This is a quick weekly reminder of what is happening at Grace
in worship and in ways to connect and serve.
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Dear Grace Friends,
This Sunday is Pentecost, the day when the Holy Spirit blew through the earliest followers of Jesus sending them out to preach, heal and serve others in the name of Christ. It was an uncertain time for them, a time when they had differing opinions about many things, and yet God called them together and helped them to not only listen but understand. God united them as partners in the Gospel knowing that each person had a special gift to give and a unique perspective to share. It would not be an easy road ahead, and God would be with them. The church would argue about many things, who to reach out to, what it meant to belong, the best way to practice their faith and God would be with all of them.
As our world continues to change with more and more people vaccinated and changes from the CDC, our church continues to navigate how to best care for each other so that all might feel accepted and cared for at Grace. We need to be reaching out to new people and inviting them in. We need to be welcoming others. And we still need to be providing a safe space to gather to listen to God and to grow together.
I know that the removal of the mask mandate has made many of us feel uncertain about what to do. Do we wear a mask? Don’t we? Are people vaccinated? Can I still spread COVID-19 if I am vaccinated? I don’t have all the answers to these questions, but I do want to provide some guidelines for our life at Grace. Because our kids (12–15-year-olds) have not yet had the opportunity to get vaccinated if they and their families want and because our youngest members don’t have the opportunity to get vaccinated on the horizon, the Vision Board and staff agreed to continue to wear masks in the church in some capacity. In our large worship space we will continue to wear masks and small groups will be able to choose for themselves if they want to wear masks, but in the hallways of the church and other large gathering spaces, we do ask for you to wear your mask as well. We will reevaluate this in July. We want all to truly be welcomed in worship and if people feel they or their children are potentially at risk to get sick, this is not welcoming. I will confess that I am ready to get rid of the masks, but at this time, I believe this is best policy for our church.
It has been so great to see so many of you at worship. We still very much care about those of you who are worshipping from home. If you need any pastoral support, I hope you will reach out. Our future together involves flexibility, adaptability and operating both in the in-person and digital world. I am thankful for the care and ongoing support that our zoom fellowship time is providing, please know that we want to do whatever we can to help you grow in faith so that all might experience grace.
Blessings,
Pastor Joanna Mitchell
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Worship
Online Worship is now being recorded at our Saturday evening service. Online Worship will not be posted until late on Saturday nights. It will be available here for you to join us online on Sunday morning.
For In-person Worship, we are no longer asking for people to sign up for a worship service. We do ask you to stay home if you are sick and to follow all of our COVID-19 protective guidelines, including wearing masks indoors and social distancing. Thank you!
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Reminders for Worship this Weekend
Wear Red to Worship it is Pentecost this weekend 5/22 & 5/23
Please continue to wear masks at all in-person worships.
Summer Worship Hours Begin Next Weekend 5/29 & 5/30
5pm on Saturdays
8:30 am on Sundays
10:00 am on Sundays
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Vision Board Elections
May 23rd
9:30 am-10:20 am
In-person and on Zoom
The following candidates are presented by the Grace Lutheran Church Nominating Committee to be elected for the open Vision Board positions to serve 3 year terms. The 2021 Vision Board Elections will be held during the 2021 May Congregational Meeting, which will be held on May 23rd . Click here to go to the Zoom Link. Please pray for each of the following candidates:
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Carl Chandler
My wife, Steph and I have been members of Grace since 2007. We have two children, Audrey (11) and Logan (10). We found our home at Grace, while searching for a church close to home and to help us grow our spirituality. Grace has welcomed us with open arms. I’m a Service Center Manager for FedEx Freight and have been with them for 20 years. We love to volunteer at FMSC and plan on more doing more as the pandemic allows. Thanks for your consideration! Carl Chandler
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Bill Hentges
