GATHER: LET'S EAT
Monday, May 11th, 12pm
We always have a great time eating biscuits and spending time together with our Grace Family! Please join us for our May Let’s Eat event. We will be gathering on May 11th at 12pm to enjoy a meal at Biscuit Belly in Fort Mill. Please RSVP in Realm or by calling the church office.
GATHER: FEM AND THEM
Tuesday, May 12th at 6pm
We would love for you to join us for delicious food and enjoyable conversation at Sabor on May 12th at 6pm. We are excited to see you there! Please RSVP in Realm or by calling the church office.
GATHER: GUYS' SUPPER CLUB
Tuesday, May 12th at 6pm
Join us for good food and conversation at Papa Doc’s in Lake Wylie on May 12th at 6pm! Please RSVP in Realm or by calling the office. We look forward to seeing you there!
GIVE: INTERFAITH BLESSING BOX
Thank you to all who have supported the Blessing box (located right outside of Grace.) The blessing box operates on the simple idea of “take what you need, leave what you can.”
Suggested items to add to Blessing Box: soup/spaghetti-o's, cake mix/icing/brownie mix, cereal, canned meat, granola bars, canned veggies/fruit
SERVE: THE HOLY MOWERS
The Holy Mowers Team is up and running! As a part of this ministry, you would be on the schedule every 6-8 weeks depending on the size of the team. It takes ~2.5 hours for each assigned week, no prior experience is needed (training is provided) and you may be asked to do other minor ground maintenance duties including: weed-eating, spraying round-up, etc. If you would like to join or want to be removed, please contact Ami.
LEARN: DEIJ WORKSHOP ON GUN VIOLENCE AWARENESS
Sunday, May 17th at 9am in Room 15 during Sunday School hour
JOIN US! Every PC(USA) congregation is charged with doing something to combat the gun violence epidemic in our country. So what are we at Grace doing to answer that call? Join Grace's DEIJ team for a workshop on Gun Violence Awareness and learn what we are doing to combat it. We have the power to affect change and protect our neighbors from gun violence, and we can do it together. Please plan to join us for this critical conversation
FACTS:
- A person is shot with a gun every nine hours in South Carolina.
- Gun ownership is positively linked to suicide rates.
- Gun violence is the #1 cause of death for American children.
- You can own a gun AND advocate for measures that will honor our Biblical call to protect and care for our brothers and sisters in Christ.
SERVE: PRAYER SHAWLS
We are looking to revive a team of knitters to make prayers shawls for residents of local nursing homes and those in hospice care. If you would like to join a group or knit at home and contribute, please contact Pam Bushnell or the church office and we will help you get connected.
GIVE: PENTECOST
Sunday, May 24th
Pentecost is coming! We’ll ordain and install our new officers of the class of 2029 and celebrate the birthday of the church with cupcakes! If you want to provide Grace with a Birthday gift, you can bring these items on the 24th, when our children will open any wrapped gifts during children’s time:
· Copy paper - white and colored (8 1/2 X 11) for the office
· Card stock - white and colored (8 1/2 X 11) for the office
· Batteries (C&D) for hand sanitizer, soap and paper towel dispensers
· Batteries (AA and AAA) for misc. church use
· Stamps for the office
· Gas cards for the van
· Paper products for the kitchen – programs and activities
· Kleenex
· White lunch bags with or without handles for the welcome table
· Bags of sand for the playground
· Cough Drops (Ricola) for the Music Program
· Dishtowels for the kitchen
· Dish Soap for the kitchen
· All-purpose Cleaning Spray
· Walmart Gift Cards for VBS Snacks and Children's Church/Childcare Snacks
SERVE: GIVE KIDS THE WORLD
A Grace team will serve at Give Kids the World October 16th-23rd. It is a ways away, but we have to make our housing and service reservations NOW. If you'd like to come, a $75 per person deposit is now due to reserve your spot. The total cost should be around $350 per person, not including transportation or most meals. If you have questions, contact Joanne. There will be an Information Meeting on Sunday, May 31st at 11:30am.
