Grace Notes Email Newsletter

January 18, 2023

For those who cannot worship with us in person access our live stream and recorded worship in its entirety here Recorded sermons each Sunday can be accessed online here

Current Events/Info

If there is anything you need please email Office@gracegrafton.com or call and leave a detailed voicemail.

Sunday, January 22nd, 2023 9:15AM 2023 Ministry Plan (Budget) Listening Session

Zoom Meeting information Meeting ID: 827 9555 4663 Passcode: 276552 The green box below is the zoom link for the meeting Jan 22nd Zoom Meeting Link

As we prepare for the annual meeting on January 29 at 12 noon we will have a listening session regarding our proposed 2023 ministry plan (budget). Please review our annual report. Members of council will be present to interact and respond to questions.

Annual Meeting Zoom Link

Following the Chili Lunch January 29th @ 12 noon 2022 Annual Report Click blue box ABOVE to access the report and will be available to pick up at Grace both outside of the office and worship center. Green box to left is zoom link for meeting.

Join us on Jan. 29th before the Annual meeting for our CHILI LUNCH! We will be serving delicious Chili and all the fixings. Plus we will have buttered noodles for the kids. This is a fundraiser for the 2023 Mission Trip to Kentucky. Can't attend? We will also be selling chili after both services.

RNT FEBRUARY EVENT Grace's RNT event will be held February 15. We will have lunch at the Flip Side at 1:00 p.m., followed by a tour and a tasting at the Rebellion Brewery in Cedarburg at 3:00 pm. Please contact Linda Scott at 414-651-4373 to sign up.

We did it! Your Christmas Gifts celebrating the birth of Jesus totaled over $52,000!  These gifts will immediately reduce the debt on our building by over $79,500!  Way to go! Please know that designated gifts for debt reduction may be received at any time and will be immediately applied as a principal payment.

Thank You for Your Prayers for Hannah Bulgerin Hannah has been on Grace’s prayer list for the past several months. Last July she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She is only 31 years old, and the diagnosis came as a complete surprise and shock. Hannah had surgery in August and has been in chemotherapy since the end of September. Today is her eleventh of sixteen scheduled chemotherapy sessions. These will be followed by a series of radiation treatments. We thank the people of Grace for your prayers on Hannah’s behalf. They are greatly appreciated.   Pastor Paul and Karen

Worship Updates

GREAT NEWS FOR THE GRACE NURSERY ROOM SERVICES CAN NOW BE LIVESTREAMED! Great news for parents with young children who wish to/have need for the nursery during services – the TV in the Nursery room can now livestream services! This means should you choose to take your young child out to the nursery, you can still see and hear the service on any Sunday. Thanks to Dustin Lobner and his technology assistants for making this possible. In addition there is a family bathroom, changing room and nursing room are all attached to the nursery. We love seeing all of our Grace families on sundays!

Music Announcement We will continue to have a variety of worship styles at the Sunday morning services, but due to our staffing needs, the Worship Team is on a break at this time. Our Director of Music will continue to provide different styles of music whenever possible for our worship during this time. Thank you for your understanding!

SIGN UP GENIUS AVAILABLE THROUGH FEBRUARY FOR BOTH WORSHIP SERVICES Sunday worship volunteer positions are now available for both services in Sign Up Genius through the end of February. Please use the following link:  Volunteer Sign-up Genius   If you have any questions on the volunteer positions needed for either worship service, you can contact Lori Mathias at 262-825-6632, or by email at:  lmathias31@outlook.com

Council Updates

Call Committee Weekly Update Now that we are past the busy holiday season, the Call Committee wanted to give the latest update. After ongoing conversations with a potential candidate of choice, the candidate decided that the timing was not right, and God’s plan was different then serving our Grace Congregation. The candidate was very much appreciating of the process, the conversations and was extremely impressed with Grace and the church the congregation has grown over the past 50 plus years. Although the Call Committee is disappointed, we are very optimistic that the right person will be delivered to us, and God will provide. The synod continues to receive potential candidates and will pass them along to us for review when there are candidates that most closely match the needs and vision for Grace. Please continue to show God's patience and keep Grace in your prayers during this discernment process. God has a plan for the future of Grace and will unveil it us when the time comes. Call Committee Members: Katie Eippert, Steve Buchman, Tina Arnold, Avery Newell, Pat Murack and Scot Donovan

