Prayer:



Lord God, on this first Sunday in Lent, we remember the trials and temptations of your son Jesus Christ in his journey through the wilderness, and how he triumphed over all.

In our prayers we think of the difficult journeys in life encountered by so many people in the world.

We pray that in their different times of need, they may find discernment to see their way ahead, and strength to overcome whatever problems they face.

We pray that faith may be deepened in this period of Lent, and all may walk in the light of the Lord.

Lord in your mercy - hear our prayer

Call to Worship:

L: Welcome pilgrims on the way to the cross.

P: We are learning to follow Jesus.

L: For those who feel Christ near,

P: May we not turn away from the discomfort of the journey ahead.

L: For those who feel as far from Christ as the desert is from the ocean,

P: May we find Christ in the wilderness with us.

L: For all of us who stumble and fall in our silence, indifference, and lack of generosity,

P: May we reach for the hand of Christ, who raises us up to continue on the journey.

L: Pilgrims on the way, come let us worship God!

ALL: We come to worship God as we learn to live inside out! Amen.

Monthly Missions

During Lent our missional giving is all designated for the Lakes Area Food Shelf. We will be collecting a variety of items each week to help stock the food shelf, and cash is always welcome too.



This week the suggested items are Canned vegetables and fruits, dried fruits and applesauce. Paper products will be collected every week for the whole Lenten season.

 During Lent, the Outreach Team has planned that we will be participating in the Lenten Food Shelf Challenge, in friendly competition with Lutheran Church of the Cross, St. Alice Catholic Church, Crosslake Lutheran, Crosslake Presbyterian and Our Savior’s Lutheran. The two churches in Crosslake will be contributing to the Crosslake Food Shelf while the other four will be contributing to the Lakes Area Food Shelf, which is right next door on our own church campus.

 Contributions can be both monetary and food stuffs. Based on information from the Food Shelf, there is significant need to several non-food commodities, including paper products and personal hygiene products, so we have added those categories of items to our challenge roster.  

Weekly Focus on:

 February 26 – Canned vegetables and fruits, dried fruits and applesauce

                       March 5 – Peanut butter and jelly

                       March 12 – Cereal, pop tarts, granola bars

                       March 19 – Canned meat: chicken, tuna, SPAM

                       March 26 – Incontinence and feminine hygiene products

                       April 2 – Boxed sides – potatoes, rice, pasta

Remember, if you don’t like to shop or you can’t make it in to church, monetary donations are also welcome.

On behalf of the Outreach Team, I would like to thank you for your support of this outreach project! We look forward to watching the weekly collection grow and knowing what a positive impact your generosity will have on the community. --Bill Tollefson

HEALING CLAY EVENT

Join us for an opportunity to explore the hardships of life through clay (gingerbread). We will work as a group to build and discuss our shared Christian journeys in faith. Looking at the art Kintsugi.

A group met on Saturday February 11th They explored the ups and downs of life while working with clay(gingerbread), in a similar style to the art of Kintsugi.

Watch for the next "Art in Faith" event in March.

Invitation from Grace United Women of Faith

All are welcome to join us for a time of gathering on Thursday, March 2. This month's program is inspired by the March theme "Those who help to bring about life giving spiritual transformation and renewal are part of God's story."

We will meet in the sanctuary at 11am. The program includes a Zoom presentation from Jill and Russel Westbrook who are missionaries to Honduras, Kim and Steve Brennecke whose mission work we have supported as a church for quite a while, and Pastor Jen's stories of the mission trips that have impacted her life and call.

Lunch will be served after the program, and after lunch we could use some helping hands to prep seed containers to sell in May.

Volunteer Choir Opportunity........ During Lent, we plan to have Sunday morning opportunities for the congregation to join us up front during worship for a familiar song. We will gather at 8:30 on February 26, March 5, 12 and 26 to practice the song a couple of times. Dust off those vocal cords, warm up those pipes and join us at 8:30 on Sundays at Grace!

EASTER FLOWERS: Order forms for Easter flowers are available on a table in the narthex. All order forms MUST include payment at the time of ordering. Last day to order is Sunday, March 19. If you need an order form emailed to you, contact Marsha Mower (m.mower@sbcglobal.net).  Thanks for helping make the church beautiful for Easter!

 Flower order form click to open

Camp Minnesota News - It's time to think about registering for a summer camp experience. Camp Minnesota information can be found by clicking the link below. Check out all the amazing opportunities that the camp staffs are planning for a safe camp experience again this year.

For many years the Grace Women in Faith (formerly Grace UMW) have offered a Marnie Luce Camp Scholarship to children, youth, families and adults who are affiliated with Grace Church and register to attend a Minnesota United Methodist Camp. The scholarship is named for Marnie Luce, mother of John Luce who was a huge supporter of camping.

The scholarship policy and applications are available near the display on the table in the Narthex, along with the 2023 brochures. Grace Youth and Confirmation students will be given camp information at their meetings. Other families with children will be mailed the information. FYI look at all the opportunities for "Adults" to go to camp, too!

Le Sears is the Grace Women in Faith treasurer and applications should be placed in her church mailbox. Email her at: sears.litta@gmail.com for additional information.

www.campminnesota.org

If you have something that should be added to this newsletter from your group or mission, please speak with Pastor Jen or email the details to her at jenmatt20@gmail.com. The E-Grace is generally completed by noon on Thursdays, so articles need to be received by Thursday 10am at the very latest.



If you wish to connect with me directly and it is not an emergency, please know that I will respond as needed during pretty regular office hours. I am in the church most weekdays from at least 10-12, call the office to be sure, as my weeks vary. Ann has my detailed schedule and can find me if needed. I check my emails frequently throughout the day, and this is the best way to contact me.

-Pastor Jen

Important note

If you are mailing something to the church, you must use our P.O. Box for the address. We do not receive mail at the church, and if you use the physical church address it will get returned and could delay your notices to us or offerings.

P.O. Box 276

Pequot Lakes, MN 56472