CANDI KOHNER

Lois Gorden was a soft spoken, loving, giving and nurturing person. She loved
and appreciated simple things. Lois spent her life nurturing and caring for those that surrounded
her from her family to those in other countries. She attended a seminar on the Global HIV/
AIDS Pandemic. As a result of that seminar, Lois helped to educate our community about
AIDS and supported the fight against AIDS worldwide. The Home-Based Care Kit which is
in our church entryway was a special project started by Lois and one we hope to continue.
Last fall, I received a letter from Lois. The purpose of the letter was to inform me
that she was no longer able to be a Deacon because of her failing health. I want to share
part of that letter with you: "I want to thank the congregation for the privilege of
being a Deacon these past few years. I feel I have grown spiritually because of my
involvement in this area of our church life. I also feel that it is time for me to resign
from that position. I continue to pray for Grace to grow in every way God gives us
opportunity to grow and I feel being a Deacon means being more active
than I am able to be at this time in my journey. This is an exciting time in the life of our
church. We have many opportunities for growth in serving God in Winona and the world
beyond. I continue to pray for wisdom and guidance as I seek to find the best way to be
involved in the life of the church.
Loel and I feel Grace has been so supportive of us in our time here. I treasure the times we are
able to be a part of the worship celebration at Grace. Love,
Lois"
Lois thanked us for giving her the opportunity to serve before we could thank her for serving.
That was what Lois Was all about. I am happy for Lois, but I am sad
for her family, GPC, our community and our world. She touched so many lives! God truly has
chosen a special angel!
We will miss you Lois!
 

Doug Rosendahl

God does something very special for everyone in his church family (the body of
Christ of which we are all apart at Grace Church). He gives each of us a divine endowment
known as a spiritual gift (see I Cor. 7:7; I Peter 4:10). This gift is a God-given capacity to
fulfill what he has asked us to accomplish. This gift helps us to locate our niche, our place,
and our role in the life of the church. Coming to grips with this fact may be one of the most
wonderful discoveries of your life. God knows that if we are able to accomplish His will, we
will not be able to do it in our own strength. We need something greater than ourselves.
God loves to take ordinary people like you and me and through them do extraordinary things. He doesn't
need super heroes. He is looking for everyday believers, willing vessels whom He can
equip and gift. Moreover, God not only gives us these endowments, but he also supplies the
willingness to use them. (See Phil. 2:13). When we function in the way God gifted us to
function, we can accomplish great things. And at the same time, we will find great joy in
doing His will and His work!
Knowing and functioning in your gift is at the heart of the local church. Doing church as a
team doesn't mean one person doing a hundred things. It is about a hundred people doing one thing
each - doing the thing they have been gifted to do! This is not only possible - it is how God created
us. (I Peter 4:10)
Next time, how does God equip his people? What are the three basic categories of gifts that
are used to build up the body of Christ at Grace Presbyterian
Church?

AL   KLEINSASSER
(continuation from last month)
It arrived, the notification that I was about to enter a new phase in my life's journey.
The letter came in the form of a draft notice (not one that I was exactly looking forward too).
For the next two years at least, I would have a taste of military life.  Whereas I thought the
military was going to be a detour, God had other plans. It was within a few days
after I arrived at my one and only duty station that I came in contact with a Christian group
called The Navigators. The Navigators are a para-church organization that concentrate on
helping one to develop a closer relationship with God along with the disciplines of living a
Christ-centered life. This group of committed Christians at my base had a profound impact of
my spiritual life. My next year and a half of military life became more like a course in
practical Christian living. I found that the military was a challenging place to grow in my
faith, especially being a part of the Marine Corps.

Sometimes God puts us in places where we have to learn to "sink or swim". He knows we
won't survive unless we constantly seek his help. I found myself in one of those places. I can think of
few environments which became for me more spiritually, physically, and mentally stretching. God
prepares us for the next phase in life in some unique ways.
The military for me was not only an opportunity to serve my country, but taught me a lot
about living for Christ in the midst of adversity. Paul writes to Timothy: "Endure hardship with us like
a good soldier of Christ Jesus" (2 Timothy 2:3). A soldier needs to be ready to respond to the call of
duty — so it is with the Christian soldier.

We cannot always choose our training grounds, but God in His foreknowledge looks ahead in
providing an atmosphere where He knows we'll have to rely more on Him. I'm still in the process of
learning that lesson because God seems to provide new training grounds to follow the previous.
God's blessings!
 
