Sunday, November 15
Prelude
Welcome & Call to Worship
Opening Songs
"Awesome God"
"I Will Call upon the Lord"
Children's Message
Andrea's Appreciation
Scripture Reading
Genesis 6: 5-7
Psalm 123
Isaiah 40:28-31
1 Thessalonians 5:9-18
Praise Song
"You Are Mine"
Message
Comfort for God's People?
Pastor Jen Matthees
Word In Song
"You Are My King"
20 Prayers in 20 Days for 2020
Psalm 118:1
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” NIV
Prayers of the People & The Lord's Prayer
Closing Hymn
"The Church's One Foundation"
Blessing
Postlude
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November Mission Focus
Lakes Area Food Shelf
*Please Note: Ad Council voted to not hold our traditional Thanksgiving Dinner this year. We are asking that you instead support the Food Shelf with additional monetary donations to further serve our community during the Thanksgiving season.
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This Week at Grace:
Youth Group:
Online Gathering
Wednesday, Nov. 18
at 6 p.m.
*Email Chris for the link
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If you are planning to meet at Grace please call ahead of time to reserve space and get your meeting on the church calendar.
Church Office Phone:
218-568-5755
Grace Office Hours
Monday - Friday
9 a.m. to noon
To protect the church community and staff, we ask that those who visit refrain from entering Ann Hutchings office unless necessary.
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Family Discussion Questions from Today's Sermon:
(Here are some questions related to Pastor Jen's sermon to help spark some discussion amongst family members and/or friends.)
What is currently causing fear or stress in your life?
What Bible passages or stories best relate to the stress you personally feel today?
What Bible passages or stories can you reflect on to give you more hope?
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Shifting Back to Online Only Worship
Due to recommendations from the Minnesota Annual Conference, the decisions of local school districts, and county health data we will be returning to online only worship.
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Grace Financial Giving
Thank you to all those who have mailed in their giving checks. We gratefully appreciate it! If you would like to give online (via PayPal) please visit our website. Offerings can also still be mailed to Grace UMC at P.O. 276, Pequot Lakes, MN 56472.
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20 Days of Gratitude for 2020 |
November 8th, I am introducing 20 days of gratitude for 2020. For the next 3 Sundays, I will offer a verse for the week and a thankfulness task or prayer to complete or lift up each day.
The goal is to have all of us praying over the same verse each day, and also to shift our focus to gratitude in the midst of a tough year.
We can start on the 8th, and 20 days will take us through Thanksgiving to Friday the 27th. I believe that an attitude of gratitude is a lovely way to prepare our hearts for the coming season of Advent.
November 15th
Psalm 118:1
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” NIV
For this week, find one thing to be thankful for, this can be something you use daily, or notice, or rely on...
Thank God for one different thing each day this week.
May we be a church that prays and gives thanks together even if we are apart.
—Pastor Jen
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Stewardship letters and pledge cards were mailed this week. Contact the church office if you did not receive a letter. Due to the return to online worship again, we ask that you please send your pledge card to the church. It is so important to respond with a pledge for 2021. Despite not being able to do things as before, there are ministries to fund, salaries to pay, missions to support, heat and electric bills to pay and apportionments to the Minnesota Conference. The church is still open. Thank you for continuing to embrace giving, even when we aren't doing "church" in familiar ways. Please prayerfully complete and send your pledge card today! |
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Join us for a Drive-Thru Farewell to Andrea Langhoff on Sunday, November 15, 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.
November 15 is Andrea's last day with us at Grace. Even though we won't be worshiping in-person, we will still recognize Andrea and offer our well wishes to her for ALL the many things she has done for our Grace family and community. Following the current COVID-19 guidelines, you will have the opportunity for a "drive-thru greeting" under the front door awning, from 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. on November 15. Attendees are asked to wear masks.
Although this is not what we would have envisioned for our goodbye, we are grateful for the opportunity to "drive-thru" and offer our quick thanks to Andrea. All are invited to worship with Grace online for Andrea's last service with us on November 15.
As part of our church community's effort to recognize Andrea, the Staff Parish Relations Committee is inviting you to participate in a card shower. Please mail your cards to Andrea Langhoff, %Grace UMC, P.O. Box 276, Pequot Lakes MN 56472 OR to Andrea Langhoff, 14935 Wonderland Park Rd. #8, Brainerd MN 56401.
We have many fond memories of Andrea's time with us and offer our heartfelt prayers as she moves forward with the next chapter of her life. Blessings!
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Thank you to everyone who is continuing to check in on folks. This time
has been especially difficult for those who are in need of support for
general anxiety about COVID and the world in general. The holiday
season can be difficult especially for those who have experienced loss.
With the concerns about gathering in groups, we will have to find new
ways to connect. Phone calls, emails, text messages and cards can be
made with messages of hope.
-Ann Hutchings
Office Secretary
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Staff Parish Relations Committee Volunteer Request |
The Staff Parish Relations Committee is trying to establish a pool of volunteers who are willing to fill in at the church office, if needed. Our Administrative Assistant, Ann Hutchings, does a wonderful job, but she does occasionally get some time away! We are blessed to have our ever-faithful Doris Longnecker who has filled in for years, but would like to have a list available of additional names.
The church office is open 9-12, Monday-Friday. The duties could include mail pick-up, answering the telephone, checking the email, being a presence in the church building. Once we have our volunteers, we will ask Ann to hold a mini-training session so you are familiar with her process and know where to find anything you might need.
In regards to any COVID concerns, the church is deep-cleaned weekly, the office surfaces wiped down daily, mask wearing is required, hand sanitizer and spray disinfectant/paper towels are readily available for surface cleaning and a daily list of those entering the building is kept.
Please prayerfully consider if you are being called to serve Grace in this way. If you feel so called, please contact the church office at graceumc@tds.net or 218-568-5755.
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'Thanksgiving Dinner' Giving Alternative |
Thankful: We are so thankful that our Grace family has been able to provide a traditional Thanksgiving dinner for families in our community in previous years! Tim and Julie Gowan have championed this event for several years and we thank them for their dedication!
Grateful: We are so grateful that many in our Grace family have donated groceries, prepared food, and given of their time to serve this meal - offering not only a delicious meal but awesome hospitality!
Blessed: Even though we cannot do all that this year, we can be a blessing to our neighbors by giving generously to the Lakes Area Food Shelf - our November mission focus. What if we would be very intentional this year and donate enough money for them to purchase groceries for a Thanksgiving meal for at least 20 of our neighbors? What a blessing that would be for all of us this year!
Because we are not gathering in person, please send/bring your donation to the church by Sunday, November 15th. The church address is:
Grace UMC
P.O. Box 276
Pequot Lakes 56472
Make your check to Grace UMC. Mark Food Shelf in the memo.
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District Virtual Charge Conference |
All churches are invited to attend the District Virtual Charge Conference on November 17 from 7 - 8:30 p.m. The business of this church conference will be handled in the context of worship presided by Laurie Kantonen, the North Star District Superintendent. Please contact Pastor Jen if you have any questions. |
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A Red Cross Blood Drive will be held at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Crosslake on Thursday, November 19 from noon - 6 p.m. To make an appointment or for questions, please call Sharon Rosberg at (218) 851-3263 or visit www.redcross.org/give-blood.
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Grace United Methodist Church
29318 Patriot Ave - P.O. Box 276
Pequot Lakes, MN 56472
Phone: 218-568-5755
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