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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As our Transforming Inside & Out generosity campaign gets underway, I wanted to reiterate how much this campaign is about so much more than simply raising funds for our building transformation (although it is about that too). We are looking for 100% participation in this campaign. What does that mean? It means taking a step forward in your generosity journey.
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Prayer: Join us in praying for our church, pray for the campaign and praying that we are listening to God and God's vision for the future of Grace. Pray that as our building transforms into a more welcoming place that we too embody God's welcome and connection for all who enter within!
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Worship: We invite you to attend worship throughout the campaign to hear stories of God's transformation through the ministries of Grace, to allow scripture to illuminate God's generosity to us, for us, and through us, to join our voices in song and our hearts in prayer.
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Give: And we hope that you will consider giving in a way that changes you. Maybe you haven't ever given before or in this way and this is your time to step out in faith. Maybe you have given for years and now is a time to reassess how God is calling you to give now. Whether you can give much through stored assets or you can look at your spending habits and adjust to invest in the future of this community and our mission every gift makes a difference and matters to God!
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Learn and Grow: Lastly, maybe participation in this campaign looks like learning more about God's generosity? We are offering a study called- The Genius of Generosity. We follow author Chip Ingram through this short book on living a generous life. Ingram pulls from his own life experience, from other faithful people's lives, and from the Bible in this fantastic study on Generosity. Ingram even invites us into our own experiment on Generosity too! The Genius of Generosity has transformed the way I look at generosity and I pray that you will join us and allow it to transform you too!
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Join one of the following book studies during the month of February/March. Sign up on Realm or just attend in person or on the zoom link through the Grace website. We have books for free will donation in the church office. We are offering different meeting times in hopes that you will find a time that suits you and your schedule best!
- Sundays in between services (9:45-10:20am) in the fellowship hall. February 13th, 20th, 27th and March 6th.
- Wednesday Evenings In-person (6:30-7:30pm) in room 105/107. February 9th, 16th, and 23rd.
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Wednesday Evenings via Zoom (6:30-7:30pm) February 9th, 16th, and 23rd.
- Thursdays in March (more details soon!)
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I am so grateful for the many prayers and for your concern about my mother's health. My mom enrolled in hospice on Monday. It's a hard and necessary step for our family. In order to share the latest information about what is happening with my mom I have created a Caring-Bridge page. For those of you who are wanting to know how she is, this provides a lot of information. Thank you for your support and understanding of my need to be away periodically to support my family. I am especially grateful to the staff and volunteers who have stepped in to cover things for me while I have been gone.
Blessings,
Pastor Joanna Mitchell
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Worship
-Wednesdays at 7:30pm Intergenerational
-Saturdays at 5:00pm Contemporary
-Sundays at 8:45am Traditional
-Sundays at 10:30am Contemporary
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We do not require masks but wearing masks is a personal choice for all attending in-person worship. If you are unvaccinated we strongly recommend masks. 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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Fellowship
Fellowship is after Worship on Sundays. Coffee, water and treats will be available in the Narthex after worship.
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Wednesday Nights at Grace
6:00-6:30pm Family Pizza
6:30-7:30pm-Children, Catechism, High School, Adult Large and Small Groups
7:30-8:00pm-Intergenerational Worship
8:00-9:00pm-High School Fellowship
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Welcome New Members!!!
We would like to welcome our new members that were received at worship the weekend of January 29th & 30th.
Our newest members are James Bell; Chad, Mary, Brynn & Kinsley Coleman; Travis, Kim, Alexis and Hannah Gause; Susie Wells; Dave & Dawn Redepenning; and Tom Reishus. Please take a moment when you see them and welcome them into our Grace family.
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Special Congregational Meeting
Sunday, February 27th at 10am
We will be holding a Special Congregational Meeting on Sunday, Feb. 27th at 10:00am to vote on the two amendments to our constitution. Notice of these Constitutional changes was given to the congregation on January 21, 2022.
The following amendments to the Church Constitution have been voted on and proposed by our Vision Board. They need congregational approval. According to the constitution, we have given the congregation 30 days notice regarding these amendments. These changes will help us provide better leadership at Grace. We will be presenting these amendments and discussing them at our meeting.
Our current constitution: 13.02 reads:
A Nominating Committee of four to six voting members of this congregation, at least two of whom, if possible, shall be outgoing members of the Congregational Vision Board shall be appointed at a Vision Board meeting for a term of no more than one year. Members of the Nominating Committee are not eligible for consecutive re-election.
Summary of changes: We eliminated the specificity about the Vision Board members and extended the term to have a more consistent Nominating Committee.
Proposed Amendment:
Nominating Committee constitution amending of Section C 13:02 (page 15) C13.02
A Nominating Committee of four to six voting members of this congregation shall be elected at a Vision Board meeting for a term of three years.
Our current constitution: 13.03 reads:
An Audit Committee of three voting members shall be selected by the Congregational Vision Board. Audit committee shall not be members of the Congregational Vision Board. Term of office shall be three years, with one member selected each year. Members shall be eligible for re-election.
Summary of changes: We increased the number on the audit committee from 3 to 4 and included one Vision Board member to serve as a liaison to the Vision Board
Audit Committee Amendment – proposed new
C13:03 The Congregation Vision Board shall select an Audit Committee of no less than four voting members. Committee shall consist of a minimum of three members at large who may not be members of the Vision Board. Members at large shall have a term of office of three years, with at least one member selected each year. Members shall be eligible for reappointment. In addition to the members at large, there will be one voting member who is a current member of the Vision Board whose term of Office will be one year and shall be eligible for reappointment. Said member shall act as a liaison to the Vision Board.
