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!
Bible study at 6pm in room 105/107.
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Short update
Hi Grace Friends,
It is probably not hard to believe but we are BUSY over at the church. We are getting ready for all things summer: for VBS, Summer Stretch, Youth Trips and more.
I wanted to give you a quick update on our staffing situation. Frances Fernandez our church administrator remains out on Medical Leave because her daughter Samantha is in the hospital. After receiving her new kidney she developed an infection and the kidney needs time to heal. In the meantime she is receiving hemodialysis. Frances is with Samantha daily at the hospital.
Pastor Maria Markman is currently at her parents' home in Faribault. She is resting and going to doctor appointments and working on her recovery. Her primary care physician recommended that she be out for a minimum of two months before trying to return to Grace. She has received referrals to several specialists. They do expect Pastor Maria to make a full-recovery. She has head trauma which takes a lot of rest and so we keep praying for her healing.
In the meantime, the rest of the staff is helping out and picking up where we can. It is all hands on deck when it comes to VBS. I am also super excited to welcome to our team this summer Interim Pastor Christine Belfrey. She comes highly recommended from many of my friends and colleagues, and the synod. She has already joined us for multiple staff meetings and I am so delighted to have her as part of our team. Pastor Christine will be preaching, leading worship, teaching bible study, and providing pastoral care. She will be in the office Tuesday and Wednesdays and Sundays when she is not scheduled to preach elsewhere.
This upcoming weekend, I am very excited to welcome Rev. Steve Delzer to Grace. Rev. Delzer is my first colleague from Faribault. He was bishop in SE MN and currently serves as visitation pastor at Nokomis Heights Lutheran Church. Steve is a dear friend and wonderful pastor. I am so thankful for his willingness to preach this weekend!
I hope you will join me in welcoming these new pastors to Grace. I also hope you will consider how you might help out with worship this summer. We do still need communion help as well as tech help. We will train!
Blessings,
Pastor Joanna Mitchell
P.S. For next week my schedule will be Tuesday-Friday because I will be out on Monday for my mom's funeral.
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Welcome Rev. Christine Belfrey!
Rev. Christine Belfrey will be our Interim Associate Pastor, while Pastor Maria Markman is recovering. She is a 2020 M.Div. graduate of Luther Seminary, and recently served as Interim Associate Pastor at Christ Lutheran Blaine as of December 2021'. She previously served as Intern Pastor at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church in Mahtomedi. Christine has served as a Glocal Musician Educator for the ELCA Churchwide for several years and is a recipient of the Fund For Leaders scholarship along with the Leadership scholarship awarded by Luther Seminary. She has led worship as a musician and served as a Sunday School Minister at Redeemer Lutheran in north Minneapolis and Key of Faith Pentecostal church. In Addition, Christine has served as a Diversity Coordinator at Luther Seminary. Prior to attending seminary, Christine had a career in education and holds a Master’s degree in education from St. Mary’s University, along with a Post Graduate in K-8 Communication Literature Arts from Concordia St Paul and a Bachelors in Mass Media Arts from Clark Atlanta University. In addition, she is a songwriter, author & owner of Belfrey Books.
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Vacation Bible School
June 13th-16th
Growing spiritually doesn’t have to be an unsolved mystery! Take a four-day journey with kid detectives as they dig into a few of Jesus’ parables to solve the mysteries of how to grow their faith, how to care for, serve, and love others. They’ll discover that the answers have been there all along: spend time with God. spend time with others, use your gifts, and share your story. For schedule and more information check out VBS Registration below!
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Summer Worship
-Sundays at 8:30am Traditional
-Sundays at 10am Contemporary
-Wednesdays at 7pm Contemporary
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Kids Time @ Grace this Summer
We invite kids ages 3 and up to participate in Kids Time. Kids Time is for those who would like to go outside during the sermon for learning and fun.
Kids Time is offered:
Wednesday Night Worship 7pm
Sunday Worship 10am
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Fellowship
Fellowship is after Worship on Sundays. Coffee, water and treats will be available in the Narthex after worship.
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The Nursery is OPEN during Sunday Worship
at 8:30 & 10am for the Summer!
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PowerPoint and Streaming Help Wanted!
We are in search of new volunteers to help on Sunday mornings (And Wednesday evenings) with our PowerPoint projection and Streaming. It is not a large commitment, nor is it difficult to learn. One Sunday (or Wednesday) a month! Volunteers will go through a short training session, and then be able to assist. If you are interested, or have questions, please contact David Phelps. (It really is not that hard, and there are detailed instructions for every step of the way.)
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Grief and Loss by Lifespark
Presenter: Rev. Rachael Warner of Lifespark
Grief and loss are part of the human experience, and something we all have to navigate at some point. We can't avoid it, so let's talk about it! Together we'll explore some of the more common types of loss, the many ways grief can show up on our lives, and some healthy ways to acknowledge and cope when grief wells up. Please join us for this interactive time of learning.
RSVP: *MUST register in advance. Space is limited to the first 30! You can register at the Andover YMCA front desk or by calling (763) 230-9622.
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Graceful Seniors for June!
Due to Vacation Bible School the week of June 13th-17th, Graceful Seniors will be meeting on Tuesday, June 21st at 8:30am.
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Summer Stretch is a dynamic summer ministry for students who have completed 4th-8th grade! (We are opening Summer Stretch to Grace's 4th graders!) Summer stretch runs every Thursday (June 23rd – August 4th - from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm.) Participants will be dropped off and picked up from Grace Lutheran Church. Each Thursday, we will travel to various service projects and recreational activities around the area. Before signing up for Summer Stretch please read more about the program on the Grace Youth Ministries page.
