This is a quick weekly reminder of what is happening at Grace

in worship and in ways to connect and serve.

If you missed worship this weekend join us on

Wednesday Night at 7pm in the sanctuary!

New Year, New Every Morning!

Happy New Year! It is hard to imagine we are in 2023! Tuesday in our weekly staff meeting, we reflected on 2022. What a year it was! Medical Crises for Pastor Maria and the Fernandez family, Pastor Joanna’s travel to be with family while her mom was dying, our Transforming Inside and Out Campaign. It seems like we have been planning and preparing for this building project for years but it hasn’t even been one year since our campaign began officially! 2022 was a big year of transition and growth for so many of us. And I am sure as each of you remember what your last year has been you could add to our list of things both good and not so good, challenging and less so. All in all, we have been through so much together in the last year. 

The Bible includes many stories that invite us as the people of God to remember. Remember the promise God made to Noah and Abraham. Remember how God delivered us from the hands of slavery Egypt into the promised land. Even at the last supper, Jesus reminds his disciples as often as you eat of this bread and drink of this cup, do this in remembrance of me. God reminds us to remember where we have been and also calls us forth reminding us that God is always doing a new thing! While reflecting on our past year as a staff, we also remembered the beginning of the Gospel of Mark and Matthew where each reminds us of the Good News: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Another word for repent is change. How uncomfortable change can be and yet change is our only constant. From our first steps to kindergarten to first grade and so on and so forth we must adapt and change as the world around us changes! God the creator of the universe is in, under, and throughout all of that change! When I look forward to all that God has in store for us this year, I pray that there are changes, changes that bring us closer together, changes that help us to grow, changes that fulfill our mission and values that together we might accept others, care compassionately, deepen connections, and share God’s love! Sometimes these changes will make us uncomfortable, we may have more questions than answers, but I pray through it all we might be able to proclaim together the Kingdom of God is HERE! Lamentations reminds us: “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; God’s mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness!” Remember who you are, whose you are, and all God has delivered you from. Change as God’s word and God’s world change you, in order that we all might experience God’s grace -new every morning! 

Thanks be to God, 

Pastor Maria Markman

Wednesday Evening Programming

Schedule of Events:

5:15-5:45pm-Family Pizza- Fellowship Hall

6-7pm Kids Night Out-Nap Room

6:00-6:30pm-Catechism Large Group- Fellowship Hall

6:30-7pm-Catechism Small Group

6-6:50pm-"Inspired" Adult Book Study-Room 105/107

7:00pm-Worship-Sanctuary

Kathryn (Kathy) Beckman

1944-2022

Kathy Beckman's funeral will be held at Grace Lutheran Church on Thursday, January 19, 2023. Visitation will be at 10:00am with Service beginning at 11:00am. We are still finalizing details and will update communications but if you have questions please call the church office.

Jan Galvin’s 90th Birthday Celebration

Sunday, January 15, 2:00-4:00pm. All are welcome to come and celebrate with Jan and her family at The Homestead of Anoka, 3002 4th Ave, Anoka, MN 55303 

Empty Nesters / Parents of Independent Children!

This means you – all of you who have adult children or those of you who are feeling the freedom of having older/ independent kids. It’s a new year and we are excited about our next two social events:

Tuesday, January 24th from 6:30pm to 8:00pm – we will be having our annual kick off dinner here at Grace. Please join us for food, dessert, conversation, and a lot of laughs! Please RSVP to Nancy so that we know how many people we will be serving. If you have any dietary restrictions, please let us know those as well. We cannot accommodate every restriction, but it is helpful to know if we have several people who are gluten-free, for example. You won’t want to miss this fun night at Grace!

Monday, February 13th from 6:00pm to 8:00pm – we will be meeting for dinner and drinks at Invictus Brewing Co / Tipsy Steer (2025 105th Avenue NE, Blaine). We aren’t able to make reservations for our group so please let Nancy know if you are planning to attend so that we can have enough tables together. If you aren’t familiar with Invictus / Tipsy Steer, their website says that they offer “local, sassy, brew food.” Here is a link. https://tipsysteer.com/blaine/

We look forward to seeing you! Feel free to invite your friends and please RSVP to Nancy at dnjenkins@comcast.net

Grace Lutheran VARIETY SHOW!

We are celebrating our progress with Transforming Inside & Out by hosting an evening of fellowship which will include a Variety show. Tuesday January 31, 2023 at 6:30pm in the fellowship hall. Please RSVP by clicking the button below.

