Coffee Hour on Facebook Live
During this time of social distancing, we continue offering Facebook Live Virtual Coffee Hour.
Our worship video will still be active on YouTube at 7:30am Sunday morning, with a link on our website active at that time - again, there will be no change at this time for those who prefer to use YouTube to access their Sunday morning worship.
We will continue to utilize Facebook 'Premiere' for our worship video, which is a handy way for many of us to worship together in real time. Once again this week, we will post the Facebook worship video at
10am
. This approach allows many people to be worshiping at the same time, and even comment during the service. The worship video will still be available on Facebook after the event, too, so don't worry if you oversleep and miss the 'Premiere' at 10am. We invite everyone to share the video, when they feel comfortable doing so.
Then, following the worship service,
the pastors will 'go live' on the Grace Facebook page at 11am
, sharing additional thoughts and interacting with people who are commenting. If you have a question, or a thought,
we invite you to share!
Questions about the worship service, lifting up the parts that were most meaningful - these are great ways to engage with our worship and one another. Sunday at 11am will continue to be our little 'virtual coffee hour'. The pastors will offer some questions, too, so come with your thoughts, an open mind, and probably a cup of coffee and join us as we continue to explore together the kind of community God is calling us to experience in this time!
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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!
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Update From Pastor Gregg
Grace's Congregation Council met on Sunday, May 3, to discuss the ongoing pandemic and our response as a congregation.
Click
HERE
to read an update from Pastor Gregg from this meeting.
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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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WORSHIP
Click the video image for the
Fifth Sunday of Easter
Worship Service Video
from May 10th.
Click
here
for the worship guide.
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Click the video image for the Children's Sermon from the
Fifth Sunday of Easter, May 10th.
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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.
We will also send an email to invite you to participate.
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Zeus the newborn lamb
photo courtesy of Emma Lowrance
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What are you doing while we are apart? How are you using your gifts? Are you drawing? Painting? Gardening? Woodworking? Farming? Building puzzles? Share your work and activities with us! During this time, many of us are busy with projects. If you'd like to share what you're doing, please send pictures to
Pr. Gregg
so we can include them in our worship videos. We may also use these on social media & at church when we return. Sharing your projects, large or small, is one way to present offerings to God at this time, & we want to see what God is doing through you!
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NOTE: If you can, add a signature to your visual offering!
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Monetary Offering
- When we worship together, 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 online by clicking
here
(
and you have the option to offset the cost of giving online), or you are welcome to mail your offering to the church office.
Thank you for giving!
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Grace’s Abundance In Action
In 2019,
you
gave generously toward Grace’s mission, so generously that we had a surplus - an abundance - after all of our expenses were paid. Over the last several months, Grace’s Council has discussed how to faithfully use this financial surplus.
During the April Council meeting, the Holy Spirit guided the Council to give
fifty percent
of Grace’s surplus to two charitable organizations in our community – HOPE of Rock Hill and Pathways Community Center – in response to the needs created by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Two weeks ago, Pr. Gregg & Larry Winsch visited these organizations, presented both of them with checks for $5,491.22, and heard about how this abundance is going to make an immediate difference in the community. Click
here
to read about this abundant impact.
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Gifts of Abundance
HOPE of Rock Hill
"Dear Friends, On behalf of Bo Coleman and all our volunteers at PROJECT HOPE, I would like to thank you for your faithful support of our ministry. Our service here would not be possible without generous donations such as yours. Please know that your recent gift in the amount of $5,491.22 will be prayerfully used to assist many needy families in our community. God bless you for caring for others. What a blessing y'all are to HOPE! With heartfelt gratitude, Gordon Bell"
Pathways Community Center
"Thank you so very much for the gift to the work we do here. Your belief in our mission is deeply appreciated! With a grateful heart, Grace Lewis"
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Outreach Grants
Rock Hill Schools Education Foundation
"Thank you so much for the generous investment that you made recently to support students! Because of your gift, hungry students will continue to be fed during these extraordinary times. Thank you for being the hands and feet of Jesus! All the best, Amanda Haskin - on behalf of the RHSEF Board of Trustees"
HOPE of Rock Hill
"What a blessing your Outreach Committee is to Hope House! Thank you for your generous donation of $1,000... God bless you for reaching out to those who are less fortunate in our community. With heartfelt gratitude, Gordon Bell, Director of Operations"
Pathways Community Center
"Thank you for your generosity in supporting our mission to be the single point of entry facility, housing service agencies, that together stand ready to serve people in our community. Your gift is most appreciated. Best regard, Charles M. Price, Board Chairman and Grace Lewis, Center Director"
The Saluda Counseling Center
"...we are honored to receive your support in the amount of $1,000. We are grateful for your continued impact on our mission, and supportive voice in the community. With kindest regards, Kristina E. Conroy, Executive Director"
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Endowment Grants
Pilgrims' Inn
(grant in Dec 2019)
"To the members of Grace Lutheran Church, Thank you for your donation of $1,000. Your generosity will support our mission of providing shelter, assistance, and supportive services to the community's most vulnerable citizens.... Working together, we change lives."
