Beyond the Pew Beyond the Pew Martha-Esther Meets Tomorrow Martha-Esther Circle meets tomorrow, January 26, 7:00-8:30 p.m. at Chris St. John’s (543 Stanhope Ct. in Naper- ville). Julie Cunningham will demonstrate all the ways to Ɵe fashionable scarves and how to achieve these great looks. Preschool and elementary aged children are welcome to come play during the meeƟng. QuesƟons? Contact Chris at 630-548-5737. Book Group This Wednesday All women readers are welcome to join Unit- ed Methodist Women’s book group, meeƟng this Wednesday, January 28, 12:45 p.m. in the Fireside Room. The book to be discussed is Alice in Won- derland, by Lewis Carroll. Please join us! “Hearts of Fire” Begins New Studies The 9:30 a.m. adult Sunday School class, “Hearts On Fire” (formerly Faith and Fam- ily) has begun a new season of study and discussion. Join with them today in Fel- lowship Hall for Pastor Tammy ScoƩ’s dis- cussion of “Courageous ConversaƟons About Race” in Fellowship Hall and next Sunday for Rev. Doug Bowden’s “Race RelaƟons in America.” On February 8, Ron Wills will offer a photo presentaƟon of the Side-by-Side summer youth mis- sion. On February 15, the group will begin a seven-week Lenten study of Rob Fuquay’s The God We Can Know, fol- lowed by studies of books by Max Lucado and Jennie Allen. How Can You Help? How Can You Help? People Needed Last Day to Sign Up for “Feed the Need”! (see “For Your InformaƟon”) Support “Imagine No Malaria”—AƩend a Hockey Game! You may be aware that the beneficiary of our “GiŌ of Love” Christmas concert last month was “Imagine No Malaria,” a global effort to end suffering and death caused by malaria. Pro- gress is certainly being made, but more help is needed. Here’s a way that puts the FUN in FUNdraising! AƩend a Rockford IceHogs game on Saturday, February 7, 7:00 p.m. against the Milwaukee Admirals in Rockford, IL. Tickets are $15, with $5 from every Ɵcket benefiƟng “Imagine No Malaria.” To print out, fill out, and mail an order form, visit www.peopleofgrace.org/missions BEFORE January 30! Or, you may order by phone with Nick at 815-847-6386. Tickets for this fundrais- er must be purchased in advance; they are not valid at the box office. AID Volunteers Needed The AssociaƟon for Individual Development (AID) needs weekday dayƟme volunteers to help empower adults with disabiliƟes and special needs in a variety of ways: assistance with lunch Ɵme acƟviƟes, arts and craŌs, computer coaching, cooking, exercise/fitness, gardening, community ouƟng bud- dies, crisis line volunteers, and clerical assistance. Volunteer locaƟons include Aurora, Elgin, Yorkville, and Batavia. Contact Maureen Spradlin at 630-966-4020 or mspradlin@the-associaƟon.org. Also needed are volunteers to answer phones at the 16th Annual AID Telethon on March 14, 2015 (2-hour Ɵme commitment). For the telethon, contact Wendy Bialek at 847-931-2294 or wbialek@ the-associaƟon.org. Find out more about the AID organizaƟon at www. the-associaƟon.org. Tutors for Refugee Immigrants Exodus World Service is looking for tutors to help refugees learn English as a Second Language and basic U.S. history and govern- ment on a weekly basis. Tutors and students oŌen develop deep friendships from their contact with one another. If you are interested in this mutually beneficial opportunity or you would like to learn more, please contact e-w-s.org or Ralph Keiser at 630-961-0869. Items Needed Next Sunday: Monetary and Food DonaƟons For the “Souper Bowl of Caring” Next Sunday, February 1, there will be Super Bowl parƟes with plenƟful food and warm homes in which to watch the big game. There will also be those who are hungry and wondering when and how their next meal will come. Please help us tackle hun- ger! Our youth will be collecƟng monetary donaƟons aŌer each worship service next Sunday, and they are also collecƟng food items, to be placed near the “Team Children/Youth” football goal in the narthex (canned chicken/tuna/salmon, canned fruits and vegetables, cereals and grains, dried fruit). Socks for Our Neighbors In Need The Grace Emmaus Community is providing socks for those in our area in need. Please donate socks of any style or color in sizes infant through adults—new socks only, please! There is a blue “BOX OF SOX” for your dona- Ɵons outside the AcƟvity Center today. Let’s “sock it to ‘em” with clean, warm, dry pairs of socks! Give to Grace Through E-Giving Grace’s online E-Giving tool allows you to fulfill your pledges in a way that is convenient, flexible and secure. You can give any Ɵme, 24/7, via your checking or savings account or credit/debit card. Click the “E-Giving” link found on every page of our website, peopleofgrace.org. Or scan this QR code with your smart device to instantly pledge via E-Giving to Grace’s operaƟng budget, Capital Campaign, or various support/relief efforts as they arise. 