Church Calendar of events
Volunteer Schedule
committee and group meeting times
 

*Review of the Swim Party
*     On Sunday, March 18 we had our seventh annual swim party at the
Holiday Inn.  Three youth and six adults attended the event which lasted
from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.  We ended by having snacks together.  A big thank
you goes to Mike Rivers for letting us use the pool and to Candi Kohner
for arranging the swim party.
 

*Winter Quarter Attendance*
     Sunday School class attendance (ages 0 - adult) from December 3,
2006 - February 18, 2007 *averaged 29 people each Sunday*.  We did not
include February 25 since there was no Sunday School that snowstorm Sunday.
 

*The Fisherman's Story
     *Have you marked your calendars yet for Vacation Bible School on
Sunday, June 24 - Wednesday, June 27?  We hope that all children ages
Kindergarten - grade 5 will join us for the exciting four days of drama,
crafts, singing, games, snacks and more.  We will meet each evening from
6 - 7:30 p.m.  Our topic will be *The Fisherman's Story *and how Jesus
calls us to a new life with him.  We also will talk about how we can
care for the earth, just as the fishermen did!

     Children may bring friends.  A sign up sheet will be available in
the Fellowship Hall soon.  Please sign up by May 20!!  Thank you!

*Bowling Activity Rescheduled
     *Due to the snowstorm, the February 25 Sunday bowling activity was
cancelled.  Be watching for a rescheduled time for that
intergenerational event.  It will also be announced in church.

Joys

Ometta Gummert recently was able to move back to her
apartment at Watkins Manor after several weeks recovery
at Winona Hospital and Sauer Home. Ometta is very
happy to be back at her Watkin's home.
Corrine Noonan spent a few days in the hospital and
received a pacemaker. She is now feeling much better.
The choir is very glad she is back.
Concerns

Audrey Smith's mother passed away Tuesday, March 20,
2007.  Our prayers are with her and her family.
Elsie Ring spent some time in the hospital but is now
recuperating at home.

You are invited to the following worship services
during Holy Week:
Palm Sunday -April I—palm procession and
communion—10:30 a.m.

Maundy Thursday—April 5—At Grace (jointly with
Congregational and First Baptist); 6:00 p.m.—supper
6:45 PM-- Worship

CIRCLE I will meet Thursday, April 19 at 7 p.m. at
Mary Lowery's- 1373 McNally Dr.

CIRCLE II will meet at 12:30 p.m. for lunch at Perkins
on Wednesday, April 11. We will plan our study for 1007-
08. Visitors are always welcome.

 Mark your calendars, the annual Salad
Luncheon will be held on Apnl 14th!
 

HOME DELIVERED MEALS
April is the month our church has the responsibility to deliver meals for Volunteer Services. We have volunteers for 3
days so need at least 2 more volunteers. Friday is the only day definitely covered so pick a day and let me know.
Meals are picked up at the Steak Shop at 10:30 am. It should take about an hour to deliver. There are eight recipients
on the list at this time. I will give you the list of people receiving meals and general instructions for delivering before
you start.
Please consider taking one day a week for the month of April so we can fulfill our responsibility. If you are unable to
commit a day a week, let me know what you can do and we will work out a plan.]

If you would like to purchase Easter plants for the
sanctuary, please bring them to the church by noon on
Saturday, April 7. If you wish to have them recognized
as memorials or in honor of someone, please get those
names to Elayne no later than Monday, April 2 so they
will be included in the bulletin on Easter Sunday.

Please keep Debbie and Del Braaksma in your prayers while they
continue their work in the Sudan
 

The first three months on session this year have
involved a number of items. Some quickly dealt with,
some postponed for reconsideration and some just
coming back or hanging around. The two items that
seem to be the most recurring and showing the least sign
of going away in the near future are session's
commitment this year to hold up our role as caretakers of
God's creation, commonly referred to as value 5. One
session member halfjokingly said it is only March and
she is getting tired of hearing about value 5. You may be
getting tired of it also, but the problem is that in many
ways it is the core of being a Christian. It will always be
with us. The other item that has been revisited is the Safi
Sanctuary Policy. This one isn't as much fun to joke
about, in fact it isn't funny at all, but it is part of our life.
Just this week, there was an apparent abduction attempt
in Caledonia and a baby was stolen in Lubbock, Texas.
Christianity teaches us to live and love in the real world,
not the world we want to live in.
Quickly, the newspaper is filll of articles on
ecology, global warming and protecting the environment.
They deal with what is being done on an international,
national, state and local level as well as what people are
doing personally. Grace is looking at doing some
plantings, using a gift fund, at the habitat for humanity
 worksite. The worship committee is looking at some
alternative worship ideas. Perhaps we could have a
worship service at a different site or bring in a guest
speaker to make a presentation dealing with the
environment during the worship service.
Now that session has accepted the Safe Sanctuan
Policy, the next step is its implementation. The specifics
are not knocked down yet, but it appears there will be a
separate mailing to members and friends of Grace with a
cover letter and with a copy of the policy. In addition,
there will be references to it in the annual meetings and
any new member class will discuss it along with other
aspects of joining the church. One thing that may seem
strange is the need to get a background check on
everyone working with children. Everybody that was a
friend or member of Grace, on December 31,2006 will
be grandfathered in, but any new members will be
required to have a check before they work with children.
This seems so unright to many of us that are older, but it
is simply the reality of the world we live in today.  Many
jobs now do a background check before some one is hire(
and more and more churches are being forced to do
background checks. We aren't cutting edge; we are just
part of the masses on this point, ltwillbeo.k. From a
practical standpoint, we probably won't notice and change

