May 18, 2008 – Friendship Sunday

TODAY IS FRIENDSHIP SUNDAY!   Grace Lutheran Church celebrates the second annual Friendship Sunday today with one service beginning at 10 a.m.  Nursery service will be provided.  This will be a time for each of us to reacquaint ourselves with Grace members that we don’t normally see because we attend different services and also to welcome others to Grace. There will be displays of some of the ministry activities being conducted at Grace and an opportunity to take our visitors on a tour of our church home and show them our facilities and tell them about the wonderful things that Our Lord is doing in our church and how He is using us to reach out to the community. There will be a reception with refreshments following the service.

SUNDAY SCHOOL’S LAST DAY for the current school year is today and will meet from 9:15 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.

A HUGE and HEARTFELT THANKS go out to all the wonderful teachers that we have had teaching the children this year in Sunday School. The teachers for our Adult classes to our Confirmation Guides:  Crista Duncan, Laurel Patrick, Janet Rawl, Lisa Sipes, Sophy Littrell, Natasha Patchen, Robert and Debra Stewart, Pat McMillan, Sammy Harris, Pastor Harry Lorenz, Mike Lorenz, Bob Johnston, Valerie Hansen, and James Bauman.

BAPTISM We welcome into membership today through the sacrament of Holy Baptism, Peyton Nychole Williams, daughter of Ted and Elaine Williams, and granddaughter of Jane Williams.

TODAY’S LOVE OFFERING goes to the Ulster Project.

BLANKET DISPLAY The blankets displayed throughout the church today will leave in September to points unknown.  They will provide comfort to disaster victims throughout the world wherever Lutheran World Relief sees the need. These blankets were lovingly created by the Blanket Workshop from mostly donated “scraps.”  This 37-year-old ministry of Grace Church is supported by your generous contributions.  Anyone is welcome to help.

GRACE WRITERS will meet in the conference room today immediately following the service.  It's Friendship Sunday, so feel free to bring your friends!   We'll read, have another assignment and decide on meeting times for summer.  We're studying memoir writing.  Come join us! Questions? Call Annie Long.

TELL US A STORY! We are looking for personal stories about your faith, something that you have experienced.  Your story may be funny, unusual, miraculous, troubling, ordinary, sad, recent or from long ago.  You may have found an answer.  You may have found a question.  Every story is welcome.  We will compile these stories in a booklet to be printed and shared with the congregation in late summer.  Length:  about 1-3 pages, more if you need it.  Children are encouraged to participate too!  Stories may be submitted by email or left in the office for Annie Long.  Questions?  Call Annie.

VBS VOLUNTEER ORIENTATION MEETING will be held today at 11:30 a.m. in Room 127. We are looking forward to having a great VBS and hope to see you at this meeting!

FIESTA is tonight, May 18^th beginning at 5:15 p.m. with a piñata for the children. Dinner will be at 6:00 p.m., talent show at 6:45 p.m. and auction at 7:30 p.m.   All are invited to attend. All monies go to fund the Youth Camp Program.

VOLUNTEERS FOR FIESTA will meet at 3:00 p.m. today to set-up and to cook.

SEEDS OF GRACE

                                   YOUTH GROUP SCHEDULE          

May 18 – Fun/Fellowship                  FIESTA! (Dinner/Silent Auction/Talent)

May 25 – Memorial Day Weekend  (No Youth Group)

June 1 - 5                                             Vacation Bible School – ADVENTURE PARK

June 8 – 14                                          Campfirmation at Lutheridge

July 13 – 18                                         Win Our World (WOW) in Knoxville

GRACE’S GREATEST (age 55 and up) will meet this Tuesday, May 20^th at 12:00 noon for a Potluck Luncheon. The speaker will be Dr. Jose Valedon and his topic will be “WHAT TO DO WHEN I FORGET!”    Don’t forget your dish.

LWR EQUAL EXCHANGE fairly traded coffee and other products will be sold on May 25^th after all services.

