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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"We're All in this Together" |
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My high school experience mirrored that of the popular, made-for-TV musical "High School Musical." Not only was the musical popular among my peers, even if jokingly, I was also a theatre kid. The show has also seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years after Disney+ created the series, "High School Musical: The Musical: The Series." If popularity wasn't enough, the spring musical my senior year was, you guessed it, "High School Musical" (pictured below, Pastor Maria sitting center stage with pink dress and white lab coat). And true to the musical's premise, the leads had never been in a musical before. This created tension in the cast that in the end dissipated as we came together for a successful run of the show.
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The shows most popular song (and dance number, for that matter), is titled "We're All in this Together." The song highlights coming together despite differences. The song made an appearance in 2020, during the ABC family Disney Family Singalong, April 16, 2020. The original cast reunited to perform the hit socially distanced, as an encouragement for us all to remember throughout the pandemic, "We are all in this Together."
I am reminded again of these words today as I reflect on the last few weeks of ministry at Grace! Two celebration weekends for our Transforming Inside and Out Generosity Campaign, Pastor Joanna's absence and the support and care she has received, Pastor Kristine Capel who joined us in our celebration, members with new diagnoses receiving care from other members at Grace, the great out pouring of love and service for the funeral hosted at Grace last Friday and for the grieving family, the cards, messages, and calls of support, encouragement, and willingness to help out for me and for all of us at Grace! These acts do not go unnoticed! Thank you for coming together as a congregation during these weeks to support and care for each other.
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We have another opportunity to come together to support the Fernandez family! As many of you know, Frances Fernandez (Church Administrator) and Carlos' 17 year old daughter Samantha is awaiting a kidney transplant. With this, the family has current and ongoing medical bills. We are having a cornhole (bags) tournament at Grace Sunday, May 1, 2021 from 12:00-3:00. More details and how to sign up can be found below. Funds will go to benefit the Fernandez family as they await this life-changing/giving surgery.
The Apostle Paul reminds us, "If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it" (1 Corinthians 12:26). Or in other words, WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER!
Thank you Grace for the community of faith you are! Keep it up! I am grateful for you!
Love,
Pastor Maria Markman
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Entering the Giving Phase of Transforming Inside and Out Generosity Campaign
We are in the beginning of our GIVING phase of our Transforming Inside and Out Generosity campaign. We give thanks for the tremendous commitments we have received toward our campaign, over and above our goal!
As we begin fulfilling our gifts to the “Transforming: Inside & Out” campaign, we invite everyone to participate in “First Fruits” giving. Last week in worship, I shared my own journey with the concept of “first fruits giving.” After setting up my recurring gifts in Realm, my commitment every two weeks for the next 36 months (3 years) for the Transforming Inside and Out Campaign, I did something I have never done before. I decided to give more. I decided to give a one time gift. A gift bigger than I have ever given. And that isn’t to brag but to confess, I have been changed. I have been transformed --by you all, by this journey we have started on together, and by God! After doing this, I shared it with a friend. She asked, “how did it feel?” I can tell you, it felt like nothing I have ever felt before. I was filled with gratitude and hope for the future, where God is leading. I didn’t have remorse, thinking “what did I just do?!” Instead, I giggled! I was filled with joy!
This is the spirit in which you are invited into this practice of First-fruits giving. In the Bible, farmers would give the first and best of their harvest, their choice lamb in offering to God. We are invited to this practice as well!
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If you are able, please bring as much of your gift as you can to this weekend’s worship services and place it in the offering. We’d love to receive the biggest offering we’ve ever gathered at Grace this week! Many of us are also giving online or setting up recurring giving–this week is a great time to set that up in Realm. If you have questions about making a gift online, making a non-cash gift, or other questions related to your “Transforming” pledge, please contact Frances at francesf@graceandover.org. If you are bringing your offering and placing it in the baskets in the narthex, our offering envelopes have our campaign on them so you can dedicate your giving. If you need new offering envelopes, please reach out to Kris Miller in the church office. She will gladly get new envelopes for you.
We are all still growing, how might you take this next step in your generosity journey?
With thanksgiving,
Pastor Maria Markman
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Worship
-Wednesdays at 1pm and 7:30pm Lenten Worship (Holden Evening Prayer and the Study of the Shema)
-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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Easter Plant Donations
Due April 3rd
Sunday, April 3rd, is the deadline for Easter Plant donations. If you want to donate Easter Plants in memory of a loved one or in celebration of a life event, please sign up on the blue sheets or call the Church Office at 763-421-6520 no later than April 3rd. Proceeds will be donated to the suffering people of Ukraine and to feed the hungry through ACBC Food Shelf in Anoka.
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EGGSTRAVAGANZA
Sunday, April 10th
Eggstravaganza begins with BINGO in the Fellowship Hall at 9:45am and the Easter Egg Hunt follows after the 10:30am Children’s Easter Pageant that takes during Worship. Donations are still needed for Eggstravaganza. Take a slip from the board in the Narthex to donate items needed and drop off those items in the Church Office or Church Kitchen (if it’s hot dogs or carrots).
