This is a quick weekly reminder of what is happening at Grace
in worship and in ways to connect and serve.
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Listen: land, plans and other dreams
For the past year, a small team from Grace has been meeting to think about the future of Grace. What are the best options for the future of the church? What changes do we need to make to our building to live into our values? How do we keep open to what God is calling us to do and who God is calling us to be?
We spent a good amount of time listening. Listening to dreams and desires for our church as well as the needs that exist. We listened to your thoughts on the Nightingale property as well as our current church. We listened to the guidance of our architects who spent time in conversations with our small groups and presented us plans.
As a congregation we decided to sell the Nightingale land. The land was sold for just over $975,000. What a gift and a blessing that is. This land was originally purchased in order to grow and enhance the ministries here at Grace. I know there were dreams of building on that land. I believe that money will still be a blessing to us in building our ministry and helping us grow into a new phase of ministry. Our plans for the money are to tithe (give 10% away) and then to use it for renovations on our building. The Vision Board will be making decision of what we do with the money as we wait for our building project.
The question has been raised of why do we tithe on this money especially when the building project plans are greater than the money we have made on the sale of the land? We do this because God has invited us to be generous. Everything we have is a gift from God. We are stewards and caretakers of the earth, resources, and money and because of that we need to not only care about our needs, the needs of our neighbor. We have a God of abundance who invites us to share. And so we want to hear from you about organizations and needs in our community that with which we could share this gift. I hope you feel as excited about the possibilities in front of us. What a blessing it will be to be able to share more than a few thousand dollars with some organizations but make a significant gift. How might lives change?
- All plans have a new entrance and widen hallways to provide better fellowship space.
- All plans move the daycare to the back of the church so it can be secure.
- New bathrooms are included in all the plans providing for adequate ADA bathrooms and also bathrooms will be located in our Sunday school rooms for our littles people.
- The 2.2 million dollar plan includes the following:
- A reconfiguration of the office spaces
- The addition of a gender-neutral/family bathroom.
- A larger youth room
- More improvements to the sound and appearance of the sanctuary.
- The 3.5 million dollar plan:
- Expanded narthex and additional fellowship hall
- New kitchen and extra storage on the North-west side of our building.
Our team would love to come and present the plans to your small groups and get your feedback. We want to listen to your feedback and learn ways that we might move forward together so that all might experience grace.
Blessings,
Pastor Joanna Mitchell
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Worship Times
5:00 pm on Saturdays*
8:45 am on Sundays
10:30 am on Sundays
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*Outdoor Worship Saturday, September 18th will be our last Outdoor worship of the season. Please bring your lawn chairs. There will be chalk for the children. Please note that in case of rain or high heat indices, worship will move inside.
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Fellowship
Fellowship is after worship on Sundays. Goodies and coffee are available in the Narthex after worship. We ask that you gather outside to gather, socialize and get to know each other. We need a volunteer(s) for Oct. 31st Fellowship.
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. 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.
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Blessing of the Animals
Sunday, October 3rd at 2pm
There will be a Blessing of the Animals will be occurring in the parking lot on Oct. 3rd at 2pm. Please bring your furry, fin, feathered, and scaly friends and family for a blessing! We ask that you bring your critter friends in either cages or leashed and that you pick up after your critter friends.
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Family Table
Sunday, September 19th
Help is needed in the kitchen for the Family Table Drive Thru meal on Sunday, September 19th.
If you can help, please contact Lynda Wilde lrwilde@comcast.net or 612-418-6444. Or simply click on the link below.
What a joy and privilege to provide a meal for those in need! Grace will be serving another Family Table “take-out” meal on September 19th. 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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Instrumentalists!
We are excited to be bringing back the Grace Symphonic Ensemble! If you play an instrument and miss making music with others, here is your opportunity! Anyone with at least one year of experience on their instrument is welcome to join! Our goal is to bring people together who want to make music. Especially after the hiatus we just experienced.
We will be rehearsing between services starting Sunday September 19th. The group will provide music for worship a few times throughout the year, starting on October 30th, Reformation Sunday!
If you have any questions contact Joe Jackson or David Phelps.
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The Qigong Practice Group
Moving to Tuesdays at 1:30pm
Starting September 21st
The Qigong Practice Group at Grace will be on every other Tuesday at 1:30pm and is led by Randy Sparer, trained as an energy healer in Spring Forest Qigong. He has practiced qigong for nearly 20 years and has worked in the pharmaceutical and medical devices fields. If interested, please call or text Randy at 612-812-2392. Our group would like for you to join us!
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God's Work. Our Hands.
Sunday, September 26th
Beginning at 10:00am
There will be one Worship service the weekend of Sunday, September 26th at 9:00am so that everyone can participate in God's Work. Our Hands! There are many projects and ways to serve our community! From a carwash, yard clean up, gardening, to quilt tying, card making and rolling bandages. There will also be a community lunch for all to enjoy. There is something for everyone! There will be sign up flyers at worship on Rally Sunday for you to volunteer.
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Children's Book Drive
Olivia Surratt is collecting books to begin a Children's Book Shelf at ACBC Food Shelf in Anoka for her Girl Scout Gold Award Project. There will be a collection table inside the Welcome Kids Doors during God's Work Our Hands Sunday (9/26). She is looking for:
- Books that are gently used and in re-giftable condition.
- Books suitable for any age between birth to 18 years old.
- Both picture books and chapter books
- Any genre
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Thursday, September 30, 2021
Dinner will include a choice of chicken pot pie, Minnesota TatorTot Hotdish, or a vegetarian hotdish, dinner rolls, garden salad, Jello fruit salad, and warmed apple crisp. Tickets are available online at www.familypromiseanoka.org/events
$50 General Admission | $250 Reserved Table of 6 | Kids 5 and under FREE with a paid adult. For questions or more information email events@familypromiseanoka.org
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Children’s ministry is excited you are registering your child(ren) for 2021-2022 Sunday School. We have already started planning and preparing for Sunday School to start September 19th. Please join us September 12th for Rally Sunday, come worship and following worship join in fellowship, learning, and play for all ages! |
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Sunday School and
Wednesday Night Volunteers
We welcome YOU to join us by joining our Sunday School Team! We are in need of Wednesday Night volunteers to ensure success for our program and for our children. If you or someone you know would be interested in volunteering on Wednesday Nights, a separate registration for volunteers is now open.
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Own Your Faith
We are so excited that you are entering your OYF year! We have had three great years together in Catechism and this year is going to be even better.
We also have an important and mandatory informational meeting on Tuesday, September 28th at 6:30pm. To make it accessible to all students, parents and mentors, the meeting will be virtual. The zoom link can be found below. If you are unable to attend virtually, please contact Kristi. If you cannot attend the meeting live, we will send out a recording. However, it is best if you can join us live in case you have questions, etc. If you cannot watch it live, please watch it within a couple of days.
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Catechism
Catechism is a 3 year program that helps middle school age students grow in their relationship with God and with their peers. During weekly meetings students worship together, play games, meet in small groups and learn about how they fit into God’s Story.
Not sure if Catechism is for you? Want to hear more? Don’t worry! There is an important informational meeting on Wednesday, September 8th at 6:30 for NEW Catechism students and their parents. Join us to hear more! There also will be time for Q & A.
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Wednesday Evenings At Grace
Wednesday evenings beginning September 22nd to Christmas. Have you ever wondered what God is really like? There are so many stories in the Bible about God being a king, or a warrior, or our Savior. We know that God is the Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, but what does that look like and how might we experience that. This year on Wed. evenings, we are offering opportunities for people of all ages to explore this question: “What is God like” using the new children’s book by Rachel Held Evans. From 6:30-7:30pm children, catechism students and adults will meet to have age-appropriate learning. We will end our time together with worship from 7:30-8pm. Register on realm today!
