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!

Sitting Together in the Dark

Today as I prayed, I remembered sitting with my mom in the dark last February. While we had potential to let the light in, something I am inclined to do, my mom couldn't bear to have the curtains open. And even though, I tried to just be within ear shot of her bedroom to do yoga or work, the reality was my mom didn't want me that far away. She wanted me with her in the dark. And so that is where I sat. We took turns actually, my sister, dad and I, sitting in the dark with mom. She didn't want much, just our presence, just to know we were there.

I think this is true for me too. It is comforting to have my dog nuzzle her head at me in the dark, or to hear Jeff breathing beside me when I can't sleep. But really, I know my desire for someone to be with me in the dark goes beyond the literal darkness, but the darkness of grief, the darkness of depression and anxiety, and the darkness of tragedy in the world.

This is what God does for us. Sits with us in the dark. Through it all, God's presence doesn't just bring light, but it brings comfort, peace and promise in those moments of darkness and pain. On the one hand, the days are growing longer and the nights shorter, but starting one week from today, we will be gathering for worship for Ash Wednesday and then Lent. We will be lighting candles and saying prayers, and singing about light that comes in the darkness, and we will be doing something more than that, we will be sitting together in the dark.

I hope you all know that if you are struggling or hurting, or lonely, that we at Grace are here for you. Our Circle of Grace team is setting up visits to people, working on providing food and more, and we on the staff are here to visit and pray as well. However, we don't know if you are currently sitting in the dark, but if you are, please know God is with you, and also reach out, because you don't need to sit alone.

Blessings,

Pastor Joanna

Catechism Parent and Leader Social Event TONIGHT!

A gathering of fellowship and connection for Catechism parents and small group leaders. FEBRUARY 15, 2023 6:00-7:00 PM in the Grace Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall. Join us for the whole evening!

• 5:15-6:00pm Family Pizza $2.00/slice
• 6:00-7:00pm Desserts, fellowship, and connection with Pastor Joanna, Catechism leaders and parents
• 7:00-8:00pm Worship with Guest preacher Tony Ducklow from Summer Festival Camp (Middle school summer trip to Gustavus camp)

Summer Festival at Catechism TONIGHT!

Tony Ducklow, Director of Summer Festival Camp where our middle school youth will be attending camp this summer, is joining us at Grace on Wednesday, February 15th. 

He will be leading a fun night of activities and message with our youth for catechism and he will be preaching at worship!

Also, that night we invite parents of our catechism students to join our catechism teachers and Pastor Joanna for a night of fellowship and connection. 

• 5:15-6:00- Family Pizza $2.00 a slice
• 6:00-7:00 Parents and Catechism Teachers with Pastor Joanna
• Catechism Youth and Interim Youth Director Molly with Tony Ducklow
• 7:00-8:00 Worship

New Lenten Liturgy for Wednesdays

Wednesdays during Lent will sound a little different this year. We are moving to a new setting of the Evening Prayer, “Stay with Us, Lord” by Minnesota Composer David Cherwien. It follows the same outline as the Holden Evening Prayer but focuses more on the Lenten season and themes.

The melodies are beautiful, and very sing able for everyone. It will fast become a congregational favorite. If you would like to hear some of the music, contact David Phelps.

Ash Wednesday Programming

Schedule of Events

1pm-Ash Wednesday Worship/Fellowship

5:15-6:15pm-Lenten Supper

6-7pm Kids Night Out

6-7pm-Catechism

7pm-Ash Wednesday Worship

Congregational Listening Events

We need your help discerning direction for the future Children, Youth, and Family Ministry of Grace! As a ministry of Grace, it is important to have all of your input, no matter what age or stage you are in at this time. Our last weekend of Congregational Listening Events is Sunday, February 19^th after each service! At these events, we will share what we have discovered so far, give some more input, and have a chance to ask any questions you have for us at the end. 

We appreciate each and every one of you and thank you all for your help in this time of transition!

North Metro Grief Support Coalition

Growing Through Loss ©

This series provides an opportunity for individuals to obtain information and support for a variety of grief and loss issues. Have you experienced the death of a loved one, infant loss, loss by suicide. Do you feel alone in your grief, in need of support, interested in learning more about the grieving process? There is a six-week series of speakers and small groups. There is no cost, or no preregistration. You are welcome to attend one or all sessions. Small group participation is encouraged, but always optional.

Speakers:

• Feb. 23rd – Multiple Losses and the Transformative Nature of Grief by Paul V. Johnson, Bereavement Educator
• March 2nd – Journey Through Grief and Loss by Pr. Sue Wallager, Spiritual Care, Zion Lutheran
• March 9th – Conversations on Grief with a Psychotherapist by Maddie Johnson, MA, LLPC
• March 16th – How to Care for a Grieving Heart by Linda Cherek, MSW, Spiritual Director, Loyola Spirituality Center St. Paul
• March 23rd – Love is the Only House Big Enough for All of Our Pain by Patty Brunn, BSA Marketing, Inspirationalist, Author
• March 30th –Prayer and Healing Service by Pr. Melissa Maltman, Servant of Christ Lutheran

Each session will be held on Thursdays from 6:45-9:00pm

Registration 6:45-7:00pm

Speaker 7:00- 7:45pm

Break 7:45-8:00pm

Small Groups 8:00-9:00pm

This Spring Sessions will be held at Servant of Christ Lutheran Church 740 E. Hayden Lake Rd, Champlin, MN 55316

North Metro Grief Coalition - 763.354.7828

B.L.E.S.S.

