Grace Lutheran Church & Preschool
Newsletter - November, 2021
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17880 E. Covina Blvd. | Covina, CA 91722
Church Office (626) 332-4536 | Preschool (626) 967-5855
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Church Office Hours | Monday & Wednesday | 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Email: Office@GraceCovina.org
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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.
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Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
The Apostle Paul wrote in his epistle to the Church of Thessalonica, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Those are quite powerful words Paul used to encourage a group of people still working to fully understand who Jesus was and what Jesus did for humanity, and they were trying to figure those things our while facing a variety of cultural, social, political, and religious challenges. Times were very difficult for them, and Paul writes to tell them, among other things, “Don’t worry, be happy!” Really Paul?
Have you ever had to deal with really difficult circumstances in your life? I am sure you have. It is part of life. When you’re at your worst, the last thing you want to hear from someone is, “Cheer up! It will get better!” In the moment that seems like the furthest thing from the truth and not particularly helpful. Truthfully it is kind of annoying and can seem very disingenuous especially if those words are coming from a close friend or someone you admire.
I do not believe Paul was being disingenuous or insincere, or oblivious to their circumstances. Part of what Paul was doing was offering some perspective. Yes, life was tough, and was probably going to get worse before getting better, but because of what God had done through His Son, there was forever going to be hope even if it was only the promise of a place with God in heaven when this life came to an end. And that is a profoundly life changing concept, perhaps more so for Paul’s contemporary’s than for us because only a few decades prior, there was no such thing as salvation and everlasting life. And because this promise came from God and was sealed by the blood of Christ, it could never be taken away from us and we would never be separated from the love of God. They were truly blessed in spite of their circumstances. They had grace, and as Paul has also written, God’s grace was sufficient.
As you all know this is the month we celebrate Thanksgiving, and though we’ve been through, and are still dealing with, a pretty difficult period in our history God’s grace has been ever present. Again, nothing that happens to us or here on earth will ever cancel out the gift we have from above. So, we too have much to be thankful for regardless of circumstances. This is why perspective matters. One can still rejoice and give thanks even in the worst of times, but perspective is different. Do you know people that are of a negative sort? You know, the glass is always half empty kind of folk? I do, and they are not really the folks I relish spending a great deal of time with.
I often find that those folks often simply have a negative perspective because there are still thing in their lives that are good, or even very good. They seem to lack the perspective of gratitude for what they do have and choose rather to focus on the negative. And honestly based on our current circumstances and the culture of negativity and divisiveness we currently live in, it is not too hard to share that negative perspective.
I find that on thing that really helps me to avoid being overcome with negativity is the practice of gratitude in my prayer life. I regularly thank God for the abundance of His blessings in my life and that not only honors God, but it forces me to list the blessings in my life and make me more aware of just how generous God is to me. So, in honor of Thanksgiving, and really in honor of God, may I make a suggestion? How about between the time you read this article and Thanksgiving you list 10 things everyday that you are thankful for, either in writing or prayer? I wonder how you would feel by Thanksgiving if you did that for several weeks. Rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks always; for this is God’s will for you in Christ.
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Yours in Faith,
Pr. Steve
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Grace-Covina Preschool
November Minister of Education Report
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Grace Lutheran Preschool and Infant Care is continuing well with our staff and director, Miss Christy, and all the youngsters. We are nearing the end of the water leak problem finishing repairs and cleanup and replacements, as necessary. We are happy to be getting through and near the end of that work and hopefully it will be completed this week, or soon after.
We recently gained one youngster at both ends which puts us at about 9 in the infant care end and about 21 at the preschool end. All the staff continues to work hard in spite of the repairing and inconvenience caused by the water leak. All is continuing well and please keep our staff, our kids and all the families in our prayers.
