Rector’s Reflections

Dear People of Grace, What a joy it is to be among you during this season of transition. We anticipate that my time among you will be for 12-15 months. An interim period is prime time for renewal; re-energizing the parish in its life and mission. Beyond maintaining effective ministry during this period, the Vestry and Interim Rector will work together to prepare for healthy transition to the ministry and leadership of your next Rector. Specific tasks to be addressed include: 1. Coming to terms with the history of this congregation and its relationships with previous clergy. 2. Discovering the congregation's special identity, what it dreams of being and doing apart from previous clergy leadership. 3. Dealing with shifts in leadership roles that naturally evolve in times of transition, allowing new leaders to come to the fore constructively. 4. Renewing and reworking relationships with the diocese, so that each may be a more effective resource and support to the other. 5. Building commitment to the leadership of the new rector in order to be prepared to move into the future with openness to new possibilities. How wonderful that the season of Lent comes at the beginning of my time among you! Deep in our tradition lies the wisdom that Lent is time for personal and communal renewal and intentional spiritual growth. Ash Wednesday this year is February 10. When we gather for liturgy that day, the Celebrant will say: "I invite you, in the name of the Church, to the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God's holy Word." The heart of repentance is being newly open to being transformed by grace; to being embraced by our Divine Lover; to deep healing; to be given a "new heart and a new spirit." You are God's beloved! Grace and Peace, Jim Dannals, Interim Rector

Senior Warden Report Welcoming the new vestry is my last official role as your now former Senior Warden. It is my honor to present your vestry for 2016: Donna Buckner, Senior Warden (2017) Jim Moore, Junior Warden (2017) Bill Collins (2018) Mary Lou Daily (2016) Fred Deeb (2016) Lisa Hardeman (2017) Michael Lodico (2016) Louisa Lunt (2018) Linda Sexton (2018)

Rev. Dannals asked me to remain as Senior Warden until the new vestry was confirmed. I am pleased to share with you that Rev. Dannals has been a blessing to me and based on our work over the past two weeks, is a blessing to Grace Church in the Mountains. I am sure our new vestry will agree.

Congratulation to our new Sr. Warden, Donna Buckner and Jr. Warden, Jim Moore. They will be joined by our new vestry members, Linda Sexton, Louisa Lunt and Bill Collins. The vestry needs your prayers and support as they begin the task of leading us in the new year. It is also my honor to welcome our new Interim Rector Jim Dannals. Jim’s first Sunday with us was January 10, but he has been in the office working tirelessly since January 4. It is an exciting time as we chart the direction for Grace Church. The Reverend Dannals will serve as our Interim Rector for an anticipated 12 to 15 months until shortly before the arrival of our new rector. The discernment process for selection of our permanent rector will begin in February with the selection of a discernment consultant. Then in March, the vestry will work with the consultant to learn the discernment process and how to select a discernment committee. This training along with the results of a survey and recommendations from the congregation will lead to the selection of a discernment committee in April. Then the discernment committee begins the search for our new rector. The interim rector’s role is to provide leadership to the congregation during the transition process, serve as a worship leader, be a sounding board for the staff, congregation and vestry, and lead us through the discernment process as we select a permanent rector.

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Donna Buckner and Jim Moore

Linda Sexton, Louisa Lunt and Bill Collins

Leadership Changes For the past 25 years, many congregations in The Episcopal Church have moved to a new understanding of the role of Jr. Wardens. This newer model is one where both the Sr. Warden and the Jr. Warden are partners with the Rector in helping to give spiritual oversight and management for the Vestry and congregation. Usually, along with this shift in roles, the Jr. Warden is no longer the person

in charge of buildings and grounds. Our Interim Rector, Jim Dannals, has recommended to our Vestry that we "try on" this change and the Vestry has endorsed the recommendation. Thus, Donna Buckner as Sr. Warden and Jim Moore as Jr. Warden will be meeting regularly with Jim Dannals so as to help provide guidance for our Vestry and our community of faith. Bob Vogt has accepted the position of Chair of our Buildings and Grounds Committee which is being reorganized so that we will continue to be good stewards of our wonderful facilities and beautiful grounds. Please let Bob know if you have an interest in serving with this very important group Many blessings to my church family, and thank you for the opportunity to serve. Mary Lou Daily [email protected]

