Our Mission INSIDE THIS ISSUE.

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Charla McDowell
5 years ago
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Psalm 8:3-5 (NAV) This passage of scripture has always inspired me to consider God s handiwork in creation and the privilege that God has given to us as humans.

1 When I consider Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which Thou hast ordained; what is man, that Thou dost take thought of him? And the son of man, that Thou dost care for him? Yet Thou hast made him a little lower than God, and dost crown him with glory and majesty! Psalm 8:3-5 (NAV) This passage of scripture has always inspired me to consider God s handiwork in creation and the privilege that God has given to us as humans. The days of summer allow us (when it is not too hot) to get outside and enjoy the beauty of God s creation, whether you are in the mountains, at the beach, walking through the woods, out in the field, or just sitting in the shade or near a swimming pool. It is a blessing to be able to enjoy God s creation! The verse that follows describe how God has made us trustees (managers, stewards, or caretakers) over the works of God s hands. It speaks of the responsibility of this blessing, and how we are left in charge of its care and use. We recently talked about this at a confirmation class at Grace, when we were discussing the stewardship of money. We are given all of these things, in order that we might use it to serve God! This is a novel idea in comparison and contrast to the consumer mentality of the world in which we live. In scripture we are told that we have been placed on this earth to be stewards of God s handiwork and caretakers of all that we are given. We approach the ministry at Grace in the same way God has blessed us and we are called to use God s gifts to serve in making a difference. This is one of the challenges that was issued to the people of Grace on April 29 at the first Fifth Sunday worship and covered-dish meal to use our gifts to serve in a particular role in Grace s ministry. What particular gift has God gifted to you that you are able to express in the life of our church family? Now, during this time of interim in Grace s ministry, is an ideal time to put your gift into action where it is needed. Get involved and step up to the challenge of serving! We are fast approaching one full year of interim at Grace (July 2017 to July 2018). A lot has happened in this time! I am grateful for this time you have given me to serve with you as your Interim Pastor. We have worked and still are working through transition in our ministry together! New people (members and staff) are being drawn into Grace s church family to provide leadership. Honest and open communication has been key to keeping one another informed. That s just the way a healthy family talks and shares its life! May the people of Grace continue to communicate its hopes and desires with one another as it trusts in God s Spirit! Yours truly in Christ, Pastor Ken Transformation more often happens not when something new begins but when something old falls apart. Richard Rohr INSIDE THIS ISSUE Pastor Ken 1 Stewardship 2 Call/Thanks 3 HOP/GYM/Race & Rec 4 Save Date/B day 5 Calendar 6 Worship Assistants 7 Council Notes 8 Our Mission to welcome all people into a community of God s Grace, nurture disciples who live in faith, equip witnesses who share the Gospel, and send ministers who serve in love. Please Like us on Facebook

GRATEFUL GIVING DRIVES OUR MISSION 2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every

2 GRATEFUL GIVING DRIVES OUR MISSION 2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work. NRSV FROM THE STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE: We gratefully respond to God s magnificent gifts by joyfully giving of what He has first given us ourselves, our time, our talent, and our resources all signs of His gracious love for us. We give in abundance because we have received in abundance. Nowhere is that abundant giving more evident than in our beautiful Church Home. God has blessed us with this magnificent facility which our forbearers began 95 years ago. It is still simply mindboggling that a group of just 23 people had the vision, foresight, and FAITH to construct this beautiful sanctuary that is still perfect for us in this time. Their giving, and that of all of us who followed, and God s abundance astounds! This grace, abundance, and our grateful giving enable us to make our Church Home, God s Church, available to our community to share in His abundance. It is a joy and blessing to see so many activities going on at our Church Home Family Promise for the homeless, Food Preparation for Hunger Outreach, AA, Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts leadership teams, Chrysalis Autism workshops and meetings, South Carolina Writers group, York County Quilters, York County Newcomers KnitWits, Newcomers of York County Bible Study, Junior Women s Club of Rock Hill, Rock Hill Community meetings, voting precincts for elections, and the list goes on and on. Additionally, the Place of Grace is provided as a home to non-profits such as the York County Free clinic and the Adult Enrichment Center, and of course the White House our home away from home for Winthrop Lutheran and Episcopal students. These capabilities do not just happen, they come from God s grace, love and abundance and our grateful giving in response to that abundance to generously and joyfully share God s blessings. That is Ministry. Upcoming Stewardship Campaigns By Craig Ketner, Council Representative Council wants to make the congregation aware of two upcoming Stewardship campaigns. Both campaigns highlight this year's Stewardship theme of "Grateful Giving Drives our Mission". Grace will be sponsoring the 3-week "Love One Another" campaign benefiting Lutheran Services of the Carolinas beginning later in July. Pastor Ray Mohrmann will be at Grace July 29th (5th Sunday) to promote the campaign. "Love One Another" is an outreach capital campaign to support families in need locally in Rock Hill and South Carolina. The Grace Stewardship campaign "Grateful Giving Drives our Mission" will begin September 9th and conclude on September 30th (5th Sunday) with a meal after the combined 10am service. The Grace Family is invited to pledge in support of the 2019 Missional Spending Plan by the conclusion of the campaign. There will be a new option to submit your pledge for the 2019 Current Fund directly on Realm. In fact, you can submit a pledge now for the period from July to December 2018 on Realm. Pledges can be entered within the Giving section on Realm. The Giving section also provides a full 10 year history of your Giving to Grace. Use this link for simple instructions on How to Pledge on Realm. Pledging is available for both the Current Fund and the Property Debt Reduction (ACM) accounts but not the "Love One Another" campaign. Our grateful giving drives Grace s Mission to welcome all people, nurture disciples, equip witnesses, and send forth ministers who serve in love. 2

