ADULT MINISTRY
Sunday Morning Bible Study
is offered to all interested in searching the Holy Scriptures and discovering
meaning for life. The group meets from 9:00AM-10:00AM. on Sunday morning.
Each study topic is approximately 6-8 weeks in length. The study is held in an
informal, relaxed atmosphere. Good fellowship and coffee are a definite part of
this group!
Mary Martha Bible Study Circle
meets on the first Monday of each month at 6:00PM The Bible Study follows the offering in the Lutheran
Woman Today. Mary Martha is open to all women of the congregation.
The goal is to meet the interests and needs of today's women as they serve in
the home, church and society.
Acts 1:8 Men's Club
meets monthly. The Men's Group is open to all men of the congregation. The goal is to meet the interests and needs of today's men as they serve in the church and society.
The Bear Making Ladies meet on the last Wednesday of each month at 9:30AM.
We give the bears that we make to all babies that are baptized at Grace,
to any members of the congregation in need of special prayers.
We also have requests for bears to go to non-members and we have sent those out with prayers and a special letter.
Everyone is welcome to help. If you can sew, bring your
sewing machine. If you don't sew, we still need help with cutting out
bears, stuffing bears, and some hand work to complete the bears. If
any one wants to give a bear to someone in need of prayers, please
contact a member of the Bear Making Ladies and we will pick one out
for you and write a special letter to go with it. Monetary donations
are welcome to help offset the cost of future bears.
CHILDREN AND YOUTH MINISTRY
Acolyte
training is provided for fifth-eighth graders at least once during the school year.
Sunday School
is offered every Sunday morning after the childrens service. All classes will be using the Life Together
curriculum which is focused on the Scripture lessons for the day. All are included in a
time of devotions and music before the individual class sessions.
Christmas Program
is held in early December and features presentations by preschool and elementary
children as well as other special musical offerings.
Confirmation-Affirmation of Baptism
is a program designed to begin in Third Grade and continue through Eleventh Grade. The program offers
study in both the Old and New Testaments, as well as the history and doctrine of the Lutheran Church.
Each grade level does one unit a year, each unit varying in length from 4 weeks in 3-4-5 grades,
6 weeks in 6-7 grades, and 12 weeks in grades 8-10. The eleventh grade year is a mentoring year with special
projects and ministry.
Early Communion
preparation is normally a part of the Affirmation of Baptism program-fifth grade level.
However, parents wishing to have their children commune at an earlier age, may visit with the
Pastor and arrangements for the study of Holy Communion may be arranged.
LYO-Lutheran Youth Organization,
Senior High School youth group, meets two times each month and offers opportunities for small group support,
retreats, youth gatherings, and service projects. The mission of the group
is to provide a safe place where youth can participate in fun Christian fellowship.
FAMILY MINISTRY
Vacation Bible School
is a one week program for ages 3 years through adults. The school begins on
monday evening and continues through friday, from 5:45PM-8:30PM. A light
snack is provided, also a time for prayer, music, lesson study, games and
crafts.
The Grace Library
is located directly off the Fellowship Hall. There are many selections
offering a wide range including Christian Living, Devotions, Reference
materials, Youth and Children's books. Videos, including the MOSAIC series
are available.
The Prayer Chain
is a confidential ministry through which concerns of the church family and
surrounding community are lifted before the Lord in prayer by members of the
congregation. Requests are passed through a telephone tree and can be made
to Pastor David Birnbaum, or the church office.
The Grace Mission Endowment Fund
was established to enhance the outreach of Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church apart from the general operation of the
congregation. The name Mission Endowment Fund emphasizes the purpose of
the Fund as well as the method for distribution. Income from the mission
Endowment Fund will be used to extend the mission of the congregation beyond
expenditures supported through our regular contributions to community programs,
institutional ministries and other works of the church. New programs for
Grace can be established and concern for the mission of the church beyond the
local congregation can be funded.
The Grace mission Endowment Fund Committee seeks
to manage long-term financial support for the outreach ministry of Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church.
MUSIC MINISTRY
The Chancel Choir
is an adult choir which rehearses every Tuesday evening, during the school year, from 7:00-8:00p.m. The
choir sings regularly at the Sunday morning worship services and provides music
for special worship services. New members are always welcome.
The Chancel Hand-Bell Choir also rehearses every Tuesday evening, during the school year, from
6:00-7:00p.m. Although the number of bell ringers needed is limited, there is always a need for new members to learn the art of ringing.