A Tribute to my first Senior Warden

person who seeks a solution to a problem and doesn’t assign blame. A senior warden maintains the church website, Facebook page and heads the communication committee. A senior warden answers email late at night, while everybody else is asleep. A senior warden opens her home often as a meeting place for Sisters of Grace and other groups. A senior warden really enjoys church functions and sits on Santa’s lap. A senior warden spends Christmas morning (along with a dedicated sexton) dumping water off the roof of the church. Finally, a senior warden is loved and appreciated by the congregation. I doubt that this or any of the other things I’ve mentioned were in the job description for senior warden, but they are all true for Mary Lou Daily. I know there are dozens of tasks accomplished by Mary Lou that I’ve overlooked or didn’t know about, but I know enough to say that I speak for the congregation when I say thank you, Mary Lou, for your devotion and dedication to a job well done! Laura Armour [email protected]

Interim Director of Music Appointed Beginning January 27, our Interim Director of Music is Kathy Geyer McNeil. We are happy and grateful that Lillian Pearson will continue with us on the Sundays when Kathy has previous/other commitments.

Adult Forum Schedule Mary Lou Daily and Peter Zinglersen at work When Robert and I joined Grace Church, it was our first experience with an Episcopal Church. There were many new terms to learn, like vestry and senior warden. I wasn’t sure what a senior warden did, but this is what I’ve learned over the past year working with Mary Lou Daily. A senior warden keeps their composure and good humor during a year when everything changes…including the bishop, rector, parish administrator, organist, and newsletter editor. A senior warden is a practical, hardworking Page | 3

Sundays: 9:15-10:15 a.m. in Thatcher Hall Theme: The Journey Towards Forgiveness 2/07/16: Richard Ploch--"The Gift of Forgiveness." To forgive and be forgiven allows light to shine in the darkness and can heal what is broken. We will look at Bible verses and also see powerful scenes from Amish Grace and The Mission. 2/14/16: Samantha Ledford-- The director of Lifeworks will introduce women who will share their inspiring stories.

2/21/16: Maureen Hunt-- "A Lenten Journey: Finding God in Our Brokenness." Does God really care about our fasting and sacrifices? Rather than making sacrifices and promises of what we will “give up” this Lent, let’s consider this Lent as a time to embrace our brokenness, our hurts, by inviting God into the deepest recesses of our heart. It is there that we encounter the grace to be reconciled to ourselves, to one another, and to our God. “I have come to heal the broken hearted”. Psalm 147:3. What do I desire? 2/28/16: Carol Ploch--"The Examen as a Map in Our Journey Towards Forgiveness." Have you ever struggled to find God more in the "everydayness" of life? Come and learn about a simple but profound form of daily prayer begun by St. Ignatius Loyola. Called the examen, it just may give you the directions for which you have been searching. The Adult Christian Formation Committee will meet on 2/8/16 at 5:00 p.m. in the Marthas' Room to discuss the topics and themes for 2016. If you cannot attend, please send your ideas to Bonnie Samu ([email protected]) or Pamela Nolte-Viau ([email protected]) before the meeting.

community that we encounter God’s generosity and love. The Adult Christian Formation Committee invites you to join us for a “guided personal retreat” beginning Wednesday evenings, February 17, 2016, for five consecutive Wednesdays during Lent. We will be using “Glimpses of God” A Guided Personal Retreat authored by Richard Stoltz as a guide. “Glimpses of God,” a guided personal retreat was written by Richard Stoltz weeks prior to his diagnosis of pancreatic cancer and was recently published. Other than my giving the book a title and some chapter headings, I did not add to or delete any of Richard's content. I chose the title from Richard's prayer journal entries during his last retreat prior to his going home to God. The book cover is an image taken with the Hubble telescope. Richard viewed these images frequently with the experience of awe at the mystery of God reflected in the beauty of all Creation.

