The Grapevine - The Latest News from His Branches

Arnett Library Music Series

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Bill) — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 14:25:00 +0000

Eastman Horn Quartet Family Concert Series

When: Saturday, February 18, 2012 from 1 - 2 pm

Where: Arnett Branch Library, 310 Arnett Blvd, Rochester 14619

Who: All Ages

What: A free interactive music program featuring four horn players, Allison Atkins, Michael Alexander, Lauren Becker and Jonathan Dozois from Eastman School of Music with refreshments following.

SOHL Day of Prayer

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Bill) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:01:00 +0000

Sunday, Jan. 22nd is National Sanctity of Human Life Sunday (SOHL). Embracing Options is offering FREE bulletin inserts for your congregation. Please click here to read our SOLS Invitation. It contains a letter for your pastor, document "What is SOHL Sunday?" and an order form to order them to share with your church family. Please contact our office at (585) 235-0690 and let us know how many FREE inserts you want for your congregation.

7th Annual SOHL (Sanctity of Human Life) Day of Prayer, Friday January 20th from 12:30 to 4:30 pm (3:45 p.m. we will be a Memorial Service held for the little ones lost to abortion) at Embracing Options, 350 Arnett Boulevard, Rochester, NY 14619. Light refreshments and coffee will be provided.

Invited: All Pro-Lifers in the Rochester area who either stand on the front lines daily against abortion or if you have a heart for the sanctity of human life. We ask Pastors to come pray with and over us to bless us for the upcoming year of this battle against abortion and its ravages on our community. Contact Althea Pitts-Swails at (585) 235-0690 if you'd like to attend or share a brief message of encouragement for all the staff and volunteers in the local pro-life community.

19th Ward Luminaries

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Bill) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:04:00 +0000

For the past several years the 19th Ward has celebrated Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday in a public manner and will be doing so again this year. On Monday, January 16th there will be luminaries throughout the area. The luminaries themselves are small paper bags weighted down with sand or kitty litter and containing a votive candle. Neighbors make a number of luminaries and set them at the sidewalk edge of their tree lawn from sunset until 9 pm, making a beautiful sight. Some people host warming fires and a hot chocolate stands. This is also a community building event.

Luminary Kits are available for $4.00/kit of 10 luminaries at Menezes Pizza - 445 Chili Ave (open from 12-6 pm), Hunt's Hardware - 390 Thurston Road, the 19th Ward Office, and Boulder Coffee - 960 Genesee St, or make your own. If you arrive at one of these locations and they have sold out, call the NWCA office at 328-6571 (or ask the merchant to call) and we will get more to them if we have any available. Kits are also available at some Delegates' and Block Club Leaders' homes, as follows:

MacClurg Vivian, 191 Winbourne
Sheila Bazil, 53 Arvine Heights
Charlotte Giebel, 500 Brooks Ave, 235-5432
Berda Goff, 143 Maxwell Ave
Sharon Conheady, 114 Melrose
Pat Gross, 393 Wellington Ave, 354-2840
Jay Ross, 129 Trafalgar
Penny Griffin, 66 Monica Street

We also have at least 10 hot chocolate/ cider/ cookies/ movie/ coat giveaway stands signed up. Check out www.luminaryevening.com to determine where they are on the map. Be sure to plan on visiting some of them as you enjoy the luminaries.

And don't forget this year's special MLK programs at the Arnett Branch Library:

Saturday, 1/14, Noon -presentation and discussion on Martin Luther King, Jr and his impact on us today and introduction of a new media project that reflects our neighborhood - a MUST SEE!
Tuesday, 1/17, 4:00 pm - showing of Martin Luther King's "I Have A Dream" speech

If you have questions, please call the 19th Ward Community Association’s office 328-6571.

Merry Christmas!

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Bill) — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 21:39:00 +0000

Greetings from the Morehouses!

We deeply appreciate all your support and look forward to serving together with you in the coming year.

Click here to read our holiday letter.

