Greetings everyone
I hope you all had a great weekend and that you found time of renewal and rejuvenation for the coming week. It is here whether we are ready for it or not.
I know I have talked too many of you about this and may have even written on here before about it, but I really enjoy making food. Cooking outdoors is a big passion of mine whether it is in my smoker or on the flat top grill during the summer. After buying my first house, I asked my dad if I could have his old offset smoker as I thought it would make a great addition to my back yard. Whenever I would fire it up I'd fill it up as full as it could get with ribs, chicken, pork buts or whatever I could think of too. Betsy would tell me I did not need to fill it up so full but I did want to waste any space. If I was using wood as the fuel, I wanted to take full advantage of all the space while it was being used. We could not possibly eat all that... well I could but learned it's not the best thing to do. We would start inviting people over just to feed them. I enjoyed making the food and enjoyed sharing it. I was proud of my pulled pork too and even got the chance to make a bunch for an anniversary party, a graduate party and even my brother’s wedding. Feeding people was always something I took great joy in.
Here at Grace I feel there is that same passion. The first Sunday I was officially working here was the St Lucia breakfast. I thought it was great. A couple months later the annual meeting with baked potatoes and then lent started up with the potlucks. I was among some likeminded people that new how to make some awesome food. The pandemic hit and put a stop to some of the things but we still found ways to feed people. To provide food to those in need. To do a chili fundraiser that raised the most money we have ever been able to for Habitat for Humanity. The passion to make meals to feed others continued this fall when we started doing meals twice a month for connections shelter. This past week with one day’s notice, we were able to pull people together with random ingredients to make 50 family sized meals that will be distributed to families in need of meals this week.
Grace has been feeding people long before I have been here but what I see happening is a chance to really expand our "Feeding Ministry". Our chance to really get out in the community and make a difference it getting good in the tummies of those in need. I have been working with a group called South Central Minnesota Food Recovery Project. With the SCMFR project, it's made up of people in the food industry and leaders in other nonprofits to find ways to keep food from going into the compost and landfills to become dinners for those struggling with hunger. I have heard that 30-40% of food in the United States is wasted. If we are able to turn that into meals for those in need and get it to them that makes a huge difference in the world.
I am really encouraging you all at Grace on how we can look at ways to fight hunger together. What can we do as a church for the community? We have had some folks really want to get involved with what we're already doing but I invite anybody that wants to get more involved to reach out to me. We can really look at different ways to make a difference. Can we serve meals out of Grace once, twice, three times a week? Can we set up a food pantry here at the church? Can we make even more freezer meals to go out to families? Can we get a big freezer at the church to store more food to work with? This is our chance to dream big at different ways to help. The need to help those in need I think is just going to increase these next couple of months.
Peace
Ben
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Our Lenten Series "Faithful Feelings" continues this week. We will have in person worship here at Grace and we will also be live streaming the service on Facebook and YouTube at 6:00pm. This week we will be looking at the feeling Anger.
Week 3 - Doubt
Week 4 - Grief
Week 5 - Peace
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As we continue our Lenten journey this week we can take time to really focus on the world around us. Below is a great activity for families to do together. Print out the picture below and hang it on your fridge. Each day during lent there is something you can do as a family. This map has a focus on times of fasting, prayer and giving as we follow our way together to the cross. |
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Easter Egg Decorating
at Grace
Palm Sunday March 28th after worship
All families are welcome to join whether you have kids or not.
Families will be spread out through fellowship hall to ensure social distancing.
Masks will be requited during event.
A short devotion will go along with the fun.
Sign up below so we can have your spot ready!
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Toilet Paper Needed
For Connections
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***UPDATE One more week***
Our stack is continuing to grow. Thank you so much to everyone that has brought in some toilet paper so far.
We will continue to build the pile through Sunday March 7th. After that we'll start taking it to connections.
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Connections is in need of another donation item that I think our Grace family will be able to help them out. In talking with Jason Glaser, they could use toilet paper donations. We have started a pile of it in the narthex here at Grace and we would love to see how large we could make it. With the great success, we had with the quarter drive and the continued commitment with service meals at connection I know we can gather a lot of toilet paper to donate. Stop in any time and add to the pile started in the narthex. After some time we will get it delivered to the shelter. |
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Start marking your calendar. We're moving full speed ahead with things and we're excited to announce some opportunities for fellowship, leaning and service this next year. We are optimistic that life will return to a more normal form and these events will be able to move forward how we hope. |
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2021 Vacation Bible School
"King of Me"
June 7th - 11th
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We are planning an in-person Vacation Bible School (VBS) this summer. We will be holding here at Grace the week after schools get out the week of June 9th. The theme for the week is "King of Me." We will explore some of the characters from the Old Testament and how God is bigger than some of the obstacles that were put in their way and how God is the kind of all those things. When we feel alone God is with us. This week will be full of fun worship, crafts and activities as well. This will be fully run by Grace so we will be looking for volunteers to help during the week. If you have time available or an older child at home that you want to get out of the house to help please let Ben know (DSG@gracemankato.org) and he'd love to have some help. He will take help during the days with programing, food, childcare before and after or even planning the VBS if you are feel very adventurous.
