Church Life Weekly Newsletter
Find pdf files of Church Life newsletters at the bottom of this page.
Mission statement: Grace United Methodist Church is a family of faith striving to share God’s love with all people.
Career Day. Career Day, sponsored by Grace United Women in Faith, will be Saturday, November 8 in the gym from 10:00-2:00. Please invite all the high school students you know! Students attend free and lunch is included. The flyer is attached to Church Life. We also need church members to host career tables for their career. If you can do that, please email Andrea Owen-Boyd or Katherine Perkins (katherine.lowe.perkins@gmail.com) this week. Also, we will once again need lots of help setting up, greeting, serving, and cleaning up. If you are willing to donate to this event so that students may attend for free (and eat for free), please see Katherine Perkins. No amount is too small. Thank you! Katherine Perkins
UNITED WOMEN IN FAITH. We had a blessed United Women in Faith Sunday on September 28. We presented the United Women in Faith Missions Award to Pat Eshun. Attached is a group photo and a photo of Pat with me and Andrea. Iris, Debbielee, and Joan missed the photo because they were helping in the kitchen. Several others missed the photo who were there as well, but you can see we had a good turnout. Thank you! If you missed today, please plan to join us next year! –Katherine Perkins
Beautiful Flowers. We are sending out a BIG THANK YOU to Diane Vitacco for the beautiful Flower Arrangements that she has made and that we will have throughout the Fall Season. Thank you so much. We are enjoying them!
Men’s Group at Grace. Calling all men from Grace UMC and the surrounding community to our Men’s Ministry fellowship and gathering on Friday, October 31 at 7pm in the Bert Keller room. Pastor Kim will be serving up some Korean BBQ as we gather for a time of food and fellowship. All are invited to come and enjoy.
Nassau Cooperative Parish Joint Charge Conference. On Saturday, November 15 at 1pm, Grace UMC will be hosting Charge Conference for nine United Methodist congregations in the Nassau Cooperative Parish (including ours). Committee Chairs and Leaders need to submit their annual reports no later than October 27, 2025!! We hope to get a wonderful turnout as we meet with our District Superintendent Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Abel to review the past year and look to the new year.
THRIFT SHOP NEWS. A sincere thanks to all of you who have made donations throughout the year. We are transitioning into fall and appreciate gently used fall/winter clothing, household goods, small appliances and anything that might be useful for a home. Glassware isn’t needed at this time. Volunteers are needed, especially now, Thursday morning from 10-12 or Saturday from 10-2. Contact Marianne Pike at mariannepike77@gmail.com for more information. Thanks again to all of you who have given your time to support the church and the community in this ministry. –Marianne
United Women in Faith NYAC Annual Meeting. We hosted the New York Conference UWF Annual Meeting on Saturday, October 25 at Grace. A special thanks to all our ladies and men who worked so hard! Thank you to everyone who participated in the service and to all who helped with set-up, arranging for the food, serving, kitchen work, greeting and elevator operation, and clean-up. Thanks to Kim Neri for coordinating with the caterer, to Earl Boyd for making and serving soup, to Pastor Kim for cutting up lots of fruit, and to Bob DiSalvo for making lots of coffee. We thank Pastor Prumeh for running the livestream and the technology. Thank you to Pastor Kim who led communion and to Drew for the music. All the attendees gave us a big round of applause for our hospitality. We thank God for a blessed event! –Katherine Perkins
Many congratulations to our youth, Dominic Becker, Ava Bolden, Alanna Bolden, and Eli Kim on their Confirmation on June 29th. We warmly welcome them as full members of Grace UMC.