GRADUATION RECOGNITION will be held during all services on Sunday, June 1^st.  All high school and college graduates will be recognized.

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL will be held June 1^st – 5^th, beginning at 5:30 p.m. for dinner and VBS at 6:15 p.m. lasting until 8:15 p.m.  Always, we can use volunteers.

INQUIRER’S CLASS Pastor leads an adult information class for those who are new to Christianity or Lutheranism or that would like a refresher course in the fundamentals of Christianity, Reformation History, Lutheranism Doctrine and Grace Congregation during Vacation Bible School in his office from 6:45 pm to 8:15 pm on June 1^st -5^th. Please let pastor know if you will attend. 483-3787

TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME! Just like last year we are going to the East Tennessee Smokies baseball game on Friday, May 30th.  We will car pool from the church leaving at 5:30pm. The Smokies, a Class AA affiliate of the Chicago Cubs, will be playing the Carolina Team that day.  The game will be followed by a full fireworks show.  We buy supper after arriving at the Ball Park.  Come out for a Nine Inning Vacation. Questions? - Call Bill Issel or Stan Long.  

CONGRATULATIONS to Ryan Dreke and Linda Loyd on their marriage that took place yesterday at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Knoxville.

GRACE WALKERS SCHEDULE

Tuesdays and Thursdays.........5:30 PM to 6:30 PM; meet at Bissell Park parking lot on northwest side of Civic Center/Library.

Saturdays........10:30 AM to 11:30 AM; meet at Melton Lake near the playground/picnic pavilion.

Please join us any or all days.

BREAK OF DAY will be meeting this Thursday at the home of Jean and Leon Klatt at 5:30 p.m.  We will rehearse and finish our day with a cookout. This group normally rehearses in the sanctuary at 5:30 to learn music for the 8:30 worship service.  Contact people are Nancy Larson and Paula Smith.

GRACE NOTES CHOIR follows the same schedule as the GPT dinners, so we are finished for the season. Please consider encouraging your child in grade 1-8 to join us in the fall!

RINGSPIRATION REHEARSAL SCHEDULE is sporadic throughout the summer.  Rehearsals for June will be the 23^rd and the 30^th, and in July they will be July 7^th and 14^th.  Please watch upcoming bulletins for any changes in time that may occur. This group is open to anyone in 5^th grade and beyond.

FOURTH SUNDAY will rehearse on Thursday, June 5th following New Creation Rehearsal. This group sings on the fourth Sunday of each month at the 9:30 worship service and is for adults only, please.  Rehearsal will be in the sanctuary. Come join us around 7:30 p.m.

NEW CREATION sings every Sunday of the month except the 4^th, at the 9:30 Contemporary Service.  This group is open to anyone in 7^th grade and beyond. Rehearsals are at the beginning of each month in the Sanctuary. The entire month of music is rehearsed in one evening. The next rehearsal is Thursday, June 5^th at 7 p.m.

CHANCEL CHOIR will resume rehearsals in August. Please watch the Newsletter and the bulletins for the time.  This group is open to anyone in High School and older.

MORNING STARS will begin the first Sunday in June. This group sings most of the Sundays during the summer. Please come to the choir room at 10:30 to learn an easy piece of music to be sung as the Anthem for the 11:15 service. Anyone in High School and beyond is invited to sing with the group!  You are asked to keep an eye on the bulletin announcements in the event that MorningStars do not sing on the following Sunday.

THANK YOU to everyone who helped with cooking, set up and clean up at the Confirmation Dinner. It went very well and could not have been done without you.

HEALTH LUNCHEON will be held Wednesday, May 21^st at 12 Noon in the Fellowship Hall of the First Presbyterian Church of Oak Ridge. The church is located on the corner of Lafayette Drive and the Oak Ridge Turnpike. Stacy Carty, Director of the Tennessee Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation will speak on “Living With Arthritis.” The program is free and open to the public. There is a $5.00 charge for the lunch. Please call for reservations.