GRACE NOTES
March 23 - 30, 2021
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Lenten Wednesday Programming
Join us on YouTube for this season's last Supper and Spirit at 6:15pm and Compline at 7pm.
Click here for a document showing how to create a YouTube account.
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If you will not be attending the Palm Sunday worship service in person, please stop by the church office this week to pick up your palm branches for your household. |
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If you need palms delivered to you, please let us know by clicking here or calling the church office at 803.324.5295.
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2020 Surplus - Local Charitable Impact
At our annual meeting in November, we - Grace members - voted to designate 10% of any 2020 surplus to Local Charitable Impact - an opportunity to share our abundance with those in need in our neighborhood. On Sunday, Council discussed, discerned, and designated this 10% - which was $10,175 - to be split between three local aid organizations ($3,391 each).
Council is excited to share these organizations with you today! Click on the image of each organization to learn more about how they are caring for our neighbors in our community. Each of these organizations was submitted as part of the search for suggestions for Outreach Grant Partners. While not ultimately chosen as partners this year, they are each impactful, worthy organizations and we are glad to be able to support them through the abundance you gave last year.
Thank you for your generosity!
You have enabled Grace to be generous to our neighbors in need!
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The Life House Women's Shelter |
A new nonprofit providing hope and help to women in need through shelter services. |
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A safe place for homeless men to find shelter year-round. |
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Safe Passage
Offering supportive services to families living in abuse so that they can make changes in their lives and eliminate violence, working every day to empower survivors, eliminate the abuse, engage the community, and engender change.
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Partnership Grants 2021
In January, Grace members submitted several organizations to be considered for our new Partnership Grant program. The Outreach Committee then invited these organizations to apply for the grant. Each organization which applied was a worthy consideration, but of course, they could not all be chosen. Outreach discerned carefully where our congregation's gifts and skills connected with the needs of these organizations, in order to choose year-long partnerships to which we could faithfully commit.
The Outreach Committee is glad to announce our 2021 Partnership Grant recipients:
+HOPE of Rock Hill - $10,000
+Pilgrims' Inn - $5,000
+Community Cafe - $5,000
Click on the logo of each organization below to learn more about them.
Outreach will share more information about our partnership activities with these groups in the coming weeks, as events are scheduled and needs are shared. We look forward to learning about and serving the community alongside our Partners!
Thank you for your financial gifts, which enable us to give these grants, and for your time and effort, which will be vital to our partnerships.
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Hospitality Improvements Continue!
We rolled out the blue carpet!
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The Fellowship Hall and stairwell have now been painted!
The Fellowship Hall colors stayed the same, but everything looks fresh and clean. This was one of our 2020 goals - it is great to have it done!
The stairwell is now both brighter and bluer - we have a lovely accent wall that will soon be adorned with a beautiful piece of custom art - we look forward to sharing that with you when it is installed! This was a 'discovered need' project, and we were able to have this done thanks to the 2020 surplus funds.
There is also a beautiful new floor mat in the entryway, thanks to Parish Life. This mat makes the space even more welcoming and keeps things drier in rainy weather.
Thank you for your generosity, which has allowed us to complete these important projects!
Our next improvement will be refurbishing the sound panels in the Fellowship Hall, which is also made possible by the 2020 surplus. We will share those updates as they happen!
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We will offer in-person worship this week, Sunday, March 28. In order to attend worship with us, we ask that you sign up ahead of time.
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Click the video image for the
worship service for the Fifth Sunday in Lent, March 21.
Click here for the worship guide.
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Click the video image for the Children's Sermon
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We invite you to "like", comment on, and share these videos! |
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Each Sunday we continue to worship together online. These services are posted on the Grace Facebook page and on our website.
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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
We look forward to being with you online this Sunday!
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WORSHIP ASSISTANT VIDEOS CONTINUE
We have been blessed to see one another in worship through our online worship assistants!
If you are interested in providing a worship assistant video, please click here to sign up for Sunday, March 28. Pr. Gregg will contact you with the details you'll need.
Thanks to all who have helped lead us in worship so far and all those who will be leading us in the weeks to come!