 
 

      PARENTS!!  IT'S NOT TOO LATE!!  COME TO THIS CLASS!!

    The Parenting Class started the six-session series on April 18, but you can check out a tape to catch up and still join us.  The classes will continue through
May 23.  The video/discussion series is called "How to Make Your Children Mind Without Loosing Yours!!  It is for parents of children from infants through
the teenage years.  No registration is required, just come and learn in a class filled with humor, wisdom and insight into parenting.  The man who wrote the
series is married and has five children.
    More information on the class can be found on the bulletin board in the fellowship hall.  If you have questions, please contact Nancy Dornfeld at 452-4041.
 

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

    Chadder Chipmunk has an adventure each day in VBS this year.  He will keep kids on the edge of their seats as he shows us how to let Jesus' love flow.
"Lava-Lava Island Where Jesus' Love Flows" is the title of this year's VBS to be held June 13-17 (Sunday - Thursday evenings) at Grace Presbyterian Church
from 6-7:30 p.m.  Children ages 3 through grade 6 are invited to participate.  Ages 3-4 will meet alone part of the time with a separate lesson.  Ages K - grade 6
will meet together for multiage activities, Bible stories, singing, crafts, games, drama and snacks.
    First Baptist Church will be teaming with us in planning and teaching the event at our church.  It you are interested in helping with VBS, please contact
Kathy Rosendahl at 687-4601 or any member of the C.E. Committee.
    Children are encouraged to invite friends.  Please mark your calendar now and sign up on the list in the Fellowship Hall by June 6.
 

RECOGNITION SUNDAY
    On Sunday, May 23 during the 9:15 Sunday School opening service, we will celebrate the 2003-04 year by presenting each youth with a small award.  This
is the last day of Sunday School until we start again on Sept. 12.
 

THANK YOU SPRING QUARTER TEACHERS!!!!
    The following teachers have put in many hours of working with our youth and adults to share the Good News of Jesus Christ, giving us a foundation to go
into the world and make disciples.  Be sure to thank them in person!

    Nursery -------------Holly Martiin
    Ages 3-5 -----------Dave Polachek
    Grades 1-6 --------Kathy Rosendahl
    Grades 7-12 ------Heather Boesch and Jean Hayes
    Adults ---------------Kathy Weiner and Janet Nustad
    Parenting ---------- Nancy Dornfeld
    Music --------------- Kathy Weiner
    Substitutes-------- Gayle Arndt and Mary Rennells
 

OUR SUNDAY SCHOOL MISSION MONEY
    This year our first Sunday of the month offering and birthday money will go to Rock Solid Youth Center in Winona.  We hope invite Greg Moser from Rock
Solid to receive the check from us on Sunday, May 16 during the Sunday School opening time.
 

 M&S
One Great Hour of Sharing, as of April 18, had received $735 Those wishing to contribute may still
do so by sending your gift to the church. Thank you for your generous giving.
Thank you to: Tammy Engstler, Elayne and Willard Haedtke, Corrine Noonan, Walt and Dorothy
Gilbertson and David Kennebeck for delivering meals for Volunteer Services during the month
of April. It was a new route for the churches this year- a regular route of going to individual homes,
not just Valley View Towers. It worked out very well. Thank you again.

Fellowship and Evangelism Louis Palau Festival

The Fellowship and Evangelism Committee is hosting a day on the State Capitol Grounds for the
Twin Cities Festival with Luis Palau, an Evangelist, on August 7,2004. Envision the biggest party you
have ever attended multiplied by 100 or even 1000. Add fun, awesome Christian bands, an exciting
children's area, world class skateboarding and BMX demos and opportunities to see your friends and
family come to Jesus Christ. This event is being brought to the Twin Cities by Luis and hundreds of
churches in the area.
Our day will consist of riding a coach bus to St. Paul leaving, Winona at 9:00 a.m. We will arrive
at the Festival approximately 11:15 a.m and will remain there until 4:30 p.m. We will be bused to
Pastor Al and Linda's house in Woodbury where we have an outdoor barbeque. We will return to
Winona at approximately 9:00 p.m. We will have a sign-up sheet on the hall bulletin board soon. We
will need a minimum of 30 people or the bus will be canceled. The only cost will be for the bus which
will be 30 - 31 people - $16.00 each; 32- 34 people - $15.00 each; 35 - 37 people - $14.00 each ; 38 -
39 people - $13.00 each; 40 - 42 people $12.00; 43 - 45 people $11.00 46 or more $10.00 each.
BRING A FRIEND OR FRIENDS!
There are activities for all ages at the festival. For more information you can go online at
www.palau.org/twincities/about.php

