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Grace Lutheran Church & Preschool
Newsletter - October, 2021
17880 E. Covina Blvd. | Covina, CA 91722
Church Office (626) 332-4536 | Preschool (626) 967-5855
Church Office Hours | Monday & Wednesday | 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Email: Office@GraceCovina.org
GLC and More Online
Worship
We've now returned to the Sanctuary for Worship! Join us for a blended, in-person service Sundays at 9:30 a.m. 

We are streaming Sunday Worship on our Facebook page. If you have any of the symptoms of COVID-19, or have had contact recently with anyone with COVID-19, we ask that you worship safely with us online.

From Pastor Steve
Grace and Peace to you Grace Family,

It has been almost two years since our last in-person Congregational Meeting. Do you remember our meeting in 2019? It seems like so long ago, but that is probably because it was! I probably do not have to remind you of what we have been dealing with since then, but it has obviously had a major impact on our lives and our life together at Grace. As we continue to deal with and work through a global pandemic, one thing has been proven to be true, your faithful giving in support of the ministries at Grace! I am grateful for this truth because I know so many churches have not faired as well as we have.

You might be wondering why I am writing about a meeting that took place two years ago and your financial offerings. Well, at that meeting in 2019 we as a congregation made a couple significant decisions with our finances and commitment to the future of our church campus. At that meeting we started what we call the Facility Renewal Fund (FRF) and cashed out two investment funds that, if we are being honest, were not serving the Church accordingly. And in an effort to be better stewards of the funds God had blessed us with we all decided to use the over $40,000 as seed money for the FRF. 

The plan was to encourage a little extra giving from each of you in order to cover the cost of some significant capital improvements and upgrades like new doors, painting our buildings, replacing our roof and other major expenses. But, before we could really put things into practice COVID came along and threw our world into a frenzy. At that point, due to the obvious uncertain future, funding the FRF was put on hold. And that included utilizing the funds we already had in the FRF as a result of our 2019 meeting.

Though we are still very much unsure of when will be finally rid of this awful virus, with over 18 months of consistent given to our general fund, it feels like it is time to dust off that almost two year old plan and move forward with revitalizing and renewing our campus for the next 40 years of ministry and fully funding the FRF over the next five years in the hope that by the end of that time we will be in good shape for the coming decades.

God has blessed us for over 65 years and showered us with His generous abundance and we have a beautiful church and campus. But, like everything else in this world we are showing our age. To do nothing will result in some very serious problems and immediate need for emergency repairs. Instead of waiting for things to breakdown or fail catastrophically we will continue to trust in God to provide for us as He has for more than half a century. Back in 2019 the plan was to encourage each person our household to contribute an additional $40-$50 a month to the FRF so that we could raise the funds needed to do the necessary repairs. And that is exactly what we will continue (or restart) to do from this point forward.

I hope this does not all sound new to you because this is not a new stewardship or capital campaign. It is something we as a congregation agreed to do way back in 2019. Wouldn’t you love to come to our campus and see doors that are not showing their age, or chipped and peeling paint on our buildings? How about not having to dodge some of the potholes and creases in our parking lot? How would you feel about coming to Sunday worship and finding buckets spread throughout the sanctuary to collect rainwater that is leaking through our decades old roof? These are just a few of the realities we face over the next five to ten years if we do not act now. Brothers and Sisters now is the time for us to move forward with the plan we set forth before the pandemic! 

I encourage you to go the extra mile and add to your already generous giving. But please make sure that in whatever way you currently give you specify that your additional offering is to be designated to the Facility Renewal Fund (FRF). If you give online, please make note when you are giving specifically to the FRF fund. If you write a check and give in person or by mail, please be specific when your additional offering is to go to the FRF. It is really important to the future of Grace that we embrace this plan, and I and confident you all will and in a few years the light of Christ will not only shine from our hearts, but once again in the beauty and sparkle of our campus!

Blessings,
Pastor Steve   
Living the Resurrection by Loving Our Neighbors: Supporting the Ben Lomond Elementary School PTA
Grace-Covina's ministry with Ben Lomond Elementary School emerged from the congregation's Living the Resurrection workshops. Living the Resurrection is a process that was developed in the SWCA Synod to listen to discern where God is working to build connections.