Pamela Nolte-Viau

Two opportunities for Ash Wednesday Worship The Ash Wednesday Liturgy from the Book of Common Prayer will be offered at Noon and 5:30 p.m. on February 10. It is one of the most beautiful and powerful liturgies of our Anglican tradition. Jim Dannals encourages all people of Grace to begin their observance of Lent by sharing in the Ash Wednesday Liturgy!

Begin this Lent with a Personal Retreat Lent isn’t simply about us “giving up” something. The real grace is when we recognize that Lent is a season in which God wants to give us something. It is in quiet reflection, prayer and in our shared faith as a

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Each chapter in the book begins with suggestions for prayer, followed by a meditation and closing with Scripture references related to the chapter’s theme. Every page truly reflects Richard's love for and experience of God's Mystery spoken in Love. He shares this in his humanness, gentleness, and his own wrestling with God. It truly is his gift, his legacy and his presence with us.

The cost of the book is $8.50 including tax, and will be available for purchase after church services. Proceeds from the sale of Richard’s book will be donated for Pancreatic Cancer Research. Any and all donations are most appreciated. With love and gratitude, Maureen Hunt [email protected] 828-452-4608

Let us break bread together and be nourished by our Lenten season. Donna Buckner [email protected]

Daughters of the King

Lenten Dinner Schedule Feb. 17 – Vestry and Lay Eucharist Ministers and Lay Eucharistic Visitors Feb. 24 – Adult Education and Episcopal Church Women March 2 – Daughters of the King and Men of Grace March 9 – Choir and Altar Guild March 16 – Pantry, Lay Weeders and Ushers Thank you, organization leaders in advance, for contacting me by email so that I will know who I am working with. Dinner will be served at 5:30. Servers and food need to arrive by 5:15. Menu needed each Wednesday: 5 soups, 5 sandwich trays, 5 salads and bread. Our program leader will be Maureen Hunt. She would like for us to meet in Thatcher Hall at 6:15. Please do your best to finish eating and be ready for the program at that time. However, if you work and cannot arrive in time to finish eating for the program, we will have a couple of tables near the kitchen available for you so that you don’t have to miss out on dinner. Also, if you are not a part of one of the organizations listed above and would like to help with a meal, please contact me.

On Sunday, January 17, the Daughters of the King (DOK) proudly welcomed three new members into their Order. The new members are Natalie Bayless, Louisa Lunt and Barbara Rucker. They met the requirements for admission to the Order, took their vows of prayer and service to the church, and received their silver crosses which is the emblem of the Order. New officers of the DOK were also installed. The new officers are Betsy Stecher, President; Gretchen Tope, Vice-President; Betty Miner, Treasurer; and Donna Buckner, Secretary. Father Dannals blessed the linens given to the altar guild in memory of Peggy Renfroe. These beautiful linens were specially made by Lauren Sutton. Peggy was a long time member of Grace Church and a Daughter of the King, who passed away last fall. The Daughters of the King is an Order for women within the Episcopal Church. The Chapter at Grace Church is St. Teresa of Avila. We meet on the second Sunday of the month between services. Anyone interested in attending a meeting would be more than welcome. If you want more information, please ask Betsy Stecher or any member wearing a DOK silver cross. For His Sake, Jo Phelps, [email protected]

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Valentines for Grace

For the next two Sundays, Jan. 31 and Feb. 7, we will again be signing little Valentines for homebound, healing, and/or grieving members of Grace Church! Check out Thatcher Hall for your choice of little "love notes" and a list of intended recipients. You are welcome to take them home to write if you would prefer. If you know of current members, summer associates, or former parishioners (someone that has had to move away) who would be uplifted by an envelope full of joyful little Valentines from the fabulous folks of Grace, please email Diane with his/her name and address (plus a note regarding why it would be a great gift to include them in this outreach event). Please submit this info even if you think that someone else will, because we can easily handle duplicate names . . . but we don't want to forget anyone! Our final deadline for returning signed Valentines will be Sunday, February 7. Deposit them in the big "hearts box" by the piano in Thatcher Hall. Thank you for being a heavenly blessing: "People as kind and as loving as you . . . are God's valentines to the world" (message on an American Greetings card). With gobs of gratitude, Diane Collins [email protected]

