FELLOWSHIP HOUR VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
During the Sunday School year coffee and donuts are available 8:45 am and 11:30 am in our parlor between the 10:00 am worship services. This is a time of fellowship for members and visitors.
We are in need of volunteers who would be willing to make the coffee, set-up the table with the donuts, coffee cups and juice and to clean-up after the fellowship hour. If you would like to volunteer to help, please contact Doug Johnson at 712-276-6959.
During the Sunday School year coffee and donuts are available 8:45 am and 11:30 am in our parlor between the 10:00 am worship services. This is a time of fellowship for members and visitors.
We are in need of volunteers who would be willing to make the coffee, set-up the table with the donuts, coffee cups and juice and to clean-up after the fellowship hour. If you would like to volunteer to help, please contact Doug Johnson at 712-276-6959.
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Hi all…I’m writing to celebrate, report and, perhaps, recruit!
What a joyous morning we had last Sunday as we returned to in-person worship at Grace. A crowd of approximately 80 folks gathered, all masked and physically distanced, to worship God. Our wonderful Tech Team and amazing Musicians were, of course, on hand…as they’ve been throughout this COVID era, to help lead and enhance our worship experience. Those “veterans” were joined by a NEW team…our Worship Hosts…who provided warm hospitality and carried out a variety of behind-the-scenes tasks to make the transition back to our Sanctuary as safe and seamless as possible. Some of you have seen the “worship plan’ document I put together with input from many folks. It worked, almost as if we rehearsed it! (ok, we DID rehearse it earlier that morning). Now we move forward. I’m writing you to invite you to prayerfully and carefully consider being a part of our Worship Host team. Please know that there’ll be NO judgment if, for whatever reason, you choose NOT to serve in this way. Of primary importance to me is that everyone feels SAFE and I certainly do not want anyone feeling pushed out of their comfort zone. At the same time, I want to be sure everyone knows of this opportunity to serve God by serving our Grace community of faith. Because we now know the protocol works…and we now have a group of experienced Worship Hosts, our next steps should be even easier. Here’s the plan… I’m hoping for solid commitments from at least 5 Worship Hosts each Sunday morning. This felt like an appropriate number this past week. More than 5 would certainly be ok, but 5 seems to be a minimum, without stretching anyone. Here’s a thumbnail outline of what typically needs to be done each Sunday morning. 9:15 NEW Worship Hosts arrive for a quick “training session”. 9:30 Experienced Worship Hosts arrive to begin the set-up process, joined by any newbies. 9:45 With set-up complete, Worship Hosts move into their positions to begin welcoming worshippers. 10:15 Worship Hosts carry out a few tasks to prepare for the end of worship. 11:00 Worship Hosts move to their post-worship positions to help worshippers as they leave the Sanctuary and building. 11:10 Worship Hosts do some VERY basic cleaning…primarily wiping down high-touch surfaces with disinfectant and re-setting a few tables, etc. I’m trying to keep this email brief and, therefore, I’m not listing ALL the details, but I’m happy to provide the complete plan to anyone who’d like to see it. In brief, “set-up” involves unlocking and propping doors, opening windows (weather permitting), checking supplies of masks, hand sanitizer, etc., making certain signage is up. Welcoming tasks find each Worship Host at either an entrance door or Sanctuary door to greet and assist worshippers. Mid-worship tasks are moving offering plates to a slightly different position and, if it’s a Communion Sunday, setting out the elements near each exit. End-of-worship tasks involve Worship Hosts stationed as before, greeting worshippers and assisting them, as necessary, as they leave. Post-worship, again, is very basic cleaning and re-arranging. If you’ve made it THIS far through this email, you may either want more information OR you may be ready to “sign up”! I’ve set up a Doodle scheduler to help make certain we’re staffed, but not OVER staffed, for each of the next few Sundays. Simply follow the link, enter your name and select the date(s) you’d like to serve. You make select as many, or as few, as you wish. Here’s the link: https://doodle.com/poll/8yq7cbryizxqsdz6?utm_source=poll&utm_medium=link (Sorry about all the ads on the site. It’s a “free” program, so they “get you” with the ads. Also, be sure to enter YOUR name, select the date(s), then hit enter or send. You may need to replace MY name with yours) Thanks for reading through this AND thanks for prayerfully considering serving as a Worship Host in the weeks ahead. Please contact me with any questions. Blessings! Jim Jim Shirbroun, Pastor Grace United Methodist Church Sioux City, Iowa “The arc of the moral universe is long but it bends toward justice” Theodore Parker |
Get Involved at Grace!
