The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky proclaims its maker’s handiwork.
~Psalm 19:1
Pastor’s Thoughts:
There are many good things happening among the people of God at Grace Lutheran! We have so many people who assist with worship, including ushers, readers, musicians, singers, assisting ministers, communion servers, and children’s sermon presenters. Many help serve others through mission efforts such as Personal Needs, the food collection, Burrito Blessings, Grace Full Friends, and more. We have a dedicated group pf volunteers who visit some of our members. We have a staff who use their gifts to enhance our congregation’s ministry.
I was so heartened by your response to our year-end appeal—an effort that enabled us to begin 2024 in solid financial shape. I encourage us all to keep up our efforts to support Grace’s mission, by offering back to God what God has first given us, including our financial resources.
As we began this year, we asked you to write down some of your dreams for Grace over the next year. Thank you to those who took the time to do so. This gave the Council plenty to talk about at our Retreat early this month when we gathered for time together to dream and plan. Those discussions led to more conversation at the February Council meeting.
One of the things that was clearly lifted up in your Dreams was the desire for more fellowship. I am grateful to Katie Sattler and Janet Moore for the recent efforts in planning fellowship events, and I am looking forward to future events. It is a joy to gather with our church family for events such as the Walleye game!
Several things were suggested in this area, two of which are already in the works. On Tuesday, 2 April we will launch Coffee and Conversation at church. All are welcome to come and have a cup of coffee and join in some fellowship at 10:30 a.m. each Tuesday. There will be no agenda—just fellowship. Then, on 6 April, women at Grace are invited to a breakfast event. As we move closer to that date, details about place and time will be shared … but mark your calendars now.
The Dream submissions also lifted up our food ministries at Grace, together with the desire to see these expanded. We will be considering ways to do this, so that we might reach more people with needs.
Some Dreams centered on technology. We have begun conversations and estimate gathering for a new camera system in the nave. This will better enable us to live-stream and will give us the capacity to add text to what those viewing at home see on their screens, such as the scripture readings, prayers, and announcements. We will keep you posted as this unfolds.
We are also considering using a QR code as an option for making an offering. Such a code would link directly to a site such as PayPal and would enable people to donate electronically with ease. Many people have become more accustomed to using QR codes, as they are now used in restaurants and other venues to communicate information and take payments, etc. This would not be the only way to give an offering, of course, but it would be additional way to give.
We have many green thumbs at Grace, and there were several suggestions for gardening and landscaping around our church home, including turning the courtyard into a more robust garden and meditation space.
These conversations continue. Please feel free to share your dreams with me or with any member of our Council (see their names at the end of this article).
I am so grateful for our shared faith, for our church home, and for the Dreams we have for the mission of Grace. I am also grateful for the commitment you have to support our mission to Bless the World: Be God’s Grace! with your prayers, your time, and your financial giving. Our future is bright! God is with us, and we are blessed to be called to make Jesus known, both in our building and outside in our neighborhoods.
In Christ,
Pastor Brenda
Grace Council:
Rick Sharp, President
Nancy Lockard, VP of Ministries
Fritz Gooch, VP of Administration
David Charvat, Treasurer
Cindy Wood, Secretary
Gretchen Hiatt
Brenda Holderman
Janet Moore
David O’Brien
Cheryl Ransburg
Sean Rife
A BIG thank you to Grace Peterson for checking on and taking our recycled papers (there is a lot!) every couple of weeks—or when needed—to be recycled!
The Readings for Sunday March 3, 2024
Exodus 20:1-17
Psalm 19
1 Corinthians 1:18-25
John 2:13-22
Order your Easter Flowers!
March 10 is the deadline to order your Easter flowers. They are $12 each for Daffodils, Tulips or Lilies. Forms can be found at the back of the Nave or in the lobby.
Talent and Treats: Friday, 12 April at 7:00 p.m.
What is your hidden talent? Can you sing? Juggle? Tell jokes? Play the guitar? Here is your chance to show them off! On Friday, 12 April, we will gather for Talent and Treats, which is a fundraiser for the youth and their trip to the ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans this summer. Admission is $10 and will include desserts and the show!
There will be a sign-up sheet in the back of the nave (big church) beginning on 3 March for those wishing to share their talents. We envision the “acts” being about 3-5 minutes in length. You can also speak to Pastor to sign up or to ask questions about the event.
Prayer Breakfast RE-SCHEDULED
The prayer breakfast originally scheduled for 17 February has been rescheduled to Saturday, 9 March 2024. A new sign-up sheet will be posted beginning 25 February. Please be sure to sign up by 3 March if you plan to attend!
Anniversary Committee:
Grace Lutheran Church will celebrate our125th Anniversary on Sunday, 7 September 2025. We still need people to be a part of our 125th Anniversary Committee. This will be a general committee that will do some beginning planning. Other sub committees will then we formed. Please speak to Mary Schneider or Pastor Brenda if you would like to be a part of this.
