Pastor's Message

Tis the Season! 

This past week, I taught the first lesson in our Catechism Advent series on Angels called Halo. I asked our youth to think about their favorite parts of Christmas. One student shared the feeling and when asked to describe the feeling, just smiled a silly little smile and I said YES! It is that! That silly little smile is the spirit of Christmas. Another student shared giving gifts to others is his favorite part of Christmas. Again, YES! The gift of giving, the gift of generosity! Our youth are so wise and compassionate! 

We went on to discuss, what happens when we aren't feeling all that festive. That when we aren't feeling festive or our circumstances bring more worry than comfort, God's timing might seem a little off. We read the story of Zachariah, who seemed to be randomly chosen for his once in a lifetime priestly duty, only to figure out, it was God's plan all along. God's timing is always right. It was during that Zachariah's once in a lifetime priestly duty that he was visited by an angel of God who assured him, that he and his wife Elizabeth's prayers would be answered and they would give birth to a baby boy named John who would prepare the world for the coming Messiah! This seemed ridiculous to Zachariah, but God's timing was right for him and if God's timing was right for old Zach and Liz, God's timing is right for us too. 



As we prepare for Christmas in this season of Advent, maybe you are like our catechism students looking for ways you can give: 

Grace Giving Tree gifts due Dec. 11th

Stepping Stone Wish List items due Dec. 11^th 

Or maybe you aren't feeling festive yet, join us for:

• Advent Cantata this weekend, "A Weary World Rejoices." 
• The children's program, "Sheep, Shepherd, and a Savior" Dec. 18 at worship is sure to give you a smile. 
• Or on Wednesday nights 7pm for Advent "Holden Evening Prayer" Worship (Dec. 7, 14 Communion, Dec. 21 Blue Christmas). 

Wherever you are at this season, you are invited here! 

Pastor Maria Markman

Wish List for the Holidays at Stepping Stone

Stepping Stone Emergency Housing in Anoka is also under construction! They are very excited to be remodeling their second floor to get all the residents back into their building and out of temporary hotels, to spread their residents out more to be safer from Covid and other viruses that have impacted them so very much in the past two years.

Because of this remodel effort, their traditional Santa Shoppe will not happen quite the same this year. However, we want to be sure the residents have the merriest of holidays! They have a group of Santa’s helpers sewing up a storm so each resident will have a handmade gift bag for their Christmas gifts. What we need is your help with is filling the 66 bags with gift cards and a few special items. We ask that all items collected are new and unwrapped. Your donations make their Holidays a little brighter!

Pick and choose from the list as you wish. Bring your items back to Grace and put them in the tote labeled for “Stepping Stone Homeless Holiday Gifts” by the weekend of December 11th.

I will then get all items to Stepping Stone for their packing into the handmade gift bags.

Specific Items Requested (NEW AND UNWRAPPED PLEASE)

• $25 gift cards to Walmart or Target (plastic, not electronic)
• The following personal feminine/manly items ($10 or less per item):
• Jewelry/watch
• Wallet/purse
• Manicure set
• Nice facial moisturizer/lotion/foot crème
• Lip balm/Chapstick
• Donate at SteppingStoneEH.org and indicate “Holiday Gifts” and then Stepping Stone will use your donation to purchase items for the residents.

Thank you for your loving and generous gifts to those in need within our community! If you have any questions, please contact Ann Lange at 763-438-5623. 

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

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.

Middle School Christmas Party!!!

What’s the recipe for a Middle School Christmas party full of cheer? 

A dash of spice 

One teaspoon fun-loving adult leaders 

Two tablespoons of friends(feel free to bring a friend!) 

A baker’s dozen of cookies 

1 cup pantyhose-curious now aren’t you? 

1 1/2 cups balloons 

2 cups creativity 

4 cups of games 

Mix well and serve on Friday December 9th from 7-9pm 

Register on Realm! We can’t wait! Don’t be late! 

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! 

What We are Teaching In Catechism 

This month we will be focusing on the Gospels and Christmas. There are certain things that make Christmas really feel like Christmas, right? Christmas trees, holly, candy canes, nativity sets, that one Christmas album your family can’t get enough of . . . oh! And angels. If you pay attention, you’ll find them everywhere this Christmas season. They’re on Christmas trees, ornaments, and greeting cards. They’re in Christmas carols, movies, and nativity sets. And they’re all over the pages of Scripture, too. That’s because angels played an important role in the very first Christmas. In this four-week series from the Gospels, we’ll pay close attention to the announcements the angels made surrounding Jesus’ birth. Together, we’ll see why the messages the angels shared back then still matter today — like the message that  God’s timing is always right,  that  Jesus is always good news,  that  we can always share God’s story,  and that  God is always ready to rescue.  Thank you for allowing us to share in the life of your student!

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.

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!!!

The Grace Giving Tree 

Offering Grace upon Grace Families 

The Grace Giving Tree (TGGT) assists families in need, who worship at Grace Lutheran, through donations. It is the intent of TGGT is the help relieve the financial strain on families through intentional support, confidentiality, and grace.

The Grace Giving Trees is set up now with ornaments. Gifts need to be back to Grace, unwrapped, by December 11th. Distribution to families will occur on or before Wednesday, December 21st. Call the church office, if you want to help but can't get over here to pick up an ornament. We will share the information with you.

Thank you for supporting families within our Grace Family with bringing joy to all this holiday season.

Food Shelf Needs

It has been a busy time in the food shelf! We are looking for the following donations. Please drop them off at the Church Office.

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

Prayers of the Church 

Pray especially for: Marion Cameron, Roger, Hannigan,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; Tim & Julie Trude mourning the death of Julie’s mother, Patricia Walstad