S.O.S. Debuts Sunday
In last week's Grace Notes, I explained the plan to provide music for our worship until we get a new regular organist by utilizing a web-based digital service called S.O.S., or Substitute Organist Service. You can read the details HERE. Our first use will be this Sunday, and will work much better than the links from youtube that I used last week. If you prefer a live musician playing the Grace organ, come Saturday 4pm, as Paul Lieber, one of the organists at St. John's Bellevue, will be our guest organist for that service. For services for the immediate future, we will use S.O.S. for both services.
"Under the Balcony" Remodel - Looks Great!
Work crews finished the "Under the Balcony" remodel, which removed the back three rows of pews and upgraded the flooring to ivory colored ceramic tile, which really looks elegant, and creates a very nice space at the back of the sanctuary. Many thanks to Fremont Floor Covering for materials and labor donation, the Property Committee for help in pew removal and hoisting to the balcony, and to Jim and Michaele for many hours of cleaning to get the worship space ready for the weekends during these messy projects!
Furnishings for the New Space
Now that the new floor space has been cleared and tiled, the next step is furnishings. Ideas already suggested are bar height tables and chairs behind the last row of pews, other seating, a table with a beverage bar. Ideas and suggestions can be given to the Executive Committee.
New Sanctuary RestRooms Should be Ready for Symphony
Progress has happened steadily for the last couple weeks, and it looks like the new facilities will be ready for the Toledo Symphony on Friday, December 1.
Toledo Symphony Preps Underway
Speaking of the Toledo Symphony concert, tickets have sold out, and the committee along with Grace staff have been busy doing all the necessary prep work. The upholstered chairs that had been in the balcony will be set in the new gathering space at the back of the sanctuary, replacing the seating lost to the removal of the pews. Additional chairs will be moved down from the auditorium to roughly equal the amount of available seating from last year. The County Jail work crew will again be available for set up The committee has been busy with other preps such as ushers and their instructions. I have two F Sections tickets that could use a home, so if you need one or two, let me know - otherwise they will go unused.
Grace Stories
The latest Grace Story subject is Judy Overmyer. You can read this inspiring story in the December issue of Grace & Truth, or you can also read it HERE. Many thanks to Maureen, who interviews for and writes many if not most of stories that we are able to read every month in this very excellent feature of our Grace communications.
A Great Thanksgiving
I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving. I did. Marcy and I traveled to Bethel Park, PA (South Hills of Pittsburgh) and spent the day at the home of Marcy's sister Peggy, and her husband Mark. We stopped at Asbury Villas assisted Living in Mt. Lebanon to pick up Martha, Marcy's mom. Son Erik joined us so there was six around the dinner table. This was the first Thanks givng in a very long time that Martha was able to spend thanksgiving with her family. She had lived in Missouri since marrying Philip in 1999, so Thanksgiving was almost always spent with Philip's family. Both Martha and Philip were in assisted living together in Fayette, MO, until earlier this year when Martha decided to move back to PA to be closer to family, as Philip has dementia. She has been a great mother-in-law. Hope we can have some more Thanksgivings together.
Scouting for Food
I received this email message from Danielle Wagner, Grace's chartered Cub Scout Pack 302 Cubmaster:
Pack 302 collected 971 non perishable food items for the Soup Kitchen. 40 of those items were donations from the church members.
Thanks Pack 302 Cubs, for keeping the Cub Scout Promise to help other people!
Final Shipment of ELW's Arrives
We received 40 ELW's from ARKANSAS-OKLAHOMA SYNOD this week, which is the final shipment of our ELW campaign. These were books that were sent to the synod from congregations which had closed, and which the synod advertised as available for adoption. Only cost is for shipping. The church office is still working on the bookplates, making sure that all the information provided by members sponsoring new books is correct. When it's all ready, we'll advertise for some volunteers to install the bookplates, and then they will be ready for use. Christmas will be a good goal to shoot for.
ELCA Worship News
You can read the latest issue HERE.
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