All kids are welcomed to attend. They don't have to be a member of Grace
Children ages Kindergarten - 6th Grade are invited.
Programing will run from 8:30 - 3:00 Monday - Thursday and 8:30 - noon on Friday. Early drop off and late pick up will be available to families that need it.
Meals will be provided Monday - Thursday
Suggested Donation of $35 to cover cost of food and craft supplies
Click below to sign up.
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2021 Youth Summer Service Trip
North Shore MN
June 13th - 18th
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The summer of 2021 was supposed to be the next ELCA National Youth Gathering that happens every three year. That has been postponed to July of 2022 and will be in Minneapolis as planned. That means we will be doing a youth service trip this summer instead. With still some uncertainty of what that can look like we are planning this ourselves and will be traveling to the north shore based around Duluth. Service opportunities are still being worked out along with lodging but we are confident we will be able to offer a safe and fun trip for youth that have completed 7th - 12th Grade. You can register by clicking the link below. If you have any questions about this trip you can reach out to Ben at DSG@gracemankato.org. |
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Grace is serving dinner at Connections Shelter the second and forth Sunday of every month. If you would like to sign up to help out for any of the next times we're serving you can find a sign up below. You can also reach out to Ben through the church office or at DSG@gracemankato.org. |
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There are other opportunities to be able to serve at Connections. Below is a link to their sign up to be able to be greeters at the shelter. If your family would also like to take on a meal on your own to make and serve there are opportunities to sign up and do that. |
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While we are not yet meeting in person for children PreK - 6th Grade we do want to make weekly lessons available online. You can access the weekly lessons we would be doing by clicking the links below. There are great activities that can be done as a family together. |
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Right now as schools have moved to distance learning we have decided that the safest and most effective way to continue to meet with our confirmation students will be to temporarily move the the program virtual. We will be using Zoom to connect with the students just as we did last spring. As soon as it is safe to once again meet in person, we'll be excited to have the youth back here at Grace Wednesday nights.
For more details about events or would like to get involved please reach out to Ben or Pastor John and we will be sure to get you in the loop on everything you need to know.
February/March Confirmation Schedule
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March 3rd - Meet with Mentors
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March 10th - Meet with Mentors
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March 17th - Meet with Mentors
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March 24th - Meet with Mentors
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March 31st - No Confirmation. Holy Week.
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High School students are invited to join Ben in the Youth Room(Formally knows as the children's chapel) after worship throughout lent for time to of discussing and fellowship. We'll be diving deeper in the feelings discussed during worship each week. |
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If anybody has questions about youth and family ministry opportunities or would like to help leading any activities please reach out to Ben. You can call directly any time at 507-524-3254 or send an email to DSG@gracemankato.org |
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Zoom Thursday Night
Bible Study
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Thursday March 4th, 2021
All Are Welcome!
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As a community of Christ, we share in each other's joys and pains. Before we dive into the word each week we share our joys and pains with each other using the Rose Analogy.
- We look for the Rose in our lives - A highlight, success, small win or something positive that is happening.
- We look for a Thorn in our lives - A challenge you are experiencing or something you can use more support with.
- And we look for the Bud in our lives - A new Idea that has bloomed or something you are looking forward to knowing more about or experiencing
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This Week
"Stars in the Night"
This week we will be looking at the story of Jesus walking on the water from
Matthew 14:22-36
We are continuing to look at teaching videos by Mike Donehey that go along with songs from his band Tenth Avenue North. You can view the teaching video along with the song "Stars in the Night" below.
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Stars in the Night Lyric Video |
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Questions to think about going into the study are:
When has there been a time you have lost your focus on God?
What has helped guide you through life?
When you look to the sky and see the stars what do you think about?
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Thursday Bible Study
Zoom Meeting ID 857 5766 8823
Time 8:00 pm Thursday
Every week will have the same meeting ID
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Worshiping Together Virtually |
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Our Facebook live stream is a great way to gather with others(although virtually)as we are all part of this assembly as we gather as the one body of Christ to chat, share a greeting of peace and worship together. A live stream of our worship is broadcasted every Sunday morning at 10:00 and is 50-60 minutes long.