The cost (which includes travel, entrance fees, service project fees, guest speakers, snacks, and a tee-shirt) is $250 if the deposit of $100 is paid before May 1st. This year families can "earn back" $50 by volunteering as an adult leader for one day of Summer Stretch.
The cost of Summer Stretch increases after May 1st to $300 and after June 1st to increases to $325. The balance is due on June 20th. You may pay online with a credit card or in-person with a check written to Grace Lutheran, memo lined: Summer Stretch. Students are responsible to bring their own lunch each day.
Parents: Please be sure to include your email for all communications.
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Come join us for our
OK@Play June Event!
Thurs. June 23rd at 6:30 pm
Ticknor Hill Bed and Breakfast
1625 3rd Ave., Anoka, MN
Come and tour the famous Ticknor Hill Bed and Breakfast in Anoka. We will meet with, owner/innkeeper Debbie Wallace (a long time Grace member) for facts and stories from the Queen Anne Victorian home built in 1867.
We will visit with our OK@Play friends outside at the B&B and then you may choose to join others by walking to 2 Scoops on 2nd Avenue for ice cream! We hope for a beautiful summer evening of fun.
No cost, except for your ice cream. No sign up needed. No lawn chairs needed unless you want to bring a special one for yourself. We are very gracious and give thanks to Debbie for giving us this opportunity to see and enjoy their beautiful B&B atmosphere! All are welcome!
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Empty Nester Event
Date Change to Thursday, June 23rd
Thursday, June 23rd from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm at the home of Doug and Angie Hanson. Their address is: 15102 152nd Terrace NW, Ramsey. This event will be a bon fire. Please bring a lawn chair and BYOB. The Hansons will provide snacks.
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High School Bonfire!
Join us on Wednesday, June 29th for worship and a bonfire. Worship begins at 7:00pm, the bonfire is from 8:00-9:30pm. Bring a lawn chair and dress for the weather! We will have hot dogs and smores to roast over the fire! All 9th – 12th grade students are welcome!
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Grace's Opportunities for Giving |
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Family Table
June 19, 2022
12:30-1:30pm
Grace will be serving another Family Table “take-out” meal on Sunday, June 19th. Family Table is held on the 3rd Sunday of each month and the sign-up sheet is available well in advance. If you are looking for a fun opportunity to serve with other Grace members while sharing food with our neighbors, please contact Lynda Wilde lrwilde@comcast.net or 612-418-6444. Or simply click on the link above.
We are always looking for 4 or 5 people to help in the kitchen by assembling the pre-cooked take-out meals (11:45 – 2:15PM). Food donations for side dishes will be listed on the sign-up sheet and vary each month depending on the meal we serve. We also need 3 energetic folks to run the meals to the cars as they pull up at the drive thru (12:15 – 1:30PM). Why not make it a family project! And remember, if you know of a family, who would appreciate a meal, whether they are members of Grace or not, please let us know!
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Meals for the Fernandez Family
Please click on the button below to sign up. The family would like meals for 3 people each day. NO NUTS. NO FISH. For gift cards, Noodles, Panera, and Mansetti's are favorites. There are separate coolers for hot and cold items on the porch. If meals can be delivered by 5:00pm, that would be much appreciated. Gift cards can be placed in the coolers too, if desired. The Fernandez home address is 2237 151st Lane NW. If you have any questions, please email or call Nancy Jenkins at 763-354-9764 or Anne Weikle at 763-242-5372. Frances and her family are so appreciative of your meals, your support, and your prayers!! If you would like to visit Samantha's Caring Bridge page to get updates on her progress please click here. (You will have to create an account or sign into your account.)
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Different Color Sharpies NEEDED For VBS!!!
Thank you so much for your generous response to the VBS needs of cereal boxes and black sharpies!! We now are in need of regular different color Sharpie fine point type permanent markers! If you can donate please bring them into the church and put them on the cart outside of the Children's Ministry Office.
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Uber or Lyft Driver Opportunity
Grace is in the discussion stages of looking for an Uber or Lyft Driver who may be interested in contracting with the church to provide transportation for elderly folks who are unable to get to church themselves. If you or someone you know is a driver and is interested, sign up the blue sheet in your bulletin or contact the Church Office 763-421-6520.
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Noisy Offerings from June 1st to June 15th will be going to Grace 4 Rakai. |
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Give Electronically through GraceRealm |
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Consider electronic giving on GraceRealm. It’s a convenient way to give consistently throughout the year. If you have any questions, contact Frances or Marie in the Church Office or Click on the GraceRealm link below.
If you are wondering where your giving is for the year, please log in to GraceRealm. Find Giving on the tool bar. Then select My Giving History.
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Prayers of the Church
Please pray for: Marshall Erickson, Diane Rosky, Pastor Maria Markman, George Scholten, Mike Burckhard, Maydelle Fennick, Harland & Anne Marie Johnson, Michele Hamling, Tom Taillefer, Phil Knutson, Rick Burnham, Kim Burnham, Lois Vadner, Colleen Wernimont, Julie Caldwell, 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, and Judi Wold.
We pray for those who have suffered the death of a loved one: Dick & Nadine Lovik & Family grieving the death of their daughter in law, Kathy Lovik; Pat & Dana Walters & family grieving the death of Pat’s Father, George Scholten; Silas Musuuza, (Joe & Low Jackson’s Rakai sponsored child) upon the death of his mother, Annette; Jeanette LaVine & Family upon the death of Janet’s son, Bradley LaVine; Marie & David Kolar and Isabel Burckhard & Family upon the death of Marie's Aunt & Isabel's sister-in-law, June Burckhard.
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