GRACE NOTES
December 14 - 21, 2021
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For Worship services and Children's sermons please visit our YouTube channel.
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Advent Mid-Week Worship continues this Wednesday!
Join us each Wednesday at 7:00 PM - only two weeks remaining!
December 15 and 22
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OUTREACH WRAP-UP
2021 was a dynamic year for Outreach at Grace. We kicked off our new "Grace Lutheran Church Outreach Partnership Program" aligning ourselves with HOPE of Rock Hill, Pilgrims Inn, and The Community Café -- offering both grant money and volunteers. Already we have seen about a dozen members of Grace embrace the opportunity to serve the Lord next door at HOPE on a weekly basis, where they are supplying a week’s worth of food to between 20-50 families a day! Many thanks to all of you who have volunteered as having the help necessary to reach these numbers would not have been attainable without your participation!
In the past year, HOPE has:
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provided assistance for more than 6,300 families (an increase of almost 20% from the previous year)
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helped more than 900 families in the month of June alone
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distributed more than $60,000 in utility assistance to more than 350 families
It’s going to be a difficult winter for many in our community and HOPE expects the number of families they serve to continue its upward climb — which means they need even more volunteers.
Please consider devoting a short window of your time to sharing God’s grace in this very easy, fun, and fulfilling way by helping our neighbors who are in need of food and utility assistance. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Rachel Bell at HOPE (803) 493-5840 or Ron Hartman (Grace's liaison with HOPE) (330) 620-4711.
May God continue to bless you and we look forward to seeing you at HOPE!
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We give thanks for the many ways our congregation uses gifts and talents to the glory of God!
This week, the Stewardship Committee highlights three areas of ministry at Grace. Click HERE to read this week's Caught You Caring.
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Christmas Eve Worship Assistants Needed! |
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We have several opening for Christmas Eve worship assistants, click on the service times below to add your name to the worship assistant schedules for Christmas Eve.
Click HERE for the current schedule.
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Join us on Sunday, December 26 for one service at 10:00am.
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Donations open until TOMORROW!
If you would like to make a donation of $10.00 or more in lieu of a poinsettia, this year we are lifting up HOPE Ministry. Please click HERE to make a donation to HOPE. Memorial or honorarium donations for HOPE will be accepted until December 15, 2021.
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Thank you for supporting this year's Giving Tree and the Hat, Mitten, and Cold Weather Accessory Drive! All the slots for the Giving Tree were filled and numerous cold weather accessories were donated. Thank you to the Outreach Committee for coordinating these projects. |
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Advent Greetings from the Council President |
Click HERE to read a letter from Walker Stockley, Grace's Council President, who shares important information about the annual Staff Christmas Gift.
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2021 Giving & the Plan for God's Abundance
As 2021 comes to a close, we are grateful for the financial gifts you give toward God's mission here at Grace. We are still doing ministry work this month (a lot, in fact! For example, large strides toward the finish line are being made on our Youth Room & Nursery projects in these final weeks of the year). Your gifts are making this ministry possible, and we thank you for continuing to give faithfully!
At the close of the year, the financial support that exceeds expenses will also be used for God's mission. Here is this year's plan:
+10% of these funds will go to the SC Synod, as a tithe of our abundance to God's work in the larger church.
+The remaining 90% will be given to the Good Samaritan Fund, which is the fund used by Grace's pastors to offer immediate emergency assistance to members of the congregation and community. Just this past weekend, Pr. Gregg was able to pay for needed medication for a member of our community, thanks to donations that have been given to this fund.
Thank you for your ongoing giving; you are making a difference each day!
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Do you like puzzles? How about furniture assembly puzzles?!
We have several furniture pieces and projects that need to be assembled over the next few weeks, and we need some volunteers! If you're interested in putting together Nursery items, storage shelving, and/or other items, please email Pr. Rachel here.
Even if you're able to help with just one piece, that will make a big difference!
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Thank you to everyone who has made their 2022 Commitment!
As of today, 93 households have made their commitments and together have committed $351,527!
Thank you for your generosity!
