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!

Slide Shows, Year-end Reflections

I made the commitment to make a slide show for our Variety Show and Annual Meeting next week. It seemed like an easy thing to do especially since almost all of the Variety Show has been planned and executed by Pastor Maria and David Phelps, our music director. However, I spent all day working on it yesterday and it's still not done. Every time I make a change, the order and titles get messed up. Every time I think I have everything in there, I realize I don't have this group or that. Pastor Maria gave me advice that I often give her, it's never going to be perfect, eventually it has to be good enough.

The thing is, I know this is true. So I apologize in advance for the pictures I don't have or groups I missed. At this point I am making choices for my sanity. And, looking at the pictures I realize that last year at Grace was far better than good enough. There is such beauty in the work that this community of faith did in God's name last year. Looking at all of the pictures and even recalling the pictures that I have seen but don't have- God has been at work. From our Transforming Inside and Out Campaign, to the connections formed through our small groups like the Chosen, Women's Retreats, Quilters, OK at Play, music ministry, within Children, Youth and Family there is so many good things. I am beyond grateful for the ways God led us last year, showing up day after day, in both the beauty and laughter and the tears. I am thankful for the ways God worked in you and I am thankful I am almost done with this slideshow and the belief it will be good enough.

Blessings,

Pastor Joanna Mitchell

Congregational Meeting

February 5, 2023

At 10:00am

Our congregational meeting is on February 5th at 10am in the Sanctuary. The 2022 Annual Report is provided below for your viewing. Hard copies are available. The 2023 Budget is included in the 2022 Annual Report which will be voted on at the Annual Meeting. Hope to see you there!  Copies of the budget are available at the Church Office.

Wednesday Evening Programming

Schedule of Events:

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

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

7:00pm-Worship-Sanctuary

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.

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

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.

Grace Children's Spring Choir

Grace Children’s Choir is back! We will be gathering on Wednesday evenings from 5:30-6pm, leading right into Kid’s Night out! (Note the start time change from the fall).

We will spend time singing and learning about our voices, as well as preparing music to sing on Palm Sunday, April 2nd. Both as a Children’s Choir AND with the adult choir! 

Anyone and everyone is welcome to join us!

Let’s make some Joyful Noise!

Take The Survey!

This survey is for the Adults of Grace Lutheran Church. Thank you very much for your input as we assess the current children's, youth and family ministry programs, and dream of the future. The survey should take less than 10 minutes. Please answer the questions based on how you feel or perceive. We are looking for your perception--even though you may not currently have experience in a specific area. We value your best answers! We appreciate your input on the future of these ministries. Thank you!

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:

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

Join us for the Valentines Day Dance!

For all kids and their parents, grandparents, friends etc. Friday, February 10, 5:00-6:30pm. It’s a potluck, so bring a dish to share. No need to sign up, just come! All are welcome! 

Save the Date: Vacation Bible School 

Grace is excited to collaborate with Lord of Life in Ramsey! Because of this summer's building renovation we will be joining Lord of Life at their church in Ramsey for VBS!!!



When: June 12-15, 2023

Where: Lord of Life 14501 Nowthen Blvd NW, Ramsey, MN 55303

Who: ages 4-completed 1^st grade 9am-12pm; 2nd-6^th graders 9:00am-3:00pm

More details and registration to follow! 

Christikon High School Backpacking Trip

and Appalachia Service Project High School Trip

Registration Deadline for both Trips is February 28th!

Middle School Summer Festival Camp

Middle School Youth- Join us this Summer for Summer Festival Camp at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN. Camp runs from July 16th- July 19th. Cost for trip is $325. We will leave Sunday morning after church and check in at Gustavus around 1:30pm. Any questions please talk to Pastor Joanna Mitchell or summerfestivalcamp.com

For a week during the summer, teens have the chance to get away from real life, hang out with people from all across the Midwest, deepen friendships, and talk about God. Everyday speakers come to share inspiring and challenging stories about real life, God, and where the two intertwine. The days are packed with fun surprises of all kinds. From the music, the movies, the games, the speakers, and club – all with laughter to tears – Summer Festival Camp really has something for everybody. 

Summer Festival combines wild games, gut-busting humor, a messy fight, meaningful music, relevant speakers, breakout sessions and small group discussion time for a unique experience. Camp helps students draw closer to Jesus, each other and to the leaders from their church. See the daily schedule below for more details about what a day at camp looks like. Sign up today on Realm.

Sample Summer Festival Daily Schedule: 

8:30 Breakfast 

9:15 Morning Event 

10:15 Morning Club 

11:15 Morning Small Group Time 

12:00 Lunch 

1:15 Afternoon Event 

2:30 Free Time 

4:00 Workshops 

5:00 Dinner 

6:00 Free Time 

7:00 Club 

8:15 Evening Small Group Time 

9:15 Evening Event 

10:15 Late Night Scramble 

11:30 Lights out 

Take The Survey!

