GRACE NOTES

December 19 - 25, 2023

What's Going On At Grace

+Dec 22 - Peter Mayer Concert

+Dec 24 - Advent 4 worship at 10am, Christmas Eve worship at 5, 7, & 11pm

+Dec 31 - One service at 10am

Many of these events have more details in other sections. This section is updated each week, so keep checking in. You can also see the full church calendar HERE.

Cookies, Cocoa, and Carols

THANK YOU!

A big thanks to everyone who was part of our Cookies, Cocoa,

and Carols event on Sunday!



We had a lot of fun enjoying our Young Youth Choir's musical, the anthems of the Festival Choir, the ringing of our Bell Choir, and the carols of the congregation!

The hot cocoa and the cookies were also a delicious treat to share while we spent time in fellowship. Special thanks goes to our 100th Anniversary Committee for organizing this great event!

Angel Tree and Giving Tree Gifts

Thank you

to everyone who gave gifts for

Angel Tree and Giving Tree this year!

We provided gifts for 36 children and 50 adults!

Advent Evening Prayer Service

Wednesday, December 20

Join us at 7pm tomorrow, the

last Wednesday of Advent

for a brief worship service consisting of songs, 

prayers, and reflections.

Christmas Eve Worship Assistant Roles still open!

We still have openings for:

5pm - Greeter

7pm - Greeter, Usher, Acolyte, Crucifer

11pm - Greeter, Usher, Acolyte, Crucifer

Click on the service times below to add your name to the worship assistant schedules for Christmas Eve.

The Women of the ELCA (WELCA) are offering a virtual Blue Christmas service this year. This service offers a safe place to bring your grief, fear, and loss. There will be brief readings, quiet and reflective music, and prayers. All are welcome. Spanish translation provided. The service takes place at 7 p.m. CST on Thursday, December 21, 2023. Click HERE to join the service.

HAPPENING THIS FRIDAY:

100th Anniversary Final Event

Our final 100th Anniversary Event will be the Peter Mayer: Stars & Promises concert!

This concert will be at Grace THIS Friday, December 22nd.



A few tickets are left - Click HERE to learn more and purchase your tickets for the show!

100 Connections

We have 103/100!

Over the course of our 100th year, our congregation was making 100 new connections in the community.

We have reached our goal!! Thank you to everyone who submitted their connections and shared how you were being part of the community this year.

We hope that this project has expanded our understanding of just how connected we are in our community, and raised awareness of our opportunities to be good neighbors in this place!

Thank you for being the church in the world, sharing God's love with the community!

St. Olaf Christmas Festival 2023

Love and Joy Come to You

St. Olaf College presented their Christmas Festival Concert last week. To view the concert, click here. To view the program, click here.

End of year giving

We are deeply grateful for all the financial support you've given to Grace this year! Your gifts have made it possible for ministry to happen and the gospel to be shared! Our ministry doesn't stop once we cover our expenses, and we have made a plan for the gifts that we receive over and above the cost of planned ministry for 2023.

This year, our surplus dollars will be directed to two funds:

75% of our surplus will be given to the Capital Expense Fund, in anticipation of a new Fellowship Hall roof being needed soon.

25% of our surplus will be given to the ELCA Youth Gathering Fund, to support the 8 Youth and 4 Adults who will be traveling to New Orleans in July!



Thank you for your continued generosity and for being part of the ministry of Grace this year!

Please remember that for gifts to be tax-deductible for 2023,

they must be received in 2023.

Centennial Temple Talks

As a part of Grace's 100th Anniversary Celebration, we will share a Temple Talk highlighting Grace's history through the decades on the first Sunday of each month, from March through December.

Click on the button to read our Temple Talks written by Anne Cline Johnson.

Grace Outreach Partnerships

Click on the buttons below to learn more about our 2023 partners and how you can offer support through volunteering and donations

Biggest needs this week at HOPE:

Pull-ups 4,5,6, breakfast items (cereal, grits, oatmeal, pancake mix/syrup), jelly, baking items, broth, tomato sauce, spaghetti/sauce.

Grace donated 300 pounds of food/supplies in December, thank you!

The Sanctuary Candle for the month of December is given by

Mary and Eddie Hinson to the Glory of God

and the birth of our Lord Jesus

The Altar Flowers for December 24th are given by

Theresa Miller in memory of Ed Miller

and in Honor of Matthew’s Birthday

2024 Altar Flower and Sanctuary Candle Signups are now open

Grace keeps our Sanctuary Candle burning every week, a sign of the continuing presence of Jesus Christ in our lives. Members are able to sponsor the candle in memory or honor of someone. The cost of the candle is $25.

Please click HERE to sign up.

It has been a long-standing tradition at Grace for members to sponsor the weekly altar flowers. The cost is $45.00 for one (1) or $90.00 for both (2) vases. Each date on the sign-up form has two (2) spaces, check the number of vases you wish to sponsor, please check both if you are signing up for both vases.

Please click HERE to sign up.

Can we get a ride?

We have several members of Grace who would love to come to worship on Sunday mornings, but can't drive themselves.



We are creating a list of those who would be willing to give someone a ride to and from church, so that those members can be in touch and be with us in person! If you'd be willing to give a member a ride, please let the church office know HERE.