This is a quick weekly reminder of what is happening at Grace
in worship and in ways to connect and serve.
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Transformed in Hope.
Praying for Healing.
This past weekend, we were so blessed to celebrate with many of you the gift of generosity through the Transforming Inside & Out Appeal. In typical fashion of my ministry at Grace, there was of course bad weather on this important weekend, and yet many of you showed up in faith and support. I am so thankful to have this faith community to walk with and learn from. Also it's not too late to turn in your commitment card. We would love to have your participation in this appeal!
If you missed the worship, I would encourage you to watch it on YouTube. In particular, I would encourage you to listen to France Fernandez’s testimony. Her powerful witness about the community at Grace reminds me of how important it is to be in the church together, and to live in faith, hope and love.
Frances shares her story of some of the challenges her family has encountered including how her daughter Samantha, who is 17 years old, was diagnosed last May with end-stage renal disease. She stated: “Our family has many unknowns. We don’t know when Sam’s transplant will take place, or what will happen when she needs to be hospitalized…. What we do know is that the transformation we are all having would not be possible without Grace’s prayers and love which continues to transform us as we speak… Today we shared just a bit of our story. A story that has been transformed because of the love this congregation has for one another. Transform. With love. With faith. With hope.” On Tuesday, Frances received word that there was a kidney for Samantha. They confirmed testing and headed over to the hospital for transplant. Unfortunately, this morning the donor went into kidney failure, and the transplant didn't happen. I am sure you can imagine the disappointment and roller coaster the Fernandez family is experiencing.
Our staff cried many tears this weeks. Tears of gratitude. Tears of hope. Tears of compassion and care. Tears because of the amazing presence of our God who walks with us in all things. We continue to pray, to hope, to wait with Samantha, with the Fernandez's and hold them in prayer. We continue to pray for the family who was willing to donate the kidney of their loved one, who died far too young. The depth of pain and the depth of God's presence with us on this journey is deep. I wish, the circumstances of today were different and we could be celebrating. But I am reminded from this weekend's scripture of the time that Jesus waited: two days, and then four days. While I want things now, we continue to wait for God to open doors, to bring new life, and to awaken us to God's presence here with us in the waiting.
Blessings,
Pastor Joanna Mitchell
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There is still time to turn in your Commitment Cards!
"The Word became flesh and blood and moved into the neighborhood...Generous inside and out. We all live off God's generous abundance, gift after gift." John 1
We believe God is leading us to a time of transformation inside and out as we invest in our church so that we might better minister to our congregation and serve our community!
You are welcome to drop off your Commitment Card at the church office, before and after worships, or anytime you are in the church!
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Have you been transformed by
our Generosity Campaign?
We have been saying all along that our generosity campaign is about so much more than raising money and building a building. It is about the transformation of our very selves. If you have experienced transformation, we want to know and would love to hear your story! We are making videos to be shared in worship about our transformation.
If you would like to contribute here is how:
- Please film yourself in a well lit, quiet space.
- Use the camera on your phone in a horizontal orientation so all of the videos match.
- Answer the question: How have you been transformed by our generosity campaign?
- Keep your answers to two to three sentences or under 30 sec.
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Please submit your videos by emailing them to Pastor Maria at mariam@graceandover.org ASAP and no later than March 16th at 5 PM.
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Feed My Starving Children Packing of Meals
Thursday, March 17th
There are reserved 25 slots for us at Feed My Starving Children in Coon Rapids for Thursday, March 17th (Yes, St. Patrick’s Day!); 2:00-3:45pm and 4:30-6:15pm. You may register directly on line at www.fmsc.org; you can call the office or click on the time slot below to register.
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Don't Forget to Set Your Clocks Ahead Saturday Night! |
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Worship
-Wednesdays at 1pm and 7:30pm Lenten Worship with Holden Evening Prayer and the Study of the Shema.
