April Missional Gifts

The missional giving for the month of April will go towards the "Pastor's Discretionary Fund". These monies are available to meet immediate needs within our congregation and community as they come up. We also use these to purchase gas cards for our neighbors in need. If you are giving towards mission, please use one of the envelopes in the back that are labeled or make a note in the memo line of your check. Thank you.

With the warmer weather, you may be ready to start your Spring cleaning; as you do, please start to gather items to give to the church rummage sale. You may bring in your donations during office hours or on Sunday mornings. Two classrooms have been designated for sale storage, please check the signs on the doors, as the rooms have a theme to help with the sorting process.

Reminder--no books or electronics please.

Mark your calendars for the sale-- June 20th and 21st.

Sign-ups will be showing up soon to help with set-up and sales!

Thank you to all who have been part of the Grace United Women in Faith-- May Basket project. There are just ten baskets left for pre-order. Orders will be taken on a "first come, first serve" basis this Sunday, April 28th, following service.

The ordered candy baskets will be available for pick up on Monday, April 29th, beginning at 11am, and again later from 430-530pm.

Thank you once again for your support of this project to help with this group's missional work!

Please check out the article in the Echo this week that celebrates the successful food drive held by area churches for March. LAFS

Safety and Security

Once again, we are asking for your help with an important matter if you have access to the building during non-office hours. The building has been left unlocked again recently. There are very few things that need to happen outside of the 9-12 hours or the activities that are on the regular schedule. It is very concerning that we continue to encounter these issues.

Please, if you are stopping at the church at odd times, make sure that you secure and check the building before you leave.

It's almost time for camp!



Camping information and registration can be found online at campminnesota.org. Brochures are also available in the narthex at church.

For many years, the Grace Women in Faith (UMW), has offered a "Marnie Luce Camp Scholarship" to children, youth, families, and adults with a connection to Grace UMC that register to attend a Minnesota United Methodist Camp. This scholarship is named for Marnie Luce, mother of John Luce, who was a huge supporter of the camping experience.

There is more information on a display in the narthex about camping opportunities.

Getting to know our Teams



SPRC

Last December, I agreed to take on the role of Chair of the Staff Parish Relations Committee. I had been a member for less than a year; my predecessor had done an amazing job of getting everything in order. In my infinite wisdom, at the recent meeting, I suggested that each of the committees/teams of our church should spread the word about what they do via E-Grace. Well, now that I sit down to write this, it is far more complicated than anyone would think.

The SPR Committee is the Human Resources Department of the church, but it’s actually more than that. Yes, we set up the job descriptions and act as liaisons to each staff member, paid or volunteer, but what else do we do? Turns out, we are actually one of the support systems that keep the church and its staff running. We try to resolve kinks when they arise and we work with numerous other committees, teams and groups within the church to develop visions and action plans; we monitor how things are going from our end. This is becoming more important as churches in the Minnesota Conference are asked to study & digest the book, A Field Guide to Methodist Fresh Expressions – in other words, looking at the church from an “outside the box” perspective.

Our group is small, but active. If you have questions or ideas, feel free to talk with one of us: Nancy Adams, Lynne Clement, Marlowe Fortune, Abby Jacobs, and Sheena Rick; others join us on the committee because of their roles in the church – it’s a good group and know that we work hard and try to do our very best. Nancy Adams, Chair of SPR

The church office is open Monday through Thursday, 9am until noon. Ring the doorbell and we will come to open the south door!

The building and office are closed on Fridays and Saturdays.



Church office phone: 218-568-5755

-- Church office (for all general inquiries and administrative/clerical duties)

graceumcpequotlakes@gmail.com



 -- Pastor Jen Matthees – jenmatt20@gmail.com

-- Ann Hutchings-Congregational Care Assistant- graceumccare@gmail.com

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 generally in the church on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, from at least 10-1, call the office to be sure, as my weeks may vary. I check my emails frequently throughout the day, and this is the best way to contact me. Friday is my day off as needs allow.

-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