If you do not have Facebook worship is will still be available on KTOE Sunday mornings at 10:00 and the rebroadcast on KTV Tuesday at 1:00 pm and again Wednesday at 7:15 pm. Past worships can also be found on YouTube and our Website. Our goal is that everyone will still have an opportunity to worship with us at Grace.
All the past worship services can be found by going to
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February 28th 2021 Worship |
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We acknowledge that the risks of this pandemic are not over, and if you are unsure about being in the building, we encourage you to stay home and worship with us from a distance. If you enjoy worshipping from home, we encourage you to continue to do just that. We are opening our doors again but we encourage people to do what is best for your family right now. We want to offer the opportunity for everyone to connect with their faith in ways that are meaningful and meet you where you are. For now, we are glad you can be here with us, whether you are watching live on Facebook, listening on KTOE radio, following along on YouTube or KTV in Mankato. Even after we return to holding worship in our building, we will continue to provide these means of participating with us from a distance including a livestream on Facebook.
However you participate, now and in the future, we believe you are a part of this assembly, gathered as the one body of Christ to worship and celebrate our life of faith together.
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Christ in our Home
Devotional
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Christ In Our Home are still available here at Grace. You can stop in and pick on up anytime during church office hours.
You can access a digital copy by clicking HERE
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Fair Trade coffee and other items are for sale here at Grace. Current selection of products on hand here at Grace are pictured below. Items available are Coffee, Tea, Hot Cocoa Powder, Chocolate bars, backing cocoa and olive oil. Items are located near the narthex and can be bought during church office hours and Sunday mornings. |
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All Fair Trade/Organic Coffee - $7.00/Bag
Individual Coffee packets - 60¢ each
Makes 10-12 cups
All Tea - $3.00
Hot Cocoa - $6.00
Large Chocolate Bars - $2.50
Baking Cocoa - $6.00
Olive Oil - $13.50
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Find more information about Mankato Fair Trade Products and their Mission by clicking the link below
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Echo Food Shelf - Echo is still looking for volunteers to commit to one 2-4 hour shift/week. You can email echofoodshelf@yahoo.com to get involved.
CADA House - Committee Against Domestic Abuse, Inc. (CADA) is a nonprofit victim advocacy and emergency shelter organization based in Mankato, Minnesota. CADA’s mission is to provide safety and support to victims of domestic and sexual violence through education, advocacy, and shelter.
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Lord God,
Help us to continue to be your hands in feed. Jesus told Peter to feed his sheep. May we find ways to not only feed people with food but to find ways to feed their souls with the love that you freely share with us.
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Kaleidoscope by Urban Rescue |
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Many of us has been spending more time shopping online. When shopping with amazon there is an easy way to help raise a donation go to Grace. When shopping through a web browser you can follow the link below and it's easy to set up. It's also super easy to get set up on a mobile device through the Amazon App. When signed into your account in the app in settings there is a section called "Programs and Features" in that sections you can click on AmazonSmile. I that section you can select your charity. You can search Grace Lutheran Church Mankato or type 41-6006451.
When you #StartWithaSmile, Amazon donates 0.5% of the purchase price to Grace Lutheran Church. Bookmark the link http://smile.amazon.com/ch/41-6006451 and support us every time you shop.
You still get the same prices and you can still use your Prime account, but when you start by using this link above, Amazon will donate a portion of the price back to Grace.
Thanks for supporting Grace.
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Zoom is a great tool for connecting with family or our Thursday night bible study here with Grace. If you have been waiting to try to use Zoom because it can be a bit confusing at time we invite you to get a hold of Ben here at Grace. Ben is far from an expert with all that zoom can do but can defiantly help enough to get things set up on your device and test things out to see how they work. You can call the office to get a hold of Ben or send an email at DSG@gracemankato.org to set up a time. |
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Pastor
Director of Spiritual Growth
Parish Administrator
Office Specialist
Interim Organist and Music Director
Worship and Media Technology Coordinator
Maintenance and Grounds
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Grace Lutheran Church Office Hours
Monday - Thursday 10:00a.m - 5:00p.m
Friday 10:00a.m - noon
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Is there news you're wanting to have included in future staying connected newsletters? Reach out to Ben with the details and he'll be sure to included in an upcoming newsletter. New newsletters are emailed out every Monday and can also be found on Facebook or the Webpage under the At Home Resources tab. |
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