Order of Worship: Sunday, September 5th
Prelude
Welcome
Call to Worship
Opening Songs
"Amazing Grace-My Chains are Gone"
"We Bring the Sacrifice of Praise"
Scripture Readings:
Ecclesiastes 5:1-7
Psalm 119:129-136
James 1:19-27
The Word in Song: "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" UMH 526
Message: Listen to Learn
Pastor Jen Matthees
Praise Song "10,000 Reasons"
Communion
Prayers of the People
Closing Song "God Be With You till We Meet Again" UMH 672
Blessing & Postlude
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This Week at Grace:
Monday: Building/Office closed for Labor Day
Tuesday: Bible Study: 9am
Wednesday: LAFS 9am
Thursday: UMW 10am
Saturday: Homeland concert 3pm and 7pm
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If you are planning to meet at Grace please call ahead of time to reserve space and get your meeting on the church calendar.
Church Office Phone:
218-568-5755
Grace Office Hours
Monday - Friday
9 a.m. to noon
Worship
Online-anytime
In-Person--Sunday mornings at Grace
9am
Masks required indoors at Grace currently
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We will be sharing Communion on Sunday September 5th during worship. If you worship with us online, please gather your own bread and juice and receive this blessing with us. |
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Check this link for the phased plan details from the MN
Recent Updates
A return to yellow involves more things than just a return to masking. The direction from the Conference is to continue to monitor the county numbers and make changes as needed. If the spread number is over 5% we should follow all of the yellow protocols. At this time(9/2), Crow Wing county is at 11.6%, Cass county is at 20.7%. If you are following along, this is another significant increase over last week unfortunately. Please prayerfully consider how to keep yourself and those around you safe.
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Masking is the easiest thing that we can do. It is my hope that if the numbers stay where they are that we will not need to return to distanced seating in the sanctuary and no singing by the congregation. We are monitoring the county numbers closely and changes may happen rapidly. The goal is always to create a safe space for worship for everyone.
-Pastor Jen
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September Mission Focus
Emma Norton Services has over 100 years of history serving the Twin Cities. The organization was founded in 1917 when a Minnesotan, Emma Norton, gave a gift to United Methodist Women to fund a program to support young women and girls in Minnesota. With her gift, the UMW created the “Methodist Home for Girls” to house young women traveling to the Twin Cities from rural Minnesota for work and education.
In 1967, the organization moved to its current location on Robert Street in Saint Paul, and became Emma Norton Residence. Much like the transformational housing Emma Norton Services now provides, the organization changed to meet the needs of the community. Over the next few decades, Emma Norton Residence served a variety of populations, including deaf students and families with loved ones in long-term care at Regions Hospital.
As Minnesota’s unhoused population grew in the 1990s, the organization was called again to change, and turned focus to helping homeless women who experienced mental health or chemical dependency challenges. With the addition of Emma’s Place in 2002, Emma Norton expanded services to families as well.
Emma Norton Services has continued to grow to help more people in need. In the past decade, the organization has expanded to include SOAR Practitioners who assist residents and outside clients in finding greater self-sufficiency, Peer Support Specialists, and the Scattered-Site Housing Program, which supports families and individuals moving into independent apartment living in Ramsey County. With the addition of these services, Emma Norton now serves over 300 people annually, including children and adults of all genders.
Today, Emma Norton is a radically compassionate and inclusive organization, using evidence-based policies such as harm-reduction and eliminating length-of-stay restrictions. We meet clients where they are and walk with them on their journey of recovery.
Please note on your offering if you are giving to Emma Norton/September mission.
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Your response to the August mission - "Back to School Bonanza" was very generous. Our five Grace teachers each received an $80 gift card to Target to purchase school supplies for their classrooms. Keep these people in your prayers as they begin a new school year. Thank you all!
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Help Wanted
We are currently looking for a church custodian. If you have any leads for filling this position, please contact a member of Trustees or Pastor Jen. We may be seeking volunteers to help in the interim.
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The new Upper Room devotionals are available for September/October. They can be picked up in the Narthex on Sunday mornings or during building hours weekdays. |
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Welcome back, Dear Grace UMW Ladies.
