A weekly newsletter of
1200 Charles Street La Plata, MD 20646
www.growingwithgrace.org 301-932-0963
Ed Huber, Pastoral Asst. Jeff Burkee, Principal
Worship Times & Locations (Summer Schedule in Effect through Labor Day) Sunday 9:30 am Liturgical Worship Sanctuary
Adult Sunday School 8:30 am—9:15 am #116
(communion 1st, 3rd & 5th Sundays)
Sunday 11:00 am Contemporary Praise Family Life Center (communion 2nd, 4th & 5th Sundays)
Nursery Open: 9:15 am—12:15 pm
Wednesday: 6:30 pm Worship & Prayer with Communion
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, I am writing to thank you all for your wonderful cards and generous gifts. While we enjoyed them all, the ones created by the children had the charm and faith that only children possess.
This morning we are honored to welcome Rev. Dr. Jon Diefenthaler as our guest pastor.
Sorry for the long delay in writing! Between moving and other matters the weeks slipped by us. We are both very appreciative of all Grace has done for us and look forward to visiting in the future.
Many may remember Rev. Diefenthaler from his time as President of the Southeastern District LCMS (2003-2012). Currently he serves as a church-relations advisor for Lutheran World Relief; as an adjunct professor at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis; as a regent for Concordia College, Bronxville; and as a member of the Board of Directors of Wheat Ridge Ministries.
Betty and I are doing well and are adjusting to retired life. We love our new little house but still have a garage full of boxes. I am writing quite a bit and expect a new children's book out in 2019. You remain in our prayers.
Welcome Rev. Diefenthaler! We are glad you are here and thank you for sharing the Gospel with us this morning. Sunday, July 29, 2018
In Christ, Rev. Charles M. and Betty Long 1
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Sunday Morning Fellowship During the summer, Coffee Hour is available every Sunday and is located in the Common Ground Cafe only. Please join us for assorted donuts and beverages—and for fellowship.
Spiritual Care If you require spiritual care after office hours or on weekends, please contact Ed Huber, Licensed Deacon 301-934-5365.
Communion Statement The Lord’s Supper is celebrated at Grace Lutheran in the confession and glad confidence that, as He says, our Lord gives into our mouths not only bread and wine but his very body and blood to eat and to drink for the forgiveness of sins and to strengthen our union with him and with one another. Our Lord invites to his table those who trust his words, repent of all sin, and set aside any refusal to forgive and love as he forgives and loves us, that they may show forth his death until He comes. Because those who eat and drink our Lord’s body and blood unworthily do so to their great harm and because Holy Communion is a confession of the faith which is confessed at this altar, any who are not yet instructed, in doubt, or who hold a confession differing from that of this congregation and The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, and yet desire to receive the sacrament, are asked first to speak with the pastor or an usher. (See: Matt 5:23f; 10:32f; 18:15-35; 26:26-29; 1 Cor. 11:17-34). Grape juice and gluten free wafers are available.
Altar Flowers Altar flowers are given to the glory of God by Dave and Jane Gehris in celebration of their 57th wedding anniversary. Arrangements are $25 and payment can be placed in the offering plate, noted for “altar flowers”. You can take your flowers home after the late service. Please remember to return the vase to the old kitchen when your flowers have faded.