Who can be a part of this variety show, you ask? YOU can! We know many in our congregation have talents and abilities, and we want to showcase that! Anyone and Everyone is welcome to participate. As many different types of acts as we can get!

If you would like to be a part of the show, fill out the form linked below. If you haven't signed up yet, sign up closes soon!

If you have any questions, please contact Pastor Maria Markman, or David Phelps.

Cost includes three meals, two nights lodging, fellowship and connection! 

New Youth Fundraiser!

Valentine's Candy Bouquets! 

Give the sweetest of all gifts for Valentine's Day with Chocolate Candy or a Mixed Candy Bouquet. Instead of flowers, a vase is filled with popular candies, all nut-free.

Students will be taking orders beginning January 29th in the narthex before and after each service and bouquets will be available to pick up on February 12th.

High School Christikon Back Packing Trip

July 14th - July 22nd

A week at Christikon Lutheran Bible Camp in the beautiful Montana mountains for all current 9th -12th grade students (students must have completed 9th grade by July 2023.)

You spend your first and last nights at the main camp. The rest of the time you are hiking through our mountain wilderness. And you find a special life together: worship and Bible study are woven together with the exhilaration of high country camping. Two trained counselors will lead our group as guides and program leaders. Christikon provides you with backpacks, tents, cooking gear, and food. You supply your own sleeping bag, hiking boots, rain gear, and clothing. 

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Financial assistance is available. We will also be looking for adult volunteers to drive. If you have any questions please contact Pastor Maria at mariam@graceandover.org. Click on the button below to register.

Appalachia Service Project

July 28th - August 6th

High School Youth- 9th-12th Grades (entering 9th graders) are invited to join Grace youth on a service project trip from July 28th-August 6th. We will be receiving our location assignment in February. The four states that the Appalachia Service Project (ASP) serve are Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Appalachia Service Project provides one of the most rewarding structured service opportunities in the nation — bringing thousands of volunteers from around the country to Central Appalachia to repair and replace homes for low-income families. Since 1969, we’ve made homes warmer, safer, and drier for families and provided transformational service experiences for volunteers.ASP repairs roofs, walls, floors, foundations, and bathrooms, in addition to making homes accessible through porch and ramp repairs or additions.

We will also be looking for adult volunteers to drive. If you have questions, please Contact Pastor Joanna at joannam@graceandover.org. Register on Realm by clicking the button below.

Noisy Offerings gathered in January will go to Prayer Shawl and Funeral Ministries.

Feed My Starving Children

We have reserved space at FMSC on Wednesday, March 8th from 7:00pm-8:45pm.  Please join the youth and others of Grace Lutheran Church!  Please register at fmsc.org or call the office at 763-421-6520.

Prayers of the Church 

We pray for Mike Burckhard, Blair Wilson, Kelly & Jacob Oberg, Marion Cameron, Sean & Kelly Daugherty, Chris Lisy, Avery Mattke, Leah Hadler, John Ketz, Gloria Kroeger, Kristi Riley and those in need of long-term prayer: Shirley Jacobson, Marty Lukaszewski, Clint Trousil, Lois Vadner, Diane Rosky, Shannan Gautschi, Harland Johnson, Shirley Fystrom, Jason Beckman, Alison Husak, Juleen Klawiter, Carroll Potter, John Malecha, Stephanie and Samantha Fernandez, Julie Swedberg, Linda Christiansen, Judi Wold, and Ralph & Colleen Wernimont.

Comfort the grieving especially, Greg & Lori Ackerson and family mourning the death of Lori’s brother, Chad; Deb Stang & family and Diane Walker & family mourning the death of their nephew, Jeff Kintzler; Dan & Bev Tkachenko mourning the death of Bev’s brother in law, Dutch; Karen Bastian and family mourning the death of her mother Mary, Tari Yates and family mourning the death of Tari’s father, Roger; Ed Beckman & family mourning the death of Ed’s wife, Kathy; Stacy Surratt & family grieving the death of Stacy’s aunt, Jennifer Koch.

Grace Notes for January/February

Please have your articles in word format to Marie Kolar at mariek@graceandover.org by Monday, January 9th at 5pm. (Please note this is a date change.) We plan on having Grace Notes in the mail by January 20th. This edition will cover Ash Wednesday (2/23/23).