Grace United Church, Weyburn
Worship
Sunday worship is at 10:30 a.m. All are welcome. Children will leave for learning and activities in the first part of the worship service following the opening hymn. Communion service is celebrated on the first Sunday of the month. Baptism is celebrated according to the convenience of those who seek baptism. Every Sunday following the church service there is a social time for socializing and fellowship. Worship service is presented in a mixture of traditional and contemporary style. Music is a big part of our worship. The chancel choir leads the congregation in singing. The Youth choir provides music once a month. Our enthusiastic and friendly greeters and ushers extend a warm welcome to everyone who comes for the church service.
Chancel choir is led by Colleen Weimer. Colleen is a multi-talented music teacher, choir director and creative thinker. Colleen provides music leadership for three Sunday's each month. Colleen chooses wonderful anthems appropriate for the Sunday's theme. Between 20 and 25 women and men of various ages sing in the choir
WORSHIP COMMITTEE REPORT 2021
The Worship Committee assists Reverend Barnabas with worship service each Sunday. Communion is held on the first Sunday of the month. Disposable individual communion cups are being used. Special services were held during Lent, Easter and Christmas Season. We also assisted with baptisms.
Colleen Weimer continued as Music Director, providing music at the worship services with Chancel Choir singing anthems for these services. Laura Watson once again did a wonderful job of
decorating the sanctuary for various seasons of the year and we extend our thanks for her.
Thank you to Kendra Gonczy and Doug Weimer for decorated the Christmas tree in the Gathering Place this year. We would also like to thank the many people who take part in our worship over the course of the year; Communion servers, scripture readers, candle lighter, Advent readers and Lenten readers. Your assistance is greatly appreciated. Respectfully submitted, Sharynne Pearce, Chair
Chancel Choir Annual Report 2021
The making music at Grace had to trudge through some troubled waters in 2021, but when times got tough, the tough got going! As we maneuvered through restrictions and shutdowns, we built some bridges, became creative and were able to continue to add music and singing to our worship services. At the beginning of the year, with church doors closed for in-person worship, we found ways to record all the pieces of our service each week, put them together virtually, and send it out for everyone to enjoy in the comfort of their homes. This worked very well and we are so thankful to all the individual readers, singers, musicians and families who contributed in so many ways. These services offered comfort to those who were unable to see friends or family week after week. When we were once again able to gather in small groups, individuals and families again stepped forward and provided music leadership in-person. This took the form of small groups singing anthems and leading hymns so very capably and so very beautifully! In the fall, our doors opened wider and we were able to gather our beloved Chancel Choir members all together! We had a strong group of 25 talented singers dedicated to once again bringing music to our Sunday services. Even though they had to “sing through their masks”, they provided beautiful anthems that complimented the scriptures and the sermons. We are blessed with the musical leadership and commitment of this group. We are extremely thankful to everyone who brings music to Grace! We are fortunate to have so many talented people in our midst and we are grateful for how generously they share their talents. We are looking forward to making more music together in the coming year. With the unending support of our board, and the constant and positive encouragement from Barnabas, we know our music groups will continue to thrive and remain an integral part of worship at Grace! Respectively submitted by Colleen Weimer – Music Director .
Greetings from
Ministry & Personnel
The good news is that Grace United is blessed with having a very, very good staff who are willing and very able to carry out the work of serving the congregation and the community. It is a pleasure to work with them. The less than good news is that many of the committees of the Board are in dire need of volunteers to serve, this is particularly true of the Ministry and Personnel Committee. The M & P Committee meets only three or four times a year to discuss issues regarding support of the staff hired by the church. Though members of the committee are technically members of the Church Board, they are not required to attend Board meetings, though they are most certainly welcome to do so So, the time commitment is minimal but the committee’s work is essential. Please consider volunteering to serve your congregation.
Ray Hamm
(306) 861-9071
PAR ~ Pre-authorized remittance
If you have automatic withdrawals from your bank account, then you already understand the PAR principle.
