Many thanks to the children of Grace for sharing the Good News with us on Christmas Eve, they worked very hard to make this year’s play a very special part of our celebration!
Summer Adult & Youth Education Offering
“Little Stones follows four women whose lives are dedicated to empowering survivors of gender based violence and eradicating the atrocities of domestic violence, human trafficking, extreme poverty and female genital mutilation. These women are therapists, activists, missionaries, and entrepreneurs. These women are artists.”
Please join us in the Fellowship Hall beginning June 2, 2019 at 9AM and continuing throughout the summer for an in-depth discussion of the documentary and women’s empowerment. We will be using a curriculum developed by the University of Michigan School of Education and Driftseed. This class is appropriate for youth and adults. Attendants are encouraged to bring a smart phone, tablet, or laptop.
Please call the office to register for class.
If you are interested in teaching or if you have any questions please contact Angie, 717-397-2748 or graceeelcaapd@gmail.com.
Celebrating the Anniversaries of Ordination
Please join us for worship Sunday, June 2nd at 10:30 a.m. as we recognize the Ordination Anniversaries of The Bishop A. Donald Main, the Reverend Charles Lisse, and the Reverend Dr. Stephen P. Verkouw.
The celebration will continue with lunch in Fellowship Hall immediately following the service. We ask folks to bring simple fresh salads: chicken, pasta, egg & olive, tuna, coleslaw, Waldorf, broccoli salad, shrimp etc… Bread, beverages, and dessert will be provided. Please contact Judy Resch at 717-393-9880 to let her know you will be attending and what dish you plan to share.We will be collecting and honorarium to be given to the United Lutheran Seminary’s Scholarship fund. Checks may be made out to Grace Lutheran Church—memo “Anniversary Gift”. Grace will then present the Seminary with a check.
Rite of Confirmation
Sunday June 9, 2019
Join us as we celebrate the Feast of Pentecost and the Rite of Confirmation for: Ellie Hershey, Kaylah Miller, and Luc Ries.
Presentation of projects will be at 9:00 a.m. in Fellowship Hall. Then join us at the 10:30 a.m. Service for the Rite of Confirmation.
Last day of Sunday School
Sunday School End of Year Party June 9 for toddlers through fifth grade! Meet in the third floor music room at 9:00 a.m.Fun for everyone! Games, activities, and snacks!
Flower Box Watering
Because Murray is now retired, he is not at the office daily, and it would be helpful to have others help with watering, particularly as hot, dry spells occur. This would include the two boxes on the front steps and the two boxes on the church office. If you are interested in helping – call Vicki at the church office 717-397-2748
Summer Musicians!
Our choir “season” will end as of June 9th For the Sundays from June 16 through September 1 we invite singers and instrumentalists to provide music in worship services. Sign the list at the balcony stairway or email David at herrdam@hotmail.com
Renovation Update
How many power shovels does it take to…dig a new water line around the elevator addition?? Apparently, at least two! Work continues to prepare the site for digging the foundation of the addition. Old drainage pipes from previous real estate had to be tested to make sure they weren’t still carrying water, and the supply line from our water meter in the church to the Education Bldg has to be re-routed around the addition in the trench shown at left. Down in the basement and up in the balcony, protective walls have been built to keep dust away from the nave, the chapel, and the pipe organs. The first stages of demolition have also begun. Take a peek into the old auditorium to see the HUGE beams holding up the nave!
Stewardship Snippets
May 26, 2019 (Sixth Sunday of Easter, Year C)
Acts 16:15 – When Lydia and her household were baptized, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come and stay at my home.”
Hospitality and community go hand in hand. God opens Lydia’s heart, and she opens her home to Paul and his companions. How can we show a wide welcome in our worshiping communities and to the neighborhoods around us?
Helping Congolese Refugees
Church World Services needs help welcoming a large group of refugees that will be arriving from the Congo to Lancaster in the near future. There are many ways to help, big and small. Home Nesting (organizing a home prior to arrival), Friendship Partnering (meeting with families on a weekly basis), and Welcome Teams (partner with CWS and work closely with families for three months up to one year. So, if you would be willing to help, please send a message to Kath Verkouw (verkouw@gmail.com).
Puerto Rico Fundraiser!
Want to join us in making a difference? We are raising money to benefit Lancaster Housing and Neighborhood Development Services. Our primary work is providing low/mod income housing in the city of Lancaster, but we have so many friends and neighbors connected to Puerto Rico that we are collaborating with Lutheran Disaster Response to sponsor a group of 32 volunteers headed to Puerto Rico this coming October to spend a week rebuilding and restoring homes damaged by Hurricane Maria in 2017. Any donation will help make an impact. Thanks in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to me and so many of our neighbors and folks we serve in Lancaster.
More information about Lancaster Housing and Neighborhood Development Services: LHANDS is a neighborhood ministry of Grace Lutheran Church, working to provide quality, affordable housing to low/mod income families by offering supportive services and rental assistance programs in the City of Lancaster, PA.
gracelutheranchurch.com 