Grace Lutheran Church Newsletter

Transcription

1 (courtesy of Brooke Weeber Illustration) 2017 Grace Lutheran Church Newsletter Grace and peace to you, my siblings in Christ! Amen! I've just returned from our annual Northeastern Minnesota Synod Assembly! I, along with Dick and Sue Flesvig, joined nearly 400 ELCA members of our area to gather together for worship, fellowship, and ministry. It was a wonderful weekend gathered with clergy, lay leaders, and voting members from the 135 congregations in our synod, as well as representatives from many of our Synod and Churchwide s ministries. I realized that this is my fifth year attending the NEMN Synod Assembly! I wanted to share with you all a taste of this amazing weekend.

2 Friday Each year, we begin the weekend with opening worship. Afterward, we move on to our first session, where we are introduced to synod staff and newly assigned pastors to our synod, hear reports, conduct and vote on business, and gather further information. A highlight from this year s Friday evening was when Lutheran Social Services (LSS) handed out their servant of Christ Award. Though often given to one congregation, this year LSS decided to give the award to each congregation that donated to the newly built Center for Changing Lives in Duluth - a center focused on helping homeless youth and young adults across our area. I was so proud of our congregation when we were called among the names of those who had donated to this amazing ministry. Because of you, girls and boys who would otherwise be sleeping under bridges will have a warm place to stay at night. Because of you, young men and women will have opportunities to learn life skills they never were taught, and find stability in their lives. You should be incredibly proud of yourselves. After Friday s session ended, there was time for fellowship at Brew with the Bishop. Our Bishop Tom Aitken brews his own beer, and every year he and another of our synod s pastors bring their home-brewed craft beers, as well as home-brewed root beer and snacks, to share on this evening. All are invited to mingle, as well as check the displays for various ministries and sign up for door prizes. (I signed up for everything, but alas, this was not my year!)

3 Saturday Saturday morning, after breakfast, we gather together for the day s first session. (Nearly all those who attend the assembly stay on site, and lodging and meals are provided by the resort. Most churches, including Grace Lutheran, pay the full amount for room and meals.) The sessions open with a devotion, and Saturday s opening devotion was from the president of Lutheran Youth Organization of our synod. The Bishop followed with his report, which included gratitude to the members of our synod and the ministry we help fund. The Bishop highlighted our work with campus ministry; the seminary; Twin Ports Ministry to Seafarers; Lutheran Advocacy - MN; LSS; Our Companion Synods in Honduras, Russia, and India; and others. The Bishop also added his encouragement to all congregations as we seek to complete mission plans in each congregation. Following Bishop Tom s report, we heard from Christina Jackson-Skelton, Executive Director of Mission Advancement and representative from ELCA Churchwide. She spoke to us about the ministry that we take part in through our gifts to the ELCA - how our donations help fund relief efforts in areas affected by Hurricane Matthew, the flooding in the Southern US and in Peru, or Typhoon Haiyan, as well as helping refugees from Syria, South Sudan, and Somalia. Our donations have also gone to help build wells, repair hospitals, aid in efforts to combat starvation, and take big steps toward eradicating death from malaria. This - and so much more - is ministry we have a hand in, because of our generosity toward the Synod and Churchwide. These are ministries we could not do alone, but together we are changing the world. Various other reports were shared from synod staff and ministry partners. Much of the day was spent conducting business: reviewing and voted on the next year s budget, elected positions to various synod committees, and two resolutions brought to the table. However, we also heard from the keynote speaker, Rev. Dr. Rick Carlson, who engaged us in theology on the sacraments of baptism and holy communion.

