Here we are at the beginning of a new year. It is a time of year when resolutions are made and often quickly broken. Also at this time, some folks will reflect back over the year passed to see what it was like, how it turned out and what they did that was worthwhile. We pretty much all want to be people of worth and do things that are worthwhile but many people think that what they do is insignificant.

Many of us have just seen, or seen again, the movie It’s A Wonderful Life with Jimmy Stewart as George Bailey. George’s life did not turn out as he had hoped and after Uncle Billy fails to make a bank deposit (thanks to mean old Mr. Potter) George finds himself in the depths of despair. He feels that his life has been so bad that he wished he’d never been born. It wouldn’t matter to anyone anyway. We know that the angel Clarence shows him otherwise.

Many followers of Jesus see their work for the Lord in much the same way – “insignificant”. It wouldn’t matter to anyone anyway. They thank God for the gifted and famous: the evangelists, missionaries, ministers of healing and teachers and preachers of the faith. “Those people have a ministry,” they say or think, “but not me.”

My word to you who may think this way is, “Don’t be so sure!” A Scripture verse that has meant a lot to me over the years is 1 Corinthians 15:58:

Therefore ¼ be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

We could well understand it if this verse had been written about an apostle. He does major work for the Lord so, of course, his work is not in vain. However, this verse was written by an apostle for plain, ordinary Christians in Corinth, Paul’s “beloved brethren.” Their work — the work of people just like you and me — is never in vain.

Scripture is full of people whose names are not even recorded but had a part in something significant. Here are just two:

*Jesus’ first miracle occurred when unnamed servants filled with water six large stone jars, ladled out some of it and took it to the steward of the wedding feast. We don’t know their names and though their part in the story was small, God used them (John 2:1-11).

*Jesus needed to feed five thousand people who had just heard Him teach. Present was a young lad who had five barley loaves and two fish. From this Jesus worked a miracle of feeding. This unnamed young man did not work the miracle but he played a part in what Jesus did (John 6:1-14).

Whatever part you take in serving the Lord, whether large or small, remember that the results are up to God not you. You do not have to do it all, but you do need to do your part, whatever it may be. With these in mind, how do we serve the Lord?

1. With confidence. Never think that what you do for the Lord is insignificant.

2. With quality. Give it your best, whatever it is. God deserves that.

3. With devotion. Serve so that God gets the glory and His Name is uplifted.

4. With caring. Work so that others are truly helped and loved.

So, beloved, be always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. May a blessed new year be yours in the Lord. Jim+

TREASURER’S

REPORT

NOVEMBER, 2009

Income for the month of November was $17,356.78; expenses totaled $16,594.71, resulting in income for the month of $762.07. Our year-to-date income is $130,423.50 (budget - $122,229.00) and expenses are $130,592.36 (budget - $121,715.00), resulting in a year to date deficit of $168.86.

Please continue to pray for Grace Church that it will grow spiritually, financially and numerically. If anyone has any questions regarding this report or any financial matter, please feel free to contact me.

Judy Ball

Treasurer

Annual Congregational

Meeting

Our annual congregational meeting will be held after the 9 a.m. service on Sunday January 10, 2010 in the Church. We will elect 2 new Vestry members who will serve for the 2010-2013 term and a diocesan/deanery delegate for 2010 who serves through the Diocesan Council meeting in Jan. 2011.

Annual Reports for

Parish Meeting

If you run one of the ministries of Grace Church, remember that we will be looking to hear from you about what was done in 2008 at our Annual Meeting. Please write up a copy of your report to give to the Register that day.

Bishop Johnston Visits Grace

Our new diocesan bishop will be visiting Grace in the afternoon on Sunday February 7. In light of it being an afternoon visit, we will not hold our regular service or Sunday School that morning. We will have the service, followed by a reception, sometime in the afternoon, time TBA later. Please plan to come and meet Bishop Johnston that afternoon.

Grace Church January 2010

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

Church Office Closed

Jonathan

Vasbinder*

#Richard & Carol Payne

Worship 9:00

Shannon Perreault*

11:00 AM

Senior Center

New Years Party

Worship 9:00

Annual Parish Mtg in the church following the service

7:00 Vestry Meeting

Louie Warren*

Stacey Walton*

Brandon Dawson*

Richard Payne*

11:00 AM

Senior Center

Judy Ball*

Ruritan Dinner 7:00 PM

Grace Notes deadline

Worship 9:00

11:00 AM

Senior Center

Debbie O’Meara*

Will Shipe *

Jessica Warren*

Worship 9:00

11:00 AM

Senior Center

Becky Warren*

Bob Schuman*

Worship 9:00

5:00 PM Healing Service

* = Birthday # = Anniversary

Grace Church Serving Schedule -- January 2010

Date

Svc

Day

Lessons

Lector

Acolyte

Altar

Coffee Hosts

Jan 3

9:00

Chrstmas 2

Psalm 84

Jeremiah 31:7-14

Ephesians 1:3-6, 15-19a

Luke 2:41-52

Betsy

Anderson

Madell Day

Mignonne Spellmeyer

Judy Ball & Barbara Whitbred

Jan 10

9:00

Epiph 1

Psalm: 29

Isaiah 43:1-7

Acts 8:14-17

Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

B. Gould-thorpe

Madell Day

Carol Goshorn

Sue Ballentine

Jan 17

9:00

Epiph 2

Psalm 36:5-10

Isaiah 62:1-5

1 Corinthians 12:1-11

John 2:1-11

Linda Swann

Jack Perry

Barbara Jacobs

Mary Neal

Jan 24

9:00

Epiph 3

Psalm 19

Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10

1 Corinthians 12:12-31a

Luke 4:14-21

Dee Garrett

Jack Perry

Pam

Ruffner

Diane & Ron Fayy

Jan31

9:00

Epiph 4

Psalm 71:1-6

Jeremiah 1:4-10

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Luke 4:21-30

Judy Ball

Madell Day

Charlotte

Perry

Karen & Jimmy

Walton

Feb 7

Epiph 5

Psalm 138

Isaiah 6:1-13

1 Corinthians 15:1-11

Luke 5:1-11

Pam Ruffner

Jack Perry

Betsy

Anderson

Reception for Bishop Johnston in PM

Non Profit Organization

U. S. POSTAGE

PAID

Casanova, VA 20139

Permit No. 1

GRACE EPISCOPAL CHURCH

The Rev. James Cirillo, Rector

P.O. Box 18

Casanova, VA 20139

(540) 788-4419

Website: gracechurchcasanova.org

Services every Sunday at Grace Church on Route 602 in Casanova at 9:00 AM, followed by a coffee fellowship and Sunday School for all ages in the Family Center near the church.