Grace Notes Email Newsletter

Mission Trip Soup Sale this Week
The members of our Thrivent Builds mission trip to Florida next month are holding a soup sale this Thursday evening and Sunday morning. Containers of tasty soup will be available for you to purchase to enjoy now, freeze for later or to give to others. The money raised goes to help with the cost of the trip to build houses with Habitat for Humanity, helping those who lost their homes to Hurricane Irma in 2017. Please support our mission trip crew!

Your Grace Office Staff
This Week's Sermon
"Who is this Guy? - The Man with the Signs"
The gospels tell many stories about the mighty deeds done by Jesus. They make it clear that he had extraordinary abilities and powers that he used to help others. His deeds of power, or "signs" as they are called in John's gospel, did not always have the affect you would have thought. This week's sermon explores what Jesus did using his power, and what these deeds tell us about him.
Thursday Evening Bible Study -
They Mysterious "666"
If people know nothing else about the Book of Revelation, they have still probably heard about the mysterious mark of the beast and the enigmatic number "666".  This week, as we continue through chapter 13, we will deal with this and try to get a clue about what "666" is all about.
Annual Meeting on January 27
The members of Grace are gathering at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, January 27 to conduct the business of our congregation. We will elect congregational leaders, voting delegates to the synod assembly and members of the nominating committee. Church staff and leaders will share their goals for 2019. We will also discuss and vote on our 2019 church budget. Your presence will help us move forward doing God's work in this new year.
Chili Lunch on January 27th at 11:30
Come and support the 2019 Boundary Waters trip by enjoying some delicious chili before the annual meeting.  HYPE youth will be serving chili and all the fixings.  Donations appreciated.  Please sign-up in the Gathering Space. 
Special Letter Coming from Pastor Paul
Next week you will receive a letter from Pastor Paul that addresses several financial items about which members of the congregation should be aware. These include our 2019 church budget and our anticipated offerings, using the contingency fund to help with our budget and some up-coming changes in the next several years that will have an impact on our budget. Please take the time to read this letter.

Thank You!
A Huge 'Thank You' to all of the wonderful people at Grace who helped to give me such a nice sendoff into my retirement!  What a fun surprise to receive more than 30 jigsaw puzzles!  Those will provide literally years of fun to come for Linda and I (and many others)!  Also, thank you to all who provided a nice card, gift or well-wishes and made me feel so appreciative of just how many friends I have made over the years as a Grace member and employee.  I am truly blessed!
 
Ed Borkenhagen
January Youth Events
Please check out the youth events for January.  Hope to see you there. 
January 18:  JYG Escapes!  JYG youth are dared to join in the escape room fun from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.  Dinner will be served.  See you there if you dare.  Please sign up in the gathering space. 
January 20:  KFC STEAM Meeting!  KFC will have lunch and work on some fun STEAM activities from 11:45 - 1:30 @ Grace.  Please sign up in the gathering space.
January 27:  CHILI LUNCH

Save the Date for VBS
Planning your summer vacation?  Save the date for Grace's Vacation Bible School-August 5-9.  Volunteer and registration information will be available in May.
Lunch Bunch January 17
Because the new year may change our weather conditions, the lunch Bunch has picked the Flipside Restaurant right here in Grafton for our next lunch. We are back to our "third Thursday of the month" schedule on January 17 at 11:30 am.
If you have questions or need a ride, contact Lois Jeremiah. Call/text 262-894-5290.
January Education Newsletter Available
Make sure to check out January's Education Newsletter:  http://www.gracegrafton.com/christian-education.html  It includes lots of great info about upcoming events this winter and spring for Sunday School including our All-Family Moana event, spring dates for singing for the congregation, pictures from the Christmas program and more.
5K Lord's Prayer Event
All 5K students AND their families should join us on Sunday, January 27 during Education Hour to learn more about The Lord's Prayer.  We'll be exploring the prayer that Jesus taught us through some hands on activities and projects.  Then, on Sunday, February 10 our 5K students will help lead The Lord's Prayer in worship.  Questions?  Contact Katie at Katie@GraceGrafton.com.
All-Family Moana Event February 17
All Sunday School students in 3K-5th grade AND their families-mark your calendars for a fun, faith-filled morning on Sunday, February 17 during Education Hour.  To go alongside Pastor Heidi's month-long sermon series on "Moana," we'll be exploring several of the themes from the movie that are related to the Bible.  Meet in Fellowship Hall at the beginning of Education Hour.  Younger siblings are welcome to join in!
Choose Your Responsibility Dates for the Winter!
Visit our website to view the links to our Winter 2019 Sign Up Genius page for each area. Our winter session will run from January 6 - March 10.  The signups include Ash Wednesday.
 