4 Later in the afternoon, we were given time to attend one of several workshops offered, with subjects including our Indian Companion Synod (several Indians from this synod had come as our guests to visit us during our Synod Assembly this year), the PV for Phoebe project, and Immigration and Refugees. I attended the immigration and refugee session, co-led by the director of Lutheran Advocacy - MN and a member of the synod s Immigration Task Force. The workshop included discussion about the complicated process of immigration to the United States today, the call we have in scripture to care for refugees and immigrants, and what we can do to in the face of these issues. A banquet dinner was held Saturday evening, and included many special recognitions and gifts exchanged with our guests from our companion synod in India. The night was full of opportunity for applause, and Theodore took full advantage, insisting on clapping every time anyone else did. He had quite a night! Sunday Sunday morning marked the final session, which included final reports, business voted on, and results from the weekend s fundraisers. Throughout the weekend, there was a silent auction for quilts (which included some contentious bidding wars!), a marketplace with further items up for silent auction, and a quarter collection. Between the three, the total raised that weekend was just shy of $25,000 - all donated to ELCA World Hunger. During this last session, we heard from Deacon Brenda Tibbets, Assistant to the Bishop, in charge of (among other things) the call process for congregations and support for First Call candidates and pastors. Deacon Brenda spoke boldly, and acknowledged the challenges we face as a church. One subject, brought up several times during the assembly, was the reality of clergy shortage. To give you an idea of the numbers, in the last draft, there were in the ELCA 400 congregations specifically seeking first call candidates (pastors fresh out of seminary). However, in the last draft, there were only 92 first call candidates - 92 pastor candidates graduating from all the ELCA seminaries. These numbers, and others like them, scare members of our church across the board. These numbers only speak to a piece of the reality, though.

5 You see, there are another 200 first call candidates waiting. Beyond the 92 of this most recent batch, another 200 ELCA pastors are waiting for their first call. Some have been waiting years. These pastors - educated at ELCA seminaries, called by God and equipped with incredible gifts for ministry, still are left waiting, because they identify as LGBTQ+. These pastors - these children of God - reach out to congregations, offering their gifts, their ministry, their hearts, only to be rejected because of who they are. The same is also disproportionately true for pastoral candidates of color. Because too many of our congregations choose to live in fear and in a mindset of scarcity, ignoring the riches God is offering to them through the ministry of LGBTQ+ pastors and pastors of color. As Deacon Brenda and others spoke to, we ought not believe the lie of scarcity; we ought not live paralyzed in fear. Instead, we ought to be encouraged to be flexible, fearless, and nimble. We as Christians believe in a God who will sustain us, a God who will not give up on us, a God who will never give up on the world. We believe in a God who brings new life even out of death. The church is changing, but the church has constantly been changing throughout the ages. As Christians with a Lutheran flavor, Christians who honor our Lutheran tradition, we ought to know that well! The Reformation movement began 500 years ago because Martin Luther recognized the reality of the world he lived in - that the church was not serving the world, was not serving the neighbor, was not serving God. He saw that this church he loved, this faith he loved, needed to be reminded of who, and what. Who we are, and what we are called to do. The same could be said today as in ages past. The church is constantly reforming, constantly changing, constantly following where the Holy Spirit calls us. And the Holy Spirit gifts us with flexibility, fearlessness, and nimbleness which is so necessary in ministry, in serving the world.

6 Throughout this Synod Assembly, and including our closing worship on Sunday, we spoke about what the Reformation meant 500 years ago, and what it means today. That we do more than celebrate a one-time event. No, we honor the nature of reformation itself, the nature and necessity for reformation in our church. The Bible is the Living Word of God. The Church is the Living Body of Christ. Our faith is a faith that is alive! It grows, it changes, it reforms. And we do so because of a God who loves us completely, and a faith which compels us to go out into the world to serve with wonder, humility, and love. This year s Synod Assembly has inspired me (as it does every year) to do just that. I hope that in reading this, you find inspiration as well. In the name of Christ, Amen!

7 Each month, I will go over things such as commonly asked questions, website tips and tricks and general How-To s. This month s tip: Did you know that you can see documents electronically from our website? Things such as weekly bulletins, monthly newsletters and frequently used forms can all be found on our new site! For Bulletins 1. Go to 2. Hover your cursor over the heading called Worship, located near the top of the page. You will then see 2 drop-down tabs. 3. Click on the tab that says Weekly Services. 4. From this page, you can click on any of the different service dates to view a PDF version of the large-print bulletin. For Newsletters 1. Go to 2. Hover your cursor over the heading called About Us, located near the top of the page. You will then see 4 drop-down tabs. 3. Click on the tab that says Newsletter. 4. From this page, you can click on any of the different months to view a PDF version of that Newsletter. For Commonly Used Forms 1. Go to 2. Click on the heading called Forms, located near the top, right hand side of the page. 3. On this page, you can see a list of different forms by name. Click on any of the links to view a PDF version of that form. 4. The different forms include, Building Use Requests, Grace Cares, Vacation Bible School Registration and so forth.

