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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“Christ-Centered”
Dear People of Grace,
As Pastor Joanna stated in her letter last week, our Lenten worship series is focused on our Christian Identity and discerning the core values we hold as a community of faith. This week we’re focusing on our first value: Christ-centered. It is defined this way:
In the person of Jesus, God became flesh and lived among us, demonstrating the importance of being in relationship with humanity. The cross is central to our identity, where Jesus opened his arms to all, proclaiming: “You are mine, beloved, forgiven, and blessed.” As God’s people, we find unity in our diversity and inspiration to live as people doing the work of God in the world.
I have to admit that I find this value a little more challenging than our other values. I have a strong sense of what it means to be accepting, compassionate, connected, empowered. I think I could fairly easily give examples for each of these values. But what does it really mean (beyond the stated definition) that Grace is a community that is Christ-centered? What does being Christ-centered actually look like in the life of our congregation?
In her devotion this week, Pastor Maria provides her perspective on being a Christ-centered community. I hope you’ll read it and reflect on it. Yesterday in worship, Pastor Maria preached on this value, and afterwards in small groups, we engaged in conversation about it. As we continue to refine our core values, we want to hear from as many of you as possible. Each week we’ll invite you to answer a few key questions about the value we’re focusing on. Here is the link to the questions about our value, Christ-centered. We’d love to hear your voice.
May God bless your Lenten journey.
Debbie Jorgens
Director of Outreach Ministries
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Join a small group during Lent to discuss our Lenten Theme of Christian Identity and our values of being a community that is:
- Christ-centered
- Accepting of Everyone
- Connected
- Compassionate
- Empowered to share God's love.
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Lenten Wednesdays Worship
(Weds. 3/3, 3/10, 3/17, 3/24 & 3/31)
Worship: 1pm, 6pm and 7:15pm
With small groups in-person, and on Zoom.
For Lent this year we are looking at the values we hold as a congregation at Grace. Each week, we will talk about what these values mean for us and how to live them out as people of faith. We hope that you will join a small group discussion following worship. Join an in-person group or a zoom small group.
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Worship
Online Worship is now being recorded at our Saturday evening service. Online Worship will not be posted until late on Saturday nights. It will be available here for you to join us online on Sunday morning.
For In-person Worship, we are asking for people to sign up for a worship service (see links below). We ask you to stay home if you are sick and to follow all of our COVID-19 protective guidelines. Thank you!
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Adult Education
Adult Education (the group formerly known as “SALT”) – Recently the Adult Education team re-affirmed their vision and purpose: to provide opportunities for God to transform hearts and minds. The team will work with the Associate Pastor of Faith Formation to offer classes, small groups, speakers, and various events. The emphasis in 2021 will be on social justice: expanding our understanding, awareness, and comfort zones, reaching beyond our own culture.
For the month of February and in honor of Black History Month we have written a tribute to inventor George Washington Carver.
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Building Task Force Update
The congregational vote on Jan. 31st approved the decision to sell the Nightingale Property. As a result, the Task Force has begun the process of selecting a realtor to assist in that sale. When that selection is complete, our recommendation will be brought before the Vision Board for final approval. We are also moving forward in our search for an architect. Here again, after we have gathered sufficient information, we will make a recommendation to the Vision Board for approval.
When the above decisions have been made, we can move to the more exciting part of this journey. Precisely, what is it that our congregation wants to do? What should our church look like in the future? This is where you, the congregation, come in. In the near future, the Task Force will establish an interactive document within the Grace website that will ask for your thoughts, ideas and concerns regarding our existing building and how this construction project will make improvements.
Additionally, on Sunday, March 7th, two meetings will be held to begin discussions of the ideas submitted as well as any new thoughts from the meetings.
Proverbs 11:14, “A nation falls through a lack of guidance, but victory comes through the counsel of many.”
Please plan to attend:
Sunday March 7th at 9:30am in person in the Sanctuary
Sunday March 7th at 11:45am on Zoom
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Mental Health Connect Speaker Series:
Tangled Up in Grief
Monday, March 8th – 6:30-8:00 pm via Zoom
After losing her son, Cole, to mental health-related issues in 2018, mental health solutions and resources became a passion for Vicki Elliott, executive director of Mental Health Connect (MHC). Join us as Vicki shares her personal story of loss, pain, and deep grief. The conversation will help us understand why grief is so complicated, why it lasts so long, and why it seems to take a winding path.