3 Review of the time of transition: April 2017, Pastor Chris submits resignation July 2017, Interim Pastor Ken begins October 19, 2017, Call committee formed October 22, 2017, Bishop Yoos meets with congregation takes us through the call process and conducts information sharing session from congregational members. November 2017, Call committee is installed and receives information gathered from the Bishop event and begins a thorough study of all aspects of the life of the parish. This is the Ministry Site Profile required by the ELCA. This study evaluates the health and needs of the congregation from information provided by Council members, chairs of committees and the congregation. February 2018, Call committee completes the study which is approved by the Council on Feb. 28 and submitted to the ELCA. March , The Bishop meets with the Call committee, gives us our charge and gives us three names of pastors who are potential candidates for us to consider. This begins the very time consuming visiting and interviewing part of the process. March June, 2018, Call committee has traveled to various congregations to observe candidates as they preach and conduct worship services. After all members have visited a candidate we conduct interviews of each candidate visited and rely on the Holy Spirit to guide us in this process. We continue to visit and interview. On behalf of the committee chairs, Grace recognizes and extends grateful thanks to for taking on the task of compiling committee notebooks for 19 chairmen and a master for the office. Hundreds of hours were spent putting them together so beautifully. Thank you, Pat, for your loving use of your administrative giftedness. Dear Friends, June 12, 2018 On behalf of Habitat for Humanity of York County, I would like to thank you for your recent donation of $ Because of your contribution, we are able to provide housing solutions in partnership with low income families in our community. Since our organization began in 1988, our mission has been to make safe, decent and affordable housing a reality for more families in our community. This year Habitat for Humanity of York County will serve 44 families. To date, Habitat has partnered with 170 families through new home construction, rehabs and home preservation projects. This is only possible because of contributions from thoughtful people like you. Sincerely, Ben Gair, Director of Development To my Grace family Just a note to thank you all for the calls, cards, food/meals, and prayers during the getting over from my head trauma. Know how very much each was appreciated. My brain is still healing but hopefully I ll be back to normal by the end of June. Thanks ever so much Pam Kirby 3 Dear Grace Family, Thank you so much for all your cards, words of kindness, and loving prayers following my recent heart attack and recovery. I am so grateful for good friends who love and support me. God has so richly blessed me and gives me strength every day as I live to glorify His name. Thanks Be to God, Betty Sue Seigler

4 Race & Reconciliation Update: The Race & Reconciliation group (which began as part of the Outreach Committee) has adopted a new name to reflect our partnerships with folks outside Grace: Race & Reconciliation in Rock Hill. The group will meet on Thursday evening, July 12, from 6:30-8:30 pm for an ice cream social at the Boyd Hill Center, 1165 Constitution Blvd in Rock Hill. Dr. Cynthia Roddey will be leading us in discussion of food, culture, and hunger. All are welcome. Lutheroad day camp at Grace was a great success, and I want to thank the many volunteers who helped make it possible. Chet and Ginny Miller hosted our four counselors at their home, provided breakfast and dinner all week, and even came to church to cook breakfast very early on Friday morning for the counselors and the campers who did the lock-in. Martha Zook arrived early each day to check our campers in and make it possible for the working parents to drop their campers off early. Tammie Harbert coordinated the snacks for the week and was our parent volunteer on Monday. Pastor Ken did a chalk art demonstration and activity with the campers on Monday, assisted by Barbara Davis and Brenda Hogue. Katie Romero designed beautiful camp t-shirts and helped the campers make them while she was the parent volunteer on Tuesday. Chad Cordle was the parent volunteer on Thursday, and Allen Lowrance spent the night at the church on Thursday to chaperone the lock-in. Elsa Edwards helped check out the campers at the end of each day. Leslie Dunnett coordinated the lunch on Friday afternoon for the campers, their families, and the counselors. Thanks to all these people for sharing their time and talents and for making it possible for Grace to host Lutheroad! Heather Litzinger SCHOOL SUPPLIES NEEDED FOR HOP CHILDREN Flint Hill Baptist will be hosting the HOP Summer Picnic again this year in their parking lot on August 7, 2018 from 6:00pm 7:00pm in conjunction with National Night Out (first Tuesday in August) for the people on the feeding route. Also, HOP has handed out school supplies to children at the cookout in past years and would like to do this again this year. Grace s Outreach Committee will be collecting the following school supplies for the month of July. Items need to be returned to the church NO LATER THAN Sunday, July 30: spiral notebooks pencils pocket folders glue bottles or sticks boxes of crayons marker packs pens notebook paper MEMORIALS & HONORARY GIFTS Received in June 2018 In honor of Bob Wasserman s Retirement Jennifer Landsly Music Fund 4 GYM CALENDAR (4:30 PM) July 1 - NO GYM (NYG) July 8 - GYM July 15 - GYM Girl s Group (3:30 PM) July 15 - GYM July 22 - GYM July 29 - GYM

