Happenings and Messages from Grace Lutheran Church! | |
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This is a quick weekly reminder of what is happening at Grace
in worship and in ways to connect and serve.
Sunday Worship
8:45am (Traditional) and 10:30am (Contemporary)
Wednesday Lent Programming
Worship at 1:00 pm
Catechism begins at 6:00 pm with Worship at 7:00 pm
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Friends of Grace,
I am currently watching the show Lesson's in Chemistry. The main character, Elizabeth is told after giving birth to name her daughter how she feels, to which she responds "Mad." Luckily the name Mad can easily be morphed into Maddie, or Madeline, and so the little girl's whole life is not defined by this negative emotion. In truth, while Elizabeth was indeed mad at life and its circumstances in this moment the truth is she was also grieving deeply.
I've been listening to a podcast on the prophets. Richard Rohr states that prophets go through a cycle of learning in their ministry. They start with anger, and then will transition to sadness and in the end find love and solidarity. He points out that sadness is often disguised as anger. But one of the things we like about anger is that we stay above it, where in sadness we have to encounter it.
The world is noisy often times with cries of anger. We are angry about injustice, angry about politics, angry about war, angry about violence in public spaces and rightly so. But deep down, I think anger masks the truth of how sad we are. It's a good reminder to me that Jesus didn't just throw over tables in the temple, but wept over the city of Jerusalem. Jesus was indeed upset about the power systems and wanted to change them and so he, like the prophets and hopefully us, transformed from being anger to being sad and found his way to love.
As we move closer to the cross and Holy Week (it's at the end of this month). I invite you to contemplate what are you angry about. What is making you mad? What is the sadness and broken-heartedness behind this feeling and how is God transforming you through these feelings to be more loving and more compassionate using your faith for the sake of the world.
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Blessings,
Pastor Joanna Mitchell
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Join us for Wednesday Worship | |
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@ 1:00 Pastor Kristina Hill (she/her) serves as the Pastor of Cross of Hope Lutheran Church (ELCA) in Ramsey, where she has been since July 2021. She grew up five minutes away from Cross of Hope but attended Grace Lutheran in Andover from preschool through college. A graduate of Anoka High School and the University of Minnesota Duluth, she is currently in her second year of Ph. D. studies in Systematic Theology at Luther Seminary. She lives with her husband, two sons (Zack, age 8 and Darby, age 5), three dogs and cat in Andover.
She is preaching:
Living Our Faith: a connection | John 15:1-17
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@ 7:00 Rev. Karen Evenson has been Pastor of the United Methodist Church of Anoka since 2022. She is a graduate of Concordia College --Moorhead ('92) and of United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities ('15). Karen lives life with a "Choose Joy" attitude which permeates her life and ministry. She has three grown children, two granddaughters, ages 4 1/2 years and 9 months. "Jesus' breath brings into us the Holy Spirit, by which we can live, love, forgive and be forgiven in the best and most difficult of times.
She is preaching: Living Our Faith, a breath | John 20:19-23.
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Note: there will be no Wednesday evening worship the week of Holy Week (3/27). | |
Kitchen construction is well underway. Follow the link below to our video on Facebook of the Kitchen Remodel. New lights have been installed in the narthex and worship center. We are adjusting lights and screens for best use. Asbestos abatement was completed 3/4-3/6. | |
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REMINDER to Register - It’s Trivia Time for OK@PLAY!
Join OK@PLAY on Thursday, March 14, 2024 from 5:00-7:00 pm for a Trivia night at Davanni’s located at 3430 129th Ave NW, Coon Rapids. All are welcome!
We have limited seating for 25 participants, so we encourage you to sign up on Realm or contact the church office to join us in the fun. Davanni’s does not charge a fee, but they would appreciate your food and beverage orders as “payment.” If you have any questions, you can contact Vickie Meade (763-712-0496) or Deb Stang (763-427-3252).
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Grace Choir | Good Friday and Easter Sunday
Each year on, the Grace Choir presents a service of music and readings to observe Good Friday at 7pm and provides an anthem on Easter Sunday at the 8:45am service.
As we do for our Advent Cantata, we are extending an invitation to anyone wishing to sing with the choir, but only for a limited amount of time. It is a great opportunity to make music together and walk alongside others in this holiest of times. Songs we will be singing can be found on the Grace website on the choir page, or by clicking here.
Rehearsals will be Tuesday evenings from 7:15-8:15pm.
Dates are February 27, March 5, 12, 19, and 26.
Performances will be Friday March 29 at 7pm, and Easter Sunday March 31, during the 8:45am Service.
Any questions please contact David Phelps.
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Grace Lutheran's next Hospitality Week for Family Promise is the week of March 24th Through March 30th.
The hospitality theme for the week is "Children's Needs" Click on the link bellow to view the items requested and sign up. I am asking the items to be dropped off at Grace by 3 PM Monday 3/25, There are currently 5 children in Family Promise's shelter program.
Because it is Holy Week, I have also requested Easter Baskets for each child.
Bless you all and thank you for your continued support of this vital program.
Alden Riley
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We are currently collecting small chocolate donations for filing the eggs. This allows us to keep our cost down and fundraising for our youth HIGH. Donations are accepted in the Narthex. Thank you! | |
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Green Ribbon Parents
Do you have a child who struggles with mental health? Are you feeling isolated as a parent and in need of support? Come join Green Ribbon group. A group of supportive and confidential parents supporting other parents raising their children. Our next meeting is March 20th in Pastor Maria’s office during Wednesday night programming from 6:00-6:50 PM. Meetings are led by Jeff Anderson and Dan Brasgalla. If you are curious or have questions, please reach out to Pastor Maria and she will help get you connected!
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Join us at FMSC
APRIL 6th
12:00-1:45 PM
Feed My Starving Children
401 93rd Ave NW, Coon Rapids, MN 55433
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Women's Retreat
The Women’s Retreat Team would like to thank everyone at Grace for our 2 service project donations. The Sand Creek staff gift bags and school supplies were delivered on Wednesday, Feb 28th to overwhelming gratefulness. The Hope4Youth hygiene kits will be delivered in early March.
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April News Articles
Due March 15th
Articles for the April Grace Notes are due on Friday, March 15th at 5pm. Please have articles in Word format emailed to Marie Kolar at mariek@graceandover.org.
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Prayers of the Church
Please pray especially for: Nancy Anderson, Leah, Kendra Mattke, Jim & Cathy, Denise Gruetzman, Alex Bombard, Lynn Zirkle, Cherrie Rae Ruberg, Marie Kolar, Diana Heyer, Wayne Welle, Bev Scott, Lois Vadner, Tara Swedberg, Dan Husak, Teri Beckers, Judy Herring, Ann Lange. And all those in need of long term prayers: Leah Hadler, Rick & Linda Breyette, Clint Trousil, Diane Rosky, Shannan Gautschi, Juleen Klawiter, Stephanie and Samantha Fernandez, Linda Christiansen, Judi Wold, and Ralph & Colleen Wernimont.
Pray for those who are mourning: Jordie and Craig Powell and family mourning the death of their husband and father, Bob Powell; Nancy Knox grieving the death of her sister.
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