Announcements
Fourth Sunday After Epiphany
Saturday, January 29 at 6:00 p.m. – St. Peter Chapel
Sunday, January 30 at 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. – Nave
God’s Global Barnyard
Many thanks to everyone who donated to the God’s Global Barnyard appeal during the Christmas season. The children of our Sunday School and members of Grace Church collected $800.00 to support this worthwhile ministry.
February Schedule
Christian Formation & Small Groups
Tapestry of Pages Restarts Next Week
Our discussion of Four Hundred Souls edited by Ibram X. Kendi and Keisha N. Blain will begin on February 1. For the time being, we are meeting on Zoom at 3PM on Tuesdays.
Four Hundred Souls is a collection of essays written by African Americans about the African American experience in the United States since the first slaves were brought to the shores of the colonies.
You can read all or some of the essays in the sections for each weekly discussion. For the first week, we are reading the introduction and part one. If you would like to join our group please email Angie Rabbe at graceelcaapd@gmail.com.
Lenten Bible Study
Transformed Community: Freed and Empowered For Radical Welcome
A Bible study from LIRS, Lutheran Outdoor Ministries, and AMMPARO that encourages us to transform our communities into communities of radical welcome. The study is based on Romans 12:2. We will meet Tuesdays at 3PM on Zoom please contact Angie Rabbe at graceelcaapd@gmail.com if you are interested in joining this group. Copies of the study can be picked up in the office. Angie can also email you the PDF if you prefer an electronic version. This group begins on March 8.
What Does the Bible Say: Part I
Dear friends,
One of the many things I’ve come to love about being Lutheran is that Lutherans encourage asking questions. That willingness to ask and answer questions used to make me nervous about Lutherans (and some days it still makes me nervous).
I grew up in a tradition that didn’t embrace asking questions and as those of you who know me well can imagine, I had a lot of questions.
There were a few members of the church I grew up in that were held in high regard because they read through the Bible multiple times a year. I tried it once when I was in high school and I had a bunch of questions by the time I reached Genesis 3. I quickly abandoned the practice because questions weren’t allowed.
One of the things I love about Grace is that we are a community in which having questions about scripture and theology is encouraged. Our commitment to doing life together will always be something that I love and fear about Lutherans- we have doubts and questions, but at the end of the day, we know that it is most certainly true that Jesus died for us.
As some of you know Grace member Barbara Steinmetz is currently reading through the Bible. I tend to get twitchy when people talk about reading the Bible cover to cover, so I asked her about her experience and this is what she told me, “I have read the New Testament but was only familiar with the OT stories from my days in SCS and what I have heard in our church services. I finally decided to read the OT from beginning to end. The notes at the bottom of each page are very helpful and Pastor is always willing to answer my questions. Spending time with God in his word has brought me even closer to him. I feel his love for me.”
At this point, you might be asking yourself what this has to do with you… and that’s a fair question. This year, beginning on Ash Wednesday, we are encouraging members of Grace to read the Bible in a year as a spiritual practice. I know that sounds overwhelming, but we will be doing it together in a community that encourages questions and we will have a variety of resources available.
I know it feels too early to be talking about Lent, but we want you to take the time to discern if this practice might be for you. Over the next few weeks, Pastor Verkouw and I will be writing more about this practice and our other Lenten ventures in the Grace News. I encourage you to reach out to me between now and then with any questions you might have (graceelcaapd@gmail.com or 717-397-2748).
Peace,
Angie Rabbe
2022: Your year for generosity
Jesus looked up and saw rich people putting their gifts into the treasury; he also saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. He said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them; for all of them have contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on” (Luke 21:1-4).
Creation Care
Cap Collection
We are still collecting caps for the Earth Savers Club at Central York High School. If you would like to help—drop off your clean/label free caps to the church office! Thank you for helping to protect our planet!
This Week’s Green Tip
Like the beef industry discussed above, organic waste consigned to landfills generates methane gas, contributing to the rise in global temperatures. Composting your kitchen scraps reduces or eliminates this load. It also has innumerable benefits if you garden, reducing or eliminating synthetic fertilizers, promoting higher yields, and improving soil. Read more here
gracelutheranchurch.com 