Staying Connected
Greetings everyone and I hope you all had an exceptional weekend. I hope it was filled with joy and many blessings. There was a fallness in the air which was great but we still get to hold on to a bit of summer as we felt some more warmth and sunshine. Before we know it the snow will be flying and we'll be bundled up in out winter coats trying to stay warm. Until that time comes we enjoy the last bits of summer and if you're like me, you look forward to the cooler nights of fall and all the joys that come with that.

This weekend Grace did a Build your own bouquet event. This was a chance for families to get together and have some fellowship Saturday afternoon. We here at Grace have been missing you all and enjoyed being able to see some folks.

This event we went down to Valley Veggies and Flowers. Valley Veggies is a local at the farm farmers market. They sell starter plants in the springs and have fresh produce throughout the whole summer. The owners John and Terri Anderson are amazing and supper nice people. What they also have are a ton of flowers and for $8 you can pick as much as you can fit in a solo cup and make your own flower arrangements. My family and I have had a blast doing it in the past and I thought what better way to end the summer of being in the garden with Grace that to head down there.

Around 20 of us from Grace went down there and got to start our time with Pastor John leading us in communion. We then got to cut flowers and enjoy some time in fellowship. Families also got the chance to do a devotional together. It talked about how the flowers smelled good to us just as we are meant to do good for God. 2 Corinthians 2:15 say "for we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing" The flowers also smell different and each has their own fragrance. We also all are different and provide a different beauty for God and the world around us.

If you'd like to check out the full devotional you can check out the link below

It was such a great time spending time with some other Grace families. Hope to do many more events like this one. One will be coming up later in October. More information about that can be found later in this newsletter. If you have ideas for events to do with Grace or if you'd like to help organize one please don't hesitate to reach out to me any time.

Peace

-Ben
Check out some of our great bouquets that were made
***NEW EVENT***
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.

Reach out to Ben with any question.
Family Ministries Survey
As the school year is getting underway we are wanted to be sure we're looking into the best options for what families are looking for when it comes to education, fellowship and service opportunities through Grace. We know there is probably a wide variety of comfort levels when it comes to our families along with many adjustments that families are needing to do just to get through the school year. We want to be sure what we offer to the families is something they are all looking for and ready for. Please take some time to fill out the survey below to share your insight and interests in programming this coming year.

Thank you
Adopt a Highway
Saturday September 26th
1:00pm
Our fall adopt a highway event is scheduled for Saturday September 26th.
1:00pm
Back up date will be the 27th.

We will meet in the parking lot at Grace before heading out to our two mile stretch on Highway 83 between Mankato and St Clair.

We thank Sam Anderson for leading this event once again. For those that want afterwards there will be Pie, Root Beer Floats and Ice Cream. (I heard the pie is world famous)

Let Sam know if you can make it. You can call or text him at 507.382.9107
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
Zoom Bible Study
***Bible Study this Thursday***

Join us Thursday September 17th 8:00pm

All Are Welcome!

Our Study on Acts has 6 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 20: 13-38

"Saying Goodbye"

One question to be thinking about coming into the bible study is:
Imagine what it would be like to say goodbye to someone when you knew that you would not see them again. Describe your thoughts and feelings.

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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
Worshiping Together
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.
September 13th, 2020 Worship
In-Person Worship Opportunity!!!
Sign up below to host an in-person worship at your home. Group sizes will be around 10 people to allow physical distancing. There will be a devotion lead by Pastor John and there will also be communion served. This is a great way to still get together with others while the council explores the next steps to safely meet again in person at Grace in the sanctuary.
Zoom Coffee Hour
Every Sunday after the worship is done on Facebook (approx 10:50) we will be having a Zoom Coffee Hour. It's been fantastic to be able to see some familiar faces from Grace and chat a bit. Even if you weren't able to be with everyone while worship was streamed on Facebook you are more than welcomed to join for the coffee hour.

SUNDAY COFFEE HOUR
MEETING ID 886 4204 9605
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.
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.
Pray Together
Today's prayer is in the form of a haiku
Amen
Check out this Video!

Battle Belongs by Phil Wickham