SUMMER CELEBRATION KICKS OFF WITH A BANG! NEXT ONE ON 8/31

                  The first Summer Celebration outdoor worship service was a wonderful success with over 150 people gathered on the front lawn of our church grounds soaking in the sun and enjoying this vibrant alternative worship experience!

We plan to do all again on Sunday 31 August . Those attending are invited to “come as you are” and bring some sunscreen and a folding chair for your pew! (We will provide a few chairs, a shady spot and some cool water.) The service will feature our regular liturgy with a more casual style of hymnody and special music, something several members have said they would find meaningful.

              Another reason for this special service is to make our congregation more inviting and accessible to our neighbors. We plan to advertize the services and invite our neighbors to Experience Grace! It is part of our mission to “expand our reach.”

              Mark your calendars, invite several friends and make it a point to come help us welcome and get to know our neighbors.

Here Comes the Backpacks for Love Program. The William Perry Elementary School Backpacks for Love Program will begin in September 2008. This Blue Ridge Area Food Bank food distribution program will provide food weekly during the school year to over four hundred (400) William Perry students. To accomplish this task faithfully we will need a number of members to volunteer their services. We will need people to help unload the delivery vehicles, people to set-up the food for packing, packers, people to load and deliver the backpacks to William Perry for distribution to the children. If you wish to volunteer or receive more information, contact Bob Barrette at 434-361-1941 or e-mail at bob@cyberwind.net

Donations are being collected for the Rwanda School Project this summer. This year's Virginia Synod Youth to Youth project is to help raise money to build a secondary school in Rwanda. We are trying to raise $360.00 from our church to go towards the project. Checks can be made out to "Grace Lutheran" if they are noted at the bottom.