Announcements
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October 2025 Schedule
In-person Book Group
Monday October 27 at 1:30 p.m. in the Nolt Auditorium. Please join us for our discussion of The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhorn
A compelling, historical fiction about the life of an eighteenth century
midwife named Martha Ballard. The story opens with intrigue as a man was found dead in the Kennebec River in Maine. Since there were very few doctors in the area, midwife Ballard was called to examine the dead man. She concluded that the man had been murdered. Midwife Ballard continued to keep a daily record of each day of her married life. Her ability to read and write was fostered by her husband, who taught her to read and write.
The Frozen River adeptly pulls the reader to follow the trial of a prominent town leader, who was accused of raping and impregnating a local woman. Normally, in those days, a woman had no rights to speak in court, but because Midwife Ballard had served as a medical examiner of the murdered man, she was able to bravely testify the truth in the court. Author Ariel
Lawhon utilizes the subjects of childbirth, midwifery, the joys of a supportive husband, and the challenges of very few available medicines in the eighteenth century. All these events make for a powerful, fast-paced read!
If you have any questions please contact Arlene Volk, Nan Yoder, or Joyce Loiseau.
Communion Assistants
We need your help—we need a few more communion assistants for the 10:30 service . We would love to have at least three more folks sign up on a regular basis. If you have any questions please contact Angie Rabbe or Keith Miller.
Flowers and Candles
A reminder: If you would like to honor/remember your loved one(s) on significant dates, such as birthdays,
anniversaries, or date of passing, please contact: Donna Weidman @ dweidman52@gmail.com or
717-201-6180
A nominal fee of $20 for flowers and/or $5 for candles helps defray the cost of the altar flowers & candles in our budget.
If you receive the paper Grace News please read below…
As we prepare next year’s budget we are looking at an astronomical cost of $4,560 to mail the paper Grace News on a weekly basis. If postage increases which is likely to happen we will easily be over $5,000 in postage alone. We know many of you rely on the paper Grace News, we are not eliminating it, but we would like to run a cost analysis between our current bulk mail rate and what the budget could look like if we only sent the Grace News first class. We would like to keep the news letter to a weekly publication, while being good stewards of what God has given us. Please help us as we make a decision on the future of the paper Grace News. If you absolutely must receive the paper Grace News please call the office at 717-39-2748 and leave a message for Angie. If you are currently receiving the paper Grace News, but would like to switch to receiving it electronically please call of the office or email Angie (gracechurch517@gmail.com). A final decision will be made before the Annual Meeting on 12/7. If you have any questions or concerns please reach out to Angie.
To reiterate, we are not eliminating the paper Grace News, just ascertaining the best way to get the paper Grace News to the folks who need it.
Outreach
Thank You
Thank you to everyone who donated toward School Kits and Personal Care Kits. Thanks also to Brenda Hayasaka, Donna Linton, Janet Neumar, Dianne Sherr, Cindy Labezius, and John and Arlene Volk for assembling them. We were able to make 119 School Kits and 144 Personal Care Kits. The Quilt and Kit ministry is the longest running program of LWR, born in 1945. Over these years the ministry has grown considerably so now kits and quilts are made available both overseas and in the US. Please consider donating to the LWR Shipping Fund. LWR sends about $18 million worth of quilts and kits a year. There has been a significant rise in shipping costs over the past 5 years. One School Kit costs $2.85 to ship, and Personal Care Kits cost $1.50. Thanks again for your support. Mark your contributions “LWR
Shipping Fund.”
—Barbara Slottter & Brenda Hayasaka
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. Grocery
LFL Thank You
Thank you to those who have donated books to our little libraries. All books in good condition are welcomed.
If you would like to donate books, please drop them off in the church auditorium, put them directly in one of our LFLs, or you can drop them off at the church office when Angie is in.
We take books for readers of all ages. We can also take flash cards and work books for the young members of our community. If you have any questions please contact Brenda Hayasaka, Cathy Babin, or Angie Rabbe.
Christian Formation
Adult Christian Formation —Fall 2025
October 19: Prayer
October 26: Prayer (Last Session) Reformation Sunday
November 2: Compelled by the love of Christ, The Deaconess Community of the ELCA: Sister Dr.
Dottie Almoney, Directing Deaconess of the Deaconess Community of the ELCA
November 9: Finding Your Anchor – an exercise in Resilience Led by Jane Horan, EdD
November 16: Adults: Contemplative Prayer Led by Tom Santosusso
Highschool Youth’s turn to experience “Finding Your Anchor” Led by Jane Horan, EdD
November 23: Advent Fair!!!!!! Fun and crafts for all ages
November 30: Traveling with the Deaconess Community: Sister Dr. Dottie Almoney, Directing
Deaconess of the Deaconess Community of the ELCA
December 7: Congregational Meeting!!!
December 14: Contemplative Prayer Led by Tom Santasusso
December 21: Please support the children by attending their Christmas Play “Wow!”
December 28: TBD
Adult Sunday School—November 9
The Art of Resilience: Finding Your Anchor; join us for a fun reflective session that blends art and guided conversation to explore what keeps you grounded in times of change. Using creative
expression and thoughtful reflection you will uncover your personal resilience anchors and leave with renewed clarity and calm. No artistic experience needed just bring an open mind, an open heart and a dash of curiosity.
Youth Group–Update on Fall Foliage Day
We will meet after second service, have pizza, then head to camp, and be back between 6:45 and 7 pm.
Our Grace Family
Faces of Grace: Parish Nurse, Anyone?
A goal of recent new member, Patty Campbell, is to revive the parish nurse program which took a
hiatus during the Covid Pandemic. Is she qualified? You better believe it!
Patty, a native of New Holland and a graduate of Garden Spot High School, earned a BS in Health and Phys Ed from West Chester University and began an eighteen year teaching career in the School District of Lancaster, where she also coached cheerleading and gymnastics.
A mid-life career change found her studying Nursing at HACC and then graduating from Millersville with a BS. She worked for twenty years as a nurse. Ultimately, she ‘joined’ her teaching and nursing careers by teaching LPN students at LCCTC. Disillusioned with her relationship with the Catholic Church, she began worshipping at the Saturday evening service at Grace as she worked weekends at nearby LGH. Looking for a church
family, she felt the welcome of members, especially Cindy LaMaster, and she joined the congregation at Easter. Now retired but very energetic, she’s ready to use her nursing skills and in helping to revive the parish nurse program.
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