Daycare Update From Nikki Waldron
Community Action Partnership of Lancaster County is privileged to partner
with Grace Lutheran church as we walk alongside each other in Empowering Community, Driving Action, and Building Partnership to Eliminate Poverty.
CAP is made up of four impact teams: Education & Child Development, Household Stability, Health & Nutrition and Safety & Empowerment. When CAP is approached about any new joint venture, we take into consideration how the new partnership aligns to our organizations mission. Through previous partnerships it was clear when Pastor Verkouw approached CAP leaders about this new collaboration that it was a journey that aligned with our Thrive to 5 programming.
In this new opportunity, CAP will be operating another Thrive to 5 location within the Grace Lutheran church. This program will have braided funding streams with Early Head Start for our youngest learners all the way up to federal and state Head Start and Pre-K Counts for our preschool age children. The facility went through a successful full licensing in early August and will eventually serve close to 100 families. The facility had a successful launch on August 12th for existing families. We have been happy to see smiling children and families back in the building!
We are grateful for this opportunity to serve the Lancaster community and partner with a well-known pillar of strength that has been a part of the Lancaster fabric for generations. Together we can achieve so much! To learn more about CAP and our programs, please visit our website.
Outreach
Learning Pod at Grace
Grace is planning to host a “Learning Pod” for 18 students from the School District of Lancaster from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in our newly renovated space!
As you may already know, the School District of Lancaster is beginning the school year on a totally virtual model. Although this is necessary, it can result in poor performance for students trying to navigate their education in isolation. Hence came the idea to see how we, at Grace, might support a small group of students and their families on this journey.
I made contact with the Principal, Camille Hopkins, at Ross Elementary who was very excited about a possible collaboration. Principal Hopkins is discerning which families in her community might best benefit from this Learning Pod possibility. In addition we have 1 Grace family and another family that attend Wharton Elementary wanting to participate.
How can you help? Well we still need volunteers who can be trained in “SeeSaw” which is the educational platform used by the school district and then help facilitate/tutor the students – this is the most pressing need. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact the church office at 717-397-2748 or verkouw@gmail.com.
I also ask that you offer your prayers for this ministry.
In God’s peace, Kath
Lutheran World Relief Ingathering
Currently set for October 3-4. We will let you know at a later date if it needs to be postponed.
We have decided to do only Personal Care and Fabric Kits this year and not ask members to search stores for school supplies to make School Kits. A very generous member of Grace has donated money to buy the fabric and thread that is needed. Thank you!
You can be on the lookout for the items needed to make the Personal Care Kits and make them at home as you are able. Here is what is needed and the instructions for packaging:
· One light-weight bath size towel (between 20” x 40” and 52” x 27”), dark color
· Two or three bath-size bars of soap equaling 8 to 9 oz, any brand, in original wrapping*
· One adult-size toothbrush in its original wrapping
· One sturdy comb, remove packaging
· One metal nail clippers (attached file optional), remove packaging
Fold the towel in half width-wise. Place the rest of the items in the towel, fold and roll so nothing falls out, and secure with yarn, ribbon, string or rubber bands.
*LWR WILL NO LONGER ACCEPT BARS OF SOAP THAT ARE PACKED SEPARATELY. WE WILL ONLY COLLECT SOAP TO PUT INTO THE KITS.
Each September for the past six years we have welcomed our neighbors to Grace’s parking lot for a neighborhood cookout. Rain or shine, it has always been a memorable day.
2020 has meant seeking a different way to reach out to our neighborhood. This year we will be distributing approximately 200 bags with Grace’s logo to our neighbors’ homes.
Each bag will include a beautiful card with information about our ministries and an invitation to join in our current online worship, along with an expression of the hope of seeing our neighbors at an in-person worship service when that again becomes possible. The bags will also contain some snacks, water, a gift from Grace’s knitters, and a small bottle of hand sanitizer.
We will gather at 2:00 PM on Sunday, September 13th (rain date 9/20) to distribute the bags. Individuals and family groups are invited to help. If you would like to deliver bags to a block in our neighborhood that day, please contact the church office (717-397-2748) to sign up by Thursday, September 10th.
We hope that you will be able to come on the 13th and be a visible presence in our neighborhood of Grace – and of grace!
August 30, 2020 (Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost, Proper 17)
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. – Romans 12:21
The future church must be a beacon of good, casting a true vision of hope, love, justice, and mercy as we commit to follow Jesus into a new way of being and living. Today’s gospel lesson reminds us that we must lose our life to find it in Jesus (Matthew 15:21-28). What do you and your faith community need to do to become that beacon in an uncertain world?
gracelutheranchurch.com 