worship S

If you have bulletin board announcements, check with the office about where and how to put them up. Please date all bulletin board announcements. Items will be left up until the date of the event being announced. If the item is not about a particular event, it will be left for several weeks then replaced or moved. If bulletin boards are not changed periodically, they lose their effectiveness and people are less likely to pay attention to them.

6

Prayer Chain Coordinators: If you have a prayer chain request or would like to be added to the list of those who provide prayer, please email or text Sylvia Countess or Donna Gurecki.

The Prayer Shawl Ministry has weekly working meetings on Wednesdays from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m., in the narthex. Anyone interested in crafting a prayer shawl in the company of others is invited. All who want to learn how to knit or crochet are also invited. There is plenty of yarn to use, but you will need to bring knitting needles or a crochet hook of the appropriate size. Please contact Dore Busch or Barbara Sparks if you would like more information.

In addition to prayer shawls, the Prayer Shawl Ministry is starting a project to make scarves to be donated to a Knoxville church that brings scarves to the homeless in Knoxville. They could also be given to other locations, such as shelters or Ronald McDonald House. Suggested dimensions are approximately 7 – 9 inches wide and 60 inches long. Any pattern could be used, but open-weave or lacy patterns might not be warm enough. We are hoping to have scarves ready by October for next year’s cold season. If you would like more information, please contact Barbara Sparks.

Flower Festival 2018: The Flower Festival in 2017 was a great success with participation by Girl Scouts, Arissa Garden Club, Iris Society, Grace Writers, the Chancel Choir, and other church members. The Flower Guild, chaired by Vickie and Joe Kitts, would like to sponsor a second Flower Festival in 2018. If you would like to contribute to the Flower Festival in celebration of God's creation, please make your check payable to Grace Lutheran Church and mark it for the Flower Festival.

Communications

Severe weather policy: If the Oak Ridge Public Schools are closed for weather, all activities at Grace are canceled. If you have any doubts, check the church web site or local media.

An updated directory is now available. Members may request a printed or electronic copy from the office.

Lights Out, Please! Lights are being left on, especially in the upstairs hallway and the old stairwell. Please double check to be sure all lights are off if you are the last to leave a room or section of the building. Thank you!

NEW OFFICE HOURS—Victoria will be in the office Monday 9:00-2:30, Tuesday 9:00-1:00, Wednesday 9:00-2:30, Thursday 9:00-2:00.

Church Women United will meet on Friday, Feb. 2, at United Way of Anderson County, 728 Emory Valley Road, in Oak Ridge. Rachel Thompson, Domestic Violence Victim Advocate for Knox and Anderson counties, will be the guest speaker. The program and brief meeting will start at noon. Fellowship begins at 11:30 a.m. All are welcome.

(Continued from page 3)

7

Grace’s Mission Statement: Love Jesus and Help Others Love

Him, Too.

We are on a spiritual journey together. Although we have all traveled different roads, God has met each of us on the way. Jesus has accepted us as we are and we strive to do so with one another – thankful for the past, excited about the present and expectant of a wonderful future as the Holy Spirit guides us to be the people of God.

We welcome and involve all people in the life of the family of faith no matter what their journeys so that they may experience the grace we have received from Jesus Christ. We celebrate our life to-gether in worship, prayer, study of scripture, service and fellowship. If you are looking for a Chris-tian community of diversity that will love you, proclaim the good news of God’s unconditional love, offer a place to use your spiritual gifts to the glory of God, and grow with you in God’s love through service to the local community and world, we invite you to experience the gospel with those who believe that Grace makes a world of difference.

Audio recordings of recent sermons are available on the church’s website, www.graceoakridge.org. Click on the Church Life tab in the menu, then click Worship, then Sermons (or go here). CDs with recordings of the 11:15a.m. service are available in the

narthex each Sunday. Grace has a Facebook page! Give it a look — It has daily devotionals and more! Get there from our website or go directly to https://www.facebook.com/Grace-Evangelical-Lutheran-Church-Oak-Ridge-TN-303773583084/

Office Hours: Office secretary, Victoria Medaglia, is here from 9-2:30 on Monday, 9-1 on Tuesday, 9-2:30 on Wednesday, and 9-2 on Thursday. Contact Victoria at 865-483-3787 or office@graceor.org.

Grace Makes a World of Difference

Our Sunday worship schedule is:

9:00 a.m. Contemporary Worship Service (FH) 10:00-11:00 a.m. Children and Youth Sunday School 10:10-11:00 a.m. Adult Sunday School 11:15 a.m. Traditional Worship Service 10:00 a.m. Unified Service every 5th Sunday (Next on April 29)