Besides being convenient, using PAR for your offering ensures regular monthly givings to help our church’s ministry even when you are away. You will be providing our congregation a dependable flow of contributions, which increases our overall financial stability. Why not participate in PAR? Your regular giving supports the local ministry of our congregation. To participate in PAR, you may contact the Church Office. (306) 842-5131
Pastoral Care
The monthly Church and Communion Services have once again resumed in Weyburn Special Care Home, Midtown Care Home, Parkway Lodge, Hill Top Manor and Tatagwa View. Once again, I am very appreciative for the 20+ church volunteers and pianists who have graciously volunteered their time for these monthly services. The residents and staff of these facilities are most happy to have us come into their home to offer our church service, friendship and visits with the residents. This commitment involves about one hour of time monthly for each volunteer. If anyone else is interested in volunteering on this committee please contact me.
Pastoral Care Chairperson.
Connie Milligan. 306-861-9973
Dear Fellow Church Members, United Church women
Our UCW remains active with 24 members and 3 Associate members and always reaching out for new members to join us on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 2 pm at Upper Grace. After having a successful garage sale and salad smorg in the spring, we continue with our monthly meetings this fall. Each meeting consists of a program by members and concludes with lunch and fellowship. UCW members also visit Hilltop Manor monthly.
We recently replaced and installed new blinds in Upper Grace as well as purchasing some new round tables. Our sick and visiting committee reaches out to many church members in need, on a regular basis. Our group will continue with other projects in the near future.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Respectfully yours,
Blanche McRae
UCW President
The Worship Committee assists Reverend Barnabas with the worship service each Sunday. The committee is responsible for organizing many facets of the services such as ushering, scripture reading, communion preparation, finding servers for communion and participating in the baptisms. We again look forward to the music provided by our Music Director, Colleen Weimer, and our choirs during our worship. We appreciate Doug Weimer for donating his time and expertise operating the sound system and power point during services. We would also like to extend a thank-you to Laura Watson for decorating the church for the season of Thanksgiving. Our committee would like to thank the many people who take part in services. We are always looking for more volunteers who would like to participate in worship services. Please reach out to our committee members if you would like to help. Respectfully submitted,
Sharynne Pearce,
Worship Committee Chair
OFFICE HOURS: MONDAY to THURSDAY
9:00 am to 4:30 pm
Fridays
9:00 am to 2:00 pm
Closed Weekends
and Holidays
Grace United Church email: grace.weyburn@sasktel.net
Phone: 306-842-5131
Website: graceunitedchurch-weyburn.ca
Facebook: personal login and Grace United Church-Weyburn
Minister: Reverend Mohandas Barnabas (phone: 306-415-0195)
Administrative Secretary: Gerri Becker
Music Director: Colleen Weimer
Child and Youth Music Coordinator: Kendra Gonczy
Child and Youth Activities Coordinators: Brooke Ward and Justice Morrison
Custodian: Dave Rennie (phone: 306-861-0110)
MISSION STATEMENT
The Mission of Grace United Church is to help people discover and nurture their Christian Faith,
within a loving and inclusive community, which serves God daily in the world.
SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICE AT :10.30 AM
HOLY COMMUNION SERVICE: FIRST SUNDAY OF THE MONTH
SUNDAY SCHOOL AT 10.30AM
EVERYONE IS WELCOME WITH OPEN ARMS
RECORDED SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICE IS AVAILABLE ON :
Grace United Church Weyburn- You Tube
Grace United Church email: grace.weyburn@sasktel.net Phone: 306-842-5131
Website: graceunitedchurch-weyburn.ca
Twitter - @gracechur Church Board
Facebook: personal login and Grace United Church-Weyburn
Minister: Reverend Mohandas Barnabas (phone: 306-415-0195)
Administrative Secretary: Gerri Becker
