Staying Connected
I hope you all enjoyed what may have been the last warm week of the year. It was great to be able to shed the coat for a week and spend some time outside in the sunshine. It's hard to tell just how many more days like that we're going to have left this year.

The last couple of weeks you may have seen the announcements about a walk that was this weekend that was a fund raiser for connections ministry. The walk was to be a walk that represented what many in the community that struggle with homelessness do on a daily basis. I was able to take my daughter Esther with me for the event and it was great to see many other Grace members there in support of Connections shelter.

With this event we started at First Presbyterian Church where they have housing for 35 guest a night to stay. From there we walked a few blocks down to Centenary United Methodist Church where we saw a video of a tour of the shelter. Centenary is also the location in the morning where people in need can stop for breakfast to go. From Centenary we walked down to Salvations Army that is open as a day shelter and also provides a daily lunch. Our last stop on the walk was a stop at Mankato Public Library. KEYC stopped by and did a great story about the walk. You can view that HERE.

It is so great that Mankato is a community that offers an opportunity for those effected by homelessness. It's great to be a part of that community and a part of a church that wants to support connections shelter. While at Centenary people had a chance to ask questions and one of our members asked "what kind of donations the shelter is looking for?" One thing they mentioned that I would have never guessed was quarters. They end up with a lot of laundry washing sheets and they take it to the laundromat.

So....... What I want to do here at Grace is do a quarter drive to collect as many quarters as we can to donate to the shelter. I thought there was a couple ways we could do it. I was going to convince Pastor John that each of us should have a jar and whoever gets the most quarters would have to shave their head. I quickly decided that might not be a great idea. I settled with starting next Sunday we would have just one jar out where we can collect the coins. You can bring in your quarters on Sundays to fill the jar, and then we will have the jar in the office if you'd like to stop by and drop them in during the week.

Peace

Ben
In-Person Worship at Grace
It was great once again to host in-person worship here at Grace this past Sunday. We hope to see you all again in the future. Below are a reminder of the guidelines put in place to allow us to be able to have worship together at Grace.

  • Masks are requited in the building for everyone participating.
  • We have blocked off rows to ensure that there is at least 6 feet between households and we will have ushers to help people find open seats. If you would like to help usher, please contact the church office.
  • The congregation will not be singing for now, but we will have some music preformed as part of worship in as safe a way as possible.
  • Communion will be distributed to each pew rather than people getting up during worship.

These and other changes will help us worship together as safely as possible, and we will review these policies as time moves on and new best practices are discovered.

For those who do not yet feel comfortable attending in person, we will continue to have worship posted online as it has been since March. We will have that option available for the foreseeable future so that everyone knows they have a place with us. We were able to get our in-house worship live-streamed on Facebook this last week we're hoping this will all all to participate together in the same worship service wherever we worship from. We will also be continuing to have worship live on KTOE and rebroadcasted on KTV weekly.
Need Help w/ Zoom?
With Covid numbers going up up we know a lot of families are probably going to be looking at getting together differently for the holidays. Not being able to see family could be a tough thing. We'd like to try and make that a bit easier on you if you're thinking about using Zoom to see each other.

If you've waiting to try and use Zoom because it can be a bit confusing at time we invite you to get a hold of Ben here at Grace. Ben's not an expert at all with zoom but can defiantly help enough to get things set up on your device and test things out to see how they work. You can call the office to get a hold of Ben or send an email at DSG@gracemankato.org to set up a time.
Desk Available
We are in the process of cleaning up some items around the church and we have a few desk available if anybody would like to take them off our hands. The desks that are available are the two that are in the old office downstairs(as pictured below) and the third is Pastor Scotts old desk that is currently disassembled in the old choir room.

If you are interested in any of these desk you can contacts us here at the church. To have you must be able to haul away.

We'll have these available for a few weeks and then will be looking to find somewhere else to have them donated.
Family Advent Event @ Grace
We are holding a very special 4 week advent family event here at Grace. We will have the chance to gather together each Sunday of Advent where we will have Crafts and Activities to go along with a lesson for the whole family. Each week will have a different theme. Hope, Peace, Joy and Love. If you can't attend every week that's ok. Lessons and Crafts supplies can be provided for weeks not attending.

Each Sunday we will gather in the fellowship hall at 1:30p.m. 

If there is lots of interest in event we will have to have a second time because of space limits in the fellowship hall.

There will be a virtual option to participate in Advent Event. Materials and content can be provided to you or your family for the virtual option.

Week One - Hope. November 29th 2020
Week Two - Peace. December 6th 2020
Week Three - Joy. December 13th 2020
Week Four - Love. December 20th 2020

There is no cost to attend but you can give a free will donation to help cover the cost of the craft supplies.

