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April 2020 | Vol 13 Issue 4
Articles are due the 15th of the
month preceding publication.
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Welcome to Grace Lutheran's eNewsletter!
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Click on the links at the right to view or print the
calendar
and
volunteer schedule
, plus you can go directly to our website, Facebook and sites in the ELCA family. If you have anything you would like put in the newsletter, send an email to me at dreamstar_00@msn.com.
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Calendar
Volunteer Schedule
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Attitude is Everything
“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?” -
Isaiah 43:19
When I was in high school I played football for a couple of years. One year we all got t-shirts that had our team name on the front and a quote on the back. The quote was “Attitude is Everything.” I have to admit I didn't give the quote much thought when I first read it. However, over the years I have thought about that quote from time to time. I realized that life is not simply about what we do but also how we perceive it.
Right now we are living in unprecedented times. With the outbreak of the coronavirus our lives and our world have completely changed. On top of that, we are more informed than ever, whether we want to be or not. It seems that we have very little control of what is happening around us. But while we don’t always control what is happening around us, we can always control how we respond to it.
As Christians we are trying to live like Jesus. But this does not simply apply to what we do but also should apply to what we think. We are called to not simply act like Jesus but to try to think like him. Throughout our lives we are constantly bombarded by messages about how we should think about ourselves and others. But the question that should drive our thoughts is how would Jesus understand or perceive a situation. People were often surprised by the fact that Jesus didn't show special treatment to those in his culture considered powerful or important. Jesus loved everyone equally. But this made sense to Jesus because he was seeing people as God saw them. I think it's worthwhile to pause and ask ourselves how we are perceiving the world around us. Are we seeing things as Jesus sees them? May God bless you as you seek to grow deeper in your faith.
In Christ,
Pastor Andy
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In order to stay in compliance with Illinois' "stay-at-home" order, we have extended the closure of our church until at least May 1st. This does not necessarily apply to our child care center as it has to follow different guidelines. We will contact our staff and parents of our center directly when it is deemed safe to reopen. Please be sure to check our Facebook and YouTube page for online worship services and other videos. If you would like to continue to support Grace a link for online giving is below. Also, you may mail your offering directly to the church. If you have any questions please let us know.
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Holy Week Services Online
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Easter Service will be posted by Sunday at 8:00am. Generally they have been online sometime Saturday.
You will also find links there for the worship folder so you can follow along with the responses. Print or view on your phone or computer.
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Notes from People of Praise
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Music moves us in so many different ways. It can bring us peace, laughter, tears, hope, reflection... I miss having the opportunity to meet and sing with the choir, but we have found different ways to make music together. And all I can say is: I am extremely grateful for technology! And how brave and innovative we’ve become! I’m so glad we’ve been able to continue sharing music with you during the Sunday services!
I shared a song with the choir the other day. This song holds a special place in my heart, and I’ve heard it performed a couple times; each time I am brought to tears at the hope that is present amid so much despair. The song is “Even When He is Silent.” (You can look it up!) I The lyrics are words that were found on a wall of a concentration camp from WWII:
I believe in the sun, even when it’s not shining;
I believe in love, even when I feel it not;
I believe in God, even when He is silent.
As we move out of the Lenten season and celebrate Jesus’ resurrection, I hope you find solace and peace in the music of nature, in the new regrowth, and in the glory of His name.
Stay well!
Peace and blessings,
~Danielle Cairoli
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EDITOR"S NOTE: This message from last month seems particularly appropriate, so I'm running it again. Enjoy.
“What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?” – Mark 8:36-37
Instead of the superficial “How’s it going?” ask yourself the question, “How is your soul?”
This question requires effort. To answer it we must plunge deep inside – below the constantly churning waters of everyday joys, hopes, ambitions, desires, anxieties and disappointments. These are so strong, especially our desires and ambitions, that if we are not careful they can absorb all our time and energy.
Jesus repeatedly warns us not to let our desires and our worries overwhelm us, keeping us from paying attention to the soul. Our soul is where we connect with God, the source of our greatest strength and truest identity. Without attention, our soul can wither like a plant without water. As with all the treasures God has given us, we must be stewards of our souls.