8 You re done! New documents are added on Mondays. All bulletins and Newsletters from 2017 are available for viewing. Please contact me in the office if you would like a copy of anything that is not listed. And Don t forget that PDF forms can be saved and/or printed directly from any computer! Any Questions? You can contact me directly through the website, send me an , or call the office with any questions. Thank you! Candy Geiger Office Manager We Are Growing! The Slack family is pleased to announce that they will be adding another member! Pastor Katie is pregnant and due in early November. Benjamin is looking forward to teaching Theodore all he knows about being an amazing big brother!

9 2017 Graduates On Sunday, May 14 th, we will be recognizing and celebrating with our graduating seniors, Cate DeRemee and Logan Mann. During the service, they will be presented with gifts from the congregation, and following the service, they will be available during Fellowship hour so that their Grace Lutheran family might greet them, and offer them congratulations and gifts. We are so proud of these two siblings in Christ let us gather together to celebrate with them as they prepare for the next step in their journey! College Graduates: Hannah Nelson (daughter of Dawn & Bruce Nelson) Graduated: December 21, 2016 (she took heavier class loads to finish early) From: American University, in Washington, DC Degree: Bachelor of Arts: Communication - Film & Media Arts "cum laude"

10 High School Graduates: Cate DeRemee (daughter of Bo & Linda DeRemee) will graduate from Ely Memorial High School on May 27th. Please join us in celebrating from 1-4 at her home at 1372 Echo Trail. Cate will be attending Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN in the fall. She will be singing in the choir and will concentrate her studies in Math and Science. She plans a career in the healthcare field and is leaning towards Physical Therapy. Cate has been awarded a $250 scholarship from Grace Lutheran Church to apply to her studies. Logan Mann (son of Greg & Heidi Mann) will graduate from Ely memorial High School on May 27 th. We will celebrate with a reception on May 28 th from 2-5pm at Grace Lutheran Church. We invite our church family to join us. Logan plans to attend Minnesota State University- Moorhead this fall, majoring in Film Studies. Logan has also been awarded a $250 scholarship from Grace Lutheran Church to apply to his studies.

11 A communal prayer for honoring Mother s Day in all its complexities Holy and Loving God, we seek on this Mother s Day to remember and honor mothers and mothering relationships in all their varied forms: *To those who gave birth this year to their first child - we celebrate with you. *To those who lost a child this year we mourn with you. *To those who are in the trenches with little ones every day and wear the badge of food stains we appreciate you. *To those who experienced loss through miscarriage, failed adoptions, or running away we mourn with you. *To those who walk the hard path of infertility, fraught with pokes, prods, tears, and disappointment we walk with you. Forgive us when we say foolish things. We don t mean to make this harder than it is. *To those who are foster moms, mentor moms, and spiritual moms we need you. *To those who have warm, close relationships with your children - we celebrate with you. *To those who have disappointment, heartache, and distance with your children we sit with you. *To those who lost their mothers this year we mourn with you. *To those who have experienced abuse at the hands of your own mother we acknowledge your experience and grieve with you. *To those who lived through driving tests, medical tests, and the overall testing of motherhood we are better for having you in our midst. *To those who long to be mothering your own children we mourn that life has not turned out the way you longed for it to be. *To those who have chosen not to have children of their own, but instead mother as neighbors, as teachers, and as family - we respect your choices and thank you for opening your hearts to the children of others. *To those who step-parent we walk with you on these complex paths. *To those who envisioned lavishing love on grandchildren; yet that dream is not to be - we grieve with you. *To those who will have emptier nests this year we grieve and rejoice with you. *To those who placed children up for adoption we commend you for your selflessness and remember how you hold that child in your heart. *And to those who are pregnant with new life, both expected and surprising we anticipate with you. *To all those with mothering hearts - we give thanks for you. On this Mother s Day, we walk with one another in all our experiences of motherhood. Mothering is not for the faint of heart and we have real warriors in our midst. We remember, we give thanks, we acknowledge and we celebrate. Thank you, Creator God, for mothering hearts everywhere. Adapted from original, found here:

12 NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS Our Annual Rummage Sale will be on Saturday, May 20 th. Please keep this in mind as you run across things in your home you may no longer want or need. We will be asking for donations the first part of May. Please no electronics or furniture and, please do not bring any items in until AFTER Sunday School on May 14 th. Please see a WELCA member if you have any questions. Thank you. Video Tapers Needed: Now that we have the ability to post videos to our website, we are looking for volunteers to record our Sunday services. It's a fairly simple process. Please sign up on the sheet outside the office or see Pastor Katie or Candy with any questions. Thank you. Mission Planning Team: Our next meeting will be Sunday, May 7 th, following worship in the Living Room. For those interested in joining our mission planning team, please follow this link for further information: Please contact Pr. Katie with any questions!