All ages are invited to attend. All are welcomed!

Masks will need to be worn while in the building at Grace and tables will be set up for family groups.

Let us know you're joining us and sign up below.
Confirmation
Our hope this year is that we can build a lot of fellowship as we find creative ways to safely gather as we learn more about the ways God is working in this world.

For more details about events or would like to get involved please reach out to Ben or Pastor John and we'll be sure to get you in the loop on everything you need to know.

November/December Confirmation Schedule
  • November 11  – Confirmation @ Grace 6:00 - 7:00
  • November 18  – Service Night @ MY Place Mankato 6:00 - 7:30
  • November 25 - No Confirmation. Thanksgiving Break
  • December 2  – Confirmation @ Grace 6:00 - 7:00
  • December 9 - Confirmation @ Grace 6:00 - 7:00
  • December 16th - Fellowship Night @ Grace 6:00 - 7:30
  • December 23 and 30th - No Confirmation Winter Break
High School
As high schoolers are now back in school and adjusting to a very different looking school year I invite them to join me at Grace for some middle of the week refocus Wednesday nights. All High School youth are invited to attend and bring friends. During this time we'll have a chance to share highs and low and do a short devotion and just hang out. Youth can meet in the Youth Room at Grace(formally known as the children's chapel).

  • November 11  – Youth Group @ Grace 6:00 - 7:00
  • November 18  – Service Night @ MY Place Mankato 6:00 - 7:30
  • November 25 - No Youth Group. Thanksgiving Break
  • December 2  – Youth Group @ Grace 6:00 - 7:00
  • December 9 - Youth Group @ Grace 6:00 - 7:00
  • December 16th - Fellowship Night @ Grace 6:00 - 7:30
  • December 23 and 30th - No Youth Group Winter Break
If anybody has questions about youth and family ministry opportunities or would like to help out leading any activities please reach out to Ben. You can call directly any time at 507-524-3254 or send an email to DSG@gracemankato.org
Zoom Thursday night
Bible Study
Parables
"The Greatest Stories Ever Told"


Join us Thursday November 12th 8:00pm

All Are Welcome!
As a community of Christ we share in each others joys and pains. Before we dive into the word each week we share we share our joys and pains with each other using the Rose Analogy.

  • We look for the Rose in our lives - A highlight, success, small win or something positive that's happening.

  • We look for a Thorn in our lives - A challenge you are experiencing or something you can use more support with.

  • And we look for the Bud in our lives - A new Idea that has bloomed or something you are looking forward to knowing more about or experiencing

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This Week

We'll be looking at Luke 10:25-37

"The Good Samaritan"

One thing to be thinking about coming into the bible study is:
Do you feel guilty when you see pictures of starving people on TV or in magazines? Should you???


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Thursday Bible Study

Zoom Meeting ID 857 5766 8823

Time 8:00 pm Thursday
Every week will have the same meeting ID
Mark your Calendars
November 12, 2020-The Good Samaritan Luke 10: 25-37
November 19, 2020-The Unforgiving Servant Matthew 18: 21-35
November 26, 2020-No Bible Study
December 3, 2020-The Widow & the Judge Luke 18: 1-8
December 10, 2020-The Wheat & the Weeds Matthew 13: 24-30, 36-43
December 17, 2020-Parables of Money & Self-Worth Matthew 19:16-20:16
December 24, 2020-No Bible Study
December 31, 2020-No Bible Study
January 7, 2020-The Wise & Foolish Virgins Matthew 24: 36 -25: 13
January 14, 2020-Parable of the Talents Matthew 24: 14-30
January 21st-The Pharisee & the Tax Collector Luke 18: 9-14
January 28, 2020-Parable of the Rich Fool Luke 12: 13-21
February 4 2020-No Bible Study
February 11, 2020-The Rich Man & Lazarus Luke 16: 19-31
In-Person Bible Study

If you are interested in being a part of an in person couples bible study at Grace click the link below to let us know or sign up.

For this Couples Bible study we would be doing a nine week study on Couples in the Old testament. Some of the Couples will be well known couples like Adan and Eve or Abraham and Sarah and some of the lesser known couples like Elkanah and Hannah or Hosea and Gomer.

We'd be looking at doing this study here at Grace every Sunday evenings spread out in the fellowship hall. Depending on size of group location could be changed.
Start date would be determined once group has been formed.
Worshiping Together Virtually
We hope since March you've been able to continue to find a way to worship with us all at Grace. With the many platforms out there we hope you've been able to find one or a few that has been able to bring you comfort during these tough times. We acknowledge that all may not feel comfortable going for in-person worship here at Grace(and that's alright) so we want to continue to provide opportunities to worship virtually. As we've been working on ways to be able to stream and record worship live we'll have them posted through this newsletter weekly so if you can't watch live you can watch when the time is best for you.