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We will not be selling Easter lilies this year, however, we are still planning to collect special donations for the Good Samaritan Fund, remembering that even with all that is different during this pandemic, the need to offer assistance remains unchanged. If you would like to make a contribution to the Good Samaritan Fund in honor or memory of someone for Easter this year, please contact the Church Office by March 31.
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2021 Altar Flower Sign-Up
Altar flowers will be back in the Sanctuary on Easter Sunday, April 4, 2021. It has been a long-standing tradition at Grace for members to sponsor the weekly flowers to honor or in memory of family and friends. This year we are asking you to use an on-line sign-up form, please use the link in this article to access. 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).
The cost is $45.00 for one (1) or $90.00 for both (2) vases. Each date on the sign-up form has two (2) spaces, check the number of vases you wish to sponsor, please check both if you are signing up for both vases, and scroll to the very bottom of the page to submit. You will also be asked to add the dedication of the flowers and to let us know if you will be picking up the flowers after the 11:00 service or another day of the week. If you do pick up the flowers, please return the liner(s) to the Church.
You will receive an email confirming your choice. If you wish to make changes to your chosen date, please contact the Church office.
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Want to sponsor Grace's Sanctuary Candle?
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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Easter Baskets of Blessings
Basket Drop Off March 24 & 25
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Thank you for signing up to bring in your Easter Baskets of Blessings for our Meals on Wheels friends! Every single person was chosen and each will receive a basket. This is a reminder that all of the baskets need to be dropped off either March 24th between 8:30am - 4:30pm OR March 25th between 8:30am -12:00pm at Reynolds and Reynolds Printing 1330 W Main St. Rock Hill 29732. Please remember to label your basket clearly with the person's name and route number from the SignUp Genius link.
Thank you for your contributions!
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Race and Reconciliation of Rock Hill
"Affordable Housing 101"
Thursday, March 25 at 7 pm
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Join us for a conversation about one of our most basic needs - a safe place to live. "Affordable Housing 101" will address home ownership programs, affordable housing policy, and upcoming developments. We will also discuss how COVID-19 has affected affordable housing. |
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Leading the conversation will be Dawn Willingham and Krista Parenti of the Rock Hill Housing Development Corporation. Get ready to learn something new and share your questions with us, too!
A Zoom link will be shared through email on Thursday morning. Click here to contact the Race and Reconciliation group to be added to the email list. |
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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 the Pastors' March remarks.
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South Carolina Synod - ELCA
Click here to see the March 2021 letter including "Recommendations and Resources for our Faith Communities," "Covid-19 Current Guidelines," and "Information about the Vaccine" shared by Bishop Aebischer and the SC Synod.
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Covid-19 Information and Updates
Click here to read an update from the Health and Wellness Committee.
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Click here for information on getting your free Covid-19 vaccination.
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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 March 21
Click here for the week of March 28
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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:
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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!
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Gifts & Talents Pictures
Our worship has been enhanced by your photos of projects, experiences, and joys - thank you for sharing!
We would love to see more of what you're doing - please send photos to our Video Editor, Craig Allen by clicking here.
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Click the image for
our current
Grace Prayer List
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Click the image for
our current
Memorials & Honor Gifts
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The Sanctuary Candle for the month of March is given by Mary and Eddie Hinson in memory of Sewell Mason.
The Altar Flowers - Starting Sunday, April 4. Click here to sign-up.
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Our Daily Bread Devotionals |
If you would like us to mail you a copy of the March, April, and May devotional, please email the church office.
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Can We Help?
This pandemic has affected each of us, but may have affected us in different ways. If you are in need of help (of any kind), please reach out to the pastors.
We can find connections to resources and/or support together. We want to walk with you. Please call or email us.
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February Giving and Expenses
February Received $42,450
February Expenses $42,193
Budgeted to Spend $57,902
YTD Received $102,700
YTD Expenses $84,818
YTD Budgeted to Spend $115,804
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Stay connected! Click on the links below! |
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In-person activities at
Grace Lutheran Church are suspended until further notice.
At this time, please do not come
to the church building.
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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