You can still join the Ben Lomond Elementary School Parent Teacher Association, a membership that helps provide exciting events for Ben Lomond students all year.
You can pay your PTA fees with the QR code to the right (just snap a photo with your mobile and follow the cues) that will lead you to the Totem registration page. The cost for joining PTA with this code is $8 ($7 for PTA, and Totem charges $1 for processing a credit card.)  You will register as a “supporter."
For people who prefer working with cash, you can place $7 in an envelope and place it in the offering plate. Please make sure to put the following information on your envelope:
Your Name
Grace Lutheran Church
Ben Lomond PTA Supporter
ATTN: Wendy Snyder

Please keep all educators and students in Covina-Valley Unified close in your hearts as we all head back to school!
Upcoming at Grace-Covina
Wear Red for Reformation Sunday,
October 31 at 9:30 a.m.
November 7 is All Saints' Sunday, a day we remember those who have passed in the last year. To have your loved one(s) remembered in our All Saints' Sunday service, email office@gracecovina.org or let Pastor Steve know.
In-person Bible study is back! We are meeting Wednesdays at 11:00 a.m. in Room 6 (or in the choir room). Join us online Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. for Grace Lutheran Online Bible Study - our current topic is the 1st Book of Samuel.

Standing Zoom Meeting:
Meeting ID: 832 8578 7322
Passcode: 163333
Month of October
Sunday, October 3
9:30 a.m. | Sanctuary Worship
19th Sunday after Pentecost

Tuesday, October 5
10:00 a.m. | Prayer Team
 (Rm 6 or Choir Room)

Wednesday, October 6
11:00 a.m. | Bible Study
 (Rm 6 or Choir Room)
7:00 p.m. | Zoom Bible Study

Sunday, October 10
9:30 a.m. | Sanctuary Worship
20th Sunday after Pentecost

Tuesday, October 12
7:00 p.m. | Church Council

Wednesday, October 13
11:00 a.m. | Bible Study  
(Rm 6 or Choir Room)
7:00 p.m. | Zoom Bible Study

Thursday, October 14
9:00 a.m. | Gather - Women's Bible Study
(Rm 6 or Choir Room)

Sunday, October 17
9:30 a.m. | Sanctuary Worship
21st Sunday after Pentecost

Tuesday, October 19
10:00 a.m. | Prayer Team
 (Rm 6 or Choir Room)

Wednesday, October 20
11:00 a.m. | Bible Study  
(Rm 6 or Choir Room)
7:00 p.m. | Zoom Bible Study

Sunday, October 24
9:30 a.m. | Sanctuary Worship
22nd Sunday after Pentecost

Wednesday, October 27
11:00 a.m. | Bible Study 
(Rm 6 or Choir Room)
7:00 p.m. | Zoom Bible Study

Sunday, October 31
9:30 a.m. | Sanctuary Worship
Reformation Sunday
October Calendar
WELCA's "Loving Connections" will be held from Friday evening, October 15 through Saturday, October 16, 2021. The Bible Study leader is Pastor Julie Morris, and the Worship and Prayer leader is Pastor Tracy Williams.

There will be three workshops presented:

(1) Connections with women in congregations
(2) Connecting with diverse women through stories
(3) Loving Connections through anti-racism dialogue with Pastor Joseph Castanada. 

