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
8:30am (Traditional) and 10:15am (Contemporary)
5:30pm Bible Study and 6:30pm Worship
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Rebounds
My seminary professor, Ralph Klein, used to tell us often that in ministry we would fail. How is that for a pep talk? It's part of the call, and part of life he would tell us. And then he would go on to correlate, ministry to basketball. "But you know, I don't care how many shots you miss, I care how you are able to rebound. This is where you learn and grow. Rebounds are what win basketball games."
We have been privileged in this past week to watch some tremendous basketball games with our very own Timberwolves in the Western Conference Finals. And yes, it was disappointing that they lost the first three games. However, the games have been close, and they are playing exceedingly well. Both teams have showcased their skills. They have also missed plenty of shots. Main players have been injured or have fouled out. Some have struggled to make shots and get their head in the game. But in the end, all of the games have been filled with great rebounds. Tuesday Night, the Timberwolves probably won because of their ability to rebound, and of course their great three-point shots. There is beauty in watching the play. No one is in it for themselves. They pass the ball even when they have a shot because someone else has a better one. In their best moments they are communicating well and are there for their team members. They also are not quitting when they miss a shot, or when they fall down, or when they foul. They keep going, keep playing.
My husband has been a Timberwolves fan for years. Even through their long losing streak. I will confess, I don't usually watch. This current team is a great team of athletes. They are also young. Their star player is only 22 years old! You can tell they are younger than the Mavericks. They are still working on how to get it together in the finals. And they are learning and growing so much! As hard as I am sure it was to lose the first three games, these games were opportunities to learn and grow. They had to try new things and not rely on the same strategies. In the end these losses will make them better than if they just won.
This is true for us too. We learn most by our failures. We grow the most when things are hard. There is a reason, Professor Klein emphasized rebounding, because he knew that this is one form of resurrection. This is where God does God's best work. In rebuilding, in making a new way, in building up what is broken down. Where have you felt God's hand in your failures? How have you learned through rebounds? Remember, you have the greatest fan in the stands, who will be there to support you no matter what- win or lose, and who will be there to cheer the loudest when you rebound.
Blessings,
Pastor Joanna Mitchell
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Vacation Bible School NEEDS YOU! Yes, YOU!
Deadline is TODAY!!!!!!
Did you know that over 150 kids from Grace, Lord of Life and the community have signed up for VBS this year. It is going to be a fun and exciting 2024 VBS! That is why VBS needs YOU!
Our theme this year is SCUBA- diving into friendship with God! We need half-day and full-day volunteers. Volunteers, young and old alike, act much like shepherds and are responsible for connecting with the kids in your group and leading them to and from their different classrooms.
- Half day volunteers help 9am-12pm (VBS programming only).
- Full day volunteers help 9am-3pm (VBS programming plus afternoon scuba, movie, juggler, magicians etc.).
Volunteers must also attend one of our two trainings offered. Sunday, June 2nd at 1:00pm or Tuesday, June 4th at 6:30pm. If you cannot attend one of these trainings, please let Pastor Maria Markman know so we can find a time to connect!
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The Last Week to Register for VBS is this week! Registration closes on Monday, June 3rd! | |
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Grace 4 Rakai Letters
Ann Hill, President of African Children Today (ACT) is taking a group to Rakai in June. Although no one from Grace will be making this trip, they will be bringing quilts made by our Grace Quilters and also carrying cards and letters to our sponsored students. Write a personal letter, pick up a greeting card (the musical ones are fun), print off a few photos from a family gathering or vacation, and put them in an envelope. Be sure put your name, along with the name of your sponsored child and their "UGR" number on the outside. Your sponsored student will be so excited to hear from you! There will be a box in the Church Office at Grace where you can drop off your envelope. Deadline for delivering your envelope to Grace is Sunday June 2nd.
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Grace Quilters 1 Location Change
We will be quilting every Monday morning from 9am to 12pm at the Jackson home beginning June 3rd until there are bathrooms available for us and a place for us to quilt at church. Our home is at 1026 90th Lane NE, Blaine, MN. Anyone who wishes to quilt is welcome every Monday morning at Joe's and Low's home.