This survey is for Grades 5th-12th students of Grace Lutheran Church. Thank you very much for your input as we assess the current children's, youth and family ministry programs, and dream of the future. The survey should take less than 10 minutes. Please answer the questions based on how you feel or perceive. We are looking for your perception--even though you may not currently have experience in a specific area. We value your best answers! We appreciate your input on the future of these ministries. Thank you!

Snow Tubing at Elm Creek

Monday, Feb. 20th

from 1:00-4:30pm

4-12th Grade Event

Meet at Grace 1:00pm, Carpool to Elm Creek

1:30-3:00pm Tubing at Elm Creek

Carpool back to Grace, 3:45-4:00pm Hot Cocoa

Cost $14 per tuber

Registration Deadline February 3rd. If we don’t have 30 or more participants, the event will be canceled and you will be refunded your registration costs. 

2023 Minneapolis Area Synod Assembly Representatives Needed

The Minneapolis Area Synod gathers annually to conduct business in the Synod Assembly, which is the synod’s highest legislative authority. More than 400 participants attend the Synod Assembly each year, including representatives from each congregation and all active rostered leaders. The gathering is filled with worship, inspiration, presentations, and necessary business. Featuring our keynote speaker, Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III.

Synod Assembly 2023

We are planning an in-person Synod Assembly for

Friday, April 28 (worship) at St. Andrew Lutheran, Eden Prairie,

and Saturday, April 29 (business) at Lord of Life Lutheran, Ramsey.

If you are interested in representing Grace Lutheran Church at the Synod Assembly please contact Pastor Joanna Mitchell or the Grace Church Office as soon as possible. We will be voting on our representatives at the Annual Meeting on February 5th.

Circle Of Grace

Circle of Grace is a group formed to give back to our own Grace community as they experience their life journey.  We want to support them as they celebrate the joys and milestones of life and also walk with them through the hard times by sending cards, sharing rides, providing meals or whatever we can do to let them know they are not alone.

If this group sounds like something you would like to be involved in, please contact Julie Linaman at Juliel@minnworkcomp.com. or 218.329.2069.  The commitment is as little or as much as you have to offer.   If you know of someone who would benefit from Circle of Grace, please let us know.  People are always willing to help but find it hard to reach out.

Our first need is for of one of our members who is going through chemo for a breast cancer diagnosis all while being a mother, wife and full-time employee.  Meals are needed twice a week for this family of four. If you can help, please click on the link below for more information

Our second need is for another one of our members who is going through chemo for a breast cancer diagnosis. She is a mother of two, and wife. She is open to home-baked meal, frozen meals, DoorDash gift cards, pizza deliveries-anything that will help her feed her family is greatly appreciated. If you can help, please click on the link below for more information.

Food Shelf Needs

The Grace Food Shelf is currently in short supply of the following items. Please no glass containers.

Sand Creek Elementary Snack Donations

Sand Creek is in need of healthy snack donations. Please drop them off in the tub in the Narthex. Suggested donations:

• Nature Valley Crunchy Granola Bars
• NutriGrain Soft Baked Breakfast Bars with real fruit
• Gold Fish (Individually packaged)
• Skinny Pop (Individually packaged)
• Fruit Snacks (Preferably with real fruit nutrition)

Vase Donations Needed for Youth Fundraiser

If you have extra vases in the storage closet that you are not using and are willing to part with, donate them to the Youth Valentine's Candy Bouquet fundraiser! Just bring them to Grace and drop them off by February 10th on the counter in the Youth Room or in the office. (No bud vases, please) Thank you!

Noisy Offerings gathered in January will go to Prayer Shawl and Funeral Ministries. February donations will be going to Circle of Grace and the Belize Mission Trip.

Feed My Starving Children

Lenten Packing Session

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 below, at FMSC's Web Site or email Kelsey Russell at kelseyr@graceandover.org

Prayers of the Church 

We pray for: Janiece Jaskierney, RD Nelson, Yolanda Cotterall, John Malecha, Rick Breyette, Bev Scott, Dick Henning, Joe Herring, Mike Burckhard, Leah Hadler, Kristi Riley; also those in need of long-term prayer Marty Lukaszewski, Clint Trousil, Lois Vadner, Diane Rosky, Shannan Gautschi, Harland Johnson, Shirley Fystrom, Alison Husak, Juleen Klawiter, Carroll Potter, Stephanie and Samantha Fernandez, Julie Swedberg, Linda Christiansen, Judi Wold, and Ralph & Colleen Wernimont.

Comfort the grieving: Travis & Stacy Lenz mourning the death of Travis’ Grandma, Violet; Sue Ketz & family mourning the death of her husband, John; Twila Hansen mourning the death of her sister, Donna Olson.