Gratefulness...

Pastor Christine Belfrey responded in May, when I reached out without a clue what I really needed help with. She showed up and listened to me, shared her experience, preached, led bible study and cared for our people. I am so grateful for her presence and willingness to be a part of the Grace team this summer. As Pastor Maria comes back, we are saying goodbye and thank you to Pastor Christine. Thank you for sharing your story, your time, your faith. Thank you for your authenticity and care. I have been blessed by you! 



Pastor Christine is willing to help out as needed and she will be pursuing new adventures. 

Let us pray: God we give thanks for Pastor Christine and all she has given to the people of Grace. May your Spirit lead her and guide her as she moves on. May your hand be upon her. May she be a beacon of your abundant grace. In Jesus name.  Amen!

Joanna Mitchell

...And Blessings

It has been quite the blessing to serve as a ministry bridge between Pastor Joanna & Maria. I am so excited for Pastor Maria's gentle return!

I am also grateful for the welcoming presence felt from staff & congregation during my time here at Grace. 

The comfort and freedom I felt to be my authentic self speaks volumes . As I felt led to preach and teach out of my own experience, and lens as an African American woman, which helped me to discern and cultivate my path of ministry moving forward. So again, I am just grateful.

Until next time, continued prayers of peace, healing, and wellness be upon all in and outside of the Grace Lutheran community.

~ Pastor Christine 

Summer Worship

-Sundays at 8:30am Traditional

-Sundays at 10am Contemporary

-Wednesdays at 7pm Contemporary

Fall Worship Times

Beginning Sept. 11, 2022

-Sundays at 8:45am Traditional

-Sundays at 10:30am Contemporary

-Wednesdays at 7pm Contemporary

Rally Sunday

Rally Sunday is on September 11, 2022 from 9:30am-12:30pm and we plan to have fun activities for kids through adults (weather dependent) including Bounce House, face painting, outdoor games, etc. as well as food, music, a ministry fair to check out and sign up for all of the ministry opportunities that abound at Grace, blood pressure screening, a 9/11 remembrance and more.

We will also be collecting food for the Grace All May Be Fed food pantry.

And we will be collecting books of all genres for a Girl Scout Gold Award project in conjunction with Hope 4 Youth. Project is being conducted by Olivia Surratt.

There are several ways to help out and make Rally Sunday 2022 a fun time for all! Please click on the button below to sign up. 

2022-2023 SUPPORT FOR SCHOOL SUPPLIES AT SAND CREEK ELEMENTARY!

We hope and pray for a normal school year for the students at our Faith & Community Partnership school, Sand Creek Elementary. Sand Creek has had boundary changes and they will have more students this year, so school supplies are in need more than ever! If you would like to help, please consider purchasing any of the items in the list below and return them to church in the tote labeled “Sand Creek School Supplies” that will be located in the narthex. The donations will be accepted August 21 through September 5.

You can also give a monetary donation of cash or check. If writing a check, please make it payable to Grace Lutheran Church and write “Sand Creek” in the memo line. The monetary donations will be used by the Sand Creek Grace Team toward the food expenses for the Sharing Grace Backpack Food Bags prepared and given each Friday to children who would otherwise go hungry over the weekend.

SUPPLIES MOST IN NEED

• POLY FOLDERS WITH PRONGS 
• DRY ERASE BOARD ERASER
• BOTTLES ELMER'S GLUE
• 24 CT MINI TWISTABLE CRAYOLA CRAYONS
• PRE-SHARPENED PENCILS (TICONDEROGA)
• CHILD SIZE SCISSORS (FISKARS)
• MEAD WIDE RULED SPIRAL NOTEBOOKS 
• 1 INCH WHITE 3 RING BINDER
• PERMANENT MARKERS (BLACK SHARPIE)
• PAGE PROTECTOR SHEETS
• HIGHLIGHTERS
• CRAYOLA OR PRANG WATERCOLOR SET (8 BASIC COLORS)
• PENCIL BOX OR POUCH
• PK CRAYOLA MARKERS (8 COUNT)
• ​​FRACTION CALCULATOR (TEXASTI-30X II IS PREFERRED) 

