Staying Connected

Happy Monday everyone. Seems that fall is in full effect now. The leaves are changing, the weather is getting cooler, kids are back to school(some in different forms that others). All around us it's a very different scene than it was a couple months ago. I was sitting on my back patio yesterday afternoon and even with the sunshine you could feel the chill in the air. I mentioned to my wife that geez just two months ago we were out here sweeting and now I'm thinking of putting on another long sleeve shirt. Fall is my favorite season because it's still warm enough that it's not to uncomfortable outside to sit and just relax on the patio but just cold enough to be able to dress warm and cozy while drinking some hot apple cider, coffee or tea.

I couple weeks ago I was up in the Duluth area for a couple days and the colors of the trees were amazing. I had the chance to get out and do some hiking and breathe some of that fresh fall Lake Superior Air. I even had a chance to get out and do a little golfing. The golf course I was at has a small nine hole course called Grandview Golf Course just south of Duluth right on I35. Their website said you'd see on the ninth hole why they call it grand view. What did I see though? I saw what looked like would be an amazing view and what I could see through the fog was astounding. I've got a picture above of the view from the tee box. I won't mention where I ended up hitting the ball on that hole though. :)

It was foggy cold and there was a mist in the air that morning while I was out golfing. I saw two other people out on the golf course the whole time I was out there. Some would say not the ideal day to get out on the course. Why would anybody want to spend 2 hours walking around a golf course in those conditions? The "grand view" could barley be seem. Where's the payoff at the end on the ninth hole. Certainly a better use of time could be found. I looked at it a different way. I looked at the fog and then looked through the fog the best I could and still saw the beauty. How often are the beautiful things in our life distracted by something ugly in the way? How many times are you missing the beautiful things right in front of us because we're focused on something we don't want to see? Even though it's hard to see the beauty I knew it was there and what I could see I focused on that. The chance to be outside relax and golf. To spend time in silence and focus on the beauty around me. I hope as everything that gets thrown at us this fall we're still able to focus and see through the mugginess of life and see the beauty.

Peace

Ben

In-Person Worship at Grace

It was great to see so many people attend or first in person worship this past Sunday since March. Thank you everyone for following the guidelines put forward. In doing these things it will help us continue to worship together at Grace in the sanctuary. We will not have in-person worship this next Sunday October 11th as we make a few tweaks in how it'll be done, but we'll be back Sunday October 18th at 10:00 ready to welcome everyone back again.

Drive-Thru Chili Lunch

to support

Habitat for Humanity

Normally in October every year Grace would be opening their doors to the community for hour Chili Luncheon to support Habitat for Humanity. This year we had to rethink things to make it safer but still able to raise funds.

We are instead doing a drive-thru chili lunch. On Sunday October 25th starting at 11:00 you will be able to drive through the alley on the west side of Grace and purchase prepackaged chili. Along with the chili you'll get crackers and fruit. You can preorder your chili so you are sure to get some by clicking the link below letting us know your name and how many lunches you'd like prepacked. You can also go to www.gracemankato.org/chili A suggested freewill donation is $5.00 a meal. We're sad we won't be able to gather in person together with all the fixings but still very excited we'll still be able to provide a yummy lunch and support Habitat for Humanity.

Thank you GLCW for being able to put on this event. We appreciate all the hard work you put into this event and all that you do for Grace and the Community of Mankato.

Pre order your Chili Lunch Here

Pumpkin Carving Fellowship and Devotional Event

Sunday October 25th

1:30 PM

Do you and your family love carving pumpkins but hate the mess? Are you looking for a chance to get out and see some other Grace families that you have been missing? Then you'll want to consider this opportunity.

This event families will gather together with other families and carve pumpkins here at Grace. Along with being able to carve pumpkins we'll have a family devotional we can all do together as well. Stations will be set up throughout the fellowship hall so families can keep their physical distancing from each other. Space is limited in sanctuary so if there is a lot of interest in event will possibly have to have a second time for it.

Date: Sunday October 25th, 2020

Time: 1:30pm

Fee: Free will donation, Suggested Donation $4.00 per pumpkin requested.

All ages are welcome. Come with kids or without. We'd love to see anybody that wants to join us.

Please sign up by Sunday October 18th so we know how many pumpkins to have ready for event.

You can find information about this event by going to our website https://www.gracemankato.com/youth-and-family.html.

Reach out to Ben with any question.

Family Ministries/Education

While we're still deciding the best way to meet safely in person for events and Faith Formation Education we want to make the Sunday School lessons available for families. These lessons follow along with the narrative lectionary and will tie into the readings and sermon each week for worship. Below are links to the lessons.

PreK - 2nd Grade. Lesson for Sunday October 4, 2020

3rd Grade - 6th Grade. Lesson for Sunday October 4, 2020

Children's Bulletin for Sunday October 4, 2020

Confirmation

Confirmation starts this week as we come together for a campfire hosted by the Yunkers family. The weather looks great for a campfire. We're looking forward to this year of Confirmation. Our hope is that we can build a lot of fellowship as we find creative ways to safely gather. We're excited also be able to have youth here at Grace in a few weeks as we work on some clean up outside around church along with doing some work in the Garden too. If you have not been contacted by Ben yet for more details about events or would like to get involved please reach out and we'll be sure to get you in the loop on everything you need to know.

