Grace Notes Weekly Update

GRACE NOTES

February 2 - 9, 2020

We return to in-person worship this week, Sunday February 7. In order to attend worship with us, we ask that you sign up ahead of time.

Click here to sign up for 8:30 worship

Click here to sign up for 11:00 worship

At our Congregation's Annual Meeting in November, we approved a plan for using any surplus that resulted from the generosity of Grace's members in 2020. After covering all of 2020's missional spending plan expenses and setting aside funds to complete our 2020 goals, we are excited to announce that the 2020 surplus amount is

$101,751.85

This is an amazing abundance,

and we give thanks to God for this gift!

According to the approved plan,

the abundance will be used as follows:

$50,876 (50%) will be paid towards the mortgage. This is more than a usual year's payment, meaning we will be paying off more than an entire year's worth of mortgage debt with this abundance!

$20,350 (20%) will be used for facility improvement, including refurbishing the sound panels in the Fellowship Hall, and other improvements that are needed throughout the building, which will increase the warm welcome we offer those who come to Grace.

$10,175 (10%) will be given as a tithe of our abundance to the South Carolina Synod, giving to the larger church out of the gifts we have been given.

$10,175 (10%) will be given to local charitable causes. Council will be directing these gifts in February, and we look forward to sharing how this money will positively impact our community soon!

$10,175 (10%) will be given to NovusWay - Lutheridge, Lutherock, Lutheranch, and Luther Springs, our local Lutheran outdoor ministry camps. These camps were hit hard by the pandemic. This abundant gift will help ensure that camp ministry - a vital part of faith formation for our children, youth, and families - thrives in the years to come!

THANK YOU for giving faithfully in 2020

and supporting God's mission at Grace!

Grace continues offering in-person worship opportunities, including two worship services in the Sanctuary, while online worship services continue.

We are glad to share opportunities for Holy Communion in the coming weeks.

For those who attend the in-person worship services, Communion is offered outside on the porch as everyone departs.

For those who are not yet attending worship in-person, Grace's pastors are offering dedicated times to visit and provide the sacrament (outdoors only). Click on the following links to schedule some time for a pastor to visit you.

Click here for the weekly options, offered at 11am on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the coming months.

Click here for the 'flex' time slots, and a pastor will be in contact with you to schedule a time that works for everyone.

Fourth Sunday after Epiphany - January 31, 2021

Click the video image for

the Fourth Sunday after Epiphany Worship Service Video from January 31.

Click here for the worship guide.

Click the video image for the Children's Sermon

Children's Sermon for the Fourth Sunday after Epiphany - January 31, 2021

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

We look forward to being with you online this Sunday!

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, February 7. 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!

Sunday school for 2 year-olds through 5th Graders starts this week!

We'll be focusing on one foundational Old Testament story each month. We'll be learning about Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, Hannah and Samuel, and David.

While we'll use just one story per month, we'll still have a video each week. In the videos, we'll explore the story through different lenses. One week, we might use art; the next week, maybe music will help us learn; then perhaps science will teach us about God! God's stories have so much to teach us, and we're excited to learn in many different ways.

In order to make sure you can participate fully in our explorations, we'll have a Sunday School kit for you each month with the supplies you'll need for that month's activities.

This means WE need YOUR help, too! We need to know if your child plans to participate in Sunday School this spring, so we can get the kits ready. We also need to know if you'd like to pick up your kit at church, or if you'd like someone to deliver it to your house.

Please click HERE to let us know if your child will be participating in Sunday School this spring. Even if you're not planning on participating, please click through to let us know that! And, if you decide later on that you WOULD like to take part, you can always opt-in!

Thanks for helping us plan!

We're looking forward to a spring of exploring God's Word together!

In 2020, Grace's Endowment Fund provided several grants for ministry initiatives outside of our usual budgeted items. We received thank-you notes for these grants, which we'd like to share with you:

Dear Grace Lutheran Endowment Committee,

Thank you for the generous grant of $500 to the Junior Women's Club of Rock Hill. These funds were used to create appreciation bags containing water, snacks, pins, and memo pads for the Rock Hill police department. In total 213 bags were assembled and donated.

Thank you,

Karen Harris

JWC of Rock Hill, Treasurer

Friends in Christ,

I'm just writing again to add my personal appreciation to that of the NovusWay home office for your generous grant of $1,456.26 from the Foundation at Grace. I'm grateful for the invitation to submit a proposal for your consideration as the year ended. Grace now is one of 17 congregations across the Southeast who are helping to sustain this ministry by Foundation or Endowment grants. Our need is is $1.8 million to sustain the ministry until June 1, 2021 when we hope to resume offering summer camp safely.

Gifts from individuals and congregations - in addition to grants such as yours to date total $1.2 million and with vaccines now being distributed give us hope that we can begin to plan for adult programs this spring and camps for the summer. We were serving about 5,000 people of all ages before the pandemic and I expect it will take us several years to grow our way back to that level of ministry. But with God's help we will. You are a valued partner in helping this great wave of forming faith in God's children of all ages prepare for ministry beyond the pandemic. I'm grateful for your support and pray God's blessings on Grace as we all go forward faithfully into this New Year ahead!

Gratefully Yours,

Pastor Jan Setzler

Dear Friends in Christ,

Thank you for your generous gift of $1,456.26 to NovusWay Ministries. While this has been a challenging year for the ministry emotionally and financially, we turn our hearts toward a plan to once again welcome campers back for a safe and faith filled summer. We are doing the work to plan safe programming for children and adults, because we know they will need camp more than ever. Thank you for your generosity.

Sincerely in Christ,

Boyd W. Harris, IV - Executive Director-CEO

Mitzie Schafer, Deacon - Vice President for Advancement

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 January 31

Click here for the week of February 7

Men's Bible Study

Join us for a Men's Book Study on Sunday mornings at 9:30am via Zoom.

We are studying "Unafraid " by Adam Hamilton. Each week we are led by a different member of our group of 'Men-in-Training'. Those interested in participating should contact Pr. Gregg to get added to the Realm group where the meeting link is posted. There's always room for one more!

Our Daily Bread Devotionals

If you would like us to mail you a copy of the December, January, February devotional, please email the church office.

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!

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.

Congregation Connections

Click the image for

our current

Grace Prayer List

Click the image for

our current

Memorials & Honor Gifts

Click the image

for our

February Birthdays

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.

December Giving and Expenses

December Received $60,025

December Expenses $54,706

Budgeted to Spend $50,852

YTD Received $676,062

YTD Expenses $555,010

YTD Budgeted to Spend $610,224