ONGOING NEEDS

• SNACKS FOR STUDENTS
• GIFT CARDS TO WALMART OR TARGET
• GAS GIFT CARDS

Hope 4 Youth Donations Needed

Hope 4 Youth now includes 50 young families. To help meet their needs we are asking for the following donations that can be placed in the container in the narthex marked HOPE 4 Youth. We plan to package bags of support on Sept. 18, God’s Work, Our Hands Day. The following items are needed: Diapers, Baby wipes, Baby powder/lotion, Story or coloring books, Crayons, Simple puzzles, New toys, Baby bottles, Pacifiers, Bibs, Baby body wash. Thank you for your generosity. If you have questions or would like to join our team, contact Jan Anderson at 763-712-7415 or jmanders79@gmail.com.

W.O.W. (Women on Wednesdays)

W.O.W. will begin again on Wednesday, September 14^th! Please join us in our journey as we study God’s word and connect with other women each week in this fun-loving and encouraging environment!

WOW meets Wednesday mornings from 9:30am to 11:15am.

Please join us for our KICKOFF meeting on September 14th.

All are welcome! Please consider inviting family and friends, even those who are not members at Grace. WOW follows the Anoka-Hennepin SD 11 student schedule (ex. no school, no WOW). Childcare is provided for a small fee.

Planning for the future is hard when you’re still paying for the past! Listen—there’s a better way! Join my Financial Peace University class, and we’ll learn how to beat debt and make a plan for the future together! Interested? Join the class at Grace Lutheran Church starting September 18, 2022 at 6:30pm. Sign up and start your 14-day free trial of Financial Peace at fpu.com/1152048.

Grace4Rakai Luncheon

The Grace4Rakai Ministry Team would like to invite EVERYONE to the Celebration Luncheon on Sunday September 25th after the 10:30am service in the Fellowship Hall. Everyone is invited – from ACT child sponsors to those who just want to know more about our wonderful Ministry Team and what we are doing in Rakai, Uganda.

This will be a time to gather as a church community to do 3 things:

• SHARE stories, pictures and updates of our outreach ministries in Rakai, Uganda
• CELEBRATE how God is doing “immeasurably more” in and thru us as a congregation at Grace Lutheran Church
• DREAM about future possibilities for African Children Today (ACT)

We will begin our Celebration Luncheon at 11:30am (after the 10:30 service concludes) in the Fellowship Hall where everyone is welcome. We will begin with a free pasta and dessert lunch followed by a time of sharing stories, pictures, celebrating the partnership with ACT and the Grace4Rakai Ministry Team and discuss opportunities and dreams for the future. The Team will provide the meal free of charge, so please simply come and enjoy the day of celebrating all the ways God’s Grace is stretching across the ocean from our faith community to the people in Uganda.

If you currently sponsor a child(ren) in Rakai, we welcome you to bring and share stories, letters and pictures of your sponsored child(ren) to the luncheon. If you have any questions regarding what our Ministry Team does or would like to sponsor a child yourself, please attend this luncheon – it is for you!

Contact Stacy Surratt at stacysurratt@yahoo.com or Scott Christensen at scottc@nuaire.com – Co-leaders of the Grace4Rakai Ministry Team – if you have any questions. We look forward to seeing you on Sunday September 25^th!

New Church Directory Coming Soon!

Mark your calendars and plan to have your family photo taken for our new Church Directory. Photography dates are October 27, 28 & 29 as well as November 17, 18 & 19. More information coming soon about how to set up your photography appointment. Thanks to Deb Stang and Deb Corey, who have agreed to be our Volunteer Directory Coordinators.

Calling all Youth! (And Adults!) 