Pentecost Offering
On Pentecost Sunday we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit as a bringer of new life. We will
also take an offering to provide nurture and hope to young members of God's family.
The Pentecost Offering for children at risk, youth and young adults, is one of four annual
church wide Special Offerings of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) that provide opportunities, in
addition to regular giving, to support missions. It was first received in 1998 and since then over $4
million has been given to help children and youth. We will take the offering on the Day of Pentecost-
cost, Sunday May 30. 40% of the money received by individual churches is to be used for local
ministries with children at risk. This year our share of the offering will go to help the Women's'
Resource Center Children's Project, a program in which children work with Master Gardeners and
learn about gardening and working together. They use the community garden at Redeemer Lutheran
Church to prepare, plant, care for and harvest their own garden plot. All children are welcome but the
majority of the participants are children at risk.
We supported this program last year and were very pleased with the results and the enthusiasm of the
children and their leaders.
The remaining 60% goes to the General Assembly and is divided among Child Advocacy, Young
Adult Volunteers and Ministries with Youth and Young Adults.
This offering is one of many opportunities we offer to our members to help support various needs
and programs. We invite you to give to those programs that you prefer to support. We do not
expect people to contribute to every offering. Be selective but give from the heart for those in need.

Three High School Seniors from Grace Church

There are three young men from our church who will be graduating from high school this June.
Brent Domfeld, Jon Lica, and Nicholas Morawiecki will be recognized during the worship
service on Sunday, May 23 at 10:45 a.m. They will be receiving Bibles ingraved with their name, the
traditional gift from our church family to the graduating seniors. Please be present on this
special occasion to help us honor Brent, Jon, and Nick!

Clerk's Corner
Mar)' Lowery, Clerk of Session
When Jerry and I were going to college in Los Angeles (many years ago), we used to go to a place called
the "Ice House" that was located in Pasadena, California. This was a place where "up and coming" entertainers
would come and, well, do their thing. For the most part, they were all pretty much the same. They would play a
little, sing a little, and joke a little. But, there was one that stood out above the rest and I can't put my finger on
He just "had" the audience. There was something about him that got our attention, even when he sang such silly
songs as "See Them Toadsuckers". You might say he had "a presence" about him.
This is what I imagine Jesus to be like. I can picture Him standing on a rock addressing the crowd and he
would have the audience's complete attention. There would be "a presence" about Him that would capture and
enrapture the crowd. His words would be enamored as they are today. One might even feel "His presence" today
when they are served communion or when a baby is baptized. I'm sure that this was God's intention. "This is my
Son with whom I well pleased".
Your session may not come close to "enamoring" you but we are trying to do God's work through and for
you. Session doesn't meet until April 25th this month. At that time we will be finalizing summer worship times,
discussing TV purchases, honoring remembrance fund requests, and anything else you, Candi, Doug, and Al
have in store for us. Check out the bulletin board each month for the worshipful work of the Session in the forn
of minutes.
One more thing, the entertainer at the "Ice House" was Ray Stevens.

JOYS

David Domfeld was recognized for 30 years of service with the County.
Graduating seniors: - Jon Lica and Bren Domfeld; Nick Morawiecki.

Rita Bell, Carol Rennells Bell's mother-in-law is back home recuperating from a serious car accident.
Rita's mother, also a victim of the accident, is recuperating at Lake Winona Manor.

Jenny Dietrich has moved back to Winona.

Deacons
March Food Drive. A special thank you to all who contributed to the Minnesota March Food
Drive that the Deacons supported at Grace.
Our goal of 300 pounds of food fell short by one pound. However, with the $784.85 in cash
donations we more than made our goal. This all equated to about 1870 pounds of food - just
shy of one ton of food. Again, thank you one and all. The Deacons.
 

All Presbyterian Ladies at Grace Church are invited to come to a noon Luncheon Saturday
May 8th. Sign up or call the office if you are comming. Brind a Friend.
We will be showing a 1991 Style Show video Starring the men from Grace.
There will also be a door prize.
i