GRACE NOTES
September 1 - 8, 2020
We continue to be church together, deployed in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit continues to be at work in us and through us, and we continue to share God's grace with the world.

Stay up-to-date with the latest information by visiting our COVID-19 page:
While we are physically apart in the coming weeks, there are still many ways for us to be church together. We invite you to connect with one another by phone and make use of the resources in this publication, too!
Sundays with Grace

Our Sunday morning worship and fellowship opportunities are going strong!

We have been enjoying worshiping together via Facebook Premiere at 10am (and we know many others are also worshiping with us on Facebook and YouTube throughout the day). Our Facebook Live Coffee Hours at 11am continue to provide thought-provoking conversation as well as fun insights and connections with one another. Many friends, family members, and visitors also join us, and we are so glad to have these opportunities to be together while apart!

We look forward to being with you online again this Sunday!
Click the video image for the
13th Sunday after Pentecost
Worship Service Video
from August 30th.

Click here for the worship guide.
Click the video image for the
Children's Sermon.
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.
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 this Sunday, September 6, and 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!
Help our Kids & Families with School!

Were/are you a teacher? Do you love a certain school subject? Are you passionate about education? You could help our Grace families thrive in hybrid/virtual school this year!

In talking to parents about the upcoming school year, the current number-one support Grace can offer is HOMEWORK and TUTORING HELP. Parents are going to be doing their best to help their kids learn and thrive in this environment, but we can all use a little help, especially for those subjects outside of our everyday fields.

If you'd like to offer your expertise to our families, please click HERE.
Thank you for supporting our families!
Are you a teacher?
Do you work with a school?
Let us know!

Grace wants to support our teachers and school staff, especially in this unusual year! Click here to make sure you're on our list.
Are you in college?
Is your kid in college?

We are updating our college student list so we can stay connected with and support our Grace members. Click here to share your info with Pr. Rachel.

Young Youth & GYM kickoff is Sept 13th!

We plan to meet outdoors at a nearby park to see one another at a social distance and celebrate the start of this program year!


More information about this upcoming kickoff and year has been emailed directly to YY & GYM families. Please email Pr. Rachel with any questions.
Parents and Caregivers - we want your feedback! If you were not able to join us for our Parent Connection Zooms, please click HERE to access a feedback form. You'll be able to share with the pastors the kinds of support and resources that would be helpful to you and your family as the school year gets started. Thanks in advance for sharing!
Do you have an Easter Basket of Blessing at home? The Council on Aging is now able to take those baskets and deliver them to neighbors who could use an uplifting gift.

Please deliver these baskets DIRECTLY to the York County Council on Aging (not to Grace) at 917 Standard St, Rock Hill, SC 29730.

Thank you for your patience as we've waited for a safe time to collect these, and thank you for your generosity!
In "Caught You Caring", the Stewardship Committee highlights some of the great stewardship of gifts they've noticed recently
and says THANKS!

We're giving a big "Thank you!" to:
-The Health & Wellness Committee
-The Grace Congregation Council
-The Property Committee
-The Outreach Committee
-Jeremy Mims & Craig Allen

Click here to see all the ways these folks have been caring!
Tuesday Evening Meal for
WELCM Students
WELCM has been busy this summer, meeting twice a week online, and plans to keep those programs going virtually through the fall.   However, as students return to campus and Rock Hill, they do want to gather for a meal, and since we have a beautiful garden as well as two porches, we feel we can do this outside, safely. 
Are you interested in bringing a Tuesday evening meal for WELCM students?
It would just be a matter of dropping food off at the White House porch for Olga-Maria to serve or distribute. We do need vegetarian and gluten-free options again this year. If you would like to sign up for a dinner or make a contribution to have a dinner catered by a local restaurant, please contact
Olga-Maria, omcruz@welcm.org Thank you so much!
Equipping Ourselves for Hospitality
Hospitality - welcoming all who come through the doors - is one of Grace's strongest values.

We have resumed work on our 2020 goal of "Equipping Ourselves for Hospitality," which includes several projects designed to increase the warm welcome we share at Grace, by upgrading spaces throughout our building. We will work in socially-distant ways to accomplish these projects. Then, once we are all able to be back in the building together, these freshened and improved spaces will provide even more excitement!

We invite you to join us in accomplishing these projects - Some of these projects would be great for families! Consider adopting a classroom to paint, or sharing your knowledge on flooring installation, or helping us assemble chairs! Please click here to let Pr. Rachel know you're interested in helping.
Click on the video image to see a short video about some transformative ministry that is taking place in Detroit during this pandemic - these cooperative ELCA ministries came together to make a difference!
Watch this event - Click the video image link above to take part in the singing for yourself. This video will remain active on our YouTube and Facebook pages, so that the hymns, anthems, and prayers can continue to be a source of inspiration and spiritual nourishment as we continue in this time of distancing. Enjoy!
We know everybody misses singing hymns in a group - we are Lutherans, after all!

Since we are still unable to sing corporately in our worship, the music team put together our first virtual hymn sing program. This program highlighted some of the work we have done this summer in our music program with virtual choir anthems interspersed with several of the singers' favorite hymns.

We want YOU to participate in the next one! Young or old, if you can carry a tune and love hymns as much as we do, send us an email (music@gracerockhill.com) so we can send you more information about how to rehearse with us and add your voice to our sound for the next one!
Offering Our Gifts to God - Monetary Offering

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!
Gifts & Talents Pictures

Our worship has been enhanced by your photos of projects, experiences, and joys these last few months - 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.
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 August 30
Click here for the week of September 6
Congregation Connections
Click the image for
our current
Grace Prayer List
Click the image for
Memorials and Gifts
Click the image for our
September Birthdays
Grace's Congregational Directory
Stay connected with each other. If you are a member of Grace or know a member who would like a printed copy of our Congregational Directory, please contact the church office.
Committee Meetings can be held on Zoom! If your Committee would like to use Zoom, the pastors can help. Please click here to email the pastors if you'd like to set up a Zoom meeting.
July Giving and Expenses

July Received $64,569
July Expenses $44,254
Budgeted to Spend $50,852

YTD Received $396,664
YTD Expenses $320,550
YTD Budgeted to Spend $355,964
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.
Stay connected! Click on the links below!
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.
GRACE LUTHERAN CHURCH
426 Oakland Avenue
Rock Hill, SC 29730
803.324.5295 www.gracerockhill.com

(740) 312-5774 (Pastor Gregg’s cell)
(864) 230-3816 (Pastor Rachel’s cell)

Office Hours:
Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm