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May 2020 | Vol 13 Issue 5
Articles are due the 15th of the
month preceding publication.
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Welcome to Grace Lutheran's eNewsletter!
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Click on the links at the right to view or print the
calendar
and
volunteer schedule
, plus you can go directly to our website, Facebook and sites in the ELCA family. If you have anything you would like put in the newsletter, send an email to me at [email protected].
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Calendar
Volunteer Schedule
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The Plans We Make
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths".
-Proverbs 3:5-6
How are you? That is the question that has been on my mind lately. I am used to seeing many of you on a weekly basis and while I’ve made an effort to reach out to people, it’s hard to stay in touch. For some of us the past few months have seemed to go by very slowly, while others have found ways to keep busy. You may have had a feeling of gratitude for time you are able to spend with family or you may be feeling lonely. All of us are wondering when things will return to normal.
The above verses remind me that before we make plans for ourselves, God has already made plans for us. These plans are not arbitrary or random, but instead are plans for something good. This is not to say our lives our absent of disappointment or challenges, but instead to point out that God has a purpose for us. When we seek to align ourselves with God's plans instead of our own, it changes the way we face our joys and challenges. By seeking to make God's plans our plans, it helps us see our lives as being part of something bigger. We don't see our lives as events that happen year to year, but as events that echo through eternity. So this year as you look ahead and wonder, I encourage you to invite God in that process and discover the plans He has already made for you.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Andy
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In order to stay in compliance with Illinois' "stay-at-home" order, we have extended the closure of our church until at least June 1st. This does not necessarily apply to our child care center as it has to follow different guidelines. We will contact our staff and parents of our center directly when it is deemed safe to reopen. Please be sure to check our Facebook and YouTube page for online worship services and other videos. If you would like to continue to support Grace a link for online giving is below. Also, you may mail your offering directly to the church. If you have any questions please let us know.
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Join us for worship via YouTube: (
https://rb.gy/qipr23). This will also help you stay up to date with all the videos that we put up throughout the week.
Join our online coffee hour. Until we gather again in person, Grace will be having an online coffee hour through video chat every Sunday at 9:00am. This is a way to talk with other members of our church. For instructions on how to join, please contact [email protected]
Sharing of the Peace.
Send in a video of you or your family as part of the sharing of the peace for our online worship service. Send in your video, of 20 seconds or less, to [email protected]
Serve as a reader. If you would like to read and record yourself reading one of the scriptures in worship. Please contact [email protected].
Flat Jesus is back! We thought the Flat Jesus project might provide some new adventures for you during this challenging time. Print a new Flat Jesus using this link
http://gracelutheran1.org/flat-jesus/
Take some photos with Flat Jesus helping you with e-learning, teaching, working, reading, or playing games. Send your photos to
[email protected]
If you are able to continue to support Grace through your offering, we would be grateful. You can give to Grace online through this link (
https://rb.gy/tnkhvf) or by mailing your offering directly to the church (6000 Broadway Richmond, IL 60071).
If you need anything at all we are here for you. You can contact Pastor Andy ( [email protected]).
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Notes from People of Praise
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Our People of Praise has been meeting 'virtually' during our regular rehearsal time, just to stay connected and discuss future plans. I hope you have been enjoying the musical offerings of Tara and members of the choir. Thanks for that! We hope to have something special for you during worship on May 24th but we'll have to see if the technology cooperates!
Stay well!
Peace and blessings,
~Danielle Cairoli
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Stewardship - Generosity in Uncertain TImes
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“Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” – James 1:17
There will always be a reason for someone to be afraid of something. It could be financial hardships, political divisiveness, health scares, or relationship problems. It is very human to search for safety and security in the things that we believe we can control. Wouldn’t it be great if our desires and intent always created the anticipated reality?
But what if it doesn’t? What happens when we work hard but get passed over for the promotion? When unfortunate and unforeseen circumstance drains our resources? When our investments aren’t able to provide the lifestyle or retirement we desired? When those we hoped would help us, don’t?
Humanity an unhealthy obsession with control, power, and money, feeling that more will make life better. While the pursuit of these things isn’t inherently evil, they can quickly replace our focus, purpose, and intent from God’s Kingdom to the things of this world. The great paradox is that when we need to be the most generous is also the time we are least likely to, in fact, be generous.
Generosity is a spiritual discipline; a commitment to implement and practice behaviors that align our actions with our faith. If we are truly made in the image of God, then generosity is God’s watermark.
So, in times of uncertainty and fear: Generosity keeps us from placing ourselves at the center of our universe. It invites us to shift our security from what we can keep, to what we can give. Generosity shapes our sense of community by causing us to come to grips with the persistent needs of others all around us. Generosity teaches us that what we have is a gift and is to be freely, openly, and liberally shared with others.
Generosity can be as simple as a smile, a phone call, or a note of thanks. It can be sharing what we have to eat, to wear, or a place to stay. It can be shifting our time to be available to help others. It can be providing resources to support ministry in the community.
There is no better response for the people of God in times of uncertainty and fear than to be generous. Make generosity part of your discipleship pathway. We are at our best when we work for good in the world. Consider setting yourself a goal to practice an act of generosity every day.