Grace Lutheran Church Financial Summary

We as a Church Council have decided in the spirit of continuous improvement and transparency to the congregation to begin publishing a summary of the church's financials on a monthly basis. We feel this is in everyone's best interest to be transparent and aligned upon the financial health of the church. In these monthly reports, we will include: Income & Expense Results from the Most Recent Month Income & Expense Results on a Year-To-Date basis A Summary of Cash Balances A Summary of Debt Balances A Summary of Year-To-Date Giving vs. Prior Periods We welcome any feedback or suggestions as we continue to find the best ways to engage with the congregation. Thank you Thrivent Members!  Below are links to most current financial documents that will tell you how you have impacted Grace Lutheran Church! December 2022 Financials 2021 Thrivent

JYG and HYPE Info

January 15th Escape Room Event January 29th Chili Lunch Please check your email for details for Erica! Signup Genius

Sunday School Info

Congratulations Gunnar!! Please find Jen Jacobson or Katie Eippert to claim your prize. Next drawing will be at the end of month.

Other Updates/Events

Grace Lutheran Church (ELCA) in Grafton, Wisconsin is looking for a dynamic Children’s Ministry Coordinator to join our staff in a part-time capacity. For details on position click HERE. If interested, please submit a letter of application and resume to Erica Dimmett, Youth & Family Ministries, at: erica@gracegrafton.com, ph: 262-377-4770

2023 Winter Camp Youth Retreat & Family Week-end Camp at Pine Lake Pine Lake Camp is open all year around with programming for youth, families and adults.   Winter Camp at Pine Lake is a week-end retreat on February 3-5, 2023 for youth in Grades 3-8. Kids can register for a week-end of winter fun. Time will be balanced between outdoor activities and time to warm up with some fun inside. Come and experience all that camp has to offer during a completely different season than summer.   Individual camper or youth groups are welcome for Winter Camp.   Youth cost is $175 Adult Chaperones are $50 Also consider Family Week-end Camp at Pine Lake on March 3-5, 2023. Get away as a family and enjoy all that camp has to offer this time of year. The energetic camp staff will lead programming to engage family members of all ages. Time for worship and faith-building will spark wonder and conversation and the camp activities are certain to make lasting memories for your family, Families of all kinds and sizes are welcome at camp! Youth (12-17) cost is $140 Youth (3-11) cost is $105 Adult cost is $170 Children (0-2) stay free $65/room upgrade to the Evergreen Retreat Center for lodging.   More information on these and other retreats, as well as on-line registration, can be found at:  https://www.crosswayscamps.org/retreats22-23 Also, as a reminder, Thrivent Members can always allocate their Thrivent Choice Dollars directly to Pine Lake Camp or to the larger Crossways Camping Ministries.   Remember to allocate your Thrivent Choice Dollars by March 31, 2023.    If you have any questions or would like more information on Crossways Camping Ministries, please contact Kim or Chris Beloin at Beloin@att.net or by phone at: 262-376-0259 (Congregational delegates to Crossways) or contact Chris Eippert (Member of the Crossways Board of Directors)

Quilters Always Need Sheets Including Flannel The word is out about the wonderful quilts we make. More and more organizations locally need our quilts, not just Lutheran World Relief. So please think of us as you attend rummage sales or mention to your friends when they are getting rid of sheets in useable condition. You all know the sizes – twin flat, full flat and fitted, queen flat and fitted, king flat and fitted in cotton or cotton blend and flannel. Please no microfiber or polyester.    Again, thank you for always responding to our requests. Remember the Grace Quilters when donating for memorials. We could not continue without your help, monetary or otherwise.