In His Service,
Dave Brown
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Sunday, November 7
9:30 a.m. | Sanctuary Worship
All Saints Sunday
Tuesday, November 9
7:00 p.m. | Church Council (Zoom)
Wednesday, November 10
11:00 a.m. | Bible Study
(Choir Room)
7:00 p.m. | Zoom Bible Study
Thursday, November 11
9:00 a.m. | Gather - Women's Bible Study
(Choir Room)
Sunday, November 14
9:30 a.m. | Sanctuary Worship
25th Sunday after Pentecost
Tuesday, November 16
10:00 a.m. | Prayer Team
(Choir Room)
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Wednesday, November 17
11:00 a.m. | Bible Study
(Choir Room)
7:00 p.m. | Zoom Bible Study
Sunday, November 21
9:30 a.m. | Sanctuary Worship
Christ the King Sunday
10:30 a.m. | Worship Committee
(Choir Room)
5:00 p.m. | Christmas Decorating (Sanctuary)
Wednesday, November 24
11:00 a.m. | Bible Study
(Choir Room)
7:00 p.m. | Zoom Bible Study
Sunday, November 28
9:30 a.m. | Sanctuary Worship
1st Sunday in Advent
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November Scripture Readings |
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November 7, 2021
All Saint Sunday
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Isaiah 25:6-9
Psalm 24
Revelation 21:1-6a
John 11:32-44
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November 14, 2021
25th Sunday after Pentecost
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Daniel 12:1-3
Psalm 16
Hebrews 10:11-14 [15-18] 19-25
Mark 13:1-8
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November 21, 2021
Christ the King Sunday
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Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14
Psalm 93
Revelation 1:4b-8
John 18:33-37
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November 28, 2021
1st Sunday in Advent
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Jeremiah 33:14-16
Psalm 25:1-10
1 Thessalonians 3:9-13
Luke 21:25-36
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Tim Said | November 4
Keith McHugh | November 4
Brian Jacobs | November 8
Carol Thompson | November 9
Francie Yarber | November 11
Jeffrey Saltonstall | November 11
Kenny Colwell | November 15
Kevin Colwell | November 20
Jaxon Turner | November 22
Cindy Skolaski | November 27
Marie Dabbs | November 29
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- 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
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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.
We are now collecting stuffing for ACTION's Thanksgiving distribution. 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!
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ACTION Food Pantry Distribution
Mondays at 4:00 p.m.
Thursdays at 10:00 a.m.
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Please be aware that religious groups are often targeted by scammers who take advantage of people's generosity, and congregations across the country have seen a marked increase in such attempts over the past few years.
The COVID-19 crisis has become an opportunity for scammers, phishers, and spoofers to exploit the desire to help a neighbor in need.
No one from the Grace-Covina church office or any ELCA office, and no pastor (including Pastor Steve!) twill send an email or a text asking for gift cards or for cash or for a "special favor." Do not respond to such emails or texts! Delete and block them instead.
Do not click on a link, send money or gift cards, or provide checking account or credit card information in response to ANY emailed or texted solicitation from ANYBODY without checking with a trusted source.
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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: Rose Marie Quesada, Roger Melendrez, Kameren Putnam, Gabby, Brian Akey, Cindy Skolaski, Leo Fuller, Kathy and Monica Quinones, Lisa Entrikin, Deanna Kellogg, Shannon Troop, Jaxson Turner, Lorraina Ruiz, Art James, Beverly Smith, Dakota Garske, Fern Hastings, Jan Sieber, Robert Boomsma, Robert Larsen, Trina Clay, Walter Hoke, Cody Umpleby, Connie Brown, the Davidson Family, Jamie Wilcots,Joan & Lee Juneau, John Carlin, Kari Watson, Ken Gillingham, Mike Spangler, Pam Elparin, Ed McGee, Ron Ott, Sarah Encabo, and victims of COVID-19.
Please pray for others in need of prayer, including: Tricia Henderson, Barbara Jean Schenk, Margerita Sotomayer, the family of Joane Grubaugh, Francie Yarber and the family of Raymond Gulvas, Rocio Orozco, and our Grace neighbors.
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.
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President | Judy McGee
Secretary | Brenda Noriega
Treasurer | Robert Ordonez
Members-at-Large
Diana Alley | Cindy Skolaski | Dave Brown | Johna Stienstra
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STAY CONNECTED TO GRACE-COVINA |
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www.gracecovina.org | office@gracecovina.org | (626) 332 - 4536 |
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