2011 Christmas in the Park

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Bill) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 17:18:00 +0000

The Arnett Block Association found a wonderful Christmas tree this year for the Arnett Bird and Butterfly Park on the corner of Arnett and Wellington beside the Library! Once it was up they collaborated with School #29 and the Arnett Branch Library to host a festive day of decorating, in which 350 kids came with home-made ornaments, followed by story reading in the Arnett. A great time was had by all!

Fantastic 2011 Block Party!

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Bill) — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 21:25:00 +0000

Our annual Arnett Block Party this past Saturday was fantastic, thanks to the generous participation of so many amazing volunteers and contributors. Thank you all from the bottom of our hearts!

Click here to see a full size slide show

We've had a very hot and dry summer, but the weatherman was predicting thunderstorms for Saturday afternoon and many of us were concerned. As it turned out, we had a comfortably overcast day with so few sprinkles that most people didn't even notice that rain came down at all! Our God is faithful! So many marvelous people were involved in making our day a success that it will be hard to list them, but I'll give it a try. Our setup crew arrived early and up went the tents! Then Tom Zumbo unloaded his grill, the basketball hoop went up, R Community Bikes arrived, and we closed off Arnett Blvd. between Warwick and Rugby. Richard Stutzman high-fived onto the premises as Happy the Clown, Tom Stefano and Randy VanAuken got the music going, a crowd began to gather, and the party was on! By early afternoon the ZooMobile was here and Victor the Magician was ready to wow the crowd with his amazing show. We knew we were in full gear when Mitzie Collins, Tom Bohrer, their family team had us all in thrall with their Punch and Judy Show!

Special thanks go out to Rora, Nancy, and all the other faithful members of the Arnett Block Association whose tireless planning, preparation, and free food service made the whole event possible; to the City of Rochester for letting us block off Arnett Blvd. and sending RPD Officer Miskell and "Nero" with their K-9 show and Officer Deirdre Hammond who signed up dozens of kids (!) with Operation Safe Child; to Michelle Preston, Aya Kaufmann, Cynthia Hobbs and Doug Smith for manning the helium balloons and decorating so many eager faces; and to Debra Parris and her flag team for their inspiring act.

We were delighted that the Genesee Street Fire House sent their big fire truck and team and that the Rural-Metro Ambulance squad was able to join us for the afternoon, giving hundreds of kids a chance to investigate and actually climb up into a real fire truck and ambulance!

Overwhelming gratitude goes out to R Community Bikes for their generosity in fixing one bike after another all afternoon; to City Councilman Dana Miller for his lively performance as our Master of Ceremonies; to all our sponsoring merchants who provided us with so many generous donations and raffle prizes; to Sarah Love, Stacey Markum, Brittney Bryant, Dee Skelton and Althea for running our Grace Family Medicine / Embracing Options booth; ; to Bruce Tehan from the Arnett Branch Library for his kids' story time; to Robert Matthews for setting up and running a spectacular hoops competition all afternoon; and to Leronne Evans and members of the New Life Gospel Choir for the wonderful tribute they paid to our Lord by leading us in open worship before our God and Maker at the close of the afternoon.

Remarkably, everyone pitched in and helped, so even the cleanup was a breeze and by 5 pm you never would have known the event had happened. Already folks are making plans for "next year's Block Party." Want to help? Just give us a call! God bless you all!

A Great Banquet!

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Bill) — Tue, 31 May 2011 19:13:00 +0000

Our second annual His Branches Banquet, hosted last week at the Oak Hill Country Club, was a great success thanks to many behind-the-scenes workers and wonderful community support! Over 200 staff, friends, and new supporters of our ministry gathered for an evening of celebration of past and ongoing accomplishments and exhortations to keep up and expand the good work.

After enjoying a delicious dinner and time of fellowship with friends, both old and new, we were ministered to with music, testimony, and a new video that refreshed and stirred our spirits. Our guest speaker, Dr. Karl Johnson, inspired us with a comparison between what His Branches is doing now and the moving story of Atticus Finch in Harper Lee's classic "To Kill a Mockingbird," and our host for the evening, John Gramlich, urged us to pull together to reach even deeper in meeting the needs and opportunities that surround us.

