E-News

Wishing Frank Oruwari Godspeed | Please join the Altar Guild this Sunday, November 2, following worship in the Fellowship Hall as we gather to wish Frank Oruwari Godspeed. This will be Frank’s last Sunday with us at Grace before he moves to Africa. Frank has been a faithful and joyful presence in our congregation, and we give thanks to God for his time among us.

Voters' Meeting Sunday, November 16 | Packets for the Voters' Assembly meeting for November 16 are available in the Narthex or online here. The main agenda item is the adoption of the Ministry Spending Plan (budget) for 2026.

Reminders:

• According to Grace's By-Laws, voting membership is to be renewed annually (see article below).
• Proxy voting shall be allowed for extenuating circumstances that prevent attendance. Such proxies are to state the reason for non-attendance and should be signed and submitted to the Secretary or Church Office 72 hours prior to the Voters' Assembly. Proxy forms are available in the narthex or may be filled out online here.

Voting Membership at Grace | Confirmed Members age 18 and older are invited to take an active role in discerning God’s will for our congregation by participating in Voters’ Assemblies. Voting Membership is renewed each year through a personal commitment to grow as a disciple, serve in ministry, and give faithfully. The Grace Advisory Board (GAB) has approved changes to the personal commitment card, to be signed by voters, as follows:

Commitment cards will be available starting this Sunday. Please submit your annual Commitment Card in the basket by the printed E-newsletters (across from the Welcome Center in the narthex) or to the GAB Secretary, Dede Crosmer, prior to November's meeting. You may also fill out your Commitment Card online here.

Duke Lutherans: Partner Church Sunday Evening Prayer | All are invited to join members of St. Paul and the Duke Lutherans for Sunday Evening Prayer and Fellowship Dinner on Sunday, November 9, in the Duke Lutherans Center from 5:30-7:30pm. We'll also collect non-perishable food items as a special offering in worship for Grace's food drive for Durham's Early Head Start program. Please RSVP to Pastor Amanda (amanda.highben@duke.edu) by Sunday, November 2, so that we have accurate numbers for dinner. We look forward to seeing you there!

Chili Cookoff | Grab your spoons and get ready for Grace’s first ever chili cookoff! We will gather at church at 5:30pm on November 15. Please sign up on the bulletin board above the water fountains or email Deaconess Anna if you plan to bring chili. All are welcome- and we'll need taste testers too!

"Surviving the Holidays"- November Wednesdays at One | Save the date for our November Wednesdays at One on November 19 with lunch at 12:30pm, followed by the session at 1pm. Presented by our own Beverly Hudgins, "Surviving the Holidays" provides support and practical tips for facing holiday challenges after loss. Click here to learn more about the program. Click here to RSVP.

Message from Donna and Mo | Grace Family, We have been through some difficult times, and we have felt every prayer. An adverse effect of the stroke Mo had in August has caused his admission to the Memory Care of Calyx Living. We are both adjusting to this change. He has his cell phone if you wish to call. Let me know if you should wish to visit. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers. ~Donna and Mo Walston

Baseball Equipment On Its Way to Puerto Rico | During Gustavo and Ruth Maita's visit to Grace this summer, a need was discovered in the form of baseball equipment for their mission work in Puerto Rico. Thanks to the hard work and dedication of Tom McGill, Robert McElfatrick, and Carol Walton, 60 baseballs, 24 aluminum bats, 8 gloves, 18 softballs, batters gloves, and more are on their way! Click here to read more about this work from Tom and stay tuned for an update whenever the equipment is received.

Ministry of the Month: Home-Centered Care PALS | Our group visits, calls, and prays for folks who are home-centered and often unable to attend church due to various reasons, primarily mobility and health issues. We also do book studies to learn more about how to best minister to our PALS. This group consists of former Deacons, current Stephen Ministers, and other servants at Grace who have a caring heart for our older members. Our mission is to serve and encourage these members while fostering connections among them. There are currently 19 older members with whom we connect on a regular basis. Current members of the group include Tom McGill, Judy Barnes, Scott Gesell, Joe Wethman, Joyce Rea, and Barb Tippin. New PALS are always welcome to join us! Contact Barb Tippin (barbaratippin@yahoo.com) if you are interested in learning more.

Marie Hammond, Peace Corps in Kenya | We have received a new update from Marie on October 26! Click here to read Marie's latest news and photos.

Interfaith Lunch & Learn Series | Our interfaith partners at Beth El Synagogue (1004 Watts Street) are hosting a monthly Lunch & Learn series to help bring people of all faiths together. Bring a vegetarian bagged lunch and an open heart & mind on Thursday, November 13 at 12pm as Bishop Ronald L. Godbee from The River Church in Durham discusses how Life is a Celebration of the Soul. Questions? Contact info@betheldurham.org or 919-682-1238.

-Recurring News-

Zoom Book Club - Contact Donna Gesell for more information.

Future books:

November: Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q Sutanto

Family PALS- Contact: Donna Walston

Next meeting: Sunday, November 16 at 9am.

Home-Centered PALS - Contact: Barb Tippin

Next meeting: Wednesday, November 12, 12:45pm

Learn more about the H-C PALS Group here.

Racial Reconciliation - Contact: Geoff Heintzelman

Stephen Ministry - Contact: Joyce Rea or Joe Wethman

Next meeting: Monday, November 17 at 6 PM.

Learn more about Stephen Ministry here.

Young Adult PALS - Contact Emma Pollard or Hunter Garrison

Meets Tuesdays at 7pm

-Events 10-30 - 11/5-

11/2 - See Sunday listing above

11/3 - 11:30 AM - Pastor's Brown Bag Bible Study

11/4 - 4 PM - Growing Through Grief - St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 1200 W. Cornwallis

7 PM - Young Adult PALS Group

11/5 - 10 AM - LWML Quilters

12 PM - Noon Prayer Service

6:30 PM - Choir Rehearsal

Click here for the church calendar.

-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.

October Birthdays, Baptism Birthdays and Anniversaries

November Birthdays, Baptism Birthdays and Anniversaries

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