GRACE NOTES
December 7 - 14, 2021
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For Worship services and Children's sermons please visit our YouTube channel.
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COVID-19 Notice: A person who attended the 8:30 service this past Sunday, Dec 5, tested positive for COVID-19 today. If you attended that service, we recommend you monitor yourself for symptoms over the coming days, and if you are not vaccinated, please consider being tested for COVID-19.
We continue to pray for the healing and wellness of our congregation and our world during this pandemic, while giving thanks to Almighty God for the medical advancements that help us fight the virus.
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Advent Mid-Week Worship continues this Wednesday!
Join us each Wednesday at 7:00 PM
December 1, 8, 15, and 22
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Thank you to Jamison & Max (two of our WELCM students), Bill Sliney, Lou (one of our Youth), Sabrina Blanks, Chris Chandler, and Nora Sliney, who made, served, and cleaned up Hot Chocolate to share with our neighbors at the Rock Hill Christmas Parade on Friday. Though it wasn't as cold as some years, there were still many happy faces enjoying this traditional Christmas cheer!
We also invited the community to use our bathroom facilities; numerous people commented they'd never been to Grace before, and how nice it was to be welcomed inside our building. Plus, our Beautification and Worship & Music committees decorated throughout much of that day, so things are now looking especially festive!
We give thanks for this opportunity to connect with our community, and for the many people who helped make it happen!
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Thank you to those who helped with and gave blood at the blood drive yesterday! It was a great success - thank you for helping save lives! |
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Do you like puzzles? How about furniture assembly puzzles?!
We have several furniture pieces and projects that need to be assembled over the next few weeks, and we need some volunteers! If you're interested in putting together nursery items, mobile dry erase boards, storage shelving, and/or other items, please email Pr. Rachel here.
Even if you're able to help with just one piece, that will make a big difference!
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Christmas gifts and donations for Giving Tree and Marketplace Apartment Kids need to be in by this Sunday, December 12th, so they can be delivered for Christmas! |
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Grace is sponsoring the Giving Tree once again this year. This outreach provides needed gifts to our friends at the York County Council on Aging. Thanks to you, every person on our list is now sponsored! Please remember to purchase the items listed beside the name, wrap the gifts, and attach a label at the top right corner of the gift with your person's name, gender, and Route Number clearly written. The gifts can be dropped off in the fellowship hall before or after early or late service on Sunday December 12th. If you cannot bring your gifts to either of those services you can contact the church office at 803-324-5295 to set up a time to bring them by. If you have any questions you can contact Vivian Robinson.
Click HERE for the link to verify your signups and requests. Thank you in advance for your contributions!
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Hat, Mitten, and Cold Weather Accessory Drive for the Marketplace Apartment Kids |
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This year we will be holding a hat, mitten, and cold weather accessory drive for the kids at the Marketplace Apartments (in lieu of our traditional Angel Tree). Last year the former manager of the apartments told us their biggest needs each year are clothing items and accessories to wear in the cold weather. This year we are hoping to fill those needs. We are inviting the congregation to bring items to the church to place in bins in the fellowship hall. Hats, mittens, scarves or other cold weather items are acceptable. Please ensure that these are brand new items. You can bring various children's sizes ranging from toddler to big kid as well as items acceptable for various genders. Please drop off all donations before or after church in the fellowship hall no later than December 12th. We will sort the items and deliver them to the manager of the apartments to be distributed to the children as needed. If you have any questions you can contact Vivian Robinson.
Thank you for your generosity and support in this endeavor!
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Advent Greetings from the Council President |
Click HERE to read a letter from Walker Stockley, Grace's Council President.
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Christmas Poinsettias & Donations |
Poinsettias orders have been placed.
If you would like to make a donation of $10.00 or more in lieu of a poinsettia, this year we are lifting up HOPE Ministry. Please click HERE to make a donation to HOPE or use the Tear and Share in your bulletin. Memorial or honorarium donations for HOPE will be accepted until December 15, 2021.
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Christmas Eve Worship Assistants Needed! |
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Click on the service times below to add your name to the worship assistant schedules for Christmas Eve. Once we have volunteers for each category, we'll share the schedules.
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Thank you to everyone who has made their 2022 Commitment!
As of our last update, 91 households have made their commitments!
Together, those 91 households have committed $350,407!
Thank you for your generosity!
If you've not yet had the chance to make your 2022 commitment,
we invite you to do so now!
Join these 91 households in committing to God's call to Grace in the coming year. You can mail your card to the office, or use one of our two digital options shared below.
We had 105 total Commitments for 2021.
We would love to exceed that number for 2022.
Please help us reach that number!
Every commitment matters! Every commitment strengthens the ministry of Grace. We give thanks for your commitment to God, Grace, and CONNECTING in 2022!
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If you would like to make your 2022 commitment via the Commitment Google Form, please click here.
If you would like to make your 2022 commitment via Realm, please click here for instructions on how to do so.
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Worship Assistant Rotations!
Click HERE for the new Worship Assistant Schedule.
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Schedule Conflicts:
Just like before, if you get scheduled for a Sunday when you'll be unavailable, we just need you to make a quick phone call to swap with another volunteer. Then, let somebody at the Church Office know about the change (so we can update the schedule). It's as easy as that!
Don't see your name? Want to join the rotation?
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Finance Chair Needed
Click HERE to read an invite from the previous Finance chair, Terri Schavey.
Please let the Church Office know if you are willing to be that someone! |
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Needs for this week:
+ Body wash
+ Shampoo
+ Toothpaste
+ Toilet paper
+ Paper towels
+ Paper cups
+ Clothes detergent
+ Dish detergent
+ Cereal
+ Pancake Mix
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Our partner, HOPE, has changing needs each week based on what is and isn't delivered to their food pantry. If you'd like to help with food donations, you can check this list each week to see what they need most!
HOPE is now open on Tuesday nights from 6-7:30pm for individuals needing assistance.
Please take your donations to HOPE. Click HERE for drop-off times.
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Sunday School classes for Grade 7 - Adult Sundays at 10:00am
Click each class name for more details
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Music Ministry Rehearsals |
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Grace Ringers meets on Monday evenings at 6:20pm.
Grace Alone meets on Monday evenings at 7:20pm; this group leads every week in the 8:30am service.
Parish Choir meets on Wednesday evenings at 7:00pm; this ensemble sings in the 11:00am service.
I hope you will consider joining us! Contact Jeremy for more information.
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Click the image for our current Prayer List |
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Click the image for our
Memorials & Honor Gifts
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Click the image for our
December Birthdays
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The Sanctuary Candle for the month of December is given by
Elisa and Ron Gordon to the glory of God and for the gift of His son.
The Altar Flowers for December 5 are given by Pam and Floyd Ritchie in honor of Aleeyah, Jaxon, and Connor Sidden.
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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.
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Oakland Avenue Presbyterian Church is hiring for two positions:
Administrative Assistant (click HERE for more information) and Director of Communications (click HERE for more information).
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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
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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!
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October Giving and Expenses |
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October Received $47,667
October Expenses $58,101
Budgeted to Spend $57,902
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YTD Received $484,354
YTD Expenses $483,685
YTD Budgeted to Spend $579,020
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Can We Help?
If you are in need of help (of any kind), or simply want to connect, please reach out to the pastors. We want to walk with you.
Please call or email us.
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Stay connected! Click on the links below! |
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In-person activities at
Grace Lutheran Church are beginning again. All in-person activities need to be scheduled in advance at this time.
Please contact the church office if you need to schedule an activity.
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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