5th/6th Grade Human Sexuality Class February 6-8 This year, Grace’s Human Sexu- ality course for boys and girls in grades 5 and 6 will change from its usual six-week program to a weekend format on February 6-8 (Friday evening, Saturday morning, and Sunday aŌernoon). If you were unable to aƩend the parent orientaƟon meeƟng, please contact Margaret Harrison (informaƟon above). Help “Feed the Need”! Want to be part of a community-wide event to pack 800,000+ meals for hungry children in two days? Join the 2015 “Feed the Need” MobilePack event! Sign up TODAY—last chance—in the AcƟvity Center! Youth and families will volunteer Monday, February 16, 9:00-11:00 a.m. as a group. “Souper Bowl of Caring” Next Sunday, February 1, wear your favorite jersey (any kind, not just football...pro, college, local school...even homemade with t-shirts and duct tape numbers). Bring food donaƟons (Loaves & Fishes is requesƟng canned tuna/chicken/salmon, canned fruits and vegetables, cereals and grains, dried fruit), and place them near the “Team Children/Youth” football goal in the narthex. Mone- tary donaƟons are also accepted at the close of each worship service. “Do Hard Things” Contact Gaye Lynn if you’re interested in joining a “rebellion” group and to pick up your book. Minimal Ɵme commitment—just valuable infor- maƟon and a fun read! Service Opportunity: Safety candle cups are in great need of preparaƟon for our Christmas Eve worship 2015 (yes, you read that right). Please contact Sharon Fergu- son at 630-355-1748, ext. 3223, or [email protected] if you can help clean wax from the candle cups. Calling All Parents of Juniors in High School: Please prayerfully consider becoming part of the team that plans our tradiƟonal Senior CelebraƟon event for graduaƟng high school seniors, this year on May 31. This is a minimal Ɵme commitment oppor- tunity, and your child will reap the rewards next year at their Sr. CelebraƟon! Our first planning meeƟng is Monday, January 26, 7:00 p.m. in Room 234. Youth Summer Missions Planning Sunday, February 15, 11:00 a.m. in Room 234. Side-by-Side/Hope@Home Summer Missions Join us for our kick-off meeƟng Sun- day, February 22, 7:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary. If you are in grades 6-8, you may join our Hope@Home mission; all 9-12th graders and college students are welcome to aƩend Side-by-Side. Adults are welcome and needed on both trips, too! High school juniors, if you’re planning to come on Side-by-Side this summer, please register NOW for your ACT on a date other than June 13-22! CONFIRMATION CORNER: Robe measurements: please forward your child’s name, height, weight to Gaye Lynn so that we can order our robes for ConfirmaƟon Sunday...Weekend of Decision is on Saturday/Sunday, April 25-26. All should plan to aƩend! Children and Youth Children and Youth CHILDREN AND “GYM” (GRACE YOUTH MINISTRY) CONTACT INFORMATION Margaret Harrison (infants-5th grade) 630-355-1748, ext. 3241, or [email protected] Gaye Lynn Loufek and John Dudich (grades 6-12 and college) 630-355-1748 (exts. 3234 and 3239) Gaye Lynn: [email protected] John: [email protected] PERIOD Dec. YTD Fiscal Year Anticipated Income ANTICIPATED INCOME $1,650,725 $1,650,725 ACTUAL INCOME $1,485,791 VARIANCE ($164,934) PERCENT 90 ATTENDANCE Dec. 27/28 412 Jan. 3/4 426 Jan. 10/11 470 Jan. 17/18 463 GUMC Operating Budget Contributions and Worship Attendance Worship attendance will be updated weekly. Thank you for your commitment to your pledges and to the life and future of Grace Church. This Friday’s Men’s Forum Looks at “Living For Today” All men of Grace and the community are welcome to attend Fellow- ship of Christian Men’s Winter Forum this Friday, January 30, be- ginning with dinner at 6:00 p.m. in Room 254. Join Grace member and Franklin Sports Director of Sales Bob Pacanowski (pictured) and others in a meaningful discussion about how today’s men can “keep it all togeth- er” in the midst of work, family, and an ever-changing world. Invite your friends, neighbors, and co-workers! To RSVP or for further information, contact Bob Pacan- owski at 630-355-0804 or [email protected]. Healing Worship Next Sunday Next Sunday, February 1, come to the Chapel for a special Ɵme of healing prayer and anoinƟng oils with former Grace parish nurse Pam Riley. For those aƩending the 8:15 and 9:30 wor- ship services, healing prayer will occur during the closing hymn. For the 11:00 service, come to the Chapel immediately aŌer worship. LOOKING AHEAD... March 14-15: Youth Musical “Open Up the Heavens” at 5:00 p.m. Saturday and 11:00 a.m. Sunday Worship April 19: “Holy Smokes” BBQ for Youth Summer Missions, in the lower lot aŌer 11:00 a.m. worship May 1: “A May Day CelebraƟon” for Women, 6:00 p.m.