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Volume 24, No. 7
July 2016
Fellowship Hall renovation
deferred to summer 2017
Over the past several months the Trustees have
been working on the proposed renovation of the
Fellowship Hall. Designs have been drawn, proposals
have been received, and we are excited about the
beautiful vision created for a refurbished space. After
consultation with outside contractors and internal
discussion, the Trustees have decided to schedule the
construction related to the renovation of the Fellowship
Hall for the summer of 2017 rather than this summer as
originally planned. The Fellowship Hall is such an
important space for the life of our congregation and our
community. It is imperative the renovations be done
right and completed on time. We were not comfortable
that was possible this year.
Preparation for the work will continue through
the year as we investigate the need for additional
abatement in the attic spaces, coordinate the new
lighting and audio/video systems, order long lead time
materials and equipment, and obtain all the necessary
permits so we are ready to “hit the ground running” next
June. We hope to be using North Point Builders, Inc,
who successfully completed our Columbarium Courtyard in 2015, as our partner in the role of Construction
Manager/General Contractor.
As of June 5, we had received pledges toward
the Gathering in Grace Campaign totaling $112,750. We
celebrate having passed the halfway point for our goal
of $200,000, which will enable us to adequately fund the
project.
Thank you to those who have made a
commitment to this important project. If you have yet to
pledge, we invite you to prayerfully consider how you
can support this vision of providing the most inviting,
hospitable space possible for our church and
community. We hope you will join this important
project now, as we seek to provide the best facilities we
can both today and for years to come.
Burt English, Trustees Chairman
Rev. Amy McCullough, Lead Pastor
FOR JULY and AUGUST
one Worship Service at 9:30 AM
Preaching for July
July 3 - Rev. Beth Ludlum, Vice president,
Strategic Initiatives, Wesley Theological Seminary
July 10, 17 and 24 - Rev. Amy McCullough
July 31 - Rev. David J. Ware, Rector
Church of the Redeemer
+++
Thursday evenings at 7:00 PM - worship with
Taizé music (see article on next page)
July 7 - An orientation to Taizé – its history, music and
its mission, with some light refreshments
July 28 - Ice Cream Social following worship
Summer camp volunteers sought
The two weeks of Summer Camp at Unity UMC
are July 18-22 and July 25-29. This is a UMCsponsored camp for children living in the neighborhood
around Unity, allowing them to experience the joys of
summer camping while staying in the city. We are
looking for volunteers who would provide help in
assisting in classrooms, with games and with food
during the day. Volunteers will work with paid staff and
receive lots of direction and support.
Camp runs from 9 AM - 4 PM. A volunteer can
help for one day during the camp week or for a few
hours, or morning or afternoon, for several days over the
two weeks. If you are interested, please speak with Rev.
Amy McCullough.
Taizé: July evening worship
In July, we are offering a unique worship
experience on Thursday evenings starting at 7 p.m. in
the Chancel area of the Sanctuary. Our Thursday
evening worship will feature the music of Taizé.
The Taizé community is an ecumenical
monastic order in Taizé, Saône-et-Loire, Burgundy,
France. It is composed of more than one hundred
brothers, from Catholic and Protestant traditions, who
originate from about thirty countries across the world. It
was founded in 1940 by Brother Roger Schütz, a
Reformed Protestant. The community has become one of
the world's most important sites of Christian pilgrimage.
Over 100,000 young people from around the world make
pilgrimages to Taizé each year for prayer, Bible study,
sharing, and communal work. Through the community's
ecumenical outlook, they are encouraged to live in the
spirit of kindness, simplicity and reconciliation.
The community, though Western European in
origin, has sought to include people and traditions
worldwide. They have sought to demonstrate this in the
music and prayers where songs are sung in many
languages, and have included chants and icons from the
Eastern Orthodox tradition. The music emphasizes
simple phrases, usually lines from Psalms or other
pieces of Scripture, repeated and sometimes also sung in
canon. Earlier Taizé community music was conceived
and composed by Jacques Berthier. Later Joseph
Gelineau became a major contributor to the music.
Ecumenical services based on this model and music are
held in many churches throughout the world.
We hope that you will join us for this prayerful
and meditative worship experience.
