Announcements
CLICK HERE FOR THE CHURCH CALENDAR
January 2025 Schedule–Worship Volunteers, Birthdays, & Anniversaries
Thank You
While our official financial reports take time to appear because of the lag of quarterly statements, and a few small adjustments may still be made, your gifts and offerings have been received and deposited and our bills from last year have been paid. I’m so pleased and grateful to report these “big picture” items that we can all be thankful for.
- Despite some unexpectedly large repairs to our HVAC equipment this year, our budgeted expenses exceeded our income by less than 1% (about $3,000) on total expenses of $578,000!
- Gifts to the capital campaign over and above our monthly payments have allowed us to reduce our loan balance by almost $60K, and additional gifts that came in by year-end will allow us to soon make an additional payment of $40K or more, bringing the balance of our renovation loan below $390,000.
- Gifts outside of our regular budget were given to help our neighbors in need both near and far away totaling $105,386, including:
- gifts to the Pastor’s Discretionary Fund and our Wednesday Meal which allow us to assist neighbors facing crisis right here in our neighborhood,
- gifts to the World Hunger, World Relief, and Disaster Response ministries of the ELCA and our companion churches around the world,
- gifts to other ministries such as Seminarian Scholarships, Summer Camperships, ELL classes, Assistance to Refugees, and others
- Adding $64,000 of budgeted funds for benevolence, that means we are sharing nearly 30% of our offerings (excluding capital campaign gifts) with the larger church and neighbors in need. That is remarkable generosity and speaks quietly but clearly about the faithful priorities that so many Grace members choose in your financial lives. On behalf of all who are helped and served, thank you for these gifts, and for all the ways in which you support our ministry together in Jesus’ name.
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 $25 for flowers and/or $5 for candles helps defray the cost of the altar flowers & candles in our budget.
Outreach
God’s Global Barnyard
How many chicks can we buy?????
That’s the question we want to answer on February 8, 2026!
It’s time for our annual Global Barnyard/ELCA Good Gifts collection! Help our Sunday School children purchase chicks. Purchasing chicks for a family in need is a great gift for that person who has everything–chicks are a great bargain at 10 chicks for $10.
Christian Formation
Upcoming Adult Sunday School
- January 11: Prophetic vs. Apocalyptic Texts led by Jeremy Stoltzfus
- January 18: The Altars Where We Worship led by Lois Strause
- January 25: The Altars Where We Worship led by Lois Strause
- February 1: The Altars Where We Worship led by Lois Strause
- February 8: Prophetic vs. Apocalyptic Texts II led by Jeremy Stoltzfus
Our Grace Family
There are new addresses and phone numbers for Dr. Moyer & Jackie Priester. Grace members can find the updates in the directory. If you don’t have access to the directory or need help accessing the directory please let Angie know.
gracelutheranchurch.com 