GRACE LUTHERAN CHURCHISSUE NO. 53 SEPTEMBER 2020

Dear People of God at Grace Lutheran Church

following-growing -connecting

It’s been 25 weeks since we last gathered for worship in our sanctuary. We’ve tried a variety of things in that time all new

to all of us. We have adapted and continued to be in relationship with one another despite all the things around us. We

have done our very best to follow the example of Christ, grow together, and connect with our community.

If I’m going to be totally honest with you, I have to tell you that this is not what I signed up for as a pastor. It has been

really hard from me to distance from you all, to not be with you in the hospital, and to sweat it out at drive-in church. But

through all the times I’ve felt like I wasn’t doing enough there have been moments where you all have righted the ship

and helped me to see what God is doing in all this.

Just this last week, the 24th week of trying new things, adapting, and making hard decisions we received a note

addressed to me and the council and this line of the note really spoke to me:

“I feel that our Church family has been strengthened in our faith and service.”

Even in times such as this, our online worship and parking lot gathering makes a difference, forms us in our faith and

binds us together in relationship with one another and Christ Jesus.

A few weeks ago we sang Built on the Rock, verses two and three really struck me and spoke to what we have learnedas a congregation through this:

“Not in a temple made with hands

God the Almighty is dwelling;

high in the heav'ns His temple stands,

all earthly temples excelling.

Yet He who dwells in heav'n above

chooses to live with us in love,

making our body His temple.

We are God's house of living stones,

built for His own habitation;

He fills our hearts, His humble thrones,

granting us life and salvation.

Yet to the place, an earthly frame,

we come with thanks to praise His name;

God grants His people true blessing.”

Though things are different, we are God’s house of living stones however we worship, however we follow Christ, grow

together, and connect with our community. Thanks be to God for our congregation’s ministry during this time.

God’s peace be with you all,

Pastor Cassie

PAGE 02

Following the example ofChrist, we are connecting with

community.

Thanks for showing your great love for our neighbors inneed at CCM! You col lected 168.4 pounds of personalhygiene i tems which CCM wi l l d istr ibute to those in needin our community!

A reminder to always consider CCM whenyou are out shopping as they always need

dry goods and hygiene items.

Thanks for continuing to support The Dwell ing withyour donations of underwear. We collected 27 pairs ofunderwear and 24 pairs of socks in August!

Page 02

The choir lof t project is going wel l ! We are wait ing for the t r im work to be completed and the organ tocome and for some clean up. Thanks to everyone who has helped with th is project , we look forward toshowing you the f in ished lof t soon!

I f you are interested in making projects l ike th is happen, consider making a gi f t to the Pay I t Forwardfund!

Thanks!

Have you moved?

Don't forget to share yournew address with the

church!(email and phone #, too!)

We are Growing together... Choir Loft Update

PAGE 02

Depending on your background and your own faithexperiences as a youth, everyone has a different idea ofwhat Confirmation is. Here at Grace Lutheran we are inthe midst of exploring what Confirmation is and areexcited to welcome every family into this discussion!Confirmation is the Affirmation of Baptism...in a nutshell,we are asking youth to affirm the promises made atbaptism, the same promises families made in having theirchild baptized. Although we mark this as a onetime event,Affirmation of Baptism is something we should do on aregular basis, Luther would argue everyday. We partnerwith 3 local congregations to give our youth anopportunity to know other Lutherans for a two-yearprogram that meets once a month.

We will be starting this year on zoom with hopes ofgathering in person later in the year. If you are acontinuing student or a new student contact Pastor forthe zoom link. Our first class is September 20th 3- 4Pm.

YOUR CHURCH IS PRAYING FOR YOU AS YOUNAVIGATE THIS SCHOOL YEAR!

