Following Jesus, we love, welcome and serve.

View Grace's Statement of Welcome

I am filled with gratitude.

We had a great Sunday, with worship, Local Mission and DEIJ teams and Session meetings, and... people unloading pumpkins until nearly 10pm, since the truck was 8 hours late. And the remarkable thing was the attitude of the folks working by headlight- no complaining, just let's get this done- with laughter and good humor.

And this week (and the past few weeks,) Jason, Kim and Ginger have pulled extra weight in Ami's absence while juggling their own significant workloads (one example, Ginger has put together the newsletter that you are now reading...).

I'm also grateful for the opportunity to go to Give Kids the World again. We travel tomorrow. Wanda and Dave Turpin, Camille and Brad Ward, Claire and Geoff Brown, Karen and Tom Blackhurst, Larry and Marka Eckhardt, Beth Herendeen, Catherine Taylor, Karen Cable, John Badke and I will be doing 11 work shifts (averaging 4 hours each) doing everything from bussing tables to helping with horseback riding to delivering pizza. This is one of my favorite weeks of the year- for the time with Grace folks and serving at this amazing place.

Behave yourselves this week, make good choices and I'll see you when we get back!

Joanne

WORSHIP LINKS

Digital Bulletin

Livestream of the 10:15 service

SUNDAY'S SCHEDULE

8:00 am - Worship Service

9:00 am - Sunday School

10:15 am - Worship Service

11:30 am - Half Notes

11:30 am - Fellowship Team

5:00 pm - gYg

Opportunities to Give

DIMES FOR HUNGER 2026

Each October we collect the Dimes for Hunger offering. The money is distributed by our presbytery's Hunger Action Team to about 15 ministries within the 5 counties of our presbytery and to feeding ministries in Guatemala, Malawi, and Honduras. Our children collect this offering during worship each Sunday in October and they love to receive your coins, paper money, and checks (made out to Grace Presbyterian) for this special offering and will even have a QR code or use this payment link if you prefer to give online. Recently our presbytery met the goal of collecting $2 million since this effort began in 1978! This offering makes a difference to people having to choose between paying rent, getting their prescription medications, and having enough to eat. Thank you for helping our neighbors in need.



SWEET POTATO PIE BAKING BAGS FOR HISTORIC PARADISE

This year we will once again be collecting items to make a sweet potato pie for families in the Historic Paradise Neighborhood. Our goal is 25 bags.

There will be a collection box by the Fort Mill Care Center basket for the following items:

Sugar

Brown sugar

Flour

Nutmeg

Vanilla

Evaporated milk

The sweet potatoes will be generously donated by the Future Farmers of America of Fort Mill High School

We will assemble that bags at the November Grace Family First night.

Questions? Contact Annmarie Clark

STEWARDSHIP PLEDGES

Each October we focus on how our financial gifts along with the ways we serve impact the church and it's mission in the world. This year we are particularly focusing on "extending the love of Christ." Your giving to Grace allows us to do all the things we do for worship, fellowship and Christian education, but it also allows us to do amazing work in the community as we connect and serve with partners who are literally transforming the world. Grace was a wide impact, and it is possible because of your gifts.

As we ponder how we can reach out in 2027 your pledges help us form a plan or a budget for how we will do so. Each family is asked to consider your pledge for 2027 and to return a paper pledge card in the white offering box or to the office or to complete an online pledge card here by Sunday, November 1.

Thank you for your faithful giving and for making it possible for Grace to extend the love of Christ beyond our walls!



 Opportunities to Serve

FEED THE YOUTH GROUP

Our youth group eats together to build fellowship at our meetings. If you would be willing to provide a meal (cooked or ordered in) for a youth meeting, please let Jason know. We would be very grateful! We usually have 12-14 people at a youth meeting, which begins with dinner at 5pm.

Upcoming dates when meals are needed:

November 8

November 15



Thank you for your support!

GRACE PUMPKIN PATCH 2026

The Grace Pumpkin Patch is open for business! We are selling pumpkins and mums in and around the Pavilion. Please help make it a success by volunteering to help sell pumpkins and mums in the patch.

Volunteer to work shifts in the Pumpkin Patch

Please register on the Grace/Temple Sign-Up Genius here or check with the church office about available time slots. Volunteers are particularly needed on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays if you can spare a few hours on those days. Someone will train you at the beginning of each shift if you haven’t worked in the patch before. We have volunteers from local schools coming to help with some shifts in the patch but we still need an adult church representative for each shift.

The Grace Pumpkin Patch sends financial support to Thornwell Home for Children, Historic Paradise Foundation, Give Kids the World, Isaiah 117 home for foster children, and funds youth & other ministries here at Grace.

See Jason Davenport with any questions. Thank you for helping make this year’s Grace Pumpkin Patch a success!