Prayer List
♥†Family of Karen Tovo Cambell (friend of Debbielee Thomsen), ♥†Justice Rita Agyemon-Budu (friend of Debbielee Thomsen, ♥Andrea Russell (family member of Debbielee Thomsen), ♥Kalli Medina (student of Naomi Brown), ♥Barbara Woodford, ♥Pat Panzarino, ♥Sonia Elliott, ♥Amanda Brown (Naomi Brown’s mother), ♥Diane Rutledge (Naomi Brown’s aunt), ♥George and Jeanne Simmons, ♥Maudlyn Scarlett, ♥Marianne and Don Pike, ♥Jerry Noble (Tom Noble’s dad), ♥Lionel Brown, ♥Diane Vitacco, ♥Heather Manning (friend of Kim Neri), ♥SofiaRose Curry (relative of Sing Larson), ♥Edie Zipperlen, ♥Mary Flynn (mom) and Maureen Andersen (daughter), ♥Manny Kurz, ♥Debbielee Thomsen, ♥Cliff McBride (friend of Debbielee Thomsen), ♥Everon Palmer (son of Enid Simpson), ♥Carol Whyte, ♥Winston Scarlett (brother-in-law of Maudlyn Scarlett), ♥Jennifer LaRochelle (friend of Kim Neri), ♥David Biegler, ♥Michael Kurz, ♥Vin Dowling, ♥Garvin Phillip (nephew of Eleanor Phillip), ♥Elaine Treske, ♥Marilyn Eller (sister of Elaine Treske), ♥Jim Poch, ♥All our Military men and women, ♥Barbara Siegl, ♥All UMW in Rehabilitation and Nursing Homes, ♥Castells Family (family of Elaine Treske, ♥Evelyn Neber (friend of Elaine Treske). Note: Prayer List names will continue to be listed for two weeks. After that period of time, the names will be removed unless you call us with current information. † – Death in family, ♦ – New entry
Sunday School
Church School began on September 7th. My name is Janet Stone and I invite your child to join us for Church School each Sunday. Church School is where students will learn about God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit and how to live a Christian life. We learn Bible stories and we learn how to use those stories to help us be better people. All rising PreK-8th Grade students are welcome. Children start out in Church at 10:00 with their families and are sent to Church School following the Children’s Sermon. Please note that on the first Sunday of the month, children are directed to the Education Building first and then return to the church building in order to be with their family for communion. I am looking forward to a wonderful Church School year! Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions or concerns at mom2springers@gmail.com ~Janet Stone
November 9, 2025
Today’s lesson was based on 1 Kings 2:1-4; 3:1-15. David was ill and needed to name his successor to the throne. His oldest living son, Adonijah, thought it was his right, so he proclaimed himself as king. However, he failed because he was not God’s choice for king. David chose his son Solomon to be the next king. David’s dream of building a place of worship for the Israelites in Jerusalem was passed on to Solomon. Shortly after becoming a king, Solomon had a dream. God came to him and told him to ask for anything he wanted. Solomon asked for the wisdom to be a good leader. God was pleased with his answer. He granted Solomon’s wish for wisdom, but also gave him the things he didn’t ask for: riches, power, and a long life. God gave him one requirement. Solomon had to live up to the righteous standard of his father. Solomon woke up and traveled to Jerusalem to celebrate. Soon after becoming king, Solomon started building the Temple. During his time as king, he completed the Temple using all of God’s specific details.
Church School says “Thank You”! Over the recent months, big changes have occurred in the classroom that is used for Church School each Sunday. Thanks to Anthony Heywood and the Teen Center youths, we now have a transformed room! Old tables were replaced with repurposed modular classroom tables. Bookshelves were brought in and stocked with the Bibles that had been piled up on a shelf. Plastic containers with drawers now house the crayons, scissors and glue sticks, replacing old shoeboxes. The bulletin boards were recovered with durable, decorative paper and a monitor screen was hooked up so the students can watch Bible story videos on Youtube! There is even a small couch in the room now! Both the teacher and the students appreciate this very much! Thank you Anthony Heywood and the Teen Center youths!
Diaper Drive. Despite what we might see and hear around us, there are truly wonderful people in the world and that includes YOU! Thank you so much for your generous donations to the diaper drive! You are beyond kind! Your generosity was very much appreciated! Thank you for being a blessing to those in need! Your donations were delivered to The INN (see photo).
Use of Kitchen – Just a gentle reminder that clean-up in the kitchen after use is the responsibility of the user(s). Our Sexton is only responsible for mopping the floor.