Click
here
to read the full letter.
Junior Women's Club of Rock Hill
(grant in Dec 2019)
"
Thank you for your generous grant of $500 to the Junior Women's Club of Rock Hill. We plan to use these funds to assist veterans locally."
Click
here
to read the full letter.
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In "Caught You Caring", The Stewardship Committee highlights some of the great stewardship of gifts they've noticed recently and says THANKS!
Grace members
- Thank you for being good stewards and continuing your contributions during this difficult time for us all. With your support, our ministries can continue to reach out to our community in need.
Dr. Jeremy Mims
- Thank you for taking our choir to new heights via Zoom. The music and choir participation adds so much to our worship!
Craig Allen
- Thank you for being the "master operator" behind the scenes bringing together the music and worship service!
Michelle, Pastor Gregg, and Pastor Rachel
- Thank you for the new Grace Notes. This weekly publication is filled with news and activity. Thanks for posting a vibrant, colorful, and news-worthy electronic newsletter. This awesome communication tool keeps us informed and up to date.
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FAITH FORMATION RESOURCES
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Taking Faith Home is a new-to-Grace resource which 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 May 10
Click
here
for the week of May 17
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Pandemic
Faith
Devotional
At the beginning of our time staying home, rostered leaders created
a daily devotional resource called "Pandemic Hope." That resource concluded Sunday.
Recognizing that this situation is not yet over, these and other rostered leaders created a second edition of this resource: PANDEMIC FAITH.
Click
here
for this new daily devotional, which began yesterday and will continue for 8 weeks.
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Click
here
for previously featured (and still available!) resources.
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Committee Meetings can be held on Zoom! If your Committee hasn't met recently and would like to, the pastors can help. If your Committee doesn't currently have business to discuss, this could still be an opportunity to check in with each other and share in fellowship. Please click
here
to email the pastors if you'd like to set up a Zoom.
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Click the image for our
May Birthdays
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Click the image for our current Grace Prayer List
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Click the image for
Memorials and Gifts
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Are You
Passionate about RECYCLING?
Click
here
for a message from Dan Polito about the future of recycling in Rock Hill and how you can influence this city's care of creation.
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April Giving and Expenses
April Received $52,731
April Expenses $52,864
Budgeted to Spend $50,852
YTD Received $214,001
YTD Expenses $186,242
YTD Budgeted to Spend $203,408
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Click on the video link for the latest message from ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton, who shares with us the good (and colorful) news that God continues to work all things for good!
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An Update From
Our NovusWay Camps
-------------------
NovusWay is dedicated to providing a safe and healthy environment for everyone at their camps. Click
here
to read more about the adjustments that are being made this summer.
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Register for Summer Camp
Summer Camp is still happening! While NovusWay is adjusting some scheduling to ensure a safe camp experience, there are still many weeks of camp available. You can learn about Risk-Free Registration and sign up
here
.
Grace has scholarships available for NovusWay camps and we
HAVE EXTENDED THE
APPLICATION DEADLINE -
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Guidance on Communion during a time of pandemic
Click here
to read an article posted by the South Carolina Synod to help address the issue of Holy Communion during this time when we are practicing social distancing.
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York County Voter Registration & Elections
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In dealing with the COVID-19 virus, York County Government is encouraging voters, especially those in the targeted 65+ age group to vote absentee by mail. Click on the image to learn more.
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Stay connected.
Click on the links below.
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All 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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