This is a quick weekly reminder of what is happening at Grace
in worship and in ways to connect and serve.
Change in our worship policies:
We are no longer requiring vaccinated people to wear masks.
We ask those who are not vaccinated to please continue to wear masks for the protection of our children.
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Dear Grace,
When I arrived at Grace the class of 2021 was in 7th grade, but their history with Grace started long before me. They were a smaller class, but brimming with leadership and excitement. They were quick to get to know one another and further their friendships as the years went on. One small group leader said they “needed to put a time limit on highs and lows or they would just chat the whole time.” Another small group leader was always surprised by the topics for discussion they brought to Catechism, their minds budding with theological questioning. They participated well, often enjoying the music and camp songs they learned on mission trips and at Okoboji. On mission trips, the ELCA Youth Gathering, summer stretch and service trips to Haiti, they continued their understanding of social justice and their heart for serving others.
They had excellent adult leaders and mentors. For three years, Karen, Eric, Dawn, Jason, Kat and Leah worked to foster friendship, Christian community, questions, and a bit of tomfoolery all while encouraging connection and theological wondering. Dawn, Michele, Jamie and Tom joined them on trips to Houston, Milwaukee, Sissiton and Boston so they could engage with the community, worship and serve.
Over the last several days, this group has graduated from High School and are looking forward to college, the military, jobs and summer fun. As a community, we have watched these young people grow from small children and we have prayed for them the whole way. Last Sunday we blessed this group with the reading of a children’s book entitled “When I Pray For You” by Matthew Paul Turner. The narrator of the book tells a child of all the times they prayed for them, starting when they were holding them in their arms for the first time.
“I pray you love well. That the light in you swells. That the story God writes is the one that you tell./ I’ll pray where you go, that wherever you land, you’ll find purpose and meaning and a role in God’s plan./ That you’ll know who you are. And like what you do. And love yourself fully, as God wants you to./ ‘Cause when I pray for you, I pray all that you do, brings love and brings light, and helps the world shine like new.”
This is, in fact, our prayer for the class of 2021. I hope you have experienced God’s love when you are here at Grace, and may you bring that love into the world so others may feel it too. Congratulations!
Kristi Larson
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Summer Worship Hours
5:00 pm on Saturdays*
8:30 am on Sundays
10:00 am on Sundays
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*Outdoor Worship Our Saturday night worship will be outside in the courtyard at 5pm. Please bring your own lawn chair. All are welcome to attend. We will have chalk for kids. In case of rain or high heat indices, worship will move inside.
We do not require reservations or masks for vaccinated people at in-person worship. If you feel more comfortable wearing a mask, please feel free to do so. We do ask if you are not feeling well or ill please stay home. If you are in the church during Golden Rule Day Care hours please wear a mask in the common areas that are used by the children.
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.
***Please note on July 3rd there will not be a 5pm Saturday***
worship due to the holiday weekend.
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Family Table Volunteers
Help is needed for the Family Table Drive Thru meal on Sunday, June 20th. If you can help, please contact Lynda Wilde lrwilde@comcast.net or 612-418-6444.
What a joy and privilege to provide a meal for those in need! Grace will be serving another Family Table “take-out” meal on June 20th. There are plenty of opportunities for you to help, whether it’s making food, or donating bottled water! We also need assistance packing meals and bringing the meals out to our guests in the parking lot. If you can help, please sign up!
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June “Conversations on Race and Culture”
Focus on LGBTQ+ Pride, Language and Allyship
Wednesday, June 23rd
at 7 pm on Zoom
Have you noticed a change recently in the terminology used by the LGBTQ+ community and perhaps the young people in your life? Do you know what the terms non-binary, genderfluid, and genderqueer mean, or are you afraid to ask? Do you know why some people add their preferred pronouns behind their names on Zoom, or when to refer to an individual as “they / them”? As part of our continuing “Conversations on Race and Culture,” we will be discussing these and other LGBTQ+ topics focusing on the ever-evolving language and their role in allyship. Please join us!