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In Memoriam: Jimmie Sparkman

Christmas Cards for the Armed Forces

Hurrah for more grand gifts given by Grace members during the holidays: 326 signed Christmas cards were written and delivered to our service men and women!!! Special thanks to Spring Allen who magnificently handled the card distribution to the military (those recuperating in Germany, plus many in local facilities). If you have any "leftover" Christian Christmas cards which you'd like to donate toward a similar outreach project next year, please put them in a bag marked "Christmas cards for the military." Deliver them to Diane Collins or place your donation on the piano in Thatcher Hall. Diane Collins [email protected]

Newcomers’ Corner: Rachel Robles

service in December, 2014. Rachel, who grew up in the Church of Christ, said, “I fell in love with Grace and everything it stands for. I had been looking for a church home.” Rachel recently returned to work at The Mountaineer, and Miranda is in child care. “I am very excited about volunteer opportunities at Grace. I love the idea of the Marthas, but I can’t attend the weekday meetings, but I can work on things from home. I definitely want to help with hunger in Haywood County, and I want to volunteer with the Saturday Produce Market. I love vegetables, and eggplant is my favorite!” Rachel stated that she had found a church home at Grace, and she added, “It has everything important to me—community involvement, enlightenment, and education.” Susan Williams [email protected]

Christmas Coloring Contest Winners Rachel grew up in Cypress, Texas, a suburb of Houston, and she attended Converse College in Spartanburg, South Carolina, majoring in English. “Converse is an all-women’s college, so for dating, I went on OkCupid (online dating site), and I met my husband my senior year of college,” Rachel said. She then enrolled in graduate school at Western Carolina University, where she earned a Master’s Degree in English Literature. Rachel’s husband, Robbie, is currently a high school English teacher at Tuscola High School in Waynesville. Rachel is the Lifestyles Editor of The Mountaineer. She enjoys reading, likes to crochet, and do arts and crafts activities, such as painting frames. “I like to be social, and I have a loving network of friends,” Rachel said. She and Robbie, married for 5 ½ years, recently became parents to Miranda, who was born in October, 2015. Miranda played the part of Baby Jesus in this year’s Christmas Eve service, and Rachel and Robbie were shepherds. Richard Ploch, a religion columnist for The Mountaineer, who, along with his wife, Carol, attends Grace and occasionally both preach and teach at the church, invited Rachel to attend a

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Meet Peyton and Candice: our "random drawing winners" of the Christmas Coloring Contest! They were so pleased to each choose a small Nativity and a "real meaning of Christmas" book! Pictured here, they are showing off their winning pictures (plus the chosen Nativity) to the appreciative applause of the Grace choir! Diane Collins, [email protected]

Warming Tree

Our Grace Church "Warming Tree" generated the following donations during the month of December: 86 hats, 77 pair of socks, 64 scarves, 42 pair gloves/mittens, nine throws, five blankets, five neck warmers, four hat and glove sets, three hat and scarf sets, three shawls, one pair of ear warmers, plus one pair of leg warmers. These grand gifts will be distributed to needy individuals in our community through the Grace Food Pantry. Many items were beautifully crafted by hand. Thank you to all who helped share the wonderful warmth of our faith family with the less fortunate!

Graceful Elves

A great big "thank you" to Al Fortney and the many other "Grace elves" who generously donated presents and provided a wonderful Christmas for the homeless students at Pisgah High School!

Fly with the Butterflies

Santa and Me

Jim and Elaine Dohms’ daughter, Eliana, visited from Portland, Oregon for the holidays with their new granddaughter, Ariel Rose.

What is the Butterfly Project? You may have noticed that changes are being made in the area just in front of our sanctuary. We once had a reflection pool there, and unfortunately the water caused damage to the glass as well as to the tiles and the bricks that enclosed the water. A committee was organized to decide how best to solve the problems and at the same time keep the symbolism that is so important in the original design. The number twelve is very important in the overall design. The most obvious example is the circle of

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apostles that moves from the inside of the narthex to the outside wall that enclosed the pool. The water in the pool represented baptism and resurrection with the baptismal font placed in the center of the circle (inside the narthex).