– Chris Schroeder
Within the Family of Grace
DEATHS
Raymond M. Faby
May 16, 2016
Louis J. Grasmick
May 26, 2016
Hope Davis
June 7, 2016
BAPTISM
William Thomas Stephens
May 29, 2016
WEDDING
Henry von Klencke and Charlotte Mertens
June 4, 2016
Church wedding in Haemelschenburg, Germany
Civil wedding in November 2015
Summer mission project update
Grace Church is actively participating in the
serving of meals at the Walter P. Carter Recreation
Center which began last month. It is not too late to sign
up to serve a meal as our involvement will continue
through Friday, August 26th. To see the list of available
dates and to enter your name, please log onto
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c084aa5ae2a1-meal
or see the big Summer Meal poster at church in the
narthex or at the Summertime Sundays fellowship time
or stop by the church office during the week.
SUMMER CHOIR
Continuing through
the month of July, the
Chancel Choir will be singing
in Sunday worship. The
choir will NOT rehearse on
Thursday evenings but will
rehearse prior to worship at
8:45 a.m.
If you are interested
in singing in the choir
without having to commit to
a Thursday night rehearsal,
please join us on Sunday morning in July. All are
welcome!
We are grateful to the choir for their leadership
in the music for worship and wish them a restful break
for the month of August when our soloists will be here.
Come to the Lights, Camera, Action room on the
lower level of the education building on
Saturday, July 23rd
7:00 PM
to see
“The Martian”
also a kid-friendly movie option available
Heartiest congratulations
to those of our Grace Family
celebrating birthdays in July.
1
Stuart Kahl, Philip Shaw
4
George Hocker, Jr.,
Janina Stetz, Bobby
Yanega, III
5
6
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
18
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
Madi Casey
Ann Dahl, Andrew Pflaum, Christina Rushing
Cary Achuff, Catherine Buffington
Erin Eisler, Thomas O. Moore
Barry Miller
Christopher Rinker
Caitlyn James, Mary Strobel
Jennifer Matosziuk, Michelle Riddle
Rowan Ferguson
Angie Chobanov
Kathleen Bossom, Garrett Charlton, Walter
Greenhouse
Brian Kick
Kevin Hudson, Ann Martin
Getty Greenman, Amanda Pfeffer
Don Topper
Alexander Greenland, Tonya Sapre
Cristin Hickey, Jeff Sewell
Rory Ferguson, Doris Patterson, Kittie Simmons,
Ashley Byer, Sara Hackley
Kristine McCusker, Carol Polk, John Scott III
Chris Hayes, Tom Wellener
Nancy Cornbrooks, Jenai Paul, Kristin Simmons
Ross Burbage
Glenn Rowley
While you may take a vacation during the
summer, our expenses do not. Please try to
keep your giving current. Thank you!
Congratulations to our graduates
REBECCA
KIPNER-DANZ
graduated Perry Hall
High School and will
enter Juniata College in
the fall.
+++
AMANDA ASHA
STEARNS graduated
with her Master of Science in Public Health from the
Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public
Health on May 17th.
+++
JESSE SIEGEL graduated magna cum laude with
a Bachelor of Arts from Gettysburg College on May 15
with a double major in History and German Studies. He
earned departmental honors in history. He received the
Anthony di Palma Memorial Award in History, the
Jeffrey Pierce Memorial Award in History and the
Henry Schneider III Award in German Studies. Jesse is
a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Omicron Delta Kappa,
a national leadership and merit fraternity.
He has been awarded a Fulbright Research Grant
to study and do research in Munich, Germany for the
2016-17 academic year. Jesse is the son of Laura and
Brian Siegel and the grandson of the late Rev. Bill Polk
and Carol Polk.
Recipients of the Eicher Award
at Peabody commencement
We have received notice from the Dean’s Office
that Benjamin LaPrairie and Lizao Wang are this year’s
recipients of the Bruce R. Eicher Prize in Organ. The
students were recognized at the Peabody Conservatory’s
Commencement ceremony on May 18. Both students
received a Master of Arts degree in Organ Performance
that day.
This prize was established with funds contributed
in recognition of Bruce Eicher’s 50 years of service as
our Organist/Director of Music and additional donations
upon his retirement after 55 years at Grace.
Special Gifts
Summer Office hours
We acknowledge with gratitude the following
special gifts
in memory of Elmer Wingate by
Mrs. John Recher
Monday - Thursday: 8:30 - 3:30
Friday: 8:30 - 12:30
in memory of Michael Colvin on what
would have been his 80th birthday, June 15, by
Macey Colvin
through August 19th
Reflections on General Conference
For 10 days I attended General Conference in Portland, Oregon as a volunteer with the Love Your Neighbor
Coalition (LYNC) This is a group of 13 organizations (Reconciling Ministries Network is one) that work on social
justice issues within the UMC. As one of 350 volunteers, I worked in the areas of welcoming, witness, and staffing the
RMN information booth.
