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Gods' Work. Our Hands.

God’s Work. Our hands is one of my favorite Sundays. I hear repeatedly at the event we should do this more often and I wholeheartedly agree. Working and serving together as a community of faith is a beautiful thing. 

I am especially thankful this year to Scot Christensen who took on organizational leadership for the event. He did a tremendous job putting the event together. Afterwards, Scott spent time giving thanks and reflecting on his own experience at God’s work. Our Hands especially in regards to the yard work team. Scott wrote to his volunteers the following: 

Thank You ALL, SO MUCH for the awesome work you did yesterday at both Cathy Stoll’s and Arden Kirkendall’s homes! The support of each and everyone of you was absolutely critical to the success of both projects! I thank the Lord for bringing us all together to do this yardwork for these shut-ins, and I know that it was greatly appreciated. 

When we finished yesterday, I was hoping to line up a service to haul away all the junk we collected at Cathy’s. It turned out to be more than what I thought, so I returned with my trailer today to start loading it all up to haul to the landfill. After I started Cathy’s neighbor and his daughter across the street came out to help me, and then Dan and Linda Brasgalla happened to drive by and rolled up their sleeves as well! It was amazing to see how the Lord knew once again, just how much help was needed to do the job! You’ll see that it all fit neatly into my trailer. Linda will be meeting me at the Elk River Landfill in the morning to help me unload. Thank you Linda!

And thanks again to all of you for your amazing work, and to truly being God’s Work in Our Hands yesterday!

I love Scott’s reflection. His ability to see God’s presence working in and through all of you. It really doesn’t matter how you serve: prayer, listening, leading, showing up when someone needs you, in all of this God is at work. Thanks be to God!

Pastor Joanna Mitchell

Pet Blessing

Sunday, Oct. 2nd

12:00-12:30pm

(*NOTE TIME CHANGE)

Bring your furry, squirmy, scaly, feathered friends to the Parking Lot (Fellowship Hall if it rains) for the blessing of the pets!  

Wednesday Night Schedule of Events:

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

5:45-6pm-Children's Choir Rehearsal-Nap Room

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

Worship Times

-Sundays at 8:45am Traditional

-Sundays at 10:30am Contemporary

-Wednesdays at 7pm Contemporary

Flu/COVID Shot Clinic

Sunday, Oct. 2nd 9am-1pm

Flu/Covid Shot Clinic sponsored by Hy-Vee Pharmacy happening at Grace on Sunday, October 2, 9:00am-1:00pm. It’s FREE with insurance. No need to sign up, just come. Shots will be given in the Fellowship Hall. Mark your calendars now!

Green Ribbon Group

Green Ribbon Group meets the first Monday of the month at 6:30pm.  This group is for parents/guardians of children who are growing up with mental health ups and downs, atypical identity, and other hard issues.  This group is a confidential, non-judgmental, safe space to talk about struggles others may not understand. Our first meeting of the school year is on Monday, October 3, 2022.

High School Youth Group!

High School Youth (9th – 12th Grade) gather for conversation, fellowship, and discussion about how YOU want see the future of the High School program. Join us on Sunday mornings on Oct. 9th, 16th, 23rd and 30th from 10:00am-10:30am and/or 11:30am-12pm. We are excited to see you! Join us!

New Member Class

Sunday, Oct. 9th 12:00-1:30pm

Anyone interested in becoming members of Grace or if you just want to learn more about Grace and the Ministry Areas we serve. Please sign up by clicking the button below.

Fall Fun Day

October 16th 1:30pm-4:30pm

Pearson Corn Maze in Ramsey

All are welcome to join us for a day of fun, corn maze, pumpkins and adventure. The cost is $5 per person at the entrance of Pearson Corn Maze and bring money for treats. High School & Middle Schoolers please meet us there. 5th Grade and under need an adult to stay with them.