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The Chosen Season One Watch Party and Video Study group
Sundays 6-8PM starting Sept. 19th
Join Daron Yates, Mike Schaaf and others in watching and following along with the official companion study to Season 1 of The Chosen, the groundbreaking television series about the life of Jesus. What Does It Mean to be Chosen? parallels each episode, connecting you to the Bible in a brand-new way. As a group, each week (8-weeks), you will watch an episode, study, and share a dessert together.
On September 19th- Bring a Dessert to Share
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Small Groups and More Event Registrations
Small Groups for all ages can be found by clicking the link below. Information is given on the specific group/events sign up page. Groups such as:
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The Chosen Video Study
- W.O.W.
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(Don't) Call Me Crazy Book Study
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What is God Like? Book Study
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The God Who Sees Book Study
- Centering Prayer
- Women's Half Day Retreat
- Rev. Jim Bear Jacobs-Guest Speaker
- MN Sacred Sites Tour
- Dr. Henry Emmons-Guest Speaker
- High School Fall Retreat
- And More to Come!
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Grace's Opportunities for Giving |
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Are you young, strong and have a pick-up truck?
Then we have an opportunity for you. We have the opportunity to receive a donation of many cases of recycled copy paper, but are in need of someone to pick it up near downtown. If you are willing to help, call the Church office at 763-421-6520.
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Help Hope 4 Youth
by Donating
As a part of God's Work, Our Hands on Sunday, September 26th, you will have a chance to put together Birthday Bags and Cleaning Kits for Hope4Youth! To assemble these bags and kits for homeless youth, we need your donations! Please turn in your donations no later then Saturday, Sept. 25th in the Hope 4 Youth donation box in the Narthex at Grace.
Birthday Bags Cleaning Kits
Gift Cards or Gas Cards Lysol
Small Note Pads Clorox
Small Pkg of Tissue Handi Wipes
Hand Sanitizer Rubber Gloves
Playing Cards Soft Scrub
Sunglasses Soap-Hand, Dish, and laundry
Socks Sponges
Combs, brushes, hair clips Swiffer Sweeping cloths
Chapstick Disinfectant Spray
Scarves
Suntan Lotion
Pens, pencils
Small bags of candy, chips, gum
Calculator
Small pkg of batteries
Hand warmers
Manicure sets
Deodorant
Toothbrush/toothpaste
Note Cards
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Noisy Offerings
For the month of September, our Noisy Offerings will support our God’s Work, Our Hands projects from yard clean up supplies to paint and stain supplies. God's Work, Our Hands will take place September 26th.
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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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New Member Class
Sunday, October 3rd
12:00-1:30pm.
Are you interested in learning more about Grace or in becoming a member? If so, sign up on Realm, call the Church Office or e-mail krism@graceandover.org. New Members will be received during Worship on the week-end of October 9th/10th.
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Prayers of the Church
For all who call upon your healing name: Judy Leibold, Eric Olson, Shane Larson, Brooks and Hilary Waggoner, Carolyn Gorka, Carroll Potter, Clint Trousil, Luke Galland, as well as all those who suffer with long term illnesses. Margret Olson, Mary North, John Malecha, Stephanie Fernandez, Samantha Fernandez, Christopher Sluis, Julie Swedberg, LaDonna Lilyquist, Charlotte Montei, Lynn Zirkle, Elsie Weisenberger, Linda Christiansen, Judi Wold, Ralph & Colleen Wernimont.
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October Grace Notes
Deadline is Sept. 24th at 5pm
If your ministry or small group would like to place an article in the October Grace Notes, please have the article in Word format into Marie Kolar at mariek@graceandover.org by Sept. 24th by 5pm. Please note that submissions made after 5pm on Sept. 24th will be held until the Nov. Grace Notes.
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