There were 864 elected delegates from all over the world and 47 active and 90 retired Bishops. It should be
noted that 37% of the delegates were from outside the United States. It is reasonable to assume that in 2020, that the
percentage of foreign delegates will be closer to 50%. We are truly a global church. The total worldwide UMC
membership is 12.3 million. Membership in the US is 7,183,000 and the African membership is 4,852,000. The
conference was translated into six languages.
My task on the welcoming committee was to host the noon meal for the volunteers of the LYNC on seven days.
This meal was prepared by a woman who runs a soup kitchen in Portland and was provided at a cost of $4.00. This was
a time of great fellowship and making many new friends from all over the country.
Witnessing was done every day and all day while the conference was in session. During the first week members
walked in silence around the convention center carrying signs that called attention to the many social issues being lifted
up for action during conference. We walked in one hour shifts; for me that was three trips around the center. I carried
signs that stated: love your neighbor all your neighbors, protect creation, all lives matter and LGBTQ persons are called
too. While most people were supportive, some said we were trouble makers and others said we should go somewhere we
would be welcomed.
Working at the Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN) display booth was a very rewarding time for me. This
was the first time that the RMN has been allowed to display at a General Conference. Keep in mind the Book of
Discipline forbids any support of LGBTQ related items. I worked five three-hour shifts at the booth over my time at
conference. I had the opportunity to talk to so many individuals and not all were open to what I was saying. However,
there were others who were reaching out for information and help. There was a man from Africa who was so scared to be
seen talking to me at the booth so we went to another area to talk. Then there were two young teens from Alabama that
kept walking by the display that I finally went up to and asked if I could answer any questions for them. One started to
tell me his story and he began crying and gave me a hug. After this particular shift, I went up to the prayer room to find a
quiet place away from everyone to give thanks for my many supportive church friends and that I attend Grace UMC.
During the second week conference meets as a full body and works on the recommendations coming out of the
legislative committees that worked on petitions the first week. I spent as much time as possible attending the sessions.
There were many high moments during the many worship times and while celebrating the ministries and outreach of the
church. Special note was made of the 60th anniversary of the UMC granting full clergy rights to women, the 30th
anniversary of the Disciple Bible Study, the 25th anniversary of Africa University and the 150th anniversary of the
United Methodist Women. The Imagine No Malaria initiative was also celebrated as we are almost reaching our goal for
this particular outreach.
There were also some low times. There were the almost three days of debate on an alternative method for
discussing legislation and voting in small groups. This was one of the ways the organizers of the conference were hoping
to deal with the topic of human sexuality (the code wording for LGBTQ issues). This was defeated by a small margin.
This then meant that the debate would go to the full session. At that point the conference requested the Bishops to give
advice and leadership. This is a first, for Bishops do not vote or recommend action to the General Conference. The
Bishops met on Monday night and then reported back on Tuesday morning stating the they would do their best to keep
the UMC church from dividing. Conference members again asked the Bishops to meet and come back with a plan. On
Wednesday morning the Bishops did make a presentation of “A Way Forward” for the church. This plan would create a
diverse commission to research and revise the Book of Discipline’s language about LGBTQ people, call for a special
session of the General Conference in 2018 or 2019 to consider the commission’s work, limit complaints brought against
clergy on grounds of their sexual orientation and on gay marriage, and defer votes on all the 95 human sexuality petitions
before the 2016 conference. After hours of debate, this was passed by 428 for 405 against.
The conference members did move to pass the budget for the next four years and took action on just over half of
the 1000 plus petitions that were before them before time ran out.
This was my third General Conference, and I am glad that I went, but it is so painful to see the church you love so
deeply divided on issues such as homosexuality, reproductive rights, church governance and finances. I ask that you
continue to hold the United Methodist Church in prayer.
– George Kahl
A Church without Walls
READING PARTNERS
On May 20, Reading Partners held an
appreciation night for all of its tutors at the Cylburn
Arboretum. Linda English, Jack and Maureen Danz and
Rev. Amy McCullough attended. Four from Grace have
tutored at Arundel Elementary this spring. Ann Dahl
and Katie Buffington also participated for much of the
semester.
Amy wrote, “It’s been a wonderful experience,
and one into which we will invite new participants next
year.”
+++
“My tutoring experience for all of the Grace
volunteers was positive and fulfilling. My student,
William, was a third grader who was reading on a first
grade level. He displayed an enthusiasm for learning
that made our time together a joy. William’s life was
difficult, but I hope he will continue to find mentors that
will give him encouragement and support.”
– Maureen Danz
Boy Scout Troop 612 is
seeking an additional canoe.
