ANNOUNCEMENTS

Announcements for March 30, 2025

 Our mission is to share God’s love with each other, our community, and the world.      

This week at Grace

 Sunday
    10:00 a.m. Worship
    11:15 a.m. Bell Choir
Wednesday
     9:30 a.m.  Food Packing
     6:30 p.m.  Choir Rehearsal
     7.30 p.m.  Worship Band Practice
Thursday
     6:15 p.m.  Centering Prayer   

♦      Lenten Schedule:
            April 13th    Palm/Passion Sunday  10 am
                 with palms and procession.    
            April 17th    Maundy Thursday  7 pm
                 washing, and stripping of Altar
            April 18th     Good Friday.  7 pm
                  Tenebrae Service
            April 20       Easter Sunday   10 am
                  with Communion and special music

♦       Prayer List: The names we present to God during our Worship Service on Sunday are a holy obligation from God for us to pray for each other. We take that seriously. If you have requested a name for the list please let us know by email how things are going. If a name is just for a specific time, let us know that as well. We know that God holds each name in holy healing, comfort and peace.   churchgracelakeland@gmail.com

♦      Hearing Loop for Sanctuary: Grace recently installed a Hearing Loop in our sanctuary, a special type of sound system for use by people with hearing aids. Set your hearing aids to the "T" setting (for Telecoil) and sound from our audio system will be transmitted directly to your hearing aids, free from background noise.  This should greatly improve clarity and understanding and let you adjust your own volume. You may need to activate the telecoil on your devices, either through your phone app or by your audiologist.  If your hearing aids don't have a Telecoil (or you don't have hearing aids but still need sound enhancement), we have portable wireless units with headphones that will pick up sound from the Hearing Loop.  If you have any questions or want more details, see one of our sound techs.  And if you would like to use a portable loop receiver with headphones, see one of our ushers.

♦      Help Wanted: Volunteers Needed!  Are you looking for a way to give back and find joy in sharing your time and talents? Grace Lutheran thrives with the help of active volunteers, and we need your support! Join us in making a difference by assisting in the following areas:
      • Assisting Minister
      • Usher/Greeter
      • Host for Fellowship After Church 
      • Provide Cookies and Snacks for Fellowship
      • Recording Secretary for Council
No experience? No problem! Training will be provided for all new volunteers.  If you're willing to lend a hand, please call the church office. Your contributions are invaluable and greatly appreciated!

♦      Please let the office know if you or anyone else of our family is in the hospital or desires a home visit from the pastor. Also, to avoid double booking, please notify the office if you schedule a meeting at the church. 

♦     P.E.A.C.E.  The next big event is the Nehemiah action event. Mark your calendar for Monday, March 31, 2025, at 6:30 pm at Resurrection Catholic Church in Lakeland (333 Terrace Way, Lakeland, FL 33813).  Last year, we had just under 1,000 people.  We are looking for 1,200 for the next event.

♦      The Social Ministry team is partnering with the Lions Club Group North in collecting all eyeglasses and cases. This will be an on-going collection (no monetary collections will be taken for this ministry).   

♦      Graceful giving: The social ministry for March is for Anchor House, a Christian ministry serving teenage boys in crisis. Anchor House provides individual counseling, life skills training, and residential services among others to prepare these young men for return to their families or independent living.

Anchor House needs:

Men’s hygiene products​​     Laundry baskets​​     Condiments
Men’s razors​​​​     Plastic trash bins​​     Gatorade​​
Body moisturizers​​​     Toilet paper​​​     Cookies
Small and Med. storage​​ containers​​​​     Cleaning products​​
Cereal    Grits & Oatmeal​​     Vegetable oil
Dish soap​​​​ Pa.   stas ​​​​    Flavored rice
Paper plates & bowls​​​     Canned vegetables (16 oz to 5 lb.)​
Chip bags (individual)​​​

♦    Graceful Giving for April: God’s Global Barnyard. 

♦     Oscar J Pope: We received a call from the Guidance Counselor at Oscar Pope asking if we would be willing or able to donate 50-100 snack items per week to use as incentives in their reading program. As always, we also need 16/18 oz. creamy peanut butter and Ramen noodles!

♦     Prayer list: Mary Buschbacher, Mabel Carreira, Doris Cirillo, June Clark, Barbara Cox, Ann Daffer, Julie Dunston, Sydney Easton, Brooklyn Farmer, Carol Grzegorczyk, Anne Guilford, Judy Haer, Tom Haydock, Lydia Hodge, Brian Hosty, James & Grace Irish, Wil Krell, Amy Krell, Bob & Jane Lemley, Scott Listy, Ron & Flo Mari, Mac McPeak, Monica Mencia, Tom & Leona Miller, Avery Monroe, Doris Muszynski, Natalie Thiele, Alex Schumacher, John Shamp, Tim Simpson, Betty Smith, Linda Springer, Jeff Tanner, Henry Tomlinson, Gary Venable, Mary Venable, Greg Wasserman, Helen & Ron Wettleson, and Max Wickham.  

♦     Friendship Pads:  All who are worshipping with us today, especially those who are visiting with us, are invited to sign the Friendship Pad that is at the center aisle end of the pew. Please list your phone number if you are visiting. We would like to be in touch with you and to welcome you to our gathering.  After you sign, please pass it down the pew and back. 

♦     Parish News

• Presiding Minister: The Rev. Jeannine Sweet
• Music: Grace Choir: Art Pranno, Director; Rita Fandrich, pianist
  
• Assisting Minister: Mark Thomsen; Ushers –Kevin & Cheri Zarnstorff
• Altar Guild:  Sue Stark & Janet Morris
• Flowers: are given to the Glory of God.
• Birthdays:  
      3/30: Michael Dooley;
      4/01: Dorothy Myers;
      4/03: Kaitlyn King;
      4/04: Jean Egelkraut, Russ Washburn, Jon Thiele
  
  
• Check out our web site at: www.gracelakeland.com. New announcements posted regularly.  Livestreams posted after worship services.  

 ♦   Worship Opportunities: 

       Sunday Morning Worship in-person and livestreamed at 10:00 a.m.     
       Online:  Website -    https://www.gracelakeland.com/live
                      Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/churchgracelakeland
                      YouTube -  https://www.youtube.com/@gracelakeland/streams

♦    Contact Information:        Office Hours:  Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 12 Noon.
                      Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church       863-686-5585     
                      745 S. Ingraham Avenue, Lakeland, FL  33801                        
                      Parish Administrator - Kandyn Mathes -- churchgracelakeland@gmail.com