LEARN: VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
JUNE 22-26, 9:00-12:15pm
REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN! Use this link for more information or to register.
LEARN: SUNDAY SCHOOL
Please look over the list of classes and we hope that you and your family will join us.
Nursery and Toddlers (Infants through 2 year olds) – Room 8
Early Childhood (3 year old - 5k) – Room 9
Primary Class (1st - 5th grades) – Room 5
Youth (6th-12th grades) - Youth Room
Adult Sunday School - Room 15
GATHERING AT GRACE : What opportunities for fun are available at Grace? Where do I belong?
Our (sort of) age related gatherings are for anyone who wants to come and have fun with others. No ID checked! If you want to hang out with folks, no one will turn you away.
- GRACE FAMILY FIRST NIGHTS - We meet on the first Sunday of each month for food and fellowship. Following our meal, one of our awesome musical groups will sing and we usually end the night with a mission project to support one of the many groups we serve. Kim Palmer coordinates this group.
- -ISH GROUP : -Ish is one of our interest/affinity groups at Grace and anyone can join! We call ourselves ISH because all of our group descriptions are open in interpretation. 😊 We are young(ish) and many would describe their stage of life as chaotic with lots of competing schedules and commitments. Some of us are married, some are not. Some have kids, some do not. We like to meet for lunch after church the 3rd Sunday of each month (“Lunch & Hang) and usually help coordinate things like celebrating a wedding or baby showers, things like that. We are always looking to meet new folks and are open to expanding the types of events we do based on the interest of the group. We are always evolving, just like Grace! If you are interested in helping host/planning an event or want to get involved, reach out to Dre Manoni. We have a Facebook group where we try to keep things updated(ish) when we are doing stuff. You can request to join the group by searching “The -Ish@Grace” on FB. Dre Manoni coordinates this group.
- GAP GROUP - We don’t need babysitters (or we do and get them) and can still drive at night. We gather the 3rd Friday night of each month for food and shenanigans. Sometimes we’re at the home of a member, sometimes we can be found at a local pub or restaurant, but we can always be found laughing and having fun. (What’s in the name? It was the group in the gap between our young adults and seniors…that’s not really true anymore, but the name stuck.) Ray Scott is our coordinator.
- DAYTRIPPERS - We go on field trips during the day. From spider lilies to Hello Dolly to Fort Mill History Museum and more. Watch for the monthly adventure. Annmarie Clark coordinates this group. All are welcome!
- VINTAGE GRACE - This group of Seniors gathers annually for a Christmas lunch and gift swap.
- YOUTH - 6th through 12th graders gather weekly for faith-building, service and fun. More details here.
ASSISTIVE LISTENING DEVICES
If you have trouble hearing the message and other speaking in the sanctuary, please let the people in the sound booth know. We have five assistive listening devices. It is recommended that you bring your own headphones that can be plugged into the device.
PARKING ON SUNDAYS AT GRACE
On Sunday mornings, please reserve all of the parking spots in the circle for those with limited mobility unless you hold the monthly Space of Grace.
NAMETAGS
Please remember to wear your nametags on Sunday mornings. We have had quite a few guests attending worship, so it's helpful if we are wearing our nametags. If you are missing your name tag, let Ami know.
SOFT PLASTIC RECYCLING
Great job on continuing your collections! We have received several benches with half going to the Historic Paradise Foundation. Have you ever wondered where the plastic goes after we collect it? The following 2 videos will provide those answers:
Recycling program
Trex factory
HUG ME DOLLS
Do you know someone who needs a hug? Melissa has been making some hug-me dolls and is ready to make some more. They come in a wide variety, with each one just waiting to be hugged. They are $10 with all proceeds going to Thornwell Home for Children and Teenagers.
INTERFAITH PARTNERSHIP WITH TEMPLE SOLEL
Presbyterian Church & Jewish Temple Partner – Sharing Lessons of Hospitality: CN2 News article