Offering & Attendance for June Avg. weekly attendance: 136 Avg. weekly offering: $8,373.50 Sunday, July 29, 2018
[email protected] Prayer Requests General: Curt Springer, Frank & Dawn Cartwright, Tim Motz, Patricia Southerland, Kurt, Kiersten Yake, Abigail Jenkins, Lelisa Duke, Shirley, Missy Bowie, Rich & Merry, Charles Walburn, Steve McClead, Miranda & Christian Sprague, Del Riege, Steve Lindsey, Gisela Jaschik, Thomas Chen Those Battling Cancer: Ken Ritch, Pastor Timothy Parsch, Peter Tretner, Christina Allen, Rob, Carol Whitsell, Alice Levine, Dean Wolinsky, Lois Hookham, Sherry Taylor, Donald Lutz, Jesse Stump, Chris Moorhouse, Nichole Garner, Megan Jenkins, Carol Ann Sowers, Adam Lumpkins Those in Nursing Homes: Louise Fowler Our Military/Civilians Overseas: Anthony Erwin, Jason Burkee, Chris McMahon, Wesley Murray Missionaries: Bob and Salme Bugenhagen, Dave and Karen Bradley (Congo) Mark and Megan Mantey (Uganda) Special Requests: Our transition process and finances. 2
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This Week at Grace
July 29—August 4, 2018
SUNDAY (29) 2 pm Ch. Hall Vets Ministry 7 pm Men’s Bible Study
off-site #112
Bill Eckman, 301-934-4874 Frank Cartwright, 301-674-0772
MONDAY (30) 6:10 pm Yoga Basics 7 pm Call Committee 7 pm Stephen Ministry Mentors
FLC #112 #116A
Annah Rinaldo,
[email protected] Curt Springer,
[email protected] Paul Lenker,
[email protected]
TUESDAY (31) 6:30 pm Men’s Aftercare 6:30 pm Women’s Aftercare 7:30 pm N.A.
#209 #112 FLC
Paul Lenker,
[email protected] Paul Lenker,
[email protected] contact main office
WEDNESDAY (1) 7 pm Praise Team Practice 7 pm Daniel Plan
FLC #112
Jake Pomrenke, 240-346-3215 Jean Nelson,
[email protected]
THURSDAY (2) 12:45 pm Nursing Home Ministry 6:30 pm BSA Troop #1321 7 pm N.A.
off-site Sanct. #116
Ann Stine, x 310 Cris Purnell, 301-502-1720 contact main office
FRIDAY (3) 7:30 pm N.A.
#116
contact main office
SATURDAY (4)
Food Pantry Needs
SUMMER OFFICE HOURS Mon—Thurs: 9am—1 pm Friday: Closed During the summer , requests for food assistance grows and we ask that you remember this ministry when you are out grocery shopping—maybe pick up a few extra items to donate. All kinds of non-perishable donations are accepted (remember to check expiration dates).
September 16, 2018 Mark your calendar and plan to join us on Sunday, September 16, as we celebrate the Ordination of Ed Huber into Pastoral Ministry and the call to serve as Grace’s pastor during our time of transition.
Donated items can be left in the basket in the Narthex. Thank you for your continued support of this ministry.
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Community Life
LWML Mite Offerings Report
updated July 2018
WE NEED YOU!! Grace Lutheran Church and School has lots of ways for you to get involved. The “Hospitality Network” is part of our Community Life Out-reach and In-reach. From volunteering in our Cafe for Coffee Hour, to creating a loving and caring environment for funerals, to working events and receptions, this ministry brings many rewards. We would love to have you join our team. If interested please contact Becky Hoffman 301-751-1167.
Mission Goal for 2017-2019 Biennium: $2,075,000.00 Amounts as of June 30, 2018 Amount Received: $1,164,288.19 Total Mites Still Needed: $910,711.81 You and your congregation help support LWML Mission Grants through individual Mite Box offerings to local societies, zones, and districts, the LWML website's online donation process, setting up recurring electronic donations through Joyful Response®, by calling the LWML office - 1.800.252.5965, or mailing your contribution to: LWML, 3558 S. Jefferson Ave., St. Louis, MO, 63118.
Hospitality Network members are: Terri and Jim Anderson, Nancy Miller, Alice Adams, Betty Rowe, and Sandy Curtis. You will see more of their smiling faces as they are placed on our Coffee Hour scheduling for the upcoming months. We can always count on the Scopp and the Cartwright families for filling in when needed! Thanks to Jeff Burkee for always making sure the Cafe is in tip top shape and to Lily Boswell for always taking care of the Tuesday Ladies during their meeting days. Coffee and donuts/pastries are available in the Cafe and FLC after all services (except on Easter and 5th Sundays). During the summer months, Coffee Hour is in the cafe only. Due to summer schedules, there will be no 5th Sunday Fellowship in July. Our next 5th Sunday Fellowship, a church picnic, will be 9/30.