Remember the Stewardship drive last fall? Along with the request for financial pledging, the committee
requested that everyone take some time to pledge some activity. Hopefully an activity that would help you develop a better
relationship with God and God's creations, both human and "nature." After those slips of paper were collected on pledge
Sunday, I copied them all down with the expectation that they would get into the newsletter in about 6 months. So how are
you doing? Are you still focused on your non financial pledge, or are you falling behind, like I am? Listed below are the non
financial pledges of everybody. Some only make since if you are the person who wrote them, because they are very short.
Some may actually offer a new insight and may give you a different focus to emphasize over the next 6 months. God is a
curious "person" and may inspire you to change your focus. Good luck in the next 6 months on following your goals.

Gary Hayes,
Stewardship Committee

Spiritual Pledges
I .Grow through family devotions
2. Pray as a family
3 .Read the Bible before bed
4. Work on a committee and work at more music activity
5. Participate in choir and attend church regularly
6. Spend more time on daily devotions and continue with more mission work
7. I will read at least 2 books of the Bible. I will be more patient with those that I tend not to be.
8. Choir, Deacons, Fellowship, Evangelism, Circle
9. Choir, Sunday School Teacher. Elder, C E Committee, Daily Bible Readings, Circle, Bible Studies, Lay Reader
10. Find God in everyday activities. Find and realize the treasures of God and forget my earthly treasures. Get involved in
community service in Winona
11. Read a daily devotional for a year
12. P W, Holiday Fair, Usher, Count, Usher, Greet
13. Care for a special person, take more time to read the scriptures and continue volunteer jobs
14. Pray, Be nice to people. Go to church
15. Pray
16. Daily devotions. Read the Bible several days a week. Visit two shut ins/ month. Be more patient with my friends and family
17. Prayer
18. Mission once a month, devotions 5 minutes a day
19. Devotional writings
20. Pray for the world. Work on a committee in church, volunteer
21. Have talked to God, he knows my plans
22. Serving on Session, do more with PW
23. Offer special prayer for those who are ill and in need of special thoughts
24. Daily morning prayer. Continue to help my children and grandchildren
25. Give more time to corporation committee
26. I would like to be a Sunday school teacher and or help with summer school if I could work it out since I have to miss
every other Sunday because I work
27. Spend more time in contemplation, continue helping others, sing as often as I can to facilitate service to others
28. Be a caring person to friends, co workers and patients. Be present for my son and extended family when needed. Be a
church lay reader and serve on deacons
29. Spend more time on devotions before we start the day's work
30. Explore prayer, assist with mission projects
31 - Read Bible more often, be more active in community and church activities, attend Sunday school
32. Send a note every week to someone every week. Make a point to know my neighbors, volunteer at Red Cross
33. Family devotions. In addition to what I am doing now- make time for meditation and visit shut ins
34. Deliver meals on wheels and read devotions
35. Prayer time at least one time a day with my family and alone
36. Pray every day, do volunteer work as possible as I can
37. Spend 15 minutes a day on devotions
38. Become more active with the youth again
39. Spend more time each week in personal devotion
40. Family devotions at dinner no less than 4 days a week. Learn to sing a song or two to share with congregation
41.Come to church more often and find opportunities to volunteer at church and in the community
42. Daily devotions. Share committee work of Grace. Volunteer in organizations that promote environmental awareness.
Share God's love with others
43. Visiting my people as a deacon. Have an early morning time for reading the Bible (10-15 minutes)
44. Spend time each day reading devotional material
45. Daily scripture reading instead of watching TV and eating
46. Kindness to all, more involved with people's birthday
This is really a pretty good list. I am pleased to be in a church with people who really do care about each other and life.
GARY
 

Book Of Order-
W-l.lOOO THE DYNAMICS OF CHRISTIAN WORSHIP

W-1.1000  1. Christian Worship: An Introduction
W-1.1001  Christian Worship

Christian worship joyfully ascribes all praise and honor, glory and power to the triune God. In worship the people
of God acknowledge God present in the world and in their lives. As they respond to God's claim and redemptive
action in Jesus Christ, believers are transformed and renewed. In worship the faithful offer themselves to God and are
equipped for God's service in the world.

W-1.1002 God's Initiative
a. The Spirit of God quickens people to an awareness of God's grace and claim upon their lives. The Spirit moves
them to respond by naming and calling upon God, by remembering and proclaiming God's acts of self-revelation in
word and deed, and by committing their lives to God's reign in the world.

God's Encounter with Humans
b. The earliest recollections of the people God speak of God's encounter with human beings. God takes the
initiative in creation and in covenant, in calling to repentance and in offering forgiveness. God plants and plucks up;
God judges and blesses.
(Jeremiah 1:10)

Cod's Entrance into the Human Condition
c. In Jesus Christ, God entered fully into the human condition in an act of self-revelation, redemption, and
forgiveness. Entering the brokenness of the world, God in Jesus Christ atoned for sin and restored human life. By so
entering the created world God brought time and space, matter and human life to fulfillment as instruments for
knowing and praising their Creator.