This month, begin a regular practice of caring for your soul. Consider the following to tend your soul and keep worldly worries and desires from drowning you:
- Adapt a grateful attitude for all the gifts God has blessed you with. Actively look for ways to express that gratitude.
- Converse with God in prayer, confiding your hopes, fear, and things that weigh on your soul.
- Schedule a time of silence to experience the presence of God and listen for how He may be speaking to you.
- Reflect in depth on a Scripture passage to discern what it may mean in your life.
With a little practice and attention, you can become stronger, more centered, and more spiritually resilient.
So, how is your soul? With a little work you can truthfully answer as Horatio Spafford did: “It is well, it is well with my soul” (1)
[Adapted from work by Rev. Robert Blezard, Copyright © 2020. Reprinted with permission.]
Stewardship: “Everything we do after we say I Believe.”
~Ray Yoder
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Upcoming Events, How You Can Participate
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Volunteers Needed for Grace's Gardens
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All the landscaped beds around our church are cared for by volunteers through our Adopt-a-Garden ministry. Gardens are available for adoption for the 2020 growing season. This is a great volunteer opportunity to do as a family, group of friends or by yourself and on your own schedule. Volunteers are assigned a landscaped garden and care for it throughout the season - weeding, watering and planting. Volunteers are given creative freedom to do whatever they desire within their garden except the removal or adding of major trees or shrubs.
Are you interested but are don't know anything about gardening? No problem, we are happy to share and teach anyone who has an interest and wants to learn. If you would like more information or wish to adopt one of our available gardens please contact Deborah Billig 815-271-5342 or deborahbillig@gmail.com
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Easter Breakfast Postponed
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While we can't provide our traditional Easter Breakfast this year, we hope to host a 'welcome back' meal when we can be together again. Meanwhile, many people are finding creative ways to share Easter remotely. Some are cooking in their own homes, agreeing on a time to eat, and then sharing that time on Zoom or another platform. Be sure to participate in Pastor Andy's worship service at whatever time is convenient. You may want to share that time with friends and family at the same time on Sunday. However you plan to celebrate, Easter WILL come and we just may have a little more time to reflect on what that means to us as people of faith. God bless.
Contact: Chris Bjorklund at dreamstar_00@msn.com or call 815-529-0789
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Bible Study and Small Group Opportunities
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Women's Friendship & Faith Monthly Bible Study
Do you every forget your way? Do you ever forget you belong to Christ? This study will remind you what really matters and how to live a life that honors God. We will be using Max Lucado’s Life Lessons Series as we study 2 Corinthians.
This is a monthly Bible Study open to any women who would like to study the Bible, grow in faith, and share fellowship. We will meet the first Tuesday of the month starting April 7 at 7 pm in the Church library. The cost for the book is $8
Please contact Thorey Ellis at (815)276-2456 or the church office to sign up or if you have any questions.
"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come." 2 Corinthians 5:17
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Small Group - "Christianity 101"
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Starting March 8th - Making Sense of The Cross
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This small group study is held Sunday after the second service and is open to all who want to learn more about our Christian faith in a comfortable small group setting. The
Making Sense Series gives people a framework to discuss questions such as:
How is the Bible true? How does Jesus’ birth, life, death and resurrection make a difference in our lives today? How do we understand the cross of Christ? What is the Word of God?
This discussion is appropriate for all people from the new members who are just starting their faith walk or are new to the Lutheran Church, to those that have been church members for a while but would like to have a broader discussion on the topics. Each session in the Making Sense series features a chapter to read and a video presentation by Lutheran author and theologian David Lose, and is facilitated as a casual discussion group.
The series is broken into four main topics:
- Making Sense of Christianity
- Making Sense of Scripture
- Making Sense of The Cross (begins March 8th)
- Making Sense of Martin Luther
Every week we take time to discuss our questions, concerns and beliefs from our own lives. Alternative beliefs are always welcome and we hope to be able to clearly and accurately share the Lutheran doctrine in our discussions. New group members are always welcome.
If you are interested in joining this small group or would like more information, contact Jon Petersen at 815-790-5934 or jonpetersen1307@gmail.com.
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Outreach Cafe on Hold but We Can Still Help
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There are several food pantries in the area available to assist area residents during this coronavirus outbreak. Service is generally limited to the town(s) in which the pantries are located. If you are not in need of assistance but would like to offer assistance, this article if for you too.
