ANNOUNCEMENTS

Announcements for April 20, 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
Monday
    office closed     
Wednesday
     9:30 a.m.  Food Packing
     6:30 p.m.  Choir Rehearsal
Thursday
    6:15 p.m.   Centering Prayer

♦     At the Congregational Meeting held on April 13^th, the congregation voted 52-1 to extend a call to Pastor Olga-Maria Cruz. Installation date TBA!

♦      Needed: Recording Secretary for Council. 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. 

♦      The Talbot House is hosting their 16^th Annual Rose Tea on Sunday, May 4, 2025, at 2 p.m. at All Saints’ Episcopal Church in Lakeland. Sign up online or with Dan Stoller.

♦      Graceful Giving for April: Grace bought a farm! Can we do it again? Grace has purchased farm animals in the past, as well as purchasing a well to supply safe drinking water and a means to irrigate crops.  Our goal again this year is to purchase a complete farm as we have done in the past.  The purpose of these farms is to provide immediate food plus future growth for a sustainable food supply for a community.  We don’t know where this farm will be, or what it will look like.  What we do know is it will be stocked with whatever is appropriate for the region selected.  There will also be guidance in the operation of the farm. To help in this project just make your check out to Grace Lutheran Church and designate it for God’s Global Barnyard. 

♦      Social Ministry Update: During the month of March, the following items were collected for the Anchor House: 3 camping sleeping bags, 29 items of clothing, 305 household items, 313 food items, 18 soft carrying bags, 83 personal hygiene items, and 3 puzzles. Additionally, 300 bags were donated to VISTE.  The collection of eyeglasses is doing well.  Thank you for your support!

♦      Thank you from the Florida-Bahamas Synod for Grace’s 2024 donation of $16,437 towards mission support.  ​​​

♦     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, Brooklyn Farmer, Carol Grzegorczyk, Anne Guilford, Judy Haer, Tom Haydock, Lydia Hodge, Brian Hosty, James & Grace Irish, Wil Krell, Amy Krell, Bob & Jane Lemley, Barbara LeMond, Scott Listy, Ron & Flo Mari, Mac McPeak, Monica Mencia, Tom & Leona Miller, Avery Monroe, Doris Muszynski, Natalie Thiele, 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. 

♦      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.

♦     Parish News

• Presiding Minister: The Rev. Jeannine Sweet
• Music: Grace Bell Choir: Mary Flekke, Director; Grace Choir: Art Pranno, Director
  
• Assisting Minister: Brenda Hornickle; Ushers –Mark & Naomi Thomsen
• Altar Guild:  All
• Flowers: Sights & Sounds of the Season
  
• 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