GRACE NOTES
April 11-18, 2023
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For Worship services please visit our YouTube channel.
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Thank You to everyone who took part in our Holy Week services, preparing the building, serving as worship leaders, singing, providing refreshments, decorating the cross, and being part of God's church here at Grace! We wish you a joyful Easter Season!
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What's Going On At Grace
+April 16 - Temple Talk on our Companion Synod and their upcoming mission trip to Tanzania
+April 23 - Grace goes to the Ballgame (Winthrop Baseball)
+April 30 - Fifth Sunday, 10am worship with guest preacher Pr. Ray Mohrmann, Fellowship after service
+May 14 - Youth Sunday
Many of these events have more details in other sections. This section is updated each week, so keep checking in. You can also see the full church calendar HERE.
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Companion Synod in Tanzania |
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Please join us to hear about our companion synod and their upcoming mission trip in July. Learn about what’s happening in Tanzania, what they will be doing on their trip, and how you can be involved in this ministry. |
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Members of the Tanzania Companion Synod Network including Dr. Cathy Milejczak, Network Representative and Judy Fry, a member of Grace will be with us THIS Sunday, April 16. |
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It's Grace's 100th anniversary, and as part of our celebration, we are making 100 New Connections! Check out this video to learn more about what these connections look like, where you might make them, and how to share them with us!
We are keeping track of our new connections and sharing them with each other. To do so, please click HERE to share your connection!
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Get to know our new members!
Welcome Chris Sherk!
Click HERE to learn more about Chris.
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Due to issues we’ve experienced for the past few years around purchasing quality Easter Lilies, this year the Worship committee decided to use Calla Lilies instead.
We still have several Calla Lilies available to purchase.
If you are interested in purchasing one of them, please contact the church office, it will be first come first serve. Lilies are $20.00 each.
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April is Child Abuse Prevention Month
Grace's Youth & Family Committee has connected with Safe Passage, our local Child Advocacy Center, to support this cause!
We've placed a sign and pinwheels in front of the church to let the community know that we stand with Safe Passage and to help get the word out about child abuse prevention.
Click HERE to learn more about how Safe Passage is standing up against child abuse and how you can help.
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Last week, we focused on Body Safety Rules and Trusted Adults. As you thought about these topics, you may have wondered, "What age should we start these conversations?" The answer is "Every age!" but we do want to have age-appropriate conversations. HERE is a PDF with great info about what to cover in different age ranges.
It might feel uncomfortable to start these conversations, especially if you did not grow up having them with your trusted adults. However, it is vitally important to do so! We hope and pray that our children never encounter abuse, but the statistics tell us we have to prepare for that chance.
Click HERE for 6 myths we tell ourselves about how our kids don't need this information, and the facts on how these talks are part of protecting and preparing our kids for a healthy life.
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Grace will be hosting Family Promise the week of April 23-30th, and we would love to have you as part of this great week!
Heather Litzinger has taken part in hosting Family Promise many times. She shares some of her Family Promise story with us:
"I want to let you know that overnight host is the easiest job on the sign-up sheet. Here is what I bring: sleeping bag, pillow, and either Cameron (age 12) or Zachary (age 11).
The first few times the boy came with me, they were nervous about the people they would meet. But over time, they realized that people experiencing homelessness are just people. Kids their age, teenagers staring at cell phones, preschoolers playing kitchen and giving us pretend food. I talk with my boys about how Family Promise gives these families a safe place to live while they find jobs, save money, and recover from whatever setback knocked them off course. This is possible because lots of people at lots of churches work together. God's work, our hands.
Overnight hosts arrive at 8 pm, and by that time, the Family Promise parents are usually headed to their rooms after a long day. My son and I play a few games or watch television with the kids who linger in the common room. By 9:30 the hallway is quiet, and we all go to sleep. The families leave the church early in the morning. Cameron and I roll up our sleeping bags and leave at 7 am, stopping for breakfast on the way home.
The boys and I look forward to our Family Promise nights because it gives us time to hang out one-on-one. I hope they will have sweet memories of sharing an air mattress with mom in the church basement and eating hash browns at the Waffle House on the way home. Bigger than that, however, I hope they are learning that time serving others is time well spent."
There are many opportunities to connect with and care for our guests during this week. We have spots for setting up, Dinner Hosts, Evening Hosts, Overnight Hosts, and resetting. Please consider how you might join in this week of welcoming and click HERE to sign up!
For more information, please contact Pr. Rachel
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April 30th - Join us for Worship, Fellowship, and Snacks!
On April 30th, we will welcome Pr. Ray Mohrmann back to Grace to preach as part of our 100th Anniversary celebration!
This is a 5th Sunday, and after the 10am worship service, we will gather in the Fellowship Hall for Sweet & Savory Snacks and time together.
