Congregational Life

Encore Ministry

May - September 2013

Clown School

The Cheerful Clown Alley of Houston will present their annual, nationally-recognized, and award-winning Clown School at Grace. What better time to unleash that hidden clown in you than on the 11th anniversary of Grace’s Clown Ministry, Frownbusters, God’s funnybone in action. Our Clown Ministry has performed over 300 times in those 11 years and would welcome new members.

The dates for 2013 Clown School here at Grace are:
+ Tuesday, June 19 - 5:30 to 9:30pm
+ Wednesdays, June 25, July 2, 9, 16 & 23 - 5:30 to 9:30pm
+ Saturdays, June 29 & July 27 - 8:00am to 5:00pm
+ Graduation! Saturday, August 10 - 8:00am to 1:00pm
+ All classes will be held in Massey-Tucker Hall

Additional information, cost of school, and registration can be found on the Cheerful Clowns website at www.cheerfulclowns.com (click here).

You may also contact Grace member and resident clown Mike Vinson at 281-493-1523 or mjvinson@att.net (click here).

Encore Choir

Encore Choir meets on Tuesdays from 11:30am - 12:30pm in the Choir Rehearsal Room. This choir sings periodically for our chapel service as well as for various local groups. The only requirement to join Encore Choir is a love of singing. Contact the music department at 713-267-5031 for more information.

The Gathering

Chairpersons: Ann McIntire & Natalie Benson
The Gathering is a day of care providing a few hours of fellowship for those who have had strokes, have dementia or Alzheimer's, and the frail elderly who are isolated from normal activities. It also gives a time of respite for their caregivers. We meet from 10:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. in Massey-Tucker Hall. For additional information, contact Ann McIntire at 281-343-9391. Meetings dates are May 23, June 27, July 25, August 22 and September 26.

Grace to Go

Chairpersons: Janet Clelland & Karen Welton
The Grace to Go visitation program is a vital ministry to the homebound members of the Grace Presbyterian Church family. Visitors enrich the lives of approximately 100 homebound persons that can no longer participate in corporate worship and fellowship. Volunteers pair up for visitation and then travel to a specific location. Following visits the group meets for lunch to exchange information that has been compiled. For information contact Janet Clelland, 281-493-4880 or Karen Welton, 281-558-2027. Next visitation dates July 29 and September 30.

Manna from Grace (Saturday)

Chairperson: Ellen Gonzales
Manna from Grace is a fellowship of volunteers who have a willingness to give part of their Saturday from time to time to prepare food and deliver meals to a neighborhood household. For information, contact Shirley Krieg at Shirley.krieg@gmail.com or Becky Morris at 713-267-5091 or bmorris@gpch.org. Upcoming Saturday cooking dates are May 11, June 8, August 10 and September 14. (Manna Saturday will take a break in July and will not meet.)

Manna from Grace (Monday)

Chairpersons: Debbie Kaplan & Marcia Welsh
Manna from Grace will now be preparing meals on the fourth Monday of each month from 9:30am - noon in the kitchen at Grace. If you enjoy cooking, want to make new friends or share with old friends, Monday Manna is for you. Contact Debbie Kaplan at 713-365-9322 or debbiekaplan@att.net. Child care can be reserved by contacting Debbie Kay at 713-267-5084 or dkay@gpch.org at least 2 business days in advance. Upcoming Monday cooking dates are May 20, June 24, July 22 and September 23. (Manna Monday will take a break in August and wil not meet.)

Medical Center Apartment (Encore #2714) Mission Outreach

Chairperson: Tom Prince
Medical Center Apartment (#2714) is a mission outreach to people who are receiving medical treatment in the Medical Center. This apartment is sponsored by Encore Ministry. If you would like to periodically serve as a host on our team rotation please contact Tom Prince at 713-984-2242.

Bridge

Chairpersons: Harry & Toni Watson
Social Bridge players meet from 11:30am - 3:00 pm in MTh207. Lunch is available with required reservation. For both attendance and lunch reservations contact Becky Morris by the Friday prior to bridge week, at 713-267-5091 or bmorris@gpch.org. Upcoming Bridge dates are May 9 & 23, June 27, July 11 & 25, August 8 & 22, and September 12 & 26.