When it was all over, we were left with not only the encouraging glow of spiritual support but the tangible reality of profoundly encouraged staff, new volunteers, and nearly $40,000 in donations and pledges to undergird our ministries in the months ahead. A hearty "thank you" goes out to all who participated in making our 2011 "Healing Hands" Banquet such a success. We're already starting to talk about next year!

19th Ward Luminaries

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Bill) — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 02:13:00 +0000

Luminaries in front of 374 Wellington Ave last year

For the past few years the 19th Ward has celebrated Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday in a public manner and will be doing so again this year. On Monday, January 17 there will be luminaries throughout the area. The luminaries themselves are small paper bags weighted down with sand or kitty litter and containing a votive candle. Luminary Kits are available at Menezes Pizza - 445 Chili Ave (open from 12-6 pm), Hunt's Hardware - 390 Thurston Road, and Boulder Coffee - 955 Genesee St,
or make your own.

Neighbors make a number of luminaries and set them at the sidewalk edge of their tree lawn from sunset until 9 pm. Some people host warming fires and a hot chocolate stands. This is also a community building event.

If you have questions, please call the 19th Ward Community Association’s office 328-6571.

SOHL Commemoration Events

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Bill) — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 19:36:00 +0000

Sunday, Jan. 23rd is National Sanctity of Human Life Sunday (SOHL). Embracing Options is offering FREE bulletin inserts for your congregation. Please see the attached file. It contains a letter for your pastor, document "What is SOHL Sunday?" and an order form to order them to share with your church family. Please contact our office at (585) 235-0690 and let us know how many FREE inserts you want for your congregation.

6th Annual SOHL (Sanctity of Human Life) Day of Prayer, Friday January 21st from Noon to 5 pm (4 p.m. will be a Memorial Service held for the dear little ones lost to abortion) at Embracing Options, 350 Arnett Boulevard, Rochester, NY 14619. Light refreshments and coffee will be provided.

Invited: All Pro-Lifers in the Rochester area who either stand on the front lines daily against abortion or if you have a heart for the sanctity of human life. We ask Pastors to come pray with and over us to bless us for the upcoming year of this battle against abortion and its ravages on our community. Contact Sandi Clawson at (585) 235-0690 if you'd like to attend or share a brief message of encouragement for all the staff and volunteers in the local pro-life community.

Merry Christmas!

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Bill) — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 12:22:00 +0000

Greetings from the Morehouses!

We deeply appreciate all your support and look forward to serving together with you in the coming year.

Click here to read our holiday letter.

Caroling in the Park

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Bill) — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 13:02:00 +0000

You and your family are invited to come

Caroling in the Park

on the corner of Wellington and Arnett

Wednesday, Dec. 15th 6:30-7:30 PM

Come see the Holiday Tree our neighbors decorated!

We will be singing Christmas Carols around a fire!

Santa might pay us a visit!

Join us for some Holiday fun for you and your family!

Harden Receives LHHL Award

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Bill) — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 23:23:00 +0000

The Leo Holmsten Human Life (LHHL) Committee presents the 14th Annual Leo Holmsten Human Life Award to Rev. James R. Harden, President/CEO CompassCare Pregnancy Services, 2001-present; Leader of CompassCare National Optimization Training, 2006-present; Medical Conversion Consultant and Executive Trainer of Pregnancy Resource Centers for the National Institute of Family and Life Advocates, 2004-2007.

Friday evening, October 8, 2010, 5:45 to 9:00 PM
Hyatt Regency Rochester
125 East Main Street, Rochester, NY 14604

$50 per person, tables of 8. RSVP by September 29.

Please contact Dorothy (585-342-4175) or Cathy (585-381-4927) for more information.

The LHHL Committee is comprised of individuals who believe in the God-given principle that human life is sacred and must be nurtured from the moment of conception through natural termination in death.