Our Vision Board and Adult Education group have been reading the book BLESS: Five Everyday Ways to love your neighbor and change the world by Dave and John Ferguson. This book gives us as followers of Jesus, simple ideas about how to reach out and share God's love.

We invite you to participate in a couple of ways. First come to worship on Weds. either at 1pm or 7pm in which we will be preaching on this book and also joining together for a time of spiritual reflection. In addition, you could join our Wednesday evening book study group in room 105/107 at 6pm starting on March 1st, in which we will discuss the book. Click here to sign up. Or, if you can't do that, start your own BLESS group and join in on the conversation.

Family Promise Update

The Vision

Over the past four years, Family Promise in Anoka County has been exploring the value and long-term stability of a permanent shelter space to replace our congregational rotation model. Most other Family Promise affiliates across the country have made a similar change to a single site. What makes our project unique is the creation of a campus, separating the service center from the shelter space. We believe this will better reflect the growing palate of services we have developed and help reinforce the autonomy and dignity of families in our shelter program. Our hope is that, when a young child looks back at their family’s time in our program, they won’t even realize they were in a shelter.

What are we purchasing?

We are purchasing two adjoining properties in southern Coon Rapids to become the new Family Promise Campus — offering a continuum of services for families experiencing housing insecurity and homelessness in Anoka County. One property is commercially zoned with a building that will become the offices and service center, with space on the property for additional future expansion. The second property is residentially zoned and has a house with space for one family at a time and land to expand in the future with multi-unit micro apartment buildings for the shelter program.

What are the next steps?

The purchase is just one step of many. Our initial focus will be on the commercial property, completing the needed modifications to be able to use the space for our offices and service center. Once we have that up-and-running, we will turn our focus to getting the house on the residential property, as well as potentially our current day center, ready to host families in our shelter program. We will soon begin working with an architect to create a design and site plan for a new construction multi-unit micro apartment building(s) for the shelter program on the residential property so we can get the necessary approvals from the City of Coon Rapids and start applying for grants to get the building(s) constructed.

How can the community get involved?

Our most pressing needs initially are primarily assistance with funding to complete the purchase and renovation and a commitment from skilled volunteers to help get that initial work done in a quality, cost-efficient manner. We also need connections to people and organizations who may share our vision for the community and can help us in this transition. We will continue hosting some families through the hotel model for the near future and will continue to need the same support from congregations and volunteers to keep that program operating through the transitions.

OK@Play Next Event

– ALL (young or old) are welcome to join us, come join the fun and social time together!

Date: Thursday, March 23, 2023

 Place: Feed My Starving Children

packing food from 4:30–6:15pm

401 93^rd Ave NW, Coon Rapids

Second Stop: Following FMSC Packing we will go over to

Olive Garden 150 Coon Rapids Blvd NW, Coon Rapids to eat as a group.

We have temporarily reserved 35 spots for FMSC. Please register at fmsc.org. The join code is 299YP8, otherwise it’s under Grace Lutheran Church Kris Miller or reply to this Realm email or call Vickie Meade at 763-712-0496 and we will get you registered.

If you are unable or do not want to join us at Olive Garden to eat, please let us know that because our number count for eating reservations will be taken from who has registered to work at FMSC.

Any questions, please let us know.

Ann Lange 763-438-5623 and Vickie Meade 763-712-0496 

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.

Summer Stretch

Registration Open!

Are you a current 5th-8th grader and worried you will be bored this summer? Worry no more! Participate this summer in a dynamic ministry that stretches your faith and your friendships at Grace Lutheran Church! Summer Stretch runs every Thursday (June 22nd – August 3rd) from 9:00am – 5:00pm. 

Feed My Starving Children

Lenten Packing Session

People of Grace - or should I say Grace-full people! On Wednesday night, March 8th from 7-8:45pm, we will have another wonderful opportunity to pack food to feed children in need while having a great time in the process. As I write this, I am having happy memories of our amazingly successful pack pre-Thanksgiving las November. What a blessing it is for those who pack as well as for the children who can survive because of the food we pack! So, please circle the date on your calendar; Wednesday, March 8th at 7:00pm at the Coon Rapids Feed My Starving Children warehouse. Make it a family event - invite your friends as well. You can register by

1. Signing up on the clipboard before or after worships in the Narthex.
2. Call the Church Office
3. Register below
4. Email Kelsey Russell at kelseyr@graceandover.org

For your dedication involvement in this and all our Outreach Ministries, I say; Thank you so much, muchas gracias, merci beaucoup, vielen dank!

AP Hopper

Coordinator of Outreach Ministries

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)

Noisy Offerings gathered in February donations will be going to Circle of Grace and the Belize Mission Trip.

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.  

Prayers of the Church 

We pray for: Harold Zupon, Verneeta Pahl, Carly Hawkinson, Lana Howell, Craig Wallace, Brenda Montei, Patricia Nelson, Quinn Thompson, Diane Zupfer, Luke Bastian;  Janiece Jaskierney, RD Nelson, John Malecha, Rick Breyette, Bev Scott, Dick Henning, Leah Hadler, Kristi Riley, 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 with your promise of everlasting life especially: Isabel Burckhard and Dave & Marie Kolar grieving the death of Isabel’s son and Marie’s brother, Mike Burckhard; Chuck & Julie Donaldson grieving the death of Chuck’s mother, Marilyn. 

Grace Notes Deadline

MONDAY February 20th!!

The deadline for March Grace Notes is at 5pm on Monday, February 20th. Please send your articles to Marie Kolar at mariek@graceandover.org in Word format. The March Grace Notes will be in homes by the first week of March.