Please join us – Sunday Fellowship Time
In Fellowship Hall
March 3 – Grace Peterson and Mary Schneider
March 10 Gretchen Hiatt and Nancy Lockard
March 17th – Brenda Holderman and Gail Livingood
Operation Christmas Child 2024 Collection
Month of March
Please help us with this SO VERY worthwhile effort by donating bars of
soap (Ivory is preferred) during the month of March.
Your donated items can be placed in the container marked Operation Christmas Child in the Grace Giving Room. Thank you to all for your
continued support for this world-wide evangelistic ministry.
Grace Lutheran Operation Christmas Child Ministry
Meditation for the Third Sunday in Lent
By Vicar Dave
I’ve been spending a lot of time waiting lately. Waiting for my son’s wedding, waiting to get together with my siblings for my dad’s birthday, waiting on news about events overseas and nationally. Mostly right now, I’m waiting on news about my niece, who is sick and having surgery soon to hopefully cure her. Waiting can be a difficult thing to do. Weather you’re anticipating something good or bad, waiting for it requires both patience and trust. Patience because you can’t rush things. I learned that the first time I tried to bake a cake at the last minute. It just didn’t work out right. Trust because we know that God loves us and wants everything to be right in the end.
As Christians, we spend a lot of time waiting and anticipating. We spend four weeks in the later part of the year waiting for the birth of Jesus during the season of Advent. And now, towards the beginning of the year, we spend five weeks during the season of Lent, waiting for the death and resurrection of Jesus. During the rest of the year, we are in the in-between time, waiting and anticipating the coming of the fullness of the kingdom of God. I’ve also heard this described as the time of “not yet”. In many ways the kingdom is already here, but not yet fully so.
Jesus had to wait at times too. I can’t imagine the anguish He went through waiting for that Friday when He knew He’d be crucified. But He knew it had to happen so that He could rise from the dead and in so doing save all of us from our sins. He also knew it had to happen at the appointed time. I remember having a surgery scheduled. I was dreading the surgery and wished it would come sooner so that it could be over sooner. I’m certain that Jesus knew that once it was over and He was resurrected, everything would be fine. But that sure didn’t mean He was looking forward to it or enjoyed waiting, knowing it was on the horizon.
As we continue to wait and journey through lent, I pray that we will all trust God that everything will be alright in the end.
A special thank you to my Grace Lutheran Church family for cards, cookies, and flowers from the congregation and the Sunday Schoolers to make my birthday a “special” one. I am blessed.
Connie Thomas
Behind the scenes at Grace …….by Gretchen
- If you missed church this last Sunday, you missed Pastor’s wonderful kids sermon. She did a wonderful sermon even if it started out with a mouse (an 11-year-old one too)!
- Burrito Blessing 419 was held this last Saturday! The construction crew made 120 burritos and all but 15 were passed out. We also passed out canned goods and clothing. There is a true need in the community. We will be constructing the last Saturday of March again come and join us!
- We are “wrapping “up our “Wrap Your Heart in a Blanket Campaign” as the “Heart Month” is almost over. However, the need for blankets is a year around project. As it gets warmer, and you put your blankets away please think about donating any you don’t want. We also put blankets out at Burrito Blessing, so any blankets are appreciated.
- Remember: Grace is not the building but the people carrying out God’s Mission.
Healthy People! Healthy Parish!
March!
When we think of March we often think of spring and all the new growth that comes with this season.
New growth and health are important! Can you help others enjoy the spring and good health?
One way to help is to donate blood at our Spring Blood drive on April 18th! One unit of blood can help as many as 3 people! Take an hour, enjoy sone snacks and give back to the community from 1-6!
You may sign up on the Red Cross website or contact Gretchen Hiatt and she will help you with an appointment time.
Your Heart!
Heart Month is slowly coming to an end but taking care of our hearts is never ending!
What to do to keep your heart healthy!
Maintain regular checkups with your primary care physician – at least one time a year!
Exercise regularly – 150 minutes of exercise a week is the current hot number!
Follow a heart healthy diet!
Find ways to de-stress!
Manage medications! Improve your sleep!
Kick you bad habits -smoking, drug abuse!
Lent at Grace
Leading up to Holy Week the following services will be held at Grace during Lent:
Wednesdays, March 6, 13, and 20
11 a.m. and 7 p.m.
Mid-week Lenten Services
11 a.m. services will be followed by a simple meal.
7 p.m. services will be preceded by a potluck at 6
The 11 a.m. services will have the theme of “Lament”.
The 7 p.m. services the Holden Evening Service will be sung and
the meditations will consist of dialogues between Jesus and Satan.
These services will prepare participants for the events in
Jesus’ life that occur during Holy Week.
The deadline for turning in articles for the newsletter is 10:00 a.m. Monday morning OR when the newsletter is full. 8 pages is the maximum we can send in the mail. Thank you!
This is the day the Lord has made.
Let us rejoice and be glad in it!
~Psalm 118:24
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