13 Office Exploration and Discernment: Beginning in April and continuing until June, we will have additional personnel in the office for two hours a day, Monday-Thursday. Kathy Kearns and Heidi Mann have agreed to take on this temporary part-time role. During these weeks, we will be exploring the needs of our office. As our congregation continues to grow and our ministry opportunities continue to shift and expand, we are looking to take a proactive step to discern what our specific needs will be for our office going forward. We hope to assess the day-to-day needs of the office, as well as explore the office s specific role in the church s overarching ministries and mission. Heidi and Kathy will use their time to help research and maintain the day-to-day needs, while Candy will be exploring the office s expanding ministry, in addition to her current duties in managing the office. If you have any questions about this, please contact Pr. Katie or a council member. And a special thank you to Kathy and Heidi for their willingness to take on this role! Honoring Mothers of All Kinds: We are working on a theme for our display window in preparation to celebrate Mother's Day, by honoring all those who play mothering roles. Colored paper flowers are available for you to write the names of anyone who has played a mothering role in your life - your mothers or grandmothers, aunts or sisters, teachers, mentors - anyone! Please return the flowers to the church by May 10 th to have them included in the display. Last Day of Sunday School will be May, 21 st. To celebrate, we will be having a special treat down in the fellowship hall after service. Kids (and adults too) can come and participate in this special project. Could You Be Related? The office received a call from Diane Grant in Connecticut, looking for some long lost relatives. Diane stated that around 1889, her relative Anna Anderson relocated to the Robinson area of Ely from Germany/Lithuania. Anna and her husband had 2 boys and her maiden name was Luczys (pronounced lou-shiss). Anna s father was Jonas Luczys. Diane thinks the family was Lutheran. She is asking anyone who may have information on this, to please call her at (860)

14 Thank You to Mary Lou Blasing for donating a two-drawer filing cabinet to the office. We will use it in the vault to organize historical photos, documents and other important papers. Noisy Offering update: WELCA would like to congratulate and thank our congregation for their generosity when the Noisy Offering cans are passed. In March we distributed $800 in Grace Lutheran's Name: Ely Area Food Shelf; $300 Camp Vermilion; $100 Twin Ports Ministry to Seafarers; $100 Northwoods Partners; $100 Lutheran Social Services Family Resource Center - Virginia; $100 Adults Saving Kids; $50 Young Life; $50 Thank you for your generosity and we will continue to keep you updated. Need Help Spring Cleaning or Doing Summer Chores? The Men s Club would love to help you! Please contact John Imsland at or Jim Haugen at

15 Using the Copier? In order to better track usage, there is now a sign-up sheet when using the copier. Anytime you make copies, simply add your name, date, # of copies made and which committee/project it s for. This will greatly help us make better estimates when budgeting for the next year. Please see Candy with any questions. Thank you in advance for your assistance! Summer Graceful Dining: It s time to plan for the popular Summer Graceful Dining. This year s themes will be French Bistro, Potlucks from the Past, Lemons and Limes, and Soup s On are some ideas. We will meet as a group in the homes (actually yards, decks, screen porches) of volunteer hosts. Our meeting dates and times will be selected as we go, but we will meet in June, July, August, and September. You participate when you can. There is no obligation. All adults are welcome to sign up. This is not a couple s event. These meals are sort of programmed potlucks (suggestions or recipes are often provided), and some costs are divided among all who participate. Did you miss part of the story? If you ve missed a Sunday and want to get caught up, be sure to grab a copy of the week s bulletin inserts - these have the Sunday readings, as well as other readings to keep you up-to-date! These inserts are available on the table next to the periodical rack. If you re looking for a week that is not out, please see Candy for a copy.

16 Weekly Bible Study about the following Sunday's readings will be held in the living room on Wednesdays from 3-4:30 pm. Bring your Bibles, try to complete the readings and think about how they may relate to you, today s world, etc. The readings are located in the Sunday bulletin. Attend whenever you are able. Contact Bob Jalonen at with questions. Men s Club: Men s club for May will be Thursday, May 11 6pm. All are welcome to attend. Please contact John Imsland with any questions. Thank You Quilters! This year, the Grace Quilters made nearly 110 quilts to send to Lutheran World Relief. We thank you for all your hard work and dedication to this annual project! Habitat 500: There is still time to make a donation for the Habitat for Humanity 500 mile bike ride. Our very own Debbie Hultman will be biking again this year. Go to to make a donation, or contact Debbie Hultman with any questions.