Transition Process Prayer Corner May the Lord prepare our hearts and minds for our new pastor. That the Lord would bless and guide the work of the Call Committee. That the Lord would provide Grace with willing and enthusiastic volunteers. May the Lord bless the ministries of Grace and continue to enable us to spread the Gospel message in our community. Sunday, July 29, 2018
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2018 SHARE Food Network Thousands of families count on SHARE each month for affordable, nutritious groceries that are sold through volunteer-run locations throughout the Washington Metropolitan area.
Dawn Cartwright, a member of Grace, is the new chairman of the LWML DCMARVA Zone and is responsible for the Zone Banner at the Chesapeake LWML Convention, Sep 21-23, 2018. The theme is "Our Journey With the Lord" based on Rev 22:13.
Monthly value packages cost $2022 and include $40-$50 worth of basic and healthy groceries, typically made up of 4-5 lbs of frozen protein products, 1-3 grocery items and 8-9 lbs of fresh produce.
On page 8 of the Chesapeake Breeze (located in the information centers) is information on the banner's construction. If you would be willing to work on this, have any ideas please contact Nancy Miller,
[email protected], or Dawn Cartwright,
[email protected]
The August menu is now available (see pg. 6). For more information please contact Alice Adams at 301-885-1819. In 2015, the McCawley family from South Carolina experienced an unimaginable tragedy when two of their five children died in a UTV accident while on vacation in Texas. Their grandparents, residents of Charles County, are friends of Dave Gehris, through his involvement with Rotary, where the grandfather is also a member, and ministry at the Charlotte Hall Veterans Home, where the grandmother works. Their annual fundraising event will be held on August 18 with a game at the Blue Crabs Stadium. In addition to the game, there will be a oneday camp led by retired Blue Crabs pitcher Jim Ed Warden. Tickets can be purchased via the link on the left. For additional information, please visit the SaMercy Facebook page.
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A special theme during the month of August will be the dedication and blessing for our homes. This special rite only takes a few minutes and it is an excellent opportunity for shared prayer over your home and a blessing for those who live there. Please contact Andi in the main office at 301932-0963 or
[email protected] to add your name to the schedule.
Facilities Corner
updated July 2018
Summer is here and boy is it hot and stormy. Our facility and grounds are in pretty good shape thanks to the many hands that have kept things in order over the fall, winter and spring months. Thanks to Bill Burroughs Sr, Jerry Miller, Scott Gingerich, Bill Swartzwelder, John Funk, Marshall Gibbs, and the Stines who attend to our grounds and other facility needs throughout the year. Many thanks go out to Paula Grant and family for taking care of our “Butterfly Garden”. We are very appreciative of the many volunteers that keep our facility up and running. Thanks to Bill Burroughs for keeping up with the lightbulbs in the building that need replacing, to Billy Hoffman for looking out for the electric & lighting upgrades, and to Bill Hoffman for keeping our kitchen equipment and other odds and ends in good condition.
Projects In Process
Grant funds for replacement window project in the pre-k wing. The SMECO light project for replacement to LED’s is complete. We had an audit by SMECO and were approved for over $20,000 in rebates for this project. The remainder of the project were funded with the proceeds from the 2018 Wine and Cheese Social & Auction. All phases are complete and we are waiting for our inspection. Once the inspection is complete we will receive our rebate. Solar panels—Currently scheduling an audit for this project Scout shed
Drainage maintenance and blockage Drains have been flushed and schematics are to be furnished by Magnolia Plumbing as a tool to further investigate drainage issues. Broken pipe in back playground to be repaired
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Planter boxes—Eagle Scout project by Jacob Deal (should be completed by the end of 2018) AC and heating repair and maintenance Repair of gates around dumpsters (to be replaced by Massey Fence & Decks) Replacement of lattice fencing around AC units outside old kitchen. (to be replaced by Massey Fence & Decks) LED fixtures and bulbs in the modular, maintenance rooms, FLC bathrooms, kitchen, storage and mezzanine. Painting, roof repair and numerous facility and maintenance projects going on over the summer. Church bathroom upgrade (women’s $8500, men’s $6500). We have received anonymous donations for this project and expect to begin within the next 2 weeks.
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