Grace Notes

Tonight’s Lenten Sermon: Having Patience NOW!

Most of us aren’t very good at being patient these days.  We struggle to be patient with ourselves, our technology, and with each other.  But we are encouraged to have patience, to wait for God’s goodness and to bear with each other, even when we are frustrated.  Tonight we will look at some things the Bible says about having patience and how that affects us and how we live together as God’s people.

 

This Week’s Sermon: Fear of Letting GO

We continue our Lenten sermon series about dealing with fear with the topic, “Fear of Letting Go”.  So often, when we are beset with fears, we hold on to what we do or what we know, even if those things are not good or healthy for us.  So often we are more fearful of trying to change our ways because the fear of changing seems more than we can handle.  So our fears tie us up in knots and we go nowhere.  We just remain wrapped up in our fears. It’s not good.  It’s not healthy.  We hate it.  But at least it’s comfortable…in an awful sort of fashion.

 

The Bible offers us another path.  It offers us the courage to break out of our fear-filled wrappings and stand in the truth and light of Jesus Christ.  This takes effort.  It means doing something new and daring.  But the results are more than worth it, because it brings hope and life.  As the Bible says, “perfect love casts out fear” (1 John 4:18).  It’s an interesting and important topic that you will hear about this week.  Be here for this message.

 

Thursday Evening Bible Study:  “Does Heaven Change Anything Now?”

This week we hear what Don Piper has to say about how the reality of heaven makes a difference in how we live our lives here on earth.  Heaven is wonderful, but is it only something about which we should be concerned when this life is over, or does God’s promise of heaven help shape how we approach our lives and relationships in the here and now?  This is an important topic for all Christians to consider.  Our study meets in the church library at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow night.

 

Please Help Bail Pastor Paul Out of MDA Jail!

I’m getting tossed in the clink for the Muscular Dystrophy Association next Thursday and I need your help to raise bail money.  If you are willing to make a donation to my bail fund please fill out the yellow sheet in this week’s bulletin letting me know where to call you when I am in jail to get your bail donation.  If you will not be around next Thursday you can write a check ahead of time.  Just make it out to “MDA”.  All of the money I raise will go to help send disabled children to MDA Camp this summer.  Thanks!

 

Pastor Paul

 

Church Council Installation

The members of our 2010 Grace church council will be installed at both worship services this Sunday.  We thank all of our council members for their leadership and willingness to help guide Grace in God’s ways.

 

Kylie Kloehn Baptism

We celebrate with Ryan and Nicole Kloehn as their daughter, Kylie, receives the Sacrament of Holy Baptism at the 10:30 a.m. Celebration service this Sunday.   Through her baptism Kylie becomes a child of God and receives the promise of the presence of God’s Holy Spirit in her life as she grows as a servant of Jesus Christ.

 

Easter Plant Sale

You may order a plant which will be placed in our worship center for Easter. If you desire to give a plant in memory of a loved one, the names of these loved ones will be printed in the Easter bulletin. The sign-up sheet is posted on the kiosk in the gathering area/lobby. Payment envelopes are provided. Make checks payable to: Grace Lutheran Church. DEADLINE for ordering is Sunday, March 14th.

 

Caring for Creation Meeting: Monday, March 15

Join this new group as we make plans for earth day and look at how we at Grace can be better stewards of God’s creation.  We’ll meet at 7 pm in the conference room next to the office. 

 

Evening Mom's Group

The next Evening Mom’s Group Meeting will be on Tuesday, March 16 at 6:30 p.m. at Flipside Grill in Grafton.  We will be planning our April 29/May 2 bake sale to benefit Family Sharing.  All Moms are welcome to attend!

 

New Luncheon Group Starting with a Change of Location!

Jan Harpt and Sue Wilterdink are at it again. We want to start a group that will meet once a month for lunch starting Thursday, March 18. We are planning to meet at The Port Hotel (New Location) at 11:30 a.m. If you would like to join us, please call or email us so we can make reservations. (Sue - 377.2096 or wilterdinksue@yahoo.com. Jan - 377.7738 or jnrhar@sbcglobal.net)

 

At this first meeting we would like to discuss a name for our group, what day we will meet and where we will meet, so please come with some ideas! Jan and Sue look forward to hearing from you!

