Council

Council Committees are a rewarding way to serve the church through fellowship. Enjoy the opportunity to serve Grace through one of these committees. Find out what they do and when they meet. Click on the link after the committee name for more information.

The committees are as follows:

• Business Management (Info)
• Education (Info)
• Congregation Life
• Missions (Info)
• Outreach (Info)
• Property Management (Info)
• Stewardship (Info)
• Worship & Music (Info)
• Youth & Family (Info)

Congregational committees are as follows:

• Audit (Info)
• Endowment (Info)
• Nominating (Info)
• Special Gifts and Memorials (Info)

These committees meet on a monthly basis. The Council meets on the third Tuesday of the month at 7:00 p.m.

Our 2010 Church Council

Please feel free to talk to these members about any issues, situations, or recommendations and to give them thanks for their work. They meet monthly on the third Tuesday at 7 p.m.

The Chairs of our Committees are:

• Business Management – Knute Nelson
• Education – Sig Johnson
• Congregation Life - Maxine Keller
• Missions – Mark Pearson
• Outreach – Carol Golder
• Property Management – Maxine Keller
• Stewardship – Linda Baer
• Worship – Jan Steingas
• Youth and Family – Carl Alleman

President’s Report

The annual meeting of Grace was held on January 31, 2010. Thank you to everyone who attended. The budget for 2010 was approved. Just a little information regarding 2009: Grace did finish the year in the black. The income exceeded expenses but the budget was not met. Given the state of our economy and the job market we should be very pleased that we are holding our own. I would encourage everyone to keep their pledge up to date as expenses go on all year round.

I would like to again thank all the members of Grace who so willingly serve on Council and Committees. New Council members for 2010 include Carl Alleman, Jeff Gorton, Barb Kinney and Ned Shaffer. We appreciate all the work done by those going off Council: Larry Adam, Floyd Nelson, Anne Oberlander and Chris Runquist.

- Sue Atneosen

The minutes of the meeting are Here.

Our Music Program

Sanctuary Choir

“This is the day that the Lord has made, and I will be exceedingly glad!”

These are the opening words from the text of the anthem the Sanctuary Choir will be singing on September 13 as we launch into another busy season of worship, education and service, but they are words which should characterize every day. I am looking forward to starting my second year of directing the Grace Lutheran Sanctuary Choir. I have told many of you that I can not remember enjoying directing a choir before as much as I enjoyed directing the Grace Lutheran Choir last year. Once again this year we will be privileged to help lead the services when we sing, both in singing an anthem which will relate as closely as possible to the theme of the particular service, and in leading the hymn and liturgy singing.

I appreciated the many words of thanks and support I’ve received concerning the work of the choir last year. I just want to emphasize that I cannot do it alone. The success of the choir depends on our singers’ willingness to come to rehearsals and sing at services. I urge current members to once again join us at rehearsals on Wednesday nights at 7:00p.m., and I also encourage any of you who may have sung in the past or who might have thought about singing this year to please do so. Rehearsals are as much fun as they are hard work. Come and join us. The Sanctuary Choir usually sings every other Sunday and for special services such as Reformation, All Saints, Christmas, Ash Wednesday, Palm Sunday, Maunday Thursday, Good Friday and Easter. Singing in a church choir is a special ministry and I hope many of you will make it yours this year.

Olaf Malmin, Director

The Triple Gs

The Triple Gs (aka Grace's Glory Group) wants you!!!! We are a singing group of young (grade 7 and up) and older adults (no age limit!) who love to praise the Lord. We sing praise songs, contemporary Christian anthems, "oldies but goodies," and everything in between. Our rehearsals are usually at 9 a.m. on Sunday mornings in the choir room downstairs, about twice a month. We sing at the worship service about once a month. Our first rehearsal will be September 20th at 9 a.m. We'll sing at the service that day as well. Don't worry, the song will be easy to learn! If you have any questions, please contact Jan Steingas at 651-739-4252 or jojaraam at aol.com.

