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.
Christmas Season Schedule
December 14
3 pm Christmas Concert
December 21
10 am Christmas Sunday Service
December 24
9 pm Christmas Eve Service
December 31
11 pm New Year’s Eve Watchnight Service
4 Week Advent Bible Study
We are offering a 4-week in person Advent Bible Study starting on Saturday, November 29 at 9am in the Bert Keller room. If you are interested, please sign-up either in the church narthex on Sunday or by letting Pastor Kim know by emailing him at pastoreumin@hotmail.com. The video/study guide material will cost $10.
Christmas Concert. What a wonderful evening. The music was joyful, the singers amazing and the bells and brass were extraordinary. Congratulations to ALL the participants. What a blessing!
Christmas Card List. Our annual Christmas Card Sign-Up List begins this Monday, December 8, and continues through and including Sunday, December 21, 2025. All money collected will go to the Grameth Fund, a discretionary fund for those in need. Single Name is $1; Family Name (The Smith Family) is $2; Family Listing (Bob, Mary, Susie and Jack Smith) is $4. In addition, any contributions will be merrily accepted!! Your participation in this annual event is greatly appreciated. Please see our volunteer(s) (in the Church Narthex and Coffee Hour) or call Eileen in the Church Office. You can also email your info to Eileen at GraceVSNY@aol.com and then send in your donation to the Church Office. Thank you in advance for your participation. (Elaine Treske and Lenore Kurz have volunteered to take your names!!)
News of Friends and Members. Larry Walker and Kathy send wishes for a Merry Christmas to everyone. Also heard from Bob Whyte and Carol. They are doing well and send a big Hello.
For Your Calendar. This year there will only be one Christmas Eve Service. It will be a Candlelight Service at 9PM.
Prison Ministry
Dear Valued Church Family, We are reaching out to you today with profound gratitude and an exciting invitation to continue your faithful support of our vital Prison Ministry. This holiday season, our District is once again dedicated to bringing light and compassion to those within the correctional system, embodying the powerful message from Matthew 25:40: “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” This scripture guides our every effort to extend hope and support where it is most needed. This year, we are especially thrilled to introduce a heartwarming new initiative: a dedicated Toy Drive for the children of incarcerated individuals at the OBCC unit of Rikers Island. Imagine the profound joy on a child’s face as they receive a brand-new toy during their visit with their father. These moments of connection are invaluable, offering a beacon of hope and helping to strengthen family bonds during incredibly challenging times. It is a powerful way to remind both parents and children that they are cherished and remembered. We humbly invite you to join us in one or all of three meaningful ways to support our Prison Ministry this holiday season:
- **Holiday Care Package Drive:** We are collecting essential items and thoughtful gestures for the inmates. Please consider donating new, white socks and white t-shirts, along with heartfelt Christmas cards. These items provide much-needed comfort and a personal touch of holiday cheer, reminding them they are not forgotten.
- **Children’s Toy Drive:** Brighten a child’s holiday by donating a brand-new, unwrapped toy suitable for toddlers up to 10 years of age. Your gift will create a truly special moment during their visit with their fathers at Rikers Island.
- **Volunteer for Our Prison Visit:** Experience the profound impact of our ministry firsthand by joining us on December 18th for our next visit to Rikers Island. The program begins at 11:00 AM, offering a unique opportunity to fellowship, share encouragement, and directly support those in need.
To ensure all donations reach the inmates and their families in time for the holidays, please kindly deliver your Christmas cards, socks, t-shirts, and unwrapped toys to the designated “Gift Box” located in the church foyer by **December 7th**. Your unwavering compassion and generous support are the cornerstone of this ministry, transforming lives and embodying the true spirit of giving. Thank you for making a tangible difference in the lives of so many.
