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Spirit of Grace Lutheran Church
Holdrege, Nebraska
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What will you do instead?
Today marks the first day of Lent, a season of penitence and devotion as we prepare ourselves for Holy Week and Easter. One of the questions I often hear in the run up to Lent is: "What are you giving up for Lent?" The answers often times reflect our priorities. Some people will cut back on or give up TV, rich food, or Facebook. Soda (a.k.a. pop, if you like being wrong) is another popular choice. One of the great things about Lent is that for many of us, it's our time each year to take a good look at ourselves and our excesses - and then practice doing something about it. Something we consider less often is what we will do instead. If we cut back on TV, will we just spend that time on the Internet? Are we giving up soda for Red Bull energy drinks -- because hey, it's not carbonated. If you give up cursing or being critical, do you replace those words with positive talk? I hope you'll make time this evening to come to St. Elizabeth's Episcopal Church this evening at 7:00pm, where we will reflect on Lent, penitence, and being a follower of Jesus. We'll receive the sign of the cross in ashes upon our foreheads and the body and blood of the Lord in Holy Communion. I hope this joint Ash Wednesday service becomes a tradition for us. If you haven't given up Facebook for Lent, there is a Facebook Event for our service tonight. It's not too late to share it on your wall and invite your friends into this new discipline.
In Christ,
 Pastor Ted Carnahan P.S. - Grace Place is off this week. We will resume on February 29.
A Small Technical Victory
We're happy to announce that our Canon ImageRunner copier has been successfully upgraded to be a printer as well. This will further streamline office operations and save money on printer ink. And, best of all, the upgrade was accomplished for less than half the cost expected! Hooray!
Family Faith Meetings
Pastor Ted would like to meet with every family in Spirit of Grace for 30 minutes or so to talk about your kids and their needs for faith development. Please click the link below and choose 3 possible times for the meeting that will work for you. Pastor Ted will quickly schedule your meeting after that. Schedule your Family Faith Meeting
New Location Timeline
UPDATED AGAIN: We are currently waiting to know whether the Connection is a possible option. We hope to know soon, and an email will be sent when we have more information. Please continue to hold this decision in prayer. See any member of the Leadership Team or Pastor Ted if you have questions.
Worship
 Did you know? Eighty percent of first-time visitors to a church service attend because they were invited by a friend? Who can you invite to worship this Sunday? Scriptures for this Sunday: 1st Lesson, Genesis 9:8-17, Psalm 25:1-10, 2nd Lesson, 1 Peter 3:18-22. The Gospel Reading is from Mark 1:9-15. Need a ride? Call Bob and Christy Drews, 995-8448.
This Week
 Wednesday, February 22
- 7:00 p.m. Ash Wednesday Joint Worship Service at/with St. Elizabeth's Episcopal Church.
- No Grace Place! We will resume on February 29th.
- No re:form Community Group. It will resume next Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. at the home of Bob & Christy Drews.
- Thursday, February 23
- 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. Nooma Community Group at the home of Wayne and Kathleen DeLaronde.
- 7:00 p.m. Stephen Ministry meets at the church office.
- Sunday, February 26 - Sunday Gathering. At the Memorial Homes chapel in Holdrege - Please use the West entrance.
- 9:15 a.m. Sunday School at the First Presbyterian Church.
- 9:30 a.m. Fellowship and coffee in the chapel of HMH
- 10:30 a.m. Worship
- 7:00 p.m. Adult Forum at the First Presbyterian church library. We will continue discussing "Becoming a Blessed Church" by N. Graham Standish. Please plan to attend.
- Tuesday, February 28
- 6:00 p.m. Making Sense of Scripture Community Group meets at the home of Barry & Karen Daffer.
- 6:30 p.m. Worship Team practice
- 7:30 p.m. Choir Practice
Complete church calendar, including office hours.