17 Donate Through Amazon! Every time you make your regular Amazon purchases, be sure to go through Amazon Smile instead and designate Grace Lutheran Church as your charity of choice. The church will then get a percentage of each purchase made (no extra charge for you!) Please go to to set Grace Lutheran Church as your charity. Then, each time you shop, simply visit smile.amazon.com instead of the regular Amazon site. What a simple way to give a little back on the purchases you make every day. Thank you so much for your support! Donations Now Available on our Website! We are now able to accept donations online through PayPal. Please go to and click on the Donations tab for more info. The next Website Q&A Session will be held sometime in June. Feel free to submit any feedback using the Contact Us page. Website updates will occur on Mondays. Please contact Candy in the office with questions. Building Security: Thank you to everyone for their increased efforts to keep our church locked and safe. Just a reminder to check the outside door by the elevator before you leave. Also, please make sure that the church office door is always locked behind you. Keep up the great work! Knitters & Crocheters: The Big Ships are starting to move in Duluth. This means the crews will be coming and the Twin Ports Ministry to Seafarers will be in much need of caps for these folks [remember there are female crew members too]. So if you want to take a break from Prayers Shawls and take on a smaller project or use up some of your smaller balls of yarn. Whip up a few caps for this ministry. We will gather them and send them off sometime this summer. Thanks for all your 'Happy & busy fingers".

18 Did You Get Your Donations List? Anyone wanting a quarterly or annual Giving Statement, can submit their current address to Candy in the church office. Don t have ? Our Accounting Manager, Jackie, is happy to print a statement for you and have it available for pick up in the office the next business day. Need Greeting Cards? Sunshine (Social Outreach) has cards for sale, $1 per card or only $4 for a box on the carousel in the hallway by the display window, as well as the small cabinet inside the library. You can pay for these by leaving your money in a marked box located in the outer office. Any questions, contact Marge Haugen. Committee and Group Members: Now that the new website is up and running, please take a look at your specific Group and/or Committee pages. Please Candy in the church office of any updates that are needed. You may also Candy any pictures you are willing to share on the website. Website updates will be completed on Mondays. Please contact Candy in the office with any questions. Thank you! Save the Date! Below are some important upcoming events: Fellowship Hall Remodel Presentation: Come and see the ideas and re-imagining of our beloved Fellowship Hall. The presentation will be held after worship service the end of May, or first Sunday in June. Check the announcements section of our website, or look in the weekly bulletins for more info. T-Shirt Fundraiser: Stewardship will be starting a T-shirt sale the first part of June. All proceeds will go to our Grace Cares fund. There will be 2 color options and include children through adult sizes. These shirts were specially designed for us at Grace and will be made by Edge of the Pines Designs, located right here in Ely. All shirt orders will arrive together at the close of the sale later this summer. Worship in the Park will be on Sunday, July 23 rd at Whiteside Park. See the June/July Newsletters for more info.

19 Christian Day Camp June 19-23, 2017 Families of children who are entering kindergarten - 5 th gr mark your calendar! Christian Day Camp will once again be held at Grace Lutheran Church. It is set for June Once again, it is free! We invite you to register your child for camp. Please find the registration form in this newsletter (or pick one up in the church), fill it out, and return it to the church either by mail or drop it off in the office or Christian Education mailbox. Please note that space is limited and registration will be done on a first come, first serve basis...so be sure to register early! Christian Day Camp will again be run by camp counselors who will be coming to Ely from Voyageur Lutheran Ministry (Cook, MN) to provide an introduction to the Bible Camping experience through Bible Studies, worship, singing, games, and arts and crafts. ***Attention ALL Members of the Congregation***: We are looking for people who would be willing to make a meal for the counselors on one of the nights they are in Ely, so that it does not fall on the host family every night. You could do this in any way you like: invite them into your home, drop off the meal at the host family s home, or drop it off at church for them. If you are willing to do any of the above needs, there will be a sign-up sheet posted in the office window. If you have any questions, please feel free to call either Alison LaTourell, Kristi Marshall, or Virginia Pointer.

