Kickoff Sunday & Ministry Fair
September 13, 2026
Many of you have asked – How do I get more involved? How can I more actively participate in the church? All of these opportunities will be present at the Ministry Fair!
Stop by to get more information and/or to sign up for something new!
God's Work, Our Hands
On September 20th, the Grace community will have a shortened worship service and then go out and serve our community. There’s a range of options, both onsite and offsite, for all ages and mobility levels. Sign-ups are required, so register online or at the Ministry Fair! Sign-up deadline is Tuesday, September 15.
Worship
So many things happen to make worship possible every Sunday – from tidying pews to baking communion bread to reading scripture to running the slides for our livestream. Pastor Sarah will be at this table if you’re interested in playing a more active role in worship this fall.
Music Ministries
Our choirs rehearse on Wednesday evenings - Handbell Choir at 6:00p and Vocal Choir at 7:00p. You are welcome to join, even if you can't commit to weekly rehearsals! There are opportunities for solos & small groups as well - vocal and instrumental. Noah Stremmel and Sheryl Vande Kamp (our Music Co-Directors) will be present to talk about music ministry at Grace – make sure to stop by if you sing or play an instrument!
Children, Youth, and Family (CYF) Ministry
Learn more about upcoming ministry opportunities for children and youth this fall. You can sign up your kids for programs here, and also learn of opportunities to help as parents/adults. Sign up for the Grace Generations Buddy Program, which pairs our kids and youth with adult members of our congregation. Explore volunteer opportunities, including leading Kids Connect, providing snacks for post-church kids ministry, and serving in the nursery. Also at this table will be information about Kids Choir and Chimes – two awesome musical opportunities for kids and youth! CYF Director Leslie Pietila and Heather Olivier will be present at this table to share opportunities and answer any questions.
Ushers and Greeters
Our greeters and ushers extend the first welcome to Grace on Sunday mornings. Their presence is critical for communicating our values of welcome and hospitality. You can sign up to serve in either role on a recurring schedule, or jump in when you can. Training is provided! Lee Nelson will be present to share more info!
Care Ministries at Grace
Card Ministry - this group writes cards to Grace members celebrating milestone birthdays & anniversaries, and cards of care to those grieving or experiencing health issues. No signup or prior experience needed – this group meets on the first Wednesday of the month at 1:00p.
Prayer Shawl Ministry – this group gathers to knit or crochet prayer shawls and baptismal blankets. Experienced crafters in the group are willing to teach! Patterns, yarn and hooks/needles are available for those who want to try and don't have materials. This group meets on the fourth Wednesday of the month at 1:00 or work on your own at home (guidelines available).
Visitation Team – these volunteers extend care and bring communion to those in our community who aren’t able to make it to church – either short-term or long-term. Volunteers visit people in homes, hospitals, or rehab facilities. Training is required and provided. Scheduling can flex with your availability. Pastor Reed and others will be at this table to answer any questions and provide information on upcoming trainings.
Funeral Hospitality Team
This team provides welcome, hospitality, and logistical support to families on the day of a funeral. They receive the flower deliveries, assist families in setting up memorial tables, and greet guests when they arrive. Serve when your schedule allows. Char Green will be present at this table to answer any questions.
Meal Preparation, Communion Bread Baking, and Coffee Servers
We serve lunch following our short midweek service on the 1st Wednesday of the month. Help is always welcome in preparing the meal, serving, and cleaning up. Communion bread is baked weekly by community members in their homes and delivered to church. The recipe and ingredients (already measured!) can be picked up in the church office. Volunteers set up, serve coffee & clean up after worship services on Sunday. Julie Martin and Marlys Brandell will be at the table to answer questions!
Public Faith Forums and Training
Grace’s Public Faith Team is working alongside ISAIAH (a statewide organizing group) to get ready for the upcoming election and to deepen our community connections. On the evening of Thursday, September 24, there will be a training for our whole community on Knowing Our Neighbors and Building Public Discipleship, as well as Sunday forums on September 27 and October 4. We are planning a public action in collaboration with the Rosemount Mosque. Melissa Loe and Lee Hallstrom will be present to share more!
Data Center Ride for Responsibility
Learn about the impacts of data centers on communities and sign up to participate in the October 3rd Ride for Responsibility. A local coalition is working to halt the construction of new hyperscale data centers; this ride is one way of demonstrating our collective resistance. Cathy Peregrino will be present with more information.
Guatemala Partnership
Grace has a partner congregation in Guatemala: Mensajeros de Cristo. We support each other with weekly prayers and we send a delegation to Guatemala to visit and build relationships every 18-24 months. The next delegation from Grace will travel there in November 2026. There is an upcoming pie sale fundraiser on October 25 – sign up to make a pie (of any kind!) and bring it to church on 10/25. Patricia Wick and Lisa Wolf can answer any questions!
Holiday Boutique and Lefse Sale
This annual Craft Fair/Lefse Sale benefits several ministries at Grace and welcomes hundreds of people each year. There are many opportunities to make lefse throughout the month of October and experienced lefse makers love to teach! Help is also needed to set up, clean up, greet visitors, and assist vendors on the day of the Craft Fair: Saturday, November 7. Paula Albright and Larry Clausen are leading the charge this year – stop by to learn more!