Garden of Grace UCC

Like a bright and beautiful youth – one filled with excitement and energy, promise and potential – Garden of Grace United Church of Christ begins its 16th year of ministry in September.

Much ministry is under way in South Carolina’s Midlands, and we rejoice in growth in numbers and commitment. We delight in our Godly mission and vision. Our Still-Speaking, Still-Revealing, and Still-Loving God reminds us wondrously of Christ’s radically inclusive love. The life-giving Sister Spirit empowers the body of faith that is Garden of Grace, giving life to us and all that we do. We are people of dynamic hope, incredible compassion, radical love, and extravagant hospitality, and we bear covenants of intense prayer, faithful worship, cheerful generosity, sacrificial service, and continual growth. Never place a period where God has placed a comma! We seek to be great in ’08!

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Many September Blessings!

Nearly 200 people shared in our two-day Crystal Extravaganza 15th anniversary celebration Aug. 23-24. The celebration included dining, dancing, learning, worshipping, and more.

About 20 leaders and potential leaders of Garden of Grace and Peace Congregational UCC in Clemson attended the afternoon of Aug. 23 a forum on prophetic congregational and personal growth. The forum was led by the weekend’s special guest, the Rev. Michael S. Piazza, president of Hope for Peace and Justice and national pastor of the world’s largest predominantly gay and lesbian church, Cathedral of Hope UCC in Dallas. The third-largest UCC in the world, the cathedral is planting churches nationwide, including one in Oklahoma City and Houston and a second one in Dallas.

A sell-out crowd of 70 individuals dined and danced Saturday evening at Columbia’s newest banquet facility, beautiful Hanlee Hall on St. Andrews Road. More than 100 people shared in Sunday morning worship, including Reverend Piazza, an author of several books, and the Rev. Dr. Timothy Downs of Atlanta, UCC’s Southeast Conference minister.

Sponsors and gift-givers for the weekend included UCC’s Southeast Conference; Jan Hogan and Page Ivey; Kevin Dove and our pastor, the Rev. Andy Sidden; Joe Matthews; our Apron Brigade Ministry; the Patricia and Mike Grello family; Marion Crawford, and our associate pastor, the Rev. Candace Chellew-Hodge.

Garden of Grace’s 2008 community appreciation award went to Reverend Piazza and Hope for Peace and Justice. The 2008 congregation awards went to leaders of Garden of Grace small groups and ministry teams, Jho Carter, Rev. Candace, Jana DeHoff, Andy Farmer, John Faulkner, Patricia Grello, Dan Greshel, Jan Hogan, Joe Matthews, Patrick Parker, Linda Renner, Carol Smith-Dailey, Joy Smith-Dailey, and Lois Spears.

Our Children’s Ministry – given new Sunday School aprons by Susan Heywood and Lois Powell – presented us with a birthday cake and led us in singing “Happy Birthday.” What a way to turn 15!

Working with Lutheran Family Services of the Carolinas, we gathered household furnishings and other items for still more Myanmar refugees. A husband and wife joined two young women who’ve already received help.

We also raised more than $2,000 to help with resettlement expenses. Joy and Carol Smith-Dailey, fotosetc@yahoo.com, are leading this growing Outreach Team. The next group of refugees to be assigned to our Outreach Team will be from Iraq. Garden of Grace hopes to unite with other South Carolina UCCs in Charleston, Clemson, and one just beginning in Greenville for this ministry.

We celebrated the Rites of Holy Matrimony Aug. 8 for Ashlee Anthony and Maria Green of Cayce and Aug. 16 for Arnesha Duncan and Corrina Peterson of Columbia. Kevin Eisenhour, keinnc@bellsouth.net, is our wedding ministry coordinator.

We began our annual six-week Rainbow Candle Lighting Ceremony in honor and in memory of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered people and their supporters. The ceremony concludes Pride Sunday, Sept. 21.

We conclude the month with a fifth-Sunday conversation sermon by Pastor Andy, pastorandys@msn.com, “Bad Relationships?”, based on Romans 13:8-14 and Matthew 18:15-20, and a covered-dish luncheon Aug. 31.

Our Garden Grows With Service!

“Bulletproof Faith: A Spiritual Survival Guide for Gay and Lesbian Christians,” a new book by Reverend Candace, revcandace@gogucc.com, is scheduled for release Sept. 4. Not only is Reverend Candace our associate pastor, but she also is co-host of Rainbow Radio and founder and editor of the on-line magazine, Whosoever Inc., for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered followers of Christ.

