| Grace Notes Email Newsletter |
Grace is Worshiping at All Peoples on Sunday
Please plan on being part of our congregation worshiping at All Peoples this Sunday, August 25. Let's all do our part to show support for our partner congregation in Milwaukee. We are meeting at church at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday morning to drive down for the 10:00 a.m. worship service.
We're sending out a special "Grace Notes" on Friday with more information about our Grace road trip.
Your Grace Office Staff
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This Thursday's Sermon: "Jesus Can Wait!"
In a controversial move, Jesus healed a woman on the sabbath day. She had been crippled for 18 years but Jesus could not wait one more day to set this woman free & lift her up. When Jesus saw people in need, he would break the rules to heal them.
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Sunday School Staff Meeting-TONIGHT!
Sunday School Teachers, please join us tonight, August 21 from 7-8pm for a Sunday School Staff Meeting. Questions? Contact Katie.
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Looking for A Way to Share Your Gifts at Grace. Choose Your Responsibility
Dates for the Fall!
Are you looking for a new & exciting way to share your gifts at Grace. Now is the time! Visit our website to view the links to our Fall 2019 Sign Up Genius page for each area. Our fall session will run from September 8 - January 5.
If you did not check off one of these responsibilities on your Time & Talents form but would be interested in trying something new, 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!
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Updates from Churchwide Assembly
Last week, members from all over the country met in Milwaukee for the Churchwide Assembly. This takes place every three years, and it's the highest legislative body in the ELCA. Pastor Heidi was a voting member for our synod. We heard beautiful words of thanks from Ecumenical and Interfaith partners, kicked off the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Ordination of Women in the Lutheran church, voted to adopt the Social Statement "Faith, Sexism and Justice", celebrated the completion of the capital campaign (they raised $250 million!), re-elected Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton, worshiped, and did many other things! One was that the ELCA voted to become a "Sanctuary Body." There has been a lot of press about that decision, some of it misinformed. We will have information in the Gathering Area available for you on why this vote happened and what it means.
Here is a link to what we will have available, and below is a Pastoral Letter from the Presiding Bishop that goes along with the Talking Points.
https://download.elca.org/ELCA%20Resource%20Repository/ELCA_SanctuaryDenomination_TalkingPoints.pdf
Letter from the Presiding Bishop
Dear siblings in Christ,
As many of you know, last week the ELCA Churchwide Assembly adopted a resolution that, among other things, declared the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) a sanctuary denomination. Many of you are asking, "What does this mean?"
Our call to love our neighbor is central to our faith. In our baptismal covenant we promise to strive for peace and justice in all the world. One of the ways we live out this vow is through our commitment to welcoming the stranger. With this declaration, we publicly state that walking alongside refugees and immigrants is a matter of faith.
We have prepared talking points to provide a better understanding and further clarification on what sanctuary means for you and your congregations.
We acknowledge this will look different in different contexts across the ELCA. We also hope this resource will help guide conversations with your parishioners and your community about what our faith says about immigration.
"Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God" (Romans 15:7).
In Christ,
The Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton, Presiding Bishop
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Lots of Spots Left for "God's Work Our Hands"
While we have filled all forty spots for the "Rise Against Hunger" food packaging activity on September 15, there are still lots of open spots for our other activities.
You can still register to be part of the Outreach for Hope bike ride fundraiser on Saturday, September 7
- We need more volunteers to help with various jobs related to the ride that day
- Six people have signed up for the Milwaukee River clean up, but we can take at least ten more
- Five of the ten spots for the Hamburg House music making are still open
- The weeding crew at Portal in Grafton can use at least four more volunteers
- We also need more volunteers to help with the meal on the 15th for all our volunteers
If you haven't yet signed up, please do so. We have a lot of family friendly activities this year.
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School Backpack Blessings Available
If you weren't able to attend the backpack blessing on Sunday, August 11, there are still backpack blessings available. Pick one up at the table outside of the gathering area. Good luck to all of our students as they head back to school in the next few weeks! We are praying for you!
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30 Keys Left!
So far 50 of the 88 keys have been taken to help us purchase a new electronic keyboard for the worship center. The current one is over 25 years old and has seen better days. There are thirty keys left to pull of the bulletin board in the north hallway. Each key represents a $45 donation. Please help us to get rid of all the keys so we can get rid of the old keyboard and purchase a new one.
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Attention Parents of 3 Year Olds
If your child will be 3 by September 1, they are welcome to join us for Sunday School this fall! Parents and their children will participate in Rally Sunday, the first day of Sunday School, together on Sunday, September 8. More information will be coming in the mail, soon. Contact Katie at Katie@GraceGrafton.com if you have any questions.