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Lent Worship Times
Wednesday Lenten Suppers - April 6th - 5:45pm (serving ends at 6:30pm)
Wednesday Lenten Worship - April 6th - 1:00pm & 7:30pm
Join us this Lent for a time of education and a time of worship and learning. Wednesday evenings have opportunities for people of all ages. 6:30pm-7:30pm.
- Kids night out will meet in the preschool daycare classrooms during Lent
- Catechism will be exploring the Shema
- Adults are invited to a time of study in room 105/107
Join us for Worship at 7:30pm where we will be using Holden Evening Prayer and learning the Shema together through the Bible Project.
Lenten Devotion Opportunity
If you are looking for a way to dive deeper this Lent and add a daily devotion, we have a wonderful opportunity for you. John Anderson, one of our members and a bible study leader has written a daily Lenten Devotion. We hope you will enjoy his words, reflections and images that allow us to see and experience the presence of God among us. Click here for access to the overall devotion. Click here to read today's.
Holy Week Worship Times
Maundy Thursday Worship - April 14th - 1:00pm & 7:00pm
Good Friday Worship - April 15th - 1:00pm & 7:00pm
Easter Vigil Worship - April 16th - 5:00pm
Easter Sunday Worship Times
Sunday, April 17th -7:00am, 8:45am & 10:30am
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Arise With the Guys
April 23rd at 9:00am
Attention All Grace Guys You are invited to attend Arise With the Guys at Grace Church in Eden Prairie on April 23 at 9:00am. Guest speakers are Ben Roethlisberger and Tony Dungy, two athletes and men of strong faith. Cost is $10 but if you attend the free breakfast at 7:00am, tickets are free. Carpooling from Grace is available. For more information, see the link on our website or contact Daron Yates for more information. daronyates@gmail.com
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Easter Egg Fundraiser
We will be hiding Easter Eggs to help out the Easter Bunny as a fundraiser for Youth Trips. We will be hiding a minimum of 20 Easter Eggs at your home! If you have any questions please contact Kristi Larson or click on the button below
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Fernandez Family Fundraiser |
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Sunday May 1st, 12:00-3:00pm
Grace Lutheran Church
13655 Round Lake Blvd. NW
Andover, MN 55304
www.graceandover.org
Sign up on Realm or call the Church Office at 763-421-6520
Join us in raising funds to benefit the Fernandez Family as 17 year old Samantha awaits a kidney transplant.
$20 per person entry fee (includes meal)
$5.00/person food for spectators
Bouncy House for kids
Silent Auction
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Grace's Opportunities for Giving |
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Food Donations for Grace Food Shelf
The Grace food shelf could use a few donations. Please drop your donations off at the Church office. Please remember we can not take perishable, expired items, or items in glass containers. We are in need of the following:
canned soup
boxed cereal
canned vegetables
canned chili/kidney beans
canned baked beans
boxed pasta noodles
canned pasta sauce
canned dinners (stew, beef-a-roni, chili, etc)
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Noisy Offering collected from March 16th to March 31st will be going to ACBC Food Shelf in Anoka. April 1st to April 15th will be going to Grace 2 Haiti. |
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Contributions/Gifts of Stocks & Mutual Funds
Hello friends! Just a note to let you know that a new bank account has been activated to allow for the receipt of contributions/gifts of stock & mutual funds. It's a little more complicated than a regular bank account and we appreciate your patience as we got the account going. Information is available via our website.
Also, please make sure you are receiving our Grace emails from Realm. I've heard some might be going into "spam" folders, so take a look in case you're missing any! Lots of activities and events are happening at Grace and announced via Realm - don't miss out!
Thank you for your continued support of our ministry work at Grace. The energy, collaboration and love is heartfelt by all!
Blessings,
Frances
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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
Please pray for: We pray especially for: Cathy Hadler, Paul Doering, Sonja Hawn, Emily Oberg, Lois Vadner, Mary Anderson, Jeff, Heather & Julie Kintzler, The Fernandez Family, Colleen Wernimont, Julie Caldwell, Dick Thompson, Rick Breyette, Pat Cairl, Eric Nelson, Shirley Fystrom, Ann McFarlane, Baby Cash Hawkenson, Nancy Coughlin, Baby Sawyer, Rick Burnham, Kathy Beckman, Betty Thompson, Harland Johnson, Jason Beckman, Lu Henning, Jeffrey Kintzler, Alison Husak, Juleen Klawiter, Carroll Potter, Clint Trousil, Luke Galland, John Malecha, Christopher Sluis, Julie Swedberg, LaDonna Lilyquist, Charlotte Montei, Elsie Weisenberger, Linda Christiansen, Judi Wold, Ralph Wernimont. Plese pray for those who have experienced the death of a loved one, may they be comforted in your promise of love everlasting especially Pastor Joanna & her family upon the death of her mother, Margret; Nancy Jenkins and family upon the death of Nancy’s mother Lois.
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