Grace Notes Weekly Update

GRACE NOTES

May 18 - 25, 2021

RETURNING WITH GRACE

On Sunday, Council met and discussed health guidelines, recommendations from Committees, and the results from our congregational survey related to our COVID-19 procedures. Thank you to the 120 people who replied to this survey!

Council voted to approve an updated set of procedures for worship and building use at this time. You can click on the "Returning with Grace Plan" button below to read a letter from Pr. Gregg and view the current plan.

We also compiled the results of the survey, and you can review all of those responses by clicking on the "Survey Results" button below.

Thank you for your ongoing patience, care, & support of our congregation & one other as we continue to move forward together!

Returning with Grace Plan

Survey Results

THANK YOU for your help last week!

On Friday, we were able to put 9 classrooms back in order in just about an hour! This means our fresh and more functional classrooms are ready when we are able to return.

Special thanks to Sabrina Blanks, Chris Chandler,

Fawn & Dennis Bollinger, Doug & Irene Pointon, Doug Cole,

Mary Hinson, Nora Sliney, and Dee Westbrook

who were able to come help!

Here are two of the refreshed rooms, blank canvases ready for people, learning, and fellowship!

Council Room, with comfy chairs repurposed from Room 101

Room 113, ready for our 4 and 5 year olds to explore God's word!

Your Gifts in Action!

Several weeks ago, Kathy Schwandt delivered a $3,391 surplus grant check on our behalf to Safe Passage. She met with Adrienne Woods, the new Executive Director, who was deeply appreciative of this gift.

Ms. Woods gave Kathy a tour of the facility, where clients meet with advocates and other professionals to receive the care and support they need.

Gifts like this surplus grant help pay for the 24 hour emergency shelter; domestic violence, sexual assault, and child advocacy programs; and salaries and operating expenses for support across York, Lancaster, Chester, and Union counties.

Your gifts made this gift possible! Thank you for your support of Grace and advocacy ministries in our area. If you'd like to learn more about Safe Passage and find ways to connect, click here.

This Sunday, May 23 is Pentecost Sunday

Fifty days after Easter, we celebrate the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. Crossing all boundaries that would separate us, the Spirit brings the wideness of God’s mercy to places we least expect it - to a crowd of strangers of different lands and tongues, to dry bones, to our weak hearts. Jesus promises his disciples that they will be accompanied by the Holy Spirit, and that this Spirit reveals the truth. We celebrate that we too have been visited with this same Spirit. Guided by the truth, we join together in worship, and then disperse to share the fullness of Christ’s love with the world.

May Remarks from Our Pastors

In their reports to Council each month, Pastor Gregg and Pastor Rachel conclude with some personal remarks that summarize the most recent period of their leadership here at Grace. Click on the image to read their remarks.

Building Improvements Continue!

The sound panels in the Fellowship Hall were refurbished! This project was made possible by your extraordinary giving in 2020.

This refurbishment included the new fabric you can see, as well as bulletin-board core installed on the wall used for displays and information. This means the new fabric will hold up even better, because the backing is now more sturdy! This fresh look enhances the welcome Grace offers to everyone who comes into our building.

Thank you for your generous support!

The 'before' photos below show some of the significant wear and age our panels had sustained over the years.

The "during" photo shows the big job to be done.

The "after" photo shows how fresh, clean, and light the space looks now!

Before

During

After

Click the video image for the

worship service for the Ascension of Our Lord Sunday, May 16.

Click here for the worship guide.

Click the video image for the Children's Sermon

Children's Sermon for the Ascension of Our Lord - May 16

We invite you to "like", comment on, and share these videos!

Each Sunday we continue to worship together online. These services are posted on the Grace Facebook page and on our website.

Sundays with Grace

Our Sunday morning worship and fellowship opportunities are going strong!

Facebook Premiere worship begins at 11am

Facebook Live Coffee Hour starts at noon

A Letter from Bishop Aebischer

Last Thursday, the CDC updated masking guidelines. In this letter, Bishop Aebischer discusses what this means for us as the church and what we might consider as we respond to this news.

Click here to read the Bishop's letter.

The Stewardship Committee appreciates and recognizes people and groups that are Growing Grace and Planting Seeds in Faith!

Click on the image to read the recognitions from the Stewardship Committee.

Are you having trouble getting a COVID Vaccine appointment? Contact the church office, we may be able to help!

Race and Reconciliation

Rock Hill

Join Race & Reconciliation on May 27 at 7pm for a conversation with Pastor CT Kirk to discuss the progress made and the work left to be done following Rock Hill's Black Lives Matter march.

Click on the image for more information and the Zoom link.

We are partnering with Oakland Avenue Presbyterian (our neighbors across the street) to host a Blood Drive on June 21st!

As the host congregation, we have the opportunity to welcome our community into our space with great hospitality.

In addition to sharing our newly refreshed Fellowship Hall, we can volunteer to do COVID screening at the door, help check people in, staff the snack stations, and sanitize the space between donors. If you'd like to volunteer to help during a shift of the Drive (we have 3 shifts between 2 and 6:30 pm), please contact Pr. Rachel.

If you'd like to give blood, please register by clicking here, searching for the zip code 29730, and scrolling down to June 21st. We hope to donate 42 units of blood, which is a substantial and impactful goal!

Grace Presbyterian Church in Fort Mill is looking for a part-time Youth Director. If you or someone you know might be interested in the position please contact Pastor Joanne Sizoo.

Camp is open this summer! If you're interested in going to one of our local ELCA camps this summer, click here to check out the programs and register.

We have scholarship funds available to help pay for camp as well! If you'd like a scholarship application, please contact Pr. Rachel.

2021 Altar Flower Sign-Up

There are several slots available to sponsor the weekly flowers to honor or in memory of family and friends. Click here to signup.

Instructions and information about the flowers are on the signup page.

If you are uncomfortable using the on-line sign-up or do not have access, please contact the Church office (803-324-5295 or parishadmin@gracerockhill.com ).

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 May 16

Click here for the week of May 23

Men's Bible Study

Join us for conversation about one of the more fascinating books of Scripture: Revelation.

Using an overview written by Max Lucado, we will be talking about some of the themes present in Revelation and how they impact our lives. The group meets Sundays at 9:30 for about an hour. Contact Pr. Gregg to be added to our group.

Offering Our Gifts to God

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:

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!