Announcements
CLICK HERE FOR THE CHURCH CALENDAR
MAY 2026 Schedule–Worship Volunteers, Birthdays, & Anniversaries
Did you know that Grace Church owns “Lancaster’s Liberty Bell?” If not, maybe that’s because it’s been sort of hidden away in the corner of the bell tower stairwell. In this picture, Ron Leik, the carpenter and craftsman who built a beautiful new stand for the bell, is seen hoisting it in the gantry he constructed so that we could move the bell to a better place to celebrate the United States’ 250th – the Semiquincentennial”
– later this summer. You can’t miss it on your way through the solarium…and there will be more about the bell and its history in the weeks to come!
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.
Fountain Flowers
We need fountain flower sponsors for the following Sundays 5/24–PENTECOST. Flowers should be set up on saturday and can be picked up after the second service. If you would like to sponsor flowers or have any questions please contact Angie Rabbe.
In-person Book Group May 2026
The In Person Book Group of Grace Lutheran Lancaster will next meet on May 18, 2026 (that’s a week earlier than usual) in the Nolt Auditorium at 1:30 pm.
The book we will discuss is Magic Hour by Kristin Hannah.
From Amazon:
In the rugged Pacific Northwest lies the Olympic National Forest—nearly a million acres of impenetrable darkness and impossible beauty. From deep within this old growth forest, a six-year-old girl appears. Speechless and alone, she offers no clue as to her identity, no hint of her past.
Having retreated to her western Washington hometown after a scandal left her career in ruins, child psychiatrist Dr. Julia Cates is determined to free the extraordinary little girl she calls Alice from a prison of unimaginable fear and isolation. To reach her, Julia must discover the truth about Alice’s past—although doing so requires help from Julia’s estranged sister, a local police officer. The shocking facts of Alice’s life test the limits of Julia’s faith and strength, even as she struggles to make a home for Alice—and for herself.
As you read or review the book, we ask that each of you thinks of a question or observation to share.
I hope many of you can join us for what promises to be an interesting afternoon.
Arlene Volk
Christian Formation
- If you are interested in volunteering please contact Kath ASAP (verkouw@gmail.com).
- We have partnered with Musser’s Street Ministry for our VBS collection! Musser’s Street Ministry works directly with our homeless neighbors, providing them with food, personal care items, and transitional support. Beginning Sunday June 7th we will be collecting the following items:
- New hats (adults)
- New socks (adults)
- New gloves (adults)
- Full sized toothpaste
- Disposable Razors
- Cup-O-Noodles (please make sure it’s the cup that you simply add hot water to–NOT the kind that need to be microwaved.)
Outreach
Wednesday Night Community Meals
As Pastor Verkouw has mentioned before, our main cook, Karen Scheffey, is retiring at
the end of May after many years of dedicated service. We are extremely grateful for all
that she has done for this mission, but she definitely leaves big shoes to fill, so…………
VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED:
Cook(s) to plan and prepare the main course for our community meals on one or more
of the 4th Wednesdays of each month beginning in June. (June 24th, July 22 nd , Aug.
26 th , Sept. 23 rd , Oct. 28 th , Nov. 25 th , Dec. 23 rd , etc., continuing into 2027) Numbers vary,
but we generally serve between 75 to 120 people.
NOTE: We have a very dedicated team of volunteers who help set up, clean-up, do
dishes, chop up veggies for salads, or assist in any way needed, so you would not be
alone! Also note, that cooking could be done in our kitchen ahead of time for our
regular Wed. night volunteers to reheat. We have meal/recipe ideas, as well, or come
up with your own!
Our Grace budgeted money & donations help cover the meal expenses, although
whatever free food we can get from the Food Hub, foods/supplies from Costco, and
foods on sale elsewhere also help keep our expenses down.
Who do you know that would like to participate in this very rewarding, worthwhile
community mission? Who would like to try this as a gratifying, bonding, service
project experience?
- You and your immediate and/or extended family?
- You and a group of friends and/or neighbors?
* A church group (choir, youth group, book group, small group, etc.)?
* A community group in which you participate?
* You and a group of your work colleagues?
Desserts:
If cooking a main course sounds too daunting to you, would you or a group of
people like to provide a dessert for one of our monthly meals?
PLEASE take some time for prayerful consideration of how you might want to become
involved in this amazing mission of ours here at Grace. Let us know if you have any
questions, need more information, or if you already know that you’re ready to help!
Looking forward to working with you!
Call or email the church office or our meal volunteer coordinator:
Donna Weidman: 717-201-6180, dweidman52@gmail.com
Our Grace Family
Class of 2026
We are collecting information on Grace’s members who are graduating this year.Please send a photo, name of school graduating from, and future plans to gracechurch517@gmail.com
Please have information submitted by Sunday, June 3.
gracelutheranchurch.com 