Announcements
November Schedule
Please see the November schedule for worship assistants and birthdays/anniversaries!
Reformation Weekend
Saturday In-person Worship—10/28 at 6 p.m. in the St. Peter Chapel
Sunday In-person Worship—10/29 at 8 &10:30 in the Nave
This weekend we celebrate Reformation Sunday, with its themes of grace, faith and the Lutheran slogan that, ecclesia semper reformanda – the church must always be reforming! Sometimes that reform might be so drastic that it signals some kind of fundamental change in the church and the world, as did the reformation that began in 1517 on the eve of All Saints Day (called “All Hallows Eve” back then in England – sound familiar?). After 500+ years, Martin Luther’s suggested reforms sound obvious to us now – let priests get married, stop corruption among the bishops, let worship be held in the common languages rather than Latin, simplify worship by returning to the core of the Word proclaimed and the Sacraments administered, and all of it done with an emphasis on and thanksgiving for grace – the reality that God’s mercy is best known and understood when it comes as God’s gift to us, rather than a reward for hoops jumped through!
CAPITAL CAMPAIGN – “GRACE UPON GRACE, FROM GENERATION TO
GENERATION”
This picture was taken just before the pandemic began, in January of 2020. It seems so long ago now! The upgrades and additions to our facility are undoubtedly helping us to attract visitors and new members, and helping our Sunday and weekday ministries to flourish in so many ways. Thanks to you all for your generous support of our ongoing campaign to pay off the debt. Of the total project cost of $2.2M, we will have a loan debt remaining of
under $900K by December 1.
We are planning a new phase of our campaign to coincide with our 150th Anniversary of Grace Church celebration next year! If you have pledged gifts still remaining from our last campaign, or can make an additional gift to the campaign before the end of 2023, that would be
wonderful. This December our interest rate is set to increase incrementally. Every gift, large or small helps.
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.
CARDS WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 19
Community Meal Donations
This year we are collecting men’s and women’s gloves, hats, socks, and travel size toiletries (especially hand sanitizer) for our community meal patrons. Items can be dropped off in the gathering area in the Nolt Auditorium and in the narthex. Please have your items in by 11/19. If you are interested in helping distribute these items during community meal please contact Karen Scheffy (dkschef@ptd.net). If you have any questions about what we are collecting please contact Angie at gracechurch517@gmail.com.
Hope For the Holidays
Please join ELCA Congregations across the United States and LIRS for Hope for the Holidays! This is the 9th year of this project and Grace has participated in 4 of those nine years. Christmas cards and a Spanish-English translation guide will be available in the narthex and in the gathering area in the Nolt Auditorium.
The cards, as well as gifts purchased with donations to LIRS, are delivered to families At detention centers at the US/Mexico border. With your help, last year LIRS sent over 1,750 gifts to the children in our care! Additionally, we were able to send 25,200 cards to asylum seekers in the U.S. and our friends in immigration detention. Cards must be back in the office by 11/26! If you would like more information please contact Angie (gracechurch517@gmail.com)
Christian Formation
National Youth Gathering
Pictured are the nine youth who will be attending the 2024 ELCA National Youth Gathering in New Orleans!
Back row: Mark, Chloe, Bailey, Carolynn, Kaylee, and Sebastian.
Seated: Sanya, Ella, and Lindsay.
Psalm 139:14
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; that I know very well.
On July 16, 2024 nine youth and four advisors will travel by air to New Orleans, Louisiana to attend the 2024 ELCA National Youth Gathering titled “Created To Be”.
They have signed their covenants and have begun meeting once a month to prepare.
Their time together prior to the event will give them the opportunity to bond as a group as well as prepare their hearts and minds to get the most from the experience of the gathering.
It should be an exciting time to be in community with approximately 30,000 Lutheran Youth from all around the United States.
Check out our bulletin board in the Nolt Auditorium for news about the Gathering and ways that you can support our youth through encouragement, prayer, and several upcoming fund raising events.
We are all “Created To Be” – Brave, Authentic, Free, Disruptive, and Disciples!
Gathering advisors:
Pastor Verkouw, Meghan Kelly, Phil Supeck, and Vicki Mumma
ATOMA Resumes October 26, 2023
All Middle School and High School students are invited to attend ATOMA at 6:45 PM in the Stafford Room beginning October 26, 2023. Rooted in the words of Philippians 2:1-5, we grow indivisible bonds with others through education and service. This week Tom and Barbara Andersen teach us how to create tile art. To confirm attendance, please contact Philip and Megan Supeck at pmsupeck@gmail.com or by text at 717.725.3429.
gracelutheranchurch.com 