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

in worship and in ways to connect and serve.

Winter Break!

I was the student who both loved and hated winter break. Sure the rest was great, but I missed seeing my friends and I really loved school. So imagine how excited I was in 6th or 7th grade when on Christmas break and bored out of my mind, a friend called out of the blue. I didn’t know her well. We had a few classes together and sang in the choir together but we hadn’t ever hung out outside of school. She called to invite me to go skiing at Buck Hill in Burnsville with her and her dad. I loved to ski even at that young age and I was always looking for friends to go skiing with. I jumped at this opportunity to escape the winter break doldrums and spend the day skiing and making a friendship stronger. Today this friend is my best friend! She and I speak fondly of that first day skiing, a day on which our entire friendship began. Her dad had the idea to invite me and we are both grateful to him for his suggestion that day! 

My dad and I were reading the newspaper on Christmas day, an article about Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). The article suggested regardless of the temperature, one of the best ways to combat SAD is to spend at least 30 minutes outside a day in the winter. We decided to put this to the test and enjoyed snowshoeing around my parent’s backyard (they live on a golf course so their back yard is vast). Not only was the exercise welcomed after days of holiday feasting, I cherished the company and conversation. 

God made us for companionship! So maybe getting outdoors isn’t your cup of tea, call up a friend or a not yet friend and make a connection! Ask how their holiday was and share about yours. It doesn’t have to be long but the benefits will be exponential! And if outdoors is your thing, join us next Monday for a ski and snowboard day at Wild Mountain! Sign up using this link. We will meet at Grace at 9:00 am and car pool. Elementary students need a parent along but middle and high school youth as well as adults are welcome to attend and as always friends are always welcome! Who knows you could end up inviting your life long best friend?!

Pastor Maria Markman

Year End Giving

As you are reviewing and planning your year end giving, we hope that you will prayerfully consider supporting the many ministries of Grace. There are several ways to implement your year end giving. By mail, please have them post marked by 12/31, on line through REALM, or at the church office, hours are Mon.-Thurs. 8:30am-4:00pm; Friday 8:30am-12:00pm. Thank you for your support!

No Wednesday Night 12/28

Wednesday Evening Programming Resumes January 4th



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

Funding Proposal Request Form

Grace Lutheran Church is driven by its mission to assist and serve those who have unmet needs so that they too may experience grace. With that in mind, we are reaching out to our members and asking them to submit requests for funding the various ministries supported by our members. The available funding resources come from the Transforming Inside & Out three-year capital campaign tithe. Please click on this link for the FUNDING PROPOSAL REQUEST FORM. Please complete form and return to the church office no later than December 31^st 2022.

Requests will be reviewed in prayer to allow for resources to be maximized and help as many people as possible in the communities we serve. Thanks be to God!



Grace Vision Board 

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.

Who can be a part of this variety show, you ask? YOU can! We know many in our congregation have talents and abilities, and we want to showcase that! Anyone and Everyone is welcome to participate. As many different types of acts as we can get!

If you would like to be a part of the show, fill out the form linked below. We are asking those interested to sign up BEFORE December 31^st.

If you have any questions, please contact Pastor Maria Markman, or David Phelps.

Cost includes three meals, two nights lodging, fellowship and connection! 

Early Bird discount until Dec. 31st!

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.

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.

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

Prayers of the Church 

Pray especially for: Blair Wilson, Kelly & Jacob Oberg, Marion Cameron, Roger, Barbara Hannamann, Roger Anderson, Sean & Kelly Daugherty, 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, 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 Ed Beckman & Family mourning the death of Ed’s wife, Kathy; Stacy Surratt & family grieving the death of Stacy’s aunt, Jennifer Koch; Don & Peg Brown & Family mourning the death of Don’s mother, Elaine Brown.

The Church Office will be closed on

Monday, January 2nd

in observance of New Year's.

Grace Notes for January/February

Please have your articles in word format to Marie Kolar at mariek@graceandover.org by Monday, January 9th at 5pm. (Please note this is a date change.) We plan on having Grace Notes in the mail by January 20th. This edition will cover Ash Wednesday (2/23/23).