Church Calendar of events
Volunteer Schedule
committee and group meeting times

"I will praise You, Oh Lord, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your
marvelous works." Psalm 9:1

The year 2006 brings a few changes to our "Team" and office at Grace Presbyterian Church. Our new office hours
are 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon, Monday through Friday. You wilt be able to contact the office during these times
and at least one person, Elayne, Doug, Al, or Candi will be there. We hope this will bring some continuity to our
office.
Also, Session approved a change in the Team member's individual hours. As of January 1, 2006, Pastor Al is
working _ time at Grace and will be preaching three times per month. Doug will be working 8 hours per week and
will be preaching once per month and the fifth Sundays when they occur. I will continue to work 14 hours per
week. As part of being members of the "Team" we are to serve as resource persons for the various committees at
GPC. The new committee assignments are as follows: Al will serve on Deacons, Worship, Christian Education,
Mission and Stewardship and the Growing Faith Covenant Group. Candi will serve on Corporation, Fellowship and
Evangelism, Fundraising and Personnel committees. Doug will serve on the Worship and Nominating committees.
Doug will serve as Session Moderator and both Candi and Al will continue to attend the meetings.
If you have any questions regarding our 2006 Team Ministry, please talk to Doug, Al or myself. We all look
forward to working with you.
Also, I would like to remind you that I will be gone, February 4 - February 19. Although it is always good to
get away, I will miss you and will look forward to my return.
"A pessimist, they say, sees a glass of water half- empty; an optimist sees the same glass half-fall. But a giving
person sees a glass of water and starts looking for someone who is thirsty." -G. Donald Gale
Let us go out and quench someone's thirst. Blessings,
Candi
GPC Administrator

PW SPRING GATHERING

Ladies, we will be hosting the spring gathering of Presbyterian Women Presbytery
on Saturday, April 8th starting at 9:00am. The keynote speaker is Gina
Gustavson, who has just returned from a Global Exchange to Brazil. Everyone is
invited! There are lots of duties for the host church, so we need several
volunteers. Please accept if asked!

The PW Coordinating Team will meet Monday, February 6th at 1:00pm.

TENDING THE FLAME-WOMEN CALLED LEAD

Grace will celebrate the gifts of women at the Sunday morning worship service on February 26th. That day has
been set aside to honor the 75th anniversary of the first woman ordained as an elder, the 50th anniversary of the first
woman ordained as a minister, and the 100th anniversary of the first woman ordained as a deacon. We will
celebrate all the women at Grace who so faithfully contribute their time and talents. Corn and celebrate God, who
continues to call women to tend the flames.

Circle I will meet on February 16 at 7:00 pm at the church. Mary Rennells and Gayle Arndt will host.

M & S OFFERINGS

The Joy Offering total, $352.00, was split between GA Board of Pensions and Racial-Ethnic schools supported
by the Presbyterian Church (USA)
The Christmas Eve Offering was $245.00 and was given to the WSU social work class to give to
SEMCAC to help Winona citizens who are having problems paying their energy bills.
The Souper Bowl Of Caring Offering will be taken on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 5. Those attending the
church service are encouraged to contribute at least $1.00 in the soup kettles the young people will have at
the back of the Sanctuary after the service. Monies collected will go to Winona Volunteer Services.
Monies collected around the country will be given to various food shelves and services to help feed the
hungry.

FEBRUARY 12 - NEW MEMBER MEETING
There will be a short informational meeting after church for those interested in uniting
with Grace Presbyterian Church. We will set up a time to meet for discussions about church
membership.
If you are interested but are not able to attend this meeting please call Doug Rosendahl at
home, 687-4601, or church, 452-4608.

 PER CAPITA

This time of year we become more aware of our Per Capita obligation since it is listed on our
boxes of giving envelopes with the actual amount we pay from our church per communicant
member. Why is our church expected to pay this, and what does this money do? Published from
the office of the General Assembly, "In order to give meaning to the interdependent nature of
Presbyterian polity, ..per capita is the responsible way of sharing costs equitably." "It has been
said that per capita apportionment is like a utility bill. Just as we pay for heat, light, water, and
telephones in order to remain connected to the utility systems and benefit from the services
provided, we also pay per capita so that the Presbyterian system can function on behalf of all of

The per capita budget of the General Assembly principally provides for the cost of holding GA
meetings, expenses of the permanent and special committees of the General Assembly, council
meetings, the council office and some staff, and comparable expenses to our memberships in
ecumenical bodies. Fair share costs of Corporate and Administrative Services relating to building
operations and centralized accounting services are also included. Delegates' travel costs to attend
General Assembly sessions, hotel expenses, and costs of meals are paid for by per capita, as well
as expenses connected with the large meeting space required. Meeting and administrative costs
of several permanent and special committees of the General Assembly are funded by the per
capita budget. All administrative costs of the Office of the Executive Director, General Assembly
Council, council meetings, committee and task force meetings, including communications, legal
services, and internal audit functions, are funded by the per capita budget.

