Grace Notes Weekly Update

GRACE NOTES

August 3 - 10, 2021

Automated External Defibrillator

Our second Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is in the office area. The AED is used in the event of a cardiac arrest to “restart” the heart. Please familiarize yourself of its location. We also have an AED in the Narthex.

The AEDs will provide rapid accessibility to emergency equipment for groups and activities that meet in this building. Grace Lutheran is blessed to have healthcare workers that are trained to use the AED. If you, your family, groups, or classes would like to have the CPR and AED training please feel free to contact Dr. Rick Richter or Frances Stockley.

Ice Cream Social

Join us at Grace Lutheran Church for an Ice Cream Social on August 15 from 4:15 to 6:15pm.

Jack's Treat Truck will be parked in our parking lot and it will be stocked with goodies to buy at about $5 each (you can see the menu here). The White House Garden will be an excellent place to sit so bring a chair or you may choose to play some games. No matter what, it will be a grand time.

To ensure Jack has lots of Treats, please sign up HERE by August 12th.

-Irene Pointon and your Parish Life Committee

Council Comments - Sharing Good News!

This week, Floyd Ritchie shares about

serving on Council

I’m in my third and last year on council. As you know, council members serve 3 years after having been elected to council. Each year 4 council members roll off after their third term and 4 new members are elected by our congregation. So each year we have four third year members, four second year members and four first year term members, which ensures that we have a free flow of new ideas each year.

It has been a pleasure to serve our congregation in this capacity. Also this is the third time of serving 3 year terms for me at Grace. A few highlights from my time served on council are this:

· White House renovation and watching it become a nice place for Campus Ministry.

· The ugly (my opinion) pink building next door was purchased and is now Place of Grace serving our community.

· Our church called our first female Pastor. We hired our first Associate Pastor and now we have called a husband and wife Pastoral team, Pastor Gregg and Pastor Rachel.

The next four elected members on council will help with the next milestone for Grace which is the 100^th Anniversary of the founding Grace Lutheran church of Rock Hill. Exciting times are ahead.

I would like to ask each member of our church to consider allowing your name to be placed as a candidate for council. It is far more rewarding than you can imagine. We are all called to serve and I cannot think of a better way to serve our church.

Council typically meets once a month on the third Sunday from 1 to 3:30 PM. That is less than 1 hour per week average. On some occasions it takes more if circumstances warrant it. I served on my first church council at the church of my youth when I was 20 years old and when this term is finished at Grace I will be 79, so age is not a factor. Your church council needs you, your church needs you. I ask that you prayerfully consider allowing your name to be placed as a nominee. I know that you will be blessed as I have been over the years.

I thank each of you for allowing me to serve.

Peace in Christ,

Floyd Ritchie

UPDATE: Good Samaritan Fund

Are you in need? How about someone you know? At the June meeting, Council voted to allocate the undesignated memorial funds from 2020 to the Good Samaritan Fund, with the intention that the funds might offer help to members of Grace who could use a little financial assistance. As one member of Council put it, "We need to help the helpers and not try to pour from an empty cup. Hopefully these resources can help with that."

To request assistance from this fund, please contact either of the pastors. All assistance is confidential.

Celebration of Life Service for Larry Schwandt

Saturday, August 14, 2021

at 1:00pm

Members and friends of Grace are invited to attend a service celebrating the life of Larry Schwandt on Saturday, August 14 at 1:00pm.

Recently. Council approved another step forward in our Returning with Grace plan.

We are now receiving Communion at the altar rail.

We will all use hand sanitizer before coming up (the Health & Wellness Committee has provided numerous travel-size bottles if you need one!), and we will return to intinction as before.

The pastors will continue coming out into the congregation to offer Communion to those who are unable to come forward or who would prefer not to be on camera. Simply let the ushers or pastors know if you would prefer to receive Communion in your seat.

To read the full current Returning with Grace Plan, click here.

Tenth Sunday after Pentecost - August 1, 2021

Click the video image for the

worship service for The Tenth Sunday After Pentecost -

Sunday, August 1.

Click here for the worship guide.

Worship Assistants at Grace

If you are interested in leading us with a reading,

creed, prayers, serving as a Communion assistant, greeter, or usher, please click here to signup. All slots refer to in-person worship services at Grace.

Thank you for being a part of our worship experiences at Grace!

FALL ADULT BIBLE STUDY

I am excited to be your leader in the Adult’s Bible Study in the fall. Pastor Gregg graciously suggested several bible studies, from which I selected the Book of Galatians. I understand that it was one of Martin Luther’s favorite books of the Bible. The bible study comes from a company called Kerygma. To find more information about this study click here.

Right now, I would like to find out whether you will be joining my class? Review the introduction of Galatians by following the above link. Contact Bob Wasserman at 803.415.4449 or bobwass7@gmail.com about your decision to join this class. There will not be a charge for the book unless you desire to purchase your own copy and write notes in the book. We will discuss this in our first class. - Regards, Bob Wasserman

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 here to read their July remarks.

Congregation Connections

Click the image for

our current

Grace Prayer List

Click the image for

our August Birthdays

The Sanctuary Candle for the month of August is given by

Nancy and Gus Koegler in loving memory of our grandson,

Grant Michael Bodle.

The Altar Flowers for Sunday, August 8 are available to sponsor.

If you would like to sponsor Altar Flowers please click here.

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 Aug. 1

Click here for the week of Aug. 8

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

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!

June Giving and Expenses

June Received $55,853

June Expenses $44,895

Budgeted to Spend $57,902

YTD Received $306,236

YTD Expenses $285,839

YTD Budgeted to Spend $347,412

Gifts of Record

Everyone with gifts of record and email accounts should have received an email with a link to their giving in the first half of this year (please check your spam or trash folders!). If you need a hard copy, please contact Financial Secretary Bob Stonebraker at stonebraker946@gmail.com or 803.908.1834.