CANDI KOHNER
As the new year approaches we bid farewell to Hugh and Doreen and wish them well as
they move forward into another adventurous journey in their life..... .Hugh's retirement. Hugh
was a wonderful mentor for both Doug and I this past year. God has a way of providing with us
with special gifts throughout our life and I consider crossing paths with Hugh and Doreen one of my
more special gifts!
I look forward to the future of Grace Presbyterian Church with joyful anticipation. We
are getting closer with our agreement with Al Kleinsasser and the Baptist Church. Hopefully
their congregation will vote on the agreement in early January and the Committee on Ministry of
the Presbytery will approve it on January 18. Al cannot start at Grace Presbyterian Church until the
COM approves our contract with him. Beginning in January, Doug and I will both
be working 1/3 time. I will be in the office most of the day on Tuesday and mornings on Wednesdays
and Thursdays. As always, you can also call me at home if you have needs or concerns. (454-6872)
As grace Presbyterian Church seeks to follow God's plan, I am thankful I have had the
opportunity to work among you. As we continue into 2004, let us work together as a church family
and trust in God. Happy New Year

Candi

 
DOUG ROSENDAHL

Contemplating and thinking about Colossians 3:12-17 is an uplifting and
appropriate way for our congregation to begin a new year.
Our need at this time especially, is to be a people who are close to God.
This is precisely what the Colossians reading is about - the congregation as
a people close to God.
The very first statement addresses us as God's chosen ones. Ask any one why they are in
a congregation and you will get many answers, most linked with some aspect of personal choice.
You will almost never here them say "because God chose me."
It follows with a wonderful description of the gifts needed to form and hold a Christian
congregation, all of them practical and realistic.
We might call them commandments of congregational life. Among them.... '
* clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, patience.
* forgive each other. The word is repeated three times
* be thankful, this is utterly central to our lives
*let the word of Christ dwell in you. Most of us
think of the Word as being in a book, rather than
the word of Christ being actually in each of us
* teach and admonish one another
* what ever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord
Let us start the new year right with these thoughts.

See you in church

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION

THANK YOU - THANK YOU'.'.!!
"Signs of Christmas" was the title of our December 21 program.
The C.E. Committee would like to thank Nancy Domfeld for her
excellent job of directing the production.
Thank you also to: Kathy Weiner for helping with the music; Dan Ban
for accompanying on the piano Cheryl Polachek, Bruce Victor and
Doug Rosendahl for helping in the program, Gayle Ardnt, Emily
Rosendahl and Kathy Rosendahl for scenery and costume help; Mel and
Mary Rennells for hall arrangement.
Fellowship and Evangelism Cornmittee for serving the lunch; Ellie
Griesel for making the sloppy joes.Elyn Mrkvicka for making Jesus
birthday cake; all parents and grand parents for getting the kids to
practices and supporting Nancy with the hundreds of details she had
to arrange! It was a wonderful program
We can all look for signs of Christmas all through the year to keep
Christ in our hearts.

WORSHIP COMMITTEE
The new Faith Hymnals may be dedicated to the memory of o
honor of loved ones. A bookplate will be placed in each book for
only $10 each. We have already received memorials for Glady
Doble (Ellie's morn) and Helen Christenson. Checks may be
written to GPC and given to Elayne
 

The volunteer list is coming along,
but there are still many gaps - please
sign up or call me (687-9021) to
volunteer as an usher, greeter,
layreader, counter or nursery helper
that is convenient to your schedule.
Otherwise, I will fill in the vacancies   and let you know when you're
scheduled

What a special surprise
received after a little practice I
had with the Grace Kids for the
Christmas program. It was my
birthday and Kathy Weiner,
Janet Nustad and the kids
gave me a beautiful bouquet of
red roses..Thank you for making my day "extra Special".
  l d    .

THE MITTEN TREE

Please continue to fill the mitten tree with mittens, gloves, hats and
scarves to keep children warm. Sunday, January 4 is the last day to
contribute.  Then the items will be brought to Central School to be
delivered to needy children. Thank you for helping
 

Corporation Committee
The Corporation Committee has hired Dave Kennebeck to
remove snow from the parking lot and sidewalks this winter.
The committee visited the manse and will be reinstalling a fallen basement ceiling in
the next few weeks. Wider staples and adhesive will be
used to replace the tiles.
The committee thanks Dave Polachek for replacing several
sanctuary bulbs. The committee plans to organize and clean the basement in early 2004.
 

The Adult Sunday School class will begin a series of
videos discussion and study in January.
Dr. Martin Maity .uses an overview of church history to
probe the spiritual pilgrimage of the various eras of the church
and their relationship to our individual and corporate life
today.
Please join us beginning January 4th at 9:10 am when we
look at the Christian story with Dr. Martin Marty.