To that end the Committee seeks to unite disparate, life-affirming groups and organizations in promoting identification and public recognition of area individuals demonstrating sustained achievement and promoting related, legal pro-life activity in the defense of innocent, human life.

Free Art Classes

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Bill) — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 18:25:00 +0000

Free Art Classes for everyone age 14 and up!

336 Arnett Boulevard

Kuumba Open Studio and Art Lab at The Arnett is an arts and entrepreneurial program designed to teach art skills to people ages 14 and up. Kuumba Consultants and RISEGO team up to offer this exciting community arts program.

Students will learn screen printing, home designs, jewelry making. These skills will be used to create arts and crafts for sale. Students will also learn business skills and create a marketplace to showcase and sell their creations. This will enable students to earn money from what they have learned. The culminating event will be a Kuumba/ RISEGO Marketplace Sale at The Arnett Building.

Format: 6 Saturdays

9-9:30 am - Sign up with registrar
First 15 people will be accepted for class

9:45 -11:45am - Instruction with Master Artist/Craftsperson

12-2pm - Open Studio work on whatever you like

Calendar/Classes

September 25th and October 2nd - Screen Printing

October 9th and 16th - Create things for the home

October 23rd and 30th - Jewelry making

Saturday November 6th- Kuumba/RISEGO Marketplace Sale

This program is funded by the Arts and Cultural Council DEC Community Arts Grant.

2010 Block Party! Wow!!

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Bill) — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 15:32:00 +0000

Our 2010 Block Party was a wonderful success yesterday, thanks to the generous participation of so many amazing volunteers and contributors. Thank you all from the bottom of our hearts!

Click here to see a full size slide show

We've had a hot and muggy summer, but Saturday turned out to be the best day of the season so far. Our God is faithful! So many marvelous people were involved in making our day a success that it will be hard to list them, but I'll give it a try. Our setup crew arrived early and up went the tents! Then Ron Coleman unloaded 2 giant charcoal grills, Albert Algarin set up his snow cone machine, Tom Stefano got the music going, Richard Stutzman high-fived onto the premises as Happy the Clown, and a fantastic circus atmosphere began to emerge. We closed off Arnett Blvd. between Warwick and Rugby; Ron and Beverly fired up their grills; and a crowd began to gather that included almost everyone in the neighborhood by mid-afternoon. When Jeff Peden and Joe Showers opened up their Airplay Jugglers stage, we knew the show was on!

Special thanks go out to Rora, Nancy, and all the other faithful members of the Arnett Block Association whose tireless planning, preparation, and free food service made the whole event possible; to the City of Rochester for letting us block off Arnett Blvd. and sending RPD Officer Miskel with his K-9 show and Sergeant Frank DiPrimo who signed up 65 kids (!) with Operation Safe Child; to Kim Tookes, Maeve Cullinane and Sarah, Kristen Peden, and J.J. Kaufman for manning the helium balloons and decorating so many eager faces; to rap artist and brother Cuevas Walker; to Mr. Beau the Clown for his wonderful show; and to our own award-winning Wilson Academy Step Team for their amazing hand-clapping, foot-stamping, step dancing performance (see bonus YouTube video below).

We were delighted that the Gardiner St. Fire House sent their big hook-n-ladder and team and that the Rural-Metro Ambulance squad was able to join us for the afternoon, giving hundreds of kids a chance to investigate and actually climb up into a real fire truck and ambulance!

Overwhelming gratitude goes out to R Community Bikes for their generosity in giving away 15 free bikes this year and fixing numerous other ones; to City Councilman Dana Miller for his lively performance as our Master of Ceremonies; to all our sponsoring merchants who provided us with so many generous donations and raffle prizes; to Michelle Preston (who somehow disappeared when Crayola the Clown showed up), Sarah Love, Stacey Markum, Sandi Clawson and Althea for running our Grace Family Medicine / Embracing Options booth; to Lisa McElroye for her free massage demonstrations; to Jeanne from the Arnett Branch Library for her kids' story time; to Michael Peace and Bethel Express for hosting an open house at Risego; to Rob Matthews for setting up and running a spectacular hoops competition all afternoon; and to Leronne Evans and the entire New Life Gospel Choir for the wonderful tribute they paid to our Lord by leading us in open worship before our God and Maker at the close of the afternoon.

