Visit us on the web at www.gracelutheranroyersford.com
Email: [email protected]
Church Office: 610.948.3684; Fax: 610.948.3304
Office Hours: Monday-Friday; 8:30am-noon & 12:30– 2:30pm
DEADLINE FOR THE
NOVEMBER 2014 ISSUE OF
GRACEFUL GREETINGS
IS Wed., Oct. 15th
Growing Together Through God’s Grace
October 2014
Graceful
Greetings
Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church
The Reverend Paul H. Neff &
The Reverend Janelle L. Krais, Pastors
Located at 6th Avenue & Main Street
594 Church Street - 1stFl. (Office & Mailing)
Royersford, PA 19468
October 2014 Issue
Graceful Greetings
Worship Times: Sundays — 8:00 AM Traditional Service
9:00 AM Faith Full Families Service (in Social Hall)
& 10:45 AM Contemporary Service
Sustainable Seeds of Harvest Matthew 13:18-23
Consecration Sunday!
Mark you Calendars! October 19, 2014
Please prayerfully consider and plan now to
attend the two important events on this day:
1) Sunday morning worship opportunities at 8:00,
9:00 or 10:45 A.M. and 2) the Celebration brunch
at 9:30 a.m. Look for & complete a reservation slip in the weekly
Ledger, starting October 5th or contact the church office by calling
610-948-3684 or e-mail at [email protected], now to make
your reservation for the brunch. Taking the time to make your
reservation is extremely important as we make plans for the day.
We have many ministries in our church and beyond that
require our thoughtful consideration.
New member lunch gatherings are starting! If
you would like to become a member at Grace, please
join us for 3 lunches- October 12, November 2, and
November 16. You will meet other new members
and some long-time members, AND you’ll learn
about Grace & the Lutheran Church! To RSVP for the lunches, please
contact Pastor Krais at [email protected] or 610-948-3684.
Come walk with Grace in the Royersford Halloween
Parade! If you are interested in representing Grace,
please contact Charles “C” Plaugher at
[email protected]. All ages are welcome to
join the fun on Monday, October 27th.
Grace will provide the evening meals for St. Mary’s Shelter
in Phoenixville, for about 20 people, the week of Oct. 13-17.
Meals should contain a main course, vegetable, bread, salad &
dessert. Call Dr. Janet Brown to sign up (610-505-4302).
Organize with friends or family! This is also a good time to remember
those in need & donate gift cards or food & toiletries to the Shelter!!
Children are welcome in all of our worship services at Grace!
The Tot Spot, lovingly & skillfully supervised by Mrs. Ellen Jones, will
be open on Sunday mornings during both services, for parents who are
worshipping with us. Volunteers are still needed to provide
support for our childcare center. If you would like to help,
please contact Laurie Fodor at [email protected].
What a wonderful way to serve the Lord and our little ones!
Children’s Church is offered to children in kindergarten 2nd grade during the 10:45 worship service. Children’s Church is run
by volunteers who do stories and games & crafts during the lessons and
sermon time. Interested children should go with the volunteer waiting
in the narthex, immediately following the children’s sermon and will be
returned to parents in the sanctuary during the prayers. Parents –
please make sure your child is in the age-appropriate place!
Please support our parking lot resurfacing project.
The cost is $36,000; we’re asking for 120 people to give
$300 or more to cover the cost. Any amount will be
welcomed. To date we have only received $12,361.17.
Make checks payable to Grace Lutheran Church, memo
“Parking Lot” or go to our website: www.gracelutheranroyersford.com
and click the “Donate Now” button. Thank you and we hope you enjoy
the new parking lot.
