Children's Christmas Program

at 8:45am and 10:30am Worships this weekend!

Children, Christmas Programs, Chaos and Christ

I really hope that you will be at church this weekend to see our Children's Christmas program. I will make a confession, I have seen this play before. I directed it at my last church, and I am so excited to see it directed by Pastor Maria, Mr. David, Mr. Will and Mrs. April and acted by the kids at Grace. This program is called Shepherd, Sheep and a Savior and you will hear songs about Stinky, Smelly Sheep (see picture above), and Going Down to Bethlehem. Songs that are fun and hard to get out of your head. I learned them years ago and still can sing most of the words.

Children's Christmas Programs at churches are faith building activities for the directors. I have never gotten through a dress-rehearsal feeling confident about the performance ahead, because inevitably there will be chaos and missing kids. Costumes will be hard to get on, and lines will be forgotten. And yet, somehow on Sunday morning, God shows up. God shows up in the music, and the children. God shows up through the excitement and enthusiasm of the congregation. God shows up in the message that is shared.

Our Christmas story reminds us that this is always the case. God shows up in the chaos of life and the hearts of people who are trying to be faithful in a messy world. God comes into our world to show us nothing is impossible with God, which I have experienced because somehow these programs always come together. This is how God works, showing up in unexpected places, unexpected people and when we are convinced things are just going to be a mess, God says, I'm here. I've come. I've made this mess beautiful.

I cannot wait to celebrate the mess and chaos of Christ with all of you this Christmas Season! Also, I have seen glimpses of this program and can tell you that it seems a little more organized under the current management than it was when I directed it back in the day.

I give thanks to our kids for bringing their passion and excitement. I give thanks to our directors for their patiences, perseverance and love of children. I give thanks to our parents for bringing and supporting their children. I give thanks for you, because you invest in Grace and the ministry to our youngest so that they might reflect God's love and promise.

Blessings,

Pastor Joanna

Year End Giving

As you are reviewing and planning your year end giving, we hope that you will prayerfully consider supporting the many ministries of Grace. There are several ways to implement your year end giving. By mail, please have them post marked by 12/31, on line through REALM, or at the church office, hours are Mon.-Thurs. 8:30am-4:00pm; Friday 8:30am-12:00pm. Thank you for your support!

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

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

6:30-7pm-Catechism Small Group

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

7pm-Worship-Sanctuary

(There will be no Wednesday Evening Worship or programing on Dec. 28th.)

During the advent season, we will be using the Holden Evening Prayer for our Wednesday evening worship service.  Come and worship with us and share this beautiful service as we once again wait in hope for the birth of Jesus. 

We know this is a congregational favorite normally used during Lent.  We are currently looking at other options for our Lenten Wednesday services, so come and enjoy this beautiful setting of the Evening Prayer during Advent! Wednesdays at 7:00pm.

High School Students.......

Do you know what Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen and Rudolph have in common?  

 

Of course you do, they are reindeer, but do you know what else have in common? They won’t be at the High School Christmas party like YOU! It will be a fun night to connect with friends from church and any other friends you want to bring along! ALL are welcome!! We will have some good eats and treats, and games that will be sure to make you laugh! When: December 16th, from 6-9 pm, register in Realm events! 

OK @ Play Event:

An Evening of Christmas Carols

Fri, Dec 16 @ 8:00PM — 10:00PM 

Heart of the City Music Factory,

2665 4th Ave, Anoka, MN

Join us for an evening of singing traditional Christmas carols, led by Dan & Sandy Adler and a group of local singers. This is a participative night, so feel free to sing along! Seating is general admission and doors open at 7:30 PM. Concessions will be available for sale during the concert. The Music Factory is located on the 2nd floor of the WWI era Old Milk Factory on the Rum River in Anoka. It is not a wheelchair accessible building, and there are some stairs to climb.

A free-will offering will also be received to help with their on-going ministry. Contact Vickie Meade at 763-712-0496 or vmeade714@gmail.com with any questions.

Parent & Leader Social 

We are excited to be hosting a catechism small group leader and parent social on December 21st at Acapulco in Andover! Do you ever wish you could meet and chat with your students small group leaders but pick up and drop offs are a bit hectic? Come for some appetizers and get to know each other! Students can be dropped off at Grace at 5:15 for pizza and a movie with Molly, Kelsey, and Will!! Invitations should have arrived in your mailbox recently, if not keep an eye out for it and RSVP in Realm events. We are looking forward to connection with you! 

Whirly Ball

December 28th 2-4pm

We will be going to Whirly Ball in Maple Grove for a game of Whirly Ball. Whirly Ball is a fast-paced game combining basketball, hockey, and lacrosse played while in bumper cars. Join us for fun and a new experience. Please arrive 15 minutes early. All participants must fill out waiver and if participant is under 18, a guardian must sign. We will carpool from Grace, or you can meet us there. Please sign up on Realm by clicking the button below.

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.

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. We are asking those interested to sign up BEFORE December 31^st.

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

Wild Mountain

Ski/Snowboard Day!

Let’s kick off the new year with an outing to Wild Mountain! Anoka-Hennepin is still on winter break Monday, January 2nd. Let’s have a ski/snowboard day! We are inviting all adults, families, children, youth and friends. New skiers/boarders and old pros are invited to sign up. Students under 6th grade must have an adult join them. We will carpool from church at 9:00am. Youth without adult supervision will be supervised and driven by an adult leader. Cost is: $30 and anyone needing ski or snowboard rental will be additional $24.  Please sign up by December 21st.

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

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. Register soon as there are just 5 SPOTS LEFT!

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. Register soon as there are just 4 spots left!!!

Noisy Offerings gathered in December will go to Gifts of Grace and Family Table.

Prayers of the Church 

Pray especially for: Jennifer Koch, Blair Wilson, Kelly & Jacob Oberg, Marion Cameron, Roger, Barbara Hannamann, Roger Anderson, Sean & Kelly Daugherty, Jerry Slater, Chris Lisy, Rick Breyette, Avery Mattke, Leah Hadler, John Ketz, Gloria Kroeger, Terry Kalmi, Lisa Kalmi, Luke Bastian, 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, Kathy Beckman, 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 Don & Peg Brown & Family mourning the death of Don’s mother, Elaine Brown; Tom & Roxanne Benolkin & family mourning the sudden death of their daughter, Amanda

The Church Office will be closed on

Monday, December 26th and Monday, January 2nd

in observance of Christmas and New Year's.