[Adapted from “Why Choose Generosity in Times of Uncertainty and Fear?”, by Joe Park, Horizon Stewardship]
Stewardship: “Everything we do after we say I Believe.”
~Ray Yoder
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Upcoming Events, How You Can Participate
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Volunteers Needed for Grace's Gardens
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Grace's adopt a garden ministry is in need of gardeners. We have
three landscape beds available for adoption. This is a great ministry to do on your own time alone, with a friend or as a family. And you can garden during the pandemic! If you are looking for an activity to keep busy during the pandemic here it is! Gardens are cared for by volunteers who weed, water and plant. You are a given a specific garden bed to care for during the growing season and a lot of freedom on what you plant and the time you have to work in the garden.
Your commitment is only for one season with the first option to renew for the following year each January. For more information or to volunteer contact Deborah Billig at 815-528-0672 or email [email protected].
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Bible Study and Small Group Opportunities
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We are considering ways we can continue with our Bible Studies virtually. Watch your email from the church office for updates.
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Women's Friendship & Faith Monthly Bible Study
Do you every forget your way? Do you ever forget you belong to Christ? This study will remind you what really matters and how to live a life that honors God. We are using Max Lucado’s Life Lessons Series as we study 2 Corinthians.
Friendship and Faith Bible Study will continue to meet over Zoom
anyone interested in participating should contact me so I can send them the link. The final session in this series will be June 2nd.
Please contact Thorey Ellis at (815)276-2456 or the church office to sign up or if you have any questions.
"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come." 2 Corinthians 5:17
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Outreach Cafe on Hold but We Can Still Help
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There are several food pantries in the area available to assist area residents during this coronavirus outbreak. Service is generally limited to the town(s) in which the pantries are located. If you are not in need of assistance but would like to offer assistance, this article if for you too.
The
Richmond/Spring Grove Food Pantry is located at 5512 May Avenue in Richmond (across May Avenue from Angelo's grocery store). They are open to distribute food on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. P
lease make an appointment with Char or Ken Kania at 815-678-4351. Currently gifts of cash or check are preferable to food donations as they can now buy in bulk.
The
Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry is located at 715 Walworth St., Genoa City, WI. They are open on Thursdays from 9 until noon, but other times may be scheduled by calling 262-203-0979 and making arrangements with Kevin Polheber. They currently are seeking fruit donations (dried, frozen, fresh or canned), as well as cash donations. They buy food from Feeding America Food Bank in Milwaukee, but fruit is always in short supply.
Helping Hands Food Pantry is located at 2502 Spring Ridge Suite B, Spring Grove (behind the Jewel Osco). Hours of operation are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:00 until 6:30, but you can arrive at 3:00 to get a number for service. They are accepting donations of non-perishable food items and cash, and if you'd like to help out at the pantry, give a call between 3:00 and 4:00 on Tuesdays or Thursdays to see if they need any additional volunteers.
Twin Lakes area Food Pantry is operated by St. John's Catholic Church located at 701 N. Lake St., Twin Lakes, WI. Hours of operation are Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10:00 until noon, and on the second Tuesday of each month from 7 to 8 p.m. Their phone number is 262-877-8228.
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Women of the ELCA - WELCA
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Since our craft & vendor fair has been postponed, and the proceeds are donated locally, we voted to send donations to the Richmond/Spring Grove, Genoa City and Twin Lakes Food Pantries.
Ann Katzenberg's daughter Jane is making face masks and we collected fabric for her use. We are all looking forward to getting together again when it is safe.
We also donated carnations for Mothers' Day to Burr Oak Manor in Genoa City and Rosewood in Delavan, both assisted living facilities.
Stay safe, stay at home and remember to wash your hands often. (2 verses of Happy Birthday, The Alphabet Song or 2 times through the Doxology with lots of sudsy soap!)
Any questions, please call, text or email Rita.
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GraceNotes
Quick notes, reminders, who to contact
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Electronic Giving is Easy
Download and print the form here.
Fill it out and return with a voided check to the church office. Forms are also available in the Narthex at church. Please note that if you wish to donate to the building fund or other specific causes you will need to write a check or use cash as before.
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People of Praise Rehearsals
We'll let you know when we are able to begin meeting or rehearsal again.
Director,
Danielle Cairoli
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Suspended until further notice. Sunday School at 9:30 for children age 4 through 5th grade.
Call the church office for more information. 815-678-3082.
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P.A.D.S. Homeless ministry is in transition. We hope to reorganize soon.
Contact Curt Bjorklund at [email protected] or call 815-529-7746.
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DivorceCare
is a friendly, caring group of people who will walk alongside you through one of life’s most difficult experiences. Don’t go through separation or divorce alone. You are welcome to join at any time.
WHEN: Divorce Care last meeting for this session was May 14th. Plans are to begin a new session in August if health concerns are under control. Contact Linda for more information.
Contact: Linda Davis 815-347-5982
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Suspended until further notice: ALPHA
is our confirmation class open to 6th, 7th and 8th graders and is led by Pastor Andy. We meet Wednesday nights beginning with a meal at 5:30 and then enjoy a time of learning and fellowship. Register your children in the church office or contact Pastor Andy. The registration fee is $25.
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