Graceful Hikers

Our committee agreed that we needed something very special and symbolic to compliment the area. Committee member, Sandra Best, suggested that we contact Grace Cathey, a local internationally known metal artist with sculptures throughout Waynesville. Grace created a design for a round, open cut stainless steel sculpture with three dimensional butterfly wings that symbolizes rebirth. Our vestry has approved Grace Cathey’s design and the project, which includes repairing the tiles, repairing and replacing some of the bricks (work that has already been completed thanks to Bob Vogt and Francis Nelson), cementing a footprint with stainless steel dowels to support the sculpture itself, and for plants and other materials needed to enhance the area below the sculpture. The budget for all of the above is $10,000 and the good news is that $5,000 has already been donated. You, too, can join the Butterfly Project by making a donation to support the beautiful sculpture that will grace Grace (church) into perpetuity. You can do this by making a gift in memory of or in thanksgiving for someone special by sending your check payable to Grace Church, Butterfly Project. Any extra moneys will be used for additional planting in the ground area in front of the sculpture. Records will be kept and acknowledgements will be made for all those remembered. Committee members are Donna Buckner, Francis Nelson, Sandra Best, Bob Vogt, and expert gardeners, Mary Lou Daily and Mary Alice Lodico. With love and for His sake, Donna Buckner 828-421-2484 [email protected]

Despite heavy rains in December, we were able to hike to Graveyard Fields on a warm and sunny day. We saw many hikers in shorts and some dogs and children playing in the water! I thought that I had found a moderately easy hike for Rob, who was still rehabilitating from his knee surgery. Well, the hike proved to be more challenging than I had anticipated (so much for guidebook descriptions). We hiked down to Second Falls and then up the Graveyard Ridge Connector Trail and along the Graveyard Ride Trail to the Mountain to Sea Trail. We came back down to the lower falls and then hiked through bogs, over creeks, and up a steep hill to the Upper Falls. I think we all felt a little like mountain goats by the time we returned to the cars. The hike in January along the Noland Creek Trail was much easier, a gentle grade on a wide gravel forest service road. The day was sunny and surprisingly warm for mid-January. Because of recent heavy rains, the creek was full, so we heard rushing water and enjoyed some fantastic views of cascading water when we crossed a couple of log bridges. After resting and eating snacks, we continued past a homestead and up to a cemetery. We enjoyed the solitude before retracing our steps back to the car. Weather permitting, the next hike will be February 20. Please let me know if you would like your name added to the email list. Pamela Nolte-Viau [email protected]

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Generations of Grace: Cindy Leatherwood

and arrangements at the Historic Haywood Farmers Market on Saturday mornings. Cindy said, “My favorite time at Grace is Easter. Spring is my favorite season, and at Easter time, I feel renewed in spirit. Many people in our church family start returning from their winter homes, so it’s a time of renewal.” In describing the church to newcomers, Cindy said, “Grace is so inclusive. I believe that God loves everybody, so everybody should be welcome in church.” As for the future of Grace Church, Cindy said, “I hope we will continue to have younger members and to also continue a diversity of people at Grace. This is my church family, and I know I will always have support here.”

Marthas’ Guild Cindy has been a member of Grace Church since 1985. She began attending worship services upon the recommendation of a friend, and she later met Donna Buckner and several other parishioners with whom she became friends. “I just knew Grace was where I needed to be; everyone was welcoming,” said Cindy. She had been raised a Catholic, but after being divorced, she wanted to find a church that was inclusive of all, yet still had a liturgy of worship that she felt was familiar. Cindy and her husband, Jackie, were married at the Methodist Church, but Jackie attends events occasionally at Grace with Cindy, and he was a much-beloved Santa Claus for several years at the annual Parish Christmas Party. Cindy has served on the vestry, is active in Sisters of Grace, and she has volunteered at the Parish Fair each year, often with the flea market. Retired in 2011, Cindy’s last position with the state of North Carolina was as an Administrative Assistant in the Department of Health and Human Services. Her career has been in secretarial and administrative positions with North Carolina state government agencies. Cindy enjoys using her artistic and creative talents in making jewelry and also in flower arranging. She and Jackie grow 1100 different dahlia varieties, and during the season, they sell cut flowers

