Announcements
A Note From the Secretary
The Rabbes will be on vacation in the Blue Ridge Mountains from 10/11-10/18. Because of where we are staying I will have very limited WiFi access and cell phone reception. Please contact the church office or email Pastor directly if you need to reach him while I am away (717-397-2748/ pastor@gracelutheranchurch.com. Marge Worley and Kim Neumar will be filling in for me at the office while I am away—office hours will remain as Tuesday and Thursday from 9-4. Next week’s Grace News will go out on Thursday the 19th (this includes the online Grace News).
Beethoven’s Ninth!
Our Director of Music, Dr. David McConnell, wears many other hats when he is not focused on plannng, preparing, and leading music for our worship. For over 10 years he has lead two groups in the Reading, PA area – Vox Philia and The Berks Sinfonietta. The two groups combine in just a few weeks for Ludwig von Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 – “Choral”. A number of Grace members and choristers are joining with “Vox” – over 70 singers together! – to give this “BIG” work its due!
The performance takes place Saturday, Oct. 14, at 7:30 p.m. at Immanuel United Church of Christ, located at 99 S. Waverly St., Shillington, PA 19607.
General admission for this concert is $18 when you buy online and $20 at the door. Student and children tickets are $5 each. We are encouraged to buy tickets online, as a full house is expected! You can do so here. A list of online ticket holders will be at the door – Simply tell us your name or show your receipt.
Outreach
Grocery Cards
Grocery cards are available at both services on Sunday mornings. You may order cards by calling Duane and Kitty Weiss. Remember all purchases of cards realizes 5% in cash back to Grace. These funds are used to support our many ministries.
Gun Violence Harm Reduction
Please join us for the following Moms Demand Action events:
October 18: Join us for our monthly in-person membership meeting from 6:30-7:30 pm. The meeting will be held at Congregation Shaarai Shomayim, located at 75 E James Street, Lancaster, PA 17602.Street parking is free after 6pm. Additionally, free parking can be found on the ground level of the garage at the Downtown Pavilion.
Register and learn more here
November 15: Join us for our monthly in-person membership meeting from 6:30-7:30 pm. The meeting will be held at Congregation Shaarai Shomayim, located at 75 E James Street, Lancaster, PA 17602. Street parking is free after 6pm. Additionally, free parking can be found on the ground level of the garage at the Downtown Pavilion.
Register and learn more here
If you would like to join Grace’s Gun Violence Harm Reduction Group please contact Hollis Butterworth at
patransplant44@gmail.com
Lutheran World Relief Ingathering
Thank you so much for all your donations for Lutheran World Relief. With items donated and two Thrivent Visa cards, as well as about $1400 in monetary gifts, we were able to make 161 Personal Care Kits and 88 School Kits. Last year we made 131 Personal Care Kits and 64 School Kits. We are now collecting for the Shipping Fund, which is used to send the kits overseas.
Donations marked LWR Shipping Fund may be placed on the offering plate. Years ago, the government used to cover at least some of that cost, but it was eliminated. After that, the Shipping Fund was set up. There is a wonderful quilt plaza at LWR offices at Christ Lutheran Church across from Inner Harbor in Baltimore. Members of Grace remember visiting this some years back. For every $500 donation to the Shipping Fund a brick is engraved in the Plaza. Last year we asked that bricks be placed in honor of Brenda Hayasaka and Donna Linton, who have been in charge of our School Kits for the third year now. They work with Janet
Neumar, who is a Thrivent member, and is eligible for the $250 Visa card we received. Thank you, Brenda, Donna, and Janet! We had a Thrivent project day on September 25 to put together Personal Care Kits.The team was Cindy Labezius, Linda Fackler, and myself. We finished packing on October 3, with the help of Dianne Sherr. THANK YOU ALL!
—Brenda Hayasaka, Donna Linton & Barbara Slotter
Thank you Bruce and Pastor Verkouw for dropping our boxes of health kits and school kits off at Bergstrasse Lutheran Church this past Saturday!
Christian Formation
Fall Foliage Day at Kirchenwald
Return to camp for the afternoon to enjoy fall activities, worship, and a picnic supper. This is a wonderful opportunity to meet up with old friends or introduce new folks to camp. An evening meal is included.
Enjoy Pumpkin Painting, Canoeing / Kayaking, Mountain
Biking, Hayrides, Hiking, and More!
Register here
Advent Day Apart at The Wittel Farm
We don’t like to wait for anything, and especially Christmas. With all its secular attraction, this holiday is often a focus on over-indulgence, and too often neglected is the best gift of all… one worth our waiting. You are invited to The Wittel Farm for a day apart from the busyness of life for prayer and contemplation as we journey toward the celebration of Christmas. Registration fee includes lunch.
Register here
Advent/Christmas In the Barn At the Wittel Farm
Join us at the farm for our annual Advent/Christmas night. This year, we’ll gather around the outdoor fire and have cookies and cocoa in the barn. Lights and decorations!
Register here
From the Fishbowl
Isaiah 5:1-7
Photo credit: Mrs. Verkouw
Our Grace Family
Congratulations!
Pastor and Mrs. Verkouw are very pleased to announce the engagement of their son Andrew (AJ) to Ms. Claire Jones, formerly of Denver, CO.
In a lovely reversal of traditional roles, Ms Jones surprised her beloved boyfriend of 3.5 years with a beautiful hand-crafted wooden engagement ring while on a bike ride and hike in the mountains of Utah this past weekend! Thanks to all of you who were part of AJ’s life here at Grace, where he arrived with us at the age of 6, back in 1995. You truly blessed him with a unique and loving community to grow up in, and so many great memories from his “parsonage childhood!” Messages of congratulations can be sent to Andrew Verkouw and Claire Jones, 583 E Sherman St. Salt Lake City, UT 84105.
gracelutheranchurch.com 