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Your Cash Donations Can Help with "Rise Against Hunger"
This year we decided to tackle a real big "God's Work Our Hands" project, so we signed up to host the "Rise Against Hunger" event where Grace volunteers will package 10,000 meals to help fight hunger. We have already had forty people sign up to work on this. This event costs $3,400. Each volunteer is asked to contribute $10 and we've designated some church funds to cover part of the cost, but we are looking for individual donations of any size to handle the rest. Please contact the church office if you are willing to make a donation toward the cost of this worthwhile event or click on the link below and click the green "Donate" button, please do not register on this site. There is an option to register, please do not register on this site. Even if you can't be here to work on September 15 you can still donate to help the work get done.
Thank you so much for your support.
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Family Neighborhood Ride for Outreach for Hope!
The annual Outreach for Hope Bike ride has always included the longer rides, but NEW this year, it will also include a family-friendly neighborhood ride! There will be a one-mile loop around the neighborhood with stops at Mole Creek Park to run and play and the middle school parking lot for lemonade. Bike decorating, face painting and more will be available before the ride begins. This year's event will take place on Saturday, September 7. Bike ride times are staggered, the family-friendly ride begins at 10:00am at Grace.
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Bikers! Register for the Outreach for Hope Ride!
Last year Grace had the biggest group of riders participating in the Outreach for Hope ride that starts from Grace. We want to repeat that this year. The ride is the morning of Saturday, September 7. You can choose to ride 14, 30 or 50 miles.
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There is an Easy Way to Help Grace Earn Extra Money! Have You Signed Up for the Scrip Program?
There is an easy way to help Grace earn money - please tell me more!! Grace has recently joined the Scrip program. The Script program? What is that? And how will it help Grace?
When you sign up for the Scrip program and shop as you normally shop at participating stores, you can help give hundreds of dollars each year to Grace. It is that simple!
How do you sign up?
Well it is easy, just go to www.shopwithscrip.com and sign up. You will need to use our organization code (LECAL22F63645). You can also do it on the Scrip app on your phone.
How does it work?
- After you sign up, you go onto the Scrip app on your phone or log into your scrip account on your computer, look at the ALL of the stores that participate.
- Once you find the stores you shop at you can order a gift card.
- Gift cards come in two forms: Physical gift card or E-gift card. Choose what kind you would like to have & place your order.
- If you choose an physical gift card, you need to place your order (on your scrip site) by the 3rd Sunday of the month at 12:00 p.m.
- They will be delivered to church & can be picked up later that week. E-gift cards will come directly to your Scrip wallet on your app & usually are available to use that same day.
How do you pay?
There are two ways to pay for your Scrip orders. You can write a check to Grace Lutheran Church (put your check in Chantal Murack's church mailbox) or you can sign up to use PrestoPay (Scrip's online payment). You just choose your payment type when you check out.
How does it help Grace?
Every time you purchase a gift card or e-gift card a percentage of the purchase goes to Grace. So if you shop at Pickn' Save buy a Roundy's gift card. Roundy's has a 4% donation. So if you buy a $100 gift card that means Grace earns $4.00! Can you imagine if everyone at church joined how much money we could earn just by shopping!!
If you have any questions or need help signing up please contact Chantal Murack, cmurack@uwalumni.com.
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Mark Your Calendars for Rally Sunday!
Summer is in full swing, but school is just around the corner. Mark your calendars for Rally Sunday, the first day of Sunday School, on Sunday, September 8. Sunday School students entering 3K-5th grade AND their parents will participate in Rally Sunday together. JYG (6th-8th grade) and HYPE (9th-12th grade) students will meet in their rooms. Education Hour runs from 9:15-10:15 each Sunday. Registration will take place on Rally Sunday. Questions? Contact Katie at
Katie@GraceGrafton.com.
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Join The Jubilation Choir!
Calling all singers! Grace Choir will be starting our fall season on Thursday, Sept. 5 at 7:20. We rehearse most Thursday evenings (Wednesdays during Lent) and sing in worship the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month. We always love having new members, so contact Zack or Eryn Durlam if you're interested! durlams312@gmail.com or (319)321-2217.
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Ice Cream Social
On Thursday August 29th, after the evening worship service, we are having an ICE CREAM SOCIAL! Everyone is welcome to come. You can have chocolate or vanilla or both and pile on your favorite toppings. We will also have sliced watermelon for those who desire. So come one and all to this summer ending celebration! Do I have to scream it? Or do you get the scoop?
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Hello, Women of Grace!
Wishing you could get away for a mini-vacation? We've got your ticket!