Hello, my name is Bill Hentges and I, along with my wife Denise and daughter Katie (21), have lived in Andover since 1998 and have been members of Grace for over 20 years. I have also served as a member of the Grace ushering team for most of this time. I have been an independent businessman, running a small business for over 30 years and have worked on various industry, municipal and state agency planning and code development and training committees over the years. I believe this experience has helped me develop skills that would be valuable as a member of the Grace Vision Board. As a member of Grace, I have always been proud of the outreach and services Grace has provided not just for our own members but to the community, as a whole, along with the international missions and ministries it has sponsored and supported. If I am elected to serve on the Vision Board I will do my best to ensure our continued commitment to these values. Thank you for your consideration. Bill Hentges
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Stacy Surratt
Hi, my name is Stacy Surratt and I have been a member of Grace since 2007. I live in Andover with my husband James and my two children, my daughter, Olivia (16) and my son, Christopher (15) and our dog, Watson. I am a Health Systems Business Specialist for Boehringer Ingelheim where I call on hospitals and clinics in the Minneapolis metro area, helping healthcare professionals treat diabetes, COPD and heart failure. I love serving my community and the people at Grace Lutheran Church. I currently serve as the co-lead for the Grace4Rakai Ministry Team since the team was established in the summer of 2015. I was blessed to actually go to Rakai, Uganda in the summer of 2016 and experienced first-hand how our church is positively impacting vulnerable women and children in Africa. I was also on the Grace2Haiti team for several years and went to Haiti 2x with the Grace team as part of their mission trips. I also am very involved with the Children’s Ministry at Grace for the past 14 years. I currently am a Sunday School teacher and serve as the leader for the Children’s Ministry Team. I also have served as a leader on many children’s events over the years including VBS, “Egg-stravaganza”, “Trunk or Treat” as well as many other annual events offered each year. I am also actively involved in Women’s Ministry here at Grace. I have served on their leadership team for many years and currently have led the Women’s Retreat team for the past 8 years. I have also been on the Call Committee and several Nominating Committees over the years when hiring church staff. Me and my family love to serve together and volunteer at ACBC food shelf and FMSC on a regular basis. I would be honored to serve Grace as a Vision Board member. Thank you for your consideration. Stacy Surratt
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Anna Welle
My name is Anna Welle, and I have been a member of Grace since 2009. I have lived in Andover for fifteen years, and I have two children. Jameson (14) is currently in catechism, and Mackenzie (11) will be joining catechism in the fall. We came to Grace not only because of the welcoming environment, but also because of the wonderful children’s ministry and youth programs. In my professional life, I am a Vice President leading the Federal income tax function in the corporate tax department at Ameriprise Financial. I also serve as Treasurer for the Andover Girls’ Traveling Basketball Association. I have served in a variety of ways over the years at Grace, from assisting with SONday School to ushering to baking communion bread. I currently serve on the Abandoned Children’s Ministry, and I have been to Haiti twice on mission trips. I have formed wonderful friendships with people I have met at Grace. I want what is best for our church, so that others may also experience that type of connection. I want to see our church continue to thrive and grow. I would be honored to serve on the Vision Board, and I appreciate your consideration. Anna Welle
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Confirmation Sunday
May 23, 2021
2pm & 4pm
Grace Lutheran Church is pleased to announce that the following young people will be affirming their baptism this Sunday at 2:00 and 4:00pm. They are a fabulous group of students that have spent the last 4 years questioning and learning about their faith so they can proclaim it to the world on Sunday and become adult members of the church. We are thankful for all of the adult leaders that have joined them along the way and the entire church body for your prayers and support. Please pray for them this weekend as they confirm their faith!
Carly Grace Anderson
Bennett May Behnke-Nead
Ben Dauman
Pete Gandah
Allison Marie Gfroerer
Sunni Gislason
Lauren Grace Hansen
Allie Lynnea Hawkinson
Alyssa Marie Jacobs
Alyssa Joyce Kamman
Samantha Karsnia
Grace Morphew
Isaac Newcomer
Sadie Norman
Mallory Elaine Olson
Lauren Nicole Russell
Brody Robert Ruud
August J. Schlosser
Justin Schmidt
Gracie Sperlich
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Sunday Zoom Fellowship
The Sunday Zoom Fellowship is cancelled this Sunday due to the Annual Meeting/Vision Board Elections. Sunday Zoom Fellowship will resume Sunday, May 30th at a new time of 11:30am!
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Red Cross Blood
Red Cross blood drive at Grace Tuesday, May 25th, 1:00pm-6:00pm. Blood donations are especially needed around holidays. Please go to www.redcross.org to make an appointment to donate. Your blood donation will save a life.
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VBS Registration is LIVE!
Sunday, June 13th
6:00pm-7:30pm
Kick-off family event.
Come, worship, and play -activities for the whole family!
June 14th-17th 6:00pm-7:30pm
(June 18th: Rain Day)
Register on Realm. Cost is $10.00 for a camp T-shirt!
