The Scriptures for next week are:

Romans 13:8-14

Psalm 148

Matthew 18:15-20

This is just a reminder that our 2023 Grace Women in Faith theme is: "Mosiac of Faith, we are all part of God's story".

 All Grace and Pine River women are invited to the special gathering on Thursday, September 7, when we will hear about the next piece of the mosaic: "When God's Call is Answered, it is Part of His Story" and "Those Who Are Persecuted and Harmed are Part of God's Story".

10:00: General Meeting---Amaryllis Room

   Leader: Marsha Mower

   Do you know what your God given gifts are? You'll receive a questionnaire to take home to do in your own time. We'll share our "Revelations: at the November gathering. What have we been "called" to do in God's kingdom?

11:00: Program---Sanctuary

   Speaker: Jessica Burkhammer, MSW, UCSW, DBTC, (Therapy with Jessica Burkhammer @gmail.com) will share with us the story of Rising Hope Foundation and Freedom Ranch, a home of healing for victims of human trafficking, located south of Brainerd.

  Vicki and David Leckie felt "called" to become founders of Freedom Ranch, a place of healing for victims of trafficking. 

   One of Minnesota's "corridors" of human trafficking is in our own back yard---Highway #371. Jessica will tell the Leckie's story.

12:00: Lunch---Fellowship Hall

   Luncheon Hostesses: Lois Catchpool, Sharon Swenson   

Special Note from the Food Shelf

The Lakes Area Food Shelf is facing many empty shelves due to the rising numbers of friends and neighbors we serve.

Of particular need we hope our faith community can help with is: peanut butter, breakfast cereal, pancake syrup, ketchup and canned chicken.

The good news is that through our partnership with area farmers we have an abundant supply of fresh produce. 

Lakes Area Food Shelf exists because of you, because our community sees need and responds. The need is great. Thank you for all you do.

Timothy Moore

Board Chair

Lakes Area Food Shelf

Grace Family--Thank you so much for your donations towards this need!

I took one cartload of our gifts over on Tuesday morning--111 lbs. of food!

There was absolutely no cereal or peanut butter on the shelves, so it was stocked immediately. I promised that this will not be a never-ending food drive, so I will make one last delivery to them this next Tuesday. The hope is that the scheduled delivery truck will get them stocked up again, AND that other churches have given as we have to help our neighbors!

Once again, THANK YOU very much for supporting this need!

--Pastor Jen

Brad Wallace, Director of Music Ministries, will be retiring effective September 15, 2003. Brad has served Grace UMC for a number of years in this position, and we wish him well in the next phase of his "journey."

We will be honoring Brad's retirement during worship and fellowship time on Sunday, September 17. We encourage the congregation to bring or send cards and notes for this celebration and look forward to you joining us!

The Staff-Parish Relations Committee has developed a new job description for a Music Leader and will begin actively seeking a person to fill this part of Brad's role for us. This person will plan, coordinate and implement music for all worship services throughout the year, as well as recruit, train, and equip volunteers/musicians within this ministry for both choir and Praise Team. If you know of anyone who might be looking for such a part-time position, please let us know. We will also be assessing the needs on the Media Technician side and make a determination on our best plan forward.

Thank you for your “grace” as we navigate this change.

--Grace SPRC Team

Mission Giving for September

In September our missional giving will go towards UMCOR to support the many places that they are providing aid. If you choose to give to this mission, please make a note on your offering.

Thank you for your gifts for "Back to School". We will be recognizing our teachers with a special gift on the 10th during worship. We will be using some of the donated funds to provide treats to school staff during the upcoming school year.

Peggy Johnson introduced our plans to pray together from wherever we are at 7:38am and 7:38pm during the month of September. There are bookmark sized handouts with this prayer on them in the Narthex if you did not get one last week.

Here is a copy of the prayer.

738 PRAYER

God, we lift up this prayer to you.

Please do what we cannot do ourselves.

We need you to breakthrough into our lives, our congregation, and our community.

Use us together for unimagined new purposes on behalf of Christ.

Break through any barriers that stand in your way and hold us back.

In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen

In the News

Click red to read link.

Fall Sports have begun. There are many familiar faces within the team photos. Prayers for a safe and successful season for all!

Wick Tennis

Goddard Football

Crawford Volleyball

Upcoming Blood Drive at Lutheran Church of the Cross on September 6th, from 1-6. Call the Red Cross to make an appointment to give 1-800-733-2767

The Handbell Choir has begun rehearsals again.

-Tuesday mornings at 10:30.

We look forward to hearing them play during an upcoming service!

The church office is open Monday through Thursday, 9am until noon. The building and office are closed on Fridays.



Contact/Email Information: 218-568-5755

·      Church office (for all general inquiries and administrative/clerical duties)– graceumcpequotlakes@gmail.com

·      Pastor Jen Matthees – jenmatt20@gmail.com

·      Ann Hutchings-Congregational Care Assistant- graceumccare@gmail.com

The Church Office will be closed on September 4th for the Labor Day Holiday.

If you have something that should be added to this newsletter from your group or mission, please speak with Pastor Jen or email the details to her at jenmatt20@gmail.com. The E-Grace is generally completed by noon on Thursdays, so articles need to be received by Thursday 10am at the very latest.



If you wish to connect with me directly and it is not an emergency, please know that I will respond as needed during pretty regular office hours. I am generally in the church on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, from at least 10-1, call the office to be sure, as my weeks may vary. I check my emails frequently throughout the day, and this is the best way to contact me.

-Pastor Jen

Important note

If you are mailing something to the church, you must use our P.O. Box for the address. We do not receive mail at the church, and if you use the physical church address it will get returned and could delay your notices to us or offerings.

P.O. Box 276

Pequot Lakes, MN 56472