Warmly,
Andrea Owen-Boyd (on behalf of Earl Boyd and the Evangelism Team)
Social Events Committee – Are you looking to have some fun??? We are too!! Grace Church is a wonderful place to worship and serve God and others through our various ministries, but we also like to have a good time! We would like to form a Social Events Committee to plan fun events for all of our church members and their friends to come and have a good time together. If you like to plan parties and events, have an eye for decorating, are a really great shopper or are terrific at getting the word out, then consider joining our committee. The goal of this committee will be to plan some new events and to help support events that are already going on. If you’re interested, or have some questions, reach out to Janet Stone (516-317-5785). Once we have a group of people interested, we will hold a meeting and begin! Looking forward to the fun we can all have together!
United Women in Faith. Hi Everyone, Our district UWF Social Justice Coordinator has asked that we blanket the month of December with prayers for our children and youth. When you have a moment in the day, like when you are at a stoplight, please say a prayer for our children and youth. Please pray that schools will be a safe and positive place for them. We pray for an end to school shootings and for the end of the school-to-prison pipeline. We pray for well-trained staff in adequate numbers in our schools who will help our children and youth succeed. And we pray for the Earth that they will inherit. With all the ladies of the district praying, we will blanket the month of December in prayers for our children and youth in this “pray without ceasing” event.
1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18- Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Amen! Blessings, Katherine
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.
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 Richard (Dick) Keller), ♥†Family of Michael Kurz, ♥Chris Ukanwoke, ♥Rhoda Lankins and Roosevelt Lankins, ♥Country and People of Nigeria, ♥Juana Fernandez (mother of Marisa Pershad), ♥Elmer Alfaro and Dion Alfaro (friends of Andrea Owen-Boyd), ♥Prayers for everyone in Cuba and Jamaica, ♥Beth Zeller and family (friends of Debbielee Thomsen), ♥Rev. Carl Borden, ♥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
December 7, 2025
Today’s lesson was from the book of Jeremiah 23:5-8. The prophet Jeremiah was probably very young when he started his ministry, but he continued prophesying for forty-seven years. He is remembered as a sorrowful man, but he also offered words of hope and comfort to Israel. Ungodly kings, who ruled Judah in the final days before they were brought into captivity, failed to promote justice and righteousness. They didn’t care for the poor and needy like their predecessors. Jeremiah denounced the “shepherds” for failing to take care of the flock. Then he contrasted the kings with God, the ideal shepherd, who restores his flock to safe pastures. In our Scripture passage, Jeremiah prophesied that God would raise up a wise and just king from David’s lineage who would fulfill all the duties of kingship. The name of this king would be The Lord is Our Righteousness, and he would demonstrate the righteousness of Yahweh. The prophesy continued with a statement about Israel’s homecoming from exile, which would be far greater than the Exodus out of Egypt. It is worth noting that Jeremiah’s description of the ideal king had to do with how he treated his own people.
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!
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 the Evangelism Committee and the Thrift Shop for volunteering to host Coffee Hour this Sunday, December 7, 2025.
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. On November 19 we delivered canned cranberry sauce to Far Rockaway Mission for their Thanksgiving meal. Thank you!
We delivered a trunk-full of food to Long Island Cares on November 19 and over 550 pounds of food to the INN in Hempstead for their Thanksgiving food drive. 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/.
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
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 DECEMBER 2025
December 07 – Debbie Nicosia
December 14 – Everett Fitch
December 21 – Debbie Nicosia
December 28 – 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, December 6, 2025 – UWF Walk-a-thon
*Sunday, December 14, 2025 – Christmas Concert at 3 PM followed by Soup & Sandwich
*Thursday, December 18, 2025 – OBCC Unit – Rikers Island, Christmas Celebration 11AM
*Tuesday, January 13, 2026 – Board of Trustees Meeting 7:30PM/BKR
*Saturday, January 24, 2026 – Evangelism Annual Prayer Breakfast
*Tuesday, March 10, 2026 – Board of Trustees Meeting 7:30PM/BKR
*Tuesday, May 12, 2026 – Board of Trustees Meeting 7:30PM/BKR