If you did not check off one of these responsibilities on your Time & Talents form, you are welcome to volunteer as well.  We will provide training for anyone who needs it.  Use the links on the website to access the sign up form (you will only need to enter your name and email address).  If you do not feel comfortable signing up on your own, you can call Lisa Bernd in the church office at 262.377.4770 and she can sign you up.
 
 
Areas:
  • Assisting Minister
  • Communion Assistant
  • Communion Set Up/Cleanup
  • Communion Linen Care
  • Readers
  • Greeters
  • Nursery 
  • Multi-Media Room
  • Welcome Desk
  • Usher
 Thank you all for volunteering for the ministries at Grace.  Each of you plays an important role in helping to keep Grace running!  

Moana Movie Night: Jan 25
In February, Pastor Heidi will be preaching a sermon series based on the movie "Moana."  In order to set the stage for the sermon series, we'll be showing the movie at Grace on Friday, January 25.  There will be pizza at 6:00 and the movie will begin at 6:30.  Children are welcome to come in their pajamas and bring a blanket to snuggle with.  All are invited...young, old, friends and family!  Sign up in the gathering area if you plan to join us for pizza so we know how much we need to get.
We Have Open Spots for the Boundary Waters Trip
We have filled twelve of the sixteen spots for our July 6-13 high school youth group trip to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area in northern Minnesota. This is a great start to filling up our groups. If there is enough interest we can add a third group of eight people. Talk to Pastor Paul or Erica Dimmett if you want more information about this great wilderness adventure.
Save Your Pop Tabs!
Our Sunday School students voted to donate part of  their Sunday School offering for the 2018/19 school year to the Ronald McDonald House in Milwaukee.  In addition to donating the offering money to the organization, we will also be collecting soda pop tabs at Grace.  Last year, the Ronald McDonald House of Eastern Wisconsin raised over $48,000 from all of the saved soda pop tabs!  So start saving your pop tabs.  We'll have a collection bucket at church where you can drop them off throughout the summer and all of next year as well.  Thank you for helping our youth support others in need!  Questions? Contact Katie at Katie@GraceGrafton.com .

Mt. Meru Coffee is Available for Purchase in the
Gathering Space
Several varieties of coffee are now available for immediate purchase.  Please complete the order form, include cash or check made payable to the Mt. Meru Coffee Project and deposit in the slotted lock box provided.  If you do not find the type of coffee you need, please complete an order form as the coffee will be restocked monthly.  Regular, decaf, or flavored coffee sells for $10.00/12 oz. bag. Drip and perk grinds as well as whole bean and single-serve cups are available.
 
For more information, check the website: http://www.mtmerucoffee.org or contact Coffee Ambassadors Jeanne and Bob Dries at 375-0997.
Do You Like Pizza?
Grace has signed up for an amazing fundraising opportunity at Papa Murphy's in Grafton.  If a Grace member takes a bulletin to Papa Murphy's in Grafton on Sundays, Grace will get back 20% of the cost of the purchase as a donation from Papa Murphy's.  This is an easy and delicious way to support Grace Programs. 
Here are the steps:
1.  Take a bulletin with you when you leave church on Sunday
2.  Order pizza over the phone, online (do not pay online) or in person
3.  Go to Papa Murphy's in Grafton 1965 Wisconsin Ave Suite 102, Grafton
4.  Show them your bulletin
5.  Pay for your pizza
6.  Enjoy your pizza!
This offer is available any Sunday throughout the year.   Please let Erica know if you have any questions.
   
Thanks for your support!
Missing Anything?
 Are you missing a hat, sweatshirt, books, a necklace, reading glasses or coffee mug or two?  We might have what you're looking for!  Check out our Lost & Found bin in the coat room next to the conference room. In the future, any lost items can be placed in there for their owner to re-discover.
Who to Call in the Grace Office
As a general outline - Here are the general areas of coverage for each office support person.   Please direct your communication to the correct person when possible to minimize duplication of efforts.
 