TO REGISTER FOR THE CONVENTION: Send an email to Julie Jensen at juliejnsn1@roadrunner.com or by mail to Julie Jensen, 921 Gill Ave., Port Hueneme, CA 93041. Include your name, contact info (address, email, phone #), your church and city and whether you are a guest or delegate. Julie will send you the information for the convention along with the Zoom link.
October Scripture Readings
October 3, 2021
19th Sunday after Pentecost
Genesis 2:18-24
Psalm 8
Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12
Mark 10:2-16
October 10, 2021
20th Sunday after Pentecost
Amos 5:6-7, 10-15
Psalm 90:12-17
Hebrews 4:12-16
Mark 10:17-31
October 17, 2021
21st Sunday after Pentecost
Isaiah 53:4-12
Psalm 91:9-16
Hebrews 5:1-10
Mark 10:35-45
October 24, 2021
22nd Sunday after Pentecost
Jeremiah 31:7-9
Psalm 126
Hebrews 7:23-28
Mark 10:46-52
October 31, 2021
Reformation Sunday
Jeremiah 31:31-34
Psalm 46
Romans 3:19-28
John 8:31-36
Now that we're back to in-person Worship. we're looking for people to help out with our Sunday livestream and act as ushers, altar guild, and after-service hospitality helpers! If you can help one or more Sundays each month, please contact Pastor Steve.
October Birthdays
Miles McCabe | October 10
Mitch McCabe | October 10
Mary Encabo | October 12
Kevin Bergerson | October 14
Robert Brown | October 14
Patricia Fields | October 14
Sydney Jacobs | October 15 
Chase Brown | October 16
Sarah Encabo | October 19
Dierk Biggs | October 19
Bonnie Larini | October 25
Lindi Otte | October 30
October Anniversaries
Keith & Natalie McHugh         October 1
Let Us Know
  • If we don’t have your birthday or anniversary listed
  • If you have a special announcement
  • If someone in your family is sick or in the hospital
  • If you move or change your telephone number
  • If you feel the church can assist you in any way 
  • If you would like a paper copy of the newsletter mailed to you
Grace-Covina is proud to host and support ACTION Food Pantry, a ministry of a coalition of interfaith communities which has continued to serve unprecedented numbers of those in need during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The month of October's featured food item is canned fruit. When you’re grocery shopping, please remember our brothers and sisters in need; any and all donations are most appreciated. Let’s continue to respond to God’s blessings by caring for the most in need!
ACTION Food Pantry Distribution

Mondays at 4:00 p.m.
Thursdays at 10:00 a.m.
Thank you to everyone that sent prayers, cards, called and brought food to us during my hospital stay. Thankfully I am home now to recuperate and recover. God bless you all! Vicki Jacobs
The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their cry – Psalm 34:15 

Please pray for those with medical needs, including: Shannon Troop, Jaxson Turner, Lorraina Ruiz, Jason Hing, Art James, Beverly Smith, Dakota Garske, Fern Hastings, Jan Sieber, Robert Boomsma, Robert Larsen, Trina Clay, Valerie Beasly, Walter Hoke, Christopher Turner, Cindy Skolaski, Cody Umpleby, Connie Brown, the Davidson Family, Deneice Hadley, Jamie Wilcots, Joan and Jean Juneau, John Carlin, Kari Watson, Ken Gillingham, Marty and Mary Spradley, Mike Spangler, Pam Elparin, Ed McGee, Ron Ott, Sarah Encabo, Vicki Jacobs, and victims of COVID-19.

Please pray for others in need of prayer, including: the family of Sally Palacio, Rocio Orozco, the Turner family, the family of Juan Padilla, and our Grace neighbors.
Please pray for all victims of natural disasters.

Please pray for the men and women currently serving in the military, who are bravely protecting us and our country, including: Andrew Ranabarger, Cole Elliot (Marine Corps), Nathaniel Morgan (Army), and Christian Van Allen.

Please pray for all victims of natural disasters.

Please pray for those who are being faced with grief, and all who know violence and hate.
Please pray for our Grace Lutheran Church Congregation and partners in ministry.

Please pray for the teachers and children of our preschool and infant care program, and for the teachers and students of Ben Lomond Elementary School, our school districts, and all schools, that they and their families will be safe.

Please pray for hospital staff, all medical personnel and first responders, those in essential services, and the leaders of our world, state, country, and local governments.

Please pray for the ACTION Food Pantry, the clients that they serve, and all those in need.
Your Church Council
President | Judy McGee 
Secretary | Brenda Noriega 
Treasurer | Robert Ordonez

Members-at-Large
Diana Alley | Cindy Skolaski | Dave Brown | Johna Stienstra 
www.gracecovina.org | office@gracecovina.org | (626) 332 - 4536