GRACE NOTES
November 23 - 30, 2021
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For Worship services and Children's sermons please visit our YouTube channel.
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In observance of Thanksgiving, the church office will be closed
Thursday, November 25 and Friday, November 26.
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Sunday's worship schedule:
First Sunday of Advent
Sunday, November 28: services at 8:30 & 11am
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Returning with Grace
At this time, Council has made masks optional for everyone who comes into the Grace building.
To read a letter from Pastor Gregg regarding the updates, and to see the current protocols in their entirety, click HERE.
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Thank you to everyone who has made their 2022 Commitment!
As of this afternoon, 89 households have made their commitments!
Together, those 89 households have committed $348,346!
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 89 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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This past Sunday, Bayard Ruff affirmed his Baptism. We rejoice with Bayard in the life of Baptism. Together we give thanks and praise to God and proclaim the good news to all the world!
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2021 Congregation Annual Meeting
Thank you to those who were able to attend, and thank you all for your prayers for this meeting!
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Click the image to see the recording of our 2021 Annual Business Meeting |
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Click on the buttons below for the approved actions taken at this year's Annual Meeting. |
Thank you for your faithful support of the mission we share at Grace. |
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Race & Reconciliation Rock Hill
Join Race and Reconciliation for the next community event,
TONIGHT at 7pm via Zoom.
Join us as Dr. Reginald Broadnax, Chair of the Clinton College Religious Studies Department and a Martin Luther King scholar, will discuss what Critical Race Theory is and why it has become so divisive. Click HERE for the Zoom link.
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Grace will be sponsoring the Giving Tree once again this year. This outreach provides needed gifts to our friends at the York County Council on Aging. Please sign up online, 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 either Sunday December 5th OR 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 sign up. 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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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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Poinsettias will be placed in the Sanctuary for Christmas Eve services.
You have an opportunity to either purchase one or more poinsettias. Please click HERE or use the Tear and Share, noting the number of plants and the people for whom they are given. The price per plant is $10.00.Please order your poinsettia by December 5, 2021.
If you would like to make a donation of $10.00 or more in lieu of the 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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Advent Mid-Week Worship Schedule
Wednesdays at 7:00 PM
December 1
December 8
December 15
December 22
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We are saddened to inform you that former member Gary Wright died unexpectedly last week.
More information is still forthcoming regarding arrangements for Gary's service, and we hope to provide that news next week. In the meantime, our sympathy and prayers enfold Gary's family in the wake of this sudden loss.
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If you would like to give blood, please register HERE, search for the zip code 29730, and scroll down to December 6. Thank you to those who are helping with the drive and those who are giving blood!
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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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Children's Choir Rehearsals
Led by Irene Pointon and supported by our Music Interns, Children's Choir is for K-5th graders, and meets most Sundays from 2:50 to 3:30pm.
Come learn music skills and songs to share! If you'd like more information, please contact Irene Pointon HERE.
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Finance Chair Needed
We have a dynamic group of volunteers at Grace who serve as our financial officers, yet we need still someone who can call our committee together and send its recommendations to Council for its consideration. That person might be YOU! If you are interested in helping us operate more effectively as a committee, and willing to serve as our chair, please let the Church Office know.
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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.
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Needs for this week:
+ Body wash
+ Shampoo
+ Toothpaste
+ Toilet paper
+ Paper towels
+ Paper cups
+ Clothes detergent
+ Dish detergent
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
November Birthdays
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Click the image for our
November Birthdays
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The Sanctuary Candle for the month of November is given by
Linda Bailey in loving memory of my husband Mike Bailey.
The Altar Flowers for November 28 are given by Pam and Floyd Ritchie in honor of Jennifer and James Sidden.
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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 Nov. 21
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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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