Announcements
March 2024 Schedule
Please download the schedule for the March worship assistant schedule & the March birthday and anniversary list.
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.
Pastor Verkouw and Vicki Mumma will be joining a group from North Lancaster Conference on a
rebuilding mission trip with Lutheran Disaster Response to Florida this spring.
Your purchases of shopping cards have enabled Grace Lutheran to support this endeavor in the amount of $500.00. THANK YOU!
Christian Formation
Communion Class for Younger Worshippers – March 9
On Saturday morning, March 9th, Sunday School Teacher Patti Hartman and Pastor Verkouw invite all younger
worshippers who have not yet had a chance to take a Communion class to join them from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. in the
St. Peter Chapel.
This is the first time we have offered this teaching time since
before the pandemic, so we hope to help a number of our families with kids
increase their understanding and appreciation for the sacrament of Holy Communion.
As you may know, Grace Church does not enforce an official “minimum age” to receive Holy Communion. In keeping with ancient Christian practice and a consensus of Lutheran teaching today, at Grace we say that, “all baptized Christians are welcome at the Lord’s Table.” Some of our families have children who have been receiving communion from a very young age, while other families choose to wait until confirmation time, and still others find their way to communion somewhere in between.
As I like to say, it is much easier to explain to a younger person what communion is all about in language that they CAN understand, than it is to explain to them why they CAN’T have communion until they are much older!
So we look forward to spending time with your child (and at least one parent, please) to learn some Holy Communion basics, including:
· Manners (what do we say and do?)
· Vocabulary (the church has special names for everything!)
· At least three Bible stories (Passover, Last Supper, and Early Church)
· The idea of a Sacrament (God’s Promise in “Body Language” and “Stuff”)
· Connection to other tables and meals (Home, Special Meals, Heavenly Banquet)
I know, it sounds like a seminary course, right?? Well, the word seminary comes from the words for planting seeds, which is what we hope to do with our kids – plant the seeds of faith at this special time of life, with fun and age-appropriate teaching and hands on practice!
This time together is prepared especially for kids currently in grades 2 thru 6. If your child is older and wants to attend that’s great, or younger, feel free to try it and see, as long as a parent can stay. To RSVP or with questions, please call or text Pastor Steve at 717-419-7829.
Parish Resource Center Up Coming Events
There are a number of upcoming events at the Parish Resource Center that our programing staff would like to share with you, including workshops on navigating grief and how to avoid care giver burnout. You can find a complete list of upcoming workshops and programs here. If you register for any of the events please note that Grace has a PRC membership. If you have any questions about the PRC please reach out to Kath or Angie.
Dinner Church at the Wittle Farm This Sunday at 5 PM
The meal is the center of Christian worship. Everybody eats. Hunger must end. We gather to hear God’s Word, pray, sing, connect, and share a meal. Please bring a dish to share. This year we are learning eco-spiritualty and regenerative farming as restorative practices that heal the Earth and root us in love.
Please RSVP on the Wittle Farm’s Facebook or on the Luther Camping Corporation website
Wittle Farm
1753 Mill Road
Elizabethtown, PA 17022
Quilting Weekend at Kirchenwald
A gathering of women to share fellowship and talents. Camp Kirchenwald Friday, March 15 – Sunday, March 17, 2024 Cost of the full weekend (Fri-Sun) is $180. Two days (Fri-Sat or Sat-Sun) is $110. One day (Sat, 9am-4pm) is $65. Register by March 8 Registration forms are available at
LutheranCamping.org or by calling the Camping Office at 717-677-8211
Our Grace Family
Our Sympathy
We give thanks for the life and witness of Pat Stewart. Pat died at home on Tuesday February, 20th. Please keep Pat’s daughter Gina and all of Pat’s friends and family in your prayers.
Congratulations!
Congratulations to Esther & Joel at the birth of their daughter, Lucia Elizabeth Villafuerte Verkouw! Lucia was born Thursday February 22nd.
gracelutheranchurch.com 