This presentation is for anyone who is grieving, who wants to help someone else as they grieve, or who simply wants to learn more about the grieving process, including resources and tools. The Zoom link to this presentation is on Mental Health Connect’s Events page. Just scroll down to “Community Events” and you’ll find the link there.
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OK@Play Movie Discussion
March 11th, at 6:30 is our next Zoom gathering to discuss the movie “Risen” by Joseph Fiennes. It is advertised as “The best film about the life of Jesus since The Passion of the Christ”. Please join us and our discussions in preparation for Easter!
What you need to do: Please watch the movie on your own prior to March 11th.
Low and Joe Jackson have left their movie at Grace for you to borrow if you wish and return back to the church when done so someone else can watch it. Otherwise the movie is available in various places to watch, rent or buy. If you have questions about this, feel free to contact one of us.
Low and Joe have also graciously offered to lead the discussion on March 11th, so we are VERY GRATEFUL for that!!
Ann Lange, Mary Jo Trapp, Deb Stang
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LIVE from Rakai!
This past Sunday, we had the joy of hearing from Richard Mutaawe and Johnson Lwondo, our partners in Rakai, Uganda! At 9:30 AM here and 6:30 PM in Uganda, Ann Hill, of African Children Today (ACT), and our own Scott Christensen facilitated a Zoom meeting so that we could get updated on everything happening in Rakai. We even got to see some of our sponsored children – and hear from one of them who thanked Grace for all we are doing to support them! In case you missed it, here’s the recording. As a reminder, our Noisy Offerings through the end of February will benefit ACT ministries in Rakai. Funds will go toward stocking the medical clinic that is serving the Rakai community with much needed medical supplies, and the scholarship fund to support children sponsored by Grace who dream of completing high school. If you have questions, please contact Scott Christensen, Stacy Surratt, or any member of the Grace4Rakai Ministry Team!
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Grace's Opportunities for Giving |
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Noisy Offerings
For the remainder of February, Noisy Offerings will continue to be directed to Grace 4 Rakai – specifically for educational scholarships and for supplies for the pharmacy that was recently built.
Beginning March 1st and continuing through the entire month, all Noisy Offerings will be used to support our food shelf here at Grace and the ACBC Food Shelf in Anoka. We are grateful, as always, for your compassion and generosity in caring for our neighbors!
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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 those who feel ashamed; for those who find it difficult to trust; for the bereaved and sick, that God would provide compassionate and loving caregivers to all who suffer, today we pray especially those at in the Allina Clinic in Buffalo and all throughout MN, knowing they are a close knit, connected community, ease their suffering and bring them healing. We also pray for Alan Roettger, Ralph Wernimont, Sue Barker, Mike Burckhard, Roger Bergman, Donald Bemis, Eric & Candace Mahowald and their soon to be born twins, John Malecha, Christopher Sluis, Julie Swedberg, Marge Davidson, Arden Kirkendall, LaDonna Lilyquist, Charlotte Montei, Elsie Weisenberger, Linda Christiansen, Carroll Potter, Judi Wold, and Colleen Wernimont. We pray for all those suffering from COVID-19 throughout the world, and we pray that the end of COVID-19 would be near. Lord, hear our prayer.
In thanksgiving for those who have died and are now at peace, and for their lives that bear witness to the hope promised in the resurrection. We pray especially today for Bob Roettger & Family upon the death of Bob’s wife, Pat; Anne Marie & Harland Johnson upon the death of their mother, Claire Haggerty; Bob & Diane Leverentz & family, Mike & Julie McGowan & family and Kathie Klatt and family upon the death of their mother, Kay Reavely; Rick & Linda Breyette mourning the death of Rick’s sister, Charlene; Curt and Karen Olson mourning the death of Curt’s sister Holly Olson; Scott, Heather, Olivia and Henry Lien and family mourning the death of Scott’s dad, Richard Lien; and Kathy Rongere and Carl & Steph Chandler & family mourning the death of George Rongere bring them your peace that passes all understanding. Lord, hear our prayer.
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Virtual Connections
During this time of high COVID-19 cases, we encourage you to connect with Grace and others! If you are looking for ministries and groups to connect with please visit our web site at www.graceandover.org and click on Church Online to see opportunities to connect.
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