If you have one you might like
to donate to the troop, please
contact Steve Danz, 443-9293285. Such a gift would be tax
deductible.
LIKE TO READ??
The Book Group will next
meet on Monday, July 11 in
the Parlor at 7:00 p.m. The
book we are reading is The
Oregon Trail by Rinker Buck.
All are welcome to join in the
discussion.
During the morning worship service on May
15th, Pentecost Sunday, Rev Amy invited Jack Danz to
come forward and be affirmed as a Certified Lay
Minister (CLM).
The objective of the Methodist Church’s
Certified Lay Minister program is to enhance the quality
of ministry to small membership churches and expand
team ministry in churches. The average Methodist
congregation is 50-60 members. As such, many smaller
congregations cannot support a full-time, ordained
pastor. Consequently, the CLM program was designed
to train and equip lay persons for smaller congregations.
Rather than accept assignment to another church
within the District, Jack, together with Reverends Amy
and James, has organized a program of spiritual
enrichment for retirement communities. He will remain
an active member of the Grace Community. The
program, or ministry, will be identified as a “Church
Without Walls.”
In the Methodist tradition of itinerant ministry,
the program will identify, organize and provide
programs for spiritual enrichment and growth programs
with retirement communities within the Baltimore North
District utilizing qualified lay people and clergy from
churches within the District as leaders and instructors.
Often residents of retirement communities have limited
mobility. Accordingly, it is necessary to augment
worship and spiritual enrichment programs within their
respective communities.
Rev. James and Jack have already begun a
program at Pickersgill Retirement Community in May.
A service of Holy Communion is conducted on the first
Tuesday of each month for the residents. On the second
Tuesday, they will conduct a session for study of the
parables with both the Hebrew Testament and the New
Testament.
“Gathering for Grace” Capital Campaign
We offer our heartfelt thanks to all those who have pledged or given to the Gathering for Grace Capital
Campaign. As of June 12, we have received 63 pledges or gifts totaling $114,000. Those who have contributed or
pledged to date include:
Joseph and Mary Aikins-Afful
Chris Schroeder
Kitty Allen
Nancy and Alan Seitz
Janet Ander
Elizabeth and Kevin Shaner
Lynn and Ruth Ann Beachler
William Stacy
Carolyn Benfer
Chuck and Barbara Starkey
Jane Benson
Lee and Wilma Starkey
Linda Benson/Sue Williams
Gordon and Joanie Stetz
Barbara Bond
Scott and Suzanne Stevens
David Brock
Susan Wallace
Catherine Buffington
Lura Warren
Dennis and Linda Cameron
Rev. Nancy Webb
Angela Chobanov
Lois and Thom Wellener
Kathy Cosgrove
Jeaneen Wingate
Joseph Dandy
Maureen and Jack Danz
Burt and Linda English
Deborah English
When redesigning the courtyard area at
T. Franklin Fiske
the interior of our building to include a
Jim Fitzgerald/Andy Trofatter
Columbarium and Prayer Garden, we also
John Ford
installed a Labyrinth. A labyrinth has provided a
Richard Frank
way for Christians to pray with their bodies as
R. B. Fulton
Bob and Jeanne Gayler
well as their minds and spirit since the 12th
John and Judy Gillan
century. This is in response to Jesus’ command,
Amanda Graham
“therefore go. . .” as we make a spiritual journey
Jim and Heather Grandsire
– releasing, receiving and returning.
Nancy Grasmick
A guide for how to pray walking the
Elizabeth Greenhouse
Walter and Claire Greenhouse
labyrinth has been posted at the entrances to
Richard Hall
the Prayer Garden for those who might like
Carl and Judy Hickey
some suggestions to aid them in undertaking this
Kelly Jackson
walk.
George Kahl
Pray Walking the Labyrinth
Downing Kay
Lois and Bill Klein
John and Cath La Costa
Thomas Lynn
Chris and Amy McCullough
Robert and Sharon McIntire
Stephen McIntire
Eleanor Megraw
Beth Mentusky
Tom Moore
Joyce O’Dwyer
Patrick Onley
Henry and Mirlene Perry
June Peterson
Carol Polk
Barbara Recher
Elaine and Bob Schaefer
Gary Bagwell and Greg Washington with Suzanne and
Scott Stevens on their last Sunday at Grace.
(Photo by Ann Dahl)
Grace United Methodist Church
5407 North Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21210-2024
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DATED MATERIAL
PLEASE RUSH
Staff surprises Rev. James at June 15 meeting with a baby shower
Newest member of the staff to
the left....