A Big Welcome to our newest members – Cherissae and Lionel Brown, Allison LaVoie, Janet Wilson, and Desrine Edwards who joined our Church on Sunday, March 23, 2025.
Youth Dinner Church – Many thanks to those who have prayed for the youth and also helped cook as well. If you have questions call Pastor Prumeh at 646-280-9885 or email Prumeh.lee@nyac-umc.com.
We had a lovely Fellowship Time after church on Father’s Day hosted by the United Women in Faith. We appreciate our men of Grace!
The Evangelism Committee hosted a special fellowship hour in March. Under the support and leadership of Pastor Eumin Kim we were able offer flowers and tokens of appreciation to our church members who have consistently offered prayers and service at our Annual Evangelism Prayer Breakfast. Ten years of saying yes to the Lord through the ups and downs of life, through COVID 19 and more deserve a song of praise. Please let us offer a word of prayer and thanks to our team. Their resounding and consistent yes, to helping to create a wonderful hour of prayers, praise and hospitality to a community and world that is so in need of prayers and hospitality warm the heart, every time. There are a few more of us that have served consistently who were absent this Sunday. The proceeds from the Prayer Breakfast are used to fund our Prison Ministry. Maudlyn Scarlett, Mahala Holness-Brooks, Dr Tonia Ukanwoke, Andrea Owen-Boyd (Chairperson)
Happy 102nd Birthday to Dick Tiedge!!
We (Pastor Kim, Everett, Carol, and Eileen) were so very happy to see Richard (Dick) Tiedge and his daughter Jeanne. Dick looks great and Jeanne says his health is good. We were in the BKR and reminisced, told funny stories, heard stories of involvement in the war, and had a lot of laughs. Jeanne told us that her Dad was sweeping up leaves at his home in Malverne! Dick will be remaining at his home in Malverne and will be celebrating his 102nd Birthday – May 2025! What a Super Man!!
PRAISE MUSIC. We will be starting a Praise Singing group that will perform every other month in church. Our first performance will be on September 21. If you are interested, please stay for fellowship hour this Sunday, September 14 and arrive to church at 9:20 on Sunday, September 21 to go over the music in the Sanctuary. If you have any questions, please contact Kim Neri at 515-644-0979.
Chancel Choir rehearsals are on Thursday evenings at 8:00pm in the church. All adults and teens who like to sing are welcome to join!!
Please sign up for Coffee Hour, now known as Fellowship Hour. Please use the sign-up sheet in the BKR or call the Church Office. Thank you to Kim Neri and Walter and Pat McKnight for hosting coffee hour on October 26. Thank you Jane Gunther and Marianne Pike for volunteering to host Coffee Hour this Sunday, November 2, 2025. We still need hosts for November 23 and 30, December 14 and 28!
MISSIONS
You can give to Missions at any time. You may put your money in an envelope marked “Missions” or write “Missions” in the memo line of your check or Zelle. Your giving through Missions goes to Far Rockaway Mission, Anchor House, Methodist City Society, Brooklyn United Methodist Church Home, and El Porvenir (clean drinking water projects in Nicaragua).
Far Rockaway Mission (also called United Methodist Center in Far Rockaway), which operates a food pantry on Tuesdays and Thursdays and provides hot meals Monday through Friday, is one group that we support with our Missions money. We delivered canned goods and cleaning supplies to Far Rockaway Mission on April 14. Thank you!
We had a wonderful International Potluck Dinner on Saturday, April 26. We shared lots of delicious food from around the world. Rev. Prumeh and Pastor Kim shared about their time as missionaries in Kazakhstan, about the people and culture there, and about the United Methodist presence there. There was an engaging question and answer period and a table of items from Kazakhstan. We collected $717 for mission projects in Central Asia (which includes Kazakhstan.) If you missed the International Potluck this year, we hope you will join us next year!!
Give to Disaster Relief through the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR). We encourage you to give to UMCOR for Disaster Relief following the floods. The link to the UMCOR giving page for disaster relief is https://advance.umcmission.org/p-620-umcor-us-disaster-response-and-recovery.aspx. That link takes you right to giving for Advance #901670. When you type in your information, you will be able to choose Grace Valley Stream as your local church.