Youth ministry music
is in the developing stages with many projects underway. Children can participate by singing, acting, and
helping with narration and other behind-the- scenes activities. There is also a
desire to establish an instrumental ensemble. Anyone wishing to participate in such a group, please contact the church office.
MINISTRY TEAMS
As outgrowths and expressions of this congregation's life,
specific teams are called to aid the community of faith in ministering to the
members and to ALL persons who can be reached with the Gospel of Jesus
Christ. Teams convey a cooperative spirit among all members as we are all
working together for the same good.
Following is a brief description of each team and its
basic function. All team meetings are open to the faith community and all
are welcome. If you have a particular concern, be a part of the team and
share in the dialogue and planning of Grace's mission goals.
It is only through involvement, dialogue and planning that the vital work of
spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ can be accomplished. Come join a
team!
LAY MINISTRY TEAM
The Lay Ministry Team has the responsibility to promote the spiritual welfare of the community of faith,
corporately and individually. The team is also responsible for the
spiritual and general welfare of the called clergy and their families. The
team facilitates the involvement of the 'priesthood of believers'
in service to the wider community, particularly in worship.
Such areas of concern are:
- Ushers
- Altar Guild
- Lectors Communion Assistants
- Visitation Ministry Greeters
- Staff Support
WORSHIP TEAM
The Worship Team is responsible to be certain that the worship announces to the community in Word and Sacrament the Good News of Jesus
Christ. True Lutheran worship declares in its preaching, music and liturgy that in Christ Jesus captives are set free
and sinners forgiven.
Basic areas of concern are:
- All worship services Liturgies
- Music Choirs
- Accompanists Worship Environment
EDUCATION TEAM
The Education Team is responsible for the administration, support and promotion of the various programs of Christian
education in the congregation. Educational Ministry is taking seriously the baptismal promises we
make when a child is baptized, that is to nurture, educate, support, and encourage all in their Christian faith.
Areas of concern are:
- FAMILY Affirmation of Baptism
- Library
- Vacation Bible School
- Prayer Chain Ministry
- ADULT Sunday Morning Studies
- Mid-week Bible Studies
- Dominoes/Fellowship Study Groups
- YOUTH Sunday School
- LYO-High School Youth
- Cradle Roll
EVANGELISM TEAM
Evangelism is TELLING THE GOOD NEWS.
We are commanded in Matthew 28:19
"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you."
God has commanded us to spread His Word to all. Evangelism is both outreach and in-reach, working
to spread the Gospel, promote the deepening of the faith and provide opportunities for growth in fellowship,
which builds community. It is welcoming with open arms the stranger in the middle of the community of faith.
Basic concerns of the Evangelism Team are:
- In-reach
- Out-reach
- Fellowship Public Relations
- Women's Organizations
- Men's Organizations
STEWARDSHIP TEAM
Stewardship is EVERYTHING AFTER YOU SAY 'I BELIEVE'. It is the caring
and keeping of ALL that has been entrusted to us by God. Stewardship
involves our total selves, our time, our gifts and abilities, and our
moneys. All that God has given us is not only for ourselves but must be
shared for the work of God's Kingdom.
The Stewardship Team is responsible for guidance to the
congregation in providing various programs for implementing the gifts of all
into the life of the faith community. The team presents the budget and is
responsible for the financial planning as well as planning in time and talents.
SOCIAL MINISTRY TEAM
For Luther, the congregation is the central setting within which people are encountered and embraced by the
Grace of God. In Word, Sacrament, and Mission, the gathered community of
faith is the body of Christ-living and loving, suffering and redeeming, dying
and rising again in the world. Faithful Christian people are called, as
baptized members of the body of Christ, to do what Jesus did. Thus the
congregation is called to be open and vulnerable to the pains and cries of God's
people and to be part of the world's healing.
The work of the Social Ministry Team is to initiate and
promote programs to involve all members of the faith community to a sense of
mission, reshaping and renewal within the community but more specifically to
work for a just and sustainable society in which we all live.
PROPERTY TEAM
The Property Team is responsible
for the overseeing of the physical property of the church. Proper
maintenance is of primary concern. All that we have is a gift from God,
and that includes that which we build with our hands. The land and church
building are not only the responsibility of the team but of all the members of
the faith community.
So as anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation; everything old has passed away; see,
everything has become new! All this is from God, who reconciled us to
himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; that
is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their
trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to
us. So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal
through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For
our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become
the righteousness of God. ~ 2 Corinthians 5:17-21
|
