Family Life Ministries
The Family Life Ministries program at Grace UMC seeks to link our congregation to our community through recreation, social justice ministries, interfaith and ecumenical cooperation, the ministry of space, and much more. Family Life Ministries began as Grace UMC began construction on the Grace Ministry Center. The vision for our new Grace Ministry Center is that our programs and facility will foster interaction between our congregation and our community, leading to positive social change and invitations to get involved in the life of our church. Family Life Ministries programs are organized and administrated by the Family Life Ministries Team. Lou Rosenthal is the ministry team leader. Todd Noren-Hentz serves as the Director of Youth and Family Life Ministries.
The ministries of the FLM team include:
American Red Cross Shelter
Grace is happy to serve as a Red Cross shelter in the Monrovia/NW Huntsville area for emergency shelter needs during community emergencies and natural disasters. Phil Graham serves as the leader for this initiative.
Huntsville Assistance Program
The Huntsville Assistance Program is a group of Christian congregations who desire to provide a ministry of assistance and referrals to needy individuals and families of Madison County, Alabama. This ministry focuses on the non-homeless and strives to achieve its mission by the pooling of volunteers, information, and financial resources of its members. Grace UMC supports HAP through non-perishable food donations which can be taken to the Joel Curry Food Pantry located in Fellowship Hall #3/Breakfast Club Sunday School room and through financial contributions. Contact Judy Myers or Don Love for more information.
Annual Church Picnic
The FLM team hosts the Annual Church picnic every year in August and it is a great time for fellowship, to invite guests to get to know people at Grace, to meet people in our church you don’t know, and to interact with your church family in a recreational setting. More more information including the date, location, and time, check out our dedicated Annual Church Picnic webpage.
Annual Church Retreat
Grace UMC has a long history of an Annual Church Retreat. This retreat is held annually in October at Camp Sumatanga. It is a great time to relax, experience fellowship, get to know others better, and grow spiritually in a family friendly environment. For more information check out our dedicated retreat page.
Grace Family Fun Flys (GFFF)
We fly our small electric radio-controlled airplanes and helicopters on select Sundays from 1:00 to 4:00 pm in the GraceMinistry Center Gym. This is family-oriented sport flying held for the fun of it and to meet and interact with others of our community and our church family. Contact Jim Marconnet at 256 772-3946 or jmarconnet@gmail.comfor more information. Check out our video to the right for highlights of the October 9, 2011 GFFF with a biblical-based helicopter obstacle and humorous out-takes and crashes.
2012 GFFF dates are: January 8, January 29, February 12, March 11, April 1, April 22, May 6, June 3, June 24, July 22, August 5, August 26, September 16, October 7, October 8, November 18, and December 9.
Grace Supper Club (GSC)
Grace Supper Club meets monthly from approximately October thru May. Participating individuals and couples are pre-assigned to different small groups each month to eat together at an agreed-upon restaurant or a home. By design, the small groups introduce GSC members to all the participants over the course of the season. Contact Jim Marconnet at 256 772-3946 or jmarconnet@gmail.com for more information and to join the supper club.
Grace Golf Association
The Grace Golf Association (GGA) is an informal golf group open to all members and friends of Grace United Methodist Church. Our mission is simple: enjoy Christian fellowship and friendly competition playing a game we enjoy. Men and women, juniors, seniors, hackers, and scratch players are all welcome – we’ll use handicapped sores so everyone can compete evenly.
GGA will play once each month beginning on March 19, 2011 and ending with a season finale tournament in October. Contact Scott Kowerduck for more information and to get on the email list for information pertaining to GGA events.
Interfaith Mission Service
Grace UMC is excited to be part of a cooperative of congregations throughout the Huntsville area called the Interfaith Mission Service. IMS has a 40+ year history of working together for interfaith and ecumenical understanding, positive social change, and racial reconciliation. The Family Life Ministries Team oversees our congregation’s relationship with IMS. Through the IMS Cooperative, our church participates in many IMS sponsored events such as the Annual Dinner, the Day of Service and Unity, Hometown Pilgrimage, and many more. Don Love serves Grace UMC’s congregational representative to the IMS Cooperative. To learn more about IMS, please visit www.interfaithmissionservice.org.
Intergenerational Volleyball
Intergenerational Volleyball is co-ed and for all ages and skill levels. We play on select Sundays from 4:00 to 5:15 pm in the Grace Ministry Center Gym. 2011 Intergenerational Volleyball dates are: March 27, April 17,
June 26, July 24, August 28, September 25, October 23, November 27.
Parents Night Out
Parents Night Out is a ministry to kids (infants to 5th grade) and their parents. We provide fun activities for kids from 5:00 to 10:00 pm on select Friday evenings and parents are able to have a night out. The cost is $10 per child. See our dedicated PNO website for more information, for upcoming PNO dates, or to register to volunteer or participate.
Pick-up Basketball
Pick-up Basketball is for players of all skill levels. We have some “serious ballers” and old men who can barely make it down the court. We play on Wednesday Nights at 7:30 pm. We generally play from 7:30 until 9:00 pm or so. Email Todd Noren-Hentz to get on the basketball email list to learn about cancellations, special events, and basketball related announcements.
Providence K-8 School Partnership
Grace UMC enjoys a good relationship with our next door neighbor, Providence K-8 School. Each year we sponsor a luncheon to honor and support the teachers of the school. This year’s luncheon is planned for Wednesday, August 10 at 11:30 am. We also collect school supplies throughout the summer to donate to students at the school who cannot afford supplies. Our donation drive will begin in July and donations may be turned into the display in the hallway outside the sanctuary. Additionally, several members serve as tutors for the school.
Upward Basketball & Cheerleading
Upward Basketball and Cheerleading is a sports program done differently. Children are given an opportunity to compete against kids of their own skill level. Team work is emphasized over winning at all costs. Children are also surrounded in Upward’s faith development curriculum. To learn more about our Upward Basketball and Cheerleading program, check out our dedicated Upward webpage.