September is almost upon us when we once again begin our monthly UMW gatherings (COVID protocols permitting). As of this writing, masks are still required, but social distancing is not.
Because the 1st Thursday of September falls before Labor Day this year, The September Grace UMW gathering will be on Thursday, September 9th, after Labor Day. Each month, the 2021 UMW theme, "Knitted Together for God's Good Work," will remind us of a unique way in which we are all "knitted together" to accomplish God's good work. See scripture, Like 1: 26-56, as this month's unique way to do God's good work.
- 9:00am - Executive Board Meeting in the fellowship hall, led by Marsha Mower.
- 10:00am - General Meeting in the sanctuary, led by Marsha Mower.
- 11:00am - Program in the sanctuary: "Knitted Together as Mentors by Guiding, Teaching and Leading'' - The Gift of Mentoring. Kathy Gaalswuk, Elaine Lamon and Shari Olson, who work for Crow Wing County as doulas, are "knitted together" as mentors in their work guiding, teaching and leading young women in the Minnesota prison system.
- 12:00pm - In lieu of lunch together in the fellowship hall, treat bags with snacks will be given to each attendee to take home.
NOTE: The North Star District Fall Gathering, via Zoom, is September 11th, 9-11am. Dan and Judy Klement will share about their mission in Laos. Registration deadline is September 9th - contact Le Sears to register (sears.litta@gmail.com).
We hope to see you on September 9th!
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Welcome!
We welcomed 2 new members to the Grace UMC family on August 22nd. We are grateful for their personal professions of faith that remind us of our own promises.
Please welcome Linda Johnson (R) and Ruby Berg (L).
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Prayer Chain
We are a fierce community of prayer warriors!
If you have a specific prayer request for the prayer chain or Pastor, please contact Doris Longnecker or Pastor Jen. You may also call or message the office and prayer requests will be passed along appropriately.
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While we prayerfully and expectantly wait for God to bless us with a new youth director we have decided to put together an interim group of people who have a heart for our youth. If you have ever volunteered with youth group or confirmation and would love to do it again please contact us. Or if you have never volunteered and have been praying for an opportunity and think this would be a good fit please contact us. Thanks
Abby Jacobs: 605-530-1973
Sheena Rick: 218-232-7771
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WANTED: One person to teach Sunday School just two times between September 19 and November 21. Three teams of two have already volunteered to teach our young children. A fourth team would be great. Contact Peggy Johnson (218) 963-3765 if you can serve in this way.
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In the News-
Links to articles in red.
Homeland concert to be held at Grace on September 11th Homeland
Grace student Sonja Palmer, senior volleyball.
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Thank you to our awesome Trustees and volunteers!
The picnic tables have been sanded and stained, and the shelter area has been cleaned up, so it is a safe gathering space.
Thank you to Louis Rollins and Don and Lois Catchpool for your work on these projects!
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Homeland-- @Grace UMC-September 11th, 3pm and 7pm.
We can't wait for you to see this special show honoring our great nation on September 11th. We will be collecting a free-will offering to be used for a special memorial gift and the Wounded Warrior Project.
Hope to See You There!
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Grace Rummage Sale Update
Thursday and Friday, September 16-17
This 2021 sale will be our 25th sale! The sale has changed many times over the years, but what has not changed is the hard work and fun of setting up the sale, enjoying good fellowship during the sale, and making money to support our Grace missions and programming.
Thank you to everyone who has promised to help with the sale! Set up for the sale will begin on Sunday, September 12 after worship, as things are brought down from the attic and the Sunday School room. Monday - Wednesday will be set up days beginning at 8:30AM. Bring donations to church between 9AM and 5PM those days. Refer to the previous letter for items not accepted this year.
Sale days are Thursday and Friday, September 16-17 from 8:30AM -5PM. Invite family and friends to come to shop!
Clean up day is Saturday morning, September 18.
Contact Don Catchpool (218) 355-8184 or Laurie Prinsen (218) 562-4314 to volunteer or with questions. Thanks!
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Grace United Methodist Church
29318 Patriot Ave - P.O. Box 276
Pequot Lakes, MN 56472
Phone: 218-568-5755
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