News and Events

Our first Lenten dinner and Bible Study will be held on February 24th begin- ning at 6:30 in the social hall. Everyone is invited to come and have dinner with friends (old and new!) and participate in our Lenten Bible study. Child care will be offered for children (up to age 5) and a children's program (up to 6th grade) with

fun Lenten activities will be provided. This is a great opportunity for families of all sizes and shapes to grow in faith! This year's topic is "Lessons of the Parables: Straight to the Heart". These parable studies will combine Bible Study and a DVD dramatization of the parables to help us to understand the customs and culture behind the parables and to feel the impact of Jesus' message on our lives today. The Lenten offering will support our missionaries Stephen & Marta Deal and Camp Victor (the center helping hurricane victims).

It's that time of year when we will soon welcome new members into our community of faith! If you would like more information about membership at Grace or would like to be included in the spring reception of members, please contact Pastor Krais in the church office- 610-948-3684 or jkrais.gracelutrn@verizon.net. You are invited to come grow with us in God's grace!

The next season of FAITH FIVE devotions are available! You may pick them up in the Welcome Center or ask for an electronic copy by emailing Pastor Krais. I'd love to hear from you and your journey as a FAITH FIVE family!

If you're wondering what the FAITH FIVE is... it's a faith commitment to spend five minutes gathered as a family each day to pray, read a Bible passage, tell about what it means to you, and be blessed! See Pastor Krais for more information about how you can become part of the FAITH FIVE!

Concerned about a family member and their health? Don't know who to talk to or services that are available? Join us for the Caregiver's Forum for answers to these questions and more on the 3rd Monday of each month, beginning in September from 7:00 - 8:30 PM. Information will be provided by social workers, medical personnel, hospice, VA, lawyers, and pastors.

DATES AND SESSION TOPICS:

Feb.15, 2010 -- SESSION 5 -- A BIOLOGICAL / PHYSIOLOGICAL LOOK AT THE AGING PROCESS -- WHAT'S NORMAL?? / DR. JANET BROWN

March 15, 2010 -- SESSION 6 -- POST HOSPITAL IN-HOME SERVICES AND OUTPATIENT THERAPY -- VNA SERVICES / ROB GUTMANN

APRIL 19, 2010 -- SESSION 7 -- VETERANS AFFAIRS -- A LOOK AT VETERANS BENEFITS -- DO I QUALIFY?? / JOHN NOWAK

MAY 17, 2010 -- SESSION 8 -- ELDERLAW -POA VS GUARDIANSHIPS, LIVING WILLS, ESTATE PLANNING / ESQUIRE ROBERT SLUTSKY

JUNE 21, 2010 -- SESSION 9 -- MEETING THE SPIRITUAL NEEDS OF THE ELDERLY AND CHRONICALLY ILL / PASTOR KRAIS / PASTOR NEFF

Here's your chance for a day filled with spiritual nourishment! Creation and Creativity for Women will be held at the Lutheran Seminary in Mount Airy on Saturday, February 6th , from 9am - 3:45pm. You will have many options to choose from that day, including inspirational speakers, a prayer labyrinth, Bible study, creativity workshops, or just time to be still on this beautiful campus. The drive is easy and it's a day that will leave you feeling closer to God! See Pastor Krais for details, registration information & possible carpools. Or, go to their website at www.LTSP.edu/restrefresh.

If any of our college students need volunteer projects to do, to qualify for their Grace Lutheran scholarships, please see Ken Slack

Sponsorship openings are a great way of remembering a loved one or of honoring a special date in your life. They appear in the weekly Ledger and renew automatically each year, on the closest Sunday to your original date, unless you inform the office otherwise. Flowers or bulletins are $20/sponsorship and the window or lamp illumination is $10/sponsorship. Call the Office (610-948-3684), for more info. For the first quarter of 2010 there are several sponsorships available in January, because of the fifth Sunday and a few open in February & March.

Caring Crafters meet Wednesdays 9AM-11AM, in the All Purpose Room. Join us each week, as we continue with crafts & weekly prayer for our congregation. We usually continue our social interaction by going to lunch. All are welcome to join us. Call Sue Perry 610-495-8587.

Please be courteous and DO NOT PARK in front of the handicap sidewalk cut out outside the Welcome Center. If you park there, people who need to access the ramp can't get to it.

People with the gift of hospitality are needed to help with our spring new members' reception. Remember how good it felt to be warmly received at Grace?

