Grace and Peace to you all!
On the first Sunday of the month, we share in an affirmation of faith during worship. Sometimes it is the United Church of Christ Statement of Faith and sometimes it is the Apostles’ Creed. Recently I came across a more modern interpretation. I look forward to hearing your reflections on it.
“An Affirmation of God’s Freeing Love” by Holly W. Whitcomb
God’s love frees me to be the person I am
without having to become more attractive, more intelligent, more popular.
God’s love frees me to live in confidence,
not needing to be self-absorbed, but ready to listen and to hear the stories of others.
God’s love frees me to take risks,
to surprise even myself with courage, sometimes to fall flat on my face – but always to move onward with the knowledge that God is encouraging me.
God’s love frees me to view the world not from the standpoint of wealth gained
or ambition achieved, but from the perspective of relationships lived and human love shared.
God’s love frees me to put my sins behind me,
to know that no sin is too great or too small to be left open and healed by God’s gentle touch.
Thanks be to God! Amen.
Friends, may you fully know God’s love that frees you in every moment of your life.
Blessed Thanksgiving to you all,
Pastor Beth
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Thank you Jean Leftwich for sponsoring altar flowers for November 10 in memory of Ken Pingel (Jean's father)
Thank you to Margaret Widder for also sponsoring the November Grace Notes, bulletins and the Bridgeway Meal.
A heartfelt thanks to all who supported the Emmaus Meal on Oct 12
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for the Salvation Army.
We appreciate the support you have shown in terms of your time, energy and willingness to serve, your donations of food, the delicious home-baked cookies and bars. Grace Church served a record 288 plates of food at the meal on Saturday, October 12th!
-The Missions Committee
Thank you for sharing your time and talents – to Dennis Kampmann, Mike Rolloff, and the property committee for all their hard work on the heating and many other building and maintenance projects that have been keeping them busy this fall.
Continued thanks to Henry & Marge Horneck for opening and closing the church every day and to Betty Jones who serves as backup. It's a good thing to have good neighbors. :)
Thank you to Annie Ebert for her service to the Missions Committee and for her leadership for the Emmaus Meal ministry.
Thank you to David Rabe for working with Pastor Beth on incorporating video into worship.
Many thanks to Tahna and Kevin Jensen for the donation of a leaf blower.
We appreciate the cart given anonymously to the church to easily transport our new tables.
Thank you to the stewardship committee, comprised of Paul Green, Mike Rolloff, and Deb Pfrang, has done a great job putting together the stewardship campaign for this year. Thank you to them for all their good work to coordinate, as well thank you to all who participated in the campaign to continue the work God is calling us to do together, as Grace United Church of Christ!
Thanks to all who have attended Sundaes on Thursdays and made this time of worship and fellowship possible. October 24th was our last gathering for this season. A number of you have mentioned that it is difficult during this time of the year to be out in the darkness and upcoming weather. We will be looking at starting up again after Easter when the time changes and the weather is better.
Thank you to Brad Ziegelbauer for the repair of our kitchen refrigerator.
Thanks to Larry TerMaat for safety yellow step stripes on the west entrance.
Thank you to Kleemann Mechanical for the fall checkup, service and repair to our heating and cooling unit.
Dear Grace Church,
I wanted to let you know how happy we were to have members from your church help out with our food pack this year. I really hope you all had a great experience with it and that you will consider joining us again next year. Tentatively, we will be holding the event in 2020 on October 8-10. I will be sure to send you sign up information in the spring so you will be able to secure the shift that would work best for your congregation. Just a little information you can pass on to those who helped out: We packed a total of 163,296 meals this year which will feed 447 children a meal each day for a year. Also, this was our 8
th
year of working with FMSC and we officially packed our 1 millionth meal in the course of our three day event. What a blessing! Thank you so much for your kindness and willingness to help out a great cause!
Sincerely,
Diana Shircel (FMSC Chair at St Paul's in Sheboygan Falls)
There are a number of things that just ‘happen’ here at Grace. For those who give of their time and talent to make things happen – whether anonymously or whether I may have accidentally not included, please know that we are thankful for your generosity! Please let Pastor Beth know if there are any errors or omissions.
