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!

The Promise of God’s Baptismal Waters

It was a fun Sunday back. We had three baptisms at our 10:30am worship, we celebrated baptism of our Lord and had a baptism reunion with some of the families who had a member baptized at Grace in the past year. My day was filled with adorable children and babies. We had the opportunity to remember as well, God’s declaration to us all that we are God’s beloved, claimed in the waters of baptism and marked with the cross of Christ now and forever. For those of us not baptized we were reminded that we are still made in the image of God and invited to the waters.

Next week, we will remember three people who have died in the faith recently.  Kathy and Jason Beekman, whose funerals will be on Thursday January 19th at 11am and Shirley Jacobson whose funeral will be on Monday, January 16th at 11am. It is a different opportunity to remember and rejoice in the significance of baptism. The traditional LBW liturgy for a funeral service begins with a thanksgiving for baptism, reminding us that in baptism we were baptized into Christ’s death and because of this we too will be united with Christ in the resurrection. This is the promise we cling to at these moments of heartache and grief. Our God has claimed us. As Isaiah states: "when you walk through the waters I will be with you. God is with us in the waters of baptism, in the difficult waters of life, in our dying and in our rising. We can rejoice and give thanks in the moments of welcoming new people into our community of faith through baptism, and the promise that holds us as we commend our loved ones into the arms of our merciful Savior".

Wherever you are in life right now, I pray that God’s lifegiving, and promise-filled waters will continue to nourish you in life, and in faith. 

Pastor Joanna Mitchell

P.S. Our funeral team is looking for additional help this upcoming week, in food and set-up. If you are able to help please contact the church office. Thank you!

Congregational Meeting

Date Change

February 5, 2023

We are changing the date for our congregational meeting to February 5th at 10am in the sanctuary. The date has been changed in order to provide for adequate viewing time of the budget and annual report following the Vision Board meeting on January 17th. We apologize for any inconvenience. Thank you for your understanding.  

Wednesday Evening Programming

Schedule of Events:

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

6-7pm Kids Night Out-Nap Room

6:00-6:30pm-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

Shirley Jacobson

1937-2023

Shirley Jacobson's funeral will be held at Grace Lutheran Church on Monday, January 16, 2023. Visitation will be at 10:00am with Service beginning at 11:00am. Luncheon will be served and then burial service.

Kathryn (Kathy) Beckman

1944-2022

Jason Beckman

1973-2023

Kathy and Jason Beckman's funeral will be held at Grace Lutheran Church on Thursday, January 19, 2023. Visitation will be at 10:00am with Service beginning at 11:00am. Luncheon will be served and then burial service.

Jan Galvin’s 90th Birthday Celebration

Sunday, January 15, 2:00-4:00pm. All are welcome to come and celebrate with Jan and her family at The Homestead of Anoka, 3002 4th Ave, Anoka, MN 55303 

Grace Quilters on Monday, January 16, 2023 is canceled due to Shirley Jacobson's funeral.

New Member Class

Sunday, January 22 at Noon. Are you interested in Membership at Grace or just want to learn more about Grace and the ministry areas we serve? Join Pastor Joanna on Sunday, January 22 at Noon. Sign up below or call the Church Office at 763-421-6520. 

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:

Tuesday, January 24th from 6:30pm to 8:00pm – we will be having our annual kick off dinner here at Grace. Please join us for food, dessert, conversation, and a lot of laughs! Please RSVP to Nancy so that we know how many people we will be serving. If you have any dietary restrictions, please let us know those as well. We cannot accommodate every restriction, but it is helpful to know if we have several people who are gluten-free, for example. You won’t want to miss this fun night at Grace!

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

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.

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

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.

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 $270 plus transportation. 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 

Family Table

Family Table is in need of some food items for Sunday, Jan. 15th meal. Please click on the link below to see what is needed.

Food Shelf Needs

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

Noisy Offerings gathered in January will go to Prayer Shawl and Funeral Ministries.

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 at fmsc.org or call the office at 763-421-6520.

Offering Envelope

Supply Chain Issues

We were notified by the company who provides our Offering Envelopes that due to staffing, supply chain and production issues, they are unable to supply our January/February offering Envelopes. They expect to be back up and running for the March/April Offering Envelope mailing. In the meantime, if you have leftover envelopes, please use those. Just cross off the old date and write the new date. You may also use the envelopes provided in the pew holders. Kris also has a supply of generic envelopes in the office. If you are interested in starting on-line giving, contact Tracie Russell in the Church Office. 

Prayers of the Church 

We pray for Bev Scott, Levi Niccum, Dick Henning, Joe Herring, Mike Burckhard, Chris Lisy, Avery Mattke, Leah Hadler, John Ketz, Gloria Kroeger, 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, 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, Jim Dellwo and family grieving the death of his wife, Shirley Jacobson; Anna Welle & family mourning the death of her Grandma, Maxine Schmit; Greg & Lori Ackerson and family mourning the death of Lori’s brother, Chad; Deb Stang & family and Diane Walker & family mourning the death of their nephew, Jeff Kintzler; Dan & Bev Tkachenko mourning the death of Bev’s brother in law, Dutch; Karen Bastian and family mourning the death of her mother Mary, Tari Yates and family mourning the death of Tari’s father, Roger; Ed Beckman & family mourning the death of Ed’s wife, Kathy and the death of his son Jason.