20 Christian Day Camp Grace Lutheran Church is hosting a Christian Day Camp. A team of trained staff (camp counselors) will be coming to Ely from Voyageurs Lutheran Ministry (Cook, MN) to provide an introduction to the Bible Camping experience through Bible studies, worship, singing, games, and arts and crafts. Who: Children who are entering kindergarten thru those who have completed 4 th grade Where: Grace Lutheran Church When: June 19-23, 2017 Time: 9:00 AM 3:00 PM Monday thru Thursday (Please bring a bag lunch) 9:00 AM 12:00 Noon on Friday Cost: FREE Mail Registration Form to: Grace Lutheran Church 301 E. Conan St. Ely, MN Deadline date for registration is June 5. Space is limited. If you have questions call Grace Lutheran Church at Registration Form Due by June 5, 2017 Child's Name: Male Female Grade Completed: Parent's Name: Child's Birth Date (mm/dd/yy): Address: Phone Number: Cell Number: Emergency Contact: Phone Number: Insurance Provider: Policy Number: Allergies: Other Concerns (fears, anxieties, etc.): I hereby enroll and give my permission for my child to participate in the planned activities of Day Camp. I acknowledge the health of my child to be ready for camp. In the event I cannot be reached in an EMERGENCY, I hereby give my permission to the physician selected by the Day Camp Leader or Congregational Day Camp Coordinator to secure any medical or emergency treatment deemed necessary. Parent or Guardian's Signature (Camper cannot attend unless this is signed) Date I give my consent that my child,, may have their picture taken during Day Camp with the understanding that it may be used publicly in activities/crafts that the day campers may do, or for the promotion of Day Camp. Parent or Guardian's Signature Date

21 Mission/Action Community WELCA would like to thank all the people that bring materials for our kits and quilts. Various Items Needed (Months of May-July) Full Size Bar Soap- wrapped Cotton fabric for quilters (please no stretchy material) This can be any color and size. To learn more about Mission/Action, or if you have any questions, call Marge Haugen at Thank you to everyone for your support. Always pray for these ministries!

22 GRACE LUTHERAN COUNCIL APRIL 2017 MINUTES Present: Pastor Katie, Dolores Delaney, Kirk Lovsness, Bob LaTourell, Dave Nichols, Pat Merfeld and Joe Owens Meeting called to order at 4:30 by Bob LaTourell Review and approve March minutes: A motion to approve March minutes was made by Joe Owens and seconded by Pat Merfeld, all approved. Review and approve March Financial Report: A motion was made by Dave Nichols and seconded by Joe Owens to approve the financial reports, all approved. PASTOR KATIE S REPORT: Met with Executive Committee regarding Office Manager Review. Season of Lent began on Ash Wednesday, March 1 st. Service was held at 7:00 p.m., with similar worship format as in previous years, including communion and imposition of ashes. Took bereavement leave Thursday March 2 through Saturday March 4 th to attend the funeral of pastor s grandmother in Wichita, KS. Midweek Lenten services started March 8 th. These Wednesday evening services begin at 6:00 pm, and follow the Holden Evening Prayer service with weekly reflection on the upcoming Sunday s readings. Services led by Pr. Katie, Heidi Mann, Sarah Mason, Barb Litchfield, and Confirmation students. During the season of Lent, Confirmation class will include Wednesday s worship service, and then meet afterward until 8:00 p.m. Grace Lutheran hosted the Ely Ministerial Association at the monthly meeting on March 9 th. Will preside over the funeral of Lucy Carlson of First Presbyterian on March 18 th. I will be filling in for Pr. Corey Larsen who is out of town, and will be conducting the service using the Presbyterian order of service for funerals. Will preside over the baptisms of Sova and Etta Meyer on Sunday, March 19 th. Will host Grounded in Grace group of church leaders on March 21 st here at Grace. Will recognize Passion and Palm Sunday (as in previous years) on April 9 th, to begin Holy Week. This service will be at 9:30 a.m. (usual Sunday worship time.) Maundy Thursday service will be held at 6:00 p.m., with the Agape Feast format (as in previous years), and council hosting. Good Friday service will be held at 7:00 p.m. On Easter Sunday we will celebrate two communion services, at 8:00 and 10:00, with an Easter Breakfast in between the two services. Further details will be communicated to the congregation via bulletins and April s newsletter. Will be presiding over the baptism of Cora Lovich, date to be determined. OLD BUSINESS Mission Plan Team: At present seven (7) people are part of the team with a hope to add more soon. Their mission is to plan and empower committees to accomplish the needed goals of the Mission Plan. Internet phone plan: The Frontier internet service will be cancelled and our new provider will be Midcontinent. A motion was made to accept Midcontinent as our internet provider for the church and have them add a separate internet service for the parsonage while keeping the church phone service with Frontier without automatic renewal until the Frontier contract ends and a decision of which service provider to use is decided. The Office Manager is authorized to spend but not exceed $ to implement the process with a one (1) year Midcontinent contract signed by our Council President. Any dollar amount over this designated figure needs Council approval. The motion was made by Dave Nichols and seconded by Dolores Delaney. All approved but Pastor Katie abstained from this vote.