The book will be published by Jossey-Bass. It is available now for pre-orders through Amazon. To pre-order, follow this link http://tinyurl.com/3yv59u or do a title search at Amazon.com. Don’t forget to get your copy autographed in September.

A book-signing reception and workshop are planned for 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13. The Rite of Blessing for the book will be celebrated Sunday, Sept. 14.

Rev. Candace has been named to UCC’s national LGBT Concerns ministry.

Our Theology Among the People ministry continued its fourth series of lessons, taught by Rev. Candace; Carolyn Hayford, chayford9@hotmail.com, and denominational leaders from Atlanta, the Rev. Alan Roof and Dr. Timothy Downs. The ministry coordinator is Jennifer Spears, also trustee clerk, JenniferVSpears@aol.com.

Patricia Grello’s Care Circle, pgrello@sc.rr.com, expanded a social-justice ministry that volunteers at Harvest Hope Food Bank and creates baby clothes for people in poorer African and Asian nations.

A planning meeting for a new Inreach/Compassion Ministry will follow worship Sunday, Sept. 7. Care Circle Leader Linda Renner, lgrenner@aol.com, and Loretta Cobb, lorettaacobb@aim.com, will lead this ministry, which will help to meet special needs of congregation members.

Pastor Andy serves on a UCC Southeast Conference New Church Development team and will be in Atlanta in early September.

Garden of Grace will have two booths at this year’s S.C. Pride Rally on Sept. 20 in Finlay Park. One booth will be used to sell items, including copies of Reverend Candace’s book and fairly traded packages of coffee. The other will be an informational booth that will include hand-outs by Pastor Andy and Patrick Parker. John Faulkner, Garden Team leader, jfaul37010@aol.com, traditionally coordinates our informational booth. Garden of Grace also will march in the annual parade.

An informational meeting for a new diaconate ministry will follow worship, Sunday, Oct. 19. Garden of Grace may have deacons in 2009!

Adult Sunday School will be taught by Pastor Andy at 9:45 a.m. Sundays in October.

Our annual congregational meeting will follow worship, Sunday, Oct. 26. A 2009 operating budget will be adopted. Election of three trustees and three lay delegates also will be held.

Our Garden Grows with Fellowship!

Jan Hogan , janh244@yahoo.com, leads our Women’s Spirituality Group and serves in our bulletin and hospitality ministries. The Women’s Group dines out at 7 p.m. third Wednesdays or Sept. 17. Our new Men’s Night Out ministry is at 7 p.m. second Thursdays or Sept. 11. Patrick Parker , parker557@hotmail.com, leads our men’s group. A signup sheet has been posted for fall’s membership class, which will follow worship Sunday, Oct. 5, and will be taught by Pastor Andy . Lunch will be provided. Prospective members are encouraged to be involved in a care circle or other small-group ministry.

Our internet ministry has expanded with a MySpace site, which can be reached at http://www.myspace.com/gogucccolumbia. Our web minister Richard Kiraly, gardenofgraceucc@yahoo.com, maintains our web site, www.gogucc.com.

Kelley Huff , HuffK03@gmail.com, and Leta Horine , 12smokey@bellsouth.net, serve in our photography ministry.

We have applied to sponsor an Adventure Scouts group for youths 12 years old and older. This will be Columbia’s first such progressive scouting group, made up of boys and girls. Barbara Johnson , compmom1@yahoo.com, and Jennifer Schneider , jenandkris2002@gmail.com, are leading this youth ministry, which is open to church and non-church youth.

Our Apron Brigade, led by Joe Matthews , jmatthewssc@bellsouth.net, coordinates Sunday refreshments and greeters and lunches for membership classes. The team has expanded, offering ministry for those who want to help but feel too shy to greet first-time guests. Donations of coffee cups, lids, snacks and much more are being collected. This is a great way to serve “behind the scene.”

Trustee Cora Davis , rbrducky@sc.rr.com, is Archives Ministry leader, collecting photos and other historical records of our faith journey. She is assisted by photographer Leta Horine , 12smokey@bellsouth.net, and Pat Seymour , seymourpat@bellsouth.net.

Lois Spears , loistalk1948@aol.com, is church sexton and leads a team that includes Carol and Joy Smith-Dailey and Trustee Jennifer Spears . Christine Walker , The1HumanFamily@aol.com, serves as office assistant.