Meet missionaries on Zoom. The link to Register to meet missionaries on the Still In Mission monthly Zoom is https://umcmission.org/stillinmission/. The next episode is Thursday November 6, 2025 at noon.
2024 Missions Giving Summary: In 2024 Grace Church gave $450 to each of the five groups listed above plus an additional $366 was spent to provide meals at Far Rockaway Mission. Thank you!
SPECIAL SUNDAY OFFERINGS – 2025
MISSIONS – January/April/July/October 2025
HUMAN RELATIONS DAY – January 19, 2025
UMCOR SUNDAY – March 30, 2025
EASTER – April 20, 2025
NATIVE AMERICAN MINISTRY – May 4, 2025
PEACE WITH JUSTICE SUNDAY – June 15, 2025
WORLD COMMUNION SUNDAY – October 05, 2025
UNITED METHODIST STUDENT DAY – November 30, 2025
CHRISTMAS EVE – December 24, 2025 (Wednesday)
CHRISTMAS DAY – December 25, 2025
PLEDGES FOR 2025 – Our current Pledge amount is $128,874. Hopefully, if you haven’t already pledged, please consider helping us reach our goal. Pledge cards are available in the Narthex or you can call or email the Church Office and your pledge will be entered. Thank you.
CALENDAR – If you have any dates that you would like to have on our calendar, please send them to me (Eileen) at GraceVSNY@aol.com. The meetings could be weekly, monthly or just a special meeting or event. Thank you.
PLEASE put your envelope number on any of your donations (check/Venmo/Zelle). This will help our Counting Teams, It also helps the Church Office to input your donation to the correct account.
COUNTING TEAM SCHEDULE FOR NOVEMBER 2025
November 02 – Debbie Nicosia
November 09 – Everett Fitch
November 16 – Debbie Nicosia
November 23 – Marisa Pershad
November 30 – Marisa Pershad
Where You Can Volunteer
Liturgist or Reader – Contact Pat Eshun
Sunday School – Contact Janet Stone
Evangelism – Contact Andrea Owen-Boyd
Thrift Shop – Contact Marianne Pike, Andrea Owen-Boyd, or Maudlyn Scarlett
Music – Contact Drew Banzhoff or leave a message for the Music Ministry Office (516/825-1940)
Missions – Contact Katherine Perkins
Worship – Contact Kim Neri or Carol Provenzano
Acolytes – Contact Tim Neri or Mike Provenzano
Ushers – Contact Mike Provenzano or Carol Provenzano
Counting Team – Contact Marisa Pershad or Eileen Robertson
Hospitality – Contact Bob DiSalvo
(Please call Eileen if you need contact information – 516/825-1182)
Weekly Meetings and Rehearsals
Please note whether meetings are in-person at the church or via Zoom. Thank you.
*Every Sunday – Church School will resume in September – 10AM/start in Church (except 1st Sunday of the month start 10AM/Education Building)
*Fourth Sunday of every month – United Women in Faith (no UWF meeting in July and August)
~(except September which will be the Second Sunday)~
*Every Wednesday – Bible Study 7:30PM-8:30PM/Zoom (Same Zoom Link every week)
*Every Thursday – Westminster Ringers 7PM will resume in September
*Every Thursday – Chancel Choir 8PM/Church
*Every Saturday – Prayer Meeting 8AM/Zoom (Same Zoom Link every week)
*Every Saturday – Thrift Shop 10AM-2PM
Upcoming Meetings and Events
*Saturday, November 8, 2025 – Career Day 10AM – 2PM/Gym
*Saturday, November 15, 2025 – Joint Charge Conference 1PM
*Tuesday, November 18, 2025 – Board of Trustees Meeting 7:30PM/BKR
*Saturday, December 6, 2025 – UWF Walk-a-thon
*Tuesday, January 13, 2026 – Board of Trustees Meeting 7:30PM/BKR
*Tuesday, March 10, 2026 – Board of Trustees Meeting 7:30PM/BKR
*Tuesday, May 12, 2026 – Board of Trustees Meeting 7:30PM/BKR
