Announcements
CLICK HERE FOR THE CHURCH CALENDAR
February 2026 Schedule–Worship Volunteers, Birthdays, & Anniversaries
2025 Giving Statements
2025 giving statements are available on Icon. If you need help getting into Icon or would like a paper copy of your statement sent to your home please reach out to Angie.
gracechurch517@gmail.com 717-397-2748
Council Updates
Grace’s Congregation Council met twice since the last update. Our meeting on December 3, 2025 by Zoom was solely to approve the final draft of the 2026 budget recommended by the Finance Team. The congregation approved the budget on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025.
We met again on January 12, 2026 by Zoom. Here are the highlights of the meeting:
- Approved a motion for our treasurer to make an extra principal payment on our renovation loan, in the amount over $33K that has accrued in the capital campaign fund (that amount turned out to be $60K since some large donations came in the following week).
- Pastor reported some hiccups in the process to repair the large D-bell in the bell tower. We are considering various options but are also waiting for a detailed explanation from the Verdin company.
- Lois Strause was named to chair the Mutual Ministry Committee; Caleb Heidebrecht was named the new chair of the Property Committee. Council appreciates their leadership.
- Pastor Kurt Strause has agreed to lead a small team that will explore a way to more prominently display the historic Grace Bell for our National 250 birthday celebration.
- The vandalized stained glass window repair will proceed when the weather warms up.
- Pastor noted that Karen Scheffey has just communicated her desire to retire as coordinator of our Wednesday Meals effective in June, 2026. Karen has been serving and coordinating these meals for many years. We are grateful for her service and ample notice, and will be looking for new helpers!
- Pastor posed the question “What goals and objectives for Grace is God’s spirit nudging (or clanging a five alarm fire!) for you/us to think about?” Council members were asked to ponder this for the following month.
- Council expressed a huge “Thank You” to Duane and Kitty Weiss for their years of dedication to their Shopping Card Project at Grace, which ended in December.
Mardi Gras 2026!
JOIN US FOR MARDI GRAS ON FEBRUARY 15TH FOLLOWING THE SECOND SERVICE
We will gather in the Nolt Auditorium for a Mardi Gras lunch and talent show!
Main dishes and beverages will be provided please bring a dessert to share!
If you have a talent to share please let Kath know.
Sign up sheets are available in the Nolt Auditorium and the Solarium. You may also call the church office or email Angie to RSVP.
Join us for decorating for Mardi Gras 2/14 at 9 am.
|We will be cleaning up and taking the decorations down after our lunch on 2/15.
If you have any questions please contact Kath.
Join us for Ash Wednesday, February 18
Noon in the St. Peter Chapel
7 pm in the Nave
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
Community Meal Items Needed
Many of our community meal guests are in need of more warm, thick socks & gloves, and thermal layers to wear under their clothes during these bitterly cold winter days? (We already have plenty of hats & scarves.)
God’s Global Barnyard
How many chicks can we buy?????
That’s the question we want to answer on February 8, 2026! Please return our chickens (your barns) back to our hen house (church) by this Sunday.
Mrs. Hartman’s Sunday School class counting their Global Barnyard Donations.
Christian Formation
Lenten Small Groups
Would you like to lead or join a small group for Lent? We have a number of resources available for those who want to lead…
- 40 Day “Love Builds Up” challenge for families
- “Growing Through the Motions” a devotional from Fr. Mike Schmitz
- “The Joy of Salvation” based on the writings of Henri Nouwen from Creative Communications
- “Illuminations: ABCs of the Spiritual Life” by Sister Joan Chittister
- We are making a list of Podcasts that we love about faith/life/hope etc…if you have a favorite podcast episode(s) please email them Angie. We would like to have a complete list by 2/8.
We are making a list of Podcasts that we love about faith/life/hope etc…if you have a favorite podcast episode(s) , YouTube interview, etc please email them Angie. We would like to have a complete list by 2/8. Thanks!
Our Grace Family
Our Sympathy
We give thanks for the life and witness of Grace member Jackie Priester who passed away on Friday. Please keep her children Jeff, Robyn, Jennifer, and Paul, and their families in your prayers. Funeral arrangements are currently being made. Please watch the Grace News and PV’s weekend email.
We give thanks for the life and witness of former Grace members John Saeger and Dorris Rittenhouse. Please keep their families in your prayers.
gracelutheranchurch.com 