Living Our Baptism Sermon
Listen to Pastor Tim’s sermon about Living our baptism. John the Baptist has gotten us started, and he reminds us that the rest is up to us. How are we doing with that? Are we working hard in stepping out in faith and trusting that God with guide us.
Continue readingWhat are your kids doing this summer?
It is never too soon to start planning for summer fun!
Agape Day Camp is back once again! Grace Lutheran and St. Philip Lutheran are teaming up to host Agape Day Camp again this year! This unique program led by Camp Agape counselors offers a weekly long program of songs, games, Bible studies, nature activities, crafts, skits, and more!
Who: Rising 1st through 5th graders (this is a program that must adhere to the age minimum and maximum)
What: Agape Day Camp
Where: Grace Lutheran Church
When: June 24-28, 2019, 9 AM til 3 PM
Program Fees: $105 per child
Need based scholarships are available, please contact Caity Stratemeyer
Registration fees also include snacks for the week and a Day Camp t-shirt. Campers need to provide their own sack lunch.
Summer programs fill quickly and many parents need to plan their camp schedules early. Let us know if your child will participate. Registration forms and at least a $50 deposit will reserve your spot!
Space is limited.
Share this post with family and friends that might be interested to join in the fun!
Blue Christmas – A Service of Healing
A Service of Healing – Sunday December 23rd at 3 pm
For some of us, the holidays aren’t always the joyous times you would expect.
You are not alone.
Come celebrate with us, to help find the joy in the season.
Please join Pastor Tim on Sunday, Dec. 23rd at 3:00pm for a special Blue Christmas service filled with carols and scriptures to help those feeling a little blue.
This service invites those grieving any kind of loss, who are depressed or feeling alone to come and experience the good news of Jesus.
All are welcome, tell your friends, share this post.
Elementary School Family Fellowship – Dec 2
Elementary School Family Fellowship – December 2nd
Our next monthly elementary school family gathering will take place on Sunday, December 2nd, immediately following the 11:00 AM worship service.
We enjoy a light lunch and then play together on the playground. All families with Elementary School age children are invited. Siblings are welcome too!
For questions or to RSVP
Contact Caity Stratemeyer.
Can’t make it? We hope to see you next time. We meet the first Sunday of the month. Check the Grace calendar and watch our Letter of Grace newsletter for updates.
Come Celebrate Advent – Prepare the Way
Advent is a time of preparation. The word advent comes from Latin – ‘ad’ which mean ‘to’ and ‘venere’ which mean ‘come’. We are waiting and preparing for the coming of our Lord, for the birth of Jesus on Christmas.
Food, Fellowship and Worship – Wednesday evenings
Beginning Wednesday December 5th, join us for food, fellowship and worship. The meal is served from 6 to 6:45 pm, followed by a 30 minute worship service at 7pm.
There is a different menu each week, including plenty of homemade desserts.
Advent dinners and services will be held on Wednesday December 5, 12 and 19th.
Advent Resources
Stop by the Grace Narthex to pick up Advent resources for your family – advent activities for all ages.
Greenway Walkers & Bikers – Dec 2018 Recap
December Walk Recap – Greenway Walkers and Bikers
Thanks to everyone that joined us for our December walk!
Join the next walk on Saturday January 5th.
Details of our December Walk
On Saturday, Dec. 1st at 9:00am we will walk part of Walnut Creek Trail towards the Neuse River. From Grace Lutheran take Millbrook which becomes New Hope Rd., continue through Poole Rd. intersection and then exit into the “Bluffs at Walnut Creek” on the right.
The parking area is on left at 1890 S. New Hope Rd.(#96 on map). Use your own judgment about any weather conditions that might not be comfortable or safe for you to walk.
Remember all ages are welcome to join us for this walk outing, and you can walk at your own pace.
Greenway walkers/bikers:
Why Am I Here?
Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” – GOSPEL: John 18:37
One time I was driving from home to work, when at the last minute I decided to take a route that I had never driven before. I said you myself, “self, let’s see where this road goes.” As I was driving, I came upon a young woman walking by the side of the road. I rolled down my window and asked her if she was okay or if she needed help.
She looked over at me and when she saw my collar and started crying (Note: I don’t always have that effect on people). I got out and went over to her and she told me that her car had broken down, and that her cell phone was dead, she was from out of town, and that no one would stop to help her. She said that she was praying as she walked, and then God sent her a pastor. I told her that she was correct because I NEVER come down this road, but I was led down this street today, just for her.
