Want updates about COVID-19 and Grace re-opening?
CLICK HERE for the latest from Grace.
Worship at Grace—Worshipers are asked to continue signing up ahead of time for worship services. Head to the Grace website to access the online form HERE; sign-up sheets go live Wednesdays by 7 p.m. Worshipers age 3 and up are required to wear masks or cloth face coverings to attend worship.
Divine Call—Grace has extended a divine call to Philip Moldenhauer, currently serving as an associate pastor at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Madison, Wisconsin. Please keep him and his family, as well as Grace, in your thoughts and prayers as he deliberates both his calls.
Weddings—Grace member Cheresa Stoll and Michael Frank were united in marriage at a ceremony in Green Bay on Saturday, Aug. 22. Grace members Lynn Vircks and Troy Hergert were united in marriage here at Grace on Friday, Aug. 28. May God bless these couples in their new lives together.
College Students—Last year we started a program called Adopt-a-Student in which we connected Grace members with our Grace college students (maybe you were even on the receiving end of a card, letter, package, or encouraging note!). We'd like to continue and grow that program this year. Please help us out by updating your status for school this year and contact info by contacting the church office. If you graduated this past year, please let us know that as well. God bless and be with you as you move forward in this uncertain time. Know that your church family is praying for you!
Jesus on Christian Living: Sunday Bible Class for Fall 2020—In a post-modern world in which everyone has their own opinion on how to live a good life, and we are expected to accept everyone’s choices and decisions as valid, where do we draw the line? How does God want us to act, behave, and live in this world? Where best to turn for answers than our Savior Jesus and his own words! Join us for Sunday Bible Hour beginning Sept. 13 at both 9 and 10:15 a.m. with a seven-part series titled Jesus on Christian Living, a study of the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5-7. This series will be offered in-person in the great hall of the Grace Center and also video recorded and made available on the Grace YouTube channel.
Jesus on Christian Living
A Study of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7)
Sept 13 Discipleship status Mt 5:1-16
Sept 20 The big roadmap Mt 5:17-20
Sept 27 Perfect particulars Mt 5:21-48
Oct 4 Living for the Father Mt 6:1-18
Oct 11 Handling goods & goodies Mt 6:19-34
Oct 18 Dealing with fellow sinners Mt 7:1-14
Oct 25 Alert to truth & error Mt 7:15-29
Most Certainly True Podcast—Two new podcast series from Grace begin this fall. The first is a series of four episodes called God’s Grace at Grace, exploring and documenting the history of our congregation. In the second series, beginning Oct. 7, we’ll discuss Civil Government, a book in the People’s Bible Teaching Series from Northwestern Publishing House. One chapter (or two short ones) will be discussed each week. Another book in the People’s Bible Teachings Series, God’s Providence, will begin in 2021. Both books are available for purchase in the church narthex for a discounted price of $13 each. Kindle and Nook versions are also available. As always, you can enjoy Most Certainly True even if you haven’t read the chapters; find the podcast on iTunes, Google Podcasts or download individual episodes on the Grace website--CLICK HERE.
Fall Bible Information Class—Looking for a course on the basic teachings of the Bible? For you or someone you love? Our next round of Bible Information Classes begins soon! Classes will be held Thursdays at 7 p.m., starting Sept. 10. This is a great class to attend if you’d like a refresher, are looking for a way to invite a friend to learn with you, or if you're looking to join Grace Church. Contact Pastor Hackmann at bhackmann@gracedowntown.org with questions or to sign-up.
Virtual Sunday School—Grace will be utilizing videos, provided on YouTube by Northwestern Publishing House, to do virtual Sunday school this fall. To find these lessons, simply search Northwestern Publishing House on YouTube and click on their channel. Links will also be provided on Grace's Virtual Sunday School page (under the Learn and Grow tab on the Grace website). Grace will provide the take home sheets that go along with each lesson—these are already out in the Parish Center and can be picked up after church, or delivered upon request. If you have any questions or concerns please reach out to Drew Carter at dcarter@gracedowntown.org.
Spam Emails from Pastors at Grace—Unfortunately, Grace members have been reporting that spam emails, claiming to come from Grace pastors "asking for a favor" with no details as to what the favor is, are being sent to them. Please do not engage with these emails! Send them to your spam or junk folder, report them to Google directly, or alert our communications coordinator Amanda Schumacher. Do not forward the emails to anyone or Grace staff. All official Grace email communication comes through a MailChimp account (like the weekly weekend worship email), and all called workers and staff email addresses are not Gmail addresses—official email addresses will always feature @gracedowntown.org as the address. At this trying time of reaching members electronically, please use discernment and double check email addresses before responding to anyone. Thank you!
WLS Job Opening—Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary is looking to hire a supper cook, who will be responsible for preparation, service, and clean-up of the supper meal for approximately 50 students. Work schedule during the school session is Monday-Thursday, 1:30-7:30 p.m. Ideal candidates will have basic understandings of nutrition, health and safety requirements. Two years of experience in food preparation required. Strong communication, people skills, and ability to take direction are essential. Contact Brian Treichel, Business Manager at 262-242-8103 or brian.treichel@wisluthsem.org to apply.
WELS Military Services—Did you know WELS civilian chaplains only know if members are serving actively if they are registered with WELS/ELS Military Services? If you or a loved one serves in the military, National Guard, and/or army reserve, and would like to ensure and maintain a spiritual and encouraging connection to the church, head to wels.net/ref to register any and all names.
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A Message from the Long Range Planning Committee
Dear Grace Members,
Every five to seven years, Grace gathers a committee of staff, councilmen, and members to start thinking ahead and facilitating long-range planning of congregational goals. We do not undertake this as a pursuit of unbridled ambition, but rather as an honest analysis of where we are, and as an aspirational look to where God's gifts might be applied in the future.
We will be texting, emailing, and calling for congregational input in the coming weeks as we survey members. We want as much feedback as possible as we reflect on the past and set our sights on 2025/2030.
We know that many of us are concerned with daily health and well-being at the moment. While we pray continually for God's mercy and blessing during a pandemic, we also confidently lean on God to fulfill his promises of faithfulness and care, no matter the circumstances. As we do everything God-willing, we also strive to make use of all the time and resources he has allotted.
In Christ’s Service,
Grace Long Range Planning Committee