If you've not yet had the chance to make your 2022 commitment,
we invite you to do so now!
You can mail your card to the office, or use one of our two digital options shared below.
Every commitment matters! Every commitment strengthens the ministry of Grace. We give thanks for your commitment to God, Grace, and CONNECTING in 2022!
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To make your 2022 commitment via:
+ Commitment Google Form, please click here.
+ Realm, please click here for instructions on how to do so.
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Worship Assistant Rotations!
Click HERE for the December 2021 - February 2022 Worship Assistant Schedule.
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Schedule Conflicts:
Just like before, if you get scheduled for a Sunday when you'll be unavailable, we just need you to make a quick phone call to swap with another volunteer. Then, let somebody at the Church Office know about the change (so we can update the schedule). It's as easy as that!
Don't see your name? Want to join the rotation?
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Needs for this week:
+ Body wash
+ Shampoo
+ Toothpaste
+ Toilet paper
+ Paper towels
+ Clothes detergent
+ Dish detergent
+ Cereal
+ Pancake Mix
+ Syrup
+ Dog food & Cat food
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Our partner, HOPE, has changing needs each week based on what is and isn't delivered to their food pantry. If you'd like to help with food donations, you can check this list each week to see what they need most!
HOPE is now open on Tuesday nights from 6-7:30pm for individuals needing assistance.
Please take your donations to HOPE. Click HERE for drop-off times.
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Finance Chair Needed
Click HERE to read an invite from the previous Finance chair, Terri Schavey.
Please let the Church Office know if you are willing to be that someone! |
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Sunday School classes for Grade 7 - Adult Sundays at 10:00am
Click each class name for more details
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Click the image for our current Prayer List |
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Click the image for our
Memorials & Honor Gifts
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Click the image for our
December Birthdays
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The Sanctuary Candle for the month of December is given by
Elisa and Ron Gordon to the glory of God and for the gift of His son.
The Altar Flowers for December 19 are given by Judy Hall,
Jennifer Carpenter, Caroline Floyd, and family in loving memory
of Charles W. Hall.
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2022 Sanctuary Candle Sign Up
Grace continues to keep our Sanctuary Candle burning every week, a sign of the continuing presence of Jesus Christ in our lives. Members are able to sponsor the candle in memory or honor of someone.
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Offering envelopes for 2022 are now available and may be picked up in the Fellowship Hall. At this point we have prepared sets only for those we expect to be using them. Therefore, those of you that have been giving electronically or are having your financial institution send checks directly to Grace will not find a set with your name. However, we do have extra sets and will happily provide them to anyone that asks. Just let us know (either contact the church office or financial secretary Bob Stonebraker or 803-980-1834) and we’ll get a set for you.
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END OF YEAR GIVING
As the year comes to a close, we look back on the wonderful ministry we have done together in 2021, and we give thanks for the financial gifts that were given to make this ministry happen. Your continued faithful support of our ministry will enable us to finish this year’s work strong and position us well to begin next year’s ministry in January.
Please remember that for financial donations to be counted towards 2021 tax
deductions, they must be received in 2021. Grace will make its final 2021 deposit on Friday, Dec. 31, so please have your giving to the Church Office by 5pm on Thursday, December 30 if you would like to make it count for this fiscal year. Thank you!
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Oakland Avenue Presbyterian Church is hiring for two positions:
Administrative Assistant (click HERE for more information) and Director of Communications (click HERE for more information).
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Offering Our Gifts to God
Part of our worship is offering our gifts to God. You can give in several ways:
- Give via the offering plate in the Sanctuary
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Give online by clicking HERE (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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November Giving and Expenses |
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Received $65,628
Expenses $53,257
Budgeted to Spend $57,902
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YTD Received $549,982
YTD Expenses $536,942
YTD Budgeted to Spend $636,922
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Can We Help?
If you are in need of help (of any kind), or simply want to connect, please reach out to the pastors. 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 beginning again. All in-person activities need to be scheduled in advance at this time.
Please contact the church office if you need to schedule an activity.
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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