Project C.U.R.E.

Chairperson: Joe Cook
Join Grace Presbyterian Church volunteers at Project C.U.R.E. every Tuesday afternoon from 1:00-3:00pm. We will sort donated medical supplies and prepare them to be shipped around the world. Encore volunteers serve on Tuesdays but come whenever you can! Training is provided.

Encore Daytrips

Wednesday, May 22 - Austin, TX - Tour the Governor's Mansion & Texas State Capitol, lunch on your own at The Iron Works Barbeque

On this trip, we will tour the recently reopened Governor's Mansion. Workers spent last summer finishing the top-to-bottom restoration of the beloved Texas Governor's Mansion, which was gutted after a 2008 arson nearly wiped it out. Fortunately, the home's historical furnishings and decor were in storage at the time in preparation for a construction project. Following the tour of the mansion, we will eat lunch and the tour the state capitol. We will depart Grace at 8:30am and return to Grace by 6:30pm. There is no charge for the tours. lunch will be on your own at Tony’s BB in Liberty. Seating is limited to 20 people.
The Governor's Mansion tour requires security check of all persons. By Sunday, May 12th, you will need to provide us with your Texas Driver's License number, your name as it appears on the license and your birthdate so that we can submit this information prior to the daytrip. We will need this information in order for you to participate with this daytrip.

Saturday, June 22 - Liberty, TX - Liberty Opry on the Square, lunch will be on your own at Tony’s BBQ

This Saturday matinee is featuring Jimmy Clanton, famous for his songs of the 50's and 60's. Jimmy was born in Baton Rouge, LA. He organized his first band in 1956. Four of his original songs, including "Just A Dream", sold over a million copies and were awarded gold discs. He will be entertaining us with popular music of this era.
Prior to the 2:00 p.m. show, we will eat lunch in Liberty. We will depart Grace at 10:30am and return back to Grace approximately around 6:45pm. Cost for this trip is $32.00, lunch will be on your own at Tony's BBQ in Liberty. Seating is limited to 20 people.

Wednesday, July 24 - Tour St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, Lunch at the church – Cost $10.00, includes lunch & tour

Please join us for a visit to St. Martin’s Episcopal Church on Wednesday, July 24th. Our tour of the Church will begin at 11:00 AM and will be followed at 12 noon with a thirty-minute organ recital. We will then proceed to their restaurant for lunch, which includes an entree, two sides, dessert and a drink!!!! Following lunch, we will have time to visit their very nice Book/Gift Shop. We will depart Grace at 10:00 a.m. and return around 3:00 p.m. Seating is limited. Payment of $10 is due by Sunday, July 14th. Your payment confirms your reservation and no refunds will be given after July 14th.

Saturday, August 24, Daytrip To Be Confirmed

Wednesday, September 18 – Art Car Museum & St. Arnold Brewing Company – lunch on your own in the Heights

Join us for a brief visit to the Art Car Museum, or "Garage Mahal" as many know it, in the Heights. You will see a few cars intricately designed and other "rare" fine arts. The car artists have transformed the vehicle from a factory-made commodity into a personal statement or expression. If you enjoy the art car parade, you will love this place!! The museum is free.
We plan to have lunch (on your own) in the Heights after the museum.
Next, on to the St. Arnold Brewing Company, which is Texas' Oldest Craft Brewery. Founders, Brock Wagner and Kevin Bartol, shipped their first keg in June 1994. At that time, Houston was the largest city in the country that did not have a micro-brewery. They brew, filter, keg, bottle and sell the beer. Join us to see how all this is done. We are scheduled to arrive at 3:00 p.m. Tasting room first, then tour at 3:30 p.m. Cost $8.00, includes tour and souvenir glass. Please wear closed-toed shoes for tour. Will advise time of departure and return at a later date.

Please come have fun with us!

We invite you to join in the fun of our outings. The Sign-Up Notebook can be found on the Encore Ministry table in the Gathering Room outside of Massey-Tucker Hall on Sunday mornings. There are sign-up sheets to make reservations. You may also contact Becky Morris at 713-267-5091 or bmorris@gpch.org for information.