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The Family Promise Book Sale
Thursday, June 24th-8am to 4pm
Friday, June 25th-8am to 4pm
Saturday, June 26th-8am to 4pm
Come by and pick up your summer reading books! All proceeds go to Family Promise in Anoka. The book sale will be at Gayle Pascholl's at 451 139th Ln NW, Andover, MN 55304
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Hello OK@Play Friends!
Thanks to Vickie Mead and the Stang’s for the concert options! We’ve made our decision and Save The Date!
Thursday, June 24th
6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
Magic 70’s Sunshine Band (an ultimate tribute to the 70’s)
The Draw Park & Amphitheater
7401 Ramsey Parkway
Ramsey, MN
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This is free, no RSVP needed. Bring your own chair, maybe a beverage, and bug spray. Whatever you feel you will need.
Will I see everyone up doing the hip hop with the music?! See you there!
Questions? Contact Ann Lange, Mary Jo Trapp, or Deb Stang
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8 Weeks of Centering Prayer
Beginning July 1st
at 9am-10am
Be Still and Know that I am God. Psalm 46:10
Many of us have hectic and hurried lives. Sometimes the cares of life can feel extremely heavy. One way of releasing the burdens and better recognizing our priorities is to be intentional about spending time with our Creator in silent prayer. Centering Prayer is a prayer practice where one chooses to quiet the mind and simply be in the presence of God. If you have been curious to learn more about Centering Prayer or might benefit from support in your practice, please consider joining us this summer. We are planning to meet in person in the worship center at 9:00am-10:00am on Thursday mornings from July 1st to August 19th. Please contact Anne Weikle at weikle3@msn.com with questions or to indicate you will be joining us. You can also call the church office. While it is not necessary to sign up, it would be helpful to know about how many people are coming. This will be a time for beginners as well as people who have been practicing for a long time.
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Family Promise in Anoka County has adopted a new mission statement!
This new mission statement acknowledges a larger breadth of homelessness and the increasing tools Family Promise in Anoka County has developed to help those experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
“Family Promise has never been just about shelter,” explains David Frei, Executive Director of Family Promise in Anoka County, “Shelter is a tool we use to help people on the path to stability. Our goal has never been to simply give people shelter—our goal has always been to get them to a point where they no longer need shelter and never will again.”
Family Promise in Anoka County’s program expansions provide additional assistance for families without homes to achieve their goal of self-sufficiency and sustainable independence. The programs include Breaking Barriers, Home for Keeps, and Bridge Housing. Housing Stabilization, a new initiative for families who have graduated from the original program into permanent housing, was launched in March 2021. This program includes a budgeting mentor and ongoing case management to help families maintain their housing.
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Grace's Opportunities for Giving |
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Want to get involved at Grace?
We have the several opportunities!
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We are looking for people to help run PowerPoint and our streaming for 8:30am worship service. We will train you and guide you through the process. This is a perfect activity for youth and parents to do together. Please contact Pastor Joanna Mitchell if you are interested at joannam@graceandover.org
- Looking for people to help with Altar Guild for all worship services. It is a simple, behind the scene way to help with worship. You will be trained and guided. Please contact Marie Kolar if you are willing to help at mariek@graceandover.org
- Do you like to sing and be involved in Music Ministry? Then you are who we are looking for! We are looking for choir members for both traditional and contemporary choirs. If you are interested please contact David Phelps at davidp@graceandover.org
- Communion Servers are needed for all worship services. We will train and guide you through the process. It just takes a few minutes during each service and is a wonderful, meaningful way to participate in worship.
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Noisy Offerings
Noisy Offering for June 1st-15th will be directed to the Center for Leadership & Neighborhood Engagement in Minneapolis. This nonprofit organization, led by the Rev. Kelly Chatman, mobilizes congregations and leaders to be powerful neighborhood-based agents for positive social change.
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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
For all who call upon your healing name: John Malecha, Ken Howard, Adam Howard, Samantha Fernandez, Ralph Wernimont, Elisha Shoars, Jane Robinson, Lloyd Burch, Rob, Stephanie Fernandez, Dean Corey, Carroll Potter, Christopher Sluis, Julie Swedberg, LaDonna Lilyquist, Charlotte Montei, Lynn Zirkle, Elsie Weisenberger, Linda Christiansen, Judi Wold, and Colleen Wernimont.
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