Recently, I was answering questions about Grace and giving a tour of the church for a delightful family who has been visiting and worshipping with us. Their first grader asked at what age do we stop Sunday School classes, and then smiled with great amazement when I told him we have students in their 70's and 80's! We talked about that and he quickly agreed that we never grow too old to learn.

One of our more "seasoned" attendees of adult education told me not long ago how Bible Study continues to be a great joy in her life. She appreciates the learning and the fellowship of the people and can't imagine not being a part of a group.

Our current caregivers' forum was created by a need for information and support that was recognized within our own congregation. A few people started talking and a new (and very important) small group was born!

What about you? What's keeping you from attending an adult education group at Grace? Three groups are offered every Sunday morning at 9:30 (Rainbow, PRISM, and Faith Journeys). More groups are offered during the week- daytime and evenings! There's no limit to the groups that can form – only a limit to our imaginations and perhaps, motivation. Now's your chance to tell me what kind of group you might be looking for... Bible study, support, parenting, marriage, personal faith growth, men's, women's, etc! I invite you to send me an email at jkrais.gracelutrn@verizon.net or call me at 610-948-3684 and let me know what kind of group you'd like to see. Let's see how the Spirit might be moving us and our God-given ability to learn and grow!

Join me for a meeting on Sunday, Feb. 7th, in the Church Parlor, after the 2nd service, to start our plans for Holy Humor. This year it will be April 11th and ideas are needed. You don't have to be a ham to be involved, we need writers, technical people and stage hands as well. This is open for all ages. Please consider being apart of this humorist event, in sending out a spiritual message and have fun pulling some jabs at ourselves as well (It's also open season on the Pastors!).

S.U.P.P.E.R. C.L.U.B meets the 2nd & 4th Thursdays of every month, unless there's a holiday. We ask parents to sign up for meals on the sign-up sheet at the back of the church.

We meet 6:30-8:00 pm, in the Parsonage. If you haven't tried it before, come see what we're all about. If you've been here, come back for more fun. S.U.P.P.E.R Club leaders: Cindy LeVan, Connie Tracewell & Sue Vukovich.

Mark your calendars for March 12, 13 & 14 for our trip to Long Beach Island. The theme: "Work in Progress" Registration forms will be available very soon from your Sunday School Teachers.

February 11 - Practice for the Youth Service. Anyone who volunteered for the Youth Service in any capacity must attend this meeting. We will meet at the parsonage at 6:30 for dinner first, then we'll practice.

February 14th - Youth Service Sunday! If you're participating in the Youth Service, stick around or come early for breakfast, in the Welcome Center. Please see an adult leader to sign up for a breakfast item to share.

March 12-14 - It's back - Harvey Cedars! Our annual trip to the Jersey Shore.

Next Summer our youth will participate in a Servant Trip to Virginia through Youthworks Inc. We will spend a week completing home repairs and hosting Kids Club for children on the Eastern Shore. As part of our fundraising efforts we will once again offer our "Rent a Kid" program.

Be sure to become a "fan" and keep to date with all of the upcoming dates for events, information for activities and most importantly, cool and funny pictures of our youth in action.

Please feel free to call the church office with your more long-term prayer concerns, for the Prayer Chain list. The weekly Ledger prayers will be kept to the new, more short term and immediate prayer needs of the church and the community.

Prayer Chain lists will be available on the windowsill, in the back of the Narthex. It is our goal to have a new list available for the first weekend of each month. We hope you will use the Prayer Chain list as a way to enhance your daily devotions and personal prayer life and as a way to stay connected to the needs of the other members of our church family. Please feel free to call the office at 610-948-3684, with your prayer requests.

With the support of the Church Council, we are asking that during the flu season, people refrain from drinking from the common cup during Holy Communion. Please receive the wine, the blood of Christ, by individual glass at 8:00 or by intinction at 10:45. We also understand if some people prefer not to shake hands during the passing of the peace or hold hands during the Lord's Prayer. We will respect your decision. Thank you.

PRISM is taught by Mr. Richard Harshaw and will cover topics of interest to the class. Often, the focus is on current issues in today's world.

The Rainbow class is taught by Mr. Jesse James and studies scripture closely to create deeper understanding of God's Word for today's world. Both of those classes meet in the parsonage.

Faith Journeys will be exploring the ideas of waiting and preparation during the season of Advent. How are you getting ready for Christmas? Come and join us in the choir room (room 4- lower level of church) on Sunday mornings at 9:30 - everyone is welcome!