Grace and Mercy

Lutheran Church

Programs sponsored by

Grace and Mercy

Lutheran Church

Quilts for Lutheran World Relief

Imagine the comfort that comes from a hug at the time when you need it most. That’s the feeling you can share with an LWR Quilt. Through a simple combination of fabric and thread, you can reach out to people in their time of greatest need with a strong message of hope — you are not alone.

First and foremost, recipients use their LWR Quilts to shield against the cold and rain, and for warm bedding. But their versatility also makes Quilts useful as simple tents, floor coverings, or a wrap to hold a baby on a mother’s back.

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Next Text

Next Text is a group that meets weekly to discuss the next Sunday’s Lectionary Bible readings. The concept for this group was borrowed from a similar group that meets in Coos Bay, Oregon.
Through attendance at a Next Text session congregation members have a better understanding of the Lectionary Readings and the inter-relationship of the selected Bible passages when they are read during Sunday morning worship service.
There are two discussion groups. One known affectionately as Next Text Classic and the other Next Text version 2.0
The Monday morning Next Text Classic session meets at the Pheasant Restaurant at 0632 for early risers or those who need to be at work in the morning..
The Monday mid-morning Next Text version 2.0 session meets in Davis Hall at Grace and Mercy at 1000.
Pastor Tom Inch adds a wealth of knowledge to the discussions there and is certainly a major factor in the success of the group..

Health Ministries' Foot Care Clinic

Proper foot care is an important – and often overlooked – aspect of good health. When mobility issues, injury or post-surgical conditions make it difficult for you to tend to your toes, the nurses at our Foot Clinic are there to help. Experienced healthcare professionals provide the following services during your foot care session.

Foot Health Evaluation
Toenail Soak
Cleaning
Toenail Trimming
Buffing – Calluses and Corns
Foot Massage with lotion treatment
Referrals for Advanced Foot Care

Appointments are not required. There is no established fee. Donations are encouraged to help with purchase of tools and supplies. The Foot Care Clinic operates in the morning on the third Wednesday of each month.

Foot care hints from the Health Ministries caregivers

Novel Ideas Book Group

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The book group grew from a desire that some congregation members had to have a book group here in Hermiston that could meet on a regular basis and discuss books mutually selected by the book group.
There was a contest to name the group and Novel Ideas was selected as the gro up's name.
The book group meets monthly in the social area of Grace and Mercy to share a meal time, socialize, and discuss various books nominated to be read by the group.
A wide variety of books have been read and discussed by the group. The not all inclusive list includes; Proof of Heaven, The Five People you meet in Heaven, Water for Elephants, Tuesdays with Morrie, The Book Thief, Spilt Milk, Sometimes A Great Notion, The Invention of Wings, Astoria, A Light in the Woods, The American Lady, Accidental Saints, Sentence of Marriage, Three Lines A Day, and many more.
In 2016 book group began its fourth year and is going strong
The book group meets on the last Tuesday of the month at 5:30 pm with the book discussion starting around 6:00 pm; after the group finishes a no host evening meal.

Gather Bible Study

A Women's Bible Study at Grace and Mercy Lutheran Church based upon writings in the Gather magazine published by " The Women of the ELCA ."

Published 10 times a year, Gather, the magazine of Women of the ELCA, offers articles, theological reflections and devotions to help readers grow in faith and engage in ministry and action.
Each issue contains a thought-provoking Bible study written by one of a variety of pastors and authors from across the church

Upcoming Bible studies

January–April 2017 “Christian faith and Christian freedom,” by Kathryn Kleinhans: this four session study looks at Martin Luther’s reformation, which was centered in the doctrine of justification by grace through faith for Christ’s sake, and why Luther called Paul’s letter to the Galatians “my Katie von Bora.”
May 2017 An intergenerational Bible study by Valora K Starr.
Summer 2017 “All anew,” a three-session summer Bible study by Kelly Fryer.
Fall 2017 “The Creeds,” a three-session Bible study by Julia Seymour.
December 2017 Advent devotional, author TBA
January–April 2018 “Multiple meanings,” by Mark Allan Powell: a four-session Bible study exploring how people empathize with a variety of biblical characters, apply biblical stories in their lives and respect other people’s experiences of those stories.

Tapping Into Faith

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Tapping into Faith was an idea brought to the attention of the congregation during a mission development meeting by a recent college graduate. Members of Grace and Mercy join with community members in a local pub to hold theological discussions and to enjoy a cold refreshment. Many enjoy a beer and other attendees prefer non-alcoholic beverages.
Research into the original program found that the material, name, and concept were copyrighted by the Roman Catholic Church. The idea of meeting regularly in a non-traditional setting, e.g. a local pub, where a discussion could be held about theological ideas while enjoying a brew was still favored by some of the congregation. Thus was born Grace and Mercy’s Tapping into Faith. We avoided copyright laws, have a forum that meets monthly to discuss theological ideas and socialize.
Topics that have been discussed in the past are the relevance of beer to the church, Pascal’s Wager, Does God Answer Prayers, is the book of Mark written in a Homeric style to attract the Hellenic reader?
Tapping into Faith is a well attended outreach ministry of the Grace and Mercy Congregation. On multiple occasions guests of the pub who are not members of the congregation have joined us either for nearly the entire discussion or have made comments to the group after sitting nearby and listening in.
At a recent Tapping into Faith session; as the meeting was about to start one patron of the bar was overheard asking what was going on as we started gathering around the larger table. Another patron answered that it is a local church that holds a bible study there. The first person responded “here?” and the second patron said “Yeah it is kinda cool.”