Office - Main #262-377-4770
 
Lisa Bernd - Office Manager/Director of Involvement
  • Building Cleaning
  • Issues with Property Repair/Maintenance Needs
  • Grace Notes & weekly bulletin insert
  • Electronic Offerings & contributions
  • Volunteer Coordination/New Member Orientation
Ed Borkenhagen - Administrative Treasurer & Office Assistant
  • Expense Check Processing
  • Payroll/Grace Financials
  • Service Bulletins
  • Service PowerPoint Presentations 
Erica Dimmett - Youth and Family Ministries Coordinator
  • Teen and High School Groups
    • 4th Grade - 5th Grade (KFC)
    • 6th Grade - 8th Grade (JYG)
    • High School (HYPE)
  • Confirmation Activities
  • Parent Fellowship Group 
Katie Eippert - Youth Education Coordinator
  • Children Birth to 5th Grade
  • Children's Message and Grace Quiet Sacks
  • Sunday School
  • Vacation Bible School (VBS)
 Staff Schedules
The office is open Monday & Friday from 9:00 -12 & Tuesday thru Thursday from 9-12 and 1-4. 
 
Pastor Paul: Tuesday - Friday
Pastor Heidi: Tuesday-Thursday
Lisa Bernd: Monday-Wednesday 
Arcelia Mangana: Tuesday-Friday 
Erica Dimmett:  Various Hours please call to check
Katie Eippert:  Monday & Wednesday (8-10) & Tuesday & Thursday (8-4)
 
Pastor Heidi & Pastor Paul are always available in emergencies.  Their phone numbers are on the church voicemail recording- 377-4770.  Please don't hesitate to call us if you need us.  That is what we're here for. 

Don't forget...One Can Plan

Our ongoing mission is collecting nonperishable goods for Ozaukee Family Sharing and All People's Church in Milwaukee.  Please bring one nonperishable food item when you come to worship and place it in the yellow barrel. The yellow barrel is located in the corner of the Gathering Area under the Outreach Opportunity Bulletin Board. 

The Good News is on the Website

There is a lot going on at Grace this month.  You can read all about it in this months Good News.  Follow the link:
http://www.gracegrafton.com/uploads/2/6/4/1/26411638/goodnews_currentmonth.pdf
Responsibility List
 
Responsibilities for Sunday, January 20
At the 8:00 a.m. service: Linda Borkenhagen in is the assisting minister, Kathy Kehoe is the reader, Fred Petersen's team is ushering, Ed & Sandy Schlicht are the greeters, Erica Dimmett is in the nursery, Noah Durlam is in the multimedia room with John Bernd, Jan Ernst & Lisa Bernd are the communion assistants, Jan & Dan Ernst have communion by Intinction set up, The Freymuth Family has coffee hour, Jim & Kathy Kehoe are at the Welcome Desk.
At the 10:30 a.m. service: Karen Johnson is the reader, Ashley Acevedo is the acolyte, Dan Mathias' Team is ushering, A VOLUNTEER is needed to be the greeter, Sarah Newell is in the nursery, Darlyne Holle is in the multimedia room, Dana Moran & Judy Steffen are the communion assistants, Ann Wolfframm has communion cleanup & A VOLUNTEER is needed at the Welcome Desk.
 
Responsibilities for Sunday, January 27
At the 8:00 a.m. service: Paul Singer in is the assisting minister, Pyper Flaig is the acolyte, Linda Scott is the reader, Linda Scott's team is ushering, Justin & Carol Newby are the greeters, Carol & Paige Newby are in the nursery, Scott Steffen is in the multimedia room with Steve Buchman, Kelly Klug is hosting coffee hour, Diane Kiesow is at the Welcome Desk.
At the 10:30 a.m. service: Shery Bublitz is the reader, Blake Peltonen is the acolyte, Melanie Arndt's Team is ushering, A VOLUNTEER is needed to be the greeter, Tracy Rohde is in the nursery, Steven Beloin is in the multimedia room & A VOLUNTEER is needed at the Welcome Desk.

Jan. 16, 2019
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