Opportunities to Gather

WIDOWED FOLK GROUP

October 19th, 11:00am-1:30pm

This is a safe, loving place for those who have ever lost their life partners to share our lives hang out with each other then go to lunch. It is not really a "grief support" group. Count on good fellowship, good food, a few tears, and lots of laughter!

We meet in the conference room at Grace.

GRACE PRESBYTERIAN FALL CRAFT FAIR

October 24th 9:00am-1:00pm

Enjoy coffee and donuts while you shop our Fall Craft Fair (as well as our pumpkins and mums)! If you are interested in or have any questions about being a vendor, please reach out to Jill.



October 25 Trunk or Treat RSVP HERE

October 27 Fem and Them RSVP HERE

October 29 Groovy Movie RSVP HERE

Opportunities to Learn

ADULT EDUCATION GROUPS

• Tuesday Study Group (10am on Zoom) We are studying The Gospel of John, by Amy-Jill Levine. It's a great time to start with the group and we would love to have you join us. We watch a video and talk about the book. We will resume October 27.

• Wednesday Study Group *September 9 - October 14* (6:30pm-7:30pm on Zoom) we are part of the Presbytery study of The Color of Compromise. Join us! We will resume October 28.

E-mail Joanne for more information about either of these groups.

• Thursday Study Group (10am -11:30am hybrid) We are studying Invitation to Romans by Pamela Eisenbaum, part of the Disciple Bible Study Series. There is a video followed by a discussion about the readings and reflections of that week. This a participant lead study group.

E-mail Celia Wilson for more information. 

• Adult Sunday School (9:00am in-person) Come and join the conversation on Sundays! Our multi-generational Sunday School class is a great spot to connect with others at Grace and explore your faith! No prep or pre-requisite required, come as you are! As a reminder, our class officially starts at 9:15; we use 9-9:15 to chat and enjoy coffee as everyone gathers.

E-mail Dre Manoni for more information.

Upcoming Events

Sign up to work shifts in the pumpkin patch: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E45A8A82EAAFBC25-65721209-grace

The importance of the Pumpkin Patch: this fundraiser helps us keep our summer trip prices much lower than they would otherwise be. It also allows us to do fun activities throughout the year free or at reduced cost because of the funds raised. And just as importantly, the Pumpkin Patch raises money for Give Kids the World, Isaiah 117 House (foster children), Historic Paradise Foundation, and Thornwell Home for Children. These are great ministries doing Jesus' work.

October 18: Grace youth meeting, 5-7pm.

October 25: Trunk-or-Treat 4-5pm (Youth run carnival games for younger children); then youth meeting 5-7pm following Trunk-or-Treat

Click for the latest youth email updates

Here is a link to the Youth upcoming Fall Events

Celebrations and Concerns

BIRTHDAYS THIS WEEK

10/17 Randy Lindsay

10/18 Katy Stark

10/18 Jen Eckhardt

10/18 Rayne Dewey

10/21 Mallory Dittmer



ANNIVERSARIES THIS WEEK

10/15/1988 Claire &Geoff Brown

10/16/1982 Jim & Linda Cozzolongo

10/20/1984 Scott & Angela Kendall

10/22/1983 Brad & Camille Ward

PRAYER REQUESTS

As you pray this week, remember:

Gratitude for:



. All our blessings

Pray for:

·        Those who are sick or in treatment, including: Grace members Becky, Barry, Mike, and Larry, recovering from a broken hip, and our extended family and community, including Matt's mom and a friend Hilary, both diagnosed with breast cancer

·        Those in hospice care and making decisions about end-of-life care

·        The people of our country and for the world, we pray for justice, and for leadership committed to the same 

·        Evelyn, Elton, Allie, Gil & Binky and others in residential facilities and homebound folks Chuck & Karen, John & Brenda, Agnes, Ruthanna and Larry & Janet

·        People with, and families affected by, mental health and substance use disorders 

·        Those who serve in the military, including Grace folks Clay, Heath, Carrie, Daniel, David and Jacob, and for those former military folks who struggle

. The victims of natural disasters,

·      Our unhoused neighbors

·      Those who grieve

.      Those affected by the gun violence epidemic in our country

·      Those who will be born today and those who will die today

**You can submit a prayer request by e-mailing Joanne during the week or writing it down Sunday morning to give to a member of staff.



E-info

E-Game - Grace Wordle

Are you ready to combine the wordle craze with this Sunday's worship service? Check out the custom Wordle to see how many guesses it takes for you to solve the puzzle.

Receiving the Message

Did you know that you can watch our worship service each week?

• YouTube - Check out our YouTube channel. You'll find worship services on there as well as other great videos: hymns, anthems, historical pieces, and promo videos.