Music Director: Colleen Weimer
Child and Youth Music Coordinator: Kendra Gonczy
Child and Youth Activities Coordinators: Brooke Ward and Justice Morrison
Custodian: Dave Rennie (phone: 306-861-0110)
Trustees of Grace United Church Congregation of the United Church of Canada
210 Third Street Weyburn, Saskatchewan Canada
Cindy Bell Bob Klemmer , Don Neill Nancy Smoliak , Margaret Lukey, Sharynne Pearce ,
Darcey Ward , Mal Barber , Allan Beach Murray Keefe
Trustees of Grace United Church Congregation of the United Church of Canada
210 Third Street Weyburn, Saskatchewan Canada
Cindy Bell
Bob Klemmer
Don Neill
Nancy Smoliak
Margaret Lukey
Sharynne Pearce
Darcey Ward
Mal Barber
Allan Beach
Murray Keefe
BOARD TERMS STARTING SEPTEMBER 2022
TITLE NAME PHONE NUMBER TERM
Chairperson Nancy Smoliak 306-842-2636 (Home) 2022-2025
306-861-5124 (cell)
Vice Chairperson _____________
Secretary Marg Stewart 306-842-7633 (Home) 2022-2023
COMMITTEES
Christian Education
Co-chairs: Coreen Ward 306-891-8681 (cell) 2022-2025
Jodie Schneider 306-861-3666 (cell) 2022-2025
Members:
Jayme Payak 306-842-5755 (Home) 2022-2025 306-861-5739 (cell)
Tammy Friesen 306-891-4260 (cell) 2022-2025
Livia Steininger 306-861-2994 (cell) 2022-2025
Fellowship
Co-chairs: Grace Plonka 306-861-6598 (cell) 2022-2025
Maureen Clay 306-842-2894 (cell) 2022-2025
Members: Bev Johnstone 306-861-2832 (cell) 2022-2025
Tammy Friesen 306-891-4260 (cell) 2022-2025
Keri Forsgren 306-861-6090 (cell) 2022-2025
Finance
Chairperson: Melanie Sorensen 306-842-2296 (Home) 2022-2025
306-861-6595 (cell)
Members: Terry Steininger 306-861-4761 (cell) 2022-2025
Mal Barber 306-842-7708 (Home) 2022-2025
Andrea Corrigan 306-848-3534 (Home) 2022-2025
306-861-9250 (cell)
Ministry and Personnel
Chairperson: Ray Hamm 306-842-3826 (Home) 2022-2023
Members: Mal Barber 306-842-7708 (Home) 2022-2023
Marie Grohn 306-861-7302 (cell)
Pastoral Care
Chairperson: Connie Milligan 306-842-2259 (Home) 2022-2025
Members: Marie Grohn 306-861-7302 (cell) 2022-2025
Member: _____________
(FYI – part of the Pastoral Committee but not on as board members)
Georgia Jensen – card service
Volunteers and Pianists for the Care Homes
Property
Chairperson: Byron Skjerdal 306-842-5890 (Home) 2022-2025
306-861-6542 (cell)
Members: Gordon Smoliak 306-842-2636 2020-2023
Lorne Klein 306-861-9235 2022-2025
Social Action and Outreach
Chairperson: _____________
Members: Sharynne Pearce 306-861-5871 (cell) 2022-2025
Member: _____________
Worship
Chairperson: Sharynne Pearce 306-861-5871 (cell) 2020-2023
Members: Heidi McCallum 306-848-0184 (Home) 2020-2023
UCW Representative
President: Blanche McRae 306-842-2898 (Home) 2022-2023
Representatives of Living Skies Regional Council: Margaret Lukey
Nancy Styles
Cindy Bell
Terry Steininger
Livia
Chancel Choir
Singing ~ Fellowship ~ Fun ~ Laughter ~
Caring ~ Serving
This is what happens in our Grace Chancel Choir!
The very dedicated members of this group gather for rehearsals every week and lead our services with their awesome music almost every Sunday! Their musical talent and commitment to the church is invaluable and I feel so fortunate to work with each and every one of them! Each week we rehearse music that we hope will be relevant to and will complement the messages Barnabas delivers. They always present their music with sincerity and enthusiasm! Their leadership of hymn singing is a great contribution to not only Sunday services, but to funeral services as well.
This year, the Chancel Choir will be presenting a Christmas cantata with the theme “Road to Bethlehem”. Jean Fahlman is composing the narrative for this cantata and the choir will be singing the songs which, when all put together, will make for a wonderful Christmas message. They will be presenting this cantata during the worship service on December 11.
The choir will also be a part of some outreach into the community as they will be performing at the Rotary Carol Festival on December 4. This has been a long-standing tradition, with Grace United Church Choir being part of the festival since its inception almost 70 years ago!
I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank the members of Chancel Choir for their commitment to the choir and to our church! Also, thank you to Barnabas for his encouragement and unending enthusiasm for the music in our church!
