GRACE NOTES
August 11 - 18, 2020
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Reminder: Grace is currently in Stage One of our plan for returning to in-person ministry. We are only utilizing worship online at this time.
Click here for the stage-based version and here for the table-based version of our "Granting Grace to One Another" plan for returning to in-person ministry.
We remain deeply grateful for the many ways that you, Grace members, have continued to be the church while we are apart. Our church has never been closed, just deployed. The Holy Spirit continues to work in and among us, and we continue to share God's grace with the world.
Stay up-to-date with the latest information by visiting our COVID-19 page:
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While we are physically apart in the coming weeks, there are still many ways for us to be church together. We invite you to connect with one another by phone and make use of the resources in this publication, too! |
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WORSHIP
Click the video image for the
9th Sunday after Pentecost
Worship Service Video
from August 2nd.
Click here for the worship guide.
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Click the video image for the
Children's Sermon.
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We invite you to "like", comment on, and share these videos! |
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Each Sunday we continue to worship together online.
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Do you miss singing hymns in a group? We do!
Since we are still unable to sing corporately in our worship, the music team is in the process of putting together a virtual hymn sing program. This program will highlight some of the work we have done this summer in our music program with virtual choir anthems interspersed with several of the singers' favorite hymns.
WE WANT YOU TO PARTICIPATE! Young or old, if you can carry a tune and love hymns as much as we do, send us an email (music@gracerockhill.com) so we can send you more information about how to rehearse with us and add your voice to our sound.
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WORSHIP ASSISTANT VIDEOS CONTINUE!
We have made great strides in our recording of worship services and we are now reintroducing more faces to the mix.
If you are interested in providing a worship assistant video for worship, please click here to sign up for THIS Sunday, August 16, and Pr. Gregg will contact you with the details you'll need.
Thanks to all who have helped lead us in worship so far and all those who will be leading us in the weeks to come!
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Equipping Ourselves for Hospitality |
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Last year, we set three goals for 2020, each of which would Equip Grace for Today, Tomorrow, and the Next 100 Years. We had to pause some of our work on these goals while we were away from the building, but now, we are planning ways to get back to them!
In August, we will resume work on our goal of "Equipping Ourselves for Hospitality." We have several projects designed to increase the warm welcome we share at Grace, by upgrading spaces throughout our building. These spaces include the Conference Room, the men's Bible study room, classrooms throughout our Sunday School hallway, and the Fellowship Hall.
We will need to work in modified, socially-distant ways to accomplish these projects, and we will. Then, once we are all able to be back in the building together, these freshened and improved spaces will provide a warm welcome!
We invite you to join us in accomplishing these projects! If you have a passion for conference room chairs, expertise in painting, or are simply excited about expanding the hospitality at Grace, please click here to let Pr. Rachel know.
Thank you to everyone who has continued in their generosity this year. Because of your steady giving, we are able to move forward with these projects confidently, remaining faithful to the work we heard God calling us to do in 2020!
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Youth and Family Programming Updates |
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Young Youth and GYM have had a great time on Zoom this spring and summer!
We will be taking a break during August and the first part of September, while everyone finishes off vacation time and gets ready to start school.
We will start our new program year mid-September. This will include welcoming our rising Kindergartners to Young Youth and our rising 6th graders to GYM!
More information about this upcoming year will be available later in August.
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Raising kids is hard - it's even harder when your supportive community is disrupted in a pandemic! Join us and reconnect to your Grace group!
The pastors are hosting 2 virtual opportunities for parents/caregivers of our Young Youth and GYM kids to connect with one another, to talk about faith, school decisions, how things are going, etc. The pastors will join in and hear how we can be supporting you, too, including the possibility of more connection options.
On August 18th AND 20th, there will be a Young Youth (rising k-6th) Parent Zoom at 7pm, and a GYM (rising 6th-12th) Parent Zoom at 8pm. You can attend either or both of the dates!
Pr. Rachel has sent these Zoom links DIRECTLY to you in email. If you did not get them, please email her here.
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After much prayer and consideration, the ELCA has decided to postpone next summer’s ELCA Youth Gathering to 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2022 ELCA Youth Gathering will be held July 24-28, 2022.
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We rejoice with Melissa Pehling &
Elijah Long, who were united in marriage
on August 8, 2020!
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Click on the video image for Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton's message on Lighting the Luther rose.
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ELCA SC Synod Assembly - July 25, 2020
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The Thirty-Third Assembly of the South Carolina Synod and the 195th meeting of the Lutheran Church in South Carolina was held on Saturday, July 25, and history was made.
The SC Synod elected a new bishop, The Rev. Ginny Aebischer, who is our first female bishop!
We rejoice that the Holy Spirit has moved among us and provided us with a strong and faithful leader for the next 6 years. We invite you to be in prayer for Bishop-Elect Aebischer, who will be installed in September. We pray also in thanksgiving for Bishop Yoos, who will be retiring after 12 years of faithful service as the SC Synod Bishop.
For more information about Bishop-Elect Aebischer, as well as a summary of the actions taken, the ministry shared, and the videos watched at Synod Assembly, please click here.
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Offering Our Gifts to God - Monetary Offering
Part of our worship is offering our gifts to God. While we are apart, it is still faithful to offer our gifts. You can give in several ways:
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Give online by clicking here (and you have the option to offset the cost of giving online)
- Set up giving though your bank
- Mail your offering to the church office.
Thank you for continued faithful giving!
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Gifts & Talents Pictures
Our worship has been enhanced by your photos of projects, experiences, and joys these last few months - thank you for sharing! We would love to see more of what you're doing - please send photos to our Video Editor, Craig Allen by clicking here.
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FAITH FORMATION RESOURCES |
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Taking Faith Home carries the previous Sunday's themes throughout the week. These devotions include daily Scripture readings, prayers, hymn suggestions, milestones, conversation starters, service opportunities, and at-home rituals.
Click here for the week of August 9
Click here for the week of August 16
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Click the image for
our current
Grace Prayer List
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Click the image for
Memorials and Gifts
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Click the image for our
August Birthdays
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Billy needs a new home!
Donna Wylie has shared a need: her dog, Billy, finds himself in need of a new home with a fence, where he can go on walks, share lots of love, and make some new friends. If you know of someone who might have a good home for Billy, please contact Donna Wylie directly, or call the Church Office.
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Committee Meetings can be held on Zoom! If your Committee would like to use Zoom, the pastors can help. Please click here to email the pastors if you'd like to set up a Zoom meeting.
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June Giving and Expenses
June Received $66,883
June Expenses $48,640
Budgeted to Spend $50,852
YTD Received $277,989
YTD Expenses $234,882
YTD Budgeted to Spend $254,260
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Can We Help?
This pandemic has affected each of us, but may have affected us in different ways.
If you are in need of help (of any kind), please reach out to the pastors.
We can find connections to resources and/or support together.
We want to walk with you. Please call or email us.
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Stay connected! Click on the links below! |
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In-person activities at
Grace Lutheran Church are suspended until further notice.
At this time, please do not come
to the church building.
We are praying for the health and well-being of our community and world.
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GRACE LUTHERAN CHURCH
426 Oakland Avenue
Rock Hill, SC 29730
(740) 312-5774 (Pastor Gregg’s cell)
(864) 230-3816 (Pastor Rachel’s cell)
Office Hours:
Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
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