The
Richmond/Spring Grove Food Pantry is located at 5512 May Avenue in Richmond (across May Avenue from Angelo's grocery store). They are open to distribute food on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m.
If you are able to donate food, there is a drop off bin in the parking lot for non-perishable items. If you'd like to donate perishable items, please make an appointment with Char or Ken Kania at 815-678-4351. Non-perishable Items they currently need are tuna, all condiments, crackers, cookies, baby wipes and diapers, powdered milk. Of course, other items are always welcome.
Perishable items they need are chicken, ground beef and almond milk. Call to make an appointment to drop off perishable food.
The
Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry is located at 715 Walworth St., Genoa City, WI. They are open on Thursdays from 9 until noon, but other times may be scheduled by calling 262-203-0979 and making arrangements with Kevin Polheber. They currently are seeking fruit donations (dried, frozen, fresh or canned), as well as cash donations. They buy food from Feeding America Food Bank in Milwaukee, but fruit is always in short supply.
Helping Hands Food Pantry is located at 2502 Spring Ridge Suite B, Spring Grove (behind the Jewel Osco). Hours of operation are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:00 until 6:30, but you can arrive at 3:00 to get a number for service. They are accepting donations of non-perishable food items and cash, and if you'd like to help out at the pantry, give a call between 3:00 and 4:00 on Tuesdays or Thursdays to see if they need any additional volunteers.
Twin Lakes area Food Pantry is operated by St. John's Catholic Church located at 701 N. Lake St., Twin Lakes, WI. Hours of operation are Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10:00 until noon, and on the second Tuesday of each month from 7 to 8 p.m. Their phone number is 262-877-8228.
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Women of the ELCA - WELCA
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Is it true that “no news is good news”? Not always. Our news is that the Covid-19 pandemic has changed many things in our church life.
Thanks to Pastor Andy and our wonderful musicians, we now worship together via our internet connections rather than gathering in our sanctuary.
Our long-awaited and planned for Craft & Vendor Fair has been postponed indefinitely.
Social distancing, shelter-in-place and self-isolation are terms we hadn’t even heard of at the beginning of the year and now they are our every day norm.
Since mid-March WELCA has no news, but we will continue to follow our mission as it was written by the ladies of Grace many years ago.
WELCA’s Mission-
“Our primary mission is the support of Grace Lutheran Church through prayer and assistance with our time and financial support. We will support each other with care and compassion and help support the Northeast Illinois Division of the Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America.”
“Support” four times. The ladies are all about support for our church building and our church family.
Stay safe, stay at home and remember to wash your hands often. (2 verses of Happy Birthday, The Alphabet Song or 2 times through the Doxology with lots of sudsy soap!)
Any questions, please call, text or email Rita.
(815) 678-4413—ritalp_hotmail.com
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GraceNotes
Quick notes, reminders, who to contact
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Electronic Giving is Easy
Download and print the form here.
Fill it out and return with a voided check to the church office. Forms are also available in the Narthex at church. Please note that if you wish to donate to the building fund or other specific causes you will need to write a check or use cash as before.
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People of Praise Rehearsals
We'll let you know when we are able to begin meeting or rehearsal again.
Director,
Danielle Cairoli
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Suspended until further notice. Sunday School at 9:30 for children age 4 through 5th grade.
Call the church office for more information. 815-678-3082.
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P.A.D.S. Homeless ministry is in transition. We hope to reorganize soon.
Contact Curt Bjorklund at chbjorklund@hotmail.com or call 815-529-7746.
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DivorceCare
is a friendly, caring group of people who will walk alongside you through one of life’s most difficult experiences. Don’t go through separation or divorce alone. You are welcome to join at any time.
WHEN: Divorce Care is meeting Thursday nights via Zoom. Contact Linda for more information.
Contact: Linda Davis 815-347-5982
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Suspended until further notice: ALPHA
is our confirmation class open to 6th, 7th and 8th graders and is led by Pastor Andy. We meet Wednesday nights beginning with a meal at 5:30 and then enjoy a time of learning and fellowship. Register your children in the church office or contact Pastor Andy. The registration fee is $25.
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,February Giving: $17,174 Average Attendance per Sunday: 142
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