23 Treasurer Position: no update on term limit research NEW BUSINESS: Correspondence: Northeastern Minnesota Synod sent a Thank You letter for the Grace Lutheran Church donation of $ It will be posted on the entry board. Calendar: Made and given out to all present Suggestion Box: None Council Conversations: Bob Tourell and Joe Owens met with Tom Kobierski to discuss the video taping of Sunday services. The answer is this is an ongoing project that we have been working on and are considering having a small committee takes over through completion. Christian Education: A discussion to make this a priority planning issue since the need for additional people is critical. See Committee report COMMITTEE REPORTS: Finance: Kirk: Kirk gave a positive overview of our present financial position and answered questions regarding quarterly dividends. The overall review is positive looking forward. Building and Grounds: Walt Leino March 6, 2017 Members Present: Walt Leino, Jim Bischoff, Dick Flesvig, Dick Hall, Bruce Koski, and Dan Litchfield Bathrooms: We will replace the toilets with tall, elongated units, as funds are available. Walt will pick up the first one at Menards. Cost will be about $250 per unit. The installation date will be communicated. We noted that both bathrooms have been painted and are looking good. Thanks Jason! Emergency Lighting: No further update. Parsonage: The water conditioner has been ordered from Hauge in Virginia. They also did the church s conditioner. We expect installation soon, possibly this week. The cost is about $2,900. Pastor s Office: Funding is in place for the remodeling of Pastor Katie s office. Dick H. will sketch out the plan and get her input and approval. Refinishing of Narthex Railings: Project is completed. There is a broken rail hanger on the right railing leading up the first staircase (has subsequently been replaced). Programmable Thermostats: Dick F. contacted Hecimovich Heating about getting their help with evaluating the proper installation of the thermostats. They have an employee who is both an electrician and electrical engineer who can possible help us. Bob Hecimovich will discuss this with him and will call Dick back with what they can do. Spring Clean Up: We set Saturday, May 6 th at 9AM as the tentative date and time for the spring-clean up. This is the weekend before the fishing opener. Exterior work will be weather permitting. Dick F. will put a draft project list out for comment. Air Vent Questions: Walt has ed Bob Carlson (Ely) regarding the air vents on the roof which we cover each winter. We need to know the purpose of the vents and if they are necessary, as cold air infiltrates the church from them at times. Fellowship Hall Renovation: No report. Korpi Fund Application Ideas: We would like to build a handicapped ramp for the rear door so wheelchairs can access the second level of the church. This would be a good item for Korpi Funding. Dick H. will provide an estimate of costs. We may also want to ask for additional funding for bathroom toilets. Fire Extinguishers: A question came up about the maintenance of church fire extinguishers. We believe Jason is checking them periodically, but we will ask him to make sure they are being properly maintained.