The very best way to become an active member of Grace United Methodist Church is to get involved. You bring tremendous gifts and talents to Grace. We welcome your involvement in any and all of our activities and areas of ministry. From Fellowship to Volunteer, there are many opportunities for you at Grace. Opportunities for Fellowship Grace Nights Suppers Join us on Wednesday’s from 5:30—6:30pm for supper and fellowship. Various groups provide the meal and a freewill offering is taken to cover the expense. Grace Nights Activities Join us on Wednesday’s at 6:30pm for children, youth and adult studies and activities. Please check the various pages for information pertaining to these groups. Purls of Faith Knitting/Crocheting Wednesdays at 9:00am in the Parlor and 6:30pm in the Library you will find us as we knit or crochet hats, mittens, sweaters & blankets that are given to those in need while enjoying the fellowship and friendship with each other. Heartfelt Greeting Cards All are invited to join us on Thursday mornings at 9:00am in room 207 as we recycle old greeting cards and make them into new. Food & Fun Summer Programs Join us each summer on a scheduled Wednesday evening at 5:30pm for a meal of hamburgers, hotdogs, salads and desserts in the Fellowship Hall (a freewill offering is taken to cover expenses). At 6:00pm enjoy an entertaining program. United Methodist Women/Circles The UMW meets 4 times per year for a meeting and program. Also available are the Women’s Circles. Mary/Martha Circle meets on the 3rd Thursday of the month at 9:30 am at the Point Sunrise Retirement. Naomi Circle meets on the 4th Tuesday of the month at 7:00pm in room 207. Chancel Choir Join us as we raise our voices in praise. We meet on Wednesday evening at 7:30 pm in the Choir Room and share in the 10:00am Sunday morning worship service. Seeds of Grace Praise Group Experience the joy of praising God through music. We meet on Wednesday’s at 8:30pm in the Sanctuary and share in the 10:00am Sunday morning worship service. |
Solid Brass Bell Choir
Let your spirit ring out with our adult handbell choir. Join us Wednesday evenings at 6:30pm in the Choir Room and share once a month in the 10:00am Sunday morning worship service. Office Volunteer Volunteers will answer phones, greet visitors and do light office work from 1:00pm—4:00pm Monday through Thursday’s. Contact person: Helen DeMoss 712-830-3431. Chimes Newsletter Volunteers help to assemble the newsletter (folding, stuffing envelopes and placing on labels) on the 4th Thursday of each month at 9:00am in the Library. Contact Tamera Albert in the church office for more information. Communion Set-up & Servers Volunteers help set-up the communion elements and help serve communion on the 1st & 3rd Sunday of each month during the 10:00am worship service. Contact Marta Nelson at 712-274-1235 for more information. Communion Visitors Volunteers take communion to those in our church who reside in nursing homes, assisted living or who are homebound. Contact Pastor Jim at 515-231-9621 for more information. Hospital Visitors Volunteers visit members who are hospitalized at Mercy and Unity Point. Contact Pastor Jim at 276-3452 for more information. Weekend Food Program Volunteers help to assemble food bags that are given to children at Spalding Elementary and the Native American Child Care Center to take home on Friday’s to use. Contact Marcia Eriksen at 274-1238 for more information. Annual Turkey Dinner Volunteers needed to help with the Turkey Dinner. Check the bulletin, newsletter or website for date and times. Contact Matt or Theresa Basye at 712-239-1008 for more information. Fall & Christmas Bazaar Volunteers are needed to make items and help at the bazaar. The Bazaar is held the 2nd Saturday in November. Contact Donna Wooldridge for more information. Other Volunteer Opportunities Sunday Morning Usher Sunday Morning Greeter Media Team Welcome Center Host Nursery Volunteer Sunday School Teacher Vacation Bible School Soup Kitchen For more information, please contact the church office at 276-3452. |