Remarkably, everyone pitched in and helped, so even the cleanup was a breeze and by 5 pm you never would have known the event had happened. Already folks are making plans for "next year's Block Party." Want to help? Just give us a call! God bless you all!

Step Team in Action

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Bill) — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Block Party August 7th!

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Bill) — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 17:28:00 +0000

Saturday, August 7th - 12 to 4 pm!

350 Arnett Blvd (street closed for party)

Step Team - Music - Fire Truck - Balloons
Food - Jugglers - Face Painting - Clown Show

Story Time - K9 Team - Bicycle Giveaway
Raffle - Games and Prizes - Bike Repair Clinic
Child ID - New Life Gospel Choir and More!

Stop by and meet your neighbors!

Help us get the word out -
Click here for a printable flyer!

"New Normal" on Abortion

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Bill) — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 14:48:00 +0000

Americans More "Pro-Life"
For second year straight, "pro-life" and "pro-choice" closely matched
by Lydia Saad

PRINCETON, NJ -- The conservative shift in Americans' views on abortion that Gallup first recorded a year ago has carried over into 2010. Slightly more Americans call themselves "pro-life" than "pro-choice," 47% vs. 45%, according to a May 3-6 Gallup poll. This is nearly identical to the 47% to 46% division found last July following a more strongly pro-life advantage of 51% to 42% last May.

While the two-percentage-point gap in current abortion views is not significant, it represents the third consecutive time Gallup has found more Americans taking the pro-life than pro-choice position on this measure since May 2009, suggesting a real change in public opinion. By contrast, in nearly all readings on this question since 1995, and each survey from 2003 to 2008, more Americans called themselves pro-choice than pro-life.

Click here to read the Gallup Poll's full report.

Bike Clinic Rocks 'n Rolls

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Bill) — Mon, 24 May 2010 22:27:00 +0000

R Community Bikes (RBC) and His Branches held a neighborhood Bike Clinic in our Arnett parking lot last Saturday that exceeded all expectations. After being postponed for 2 weeks due to the heavy storm we had on May 8th, we had a great turnout and were able to give away 18 reconditioned bikes in a free lottery to kids who had lined up in eager anticipation. RBC's expert volunteer crew of bike mechanics was also on site with parts and tools to repair an estimated 50 or more bikes that showed up that day. There were many happy faces as donated bikes (and helmets provided by the Rochester Police Department) were given away to children.

R Community Bikes a non-profit organization that recycles bikes in Rochester. RCB gave away over 1500 bikes to the Rochester community last year. Thanks to a grant, they have a trailer for bringing bikes, tools, and parts to off-site events. Their shop/warehouse is at 226 Hudson Avenue, and volunteers are welcome!

Our next collaborative event will be on Saturday, August 7, from noon until 4 pm when RCB will join us again for our annual Block Party. Be sure to come and bring your neighbors and friends!

Banquet a Great Success!

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Bill) — Mon, 17 May 2010 17:24:00 +0000

Our first annual His Branches Banquet, hosted last week at the Oak Hill Country Club, was a great success thanks to many behind-the-scenes workers and wonderful community support! Over 225 staff, friends, and new supporters of our ministry gathered for an evening of celebration of past and ongoing accomplishments and exhortations to keep up and expand the good work.

After enjoying a delicious dinner and time of fellowship with friends, both old and new, we were ministered to with music and testimony that refreshed and stirred our spirits. Our guest speaker, Mr. Paul Marshall, illuminated a whole new dimension of prolife ministry - the impact of abortion on the men involved - and our hostess for the evening, Jennifer Burch, urged us to pull together to reach even deeper in meeting the needs and opportunities that surround us.

