Join your Grace Family in a crazy night of Bingo! Awards for all winning cards. Bring pencils and paper to make your own cards and markers. Watch for the Zoom link on Tuesday to participate. Questions? Contact Kendra Wollert at wollertkendra@gmail.com or 541-243-3025
This Weeks Calendar
Sun, Nov. 15– 10 am – Live Stream Worship Service 11 am – Zoom Communion 4:30 pm – 11/8/2020 Worship Service broadcast on Cable Channel 29 Mon, Nov. 16 – Deadline for Grace Gatherings 11 am – 4 pm – Office Staff On Site Tue, Nov. 17 – 2:30 pm – Reopening Committee Zoom Meeting 7pm – Worship and Music Zoom meeting Thurs, Nov. 19 – 9am – 4pm – Office Staff On Site 12 pm – Wisdom Seekers Zoom Meeting 3 pm – Conversation in Spanish Zoom Meeting Fri, Nov. 20 – 6:30pm – Zoom Bingo Sat, Nov. 21 – Video Worship Rehearsal Sun, Nov. 22 – Christ the King Sunday 10 am – Live Stream Worship 11 am – Zoom Communion 4:30 pm – 11/15/2020 Worship Service broadcast on Cable
Weekly Worship Services are now available for viewing on channel 29 on Sunday at 4:30 pm. Aired worship services will be the previous weeks service. Please share the word and let people know who are unable to connect via YouTube or the website.
Growing Young Cohort
We decided in March to make sure Grace elevates families up and prioritize them. The Christian Education committee read the book Growing Young over the summer, a research-driven book on how to grow youth. We then signed up for a 9 month Growing Young Cohort, or group, last month, along with 49 other congregations across the world, to learn how to grow young. Many ideas have already blossomed from our participation; soon you will have the opportunity to take a Growing Young Cohort survey of our church and how we view youth and families. We will be organizing Empathy Training soon, so we can better understand things from a younger persons perspective. You will also have the opportunity early next year to take part in an 8 week course on Growing Young that we will host for Grace. It takes more than just a few people to prioritize youth and families to make it happen. We need EVERYONE on board. Think about what Grace would look like if we didn’t have any families, or youth? If we don’t turn things around, that thought will become reality. We know that is not what you want, so please consider joining us for the things that help make our Grace congregation…family.
A Drive-by Youth Nativity Event – Saturday evening, December 19
2020 Everything is different including the Nativity program. Instead of a youth nativity pageant during a Worship service, the Christian Education team will work with youth and families to create an outside drive-by Nativity experience with the story proclaimed in music, signs, lights, and a living creche scene with youth playing the character parts and a few real animals. We will need help with art, tech, music, or promotions. To volunteer, please contact Rebekah Hadlock or Shelly Lundahl. Families should look for notes soon regarding details for youth parts or involvement.
The deadline for the November issue of Grace Gatherings has Changed. The Deadline for articles and additions is now no later than Monday, November 16, 2020.
If you are interested in a printed copy of the November issues of Grace Gatherings or a copy of the 2020 All Saints List, please contact the church office to have a copy mailed to you.
If you need a book from the Grace Lutheran Church Library, we will get it to you!! Have you checked out the new online catalog yet? Try https://www.librarycat.org/lib/GLC-Library Or go to the Grace website, under Resources, click on Grace Library. Click on any book, then the button that says Ask About Becoming a Library Patron. Enter your name and email and/or phone and we will contact you.
In September a new book for the adult bible study will be started. If you are interested in joining the adult bible study, please contact Frank and Sue Davis.
Dear Luther House friends,
I have good news to report and a special request to go along with it.
The OSU campus no longer resembles a ghost town. Students have returned after their long absence since the beginning of the pandemic last March. University administrators claim that as many as one half of all who are registered have moved back to Corvallis, despite the fact that over 90% of classes are being offered remotely.
So, there is ministry to be done.
But it must be done differently. At Luther House we are learning to minister “outside-the-box.”
• Unable to gather students in-person, we have begun offering zoom discussions on faith and life amid COVID. • Sermons are being offered on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. • In lieu of community meals, we are distributing grocery bags and hygiene products to students who are more economically insecure because of the loss of employment on campus and part-time work in Corvallis.
• We are tabling on campus, presenting Luther House as a “community of compassion,” inviting engagement with students who are battling isolation and loneliness as never before. There is ministry to be done.
