Tips for preparing for Palm Sunday's worship online:
- Pick up palms for your family. Palms are available to be picked up on Saturday starting at 9 a.m. under the awning at the front door of the church.
- Prior to Sunday morning prepare a plate with bread and a cup of juice for communion.
- On Sunday morning light a candle and go to the worship website or Grace's Facebook page.
- If you would like to follow along with the scripture reading have your Bible nearby.
A note about Holy Communion:
Although we may be apart, there are countless things we can still do together as the body of Christ like pray, read scripture, and stay in touch through social media, phone calls, and emails. On this Sunday, Palm Sunday, we also celebrate the Sacrament of Holy Communion. To prepare to receive Communion at home, I ask you to have bread and juice ready at your own “Table of the Lord” in your home. I would also ask that you follow these directions as we participate together:
First, I would ask that you take a Bible that you have in your home and turn to the Gospel of Matthew. In Matthew, Chapter 26:26-30 it says: “While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. (Please read these words in your home as I am recite them at the altar at the church.)
Next, as I raise the bread and break it and as I raise the cup to be blessed, please do the same with your bread and juice at home. By doing so, this will symbolically bless all our bread and juice together.
Finally, share with one another the body and blood (the bread and juice) of our Lord and Savior, saying, “Receive the body…receive the blood…of our Lord Jesus Christ.” After our time of Communion is over, in your homes and on the church video, I will conclude with a time of prayer.
I’m excited for all of us to participate in this very holy sacrament! This is one more way we worship our Lord together even when we are apart!
Blessings…Pastor Gary
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Order of Online Worship:
Sunday, April 5 - Palm Sunday
Opening Song
"Hosanna, Loud Hosanna"
Welcome
Children's Message
Praise Song
"Hosanna (Praise is Rising)"
Scripture Reading
Matthew 21:1-11
Message
"Who is this?"
Holy Communion
Closing Hymn
"All Glory Laud and Honor"
Grace Financial Giving:
Thank you to all those who have mailed in their giving checks. We gratefully appreciate it!
Note: At this time we are exploring online giving. Until that is set up, offerings can be mailed to Grace UMC at P.O. 276, Pequot Lakes, MN 56472.
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From the desk of Pastor Gary:
Coronavirus:
As we continue to do our best to “shelter at home” and to “social distance” in the midst of this Coronavirus, I applaud you for following the directions of the CDC, our President, our Governor, and our Bishop. This is definitely a challenge, but if we want to end this pandemic sooner rather than later, then we need to follow their mandates. Our Governor and President have extended the stay at home order for 30 more days and our Bishop Bruce Ough is telling us to not worship in our churches or have small group meetings until at least May 10th. All this is subject to change depending on how things are going.
What this means is that we need to continue to find new and different ways to “be church”. We’ve started by pre-recording worship services and we hope to be live streaming for Easter Sunday. I’m looking into ways we can still have our Tuesday morning Bible study and how I can continue with my Confirmation lessons with my students. I know committees and teams are looking into virtual meetings or meetings by phone. I also know that so many of you are checking in with each other, taking care of each other, praying for each other, and loving each other. This is wonderful! My friends, whatever it takes to continue to be church, that is what we need to do. Let us continue to be guided by God to do His work, which is needed now more than ever, even in the middle of this pandemic!
Peace…Pastor Gary
My leaving:
By now, many of you have heard that Brenda and I are leaving in June to go to a new appointment. This was not an easy decision. It will be very hard to leave the Grace UMC and the wonderful people of Grace. However, we felt that our families needed to come first and Brenda needed to be closer to her work. These are the reasons we requested to be moved.
We have done wonderful ministry at the Grace UMC and have come a long way in the last 3 years! I am pleased and very proud of all that’s happened! Here’s what I know…the people of Grace will continue to move forward with the focus and energy that God continues to bless you with. The new teams will continue to grow in their ministries, our new technology will continue to reach more and more people, and individuals will continue to grow in spirit as they deepen their relationships with our Lord. So much has happened and so much more will happen in the future. I’m just grateful that Brenda and I were here to be able to be part of it! Thank you for allowing us to be part of your lives! We don’t leave until June and we hope and pray that this Coronavirus ends sooner rather than later so that we can be together for a while before our time here is done!
Blessings…Pastor Gary and Brenda
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Holy Week: Worship, Reflection, & In-Home Activities
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Holy Week begins this weekend with Palm Sunday and progresses through Holy or Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. It culminates with Easter Sunday celebrations. We are preparing worship, reflections, and at-home activities to make your Holy Week more meaningful. Videos will be added through-out the week.
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Can You Sew?
Scrub Hats Requested
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One of Grace's nurses, Lacey Eschenbacher, has asked for help from Grace folks who can sew. There is a need for scrub hats for nurses. Here are two different patterns/directions. Let us know if you can help!
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Thank you to those who have signed up to lend a hand.
Grace family, if you need assistance with anything let us know!
Use this
form
or contact Pastor Gary, Andrea, or the church. We have helpers ready to assist!
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A Message from the Brenneckes:
Greetings to your our friends in the ministry! We trust that this email finds you well. These truly are "odd" times! I thought that with our office closed, with our administrative staff working from home, and with the headlines all about the world wide threat of illness, we would send out a note to let you know how we are doing, and to encourage you! May the Lord bless you today, wherever you are, and give you a daily memento of His grace to celebrate! -Steve, Kim and the kids
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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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