The Blessing of Teachers and Students at the Start of A NewSchool Year (St. John Chrysostom)

Lord our God, in your wisdom and love you surround uswith the mysteries of the universe. In t imes long past yousent us your prophets to teach your laws and to bearwitness to your undying love. You sent us your Son toteach us by word and example that true wisdom comesfrom you alone. Send your Spirit upon these students andtheir teachers and f i l l them with your wisdom andblessings. Surround them with your protection, and thepower of your love. Grant that during this academic yearthey may devote themselves to their studies and sharewhat they have learned from others. Grant that they maylearn to love you not only with al l their hearts and souls,but also their minds, and may they help us to learn to loveour neighbors as ourselves.

We pray in the name of one whom the disciples called“Teacher,”Jesus Christ, Amen.

Have you been missing youradult Sunday school class? Ormaybe you wanted more afterthe synod's summertimejourney through Matthew? Jointhis f irst-ever synodwide studyof the Gospel of Mark led byBishop Smith. Use this l ink toregister:https:/ /docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSflnyDSoTVYpZuf2NVBmEuWOgsVKAwPRW7sMk1cXBqntI-M5g/viewform

We are Growing together... in Learning

IT'S TIME FOR CONFIRMATION!

Are you the parent of a 6-9th grader?

1 Carolyn Skeen

Rachel Armentrout

2 Rachel Herman

6 Teresa Price

7 Sherry Edinger

9 Richard Edinger

14 Bill Bump

16 Kinsley Davis

19 Mary Miller

21 Thomas Woller

22 Larry Beck, Sr.

23 Beverly Ferguson

30 Mason Beaver

Pat Wood

3 Mike and Jane Hill 15 Steve and Kathy Beck

David and Mary Sullivan 18 Bill and Margie Venable

4 Ken and Ellen Clayton 21 Mike and Lori Hughes

8 Eddie and Kathy Conrad 22 Paul and Cindy Myers

12 Del and Teresa Price

following-growing-connecting... and celebrating!

September

Birthdays& 

Anniversaries

We are Growing together... Endowment Fund Update

Dear People of God at Grace Lutheran Church,

For many years our congregation has had an endowment fund. An endowment fund is an investment fund established by afoundation that makes consistent withdrawals from invested capital. The capital in endowment funds, often used by universities,nonprofit organizations, churches and hospitals, is generally utilized for specific needs or to further a company’s operatingprocess. Endowment funds are typically funded entirely by donations that are deductible for the donors. While we have had anendowment fund, we have not utilized it in ways that could further our ministry and living out our mission at Grace LutheranChurch.

This year we are going to start making ministry happen with this fund and we invite your committee or a 501c(3) nonprofit thatyou love to apply to receive funds from our endowment.

Criteria for submissions are as follows:- Fill out the linked google form below, if you are unable to fill out an online form, paper copies will be available in the coffee areafor you to return.- The Committee is limited to the following portions of each annual distribution:

No more than 30% for capital improvement (building projects)No more than 70% for Christian formation (ministry opportunities that help us build relationships with one another and with God forming us to live out our baptismal promises.)No more than 40% outside the congregation to a non-profit 501c3 . (Examples include: CCM, the YMCA, Fair grove food pantry, etc.)

- These funds within the congregation are intended to be spent on something not already in the budget, and funds are to beimmediately spent not stored up and saved for a future project, and not for maintenance or upkeep of something already existing.- Submissions must be received by September 30th, 2020

We look forward to seeing the ministry opportunities God is calling you to through the ministry of our endowment funds.Submissions will be reviewed by our endowment committee in October and then approved by the council at their Octobermeeting.

If you have questions about the Endowment please contact: Mike Hill, Bill Venable, Bob Herman, Pat Wood, or Cindy Hunnicutt.

Fill out the attached form and return by September 30, 2020https://forms.gle/hBjKMEoqTZH7R9a69

We hope you will share this opportunity with organizations you are passionate about in the Thomasville community!

GRACE LUTHERAN CHURCHfollowing-growing -connecting

115 Unity St., Thomasville, NC 27360

tvillegrace@gmail.com 336.476.4114

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