Submitted by
Colleen Weimer- Grace Music Director
2:00 and 7:00 p.m.
PASTORAL CARE COMMITTEE
As chairperson of the Pastoral Care Committee, I am pleased to report to Grace United Church on the work and activities of our committee.
The main purpose of our committee is to provide volunteer support to Reverend Barnabas and the pianists for monthly Worship and CommunioN Services in the Long-Term Care facilities in our city.
Our church services and visiting in these facilities is warmly welcomed by the residents and staff.
On behalf of Grace United Church board and all the congregation, I thank the volunteers who make this possible.
Tatagwa View, Weyburn Special Care Home, Parkway Lodge, Hill Top Manor, and Midtown Care Home.
Worship/Communion services are scheduled and provided monthly to each care home except for July and August. To date we have had services in September, October, and November. Unfortunately, some facilities had to cancel within these months due to Covid issues.
On separate dates, we also provide volunteer visiting to the United Church members who are residents of these facilities.
This pastoral care is provided by a committed and faithful group of 14 volunteers and 5 pianists on a regular basis and 8 volunteers to fill in on an alternate basis. We are always eager to accept more volunteers, so if anyone is interested in this valuable work of the church please call/text me at
Connie Milligan
CHILDREN AND YOUTH MUSIC MINISTRY
Grace Youth ~ Kendra Gonczy Sunday School Coordinator & Youth Music Leader
Once again, the youth are busy filling the halls and sanctuary with energy and enthusiasm! There are currently approximately 35 children enrolled in our Sunday School program. Each Sunday, they are excited to get together, hear stories, and make crafts pertaining to the Bible story of the week. We have a dedicated group of volunteer teachers who make it fun and inviting for all who come!
Our Small Voices of Grace is a lively group once again! They sing in church the third Sunday of every month and bring smiles and joy to all! They meet every Thursday for 45 minutes of stories, games, snacks and lots of singing! This group performed at Communithon and they look forward to sharing some Christmas songs with the congregation during the December 18thservice.
Spirit of Grace is made up of 15 very amazing girls who love to sing and perform! The enjoy getting together every Sunday afternoon, and they also enjoy leading the music for worship services once a month. They were great ambassadors for our church at Communithon as they performed a variety of religious and Broadway songs. These girls will be performing at Rotary Carol Festival on December 4. As well, they are busy preparing a Christmas musical called “Three Wise Men and a Baby”. They will present this to the congregation on Sunday, December 18 during worship service.
The third group of youth who meet each week for song and fellowship are our
Spirit Singers. These very talented teens love to sing together and have a very fun time at rehearsals! They also performed some impressive music at Communithon and will be sharing more of their music at the Rotary Carol Festival. As well as leading music for worship services, these teens were also excellent food servers at our Turkey Supper! All of our youth groups generously contribute their time and talents to church activities as well as to community events. We are very proud of all our Grace Youth – they are invaluable members of our church family!
Your church board strives to ensure that the church stays true to its core mission by participating in sound decision-making, using good judgment, setting aside personal interests to ensure the best interest of the organization is kept, and by complying with governing laws. We have a wonderful group of volunteer board members who donate countless hours to achieve these goals and are blessed with an amazing congregation that guides and supports them. I would like to take this opportunity to wish each and everyone of you a most joyous Christmas and I look forward to working together with you all in helping Grace United Church thrive in 2023.
Nancy Smoliak / Church Board Chair
“FELLOWSHIP IS SOMETHING YOU HAVE”
Togetherness, Supporting, Sharing and Strengthening one another are the rewards of attending our potluck lunches. After a Covid hibernation we are finally able to organize this event that takes place the third Sunday each month.
Our committee consists of Keri Forsgren, Tammy Friesen, Bev Johnstone and co-chairs Maureen Clay and Grace Plonka. Thank-you to our dedicated volunteers as well as several individuals who assist us on these Sundays. Please consider joining our committee if you would like to help with the monthly potlucks.
In addition to the potlucks, we assist with the Annual Turkey supper in many ways. We would like to thank this year’s Chairperson Nancy Smoliak and her team for their excellent organization of this successful event.
So mark your calendar for the next potluck taking place on Sunday, December 18th!
Grace Plonka, Fellowship Committee
Powered by GoDaddyT