Clerk's Corner

Session met on December 18, 2003. We reflected on what we accomplished this year and discussed our
future plans. Pray for our church as we go through this time of transition. I have a neat story to share
with you to begin your year. I received it via e-mail and will share with you.
Twinkies and Root Beer
A little boy wanted to meet God. He knew it was a long trip to where God lived, so he packed his
suitcase with Twinkies and a six-pack of Root Beer and he started his journey.
When he had gone about three blocks, he met anold man. He was sitting in the park, just staring at
some pigeons. The boy sat down next to him and opened his suitcase. He was about to take a drink
from his root beer when he noticed that the old man looked hungry, so he offered him a Twinkie.
He gratefully accepted it and smiled at him. His smile was so pleasant that the boy wanted to see it
again, so he offered him a rootbeer. Again, he smiled at him. The boy was delighted! They sat there all
afternoon eating and smiling, but they never said a word.
As it grew dark, the boy realized how tired he was and he got up to leave, but before he had gone more
than a few steps, he turned around, ran back to the old man, and gave him a hug. He him
his biggest smile ever. When the boy opened the door to his own house a short time later, his mother
was surprised by the look of joy on his face. She asked him, "What did you do today that made you so
happy? "He replied, "I ate twinkies in the park with God", :!"~u
 !"
Meanwhile, the old man, also radiant With joy, returned to his home. His son was stunned by the look
of peace on his face and he asked, "Dad, what did you do today that made you so happy?" He replied,
"I ate Twinkies in the park with God." However, before his son responded, he added, " You kow, he's
much younger than I expected."
Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment-
 , or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around. People come
into our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. Embrace all equally!

Note from the administrator
There will be a short congregational meeting following worship on January 11 to elect an elder and
deacon to fill unexpired terms.

We have a new group, the Elder Network, who will be using our church building for their meetings once
a month. We welcome this organization to our building!

YOUTH BETWEEN THE AGES OF 15 - 19
2004 is the year for the next Presbyterian Youth
Trienniun . It will be held July 20 - 25, 2004, at
Purdue University, West LaFayette, IN. More
information will be coming soon from John Knox
Presbytery.  Mark your calendars!
Loel Gorden & Mary Rennells C. E. Committee

M & S
PW Thank Offering total and the
Joy Offering will be in the next newsletter.

SOUPER BOWL OFFERING
On Sunday Feb. I we will take the Souper Bowl Offering. As people leave the morning worship
service young people will be at the doors with soup pots and those who wish to may deposit $1 in the
pots. The money collected will go to Winona Volunteer Services to help supply their food shelves.

PER CAPITA-2004
Per capita for the next year is $21.39    Our church pays Presbytery this amount for every
communicant member of our church. We ask that individuals pay their own share so we don't have to
take a lot of money out of our regular budget to cover the difference.
Remember: $21.39 per communicant member. We really appreciate your cooperation in paying
your share. Thank you.

Concerns
Walt Gilbertson had triple by-pass heart surgery December 18th, and is doing
well.
Please keep Walt (and Dorothy) in your prayers, as he recuperates.

ThankYou
Thanks for all the prayers. I have two part-time jobs and things are looking up.
Barb Kulas
 
 

  Luminaries BY MEL
              Start with a 5 quart empty plastic ice cream bucket.
Fill with water to within 1/2 inch of top. place in a freezer (temp 10 to -
20) for 12 hours. Remove from freezer and place in a sink. Turn upside down
and dump ice slug out (pour water over pail to unfreeze slug from bucket).
With the small end of the slug on top poke a hole in the center . It will
be filled with unfrozen water. I use a scout jack knife to cut out a 3"
diameter hole.
Dump the water out leaving a cavity for the candle. Store some place below
freezing and out of the sun until ready to use. A good place is to store it
in a freezer. place a small candle into the cavity, centered so heat goes
thru the hole. The best way to light is to light the  candle outside
the luminary, and using a caning pliers insert the burning candle into the
luminary and carry to the location.
Note a kitchen Refrigerator freezer will make two at a time my chest type deepfreeze will make 4 at a time

The trouble with many men is that they have got just enough religion to make them miserable. If
there is not joy in religion, you have got a leak in your religion." -Billy Sunday
 

Circles
Circle I will meet at Ellie Griesel's -218 E 10th  452-9225 on Thurs January 15th at 7 PM
   -
 Circle II will not meet until April 14th. We will go to lunch somewhere and plan what to do for our studies in 2004.

Circle III Will Not Meet in January