Schedule an Appointment with Pastor Greg! Schedule an appointment to allow our interim Pastor to meet you. Plan to share your hopes and dreams for Grace in this time of transition. Typically these will be about 30-minute conversations held at church. If meeting off-site would be better, just let Greg know. If those date or times do not work, please contact Pastor Greg at pastor@gracegrafton.com to set up another time. Sign up HERE If you have an questions or need help signing up, contact Arcelia at arcelia@gracegrafton.com or call 262.377.4770.

Several varieties of coffee are available in the Gathering Space for immediate purchase. Please complete the order form, include cash or check made payable to the Mt. Meru Coffee Project and deposit in the slotted lock box provided. If you do not find the type of coffee you need, please complete an order form as the coffee will be restocked monthly. Regular, decaf, or flavored coffee sells for $10.00/12 oz. bag. Drip and perk grinds as well as whole bean and single-serve cups are available.   Also available: Premium Peaberry This special premium coffee is richer and less acidic than normal coffee and is created when a single oval coffee bean is grown within each coffee fruit instead of the normal double coffee beans. Only 5% of coffee grown is peaberry. Drip Grind or Whole Bean $15.00/12 oz. bag * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Premium SAMPLER For anyone that would like to sample Fair Trade Premium coffee imported by a volunteer organization that is improving the standard of living for the peasant farm families on Mt Meru in Tanzania.   6 Sample packages: Regular Drip – Peaberry - Hazelnut – Butter Pecan – French Vanilla – Chocolate Raspberry $18.00   Any questions? Contact Bob and Jeanne Dries at 262.375.0997 or email rdries@wi.rr.com.  Thank you for your support of this worthwhile project! www.mtmerucoffee.org You can stay up to date at the Facebook page Facebook.com/MtMeruCoffeeProject

COVID Update Please be aware that The new "bivalent" COVID vaccine that protects against the various Omicron strains are now available. For more information consult your physician and this website - Covid19 Vaccine — Oasis Healthcare

Please Pray For:

Pray for our members in nursing care, home bound & assisted living: Jules Nelson & Janet Trapp & Phyliss Barber   Pray for: Master Sgt. Matthew Wilkerson (son-in-law of Cindy Silverbrandt), Seaman Matthew Kulczyski (grandson of Grace Smaxwill) & Chief Jennifer Kurneta (daughter of Richard & Charleen Breest) who are serving our country in the U.S. Military. Ron Simon (Friend of Katy Peterman) USAF in the middle east   Bill and Kathy Bahrke - Health & healing Jim - Health & healing Ken Steinhoff - Health & healing Hannah Bulgerin – Health & healing Alex Koenitzer – Health & healing Gerry and Shelley Svara – Health & healing Jean Fugate – Health & healing Pastor Dale Erickson – Health & healing (Dale has often been our guest pastor) Stephen Peltonen – Encouragement   Gloria Cmeyla (friend of Janet Sladky) - Cancer Trudy Hannum (mother of Judy Kloehn) - Health & healing Len Lapacz (friend of Bob & Jeanne Dries) - Cancer Sharon Larson (friend of Joan Tuttle) - Health & healing Barbara Papamarcos (friend of Sarah Newell) - Health & healing Chris Robinson (friend of Kathy Kehoe) – Health & healing Kim Saffran (friend of Christy Loeffler) - Cancer Steve Zagar (brother of Terri Mullens) - Hodgkin's Lymphoma George Zajicek (brother of Kathy Braun) - Comfort & strength Mike Winter (brother to Cheryl Herboek and Sue Carlson) - Cancer Debbie Cappelli (daughter of Arlene Liebenstein) - Cancer Nancy Klaas (mother of Brandon Langer) - Cancer Nadene Kramer (friend of Kate Peterman) – Health & healing Rob Pasbrig (friend of Kate Peterman) – Cancer

Office Info

Would you like something to go into Grace Notes??? Please have them emailed to Arcelia by Tuesday evening to make it into that weeks email. arcelia@gracegrafton.com Grace Calendar Please call prior or check Grace Calendar to make sure someone will be in office. Thank you!

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