Giving to the Community
The Worshiping Community supports several local causes with big needs. Please bring your gifts to Sunday worship and we'll take care of the rest. - Phelps County Food Pantry - non-perishable food and money
- Christian Charity Fund Pantry - laundry detergent, bleach,
fabric softener, toilet paper, tissues, hand soap & sanitizer, bath
soap, shampoo, disposable diapers, and toothpaste
- Phelps Memorial Hospital - sweat shirts and pants, coats, or money to purchase these for ER patients who don't have them
Shoeman Water Project
The Southern Prairie Conference is looking for some help with their Spring Gathering tangible offering. They are collecting clean used and new men, women and children's shoes for an organization called the Shoeman Water Project. This organization sells the shoes to exporters for resale in developing countries. The money gained is used to help purchase well-drilling rigs, water purification systems and other supplies to bring clean, fresh water to those in need overseas. No spiked shoes, football, baseball, track or shoes with worn holes in sole or on the top. Shoes must be a pair. Tie together the shoe laces or rubber band them. For more information about the project contact: Karen Daffer, 1321 Miller St., Holdrege, NE 68949 (308-991-1391). More information about the Shoeman Water Project >
YMCA Family Programs
Spirit of Grace supports families! UPDATE: Fathers, join Pastor Ted and Anneliese and treat your pre-K to 4th grader to a special night at the Y with a Daddy-Daughter Date Night on Friday, February 24 from 6:30-8:00pm. This is a great way to connect with your daughters and show them a father's love, pointing them to their Heavenly Father's love. Register online >Fathers of pre-teens and teen daughters: Sometimes talking about purity is difficult to bring up with your girls. The YMCA is offering a Passport2Purity Daddy-Daughter Date Night to support you in this important part of your relationship with your daughter. Hors'douevres and dessert will be served. Register online >YMCA of the Prairie Website >
Church Needs
- STILL NEED MORE! Your clean, label-free medicine containers to be made into "rice shakers" for worship.
Service Opportunities
Check out these opportunities to serve locally! Reply to this email for details:
- Relay for Life Team Captain - Spirit of Grace is interested in developing a Relay for Life Team to raise money for the American Cancer Society. If you would like to guide our team with fundraising ideas, help us goals, and connect us to the local Relay committee, we'd like to hear from you!
- Host/Hostess Fellowship Coffee Time.
- Communion Servers during worship.
- Communion Bread Bakers are needed.
- Meals On Wheels is very much in need of volunteers. This usually involves picking up a meal (at either Christian Homes or Memorial Homes) to take to shut-ins. It generally takes 1/2 hour to 45 minutes and would be approximately two times per month. If interested, please call Shirley Butz at 995-5958 for further information.
Around the Synod
 Check out these opportunities for connection to the broader church through our Nebraska Synod: - Rev. Lee Griess, assistant to Bishop deFreese and our Director for Evangelical Mission, has announced he is beginning to step back from public ministry due to his Parkinson's disease. Rev. Griess has been an important part of the planning of our new mission center, and we will continue to hold him in prayer.
- Rev. Stephanie Wherry, previously the interim pastor at partner congregation Seeds of Faith Lutheran Church in Lisbon, IA, has received a call to that congregation. We celebrate with her and Seeds of Faith!
Nebraska Synod website >
Prayer Requests
Please pray for: - Alberta Knoles, Dennis Holen, Pastor Steve and Deb Billington, Bob Jones, Rev. Dave Nordstrom, Nicole Aldrich, Delmar Dickey, Ruth Wassinger, Pete Hays, Dee Swanson, Chris Carnahan, Deb Bishop, Adam & Alicia Clark, Liane Mooney, JoAnne Jonas, Patricia Wright, Family & friends of Linda Brummer's aunt Mabel, Martin Fagervik, Josh and Lori Vinzant, Don Sjogren, Rev. Lee Griess, Rev. Susan Haukaas, and "Justin."
- Spirit of Grace, as we consider potential new worship locations.
- Our community group leaders as this ministry gets started.
- The kids, parents, teachers, and volunteers who make Grace Place possible.
If you have additional prayer requests or updates you'd like to see published here, please contact the office (995-8019) or use our prayer request form online >
Lonely? Sad? Discouraged?
 Going through a tough time - emotionally or spiritually? Struggling with a crisis in life? Or simply feeling down? Consider letting a Stephen Minister help. A Stephen Minister is a member of our congregation who is trained to listen, care, encourage, pray, and walk alongside you in difficult times.
It's confidential, free, and very helpful. To learn more, talk with Pastor Ted or a Stephen Leader.
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Please continue to be in prayer and conversation about our community's future location.
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Grace Place is a community meal, a high-energy children's program, and Bible teaching into one great night each week. You can sign up online below.
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