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Marthas are back at work on Thursdays beginning at 10 a.m. and lasting through lunch if you want to bring it. Come join us for learning and laughs. Lots of scarves, caps, shawls, beaded thingys, etc. are being constructed. On Thursday, February 11, we will have a Marthas' Birthday Party for Melissa, Joanne, Lisa and Rachel, including a Valentine's Celebration. February Birthdays: 2/7 Melissa Van Noppen and Ken Roach 2/8 Joanne Thrower 2/9 Gwen Breese and Jane Marin 2/12 Lisa Hardeman, Jim Geenen, and Deborah Reynolds 2/20 Donald Rothermel 2/21 Rachel Cauley 2/22 Janet Burnham and Christy Maloney 2/24 Randall Elder, Marge Prentiss, Charles Alley 2/25 Heather Cyre 2/27 Jim McElrath, Al Anderson, Kent Clary, Stephanie Strickland 2/29 Douglas Staiger Ann Overbeck, 828-456-7641

Super Bowl Party Come to our annual Super Bowl Party on Sunday, February 7 at 6 p.m. in Thatcher Hall. There is a signup sheet in Thatcher Hall for those who want to bring snacks to share and for us to know how many are planning to attend. Two televisions will be set

up: one in the Choir Room for the quiet, serious football fans and one in Thatcher Hall for those fans who want to talk and socialize. Come and root for your team. Contact Linda Deeb at 850-544-1518 or by email: [email protected] if you have a question.

Lay Weeders of the Greater Grace Grounds

Grace Endowment Fund As many of you are aware, the Grace Endowment Fund is up and running with more than $20,000 donated so far. Contributions are an excellent way to leave a permanent legacy to your church family. Tony Sexton, Chairperson

Jones Heinz, Eagle Scout Candidate & Pantry Garden On Sunday, January 17, eight lay weeders and spouses shared a covered dish dinner at the Lodicos to celebrate our successes and look toward the future of the Greater Grace Church Grounds. Following is an abbreviated list of accomplishments for 2015, all completed on a $1,100 budget. Our budget for 2016 is $1,500. Thank you to our busy lay weeders.

For his Eagle Scout project, Jones has been busy working on the Grace Food Pantry Garden. He added two rock cornerstones to the bottom of the brick path, built a compost bin which sits conveniently at the edge of the lower parking lot near the raised beds, and completed a fifth raised bed. For year round gardening, he will add hoops and row cover to the fifth bed. To finalize his project, he will add river rock to edge the shade bed, place moss around the area, bring topsoil for the raised bed, and build an arched trellis as an entrance to the garden with the name of the garden etched into the wood. Please go admire his handiwork. Bravo to you Jones, and a big thank you from all of the food pantry gardeners. It has been wonderful being around a young person!! We look forward to recognizing you as an Eagle Scout during a Grace church service. Mary Alice Lodico [email protected]

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† We welcomed five new lay weeders, Julie and Les Taylor, Kathie Johnson, Dan Linker and Christa Malone. † After the removal of walnut trees, Mackey and David McKay donated time and their nifty steam shovel to remove roots, grade the slope and dig holes. † In this area at the back of the rectory, Les and Julie planted 19 Emerald Green arborvitaes which will make a high hedge hiding the unsightly shed and fence. † Dan Linker single handedly weeded the periwinkle on the Miller St. bank. † Melissa Van Noppen hired her “boys” to weed and plant hundreds of ferns on the bank, and parishioners removed hostas for their use. † Christa Malone provided constant blooms in two planters on the white rock area in front of the office and planted Daphnes behind the Japanese Maple. † Julie and Les planted seven blueberry bushes outside the Martha’s room. † Les, Julie, Robert Armour and myself toured the grounds with Roger Wright of Rainbow Nursery for advice on landscaping. † Marlene Hyatt provided constant color under the sign, in her lily patch, and around the patio. She and Nancy Haynes are retiring from lay weeders. † Nancy Fergusson added more ferns to her memorial garden