All Saints Worship Sunday Pictures

We are looking for pictures of those who have passed this past year (Oct. 2021-Oct. 2022) to honor during the Worship for All Saints. Please send your picture via email to Marie Kolar mariek@graceandover.org along with their name by October 24th.

Catechism Fall Retreat

Grace Youth are going back to Okoboji Lutheran Bible Camp this November for their “All In! Retreat!”. At the “All In” recharge, campers will join an eccentric expedition team seeking a treasure worth more than gold. Campers will walk away with practical tools on how to keep God at the center of everything they do. Stewardship is often a word associated with money, but it is so much more than that. Everything you have is from God, and is God’s. How can you take care of it and invest it for His Kingdom and His glory? You can use your time, talents, treasure, and so much more. Are you “all in” for God? We have 30 spots reserved. Sign-up on Realm while you can. We will depart after school on Friday and return Sunday evening. We will also be looking for adult volunteers to drive and participate. As with almost everything in the world right now, costs have increased, and the cost of the retreat this year is $200. However, we do not want cost to be a barrier, so if assistance is needed, please contact Pastor Joanna. Registration closes October 10th. 

Feed My Starving Children

We have reserved space at FMSC on Saturday, November 5th from 9:00am-10:45am.  Please join us in this November Tradition of Grace Lutheran Church!  Click on the link below or call the office at 763-421-6520.

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)

Food Shelf Needs

The Grace Food shelf is in need of the following items. If you are able to donate please drop them off at the church office.

Mac & Cheese

Canned Soup-chunky style and condensed

Cereal

Canned Vegetables

Canned Chili/Kidney Beans

Canned Tomatoes (diced, stewed, sauce, paste)

Canned Fruit

Hamburger/Tuna Helper

Spaghetti Sauce

Boxed Potatoes

Trunk or Treat Candy & Trinket Donations

Now through Oct. 19th, we will be collecting wrapped Halloween candy and Halloween trinkets. Please drop your donations in the box by the Children's Ministry office. If you would like to participate in Trunk or Treat with your vehicle, please click below to register.

Love of Grace Bazaar Volunteers

Grace Lutheran Church is hosting our annual Love of Grace Bazaar from 9:00AM - 3:00PM on Saturday, November 12, 2022 and we need your help to make it successful. Please consider donating food or volunteering your time so we can share a little bit of grace in the heart of Andover.

Noisy Offerings from Sept. 16th to 30th will be going to Tapestry. Tapestry is a Bi-lingual and multi-cultural congregation sharing the love of Jesus in Richfield, MN. The Noisy Offerings gathered from Oct. 1st to 15th will be going to Haven for Heroes.

Prayers of the Church

Please pray for: Phil Knutson, Jeff Kintzler, Shirley Jacobson, Joan Boyle, Lance Broderick, Neil Vagle, Scott Johnson, Bonnie Howard, Judy Leibold, Cy Solberg, Maria Tran, Charlotte & Fred Montei, Kelsey Lewis & her baby Leena Mae born prematurely, Doug Sand, and those in need of long-term prayers: Marty Lukaszewski, Lois Vadner, Diane Rosky, Shannan Gautschi, Harland Johnson, Shirley Fystrom, Kathy Beckman, Jason Beckman, Alison Husak, Juleen Klawiter, Carroll Potter, Clint Trousil, John Malecha, Stephanie and Samantha Fernandez, Julie Swedberg, Charlotte Montei, Linda Christiansen, Judi Wold, and Colleen Wernimont.

Also, comfort the grieving, O God, especially Travis, Stacy & Danica Lenz as they mourn the deaths of Travis’ Grandpa, Francis and Stacy’s Grandma, Goldie, Dick Henning & Family upon the death of his wife, Lu, Diane Alcott & family upon the death of her brother in law, Larry Lewis, Holly, Max, and Leo Groebner and Howard and Bonnie Hibbard mourning the tragic death of Eric Groebner, beloved husband, father, and son in law, Donna & John Druley mourning the death of their daughter, Elizabeth