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Ruth Circle Off Site on
Monday, June 3rd
Ruth Circle will meet at Pappy's Cafe and Tavern, 13827 Round Lake Blvd NW in Andover for our June 3rd bible study. You may order some food and beverage there. Why are we doing this? There will not be bathrooms available other than in the sacristy or portables and the classrooms will need to be used for offices and the food shelf while the hallway is torn apart. The narthex will also be impacted in this phase of construction.
Please mark your calendars and join us at Pappy's on June 3rd at 12:30 PM.
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Girls Night Out
Girls Night Out will be Monday, June 3rd. All women of Grace are invited. We will meet at Acapulco on Bunker Lake Blvd at 6:00pm for fun and lively conversation. If you would like to join us, please contact Gayle Pacholl so we know how many to expect. Email pacholls@comcast.net or text 612-750-2910. Hope to see you there!
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Hope 4 Youth Birthday Bags
Hope 4 Youth has requested the following items to help the homeless youth in the shelter receive a Birthday Bag. There will be a bin in the Narthex for the next couple of Sundays to drop your items in. For Gift Card Donations please, drop them off in the Church Office. If you would like to donate online, please make your donation under Miscellaneous Giving and make a notation of "Hope4Youth Birthday Bags". If you have any further questions, please contact Lynda Wilde at lrwilde99@gmail.com.
Top Requested Items:
- Perfume or Cologne
- Card Games
- Football or Basketball
- Coconut or Shea Butter Lotions
- Men - Plain Black Baseball Hats
- Women - silk bonnet, lip gloss, mascara, hair scrunchies (No facials, etc)
- Paint & Paper
- Candy:
- Movie Theatre Boxes
- Chocolate bars
- Sweet Trail Mixes
- Cookies
- Fruit Roll-ups
- Gift Cards (Any Amount up to $20.00)
- Gas Station
- Fast Food
- Coffee Shops
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For the Week of May 20 to 24, 2024
The sanctuary is oh so close to completion. The remainder of the wooden coves with lighting is expected to be finished this week. The two missing windows high up on the South wall will be installed this week as well. Those two pieces, when complete, will wrap up construction in the sanctuary.
The day care addition will be inspected by the fire marshal and City building inspector Wednesday, 5/29 with a Certificate of Occupancy following. A big shift in location for the infants and toddlers will follow. Parents will continue to use the current entrance until the entrance pavement has been completed and all security devices are in-place and tested.
The new entry construction zone has now been expanded to encompass the hallway expansion, the relocation of the heating and air conditioning to the rooftop unit, and the final efforts on the new restrooms. Demolition of the old air handler equipment is well underway opening up this expansion. There will be temporary walls installed in the hallway that will interfere with passage between the sanctuary and the office/fellowship hall area. Restrooms will be the most affected with the women’s room closed and the men’s repurposed into a unisex facility. Other toilet options include Portable 2 and the new facility in the day care addition. We understand these measures are not ideal but the new restrooms should be available in about a month.
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Love of Grace Bazaar
We are sorry to announce that the Love of Grace Bazaar will be cancelled again this year (November 9, 2024). Many of you are aware that our church is in the midst of a large renovation. The project did not actually get started until after the first of the year and is expected to be finished by the end of August/early September. Planning for the bazaar starts well before this date and this doesn't give us a lot of time to get the building in shape and to know what our layout for the bazaar will look like. We have also been informed by the city that our parking lot needs to be updated. We have to consider the safety overall for everyone. At this point in time, we are planning on the Love of Grace Bazaar returning on Saturday, November 8, 2025. We hope to see you all there!!!
Love of Grace Bazaar Team
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Prayers of the Church
Please pray especially for: Lexci Wuorenma Jack Dick, Shane Catton, Michelle Busitzky, Jack Ritt, Cindy Terhaar, Kim Mueller, Curtis Breyette, Nancy Anderson, Jon Brooks, Alden Riley, Pam Malmgren, Laila Simmer, Adam Howard, Kathy Noel, Carly Hawkinson-Sohm, John Malecha, Lois Vadner, and Jim & Cathy. And all those in need of long-term prayers: Alex Bombard, Wayne Welle, Tara Swedberg, Dan Husak, Ann Lange, Rick & Linda Breyette, Judi Wold, Clint Trousil, Diane Rosky, Juleen Klawiter, Linda Christensen, Ralph & Colleen Wernimont.
Pray for those who are mourning: Barb Keller & family grieving the death of her husband, Dean Keller.
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