The Big Picture
Have you ever wondered why you are here, what your destiny is or why things happen the way that they do? Have you ever stopped to think about the bigger picture and what God has in store for you?
When Pilate questioned Jesus he asked him if he was the king of the Jews. Jesus, then, told him about destiny. Jesus said “FOR THIS I WAS BORN.” For this very moment I came to this world, to testify to the truth. Jesus knew the bigger picture, he knew that the events that were happening were leading to something more. Jesus knew why he was here.
Things to Ponder
Sometimes things happen in our lives for unexpected reasons and they leave us pondering why. And sometimes the answer comes to us quickly, like it did for me and that young woman on the road, and sometimes the answer comes later, and we say “Oh, now I get it!” God knows the reason that you are here. God moves us to places where God needs us to be, and it is our destiny to serve God.
So, let’s follow our destiny and follow Jesus in testifying to the truth, then the question of “why am I here?” will become clear.
PT
A Real Page Turner
As [Jesus] came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!” Then Jesus asked him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.”
When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, “Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign that all these things are about to be accomplished?” – Mark 13:1-5
The Suspense is Killing Me…
Have you ever read a book and just had to peek at the last few pages to see how it ends?
Maybe it was a romance… Maybe it was a mystery… and it was so intense that you couldn’t wait to find out what happened at the end? Maybe you just had to know if the two people get together…. Or maybe you just needed to know if the “good guys” win… in the end.
Every once in a while, I have found myself doing that because somehow it made it easier to keep going, if I knew that everything turned out okay in the end.
Fear of the Unknown
Seems that real life isn’t that different, is it? One of the things that scares us the most is the unknown.
In their conversation with Jesus on the Mount of Olives, Peter, James, John, and Andrew wanted to know how things would end before they had even begun their work of spreading the gospel of peace to people of all nations. Jesus refused to tell them how or when their world would end.
He did not believe that revealing the end to them would help them be better disciples or more effective evangelists. Would knowing the end of the story have strengthened their faith in any way?
In some ways we are not unlike those first followers of Jesus. Most of us have moments when we are curious to know how and when things in this life are going to come to an end.
While We Wait – Living Faithfully
However, we do know how the story ends, we know that Jesus was raised from the dead so that we could have life and have it more abundantly. But let’s not stand around waiting for the end. Let’s be about the task of doing the work of God now. The future is open. What matters is not that we know the end of the story but that we live faithfully in the meantime.
Intentional Giving Sermon
Listen to Pastor Tim’s sermon on intentional giving – Are you willing to give all you have for God’s use? But remember, giving is not just about money. Stewardship is everything we do after we say ‘We Believe’.
Continue readingWELCA News and Events – November 2018
Backpack Project Update – Lutheran World Relief
Grace WELCA members prepared 120 backpacks for Lutheran World Relief this year. All the fabric materials were donated. The school supplies were either donated or purchased. WELCA members thank all of you who so generously packed our bin with supplies.
Thanks to a Trivent grant and your donations we are well on our way. We need approximately $ 800 in additional donations to complete the project and ship the backpacks to their final destination.
CAN YOU HELP?
Several people have asked if they can purchase a backpack, the answer is yes!. You can purchase a filled backpack for a donation of only $20. Contact Lin Gunnet or Helen Hauser to make a donation.
November Meeting – Tuesday November 13 – 7 pm
We have a meeting scheduled for Tuesday, November 13 at 7pm in the church conference room. Hope to see you all there. Barb Rodberg is scheduled to present the Bible Study from our October, 2018, Gather magazine. We will do November’s study at our holiday party in December. We are seeking a volunteer to lead the December bible study.
Christmas Celebration – Dinner and Fruit Basket Preparation – December 14
WELCA will hold their annual Christmas Dinner and fruit basket preparations on Friday, December 14 at 5:30 pm in the Fellowship Hall. All women of Grace are invited to attend. Make your reservations by signing up on the WELCA bulletin board outside the church office or contacting Lin Gunnet. The cost for dinner is $10 per person.
Upcoming Schedule
There will not be a scheduled backpack sewing day or The Ladies Monday Lunch Bunch in November and December. These activities will resume in January 2019.
LIn Gunnet
WELCA President