for her daughter. † Our anonymous gardeners cared for the lower pet wall. † Our lawn service contracted a grass service to treat the front lawn, which is looking better. † Les pruned the huge arborvitae along the rectory drive to improve security. † Julie tended the pansy patch at the entrance of Thatcher Hall. Goals for 2016 to Provide Low-Maintenance YearRound Interest: Make the rear entrance used more by the needy, just as inviting and attractive as the front area, used mostly by our parishioners. Plant shrubs on the Miller Street bank, now that the weeds are under control. Re-visit the lawn contract and see that the service adheres to the contract. See that a faucet is installed at the sign below the sanctuary. See that the hemlocks are treated for wooly adelgid. Develop a 5-year landscaping plan. Work with the Jr. Warden on preventing transfer trucks from damaging the curb and plants at the lower drive entrance.

Restore shrubs that could be damaged by installation of the statue in front of the narthex. Continue working with the vestry on security as it applies to landscaping. Restore the plants removed by excavating for drainage around the entrance to the food pantry and in the pet memorial wall garden. Focus on beautifying the patio area. Call in an arborist for advice on tree care. We will hold off on any landscaping under building eaves until drainage and guttering have been repaired. The town will not remove the blue spruce and shave back the corner of Miller and Haywood Street as had been discussed for traffic safety. Our group works well with gardeners adopting areas for beautification. We are in constant need of more hands and welcome all to join us on our workdays, which will be posted in the bulletin and calendar during warmer weather. Mary Alice Lodico [email protected]

Financial Report from your Vestry for the month ending December 31, 2015 Month 12 December 31, 2015

Current Month as of 12/31/2015 26,329

Year to Date ________________________________________________________________ Actual Actual Budget______________________________ 12/31/15 11/30/15 Y-T-D OVER/(UNDER) Budget Y-T-D BUDGET

Operating 237,264 210,935 229,876 7,388 Income Operating 29,186 236,080 206,895 229,876 6,204 Expense Net Operating (2,857) 1,184 4,040 -01,184 Surplus (Deficit) Complete financials are available upon request. Contact Fred Deeb at 828-620-1917, [email protected]

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February 2016 at Grace Church in the Mountains (Deadline for Newsletter and Grace Calendar updates: Noon on the 15th of each month) Monday, February 1 Noon-Deadline for Sun. Bulletin 9:30 Centering Prayer 10:00 Food Pantry 10:30 AA-Women’s Noon AA-Grace Group 5:30 Food Addicts Anonymous 5:30 Changemakers at Grace 6:00 Centering Prayer 6:30 Education for Ministry-EfM Tuesday, February 2 10:00 Food Pantry Noon AA-Grace Group 5:30 Adult Bible Study 8:00 AA-Grace Group 8:00 Al-Anon Wednesday, February 3 10:00 Food Pantry 10:30 Al-Anon Noon Healing Service Noon AA-Grace Group 7:00 Choir Rehearsal Thursday, February 4 10:00 Food Pantry 10:00 Marthas 10:00 Order of St. Luke Noon AA-Grace Group 6:00 Sisters of Grace* Friday, February 5 10:00 Food Pantry Noon AA-Grace Group 4:00 Vestry Retreat Saturday, February 6 Vestry Retreat 9:00 Men of Grace Social Group Breakfast 10:00 Social Committee Sunday, February 7 8:00 Holy Eucharist 9:15 Sunday School, Youth Group, Adult Forum 9:15 DOK-Daughters of the King 10:30 Holy Eucharist 11:30 Coffee Hour 6:00 Super Bowl Party Monday, February 8 Noon-Deadline for Sun. Bulletin 9:30 Centering Prayer 10:00 Food Pantry 10:30 AA-Women’s Noon AA-Grace Group 5:00 Endowment Committee 5:00 Adult Ed. Committee 5:30 Food Addicts Anonymous 6:00 Finance Committee 6:00 Centering Prayer 6:30 Education for Ministry-EfM Tuesday, February 9 10:00 Food Pantry Noon AA-Grace Group 8:00 AA-Grace Group 8:00 Al Anon Wednesday, February 10 10:00 Food Pantry