OCTOBER 2014 WORSHIP SERVICES
& SPECIAL EVENTS
Sat., Oct. 4—Pastor Krais’ Anniversary Celebration: Sanct. & SH
Sun., Oct. 5—Seventeenth Sunday After Pentecost
8:00am Traditional Worship
9:00am Faith Full Families
9:30am Sunday School for all ages
10:45am Contemporary Worship
Noon—Small Group Leader Training: Parlor
7-9pm Youth Group: Parlor
Tues., Oct. 7—Council Reports Due
Sat., Oct. 11—6-8PM Upper Elementary Youth Group: Parlor
Sun., Oct. 12—Eighteenth Sunday After Pentecost
Baptism Sunday
8:00am Traditional Worship
9:00am Faith Full Families
9:30am Sunday School for all ages
10:45am Contemporary Worship
Noon—New Member Lunch: Social Hall
7-9pm Youth Group: Parlor
Tues., Oct. 14—Council Meeting: Parlor
Sun., Oct. 19—Nineteenth Sunday After Pentecost
Consecration Sunday
8:00am Traditional Worship
9:00am Faith Full Families
9:30am Sunday School for all ages
10:45am Contemporary Worship
7-9pm Youth Group: Parlor
Sun., Oct. 26—Twentieth Sunday After Pentecost
Reformation Sunday
8:00am Traditional Worship
9:00am Faith Full Families
9:30am Sunday School for all ages
10:45am Contemporary Worship
7-9pm Youth Group: Parlor
Thurs., Oct. 30—6-8pm Trunk or Treat: Parking Lot
Happy Birthday Main Street Connections! Grace’s
Monday evening outreach is 2 years old! Come check us
out (and meet some new neighborhood friends!), Mondays
from 7-8 pm at The Main Street Café. The event is free
and the purpose is to provide a comfortable gathering
place where people can be honest about themselves, life &
their relationship with God. We’d love to welcome YOU as a volunteer
or participant! For more info, see Charles “C” Plaugher (610-888-2105
or [email protected]) or Pastor Krais.
Holy Grounds: Understanding the Bible is much easier when
you read and learn together! All are invited to the Thursday
morning Bible Study led by Pastor Krais. We meet in the
parlor (lower level of church – room 5) to grow in knowledge
and faith! You are welcome to join this group at any time!
Have you tried starting your day with devotions? Meet us at
The Main Street Café on Wednesdays at 7am to start your
day with prayer, devotions (and breakfast, of course!) This is
a casual, fun group of people – come join us!
Fall adult Sunday School
Join us Sunday mornings starting Sept 7th from 9:30-10:30.
People of the Bible - Get to know these people (who may
just sound a bit more familiar than you’d think!) Come
learn and be surprised at who they are, what they did, and
how they relate to our lives. Led by Dr. Judy Stryker;
Lower level of church—room 6 (library)
PRISM - Where is God in today’s world? Where is God in your life?
Join us to discuss current headlines–from the news & your life! Led by
Mr. Richard Harshaw; Lower level of church—room 4 (choir room)
Faith Journeys - All are welcome to come discover and explore the
spiritual gifts that God has given to them. We will be using Spiritual
Gifts Inventories to learn about our gifts and how they can help us to
live into a life of faith! Led by Pastor Janelle Krais; Parlor (lower level
of church – room 5)
Pastor’s Points by Pastor Krais
Did you know that you were created to make a difference in this
world? It’s true – you have been blessed by the Holy Spirit with talents
and resources so that you can make a difference! God’s desire is for
you to be like the good soil in Jesus’ parable of the sower in Matthew
13: 18-23. The person who is good soil is one who hears God’s word
and because he has been attentive to his spiritual growth and trusts in
what God provides, his life is fruitful! In other words, his life helps
people to see and know and experience God’s goodness at work in the
world.
As Consecration Sunday (Oct 19) draws near, please be
prayerful about the talents and resources that God has given to you. Do
you faithfully share your talents, or do you worry that you don’t have
enough time or energy? Do you contribute financially, or do you forget
God’s faithfulness to you at budget time? Trusting God isn’t always
easy. It is risky and it often requires us to say “no” to other things, so
that we can say “yes” to God.
Yes, giving to the church is necessary for the church to survive.
There is a reality to bills and expenses of ministry! But, giving is even
more important for you. May God help you to trust that your
contribution of talent and resources really does make a difference. May
you know the blessing of sharing what you have, trusting that God takes
all of our gifts – big and small- and uses them to bring healing where
there is brokenness, love where there is hatred, peace where there is
violence, and hope where there is despair. Thank you for sharing –
thank you for being the good soil in which God brings forth an
abundance of good fruit!
We need you to fill our Sponsorship Openings!! They
are a great way of remembering a loved one or honoring
a special person or date in your life. They appear in the
Ledger and renew each year, on the closest Sunday to
your original date, unless you inform the office otherwise.
We have several sponsorships open for the 4th quarter of the year,
including Flowers, Bulletins and others throughout the year, call
the office (610-948-3684) to find out more.
Youth News
Up and Coming!
*Keep your eyes & ears open for the date of the youth corn maze!
*October 30th in the parking lot of Grace Lutheran, will be
Trunk or Treat! Volunteers are needed for the use of their trunks
for the treats! This will be a safe environment in which children,
youth, and adults can trick or treat with games & other activities
thrown in to receive the treats!
Youth Events
Upper Elementary Youth Group
Who: 4-6th Graders
When: Every 2nd Saturday of the month from 6-8PM
The U.E.Y.G is to gather Upper Elementary age youth
for fellowship and discussion of how Christ is present in
today’s world. September 13th was our first meeting
with a movie night! Our next meeting is on October 11th
for game night!!