 

Meeting for Mission Trip Participants

If you are signed up for the summer mission trip to Saint Louis, don’t forget we will be meeting on Sunday, March 21^st after second service in the Library.  We’ll go over some details for the trip, have time for questions, and also talk about the possibility of doing a new fundraiser.  If you can’t make it, please let Pastor Heidi know.  pastorheidi@gracegrafton.com  

 

JYG News

We will be heading to Skateland on March 21^st for Christian Music Skate from 4-6 p.m.  The sign up sheet is on the kiosk.  The cost is $5.00 which includes skates.  Parents can drop off and pick up at Skateland.  Please let Laurie Gosselin know if you have transportation issues.

 

Save the Date…our last JYG event will be held on April 25^th.  More information to follow.

 

Ninth Grade Confirmands Meet on Sunday, March 21

The next session for our ninth graders will be from 3:30-5:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 21 in the church library.  Confirmation is not “graduation from church” but the next great step in faith as our young people learn to live as committed disciples of Jesus Christ.  We are going to discuss how our confirmands will live out their Affirmation of Baptism promises in the months and years after they make them on May 16.

 

High School Lock-In: Mark your calendars!

Our spring lock-in is March 27^th beginning at 6 pm.  We have lots of service activities and games planned, including the Duct Tape Olympics.  Make sure to clear your calendar so you can come to this fun event! 

 

Palm Sunday Brunch

The high school youth will be hosting their annual Palm Sunday Brunch on Sunday, March 28 after second service.  Join us for our famous egg bake, French toast bake, fruit, bakery and more.  There will also be an Easter egg hunt for the kids.  Sign up for brunch on the kiosk in the gathering area.  High schoolers and their families-please volunteer to bring an item for the brunch.  High school youth sign up sheet is on your bulletin board next to the church office.

 

Thank You from the 30 Hour Famine

30 hour famine participants-your empty stomachs will help hungry kids get the food and care they need. Together with the congregation we raised $2172.21!!  Thank you to all who participated helped and donated!!

 

Lumineria Sale this Month

March is the month, the Footprints of Grace, one of our Relay for Life teams at Grace, is highlighting the luminerias.  At the Relay for Life these will line the track to remember those who lost the battle to cancer and the honor those fighting that battle.  The worship center will be lined with bags that Grace has purchased with your fundraising efforts for those from Grace who have dealt with or are dealing with cancer.  You are able to purchase lumineria this month by stopping at the table in the gathering space, pick up a form (which is also found in your bulletin), complete the form and hand in with the $5 donation for each one purchased. You can choose to decorate the bag or we will do this for you. These can be purchased anytime and until 9 p.m. the night of the relay.  Thank you for all your support as we help to find a cure for cancer.

 

Tote Bag Sale

Thank you once again for supplying plastic grocery and shopping bags for me to create purses and totes.  The ones I have completed will be offered for sale on Sunday, April 11th.  Each bag is an original and completely washable and all bags have been pre-washed before putting them out for sale. As before, I will not be taking orders for them, but will continue to make more available periodically as I receive plastic bags and crochet them into something new.  The suggested price per bag is a $20 minimum donation to Meg’s Mission. Thank you for recycling and thank you for supporting Meg’s Mission.

 

BREWERS GAME

Spring training has begun and it's time to plan Grace's trip to Miller Park. This year we are going to a Saturday afternoon game on May 15. It starts at 3:10, so we won't plan a tailgate meal, but we'll bring some snacks and set aside a little time before the game for some fellowship. The tickets are Terrance Box (sections 437-438). The price is $20, which includes the ticket (regular price $21) and bus ride from church. Please sign up on the kiosk. Make checks payable to Grace Lutheran Church and give them to Terry Crevensten (you may leave your check in her church mailbox). If you have any questions, contact Terry at 377-0047.

 

Reminder of Responsibility List

Did you know that there is a copy of the responsibility list available on www.gracegrafton.com?  It is new for each month.  You can check it out anytime to see if you have duties for worship- assisting minister, reader, acolyte, usher, greeter, nursery, power point, communion help, Holden Evening Prayer cantor, hospitality and coffee hour.  It’s listed under the “What’s New?” tab on the left of the home page.  Please check it and notify the office if you have switched with someone. 

 

 Other Sites to visit:

www.elca.org

www.gracegrafton.com

www.milwaukeesynod.org

www.travelingmerciespastor.blogspot.com