CSN – MLK Sunday

First Grace – where the city worships
This Sunday at First Grace
 
Sunday school (all ages) meet at 10:00 AM.
Worship
9:00 AM Spanish Language Worship
11:10 AM English Language Worship
Scripture:
Amos 5:21-24
Message:
“Pebbles of Hope”

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 Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., Quotes
“True peace is not merely the absence of tension, it is the presence of justice.” (Stride Toward Freedom)
 
“We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor, it must be demanded by the oppressed.” (from ‘Letter From Birmingham Jail,’ April 16, 196)
 
For when people get caught up with that which is right and they are willing to sacrifice for it, there is no stopping point short of victory.”
 
“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” (from Strength to Love, 1963)
 
“I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant.” (from Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech, Oslo, Norway, 1964.)
 
“The contemporary tendency in our society is to base our distribution on scarcity…and to compress our abundance into the overfed mouths of the middle and upper classes until they gag with superfluity. If democracy is to have breadth of meaning, it is necessary to adjust this inequity. It is not only moral, but it is also intelligent. We are wasting and degrading human life by clinging to archaic thinking.” (“Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community?” 1967)
 
“Be a bush if you can’t be a tree. If you can’t be a highway, just be a trail. If you can’t be a sun, be a star. For it isn’t by size that you win or fail. Be the best of whatever you are.” (Barratt Junior High School in Philadelphia, 1967)
 
“We need to pledge ourselves anew to the cause of Christ. We must capture the spirit of the early church. Wherever the early Christians went, they made a triumphant witness for Christ. Whether on the village streets or in the city jails, they daringly proclaimed the good news of the gospel.”
 
“With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope.”  (I Have a Dream Speech)
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Tree Giveaway First Grace is hosting a tree giveaway on Saturday, January 20, 2018 from 9 am until 12 noon. The event is presented by NOLA Tree Project with the sponsorship of Energy and the Apache Foundation. One free tree will be available to persons attending with additional trees at $15 each. There will be 500 trees of 30 different varieties. FGUMC Green Team is hosting this event. For more information go to nolatreeproject.org
 
First Grace Coffee Hour – Immediately after Worship on Sunday in the Fellowship Hall.
 
Upper Room – Available Sunday on the hospitality table.
LEARNING
The Spirituality of Imperfection-Pastor’s Tuesday Night Study, 6:15 PM-7:30 PM, beginning, 1-17-2018, Upstairs Conference Room, parking lot side. This on going pastor’s study, “…relates the continuing story of both the inevitability of pain and the possibility of healing within the pain.” (The unavoidable cross and the inevitability of resurrection.) Our time together will give you a community to be honest with, help you develop self-awareness, along with some tools to work with, and help you understand what God has to do with your healing, hope and peace of mind.

THE GATHERING – FIRST GRACE ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS
Contact Adria Kimbrough at adriakimbrough@gmail.com.  Join us in the upstairs conference room!

January 14 A Bold Faith
Purpose: To sustain a faith that is not eroded by pressure or crushed by oppression. (Scripture: Daniel 3:19-23, 26-28)

January 21 A Prayer for an Obedient Faith
Purpose: To purify our faith by confessing our collective and individual sins to our loyal God. (Scripture: Daniel (:4-8, 15-19)
January 28 Shomade Sunday
Couple Ministry – meets each month on the first Monday and is using “7 Inhibitors of Intimacy” along with “Marriage Today” by Jimmy Evans. The series will run through May 7th. The next meeting is rescheduled to January 15th, 2018. For additional information please contact Jennifer Moss, 504-616-7431.

First Grace Parents Prayer Line Every Wednesday at 8:30 PM. Call 641.715.3580, Access Code 838575#.

Men’s Morning Call, Tuesday, 7:15-8:15AM at Morning Call Café in City Park, “Illusions” by Richard Bach -All are welcome.
Disciple II continues each Thursday at 1:00 PM in the Parlor. Led by Toni Antrum.

Monday Meditation 6 PM -6:45 PM, each week in the Chapel.
Monday Meditation is a guided meditation by Dan Thelen (dthelen2520@gmail.com).

Green Tip Let’s get back to some tips about organizing and decluttering the house for the new year. Are all those hotel-size lotions, soaps and shampoos from your last vacation still taking up space? The Tuesday Meal and Odyssey House, which aids drug and alcohol addicts in their recovery, needs unused travel-size toiletry items, which also can include mouthwash and toothpaste. Make sure items are alcohol free.  

SERVING
Tuesday Meal RESUMES TUESDAY, JANUARY 16tk
The meal is served at 12:30 PM and volunteers are always needed.   You may contact Marilyn Prince at marilynprince1949@yahoo.com or contact the church office.

Desmond Project Looking for a way to make a difference in our community. The Desmond Project provides a healthy, nutritious meal to the men, women and children at the New Orleans Mission every Saturday evening. Contact Jackie Vinson at blaqjacque@gmail.com.

SOCIAL JUSTICE
Sanctuary Opportunities
The Sanctuary Hospitality Committee at FGUMC have been asked to support the following:

Family Transportation-A need for a few people who have reliable vehicles that can fit 3 or more people to rotate driving Jose’s family, especially to church on Sunday afternoons.  Please sign up here for more information:  https://goo.gl/forms/KWyO3919xvIpLouq2.  Or, mail or deliver an Uber or Lyft gift card to Attn: Sanctuary Committee, First Grace UMC, 3401 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70119. 

Weekly Groceries– Sign up at https://mealtrain.com/0nv3k4 to deliver a week’s worth of groceries for Jose (& his family).  Feel free to partner up with a few friends as each sign up is for a whole week of food. FGSanctuaryCommittee@gmail.com. will email you his grocery list a few days before you’re scheduled.
Monthly Phone Bill– Donate at the donation link at https://mealtrain.com/0nv3k4.  Or, mail or deliver a pre-paid visa card to Attn: Sanctuary Committee, First Grace UMC, 3401 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70119.
  
5 Ways to make a gift
1.    Online:   On Realm/Vanco Services

https://onrealm.org/firstgracenola/Give/FYGZRMCPOI

2.  Use  your smart phone and scan the UC Code below.
Note: The UC code reader app is free through the Apple Store or GooglePlay

3. Text Messaging

Send a text 73256 and in the body of the message type FIRSTGRACENOLA GIVING and follow the prompts. Standard text message rates do apply.

4.    Automatic draft:    Please set-up with your Financial Institution

5.    The Old Fashion Way: Write a check
First Grace, 3401 Canal Street, New Orleans, 70119

First Grace Statement of Affirmation

First Grace is an urban community of faith embracing all of God’s children as persons of sacred worth, regardless of station in life, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or gender identity. We invite and welcome all persons to join us as disciples who believe in the transforming love of God revealed in Jesus Christ from which nothing can separate us.