Per capita supports the system. Whether or not each of our members actually pay the $23.10.!S for
per capita, our church sends in the total per capita payment, which is based on church
membership, $3,026 this year. Please prayerfully give to support the per capita payment, and
consider giving a little extra per capita to fill the gap.
Janice Jacobson, Treasurer

JOYS

Isaac Gitundu, missionary to our church from Kenya several years ago, will
receive his Masters of Divinity Degree from a college in South Carolina in May
2006. He lives in Georgia with his family and commutes to school. Isaac has
been working on his undergrad and grad degrees since 1998. He had cancer a
couple years ago and had to take 1 ½ years off from school. He rejoices that he
is now cancer free.  He often thinks of us and prays for our church.  He would
love to hear from you!! Please E-mail him at: gitundu@hotmail.com

Chad Smith, son of Tammy and Keith Smith, was on the Dean's List for fall
semester at Riverland Community College in Austin, MN. Congratulations,
Chad!!

Walt and Dorothy Gilbertson will celebrate their 50' wedding anniversary on
Feb. 4. Congratulations!

Kollin Foss and Lori Gamoke were married on January 12,2006

CONCERNS

Gloria Sailing had knee surgery on Jan. 16 and is at Lake Winona
Manor waiting for people to come see her.

Dorothy Friedenberger has been under the weather.

OJ Jacobson is still in the New Orleans area helping with clean up.

Walt Gilbertson is planning to go to the Biloxi area with a group from
John Knox Presbytery to help in the clean up process.
 

Sunday, February 12, 2006
     Please join us for an intergenerational February Frolic on Sunday, February 12 from 1:30-3:30 p.m.  Activities will include sledding (if we have
snow!!) and indoor board games.  Bring your favorite games to play!  Also bring a non-creamed canned soup to share.  We will enjoy
peanut-butter/jelly sandwiches and soup after our activities.  Please invite friends to join us!!  See you there!

New Children's Book in Library
     Laughter and Love, by Allison Bottke and Heather Gemmen is suitable for ages 4-8 and available now in our Children's Library.  The story
tells how a boy has feelings of love, then anger as his sister gets attention.  He learns to show his sister love and that God allows U turns.
Please stop by the library to check out this book or others, along with videos and CDS.  Holly Martin is the librarian for our children's library and
she would be happy to answer your questions.

Looking Ahead
     Please mark your calendar now for Vacation Bible School  to be held Sunday, June 4 - Thursday June 8, 2006, from 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.  Ages 4 -
grade 5 students are invited and as always, friends are encouaged to come!!  A sign-up sheet will be available in April.  More details will be
added in next month's newsletter.

 Please mark your calendar for Sunday, March 12.  Our sixth annual Swim Party will be held at the Holiday Inn in Winona from 1-3 p.m.  Youth of
all ages from our church are welcome to attend and bring a friend.  A parent should attend with their children.  Each family is asked to bring a
snack to share.
 

GRACE CHURCH VALUES PART III

This month we are highlighting the third value in our list of core values
approved by Session last fall.

Value 3: We believe that Christian Education is important for all ages
to help us increase our understanding of the Bible and our
faith tradition, and to help us along our walk with God.

Questions: What is ChristianEducation? How do you learn about
God? In addition to learning throug the study of the Bible, you may learn
through other people, through gifts of music, art, nature, service, etc. You
may find it especially helpful to consider how Bible passages can
relate to issues we face today, and to consider what action on our part God
expects of us. Perhaps you long to hear God speaking today to issues
which the writers of the Bible never imagined, issues created by advances
in medicine, science and technology. What have been some of the most
helpful Christian Ed. experiences that you've had, either at GPC, or
elsewhere? What Christian Ed. experiences do you need to help you
in your walk with God? How could you help others learn more about
God and his work in the world today?

Share your thoughts with someone on the Christian Education
committee. If we believe in this core value, then we should act on it!

Growing Faith Covenant Croup