E-News

Meet Our New Parish Administrator | Hello! My name is Dani Riechers and I am from Clemson, South Carolina. I moved to Durham with my fiance a few years ago after spending 6 years in Boone. I have worked for various non profits in the area and I am excited to serve in this new role.

Welcoming Our Grace House Family | Please join us for a Welcome and 1/2 Birthday Party for Jeanazia and her daughter! We will be celebrating after divine worship, 11:30, on Sunday, November 1st.  We will have a 1/2 cake, cupcakes and refreshments. No gift is required, but if you’d like to bring something, please see the following list:

A homemade 1/2 year birthday card, a gift card for Food Lion, Walmart or Amazon, new or gently used six months and up baby clothes, size 3 or 4 diapers and bottles (Nuk, Parent Choice and Tommee Tippee). Jeanazia likes anything pink or purple!

Fall Festival Update | This past Saturday the building was filled with chatter as people participated in fun activities during Gather at Grace: Fall Festival. As guests arrived children received a Fall Festival Passport inviting them to play games, make crafts, paint pumpkins, listen to stories, make cards, and search for Bible verses hidden throughout the event. Along with guests, many Grace members offered their time to serve at this event. Thank you to everyone who helped make this possible! It was so fun to watch as guests left smiling, with a reminder of Christ’s love!

Heart of Wisdom Discussion | Grace is partnering with Advent Lutheran Church for a series of conversations on end of life from a Christian perspective on October 24th. There will be presentations on the medical, legal and ethical issues facing end of life decisions. Guest speakers include Rev. Robert Fleischmann, Honorable Paul Stam, Former Speaker Pro Term NC State House, and Dr. Joshua Briscoe, assistant medical professor at Duke.

Join us at Advent Lutheran Church from 8:30am-2:30pm for discussions, q&a and lunch! Click here to learn more and view our flyer. RSVP to secure your spot today!

Grace Workday | Join the resource team for a workday at Grace on October 24th at 9am! Coffee, snacks & all the gear is provided. Questions? Contact Kathy Peterson.

LIFE Skills Foundation Tour | The LIFE Skills Foundation has invited Grace members to tour their facilities and learn more about the program. A tour is scheduled for October 30th at 10am. RSVP to Deac. Anna if you would like to attend. This is a great chance to connect and learn more about the organizations in Durham that you, through Grace, are supporting!

Click here to learn more about the LIFE Skills Foundation.

Pickleball Small Group | Join the pickleball small group on the second and fourth Sunday of each month, weather permitting, from 1pm - 2pm at Morreene Park in Durham. This is a great chance to learn pickleball if you've never tried it or get better if you have! Either way, this will be a great time for community! Contact Noah Voelker if you are interested.

DCO Conference Update | At the beginning of the month, Grace blessed me with the opportunity to attend the LCMS Southeastern District Churchworker Conference. It was a wonderful event centered around the theme "RENEWED." Along with new insights and hearing from other ministry leaders, this conference allowed time to pause, remembering that we, in baptism, are renewed every day. I also got to reconnect with old acquaintances and meet new people from throughout the district. This fellowship with other church workers always refreshes and excites me about all the amazing ways I see God at work here at Grace! -Deaconess Anna

-Small Groups-

Choir: Contact: Erin Hodge

Contact Erin for rehearsal dates and times.

Family Pals

Contact: Donna Walston

Next Meeting: November 15th at 9am

Farmers Market

Contact: Dan Heuser

Faith at Home Ministry

Contact: Barb Tippin

Learn more about the H-C PALS Group here.

LWML Quilting

Contact: Kathy Pittman

Meets Wednesdays at 10am

Stephen Ministry

Contact: Barb Tippin or Joe Wethman

Learn more about Stephen Ministry here.

Young Adults

Contact Emma or Hunter Garrison

Sundays at 3pm

Zoom Book Club

Contact Donna Gesell for more information and for the Zoom link.

Next Meeting: Nov. 9th @ 6:30

Color of Death by Trey Gowdy

Upcoming

December: Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett

-Upcoming News-

Click here to learn more about these events.

10/24 - 8:30a - Heart of Wisdom Discussion

9am - Grace Workday

10am - Grace Oratorio rehearsal

10/28 - 6:15p - Lutheran Spirituality

7pm - Everyday Missionary Group

10/30 - 10a - LIFE Skills Foundation Tour

11/4 - 5:30p - Hymn Committee

11/9 - 6:30p - Book Club

11/11 - 12:45p - Faith at Home Ministry Mtg

11/14 - 5:30p - Chili Cookoff & Food Drive

11/18 - 12:30p - Wednesdays at One

12/12 - Farmers Market Christmas Market

Click here for the church calendar.

Click here for updates on Facebook.

Click on the image above for more information.

-Student of the Month-

Meet Freshman Cooper Boyles!

Hometown: Lincolnton, NC

Education: I plan to major in public policy with a minor in education. I am also considering a double major in Economics.

Outside the Classroom: I love hanging out with friends, grabbing coffee and binge-watching shows. I currently serve as Belonging Chair for Blackwell-Randolph House Council, as well as a Senator on the Durham and Community Affairs Committee.

Fun Fact: I sang in my church's choir for 4 years in HS and sung the National Anthem at multiple events.

Why I’m a Duke Lutheran: I think that college is often a place where faith is tested but also becomes incredibly important to lean on. I am glad to have joined the Duke Lutherans Community to support my faith as I branch out in life through college.

-Help Feed the Duke Lutherans-

Do you love to cook and help to care for kind and grateful students?!

Then we have good news for you because the Duke Lutherans Sunday Night Dinners are back!

The directions are simple:

You provide the food; we provide everything else (beverages, plates, utensils) and the hungry appetites! We usually have around 15-20 students. Please also provide one main vegetarian dish. The students like fresh fruit and veggies too and LOVE dessert.

Please arrive at the Duke Lutherans Center by 5:15pm so that we can help carry in and unpack the food. Evening Prayer begins at 5:30 (which means we'd love for you to join us for worship first) followed by dinner at 6:30. (Pro tip: crockpot meals are a great choice because they'll help to keep the food warm while we worship.)

Sign-up here. If you have any questions, please contact Campus Pastor Amanda Highben: 612-418-4192, amanda.highben@duke.edu

Thank you so much for sharing in this ministry of love and grace!

Want to get more involved with the Duke Lutherans? Click here to learn more!

-From the Church Office-

All articles for the weekly e-news should be sent to the church office no later than the Wednesday prior to the Thursday mailing. This form may also be used to submit articles.

If you have current / recent pictures of church events please submit them here to be added to the website, slides and Facebook posts! Thank you!

Want something featured on the Grace Facebook? Submit it here!

Please be aware of phishing scams as they continue to impersonate Pastor Brooks. If you are unsure if what you have received is legitimate, please call or email the church office before engaging with these emails or text messages.

October Baptisms, Birthdays, and Anniversaries

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