Our theme this year is "I Wonder." Kids are naturally curious, and when you’re curious about who God is it’s easy to grow your relationship with Jesus. That’s why, in this 4-part series for Vacation Bible School, we’re going to engage kids’ imaginations! Kids will not only get curious about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics — but also about the God who created it all! They’ll hear from early church leaders like Paul, Peter, John, and Timothy, who helped the first Jesus-followers wonder what made their stories unique, what gifts God gave them (and how they could use those gifts to serve), what they could learn from others, and how they could spend time with God.
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Conversations on Race and Culture
Our next Conversations on Race and Culture date is changed. We will be meeting Wednesday, June 23rd from 7-8 PM via zoom. Our topic to be discussed is LGBTQ+ and allyship.
We cannot wait to have this conversation to understand, learn, and grow with you!
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Grace's Opportunities for Giving |
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Looking for YOU!
We are looking for people to help run PowerPoint and our streaming for all of our worship services. We will train you and guide you through the process. This is a perfect activity for youth and parents to do together.
Please contact Pastor Joanna Mitchell if you are interested at joannam@graceandover.org
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VBS Supplies Needed
It is that time of year where we are busy preparing for Vacation Bible School. We need your help! Please check the bulletin board in the narthex for supplies we need in order to make this year's VBS successful. We are also collecting and need 5X7 frames (one per child), milk cartons, juice jugs, paper towel and toilet paper rolls, rubber bands, plastic containers, bottles, egg cartons, other recyclables for making robots, boats, and rockets! We will be collecting supplies until June 6th. If you have any questions please contact Pastor Maria Markman at mariam@graceandover.org
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Noisy Offerings
For May 16th-31st, in light of the fact that May is Mental Health Awareness month, our Noisy Offering for the last half of May will be directed to The Heart and Mind Connection in Anoka, a nonprofit organization that seeks to bring hope and help to those with mental illness and substance use challenges. Thank you for giving generously.
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Give Electronically through GraceRealm |
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Consider electronic giving on GraceRealm. It’s a convenient way to give consistently throughout the year. If you have any questions, contact Frances or Marie in the Church Office or Click on the GraceRealm link below.
If you are wondering where your giving is for the year, please log in to GraceRealm. Find Giving on the tool bar. Then select My Giving History.
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Prayers of the Church
For all who call upon your healing name: Paul Phelps, Joyce Kreun, Dean Corey, Shirley Kirkendall, Amanda Grace, Shane Larson, Deb Stang’s brothers Ken and John, Lois Golie, Sonja Hawn, Justin Richards, Carroll Potter, John Malecha, Christopher Sluis, Julie Swedberg, LaDonna Lilyquist, Charlotte Montei, Lynn Zirkle, Elsie Weisenberger, Linda Christiansen, Judi Wold, and Ralph & Colleen Wernimont.
For those who mourn, bring comfort and peace. We pray especially for Chad, Jen & Faith Kettering as they mourn the death of Chad’s Grandmother, Cleo Belk; Lynn Zirkle and the family of Lynn’s sister Mary Hockemeyer as they mourn Mary’s death; and Deb Stang & family upon the death of her Uncle Don.
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Virtual Connections
During this time of high COVID-19 cases, we encourage you to connect with Grace and others! If you are looking for ministries and groups to connect with please visit our web site at www.graceandover.org and click on Church Online to see opportunities to connect.
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Meet the Architects
Philosophy
“Architecture for People”
Busch Architects, Inc. is in the business of inspiring people by transforming the spaces and buildings they inhabit. Each client has a unique story and their buildings should help them tell that story. When designing you have to “step into the shoes” of building users. A well-designed building will anticipate the needs of users and provide the flexibility to accommodate change over time. Architecture that is inspiring and nurturing speaks to people and invites them in.
Our Experience
In 1988, our firm began designing its first project, Holy Cross Lutheran Church. Since then, we have completed more than 100 church projects of various sizes. In addition to religious architecture, we have experience with education, recreation, municipal, and commercial projects. In all areas of work, we are well versed in working with existing buildings and the unique challenges and opportunities that they provide.
Our Team
The following members of our team are excited to begin working on the project and will be involved throughout all phases of design and construction.
Kevin Busch, AIA, CID (Lead Project Architect)
Gary Demele, FAIA, NCARB (Project Manager)
Amanda Maldonado (Production Coordinator)
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