Fall Fest to Move Indoors
With horrible weather (rain, wind) predicted for the weekend, the Fall Fest planning team has decided to move some of the outdoor events indoors, including the Soup Cookoff. The DJ will make his own call, and if the weather's bad, the car show persons will just not come. That shouldn't stop us from coming to Grace from 4-6 on Sunday for some fun and lots of will be very tasty soup samples!
Update on New ELW Hymnals
We now have enough new ELW (Evangelical Lutheran Worship) books sponsored (252) along with used books donated by closed congregations (162) to go ahead with ordering the new books. The Toledo Symphony Committee voted to provide $1,000 from the Symphony fund to cover the cost of a price increase and shipping. The church office will prepare bookplates with memorial information, and volunteers will apply the bookplates on the inside cover of new hymnals once they arrive. This will all take a bit more time - I'm hoping we have the ELW's in the pews in time for Advent.
Parking Lot
At Council Monday night, funding was approved for parking lot sealing and striping. Logistics include finding a contractor to do the job in the remaining warmer days of fall. A stopgap solution short of full sealing and striping will be to get cracks sealed.
Praying for Peace in the Middle East
The news stories of terrorist killings and kidnappings by Hamas on innocent Israeli men, women and children in southern Israel have been horrifying, and the violence and death only seem to be escalating as Israel prepares for a Gaza invasion. Our ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton has issued a statement, which you can read HERE. Bp. Eaton's message has several links at the bottom, including Churches for Middle East Peace which does a weekly Zoom prayer meeting on Wednesdays from 12:30 - 1:00 pm. I'm planning to check this out. Zoom link can be found HERE.
Learning About the History of Modern Israel
This week in the Wednesday Spirit Bible Study that I lead, we began to learn more about the history of modern Israel beginning with the beginnings of Zionism (the belief that Jews should return to their ancestral home) and the immigration of Jews to Palestine in the late 1800's. We got as far as 1947, and the United Nations Partition of Palestine in 1947. We will continue to review the history with the War of Independence and the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, and the several wars and continuing conflict that has been a way of life up until the present day. I will draw on some of my own experience - I spent January of 1974 in Israel on a college trip, three months after the Yom Kippur, or October war of 1973. Come and join us and learn more about the story behind the news - 6:00 on Wednesday, and join us also for supper -- the menu looks fantastic! (Pork Roast, Mashed Potatoes w/Gravy, Stuffing, Green Beans, Dinner Roll)
Stewardship Program Ready to Launch
Our Stewardship Appeal, under the theme "Blessed to Be A Blessing," will launch this weekend and will run for six weeks. During these weeks, instead of Confession and Forgiveness we will use a Stewardship Litany. On October 22, 29 and November 5, Grace members will share stories of faith, mission and generosity in temple talks at the beginning of worship. Prior to the offering on those weekends, we will hear of three mission initiatives that we are are asking for increases in our giving to fund. Everyone will receive a Statement of Intent card in the mail, and be asked to return it on November 12. Pastor, Stewardship Team and Council members will complete theirs first, and inspire the rest of us with our leadership. We'll report and celebrate the results with refreshments following worship on November 19. A professionally designed brochure, intent card, and bulletin inserts will help to tell the story and inspire us to participate. Pray that we meet our campaign goals!
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