10:30 Al-Anon Noon Ash Wednesday Liturgy Noon AA-Grace Group 5:30 Ash Wednesday Liturgy 7:00 Choir Rehearsal Thursday, February 11 10:00 Food Pantry 10:00 Marthas Noon AA-Grace Group 6:00 Sisters of Grace* Friday, February 12 10:00 Food Pantry Noon AA-Grace Group Saturday, February 13 10:00 Order of St. Luke at Grace 11:00 Graceful Hikers Sunday, February 14 8:00 Holy Eucharist 9:00 Coffee Hour 9:15 Sunday School, Youth Group, Adult Forum 9:15 Daughters of the King 10:30 Holy Eucharist 11:30 Coffee Hour 5:00 Haywood Pathways dinner Monday, February 15 Noon-Deadline for Sun. Bulletin 9:30 Centering Prayer 10:00 Food Pantry 10:30 AA-Women’s Noon AA-Grace Group 5:30 Food Addicts Anonymous 6:00 Centering Prayer 6:30 Education for Ministry-EfM Tuesday, February 16 10:00 Food Pantry Noon AA-Grace Group 5:30 Adult Bible Study 6:00 VESTRY Meets 8:00 AA-Grace Group 8:00 Al-Anon Wednesday, February 17 10:00 Food Pantry 10:30 Al-Anon Noon Healing Service Noon AA-Grace Group 5:30 Lenten Dinner & Program 7:00 Choir Rehearsal Thursday, February 18 10:00 Food Pantry 10:00 Marthas 6:00 Sisters of Grace* Friday, February 19 10:00 Food Pantry Noon AA-Grace Group Saturday, February 20 10:00 Graceful Hikers 10:00 Order of St. Luke at United Methodist Sunday, February 21 8:00 Holy Eucharist 9:00 Coffee Hour 9:15 Sunday School, Youth Group,

Adult Forum 10:30 Holy Eucharist 11:30 Coffee Hour Monday, February 22 Noon-Deadline for Sun. Bulletin 9:30 Centering Prayer 10:00 Food Pantry 10:30 AA-Women’s Noon AA-Grace Group 5:30 Food Addicts Anonymous 6:00 Centering Prayer 6:30 Education for Ministry-EfM Tuesday, February 23 10:00 Food Pantry Noon AA-Grace Group 8:00 AA-Grace Group 8:00 Al-Anon Wednesday, February 24 10:00 Food Pantry 10:30 Al-Anon Noon Healing Service Noon AA-Grace Group 5:00 Haywood Gleaners 5:30 Lenten Dinner & Program 7:00 Choir Rehearsal Thursday, February 25 10:00 Food Pantry 10:00 Marthas Noon AA-Grace Group 6:00 Sisters of Grace* Friday, February 26 10:00 Food Pantry Noon AA-Grace Group Saturday, February 27 Sunday, February 28 8:00 Holy Eucharist 9.00 Coffee Hour 9:15 Sunday School, Youth Group, Adult Forum 10:30 Holy Eucharist 11:30 Coffee Hour Monday, February 29 9:30 Centering Prayer 10:00 Food Pantry 10:30 AA-Women’s Noon AA-Grace Group 5:00 Haywood Pathways dinner 5:30 Food Addicts Anonymous 6:00 Centering Prayer 6:30 Education for Ministry-EfM

* Contact Donna Buckner or Mary Lou Daily for location

Church Office Hours Monday -Thursday 9:00am-1pm

GRACE CHURCH IN THE MOUNTAINS GRACE NOTES – FEBRUARY 2016

Grace Church in the Mountains 394 N. Haywood Street Waynesville, NC 28786