If you don't have Facebook the worships will still be available on KTOE Sunday mornings at 10:00 and the rebroadcast on KTV. We will also continue to share the link to where they can be found on YouTube. Our goal is that everyone will still have an opportunity to worship with Grace.
November 8, 2020 Worship
This past Sunday we were having some technical difficulties with our live steam of worship. We apologize for that. We will be working at it this week to hopefully ensure that going forward we'll have everything adjusted right to provide a high quality online experience for worship. We thank you for your grace as we transition to this new way of being able to worship all together Sunday mornings.
Communion Available
You can now bring communion home with you. Pre-consecrated elements are available at the church. You can stop in to pick it up and bring home to have during service on Sunday morning. If you can't make it in let us know and we can bring it to you and drop off during the week.

If you'd like also you can make your own communion bread at home. Check out the link below for a great recipe.
Christ in our Home
Devotional
Many of you may be unable to get a copy of Christ In Our Home from the church as you normally would.

During this time we are making it available to you digitally, paper copies are still available at Grace and can be picked up. If you stop to pick one up please do wear a mask while in the church building.
Serving the Community
A few years ago Grace was able to host Connections Shelter in the building here at Grace. The shelter now has a permanent home at First Presbyterian Church. Although we will not be hosting folks here at Grace we can still help in a big way. We've had interest in continuing to provide meals to them. They're open to us providing meals for them once a week, once every two weeks or once a month. They'd be happy with whatever we can provide to help feed the folks out that are staying there. We're looking to form a team or even a few teams that would be willing to help prepare and serve meals for the shelter. We have a few people interested in helping lead these efforts but anybody interested please contact Ben and we can get everybody connected.

Due to Covid meals will be plated individually for the rooms rather than how they have been done in the past as family/buffet style. They have enough beds at the shelter for 35 people so meals will be for no more than that.

There are many ways to help out the shelter besides proving meals for them. You can sign up to help as Morning and Evening Greeters, Hospitality and meal team. Connections team will doing background checks on all volunteers that sign up. You can sign up by clicking the link below.


MY Place. Mankato Youth Place. - Confirmation and High School students will have the chance to volunteer with some service projects at MY Place on November 18th. Be on the look out here to find more information in the future on ways that Grace can be more active in service for this great place.

Echo Food Shelf - Echo is currently looking for volunteers to commit to one 2-4 hour shift/week. You can email echofoodshelf@yahoo.com to get involved.

CADA House - Committee Against Domestic Abuse, Inc. (CADA) is a nonprofit victim advocacy and emergency shelter organization based in Mankato, Minnesota. CADA’s mission is to provide safety and support to victims of domestic and sexual violence through education, advocacy, and shelter.
You can check out the latest Newsletter for CADA by Clicking HERE
Fair Trade Coffee
Missing fellowship after service and the delicious fair trade coffee? All fair trade/organic coffee is now $7 a bag, including our fellowship blend. It's a course ground blend perfect for French press!  

Your choice of Sisters' Blend, Love Buzz, Breakfast Blend, Mind Body and Soul, And Fellowship Blend now only $7 a bag.  

Stop by the church office to get yours today!
Did you Fair Trade is so much more than Coffee??? There's tea, chocolate and even olive oil all available here at the church. Next time you're at Grace check it out!
Find more information about Mankato Fair Trade Products and their Mission by clicking the link below
Pray Together
Lord God,

We pray for those that are struggling with homelessness. We pray that they can find the ways this community is here for them to support. We think you for the ways we can help those in need.
Amen
Check out this Video!
Josh Wilson is one of my favorite Christian Musicians. This songs and video is a great reminder to me of how I should be living my life for Christ.
I Refuse by Josh Wilson
Contact Us
Pastor
Rev. John Odegard - pastor@gracemankato.org

Director of Spiritual Growth

Parish Administrator
Rich Krause - parish@gracemankato.org

Office Specialist
Joan Hertel - office@gracemankato.org

Interim Organist and Music Director
Chuck Hoogland - music@gracemankto.org

Worship and Media Technology Coordinator

Maintenance and Grounds
Jordin Johnson - grounds@gracemankato.org

Is there news you're wanting to have included in future staying connected newsletters? Reach out to Ben with the details and he'll be sure to included in an upcoming newsletter. New newsletters are emailed out every Monday and can also be found on Facebook or the Webpage under the At Home Resources tab.