When it was all over, we were left with not only the encouraging glow of spiritual support but the tangible reality of profoundly encouraged staff, new volunteers, and over $30,000 in donations and pledges to undergird our ministries in the months ahead. A hearty "thank you" goes out to all who participated in making our 2010 Banquet such a "Celebration of Life". We're already starting to talk about next year!

GFM Gets Help

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Bill) — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 17:35:00 +0000

Medical center gets support after thefts

In the first two weeks of this month, the Grace Family Medicine center on Arnett Boulevard was the inexplicable target of repeated thievery and vandalism.

Since then, staff at the medical center, which has served underprivileged families in the 19th Ward for the past 32 years, has been the target of the community's generosity and support.

The center was broken into at least four times in 12 days in early April, and was vandalized at least two other times during that time period, said Dr. William Morehouse, Grace's medical director...

Several other nearby locations have been vandalized, including a building next door which houses RISEGO Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to creating young social entrepreneurs in schools, and the library at 310 Arnett Blvd.

Grace has rung up a pricey list of unexpected expenses, including having to replace all the locks in the office, alter the roof where the thieves were getting in the office, replace the medical freezer, and fix about 10 broken windows — including a $475 window that had to be replaced twice. That is in addition to the loss of the cash and the computers.

Fortunately, Morehouse said, the community has responded in a "wonderful and generous" way.

"The community has been very supportive, the neighbors have all rallied around us and responded with very generous donations," he said, estimating large and small donations have totaled about $6,000. "They are people who know what we do here, and people we have possibly helped in the past."

Grace Family has served the 19th Ward since 1978 when Morehouse and a group of Christians came together with the goal of providing health care and other services to underprivileged communities.

Click here to read the entire article by Jon Hand, D&C staff writer.

Spring Banquet at Oak Hill

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Bill) — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 18:33:00 +0000

His Branches, Inc.

Grace Family Medicine and Embracing Options

Invite You to

Our Spring Fundraising Banquet

Embracing His Branches for a

CELEBRATION OF LIFE

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Seating begins at 6:30 pm

Dinner & Program 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm

Oak Hill Country Club

346 Kilbourn Road, Rochester, NY 14618

With featured Speaker

Mr. Paul Marshall

Vice President of Ministry Development

Care Net Pregnancy of Central New York

Click here to RSVP before May 1

An opportunity to make a financial gift will be extended.

Dinner is complementary ~ Adults only as seating is limited ~ Semi-formal attire

Good News at GFM

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Bill) — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 14:44:00 +0000

Grace Family Medicine staff

After a rash of break-ins over the past 2 weeks (see below), we seem to be coming back out into the open again, now stronger in spirit and faith than before! We won't say it hasn't been a struggle, both from the physical damage and loss as well as the emotional sense of vulnerability and violation, but we're pulling together as a team and moving forward.

The support of our families, neighbors, and the community as a whole has been overwhelming! So far we've had donations come in from all over the continent (yes, the entire continent) as a result of our wired world, national news media reports, Facebook, and text messages and have been able to repair all our broken windows, replace our locks, secure our roof entry points, and beef up our alarm system. We are so grateful to our wonderful God and all of you. Keep those cards and letters coming!

GFM Clinic Robbery

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Bill) — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 01:45:00 +0000

Rochester medical clinic robbed
WHEC News Video link

By: Pat McGonigle - Channel 10

A family health clinic in the City's 19th ward has been ransacked by thieves five times in the last two weeks. One of the doctors at the clinic told News 10NBC he has had enough.

Grace Family Medicine here on Arnett Boulevard has been serving the 19th Ward since 1978. It's a family health clinic that caters to people with Medicaid, Medicare or no insurance at all.

Five times over the last two weeks, burglars smashed in windows and broke into the office.

