During the COVID pandemic, our weekly email updates were first called "A Season of Grace in a Time of Fear." We hoped that you might find some moments and places of the peace of God in that time of fear, uncertainty, and confusion. Eventually, the title became "Seasons of Grace," and now, "Grace Notes." Here's the place to look for weekly updates and reminders, and even some notes on things to look forward to.
"Keystone Habits" | The "Being Challenge" encouraged us to develop habits similar to the ones Jesus used, that pulled together his life and ministry on earth, like a keystone does for an arch. The "Keystone Habits" (in the order you'll see them below) are Choosing Church, Studying Scripture, Committing to Community, Prioritizing Prayer, and Seeking Solitude) |
This edition of "Grace Notes" covers TWO WEEKS (September 24-October 7) including TWO SUNDAYS (September 24 and October 1)!
 CHOOSING CHURCH | Choosing ChurchSUNDAYS, September 24, 2023 and |
 STUDYING SCRIPTURE | Studying ScriptureBible Studies this Week SUNDAY BIBLE CLASS FOR ADULTS - 9:30 am in the Sanctuary - the Book of Revelation. THIS WEEK (September 24 - A Vision of Heaven, Revelation 4-5. NEXT WEEK (October 1) - Seven Sealed Scrolls, Revelation 6-8 SUNDAY YOUTH CONFIRMATION CLASS - 9:30 am in the Parish Hall - September 24 - The Ten Commandments, Part 2; October 1&8 - Apostles' Creed, Article 1 "God the Father," Part 1 WOMEN'S WEEKDAY BIBLE STUDIES - in the Parish Hall Tuesdays, 7-8:30 pm and Wednesdays, 9:30-11 am Our current study is Gideon - see Pam Reece for details, and a book! AND FOR KIDS - SUNDAY SCHOOL - 9:30 am in the Parish Hall By the Way - 17 people completed September's online Bible Reading Challenge! There are TWO new ones coming in October - one for adults, and one for kids! You can learn about those Challenges, and explore more opportunities to Study Scripture HERE>> |
 COMMITTING TO COMMUNITY | Committing to CommunityNEW! Helping our neighbors around the world At Christ the King in October we'll be collecting personal care items (combs, soap, nail clippers, toothbrushes and bath towels) to send to Lutheran World Relief for people recovering from the many natural disasters we've been hearing about. You can read more about this project HERE>>  Join women from a number of our churches in central Ohio and Pennsylvania for an LWML Rally on Saturday, September 30, at Saint John's Lutheran Church in Massillon, Ohio! The schedule begins at 9:30 with coffee, includes Bible Study, some LWML business, lunch and worship. Cost is $5 and, if you wish or are able, non-perishable food items for the local food pantry. See Betty Olah or Pam Reece for details!
This week's edition of our e-Newsletter "The BEACON" features articles about
By the Way - Pastor Cahill is the Second Vice President of the SELC District. Last week (September 25-29) he attended the SELC District Board of Directors meeting and the District Professional Church Workers Conference  Here at Christ the King, we support the Matthew 25 Coalition of Churches in Medina County with our prayers and offerings (and a line in our budget). HERE>> are some stories of how we've helped people acute and unexpected financial needs in our communities over this past summer. And HERE>> are the minutes from the meeting of September 14, including announcements of upcoming activities at some of our participating churches. The Matthew 25 Coalition of Medina County and the Matthew 25 Outreach Center of Ashland / Richland Counties NEXT FREE MONTHLY PRODUCE DISTRIBUTION Saturday October 13 at the Cloverleaf Elementary School, 8337 Friendsville Road Distribution 10 am – 1 pm Volunteers needed 8 am – 2 pm Questions? 419-961-0110, or visit this website www.m25oc.org |
 PRIORITIZING PRAYER | Prioritizing PrayerFind the Christ the King prayer list at our updated prayer website HERE>> You can also download and read or print the Lutheran Bible Translators' September prayer calendar HERE>> and you can download and read or print the September prayer list from Wycliffe Bible Translators HERE>> Also, check out THIS NOTE about a special "Scripture Celebration" with Wycliffe Bible Translators, coming October 12! Please pray about this important issue during September Click the button below for more about Suicide prevention, including a document called "Finding Hope: A Toolkit for Suicide Prevention" |
 SEEKING SOLITUDE This is Pastor Cahill on an island off the southern tip of India. Behind him is the city of Kanyakumari. The next major body of water beind him to the north is the Arctic Ocean; the next major piece of land to the south is Antarctica. | Seeking SolitudeThe Keystone Habit of "Solitude" doesn't simply mean loneliness; it means being away from the usual distractions of life to notice what God is doing around you and with you. So here's a September suggestion: go for a walk by yourself in one of our Medina County parks. If you must take your cell phone with you, keep it in your pocket. Don't listen to music; instead, listen for the sounds of breezes in the trees, the voices God has given the birds in the trees and frogs in the ponds, and the rustling of critters in the underbrush. Don't watch videos; instead, look around at what God is doing in the plants and flowers as they all get ready for Autumn. Do this several times in September, and notice the changes He is making as He changes the seasons. NOTE: if you don't use a decent amount of bug spray before your walk, you'll notice that lots of bugs are hungry, too! |
