Below you will find special events upcoming at Grace Church. Please see our worship page for an outline of Sunday morning worship services and Sunday school classes; and our schedule page for a listing of day-to-day happenings.

Saturday, February 11 -- Kid’s Club Special

Mark your calendar for the Winter Reunion of Grace Kid’s Club on Saturday, February 11, 2012 from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Come for games, a movie, lunch, arts & crafts, and gym time! For more information, contact Grace’s Director of Children's Ministries, Rev. Amelia Boomershine, or our Youth and Outreach Director, Jared Roper. Here is the registration form.

Sunday, February 12 -- 2011-2012 Grace Artists Series, Second Concert

Grace United Methodist Church announces the second concert in the Grace Artists’ Series for 2011-12. This event is set for Sunday, February 12 at 3:00 p.m. and will feature the poetry of Paul Laurence Dunbar. Minnita Daniel-Cox, soprano, and Herbert Warren Martin (see more at 1 and 2) and John Benjamin will present a collaborative performance of art songs and spoken word celebrating the works of Paul Laurence Dunbar. The recital is entitled “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings: A celebration of Paul Laurence Dunbar”. Hailed as “the first American Negro poet of real literary distinction” by James Weldon Johnson, and the “poet laureate of the Negro Race” by Mary Church Terrell, Dunbar was the first African-American to gain national eminence as a poet. Born in Dayton, his historic home is located at 219 Paul Laurence Dunbar Street. It is on the Ohio National Historic List and part of the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park.

About the Artists:

Minnita Daniel-Cox attended Bowling Green State University where she majored in Music Performance. Upon completion of her baccalaureate studies, she attended the University of Michigan where she received her Master of Music and her Doctorate of Musical Arts degrees. Dr. Daniel-Cox currently serves as Artist-in-Residence at the University of Dayton and maintains private studios in Dayton and Yellow Springs. She also volunteers her time as choral director at the Dayton Early College Academy. In the coming year, she will be a soprano soloist for the prestigious Dayton Bach Society's Mother's Day concert, performing Bach cantatas BWV 164 and BWV 191.

Herbert Warren Martin has edited The Selected Poems of Paul Laurence Dunbar, and In His Own Voice: The Uncollected Dramatic and Other Works of Paul Laurence Dunbar. He has written encyclopedia and textbook entries on Dunbar as well. Martin is most often associated with Dunbar via his one-man show: The Eyes of the Poet. His program has been given in Hungary and Egypt, across the United States and in St. Croix and Hawaii. Martin distinguished himself as a poet in his own right by publishing six volumes of poetry including his selected poems: Inscribing My Name, published by the Kent State University Press in 2006.

John Benjamin has spent a great deal of his musical life as a collaborative musician: chamber musician; coach/accompanist; choral accompanist; choral director; opera accompanist; church organist; musical theater conductor; and also as a cast member in opera and musical theater. He was appointed Artist-in-Residence at the University of Dayton in 2000. Before coming to UD, he was on staff at the University of Akron and Butler University. John currently serves as organist/choir director at Epiphany Lutheran Church in Centerville. He holds degrees from the University of Cincinnati’s College Conservatory of Music and the University of Akron.

For further information, contact Dr. Robert Jones (rjones@graceumc.org) or call Grace’s main office (937-278-4731).