Jan Steingas, Director

The Bells of Grace

The Bells of Grace ring 4 1/2 octaves of English handbells and 3 octaves of hand chimes. And, just your luck, we are looking for some new ringers. We play for services every third Sunday. If you are interested (or even curious) about joining this exciting group, please talk to anyone in the choir or contact the church office. Or you can come to a rehearsal in the balcony on Wednesdays at 5:30, starting September 9th, and see how it works.

Peter Zitzewitz, Director

Joyous Juniors
for Grades 1 - 6

We will begin meeting again on Wednesday, September 9, 6:30 - 7:30. We not only learn songs to offer as we serve the Lord in Worship, but we also sing for fun, learn music fundamentals, church etiquette, have seasonal parties, and develop friendships. We welcome and encourage all students in Grades 1 - 6 to come and join our team!

Connie Smeby, Director

Stories to Tell, Gifts to Share

Thankful for an Opportunity to Grow

I had always heard that going on a mission trip was a life-changing experience. When Grace Lutheran Church ventured out on its first adult mission trip to El Salvador in January of 2008 I was full of anticipation and expectation and was not disappointed.

The sense of joy and fulfillment when you saw a sturdy little house taking shape and the excitement of the family and knowing how this was going to enrich their daily lives was rewarding, but there was so much more that I received from this experience.

One day after working at the jobsite all day, rushing back to the retreat center to shower and change, several from our team headed to town on foot. It was only 5 or 6 blocks and while we were walking, several people got off a local bus and were headed home from work. A woman approached us (from our appearance it was obvious that we were outsiders) and inquired where we were from and what we were doing in the area. Luckily, we had Karen with us who was originally from Columbia and interpreted for us and answered her questions. This woman who was a stranger smiled, stroked my face and thanked us for coming and caring about her people. It was very moving.

There were so many positive experiences that came from the trip and I am so grateful to have been lucky enough to go, but the most surprising is the extent of the strength and depth of the relationships that develop during the times of struggle and hardships and the joys that take place on a trip like this.

I will never look at these members of the team from our congregation the same again! Together we grew, we endured, we cared, we learned, and we became a team and a family. I didn’t know everyone well before we left but I sure found admirable traits in every one of them. I thank God for allowing this team to come together – Larry and Sue Atneosen, Bella Hanson, Carolyn and Paul Hesterberg, Gerry Lindquist, Jim and Tammy Mohn, Laurie Ruchie and not from our church, but important members of our team Bill Barrett, leader and Irv Barrett. I thank each member who made this experience so meaningful for me. WE may not have changed the world but you made my world a much better place.

Sue Atneosen

Looking for Volunteers

We are looking for someone who would be interested in maintaining the Grace Lutheran Church web site. If you have an interest in this area please contact Peter Zitzewitz (715-386-3062) or the church office.

We are looking for someone who would be interested in doing our Tape Ministry. We tape our services and mail them to homebound members who request them. Please call Keith Smeby (651-738-3937) or the church office if interested in helping out.

Men's Breakfast Bible Study

We meet 16 Saturday mornings from 8-9am from September through May – usually these are the 2nd & 4th Saturdays each month. This year we chose a study book on the Gospel of John. The cost of the book is $6.00. We have been meeting in Pastor Paul’s office, but with the group growing we may need a larger room.

Oh yes, we have a light breakfast of rolls or fruit and juice and coffee which we take turns bringing.

SEW Group

Blessed Are the Quilters for They Shall Be Called Piecemakers

Grace quilters meet the 3rd Wednesday of the month called “SEW” Day. You don’t need to be a sewer to join the group. There are many things to do: tracing and cutting squares, pressing, and tying the quilt together. Quilts are give to Lutheran World Relief and some to SouthEast Asian Ministries. Come and enjoy great fellowship and friendship besides providing quilts for the needy. Next meeting is in September.

Welcome to Grace W/ELCA – A reminder to all women of Grace: Each and every one of you is a member of Grace Women of the ELCA and you are encouraged to participate in the activities, mission projects, Bible Studies, discussions and service opportunities that take place regularly. Monthly circle meetings are open to all and offer a fine way to meet new friends.