Did you know that our nursery is up and running? We take care of little ones during worship in our fun and colorful nursery. So, if you are interested in working with little ones on Sunday mornings this is for you! We are currently looking for fun, energetic youth to be part of our Grace Nursery Crew! Our shifts are Sundays 8:30am – 9:45am and/or 10:15am – 11:45am. This is a paid position at $12.00/hour! If interested please see / contact Molly Schroeder (mollys@graceandover.org)

Children's Ministry Volunteer 2022-2023

There are many ways that you can volunteer to grow our kids in faith. You can volunteer in our nursery and care for our youngest members and attenders. You can be a substitute leader for small group for Catechism on Wednesday nights. If working with middle school kids is your jam this is the spot for you. Our youth need caring adult leaders. Prayerfully consider if this might be a gift you have to share with Grace. Or perhaps you are better behind the scenes or for one time events. We need your help with lock-ins, retreats and other Children, Youth and Family activities. 

On September 7th at 5:30pm we will be gathering for a Volunteer Kick off. This is for both Catechism and Sunday School and Kids Night Out helpers. We will gather in the Fellowship Hall at 5:30pm and then break out into groups at 6pm for more specified instructions pertaining to various age groups. Mark your calendars and join us with this wonderful opportunity to grow our kids in faith. Please contact Pastor Joanna Mitchell with any questions or sign up on Realm. 

Own Your Faith Orientation

2022-2023

9th Graders and guardians, we hope you can join us for an overview and orientation for your final year of Catechism at Grace Lutheran Church. After 3 years participating in small groups and events at Grace on Wednesday nights, our 9th Graders final year of catechism is to work one-on-one with a mentor. Together they will be discussing questions of identity and faith and doubt. These one-on-one conversations happen on your own time, and we provide all the materials you need to have these important conversations. 

This year we are starting something new and inviting our Own Your Faith students to gather once a month for a shared event where we can have a time of fellowship and connection. We are very excited about the upcoming year and all that it will bring. If you have any questions, please contact Pastor Joanna Mitchell at joannam@graceadover.org.

Catechism Ministry Volunteer

There are many ways that you can volunteer to grow our kids in faith. You can be a helper or you can lead a small group for Catechism on Wednesday nights. If working with middle school kids is your jam this is the spot for you. Our youth need caring adult leaders. Prayerfully consider if this might be a gift you have to share with Grace. Or perhaps you are better behind the scenes or for one time events. We need your help with lock-ins, retreats and other Children, Youth and Family activities. 

On September 7th at 5:30pm we will be gathering for a Volunteer Kick off. This is for both Catechism and Sunday School and Kids Night Out helpers. We will gather in the Fellowship Hall at 5:30pm and then break out into groups at 6pm for more specified instructions pertaining to various age groups.  Mark your calendars and join us with this wonderful opportunity to grow our kids in faith. Please contact Pastor Joanna Mitchell with any questions.

Food Shelf Needs

With the rising cost of gasoline and every day necessities, the Grace Food Shelf has seen an increase in need. The food shelf is need of the following items. Please drop them off at the food shelf door or the office.

• Syrup
• Cream soups
• Baked beans
• Cereals
• Spaghetti Sauce
• Boxed Potatoes
• Tuna Helper
• Paper Bags

Noisy Offerings from September 1st to September 15th will be going towards our Pastor's Discretionary Fund.  This fund is used for emergency rent, emergency housing, and other needs for our congregation and community.

Prayers of the Church

Please pray for: Gloria KroegerJan Glavin, Dick & Lu Henning, Adam Howard, Bonnie Howard, Mary Ritt, Shannan Gautschi, Danica Hanson, Kyle Quick, Gina Trousil, Marty Lukaszewski, Linda Breyette, and those in need of long-term prayers: Lois Vadner, Pastor Maria Markman, Diane Rosky, Harland Johnson, Shirley Fystrom, Kathy Beckman, Jason Beckman, Lu Henning, Alison Husak, Juleen Klawiter, Carroll Potter, Clint Trousil, John Malecha, Stephanie and Samantha Fernandez, Christopher Sluis, Julie Swedberg, LaDonna Lilyquist, Charlotte Montei, Linda Christiansen, Judi Wold, Ralph & Colleen Wernimont.

We celebrate with Sierra & Alek Lopez the birth of their son, Nathan Alexander and with Nathan’s proud Grandparents, Frances & Carlos Fernandez.

We also pray for those who have recently lost a loved one, especially Rick & Linda Breyette grieving the death of Linda’s brother, Doran Slater.