Kevin Eisenhour , keinnc@bellsouth.net, is wedding ministry coordinator. Our web site, www.gogucc.com, has been expanded with holy union and holy matrimony information.

Our Team of Trustees meets at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 21 . Cora Davis is vice moderator. Our bylaw team, preparing for this year’s annual congregational meeting, is led by trustee clerk, Jennifer Spears . Our finance team is led by trustee and church treasurer, Chuck Fagg , rugglescf@aol.com.

Minister of the Month for September is Linda Renner , who serves as a Care Circle leader. This entitles her to parking in our special space reserved for ministers.

Our Garden Grows with Worship!

The Rite of Laying-on of Hands for healing will be celebrated during our 11 a.m. Sunday worship Sept. 7 . The Sacrament of Baptism also will be celebrated that day for Chandler Heywood .

Jho Carter, jcarte76@sc.rr.com, leads Garden of Grace's Prayer Team, which gathers community praises and requests in our prayer book.

Sermon CDs are available for those who miss worship or to share with a friend. Reverend Candace coordinates this ministry and also provides CDs for first-time guests. Our web site, www.gogucc.com, includes sermon podcasts. Our Multi-Media Team includes Shawn Crook, Kevin Dove, Kelley Huff, and Trustee Carol Smith-Dailey.

Jan Hogan, Pam Lewis, and Erick Snyder are bulletin ministers. Erick, esnyder8@gmail.com, also provides name tags for new members and regular visitors. Wearing name tags allows us to be friendlier to first-time guests.

Jana DeHoff , gr8seahorse@aol.com, leads a team that provides Children’s Church each Sunday before going to Sunday School. This is a beautiful and growing part of our weekly celebration. Diaper-changing tables for people with babies are available, too.

Grant Lorick and David Withers of Something Special Florist in Irmo provide Sunday altar flowers in exchange for gifts to our building fund. To honor or remember a loved one with flowers, please see the flower calendar in our gathering room.

Sunday worship is always at 11 a.m

Our Garden Grows with Caring!

Kevin Dove , kdove@lander.edu, leads our Fair Trade Ministry, selling coffee, tea, chocolate and other items from small independent farmers to raise money for our denomination’s Justice and Witness ministry.

Non-perishable food items can be brought to our new food bank, coordinated by Jan Hogan, Joe Matthews, and Richard Morris .

Garden of Grace members, visitors, and others gather in Care Circles to examine the scriptures through various series of discussions. Care Circles gather twice monthly to share in prayer, devotion, and fellowship. These are great places to find friends and ministries.

Dan Greshel's Care, DGRESHEL@sc.rr.com, leads a series, “Easter Moments” at a new time. His circle gathers at 6:30 p.m. first and third Thursdays in Columbia’s St. Andrews neighborhood. The circle gathers Sept. 4 and 18.

Linda Renner , lgrenner@aol.com, and Loretta Cobb , lorettaacobb@aim.com, lead a Care Circle, which gathers at 6:30 p.m. second and fourth Tuesdays in Columbia’s Earlewood neighborhood to explore “Bible Study for Amateurs.” The circle gathers Sept. 9 and 23.

Patricia Grello's Care Circle, pgrello@sc.rr.com, provides a social-justice ministry.

Reverend Candace’s “Living the Questions” series includes light meals. The circle gathers first and third Fridays at 7 p.m. at Garden of Grace. The circle gathers Sept. 5 and 19 . As Christians, we know that our religion offers something valuable to our world. At the same time, we may despair at the image of Christians in our world as judgmental, legalistic, and graceless. join us on a 21-week long spiritual journey to reclaim our faith. "Living the Questions" provides an opportunity for people to ask the questions they've always wanted to ask without the fear of being called a heretic – or worse. Donations to defray the cost of meals will be gladly accepted but are not necessary. The sessions are free and open to all. For more information, contact Rev. Candace at revcandace@gogucc.com.

Some Garden of Grace Basics !

We are called to GO and to Grow God's disciples, to Uplift Christ's goodness, to Create Spiritual community, and to Care for God's people and God's world. We have heard God still speaking -- GO, Grow, Uplift, Create, and Care. Our Garden of Grace takes shape!

We seek to be an open and affirming, multi-racial and multi-cultural, accessible to all, peace and justice-focused body of faith.

Garden of Grace United Church of Christ is just a mile from the intersection of Interstate 77 and Garners Ferry Road at 1020 Atlas Road, Columbia, SC 29209, 803-695-9664, www.gogucc.com.