Holocaust Remembrance Day: Never Forget
“They began to accuse him saying, ‘We found this man perverting our nation, forbidding us to pay taxes to the emperor, and saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king.’....The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him...Then they all shouted together, ‘Away with this fellow! Release Barabbas for us....Crucify, crucify him.” (excerpts from Luke 23)
During our Holy Week services, we remembered the betrayal, arrest, unfair trial, and crucifixion of our Messiah. We follow a Jew who was put to death by a coalition of religious and political authorities, pressured by an angry mob. Jesus isn't the only Jew to be persecuted and killed. Holocaust Remembrance Day is April 24.
The hardest course I ever took in graduate school was Holocaust Studies. I spent an entire semester immersed in horrific atrocities - imprisonment, starvation, mass shootings, labor camps, gas chambers. The Nazis and their collaborators systemically murdered 6 million Jews, as well as ethnic Poles, Roma, Soviet POWs, people with disabilities, and others who didn't fit Hitler's image of the "perfect" Aryan race. We listened to Holocaust survivors share their stories of pain. It took me three attempts to watch "Schindler's List."
The most distressing thing about the Holocaust is the complacent cooperation of the government, the general population, and the Christian church, which draped the Nazi flag on the altar. Never forget the suffering of Jesus' people - the Jews. Always remember Jesus' people also includes the outcast, the leper, the Samaritan woman, the woman caught in adultery, the criminal on the cross hanging next to him, the poor, the sinner - even you and me. Let Jesus' love rule our lives and our actions, so that history may not repeat itself.
"Three Gifts from the Risen Jesus" (April 27, 2025)
The risen Jesus appears to the frightened disciples and gives them peace, the Holy Spirit, and the commandment to forgive sins. What do they do with these gifts? What do we do with these gifts?
Prepare for worship by reading this weekend's Scripture passages: Acts 5:27-32 and John 20:19-31
Worship Services
Special Events: New Members Sunday at LifeSong and 11:00 Traditional
Prayer Concerns
Piedmont - Bol Bollinger
Lexington Medical Center - Sandra Travis
Prayers and sympathy to the family of Kelsey Shull, who's niece (Elise and her husband, Levi), lost one of their twins, baby Sullivan, on April 21. Their other son, Sailor, remains in the NICU at MUSC.
National Day of Prayer
Join in this year's prayer gathering at TrueNorth Church on Thursday, May 1, from 8:00-9:30AM. A light breakfast will be served before the event, so they are asking for folks to register their plans to attend here.
Put on your walking shoes and Grace UMC for a prayer walk around Downtown North Augusta that evening, starting at the Asbury Building steps at 6:00PM. For more info, click here.
WINGS Dinners
And we're back! We have only 4 more weeks before we go on our summer hiatus, so make sure you write us into your schedule. Hop on over to our WINGS page to check out the upcoming menus, sign up for dinners and classes. You can also sign up using one of the BLUE pew cards during worship.
Grace UMC Scholarship Deadline
If you know a high school, college, or graduate student here at Grace UMC, don't let them miss this Sunday's scholarship deadline! Applications are available online on our Grace Youth page (it is a red button near the bottom). Completed applications can be dropped off in the Church Office or sent by email to karenb@gotgraceumc.org.
Dementia Support with Prime Time
Travel with Prime Time to learn more about how to care for and be in ministry with those living with dementia with Bishop Ken Carder and South Department on Aging Representative, Tori Anderson. The workshop runs from 9:30AM - 12:30PM at Trinity UMC in Aiken. After the workshop, we will head over for lunch (or brunch!) at Neon Fig.
Register for this outing by calling the Church Office or by clicking here.
Food Truck Fun with Young Adults
The #1 touring food truck festival in the southeast is coming to Aiken! Join Grace’s Young Adults group for an afternoon of good eats and good times at the Foodees Food and Culture Festival after church on Sunday, May 4th.
Text “FOODEES” to 833-235-9706 to get info about this event.
Pinestraw Install Day (Saturday, April 26)
Help us spruce up the Grace UMC campus! Join the United Methodist Men on Saturday, April 26th in the Wesley Center parking lot at 8:15AM to spread clean pinestraw. Many hands make light work – bring some gloves!
Bolivia T-Shirt Clearance Sale
Get yours now before they're gone! All Bolivia t-shirts (both short- and long-sleeved) will be on clearance ($10) on Sunday, April 27 and Sunday, May 4 only. Please visit the Bolivia T-Shirt Table in the upper Wesley Center to make your purchase.
Keep Rising in Faith After Easter
Register for all classes at on the WINGS page.
Downtown Prayer Walk (Weather Permitting)
Join Grace next Thursday (May 1) at 6PM at the Asbury Building front steps for a time to pray for our downtown community. Select from several "Prayer Paths" with your family or some friends and head out for a brief walk.
Let's grab some Your Pie afterwards for some yummy pizza (around 7PM)!
Financial Update
The first quarter had some extra expenses for repairs and revenues fell below our needs, so our bottom line is still negative. We do have reserves that will sustain us through this negative cash flow. We anticipate this will look better in the coming months as the pledges are completed.
We are so grateful for the support for the Organ Fund. We have raised more than the goal!
Revenues through April 20
Month to date $64,367
Year to date $358,350