October Confirmation Schedule

October 7th - Campfire hosted by the Yunker's 6:00 - 7:30
October 14^th – No Confirmation Group MEA Break
October 21^st – Service night @ Grace. 5:30 –7:30

Fall Clean up

October 28^th – Campfire hosted by the Geer’s 6:00 - 7:30

High School

As high schoolers are now back in school and adjusting to a very different looking school year I invite them to join me at Grace for some middle of the week refocus Wednesday nights. As the year starts we invite them to join the confirmation kids at the campfires and service night in October. Going into November we'll continue to have the opportunity to meet and more communication will come out then.

If anybody has questions about youth and family ministry opportunities or would like to help out 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

Red Cross Blood Drive

Once again Grace will be hosting the American Red Cross for a blood drive. See below for more information about it. You can make an appointment by calling

1-800-733-2767 or you can click Here and use the Sponsor Code GRACEKATO

Fair Trade Coffee

Missing fellowship after service and the delicious fair trade coffee? All fair trade/organic coffee is now $7 a bag, including our fellowship blend. It's a course ground blend perfect for french press!

Your choice of Sisters' Blend, Love Buzz, Breakfast Blend, Mind Body and Soul, And Fellowship Blend now only $7 a bag.

Stop by the church office to get yours today!

Find more information about Mankato Fair Trade Products and their Mission by clicking the link below

www.maftti.org

Zoom Bible Study

***Bible Study this Thursday***

Join us Thursday October 8th 8:00pm

All Are Welcome!

Our Study on Acts has 3 weeks remaining. Following the study on Acts we will start a new study about Parables starting October 29th

As a community of Christ we share in each others joys and pains. Before we dive into the word each week we share 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's 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 Thursday we continue to move forward in Acts.

We'll be looking at Acts 24:1 - 25:12

"Falsely Accused"

One question to be thinking about coming into the bible study is:

How do you usually respond when you are falsely accused?

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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

Connect with us

Visit our Facebook Page

Visit our website

Worshiping Together Virtually

I hope all have been able to continue to worship with us at Grace. It has been great to see people join into the Facebook Watch Parties Sunday mornings at 9:55am. Our goal is to ways make worship enjoyable and accessibly to everyone in their homes whether it be though Facebook, YouTube, Radio or KTV. There are many ways you can join in and we hope that you're able to find the way that best fits for you right now until we all can once again meet together for worship at Grace. If you are having troubles getting connected to any of that please reach out and we'd love to help you out getting connected.

Every Sunday we will be hosting a Facebook Watch Party Sunday mornings starting at 9:55am so we can all participate in worship together at the same time if you have Facebook

If you don't have Facebook the worships will still be available on KTOE Sunday mornings at 10:00 and the rebroadcast on KTV. We will also continue to share the link to where they can be found on YouTube. Our goal is that everyone will still have an opportunity to worship with Grace.

October 4th, 2020 Worship

Holden Evening Prayer

Communion Available

You can now bring communion home with you. Pre-consecrated elements are available at the church. You can stop in to pick it up and bring home to have during service on Sunday morning. If you can't make it in let us know and we can bring it to you and drop off during the week.

If you'd like also you can make your own communion bread at home. Check out the link below for a great recipe.

https://www.livinglutheran.org/2017/09/reader-recipe-communion-bread/

There is an easy way to continue to give to Grace. You can now text any amount you want to give to 507-607-7337. After a few very easy steps you can submit giving right from your phone. We thank you for your support to the mission and ministry of Grace Lutheran Church.

Christ in our Home

Devotional

Many of you may be unable to get a copy of Christ In Our Home from the church as you normally would.

During this time we are making it available to you digitally, paper copies are still available at Grace and can be picked up. If you stop to pick one up please do wear a mask while in the church building.

October - December Devotions

Serving the Community

This is a new section to this newsletter. I thought I'd highlight some of the things in the Mankato Community that are going on to let me know more about the need locally. Right now I just want to highlight some things that are out there and then we'll start looking at more ways Grace can help out. Click on the name of the place below to learn more about them.

MY Place. Mankato Youth Place. - We will be looking at ways to get more involved with My Place. Be on the look out here to find more information in the future.

Echo Food Shelf - Echo is currently looking for volunteers to commit to one 2-4 hour shift/week. You can email echofoodshelf@yahoo.com to get involved.

Pray Together

Lord God,

Help us to see the beauty right in front of us. We may not see it all the time but we know it's there. Give us peace and understanding with what's going on in the world. You are an awesome God that does amazing things.

Amen

Check out this Video!

A song I think about whenever I see a sunset or the beauty of the leaves changing on the trees is The Artist by Rend Collective. God shines through all brokenness and make things shine.

"You make all things

Bright and beautiful

Wild and colourful

You make our lives

Bright and beautiful

Wild and colourful

You are the artist"