E-News

October 15th, 2026

-Sunday, October 18th-

Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost

Pastor: Pastor David H. Brooks / Organist: Erin Hodge

Scheduled to Serve

8:30 AM

Ignite Class

9:30 AM

Fellowship Time

10:10 AM - Divine Worship

Click here to download the worship folder

11:30 AM

Intro to Bible Class

3:00 PM

Young Adults Group

-Bull City Race October 18th-

This Sunday, October 18th, is the annual Bull City Run. The roads will be closed around the church so be prepared to take an alternative route and / or wait until the roads clear. They will be conducting "rolling openings" - opening the roads after the last runner is through that section. Click here to see the list of roads that will be closed and click here for the estimated times roads will be opening. Here is a map of the sections for the race.

-Making the eNews Easier to Read-

Dear Grace Family,

We want our weekly eNews to be a helpful, easy-to-read resource that keeps everyone informed and connected to what's happening at Grace.

Beginning this week, we're making a few small changes to how information is organized:

• News This Week will highlight events taking place within the next 10–11 days, making it easier to see what's coming up soon.

• Upcoming News will continue to include all scheduled events, along with links to additional information.

• Articles and Announcements may still be submitted to the church office for inclusion in the eNews. To keep the newsletter fresh and manageable, each announcement will appear for one week.

Nothing is being left out—just organized differently!

Our hope is that these changes will make the eNews easier to navigate, reduce information overload, and help everyone quickly find the news and opportunities that matter to them.

Thank you for helping us keep our Grace family informed and connected!

-Faith at Home Ministry -

Faith at Home Ministry | Keeping Our Grace Family Connected—Wherever They Call Home!

A new name, but the same caring mission! Our former Home-Centered PALS ministry is now Faith at Home Ministry, reflecting our commitment to staying connected with our older members who may no longer be able to attend worship regularly but remain a cherished and important part of our Grace family.

Would you like to help share God's love and remind someone that they are never forgotten?

Through prayer, friendly phone calls, personal visits, Eucharistic Ministry, and other acts of care and service, we help nurture relationships and bring the love of Christ to members wherever they call home.

There's a place for you in this ministry! Whether you enjoy visiting, making a phone call, praying for others, or simply offering a listening ear, your presence can make a meaningful difference. You don't need special experience—just a caring heart and a willingness to serve.Come learn more at our next gathering!

Wednesday, November 11 | 12:45 PM -- Following the noon worship service

Our gatherings include prayer, fellowship, learning, and opportunities to serve. We'd love to welcome you, whether you're ready to get involved or simply curious about the ministry.

Questions? Reach out to any of our ministry members: Barb Tippin, Tom McGill, Judy Barnes, Scott Gesell, or Joe Wethman.

Faith at Home—Because Being Part of Grace Doesn't End at the Church Doors!

-Growing Thru Grief Fundraising -

Growing Thru Grief (GTG) has offered free, weekly grief support to the Durham community for 13 years. It is sustained primarily by generous donations from GTG participants. The work of GTG is transformative! Growing Thru Grief helps people process their grief, begin to heal and grow, and learn to reimagine life again. Many participants credit GTG with saving their lives. But we could not do that work without generous financial support. This year, we are on track to help more people than we did in 2025, and we need your help in sustaining our efforts into 2027 and beyond. We would be grateful for your help toward this end!

You can give by sending a check to St. Paul's Lutheran Church at 1200 W. Cornwallis Rd., Durham, NC 27705 (include "Growing Thru Grief" in the "for" line). Online donations can also be made here, selecting "Give," and entering a donation in the "Growing Thru Grief" field.

To learn more about GTG visit us.

-News This Week-

Gather at Grace: Fall Festival | Join us this Saturday, October 17th, 11:30a-2:30p for our Fall Festival! This is going to be such a fun family friendly fall day with games, crafts and food! Come out and invite a friend!

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!

Wednesdays at One | This event, scheduled for October 21st at 12:30pm, has been cancelled! We ask that everyone who is able to attend the service for Rubie Hecht. More information on her service will be sent separately.

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.

Grace House | We have finished our preparations for the first floor apartment for Grace House. We did a final cleanup and safety check on Saturday. We’re hoping to welcome the LINKS participant soon. Thank you to all who helped clean, donate, transport furniture, and provide support for our team. We do have two items we plan to pick up 10/21 that are donations, including a gently used crib for the nursery and a gray rocker for the living room. Feel free to make some contributions to the welcome basket or recipe box that is in the church hallway across from the restrooms.

Click here to the updated first floor apartment.

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.

-Small Groups-

Choir: Contact: Erin Hodge

Contact Erin for rehearsal dates and times.

Family Pals

Contact: Donna Walston

Next Meeting: October 18th 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: Oct 19 @ 6:30

Girl From the South by Joanna Trollope

Upcoming

November: Color of Death by Trey Gowdy

December: Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett

Growing Thru Grief | Offers year-round support for those who are grieving the loss of a loved one. Meets at St. Paul's Lutheran Church (1200 W. Cornwallis, Durham). All are welcome.

Next Meeting: Tuesday, October 20th at 4pm

Topic - Engaging with Your Grief Narrative

Presenter - William Holloman

Click here for more information and the schedule.

-Upcoming News-

Click here to learn more about these events.

10/17 - 11:30a-2:30p - Gather at Grace: Fall Festival

10/19 - 6:30p - Book Club

1p - Service for Rubie Hecht

6:15p - Lutheran Spirituality Class

7p - Everyday Missionary Discussion Group

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

9am - Grace Workday

10am - Grace Oratorio rehearsal

10/30 - 10a - LIFE Skills Foundation Tour

11/4 - 5:30p - Hymn Committee

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

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

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

12/12 - Farmers Market Christmas Market

Click here for the church calendar.

Click h ere 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.