High School
When: EVERY Sunday night from 7-9pm
9-12th graders have this time to play games, connect
with each other, check-in about their week & just relax
from the craziness of life. Also, each week there is a
discussion topic which the youth decide on.
Sunday school! Sunday school started on September 7th! Holy
Communion and confirmation are starting their studies and the
other Sunday school classes are digging in to the Bible.
Sunday School Continuation Event! On October 12th, if we
have 75-100% of the Sunday school attendance we had in
September, there will be a continuation event held in conjunction
with Consecration Sunday brunch! But you have to come to
Sunday school on the 12th for this event to happen!!
Grace Lutheran Evangelical Church
Grace Lutheran Youth Group
“Like” us to see recent news & events
Prayer Chain Reminder - Please contact Jan Slack
(prayer chain coordinator), 610-948-3539 or
[email protected] with your prayer concerns for the
Prayer List. The weekly Ledger prayers will be kept to the
new, more short term & immediate prayer needs of the
church & community.
Prayer Lists are available on the back windowsill in the Narthex & in
the pew racks. Please take a list home with you to enhance your daily
devotions & prayer life; also use it to help you prepare your heart for
worship with prayer. Prayer lists name our concerns & thanksgivings
and are a way to stay connected to God & to the needs of others.
SEPA Women of the ELCA, Upper Mont. Conference,
First Tuesday Bible Study is Oct. 7th at St. Peter’s
Lutheran Church, Walnut & Glassgow St., Pottstown
(Stowe), at 10:00AM; coffee at 9:30AM. Presenter will
be Fran Ivarson—topic: We Are Called, verse: Isaiah 6:8
Come join the Caring Crafters on Wednesdays,
9:30 - 11:30AM. We’re open for new members at
all times! If you have a Wednesday morning free
come join us for card making, prayer blanket/shawl
making, small gift making, and prayer. Join our small group, socialize
with your family at Grace! All skill levels accepted! Any questions or
concern? Sue Perry 610-495-8587 or [email protected]
OCTOBER PRAYER FOCUS
1: Older Lutherans (International Day of Older Persons)
2: People of German ancestry (German American Heritage Month)
3: God’s creation (US National Apple Month)
4: Pastor Janelle Krais Day/10 Year Anniversary w/ Grace Celebration
5: Teachers (World Teacher Day)
6: Good health for all of our children (National Child Health Day)
7: Smiles (World Smile Day)
8: Walking (Walking to School Day)
9: Firefighters (Fire Prevention Day
10: Emergency Nurses (EN.Day)
11: Teddy Bears (Take Your Teddy Bear to work Day)
12: Pastor Krais and Pastor Neff (Clergy Appreciation Day)
13: Brave, adventuresome people (Columbus Day)
14: People with aids (Aids awareness month)
15: Parents (National Take Your Parents to Lunch Day)
16: Bosses (Bosses Day)
17: The Poor (International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
18: Readers (Reading Week)
19: Evaluate your life Day
20: Those suffering from alcoholism (Alcohol Awareness Week)
21: Inventors ((Thomas Edison invents light bulb)
22: Neighbors (Make A Difference Day)
23: Beauty of changing leaves
24: United Nation’s Day
25: Mothers –in-law (Day)
26: Peace, friendship, and goodwill (P., F., and G. Week)
27: Peaceful Autumn Day (Cranky Co-Workers Day)
28: Garment workers (Eli Whitney invents cotton gin in 1793)
29: Pennsylvania (William Penn lands in Chester, PA 1682)
30: Eating healthy (Vegetarian Month and Candy Corn Day!)
31. Lutherans (Reformation Day)
Do you TWITTER? You can sign up for Grace ministry
update & announcement tweets by visiting our home page at
www.gracelutheranroyersford.com.
ABOUT PRAYER OCTOBER 2014
Reformation Day is in the end of October. Reformation was the
religious revolution that took place in the church in the 16th century.
Martin Luther its greatest leader and founder of the Lutheran Church
had a variety of quotes about prayer:
“Grant that I may not pray alone with the mouth; help me that I may pray
from the depths of my heart.”
“All who call on God in true faith, earnestly from the heart, will certainly be
heard, and will receive what they have asked and desired.”
“Prayer is a strong wall and fortress of the church; it is a goodly Christian
weapon.”
“The fewer the words, the better the prayer.”
“Pray, and let God worry.”
“I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.”
“To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without
breathing.”