-Saturdays at 5:00pm Contemporary
-Sundays at 8:45am Traditional
-Sundays at 10:30am Contemporary
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We do not require masks but wearing masks is a personal choice for all attending in-person worship. If you are unvaccinated we strongly recommend masks. We do ask if you are not feeling well or ill please stay home. We will continue to live stream worship services for those who do not feel comfortable coming to worship or those who are out of the area. |
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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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No Sunday School
March 13th & March 20th
for Spring Break
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Lent Worship Times
Wednesday Lenten Suppers - March 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th & April 6th - 5:45pm (serving ends at 6:30pm)
Wednesday Lenten Worship - March 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th & April 6th - 1:00pm & 7:30pm
Join us this Lent for a time of education and a time of worship and learning. Wednesday evenings have opportunities for people of all ages. 6:30pm-7:30pm.
- Kids night out will meet in the preschool daycare classrooms during Lent
- Catechism will be exploring the Shema
- Adults are invited to a time of study in room 105/107
Join us for Worship at 7:30pm where we will be using Holden Evening Prayer and learning the Shema together through the Bible Project.
Lenten Devotion Opportunity
If you are looking for a way to dive deeper this Lent and add a daily devotion, we have a wonderful opportunity for you. John Anderson, one of our members and a bible study leader has written a daily Lenten Devotion. We hope you will enjoy his words, reflections and images that allow us to see and experience the presence of God among us. Click here for access to the overall devotion. Click here to read today's.
Holy Week Worship Times
Maundy Thursday Worship - April 14th - 1:00pm & 7:00pm
Good Friday Worship - April 15th - 1:00pm & 7:00pm
Easter Vigil Worship - April 16th - 5:00pm
Easter Sunday Worship Times
Sunday, April 17th -7:00am*, 8:45am & 10:30am (*Please note the change from March's GraceNotes)
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CALLING ALL SINGERS!
TWO UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES
Lent and Easter are both filled with wonderful music, and I would invite any and all to join us for these seasons!
Good Friday will be a service of music and readings. The choir will be providing most of the music, and we would love for anyone who wants to participate to join us. The music will focus on a them of introspection and the reverence of that most holy time before Easter morning.
Rehearsal schedule will be as follows: (6:45-7:30pm each week), with the service taking place at 7:00pm on Friday April 15th
Tuesday March 15th
Tuesday March 22th
Tuesday March 29th
Tuesday April 5th
Tuesday April 12th
Easter Sunday the Choir will be singing at the 8:45am service.
I would LOVE to have a BIG group of singers for Easter this year. If you are interested in singing, but don’t want to make a huge commitment, this is your chance! There is one song to learn, and one service to sing! If you’ve thought about getting your feet wet with choir before, THIS is your chance!
The rehearsal schedule for Easter will be:
Tuesday March 29th, 7:30-8pm
Tuesday April 5th, 7:30-8pm
Tuesday April 12th: 7:30-8pm
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Youth Fun Day Event!
March 12th from 12-2pm
Middle School and High School youth are invited to Bowlero for laser tag, arcade, pizza and more! PICK UP AND DROP OFF AT BOWLERO. 12:00-2:00pm Cost:$20.
Click on the button below to register.
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Family Table
Sunday, March 20th
Grace will be serving another Family Table “take-out” meal on Sunday, March 20th. 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 below.
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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Empty Nester/Parents of Independent Children
Tuesday March 22nd at 6:30pm
At Acapulco's Restaurant-Andover
Our next gathering will be dinner at Acapulco’s Restaurant in Andover on Tuesday, March 22 at 6:30 pm. We have reserved the private dining room. The address is: 13753 Ibis Street NW.
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Night Of Worship With Jennifer Marie
Friday, March 25th at 6:30pm
Come and worship through song with Jennifer Marie on Friday March 25 at 6:30pm
Jennifer is a local Andover resident that began her music ministry in 2021. She loves to lead worship at her local church and felt the Lord’s calling to pursue her long standing love of writing music to share the gospel message through song. You can learn more about Jennifer Marie at www.jennifermariemusic.com.
The evening will be filled with popular worship songs you know and love, and well as original material from Jennifer. All are welcome and encouraged to invite friends and family!
Admission is free, and a free-will offering will be taken during the evening to support her ministry.
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O.K.@Play
Let's Play BINGO!
When: Saturday, March 26
Time: 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Where: Grace Fellowship Hall
BINGO Caller: Our very own pun queen, Jan Anderson!
We will be playing BINGO, socializing to catch up from a long break, we will have light snacks, and prizes given to each winner. Free will donation for expenses. Come for laughs, fun and fellowship together! .