Dr. Bill Morehouse showed us some of the damage today. He says there are no drugs, prescription pads or cash in the office so the thieves are only stealing office equipment which only weakens a community’s resources, already operating on a shoe string. Dr. Morehouse said, “Windows broken, small items stolen, most recently yesterday -- seven windows smashed, computer stolen, a very valuable computer and we're beginning to have difficulty meeting the needs of people here."

Dr. Morehouse says he thinks people in this neighborhood know who's been doing this. So he's asking them to come forward and tell police who has been breaking into the clinic. Dr. Morehouse says he'd like to get that person some help.

The Grace Family Medical Clinic is upgrading its security and alarm systems because of the break-in.

GFM Break-Ins

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Bill) — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 00:50:00 +0000

"Old-Fashioned" Clinic Burglarized Five Times
Break-in news video

Reported by: Evan Axelbank, Channel 8 News

It's gotten to a point where doctors and nurses aren't surprised to find this kind of damage.

"It's sapped their enthusiasm and energy, it's kind of like OK, what am I going to find now?" said Bill Waldert, the clinic's business manager.
Only two weeks ago the only thing they had to worry about were patients, of which three fourths are on medicare or medicaid.

"This is a good old-fashioned family practice," said Waldert. "We take care of the babies right up through the grandparents." But now, broken glass and broken windows and ransacked offices are signs that they're under an almost constant assault by an unknown burglar.

"Its really got us stumped right now," said Waldert. "A little but of money, a lot of broken windows, a couple of computer monitors, but there really is not anything in here, there's no reason to come in this building."

It has started to feel like a cat and mouse game. After they changed the locks yesterday, they came in to find that burglars came in through this window. Bill Waldert has a message for them.

"We're here to try and do some good for you and your families. Please let us go about our business," said Waldert.

Even though the break-ins have been frustrating, Grace Family Medicine is going to plow ahead.

"God knows we don't pay them very much. So they are here because they want to be here, and so they can be a positive resource for the community."

The broken glass hasn't shattered their spirit.

EO Opens Webster Center!

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Bill) — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 17:28:00 +0000

By: Nicole Friberg, Webster Center Director

What is Embracing Options? We are a Christ-centered Crisis Pregnancy Center. We address the needs of individual women by sharing the Gospel and empowering them to make positive life-affirming choices. Embracing Options is a Care Net affiliate. Care Net is a national network of 1,180 pregnancy centers that provide free support to pregnant women.

The United Methodist Church of Webster Outreach House Embracing Options committee consists of Ray and Laurie Dutcher, Dave and Bobbi Olson, Pastor Lee, and Nicole Friberg. We have been meeting, working and praying on this for a little over a year.

At Embracing Options, we offer free pregnancy tests, on-going peer counseling and friendship, referrals for medical care, referrals for legal assistance or other needed community services, referrals for adoption or foster care, post-abortion counseling (PACE), and referrals to a church.

Embracing Options is a para-church ministry. Everything we do for our client, we do to point her in the way of God and His love. We show her that she has potential, because she is created in the image of God. We give her a Bible to have for her own. When hurting women encounter Jesus Christ in the midst of their crisis, their lives are forever changed.

I am excited to say that our opening date was March 29th. Our hours of operation are Mondays from noon - 5 pm and Thursdays from 10 am - 2:00 pm.

I cannot speak for everyone who is on the committee, but I can tell you why I feel the calling to be involved in this. As some of you may know, our three children are all adopted. If their birth mothers had not chosen life, we would not have them here with us today. We thank God every day that they chose life, so we could be so blessed with these three amazing children.

To be Pro Life does not just mean we are against abortion. To be Pro Life means we honor, respect, and love all of God's creations from conception to death.

You may be asking yourselves, what can I, as a member of our congregation, do to help? There are many ways. We are looking for volunteers to peer counsel (requires 16 hours of Care Net training, provided by us). We are also looking for volunteers to join on our electronic prayer team (we need prayers for our volunteers, director, committee, and our clients). If you feel God is calling you to any of these, please contact Nicole at 585-545-4690.

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.” Jer.1:5