Beginning this Sunday, June 13, we will hold a single hybrid worship service at 9:30. That means that you are welcome to attend the service either in-person or continue using the live stream from home.
For the time being, everyone who attends in person will be asked to wear a mask. This is because we want to be able to sing, and masks are still recommended for singing. We will also ask you to observe physical distancing by sitting only in pews marked with green tape. We will alternate 8:00 and 10:30 worship styles, except that communion will be continuous (8:00 style) at all services in order to maintain physical distancing. This schedule is planned to go through September 12. The fall schedule will be decided in August.

The Grace Strategic Planning team met with the Council at their retreat this past Labor Day weekend.  The team was represented by Linda Laugges, Pastor Repp, Chris Skaar, and Jim Anderson.  They reported to the Council on the progress towards a Strategic Plan for the next 5-10 years. The report included a statement of core values, a mission statement, and the subjects for a set of Ministry Result Areas.  The nine subject areas presented were: Youth, Growth, Building Community, Music, Stewardship, Diversity, Shared Leadership, Service, and Care for Creation.

The plan should have Smart Goals that lead to measurable changes.  Those present at the retreat were asked to rank the subject area so that Smart Goals could be developed for the top five areas.  Council members and team members not able to be present are being asked to rank the importance of each of these nine subject matter areas. The retreat ended with each person writing out short sentences that could be used to replace the single word subject areas and by a brainstorming session of ideas for smart goals that might be nested within these areas.

On April 11 we begin a fifteen session course on connecting our faith to our daily life using the book Practicing Our Faith: A Way of Life for a Searching
People, edited by Dorothy C. Bass. The book is available from various internet retailers in three different editions. Although any edition will work for most of the class, the later two editions (2010 & 2019) contain an extra chapter that helps connect personal faith practices to communal practices in a faith community. Order a copy, and join us!

We’re so glad to have you with us here at Grace! Is this is your first time joining us, or have become a frequent visitor, here are a few resources you may find helpful.