GRIST FOR THE MILL …
written by Marchae Grair
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. – Jeremiah 29:11
Leaning in to God’s plan for me isn’t always easy because I am a control freak. I have a unique way of fighting for this control: I call it “purposeful procrastination”. Purposeful procrastination is the special talent of convincing myself to focus on work that isn’t due in the foreseeable future instead of completing work with immediate deadlines. I am so good at this bad habit that I decided to take a class about procrastination. The teacher didn’t focus on how to stop it but instead focused on why people like me do it. She hypothesized that procrastinators are not lazy, as commonly suggested.
Instead, she said we are hardworking people who are inhibited by our perfectionism.
We are so afraid to confront potential failure that we convince ourselves there isn’t enough time to finish anything. I left that class realizing how much I get in my own way, especially when I’m afraid to fail. My procrastination is a result of my continuous attempt to both take risks yet try to preemptively protect myself from failure.
I try to be both the head architect of my journey and the unexpected traveler along that same path. Since that class, I’ve prayed to shed my “control freak” procrastination tendencies. After all, I can’t keep saying I trust in God’s plan for me if I refuse to let God have some say in the matter. God, when my plans for delaying my plans get in the way, help me to let go and let You.
WHAT’S ON AT GRACE UNITED!…
WHAT: GRACE COUNCIL MEETING
WHEN: January 30 at 6:30 pm
WHERE: Grace
WHAT: EXPLORING OUR FAITH
WHEN: Friday, February 22 at 10:30 am
WHERE: 518 Morris St.
WHAT: ANNUAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING
WHEN: Sunday, February 24 (immediately after worship)
WHERE: Grace
QUILT DRAW …
The draw for our beautiful fundraising quilt will be taking place on Sunday, February 17 before worship.
It is asked that all outstanding money and ticket stubs be turned in by February 10.
CALL FOR ANNUAL REPORTS! …
Yep; it’s that time again!!
In anticipation of our annual congregational meeting, annual reports are requested by THIS Sunday, January 27.
Please give your reports to Joanne Blackwell, with thanks 😊
COLDEST NIGHT OF THE YEAR …
This year, Saturday, February 23 will be the Coldest Night of the Year… perhaps not on the thermometer, but rather as folks in Sudbury and a number of other communities walk together to raise money and awareness of poverty and homelessness.
The funds accumulated by Sudbury walkers will be distributed among the partner organizations of the Elgin Street Mission, the Blue Door Soup Kitchen, and the Corner Clinic, which together make up the Samaritan Centre.
According to Kevin Serviss, director of the Samaritan Centre, there are currently over 400 people who are considered homeless in Sudbury, and over 1,000 who would be considered at risk.
Coldest Night of the Year helps the centre to help those individuals, and the many thousands more who access the services available at the facility, including feeding programs, clothing depot, shower facilities, housing referrals and medical appointments.
It is also a warming centre in the winter months when the temperature dips below minus 15c.
The event will kick off at 4:00 with registration at the Rainbow Centre, with the 1 km, 2 km or 5 km walk beginning at 5:15.
Dinner will be served to all walkers beginning at 6:00 back at the Rainbow Centre.
If you would like to take part on “TEAM GRACE”, please reply to the “team captain”—aka ME!—either by email or on Sunday.
Once I know how many of us there will be, I can go ahead and create our team page on the website, and invite you to create your own individual pledge pages.
If all of that sounds really confusing—don’t worry!
I will have lots of information on Sunday.
Looking forward to taking part in this AWESOME outreach initiative!
GO GRACE!!
SCRIPTURE LESSONS FOR SUNDAY …
NEW YEAR’S REVOLUTION…
Choose someone to forgive.
All of us have legitimate grievances in our lives.
Some people are very hard to forgive but you need not begin with the toughest cases.
Small acts of grace will grow.
Forgive the guy who cut you off in the street; after all, you have cut people off as well, on purpose or inadvertently.
Forgive the person who made an unkind remark about you.
Choose a place to begin.
The more you forgive, the less the world can injure you; forgiveness is a soft shield for your soul.
Grace United Church Sudbury 