“When your heart has been warmed by such recitation to yourself and is intent
upon the matter, kneel or stand with your hands folded and your eyes toward
heaven and speak or think as briefly as you can:
Heavenly Father, dear God, I am a poor unworthy sinner. I do not deserve to
raise my eyes or hands toward thee or to pray. But because thou hast commanded us all to pray and hast promised to hear us and through thy dear Son
Jesus Christ hast taught us both how and what to pray, I come to thee in obedience to thy word, trusting in thy gracious promise. I pray in the name of my Lord
Jesus Christ together with all thy saints and Christians on earth as he has taught
us: Our Father who art, etc., through the whole prayer, word for word.”
Read through these and see if advice from 400 years ago could help you
with your prayer life today. Remember to pray for our church members
and family members who are listed in the monthly prayer list and
weekly in our bulletin.
Prayer Vigil is on Saturday, October 4th in Grace’s sanctuary. Come in
the front door.
Sue Perry
OCTOBER 2014 Worship Assistants
Communion Asst.:
10/5: 8:00 Carly & Mike Bauer
10:45 Mary DeAlba, David Bauer, Shawn & Margie Alloway
10/12: 8:00 Terry Piersol & Karen Asbert
10:45 Carol Marchesani, Kathy Mills, Carol Ferguson & Roxanne
Troiano
10/19: 8:00 Jim Campbell, Richard Harshaw, Jesse James, Jackie Perry
& Kathleen Parker
10:45 Diona Sims, Sue Tramontana, Mike & Trish McGarry
10/26: 8:00 Debbie Moore, Susan & David Firering, Joe & Debbie
Kamertz
10:45 Diane Murphy, Jean Mizas-Floyd, Tina Meredith & Maggie
Finnegan
Acolytes, Crucifers and Torch Bearers
10/5: 8:00 Kelly Thompson & Makayla Brant
10:45 Beneta Troiano & Ashley Della Guardia
10/12: 8:00 Nick Harshaw & Sam Leonard
10:45 Eric LeVan & Jake Alloway
10/19: 8:00 Abby Dantonio & Elliott Dantonio
10:45 Caroline Thompson & Gavin Straface
10/26: 8:00 Gracyn Marchesani & Hayley Lightcap
TB - Natalie Peak & Kelly Thompson
10:45 Nathan McMullan & Brandon Meredith
TB - Ashley Della Guardia & Beneta Troiano
Children’s Church— (no schedule provided at time of print)
10/5: 10/12: 10/19: 10/26:
Children’s Sermons—10/5: Brenda Johnson
10/12: Stephanie McMullan
10/19: Kelsey Hlavac
10/26: Cindy LeVan
Faithful Families: 10/5: Karen Thomson 10/12: Brenda Johnson
10/19: Diona Sims 10/26: Kelsey Hlavac
Trustees: Jim Thompson
Altar Guild: Joy Fraunfelter
Greeters
10/5: 8:00 Joyce Straub/Terry Piersol
10:45 Bud & Tina Meredith/ Bob Kerr
10/12: 8:00 John & Elaine Snyder/Claire Nelson
10:45 Tom & Jane Schroeder
10/19: 8:00 Art & Kathy Parker/Mark, Pat & Peter Esslinger
10:45 Bob Kerr
10/26: 8:00 Dave & Susan Firering/Jason, Nikki & Avery Arnold
10:45 Richard & Diane Harshaw
Tot Spot:
10/5: 8:00
10/12: 8:00
10/19: 8:00
10/26: 8:00
Mary Murphy
Tyler Campbell
Laurie Fodor
Debbie Moore
10:45
10:45
10:45
10:45
Lena Goodman
Kris Maersch
Sierra Huff
Jen Miller
Ushers: 10/5: Team 3, David Fritz 10/12: Team 4, Jim Bauer
10/19: Team 5, Kurt Meyers
10/26: Team 6, John Groff
Counting Team—10/5: Team A, Mike McGarry
10/12: Team B, Kelly Granato 10/19: Team C, Ken Slack
10/26: Team H, John Fraunfelter
Readers:
10/5: 8:00
10/12: 8:00
10/19: 8:00
10/26: 8:00
Mark Rehrer
Claire Nelson
Anne Pennypacker
Debbie Kamertz
10:45
10:45
10:45
10:45
Stephanie McMullan
Cindy Butler
Sandy Kulick
Will Moyer
This is our QR code—download the QR code reader to
your smart phone or mobile devise, scan our QR code &
donate or go to: www.gracelutheranroyersfrod.com to
donate online. Now you can donate to Grace Lutheran
Church & support our ministries, wherever you are.
Thank you for your continued generosity.