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Please remember that if you admitted to the hospital and would like a visit from Pastor Beth, please contact her directly (cell 920-371-8018). Between HIPPA and the busyness of the hospital staff, oftentimes the hospital doesn’t call, therefore Pastor Beth would appreciate a direct call from you or your family to ensure timely visitation and pastoral care.
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Do you have a prayer request that you would like to share with Pastor Beth? Please reach out at any time
rev.beth.petzke@gmail.com
or
920-371-8018. All prayer requests will be kept confidential unless permission to share with the congregation is given.
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Sunday, November 3
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we will be celebrating All Saints’ Day. On this day, we remember those in the Christian faith who have died. During worship at both 8 and 10 a.m., we will be remembering those of our congregation who have died since All Saints’ Day 2018. They will be named and honored in prayer, and a white flower will be placed on the altar in their honor and memory. This is an important part of our congregational life.
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Thanksgiving Eve worship will take place on Wednesday, November 27
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at 6:30 p.m. the choir will be singing and communion will be served. Following worship, we will share together in a time of fellowship. Please consider making an extra dessert or purchasing one and bringing it to share. There is a signup sheet in the narthex to ensure we will have enough desserts. All are welcome!
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Sunday, November 17
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we will be dedicating to God our gifts of time, talent, and resources that were collected through the Stewardship Campaign. Following 10 a.m. worship, we will share in a potluck. Please sign up in the narthex.
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Friends and visitors of Grace that are interested learning more about joining the membership of Grace Church should contact the church office or speak directly with Pastor Beth so that you are included when details about a new member class is available.
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Yin Yoga in the Sanctuary (November 4)
Join us on Monday nights (5:30pm-6:30pm) for a time of Yin Yoga and meditation. We will practice in the sanctuary to allow for the peacefulness and comfort it brings. This one hour Yin Yoga class will cover a variety of postures based on animals and the Elements of Earth, Metal, Water, Wood and Fire. Taught in the style of Paulie Zink, students will be instructed in how to properly practice postures in stillness, in movement, and in the fluid transitioning from pose to pose. The emphasis will be on learning to relax deeply into the postures, how to grow the body flexible, all while bringing a spirt of play and enjoyment to the practice. All levels are welcome. Wear loose, comfortable clothing and bring a yoga mat. For those who would feel more comfortable in a chair, chair options will be provided. There is no cost but donations will be accepted.
-Submitted by Michael Finney
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Shop with SCRIP!
Kwik Trip cards are available in the church office. With scrip, you’re paying face value and you’re getting face value. Make your giving go farther! Pick up SCRIP the next time you're at church.
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11/2
Daylight Savings
Set your clocks back!
11/3
All Saints Sunday with Communion
11/17
Consecration Sunday &
Potluck Lunch
11/27
Thanksgiving Eve Worship with Communion at 6:30pm & Pie Feast
12/1
9am Worship
Budget Meeting to follow
12/8
Christmas Walk at 4pm
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We now subscribe to large print Upper Room devotionals. You are welcome to pick up a copy in the foyer.
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Large print bulletins are also available for worship, if you prefer a large print bulletin, please ask the usher for assistance.
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November Worship Participants
Ushers
10/27 8am: Paul Green
10am: Anneke & Tom Teaters and Dan Montgomery
11/3 8am: Ann Ebert
10am: Deb & Larry Ter Maat and Tiffany Ter Maat
11/10 8am: Mike Wandschneider
10am: Betty Musil, Richard & Carol Schoneman
11/17 8am: Keith Valenstein
10am: Mike & Lisa Rolloff and Judy Kummer
11/24 8am: Tom Widder
10am: Aaron Radder, 2 more ushers needed
Ushers are needed for Thanksgiving Eve Worship on November 27 at 6:30pm
12/1 8am: Rick Weeden
10am: Deb & Larry Ter Maat and Tiffany Ter Maat
Acolytes
11/3 Allie Finney
11/10 Anna Becker
11/17 Matthew Leonhard
11/24 Janna Fenger
11/27 Brooklyn Ter Maat
12/1 Allie Finney
Liturgists
11/3 Marge Horneck
11/10 Phylis Preder
11/17 Pat Forkner
11/24 David Rabe
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Sponsorship is another way to support the ministries and outreach of the church. Through sponsorship of Grace Notes, worship bulletins, altar flowers, or Bridgeway meals you help the church fulfill its mission. Donations made to sponsorship can be sent to the church office or placed in the offering plate with a notation of what you're sponsoring. Thank you for your generosity. We couldn't do it without you!
