Grace News September 6, 2022

Announcements

Chimers Needed

Grace Church has a great device in the tower on which people can bang out their frustrations. It’s called the “chime console.” It looks like a giant keyboard with keys that look like baseball bats.
As keys are “banged” (depressed), they play the fifteen bells that are suspended in the top of the tower, and it is great fun! We presently have six “chimers” but could use two or three more. Each person chimes about once a month. If you can read music, you can chime. Let Murray Foreman know if you’re interested. 717-847-7556

Christian Formation

Rally Day Is This Sunday!!!!!

Rally Day—Sunday September 11, 2022
9:00 a.m. in Nolt Auditoriumb Classes for all Ages – Infants to Adults!

As we are reading through the Old Testament one of the things that strikes me is how the “wants of the world” and the “sparkly things” keep pulling God’s people away from God.

We all struggle with this. It is so easy to lose our connection to God’s way, and become distracted by all the world offers…objects and activities that bring no, or little, life. What are the “sparkly things” that get into your head or heart? What noises are drowning out God’s “still, small voice?” What are you doing to stay focused on God’s way?

Fall is a great time to look at our schedules. Is it too hectic? Is it too lonely? How can you practice letting faith take a more prominent role? COVID got in the way of our connections, our regular and personal worship and praise. Are you ready to re-commit? Here are some ways that Grace church is trying to help to support your faith.
In Peace and Joy, Kathryn Verkouw

Worship is always calling us back to God (more on worship in a later article). We offer 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. worship. Saturday evening worship in the St. Peter Chapel on the last Saturday of each month at 6 pm. Christian Education Hour 9-10:15 a.m. (aka Sunday School). We begin our fall education time this Sunday in our new educational space, Nolt Auditorium

New Class for adults: “One Hope” Re-membering the Body of Christ, a book study designed to help Catholics and Lutherans reflect together on Christian unity

New Class for Families: Exploring concrete steps to develop a lasting faith (toddlers welcome)

Classes for Pre K – 5th grade: using Spark, Whirl, and Godly Play curricula

Confirmation: Exploring what it means to be Lutheran, a three year study for students entering 6th grade.

High School: ”Painting, Projects, and Prayer”

Outreach

LWR Ingathering October 1&2, 2022

Look for Summer sales to complete your LWR kits! Ingathering October 1& 2, 2022- donation box in the Narthex

School Kits

Four 70-80 sheet notebooks (280-300 sheets total) of wide or college-ruled paper approximately 8” x 10 ½ ”, no loose leaf paper
One 30-centimeter ruler, or a ruler with centimeters on one side and inches on the other
One pencil sharpener
One pair of blunt scissors (safety scissors with embedded steel blades work well)
Five unsharpened #2 pencils with erasers; secure together with a rubber band
Five black or blue ballpoint pens (no gel ink); secure together with a rubber band
One box of 16 or 24 crayons
One 2 ½” eraser

Health Kits

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 metal nail clippers (attached file optional), remove packaging

Winter Outerwear Items For Community Meal

Beginning this week we will begin collecting winter outerwear items for our community meal. This ministry has taken many different forms over the years. This year we will be putting together bags filled with winter outerwear and winter necessities for our community meal participants.

We would like to fill the bags with hats, scarves, gloves or mittens, socks, granola bars, lotion, lip balm, and hand sanitizer. Our goal is to create 100 bags. We will also be collecting feminine hygiene products to make bags for the folks who need them.

You are now able to take a card from the giving tree which is located on the bulletin board across from the donation station in the Nolt Auditorium. All items need to be donated by Sunday, October 30. We will pack the bags the week of November 7. The bags will be distributed at Community Meal on November 16. We will need volunteers to help organize donations, pack the bags, and distribute the bags.

If you are interested in volunteering or have any questions please email Angie Rabbe at graceelcaapd@gmail.com. Watch the Grace News for more information on this ministry as we move into the fall.

A Visit From Lutheran World Relief

On Thursday September 1st we had a special visit from Emma Wagner, Manager, Congregational Engagement for Lutheran World Relief.

Pastor spent time with Emma discussing our many ministries and also treated her to a tour of the church and our newly renovated educational space, Nolt Auditorium.

Her visit was prompted by the generosity of Grace members responding to the many crisis situations at this time. LWR is currently devoting their effort to the civil unrest in West Africa and the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, where they are assisting over 15,000 people in shelters.

She sends her greetings and thanks on behalf of Lutheran World Relief.

Creation Care

This Week’s Green Tip

To harvest carrots in winter, plant in late July or early August and permit them to grow until they reach a large enough size for eating. Read more here

Cap Collection Continues

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! (Dirty caps will be discarded—please wash caps before donating) Thank you for helping to protect our planet!

Our Grace Family

Christian Sympathy

Dear Members of Grace,

We give thanks for the life and witness of The Reverend Philip Lynch, who died Thursday September 1, 2022.

We extend our heartfelt sympathy to his wife Charlotte, their family and friends. A funeral will be held at Grace on Saturday, September 10th at 11:00 a.m. Please keep Charlotte and her family in your prayers.