APRIL MISSION ENVELOPES are designated to support Lutheran Braille Workers (LBW). St. John and St. Mark are working to establish a large print production center in North Tonawanda, which will be only the second production center located in New York. Your donations will support this effort. LBW supplies braille and large print Bibles and various devotional materials completely FREE to the visually impaired and blind throughout the world. These are materials that would normally cost upwards of $800 in English, and several thousand dollars in other languages. If you would like to support this mission, place your mission envelope in the offering plate BY NEXT SUNDAY or donate online under “monthly mission”. If you have questions regarding LBW or the work of our sister churches in North Tonawanda, or would like to volunteer, please speak with Lacey Bahr.
RECYCLE YOUR ECLIPSE GLASSES: We have provided a collection box on the glass case if you’d like to recycle your eclipse glasses. We will be sending them to Eclipse Glasses USA, where they will be inspected and then forwarded for distribution to school-aged children in Latin America so that they can safely view an eclipse occurring in their countries later this year. Postage is being donated by MidCity Opticians, so we are able to participate in this project without cost to Grace.
TREICHLERS GIFT CARDS (like last year) are being sold by the Grace Ladies until Sunday, May 5th. Each card is $25. There is a sign-up sheet on the glass case in the chapel.
KID MINISTRY opportunity: This Saturday, April 27th 11 am – 7 pm at St. John Lutheran Church. Come for all or part of this video workshop on Children’s ministry best practices, presented by Small Church KidMin. Ask Lacey Bahr for more information: 716-525-5134.
NEXT SUNDAY is the last Sunday to donate items needed to fill COMFORT BAGS that are used at Oishei Children’s Hospital. Volunteers distribute Comfort Bags to all new admissions to help families feel welcome at a time when many are experiencing high anxiety levels associated with the hospitalization of their child. The bags contain a variety of activity and toiletry items. If you would like to donate, please pick up a “shopping list” from our donation tables in the narthex and chapel for suggestions that are especially helpful. Jim Wolf volunteers weekly with Oishei’s Comfort Bag program, and he would be happy to answer any questions you may have about the bags or about volunteer opportunities at Oishei.
SUMMER BIBLE ADVENTURE (formerly VBS) is fast approaching! Here are the upcoming Decoration Dates:
Saturday, May 25th: 9 am – 12 noon AND 6 pm – 8 pm
Tuesday, June 4th: 9 am – 12 noon
Saturday June 22nd: 9 am – 12 noon
Decoration set up: Sunday, July 7th following service (pizza served!)