24 Back Door Awning: Will be installed in the spring. Maintenance Items: the electrical conduit leading to the exterior sign/marquee is broken and needs replacement- the middle bracket holding the handrail leading to the second level is broken (replacement has been installed) Long Term Projects: The committee added the following item to our five-year plan: Install exterior aluminum cladding to the windows of the 1968 addition. Custodian s Report: No report. May 6, 2017 Church Wide Clean-Up Project List - wash hallway walls as needed (all levels) - wash windows (inside and out weather permitting) - scrape and paint outside window frames (weather permitting) - clean kitchen and appliances - rake lawn and trim bushes (church and parsonage) (weather permitting) - check and replace light bulbs (as needed) - clean light fixtures (as needed) - wash lower sanctuary walls - clean living room kitchen/pantry Respectfully submitted: Dick Flesvig, Secretary Stewardship- Joe Owens: STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE MINUTES- APRIL 11, :30 P.M. Present: Donna Filson, Dick Flesvig, Sue Flesvig, Vicki Hall, Jude Jalonen, BJ Kobierski, Tom Kobierski, Bob Robinett, Joe Owens, Char Robinett, Krislyn Mattei, Pastor Katie Slack, Candy Geiger. Pastor Katie opened the meeting with prayer. She presented information on the newly formed Mission Planning Team. Several interested people have met to begin the process of forming this team to discern what our congregation s mission should be in the next 1 5 years. The meetings are open to all who are interested in this process. Discussion followed suggesting that one goal could be for our congregation to be more involved in service to our community, either alone or in cooperation with other congregations. Candy Geiger presented a Fund Raising idea involving the sale of T-shirts or Sweatshirts with a Grace Lutheran Logo. BJ, Sue and Vicki will meet together to work out details and decide if we will go forward with this plan. The idea was well received by the committee. There was a suggestion that the proceeds go to Grace Cares. Brick Project 4 large bricks and 7 small ones have been ordered for installation later this spring. This would add approximately $1600 to our Fellowship Hall Renovation Project. Fellowship Hall Update A presentation to the congregation will be made at a future date. Spring Cleanup All Church Work Day, Saturday, May 6, 9:00 A.M. Several members volunteered to bring treats for coffee break. Char will be there to make coffee and set up. Buildings and Grounds Committee is in charge of the work assignments. Fall Time and Talent Fair Sunday, October 8 during after church coffee time. Church committees will be asked to set up tables highlighting the work of their committee and encouraging people to sign up to serve on committees. Details will be discussed at our August Meeting.

25 Stewardship Campaign Planning will take place at our August Meeting. NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING IS TUESDAY, AUGUST 8 AT 6:30 P.M. Meeting adjourned at 7:40 P.M. Respectfully submitted Charlotte Robinett Worship and Music- Dolores: Organ Repair: Brian from Obermeyer stated that they fixed the issue left on a note at the organ. He also wanted to inform us that the flute caps or "tuners" need new leathers. This is why the organ goes out of tune at various points and more frequently. He said it's not an urgent issue, but should be replaced sometime next year. He estimated the cost to be around $1000. A motion was made by Pat Merfeld and seconded by Dave Nichols to pay the invoice using Rantala Funds, all approved. A discussion to list the Grace Staff back into the Sunday bulletin was discussed with council and Pastor Katie will work with Candy to get this completed. Christian Education-Bob LaTourell: Long range planning will be scheduled with the Christian Education committee and Council members during the month of April. Topics that will be addressed are Sunday school, Youth leadership needs and event planning. Youth Logan Mann: none Social Outreach- : Discussions for having a committee spearhead a list when needed by membership to provide meals when a sudden unexpected situation occurs. Pat Merfeld reported Social Outreach was not willing to take this on and it was agreed that our Office Manager will make it known if anyone needs help of this kind they are to contact her. Next council meeting: May 18, 2017 Council Conversations: Sunday, May 14 th Dolores Delaney Next Devotions: May 18, 2017 Amy Soderberg Meeting adjourned at 6:45 pm, motion made to adjourn by Dave Nichols and seconded by Dolores Delaney Respectfully submitted, Dolores Delaney, Council Secretary

26 May Birthdays 5/2 Miriam Pucel 5/5 Deb Mackie Dan Kondos 5/7 Katrina Seliskar 5/9 Gerald Jacobson Dick Flesvig 5/10 Mary Lou Carlson Sue Walls Jake Schally 5/11 Dianne Thunhorst 5/12 Paul Schoonover 5/14 Greg Jonas 5/18 Pat Merfeld 5/19 Mary Lou Blasing 5/21 Erling Kirkman Matthew Lakner 5/22 Sue Maki Brock LaTourell 5/24 Ronda Guck Wayne Pasmick 5/26 Bob LaTourell 5/27 Sue Pasmick 5/28 Hunter Halbakken Claire Schoonover 5/31 Sarah Foster May Baptisms 5/1 Holly Sherman Betty Knott Carol Petersen 5/5 Shirley Ackerman Linda Lesar 5/6 Nancy Seliskar 5/7 Asher Folz 5/17 Addie Larson Paige Jussila 5/18 Jean Warren 5/21 Larry Smith 5/23 John Klem 5/24 Karla Visser Oliver Hohenstein 5/25 Susan Klem 5/30 Debbie Mackie 5/31 Jenna Klein

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