Thank you for all the ways you support the life and ministries of Grace!
Saturday March 25th 8am-11am
Our primary tasks for the day will be cleaning up the beds across the front of the church, spreading mulch, and trimming shrubs. We will be doing some clean-up and fence repair on the playground. Tools needed include: wheelbarrows, pitchforks/snow shovels (for scooping mulch), iron rakes, grass rakes, hedge trimmers, chainsaws and work gloves. All are welcome -- No prior experience in yard work needed! If weather looks to be an issue, we will make a decision by Thursday midday. Reach out to Cole Kessell with any questions.
GIVE: FORT MILL CARE CENTER
For March, the FMCC is requesting donations of the following items:
- Toothpaste
- Pancake Syrup
- Chips
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Popcorn
- Fruit Cups
- Rice (bags and boxes)
GATHER: APRIL FAMILY FIRST NIGHT
April 2nd at 5:00 pm
We will share a meal of sandwiches, sides and dessert. Following dinner, Joyful Noise will sing and we will pack Birthday Cake Bags for Historic Paradise. Please bring donations of cake mix boxes, aluminum baking pans, candles, and gift bags the items will fit in.
Last names A-H bring sides
Last names I-N bring dessert
Last names O-Z bring sandwiches
Please RSVP in Realm or by calling the office.
GATHER: PASSOVER SEDAR WITH TEMPLE SOLEL
Thursday, April 6th at 6:00PM
Temple Solel has invited Grace to their Passover Seder led by Temple Solel's Lay Leader Russ Cobe and catered by Executive Chef Mike Bader.
Limited seats are available and seder/dinner reservations can be purchased for $40 via PayPal or by visiting the Temple Solel website under "donate".
*** Please specify the names of attendees in the PayPal notes section. Reservation will be confirmed upon payment. Please note that all reservations/payments must be completed prior to March 31st. Questions can be directed by e-mail or phone to Dale Rivers (704-236-8023) or Tanya Trachtenberg (803-389-6114).
GATHER: EASTER EGG HUNT
Saturday, April 8th from 11 am until 1 pm
Join us for our annual Grace Easter Egg Hunt at Pastor Joanne’s home. Each child is asked to bring a dozen filled Easter eggs and a basket. Following the egg hunt, we will enjoy a hot dog lunch. Don’t forget chairs and/or blankets to sit on. In case of rain, the egg hunt will be held at the church. Please RSVP in Realm.
GATHER: DAYTRIPPERS TO J & J FAMILY FARM Monday, April 10th 9:00am (Leave grace at 8:15am) The Daytripper’s next trip will be to J and J Farms in Clover. We will learn about honeybees and have an opportunity to walk on the trails and enjoy nature. Jennifer Stalford, the farm owner, was instrumental in helping to establish the beautiful Tega Cay Memorial Garden. The cost is $15/person and we will have lunch on the way home. For more information contact Annmarie. Please RSVP by calling the office. |
Our nurseries are growing and we need helpers! Our youngest members, infants through 2 years old are in Room 8. No changing diapers or planning. If this is the group for you, sign up here.
3 year old through 5K meet in Room 9. Again, no planning---just enjoy being with our preschoolers. Sign up here.
LEARN: STUDY SERIES IN WALK CLASS
For the Lenten season we are taking a look at the book, Give Up Something Bad for Lent by James W. Moore. Reading in advance is not required, we will recap, have lively discussion and an all around good time. Bring your coffee and join us! We start around 9:15, all are welcome! Reach out to Dre Manoni with any questions.
LEARN: STUDY SERIES IN KAIROS CLASS
The Sermon on the Mount: A Beginner's Guide to the Kingdom of Heaven. Join us for learning and conversation about this series from Amy Jill Levine.
Here are the study group days and times. Tuesday and Wednesday are on Zoom and Thursday morning is Hybrid.
- Tuesday, 10am - Tuesday Morning Study Group (A study of Esther & Ruth )
- Wednesday, 7:30pm - Study group begins a study of Inspired: Slaying Giants, Walking on Water, and Loving the Bible Again, by Rachel Held Evans, on March 1 at 7:30pm. Join us for this interesting and challenging book!
- Thursday, 10 am - Thursday Morning Bible Study -The group will start a new study March 16th called “Broken Signposts: How Christianity Makes Sense of the World” by N. T. Wright. The book can be ordered at Cokesbury.com or Amazon.com as paperback, ebook or audiobook. The first session will be the introduction.
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
Kairos Class – Room 15 - This class is hybrid and video based.
The Walk Class – Room 7
GATHER: 13TH ANNUAL GRACE CAMPING RETREAT
Friday Aug 4 (3:00 pm) to Sunday Aug 6 (11:00 am), 2023
Here it is, one of Grace’s best events: our annual congregational camping retreat. We’ll hit the Crescent Group Campground on the shores of Lake Hartwell for an unbelievable weekend of fun, food, and fellowship! Some people bring their camper, RV, or tent. Some rent a camper, while others stay at a local hotel. Whatever your choice, you won’t want to miss this weekend as we have a peninsula to ourselves. You’ll have the option to come a day early again this year. For more information or to register click here. Deadline to register is June 26th.
CHILDREN OF GRACE DATES
2023 VBS: June 26-30, 2023, 9 am – 12 pm
ASSISTIVE LISTENING - DEVICES AND APP
If you have trouble hearing the message and other speaking in the sanctuary, please let the people in the sound booth know. We have three assistive listening devices. It is recommended that you bring your own headphones that can be plugged into the device.
We now have an app available that streams the service. Please check the website for details on how to download and use it.
GRACE PRESCHOOL - SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS NEEDED
Grace Preschool is looking for those interested in substitute teaching. Experience is helpful but not necessarily required.
If you or someone you know are interested, please contact Melissa at 803-323-8945 or Melissa@gracefortmill.org for more details.
WE NEED VOLUNTEERS TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN!
DOOR GREETERS
We are looking for volunteers (men and women) to greet people and open the church doors on Sunday mornings. This is a commitment of less than 30 minutes each week and is one of easiest ways to serve the church. If you can open a door and say hello at the same time, we want you!
Grace Door Men: Grace Door Men (signupgenius.com)
This opportunity is open to men and women age 16 and older. Please consider volunteering and helping promote what we all know: Grace is a friendly church open to all.
Thank you!
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