WonderFull World is an unforgettable travel-themed retreat the women of our church are doing together. It includes worship, Bible study, and time for laughter as well as time for quiet reflection.
At WonderFull World we'll "travel" to each of the seven continents. While there, we'll explore wonders of a woman's heart, such as "I wonder if I matter to God" or "I wonder where God is when life is hard." We'll find the answer to each of these questions in the Bible and discover more of God's amazing love for us.
We'll leave early on Saturday, September 21 and be home by noon on Sunday, September 22. Our retreat will be held at the beautiful and comfortable Evergreen Lodge at Pine Lake Camp in Waupaca, and the cost is only $100 per person! This covers all the supplies, fun and refreshing activities, and comfortable lodging. We usually work together bring our own meals to share- the lodge has a kitchen everyone signs up to bring something. We eat very well!
Talk to Pastor Heidi for more information, or check out the bulletin board in the Gathering Space to learn more and register.
Take time to relax, to make new friends, to worship, and to explore God's wondrous love. I hope you'll join us at WonderFull World!
Pastor Heidi
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Join the ALC for Its Annual Spelling Bee
You're invited to the Adult Literacy Center's third annual Spelling Bee, Friday, September 6 at the River Club of Mequon! Join the ALC for an evening of delicious food and an exciting adult spelling bee. Come with a spelling team or as an individual spectator. Find out more information online at
https://www.adultliteracyoz.org/spellersofoz Did you know that last year's spelling bee winners were a group from Grace?! Who's going to be the big winners this year? Join us to find out!
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RNT Event on September 11
On Wednesday, September 11th the RNT group will travel to The Old Wade House in Plymouth. If you have not been there recently, it sure has changed!?? Jerry and I went there to check it out last week. Quite a change from what we remember. A large visitor center with many, many carriages displayed then a ride on a horse-drawn wagon down to the main buildings. After the Old Wade House we will lunch at Antoinette's in the town of Plymouth. Cost is $9.00 each for 15 or more persons and $10 for less persons attending the tour. More information to follow. Diane Kiesow
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Quilting Begins
In just 2 weeks the quilters will be back to work creating more quilts to send to Lutheran World Relief. Quilting days are the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month from 12:00 noon until 3:00 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. Our first day this fall is Tuesday, September 3rd. Please come and check in on us and see and learn what it takes to put a quilt together. Sometime in October the quilts will be shipped to Lutheran World Relief but not before we hold our Quilt Sunday which is the 1st Sunday in October (this year it will be Thursday October 3rd and Sunday October 6th). The quilts will sell for $25 each. You will never buy a quilt that has the workmanship like these quilts have. Stop in any 1st or 3rd Tuesday and have a peek at some of the quilts that will be for sale and just maybe you would like to join this friendly, fun-filled group. If you want any more information, please give Donna Harms a call at 262-377-0771.
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Join Grace's Team to Fight to End Alzheimer's Disease!
Please consider joining our team on the Walk To End Alzheimer's on Oct 5, 2019 at the Veteran's Park in Port Washington. Registration opens at 8:30am and the walk starts at 10am.
In the past, they have also had information regarding Alzheimer's and other dementia, caregiving tips, other booths pertaining to Alzheimer's and FOOD!
I have put a poster on the Community Bulletin Board with more details about registering. You can register by mail, phone, online, or on the day of the walk. If you can't walk, consider a sponsoring one of our walkers.
It's not too early..... We already have 4 team members signed up.
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Mt. Meru Coffee Project is celebrating 20 years!
Your efforts have been helping to improve the standard of living for the coffee farmers of the Meru Diocese in Tanzania for 20 years. The increased income to these farm families is being used to educate their children, to access needed health care, and to support their congregations. Stay up to date on the Facebook page and learn more about its history on the web site:
www.mtmerucoffee.org.
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 (262)375-0997.
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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!
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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.
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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
Arcelia Magana - 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)
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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 Managa: Tuesday-Friday
Erica Dimmett: Various Hours please call to check
Katie Eippert:
Monday: 2-4,
Tuesday: 8-4,
Wednesday: 8-10,
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.
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| 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 |
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Responsibility List
Responsibilities for Sunday, September 1
At the 9:00 a.m. service:
A VOLUNTEER is NEEDED to be the assistant minister, Karen Johnson is the reader, Piper Flaig is the acolyte, Mark Koehler's team is ushering, Gary & Marietta Northup & Joby Whitemarsh are the greeters, Greg Schwartz is in the multimedia room, Kathy Kehoe is the communion assistant, Katie & Emma Eippert have communion by Individual cup set up & cleanup, A VOLUNTEER is NEEDED for coffee hour & Judy Kloehn is at the Welcome Desk.
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