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Altar flowers can be sponsored to mark a special occasion in your life or 'just because'. Flowers can be sponsored for a Sunday for $37.50 or you can bring your own flowers. Click the button below to claim a week and specify any colors and kinds of flowers you prefer. Following 10am worship you are welcome to take the flowers home to enjoy throughout the week.
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By sponsoring Grace Notes you ensure that important information gets out to our church family, strengthening communication and fostering a sense of belonging. You can sponsor the Grace Notes newsletter for a month for $40. To signup to sponsor Grace Notes click the button below.
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As a church, we support the ministry of Sheboygan County Interfaith Organization (SCIO) One of the ways we partner with them in ministry is by sponsoring a meal once a month to cover the costs of feeding the families staying at Bridgeway House. A donation of $40 provides the groceries needed to provide a nutritious meal for the women and children living there.
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A month's worth of worship bulletins can be sponsored for $40. Click the button below to be a sponsor.
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Ushers are on the front lines of welcoming and hospitality in the life of the church.
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Host a coffee hour/fellowship time. It’s as simple as signing up in the narthex and bringing some “goodies.” What is important – that we get together.
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We have two students that are connected to our congregation that are off at college. In an effort to make sure our college students feel connected to the church, and know that we support and love them, I am inviting friends and members of Grace to select a student and send them an occasional care package on behalf of the church. It doesn’t have to be anything elaborate. We have two students. If you would be interesting in selecting one of them to send a care package, please see Pastor Beth and she will give you their contact information. Thank you in advance for consideration.
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The Council meeting in October focused on all things Fall which means consideration of members of Grace to approach for serving on the Council, the Stewardship Campaign kick off, and a review of the proposed 2020 budget.
Our capable treasurer, Dan Montgomery led the discussion and the Council agreed to put the budget proposal forward for the congregational meeting. The 2020 budget meeting will be on Sunday, December 1 following a single service that will begin at 9:00 a.m.
The Council was informed that chairpersons for the Property Committee, Margy Horneck, and the Missions Committee, Ann Ebert will be stepping down from their roles at the end of this year. Please speak with Margy and/or Ann about their contributions with appreciation (absolutely!) but also with curiosity to learn if you might feel a calling to serve in either of these ministries.
Submitted by Sandy Rabe, Council President and member
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Grace needs a new meal coordinator for Emmaus Meals at the Salvation Army
Ann Ebert has faithfully served as the meal coordinator for our Emmaus Meals for many years as a part of her involvement in the Missions Committee (Many thanks Ann!) The Emmaus Meals have been one of Grace’s most successful community outreach programs. Please contact the church office or Pastor Beth if you’d like to volunteer to coordinate the Emmaus Meals for Grace church in 2020. Ann is willing to meet with any interested volunteers to ‘pass the torch’.
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Items of note from the Property Committee. There are several seasonal projects that need to be done at church. If you have time and talent please consider taking on any (or several) of the projects listed below.
- Reattach railing at basement NE emergency exit
- Fall cleanup flower beds
- Trim shrubs
Please contact any Property Committee Member if you are able to help. Thanks for your consideration.
-The Property Committee (Larry TerMaat, Lisa Rolloff, Chuck Ebert, Dave Rabe, Margy Horneck) Submitted by Margy Horneck
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The mission of the month for November is Thanksgiving Meals. More details will be coming from the Missions Committee. As details on how you can help support this mission project become available they will be added to the weekly worship bulletin announcement sheet.
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Here's a snapshot of where we're at with finances at Grace for the third quarter of 2019:
3rd quarter income $ 26,097.61 Year to date income $ 95,195.25
3rd quarter expenses $ 35,441.95 Year to date expenses $ 106,669.42
3rd quarter shortfall $ (9,344.34) Year to date shortfall $ (11,474.17)
Submitted by Dan Montgomery, treasurer
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