This is a quick weekly reminder of what is happening at Grace

in worship and in ways to connect and serve.

Join in the Story!

This is the most dramatic week in the church year. From Thursday through Sunday, our church's set will change three times - from typical Lenten adornment, to starkness and black, to hopeful white and bursting flowers. As a theater lover, I appreciate the theatrics of this week, and the invitation to move through the story of God's great love for us.

It is helpful to remember that God's love is in it all: in the betrayal of friends, in the quiet prayers we lift up to God in the middle of the night, in those moments of trial and turmoil, in the grief and sadness of loss, and in the hope of a new tomorrow.

I hope that you will join us this week as we experience together this great story of love from our God who feeds us, dies for us, and who will raise us up to new life.

I asked my 19 year old daughter, who is away at college, where will you be going to church this weekend. She is still considering... I have no expectations, just invitation. I hope that you will consider who in your life might be looking for an invitation to have someone to sit with at church, who might be longing to hear this story of love, could you invite them to join in the story?

I look forward to walking through this most Holy Week with all of you and anticipate celebrating our Risen Christ with you on Sunday!

Blessings,

Pastor Joanna

Holy Week and

Easter Worship Services

Maundy Thursday (Holy Communion), April 6th

1pm & 7pm

Good Friday, April 7th

1pm & 7pm

Easter Sunday, April 9th

7am (Sunrise), 8:45am & 10:30am

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

7pm-Worship-Sanctuary

Family Table

April 16, 2023

12:30-1:30pm

Family Table is a free meal program that occurs every 3rd Sunday of the month. For April, the meal will be lasagna. If you would like to donate food to help feed our neighbors in need, please click the button below.

Mental Health Speaker

and Q&A Session

Monday, April 17 6:30 pm to 8 pm

Is a young person in your life struggling with their mental health? Are you wondering about when and how to have conversations about their mental well-being? Nancy Howe from NAMI MN will be speaking and participating in a Q&A session at Grace. All are welcome. No registration is required. For more information or contact Nancy Jenkins at dnjenkins@comcast.net with any questions.  

Family Promise Campus "Come and See" Event!

On Thursday, April 20^th, Family Promise is celebrating its fourth annual Giving Day; a 24-hour online campaign to raise awareness and support for families battling homelessness. Family Promise’s network of over 200 Affiliates across the country will come together to participate in this annual digital awareness event. 

This year Family Promise in Anoka County is providing multiple opportunities to support our Giving Day campaign. To donate to our online campaign, visit www.fpgives.org and find Family Promise in Anoka County.  

Join us for our Family Promise Campus “Come and See” event! From 3-6pm on Thursday, April 20th we are opening the future Family Service Center at 363 Coon Rapids Blvd. Coon Rapids, MN 55433 for anyone interested in a sneak peak! Come tour the future space, get a feel for the vision, ask questions, and join us in the excitement of this project and the future resources we will be able to offer housing-insecure families. Click here to RSVP. 

Stop by Applebee's Grill and Bar 199 Northtown Dr. NE, Blaine, MN 55434 on April 20th and show our event flyer to your server at time of order or To Go Specialist at order pickup (paper copy of flyer is not required). Applebee’s will donate 15% of your groups total sales (excludes tax and gratuity) from dine-in, To Go or online orders placed on April 20, 2023 at the Applebee's Northtown Location. For online orders, promo code DOINGOOD must be used to receive credit. 

Food Shelf Needs

The food shelf is in need of the following items. Please be sure that they are in plastic (not glass) containers and please no expired items.

Macaroni & Cheese

Pasta

Pasta Sauces

Boxed Potatoes

Pancake Mixes

Syrup

Jelly

Cake Mix and Frosting

Noisy Offerings gathered in April will be going to ACBC Food Shelf and Grace Mental Health Ministries.

Consider electronic giving on GraceRealm. It’s a convenient way to give consistently throughout the year. If you have any questions, contact Tracie 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."  

In observance of Easter Monday, the Church Office is closed on Monday, April 10, 2023.

Prayers of the Church 

We pray for: David Mosny, Ted Solberg, Judy Herring, Daniel Davidson, Kristi Riley, Kevin Corey, Luke Pace, Darlene Malecha, Roger Anderson, Patricia Nelson, Carly Hawkinson, Luke Bastian, Bev Scott. And also those in need of long-term prayer: Leah Hadler, Rick & Linda Breyette, Kristi Riley, Marty Lukaszewski, Clint Trousil, Lois Vadner, Diane Rosky, Shannan Gautschi, Harland Johnson, Shirley Fystrom, Alison Husak, Juleen Klawiter, Stephanie and Samantha Fernandez, Linda Christiansen, Judi Wold, and Ralph & Colleen Wernimont

Pray for the grieving: especially Kent & Karen Swedberg and family mourning the death of their daughter-in-law, Julie Swedberg: Bill & Denise Hentges mourning the death of Denise’s mother, Flossie Henschke; Christine Wysocki & family grieving the death of her son, James; Pete & Lynn Zirkle & family mourning the death of Pete’s mother, Clarice Zirkle; Tom & Lori Weaver and family mourning the death of Lori’s dad, Gene Nelson.

May Grace Notes Articles Due April 15th @ 5pm

All Grace Notes articles for the May edition are due at 5pm on April 15th. May Grace Notes will be in homes approximately the week of May 1st. Please send your articles in Word format to Marie Kolar at mariek@graceandover.org