SAVE THE DATE JULY 2018 Health Cabinet Meeting July 11, 6:00 PM (Conf) Seniors@Grace July 19, 11:30 AM LSC Fundraiser Kick Off Pastor Ray Mohrmann presiding July 29, 2018 Fifth Sunday Worship July

5 SAVE THE DATE JULY 2018 Health Cabinet Meeting July 11, 6:00 PM (Conf) July 19, 11:30 AM LSC Fundraiser Kick Off Pastor Ray Mohrmann presiding July 29, 2018 Fifth Sunday Worship July 29, 10:00 AM Pot Luck Meal July 29, 11:00 AM - Bring dish to share Vacation Bible School - July 30 - August 3 9:00 am - noon Shipwrecked AUGUST 2018 GYM Beach Retreat - August Family Promise - August 26 - September 2 SEPTEMBER 2018 Grateful Giving Drives Our Mission Annual Stewardship Campaign September 9-30 Stewardship Sunday Worship September 30, 10:00 AM Stewardship Celebration Meal September 30, 11:00 AM OCTOBER 2018 Annual Picnic - October 14 Elk s Park, 12:30 PM 2 - Kathy Taylerson, Pete Hildebrandt 3 - Craig Ketner 4 - Tammie Harbert 9 - Sig Huitt, Cindy Barber, Belenda Runyon, Chris Bustetter 10 - Ann Alewine, Jake Monahan 11 - Michelle del Castillo 12 - Kaila Stegall 15 - Pam Kirby 17 - Betsy Bartel 18 - Donna Wylie, Margaret Gillikin 19 - Rev. Tim Robinson, Brittany Booth 21 - Nona Schwarze, Martha Zook 22 - Dewain Theissen, Olivia Lowrance, Walter Garcia, Charles Carter 23 - Mary Wicker, Darice Capper 24 - Madeline Hazen, Connor Sidden, Michael Lindenbeck 25 - Allis Edwards 26 - Windy Cole, Joe Bennett 27 - Joe Warmoth, Neil Preston 28 - Cecelia Garcia 29 - Aiden Dunnett 30 - Tom Mitchell, Mike Dunnett, Caroline Floyd 31 - Tammie Vettorel NOVEMBER 2018 LIFT Retreat - Lutherock November 9-11 Celebration Service and Annual Dinner/Meeting November 18, 10:00 AM - Worship 11:30 AM - 2:30 PM - Meal and Meeting 5 FINANCIAL REPORT - June 2018 June giving for budget $41,373 Jan - June 2018 giving for budget $255,038 Jan - June 2017 giving for budget $269,730 Needed for budget 2018 $286,250 ACM giving in June $795 ACM campaign to date $723,290

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Please be aware that this project is still in the planning phase and may take some time to complete.

8 Floyd Ritchie gave council an update on the progress towards getting a new security system for the church. He is close to having a complete bid from a company in Fort Mill that would allow us to program times when the doors are locked and unlocked and have cameras at the entrances. Please be aware that this project is still in the planning phase and may take some time to complete. Council understands the need for prioritizing this and is working with the committee to implement an effective and timely solution. Pastor Ken's second 6-month contract expires in July, and council approved offering him another 6-month contract. At our 5th Sunday/combined service on July 29, former pastor, Rev. Ray Mohrmann, will be at Grace to promote the Lutheran Services of the Carolinas "Love One Another" campaign. We will also recognize the 95th Anniversary of our church's ministry. Preparation for the 2019 budget will begin at the August council meeting, so committees must have their budget needs communicated at the beginning of August. The campus ministry position description has been approved and advertised by the Campus Ministry Board. They will be conducting interviews for a new campus pastor soon. Bobbi Busteetter accepted the position of primary nursery attendant, filling the position formerly held by Amy Gamerl. NovusWay Ministries (Camp Lutheridge/Lutherock) sent a letter requesting financial support for summer camp. Council decided to share this need with the congregation in the bulletin and submit an endowment grant application. Grace Lutheran Church 426 Oakland Avenue Rock Hill, SC Phone: graceluthch@comporium.net NEWSLETTER DEADLINE Articles for the August 2018 newsletter are due by July 10, Feel free to the office at graceluthch@comporium.net or drop by Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Thank you! 8

Grateful Giving Drives Our Mission

Grateful Giving Drives Our Mission And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work. 2 Corinthians