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Resurrection Gardens
Sunday, March 27th*
9:45-10:30am
EVERYONE is Welcome to participate. It is a fun activity for your family, a great teaching tool about Jesus’ resurrection, and a beautiful centerpiece that will grow just in time for Easter. Each kit is $20. Please register on Realm by clicking below. (*Please note Date Change)
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Grace's Opportunities for Giving |
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“And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful” (Colossians 3:15).
A Note from Rev, Daniel Rift, Director, ELCA World Hunger and Disaster Response Fund
Friends,
Since last week, the news of the Russian invasion of Ukraine has filled news reports and social media feeds. Heartbreaking images of people saying goodbye to loved ones and lining up at the borders to leave the country are occupying our screens. Prayers and calls for peace are coming from around the world as we watch this crisis unfold.
Civilians fleeing the violence are heading toward Ukraine’s western districts and such neighboring countries as Poland, Moldova, Slovakia, Romania and Hungary. Ukrainian men of military age (18-60) are required to stay in the country, so most of those fleeing the violence are women and children. According to one report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, more than 500,000 people are seeking refuge in neighboring countries including Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Moldova. There are major humanitarian concerns for both internally displaced people and refugees. Many of these Ukrainians fleeing their homes need shelter and such basic necessities as food, water and toiletries. Care for people also includes pastoral and psychological support to address the trauma they’ve endured.
Our prayers abound for the loss and devastation experienced in Ukraine and Eastern Europe.
Noisy Offering collected from March 1st to 15th will be going to ELCA World Hunger and Disaster Response Fund.
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What do the different giving accounts mean?
When you log into Realm and go Giving, there are several drop down choices that you can choose when entering your giving online. Here is a general breakdown of your choices.
Ministry Operations-is our general operating fund. (i.e. salaries, electricity, water)
Transforming Inside & Out/Building Fund- is where the current capital campaign for the expansion/upgrades of the building.
Capital Funds-are the funds that go towards mortgage, building up keep, etc.
Gifts of Grace-are funds that go towards one time ministry (i.e. helping someone with rent or scholarships)
Noisy Offering-are funds that go to charities/ministries that we use the bread pans for at worship.
Miscellaneous Income-funds that are to go to a designated ministry (i.e. Quilters, flowers, WOW, Men's Ministry) or to something that has not been designated above.
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Contributions/Gifts of Stocks & Mutual Funds
Hello friends! Just a note to let you know that a new bank account has been activated to allow for the receipt of contributions/gifts of stock & mutual funds. It's a little more complicated than a regular bank account and we appreciate your patience as we got the account going. Information is available via our website.
Also, please make sure you are receiving our Grace emails from Realm. I've heard some might be going into "spam" folders, so take a look in case you're missing any! Lots of activities and events are happening at Grace and announced via Realm - don't miss out!
Thank you for your continued support of our ministry work at Grace. The energy, collaboration and love is heartfelt by all!
Blessings,
Frances
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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: Julie Caldwell, Dick Thompson, Samantha Fernandez, Pat Cairl, Colleen Wernimont, Shirley Fystrom, Ann McFarlane, Baby Cash Hawkenson, Nancy Coughlin, Eric Nelson, Baby Sawyer, Roger, Marshall, Rick Burnham, Kathy Beckman, John Cairl, Betty Thompson, Scott Christensen, and those in need of long-term prayers. Margret Olson, Harland Johnson, Jason Beckman, Lu Henning, Jeffrey Kintzler, Alison Husak, Juleen Klawiter, Carroll Potter, Clint Trousil, Luke Galland, John Malecha, Stephanie Fernandez, Christopher Sluis, Julie Swedberg, LaDonna Lilyquist, Charlotte Montei, Elsie Weisenberger, Linda Christiansen, Judi Wold, Ralph Wernimont. We also pray for those who have experienced the death of a loved one, especially Stephen & Johnna Hirt & family upon the death of Stephen’s Dad, the Reverend Lee Hirt, Quentin & Michelle Busitzky & family upon the death of Quentin’s Uncle, Glen.
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GraceNotes Deadline
Friday, March 25th at 5pm
Please have your articles into Marie Kolar by 5pm on March 25th. We will have GraceNotes into homes around April 4th. Please have your articles in Word format and email them to mariek@graceandover.org.
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