We invite you to take part in bringing snacks to share. Please click HERE to sign up to bring something!
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Winthrop Ecumenical Lutheran Campus Ministry
Spring is blooming at the White House!
Click HERE to read WELCM's spring newsletter.
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CONGRATULATIONS TO RACHEL WASSERMAN, TEACHER OF THE YEAR!
Rachel Wasserman was recently honored by Mt. Gallant Elementary School, as the winner of their Teacher of the Year award. We are thrilled to see a member of Grace recognized for her faithful service, particularly in such an important field.
Click here to see a quick video clip of Rachel receiving the news.
We celebrate all teachers, who dedicate their time and effort to educating our young people. Thank you for your service!
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Seniors@Grace are on the road April 27th to enjoy an Italian lunch at Luigi and Sons. We will gather at 11:30 am in our usual private room. Luigi and Sons is located at 2387 Cherry Road (in the shopping strip behind Chick-Fil-A). Please let Annie-Laurie Wheat know by April 25th if you can come. (803 517-0626 cell or home phone 803 980-1834 or email wheatannielaurie@gmail.com
Looking ahead on May 25th we will be back in the Fellowship Hall for many wild rounds of BINGO. Stand by for details on the menu!!
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Grace Member / Friend Memories
Below is a Friend Memory from Rev. Dr. Cynthia P. Roddey
In November of 1953, I was invited to attend services at Grace. I was a student at Immanuel Lutheran High School in Greensboro, NC. Some years later I became a Friend of Grace and have attended for 70 years. During this time I have enjoyed the fellowship and become friends with some awesome Christians who have embraced me with caring and love. Each time I sit in a pew I am at peace, I look forward to many more years of attendance.
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One of the ways we will be celebrating the rich history of Grace this year is to hear about its impact on the lives of its members.
These do not need to be very long - even a single paragraph would be fine. Simply share with us your perspective, the way your story and Grace's story came together, and we will publish these remembrances in these Grace Notes publications throughout the year.
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Centennial Temple Talks
As a part of Grace's 100th Anniversary Celebration, we will share a Temple Talk highlighting Grace's history through the decades on the first Sunday of each month, from March through December.
Click on the buttons to read our Temple Talks, about Grace in the 1920s and 1930s.
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OUTREACH UPDATES AND OPPORTUNITIES |
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HOPE of Rock Hill - Biggest needs this week:
Peanut Butter & Jelly, Pasta, Pasta Sauce, Canned Fruit, Diapers size 4, 5 & 6, Condiments.
HOPE of Rock Hill Donations - Thank you for your donations during the month of March. Grace donated 241 lbs. of food!
You can drop items off in the bin located outside the church offices and a volunteer will take them over to HOPE. Please only place non-perishable items in the bin!
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An Invitation from our Outreach Partner, Bethel Men's Shelters |
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Palmetto Community Health Care (previously York County Free Clinic) which is next door to Grace is in need of additional front office volunteers. Duties include answering the phone, greeting & checking in patients, making new appointments for patients, making reminder calls to patients for next day appointments, etc. Training is available and the staff is very helpful and supportive. Volunteers must commit to a four-hour shift of 8:00-12:00 or 1:00-5:00.
Comments from current volunteers: “I enjoy the work because it allows me to help people who cannot access healthcare for their chronic conditions;” and, “I believe that we are all called to serve our community in whatever way we can and it is my privilege to do so. It gives me a good feeling knowing that we are able to help those who need it and to do it in a dignified manner.”
If you have questions or need further information, please call Dee Westbrook at 803-980-6197. Thank you for your consideration!!
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It's time to register for Summer Camp at our NovusWay Lutheran Camps! If you're interested in going to one of our 4 regional camps, click HERE for info about their programs!
We know camp can be expensive, and we don't want cost to be a barrier to anyone's faith formation. If you'd like to apply for a Grace scholarship for a NovusWay camp, please click HERE or speak to Pr. Rachel for more information.
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The Sanctuary Candle for the month of April is given by Sara and Steve Johnson in honor of our pastors.
The Altar Flowers for April 16 are given by Kristy and Greg Austin in thanksgiving for our daughter, Megan Austin, on her 25th birthday.
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Altar Flowers
It is a long-standing tradition at Grace for members to sponsor the weekly flowers, often in honor or memory of a special person or event.
The cost is $45 for one or $90 for both vases.
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Worship Assistant Schedule
Click HERE for the current schedule.
Don't see your name? Want to be part of leading worship? Email the church office today!
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Offering Our Gifts to God
Your gifts to Grace allow our ministry to happen! You can give in several ways:
- Give via the offering plate in worship
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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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Click HERE for the February Treasurer's Report
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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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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 - Thursday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
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