But the funding needed to do it is running short. COVID has taken its toll financially as well as relationally. We received word this summer that our annual ELCA Churchwide grant will be reduced by $1,700 due to the decline in giving across the church. You and other Luther House friends have been generous, but donations have taken a downturn. Overall, giving has declined by 10%, while annual costs continue to rise by about the same amount.
We need your help if Luther House is to continue providing ministry on the OSU campus during this challenging season.
Would you consider making a special gift this fall? The 10% figure may prove a useful guide, but we would be grateful for any additional amount you can contribute. Donations can be mailed to Luther House Campus Ministry, 211 NW 23rd Street, Corvallis, OR 97330. If you prefer, secure online donations can be made at http://www.luther-house.org/donate/.
We are ever so grateful for your partnership. Your support is what makes Luther House possible. We hope and pray we can count on you again.
Grace and peace be yours,
Pastor Mike Michael Ostrom Pastor Luther House Campus Ministry @OSU 211 NW 23rd Street Corvallis, OR 97330 lhouse@peak.org 541-753-5213
Face Covering Irritation
If you are suffering from face irritation from wearing a face mask or face covering, here is a new article on what you can do to prevent or minimize the irritation.
If you are still in need of face coverings, please contact the Corvallis Sewing Brigade to request a cloth face covering.
From Elizabeth Wyatt & the CorvallisSewingBrigade: We can help get cloth masks or face shields to anyone free of charge. Folks can email Elizabeth at CorvallisSewingBrigade@gmail.com If you would like to volunteer to sew cloth face masks, the need is still very much alive! Info on how to volunteer can be found at CorvallisSewingBrigade.org
The New Christ in Our Home Devotions are now available for October, November, and December.
Please contact the office if you would like one to be mailed to you. Please also designate if you would like standard print or large print.
Thanks to your generosity, over $5000 has been raised so far for the Oregon Synod Wildfire Relief Fund to support congregations and organizations working with congregations to provide aid with recovery and relief from the impacts of the wildfires. The people affected, the witnesses, FEMA, and the leaders of the Oregon Synod Disaster Preparedness and Recovery Team tell us it is going to take resources and time to recover from these catastrophic fires. If you would like to donate you can do so here or you can send a check to the Oregon Synod Bishop’s Office at 2800 N. Vancouver Ave. Portland, OR. 97227. Please note it for the Oregon Wildfires Relief Fund.
The Reopening Committee has been working hard on creating protocols for small group gatherings happening at Grace.
For the safety of all individuals entering Grace Lutheran Church, we ask that all small groups who are meeting at Grace call and email the church office to get your meeting on the online calendar. These protocols will be posted in multiple locations around the church, can be emailed to you, or can be found at: https://grace97330.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Grace-Protocols.pdf
Please call the church at 541-757-1600 and email us at office@grace97330.org to get your gathering put on the online calendar.
Attention all individuals entering Grace
As of July 1, 2020 all individuals entering Grace are required to wear a face covering. If you do not have a face covering, individually wrapped masks are available at the sign in station.
Sign in forms have been placed at the entry/exit doors at Grace Lutheran Church.
Please fill out the form upon entering the building. Writing utensils are provided, but personal writing utensils can be used. To maintain the safety of all individuals entering Grace, please follow the posted instructions.
Thank you to everybody who has been returning the blue bottle drop bags.
Since June 1, 2020, members of Grace Lutheran Church have turned in over $200 dollars in cans and bottles. This money will go towards our IDA Fund and will continue our mission in assisting members of our community who are in need.
Giving at a Glance Support the many ministries of Grace Lutheran
Contributions as of October 29, 2020 Contributions for the Month of October: $ 23,895; October’s Budget: $ 29,900; Last 2 Weeks of Giving: $ 7,862 Weekly Budget: $ 7,475; YTD contributions: $255,642; YTD budget: $ 262,900
Life without drinking is still possible during the COVID-19 Pandemic Corvallis—Local Alcoholics Anonymous groups have temporarily closed the doors of face-to-face meetings due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, those struggling with drinking are still in need of support during this difficult time. Those in need can still access the support AA provides through the local hotline and virtual meetings.
The local hotline number is (541) 967-4252. It is answered 24-hours a day, seven days a week by members of the local AA community. Many local and global AA groups are hosting meetings virtually. You can attend virtual meetings on your computer, smartphone, or by dialing in. Attendees will remain anonymous and need only introduce themselves by their first names.