"The Renewing of Our Minds." Based on Romans 12, & 13. Author Rev. Dr. Sarah Henrich is leading us through the book of Romans. “To God’s Beloved: Paul’s Letter to the Romans” and states sometimes our faith feels stale and we get tired. Paul, writer to the Roman believers, helps us experience new life when we are part of Christ’s body of Believers.

• Ruth Circle - Monday, Mar. 1^th, 9:00 a.m.
• Martha Circle – Tuesday, Mar. 9^th, 9:15 a.m.
• Deborah Circle – Thursday, Mar. 18^th, 6:30 p.m.

“Bind Us Together” is the theme of this year’s convention of Saint Paul Area Synod Women’s Organization (SPASWO) at St. Paul Lutheran in Stillwater on April 16-17. Material offering is recycled cell phones and LWR Health Kits. List of kit items can be found in the January issue of In Touch or on the library shelf. The convention is open to all. Delegate deadline is March 29. Others, April 7. See library shelf for details.

Mission 2010 A quilt top (unfinished size 64x84) would make a fine at-home project for you if you sew. Need fabric? Grace SEW Group can help! Your labor of love would greatly add to Grace’s quilt production which averages 50 quilts a year. The world-wide need never ends, for quilts and also for layettes and wrapped soap. Thanks to our dedicated quilters and all who donate materials and time. Money donations would help buy filler and batting.

On-going - Stamps, eye glasses, wrapped soap and “Labels for Education” (bar code section only) can all be placed in small baskets on the library shelf./p>

Miles of Pennies – monies go to LSS Safe Homes for homeless youth in St. Paul. How about this: place a jar on your desk at work, label it and see how many pennies you can bring to the large jar on the library table. Our 2010 goal is $200.00.

ThankOffering – Easter arrives April 4 this year, bringing anew the promise of eternal life through our resurrected Savior. With so much to be thankful for we look ahead to the ingathering of daily offerings we’ve set aside all year, to be held Sunday, October 10. Read the Easter Story in John 20, Luke 24, Mark 16, and Matthew 28.

SEW Day – Come on March 17th and help our SEW Group create quilts at 10 a.m. on the lower level. Bring your lunch and be God’s hands for a day.

Café - (Community, Advocacy, Faith, Enlightenment) is Women of the ELCA’s award-winning web-based e-zine since 2003 designed to engage women 18-35, available at www.boldcafe.org. Check out its fresh perspective and share comments with women of all ages. Go to www.boldcafe.org click here.

LWT – Past issues of the magazine are on the library shelf for you to take. Enjoy the well-written, inspirational stories and the Bible Study. To subscribe Click here or call 800-328-4648.

XYZ

XYZ (Xtra Years of Zest) is our 55 years plus program. These zesty seniors meet monthly for food and fellowship.

BUNCO! - Join us on Thursday, March 11th at 1:30 p.m. for Sweet Memories with Bill Mockenhaupt and Mary Seversonand. Come; enjoy yourself and the company of fun group in Tower Room South. There will also be refreshments.

Schedule:

• Apr. 1: Maundy Thursday Pot Luck
• May 13: To Be Announced

The Missions Committee would like to thank all the donors and volunteer workers who responded to the Red Cross Bloodmobile held here at Grace on February 1. Donations of 43 units of blood were collected by Red Cross staff. This was made possible by many hours of assistance from phone callers, food and cookie providers, greeters, servers and set up/take down crews. Your generous donations of blood and time will go to help many people. We really need more blood donors to share their blood with the ill and injured. If you have not helped as a volunteer or donor, please consider taking part at the next Bloodmobile on April 12 at St. Pascal’s.

For more information on any of these activities,
please contact the office of
Grace Lutheran Church at 651-774-9617,
or E-mail office@gracelutheranstpaul.org

Grace Lutheran Church
1730 Old Hudson Road
St. Paul, Minnesota 55106
651-774-9617

Home | Worship | Music | Pastor's Page | Activities | Events | Mission | Education
Youth | Calendar | Contacts | Locator | Photo Album | History | Downloads | Guestbook

This page was last updated on
March 8, 2010