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Valentine Dance
Friday, February 11th
6:00-7:30pm
On Friday, February 11th from 6:00-7:30 PM in the Fellowship Hall, we will be having a Valentine Dance! All ages are welcome, dance, craft, cookies, and more! We encourage you to wear your best Valentine's Day attire! A great event for grandparents and grandchildren! Although not excluded to grandparents!
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Empty Nesters/Parents of
Independent Children Group
Monday, Feb. 14th @ 6:30pm
Love & Money
Our next event will be on Monday, February 14th from 6:30 pm to 7:45 pm in the Seeds of Grace preschool classroom. We will socialize, have dinner, and discuss a lighthearted topic.
This group is still searching for a better, more accurate name, but we know our purpose: we are a welcoming group that gathers together for dinner, conversations, volunteering, and fun events. As our kids become more independent and reach milestones such as being confirmed, getting their driver’s license, or graduating from high school, we often sense a loss of connection with our kids and also with other parents at church. This group is for you if:
- You no longer have kids living under your roof
- If you have an adult “child” (18-30 years old) still living at home
- You have teenagers who can drive and you sense the changes that are approaching as they will someday graduate from high school
- You wonder whether anyone has good ideas on how to “parent” teenagers and adult “children” who live at home.
Since we will be serving dinner, we ask that you please register on Realm or contact Nancy Jenkins (dnjenkins@comcast.net) or Sandy Schmoll (sandys@graceandover.org). Please email us if you have any questions. We look forward to seeing you!
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Family Table Drive Up Meal
Sunday, Feb. 20th
12:30-1:30pm
Help is needed for the Family Table Drive Thru meal on Sunday, February 20th.
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 February 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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President’s Day Snow Tubing Trip to Elm Creek!
Monday, Feb. 21st
1:00pm-5:00pm
Middle and High School Youth are invited to an afternoon of snow tubing on Monday, February 21st. Meet at church at 1:00pm to carpool to Elm Creek in Maple Grove and then back to church for hot cocoa and a snack. Pick up from church at 5:00pm. Warming houses are available, please bring warm clothes appropriate for tubing. Cost is $15. Friends are always welcome! Sign up on Realm!
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Wild Mountain Ski Trip
Tues., Feb. 22nd
9:00am to 5:00pm
In December, a group from Grace went skiing at Wild Mountain and we had a BLAST! Anoka-Hennepin has Tuesday, February 22nd off and we are planning another Wild Mountain Youth and Family Ski Day! Open to all: adults, families, children, youth and friends. New skiers and old pros are invited to sign up. Students under 6th grade must have an adult join them. We will carpool from church at 9:00am. Youth without an adult will be supervised and driven by an adult leader. Cost is: $30 for adults, $26 for students plus $24 for anyone needing ski or snowboard rentals. Sign up on Realm by February 16th.
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Grace's Opportunities for Giving |
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Noisy Offerings
Noisy Offerings support outreach in our community and in our world. Noisy Offering collected from Feb. 1st to Feb. 15th will be going to Feed My Starving Children.
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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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Congregational Meeting Results
from Sunday, January 30th
On January 30th, we held our annual financial congregational meeting. We voted on the 2022 proposed budget. The congregation also voted on the distribution of the Tithe from the sale of the Nightingale property. The results of these votes are as follows:
2022 Budget- passed
Total Ballots: 84
For acceptance of the 2022 Budget: 83 in favor
For rejection of the 2022 Budget: 0 opposed
1 invalid ballot
Tithing Amounts on the Sale of Nightingale Property- passed as proposed
For acceptance of the Tithing Amounts:82 in favor
For rejection of the Tithing Amounts - 0 opposed
Abstain from voting on the Tithing Amounts: 1
1 invalid ballot
If you have any questions, please contact: Ann Lange, Vision Board President, Pastor Joanna Mitchell, or Lori Ackerson, Vision Board Secretary.
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Prayers of the Church
We pray especially for: Connie Hansen, Sonja Hawn, Peggy Zellmer, Kathy Beckman, John Cairl, Betty Thompson, Scott Christensen, Gayle Pacholl, Jan Quick, Margret Olson, Harland Johnson, Jason Beckman, Baby Dylan Salfer, Lu Henning, Jeffrey Kintzler, Alison Husak, Juleen Klawiter, Carroll Potter, Clint Trousil, Luke Galland, John Malecha, Stephanie and Samantha Fernandez, Christopher Sluis, Julie Swedberg, LaDonna Lilyquist, Charlotte Montei, Elsie Weisenberger, Linda Christiansen, Judi Wold, and Ralph & Colleen Wernimont. We also pray for those who have experienced the death of a loved one: Lavonne Lee-Bean upon the death of her brother, Delmas Studor; The Morphew family upon the death of Bill’s Grandmother, Imelda Woodward; Chrissy Gast and family upon the death of her aunt Shelly; Diane Phillips upon the death of her sister Gail Stotz; Jeanette Lavine & family upon the death of her brother, Willard James; Marge Davidson upon the death of her brother, David Olsen; and Ed Stang and family upon the death of Ed’s sister, Darlene Hasskamp.
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Grace Notes Articles for March
Due Tuesday, February 15th at 5:00pm
Please have all articles for the March Grace Notes, which will be in homes by Feb, 28th. Please send articles in Word format to Marie Kolar by 5pm on Tuesday, February 15th to
mariek@graceandover.org.
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