Gratitude Sunday

As a part of our Capital Campaign our church celebrated "Gratitude Sunday."  It was day to remember all of the things that God has done for us, and to think about what we are willing to give back to God.

Gratitude Sunday also happened to be World Communion Sunday.  We celebrated with a beautifully decorated altar.  There were different types of bread from around the world and some fall gourds.

The entrance to the church was also beautifully decorated with cornstalks and pumpkins.

During the service we wrote the things that we are grateful for on a card and placed them in the basket at the front of the church.

We started a devotional as we began the journey through the campaign.

The youth group worked on a big project.  They made a wall that featured all sorts of information and pictures about Grace Church through the years.  

Everyone had a great time looking at the pictures, reminiscing about days gone by and dreaming about all of the great things to come!

Have you ever celebrated gratitude at your church?  How did you do it?

Baby Bottle Battle

I stole the idea to use baby bottles to collect money for a local charity from my previous church, Allison United Methodist Church in Carlisle.  We would pass the baby bottles out on Mother's Day and have the final collection day on Father's Day.  My husband liked the idea and decided to make a little contest between us.  Whoever raised the most money won.  The loser would have to do a certain task to be decided by the winner.

We have such a generous congregation.  They couldn't stand to see us fight over who would win the battle, so an "upstanding group of Christian men" offered to match the winning amount making it a tie!  We raised almost $1700 for purchase diapers for New Hope Ministries! Praise God!

To show our appreciation to our awesome congregation, Mark and I threw a summer picnic at the parsonage.  We had a great time.  So many people came out and we sat around and talked and got to know each other.

Have you done any unique fundraisers at your church?  Leave a comment and let me know.  If you'd like to share pictures, e-mail me at reisingeralicia3@gmail.com

A Capital Campaign: Grounded in Gratitude

Grace United Methodist Church in Mechanicsburg, PA of which I am a member is embarking on an exciting new endeavor.  We have just started a capital campaign to raise money for an addition that will include an elevator.

I am excited for this campaign.  I think this addition is needed to help Grace fulfill our mission and make our church accessible to all, but the real reason I'm looking forward to this campaign is because of the journey we are beginning.  I know I need a lesson in gratitude and a lesson in trusting God.  I hope and pray that through this campaign we will be stretched and called out of our comfort zones.  I think God is going to do amazing things!

We are going to be having some incredible worship services over the next few weeks, and I can't wait to share them with you!  Come, journey with us as we become grounded in gratitude!

Moving Toward Perfection

If you've come to this blog there is a good chance that the United Methodist Church is a part of your life just as it is a part of mine.  I've created this blog to collect ideas for worship.  I'll post pictures and ideas that are working in my church, and I hope you'll share your ideas with me.  Together we can create a kind of database to share with Methodists all over the Susquehanna Conference and beyond.  Join me as we move toward perfection!