Joys and Concerns

• Joys: Peggy K.’s joy of being with family on Saturday, including extended family; Sue S. Fantastic trip to New York City; Having Oliver (Joel and Diane B. Grandson) with us to help ring the bell and light candles; Finds in the bell tower including an old flag with 48 stars
• Concerns: Sue S. and family on the loss of her dad; For those who have to travel in the upcoming storm; Mike G’s brother-in-law Ray ; Lou Anne K.—doing better but still in Bethesda Nursing home in Willmar.

Schedule

• Sunday, Feb. 26 @ 9 a.m. – Worship
• Tuesday, Feb. 28 @ 4:30 p.m. — Fat Tuesday Meal
• Wednesday, Mar. 1 @ 3 p.m. – Pastor Parish Relations Meeting
• Wednesday, Mar. 1 – NO Choir
• Wednesday, Mar. 1 @ 7 p.m. – Ash Wednesday Joint Service in Granite
• Friday, Mar. 3 – World Day of Prayer
• Sunday, Mar. 5 @ 9 a.m. – Worship/Communion

Joys and Concerns

• Concerns: Family of Rick Sand; Family of Nicole Ruff; Peggy K’s mom making her 4th move in 7 months; Karen SD’s mom, Liz and those who live with Alzheimer’s; “Good Weather” for meatball dinner on Tuesday.
• Joys: Rosanna W. being here; the Beautiful faces in church today; Knowledge Bowl teams that took 3rd & 4th place with their coaches—Jeff I. and Zach K.; Anderson’s having a wonderful evening with Rosanna.

Please see attached.

March 2017 ENCOUNTER.pdf

Schedule

• Wednesday, Feb. 8 @ 5:30 p.m. – Worship & Membership Committee Meeting
• Wednesday, Feb. 8 @ 6:30 p.m. – NO Choir Practice
• Wednesday, Feb. 8 @ 7 p.m. – Council Meeting
• Sunday, Feb. 12 @ 9 a.m. – Worship

Corrections to the previously posted February calendar: Feb. 8 — NO Choir Practice, Council Meeting at 7 p.m.; Feb. 23 Pastor Parish Committee Meeting postponed to March 1 at 3 p.m.

Joys and Concerns

• Concerns: Karen S. mom, Elizabeth; Mike G. brother, Jeff; Gayle I. not feeling well; People dealing with depression.
• Joys: Sunshine and bright blue sky; Peggy K. Fat Tuesday work schedule almost completed; Sue S. work with Arts Council and the free video showing today (before Super Bowl); Name Badges for all—easing the path for visitors; Excitement of trip to the BWCA; Time in the desert, 70 degrees, friends and coffee; Spending an entire day with Mom.

Please see attached for February’s Encounter.

Notes:

• Enclosed in the Encounter are the lists for Church Responsibilities of Fellowship Time and Cleaning the Upstairs of the church.
• The church is in great need of more ushers for Sunday mornings. A few people take the entire month, but there are times when there is just not anyone to fill-in. February and January are especially short. Please give the church office 320-564-2442 a call if you would like to go onto the ushering list. One perk of this task is that you get to pull the rope to ring that wonderful big bell!

February 2017 ENCOUNTER.pdf

Schedule

• Wed-Wed, Jan. 18-25 – Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
• Sunday, Jan. 22 @ 9 a.m. – Worship
• Wednesday, Jan. 25 – ENCOUNTER Newsletter articles due
• Wednesday, Jan. 25 @ 6 p.m. – Potluck; 6:30 p.m. – NO Choir Practice; 7 p.m. – ANNUAL MEETING
• Sunday, Jan. 29 @ 9 a.m. – Worship

Joys and Concerns
(from the week of January 15)

• Concerns: For those traveling, especially through ice storms; Bredeson’s; Those suffering with flu and other seasonal maladies.
• 
Joys: Nicer temperatures this coming week; All the drivers for Dinner @ Your Door this week; Church snow shovelers; MN Conference news of the travelers sharing their stories of the trip to the Holy Land.

Joys and Concerns
(from the week of January 22)

• Concerns: Women who gathered to stand-up for their rights; Ray Gildow, Patrick dealing with cancer; Garrett having surgery; Those dealing with dementia issues, including their families; Joan Macatee; Dan and sleep issues; Those who struggle with SAD in all this gray weather; Grumpy children and youth.
• Joys: Meredith attended Honor Band program, Becky played well!; Katie K attended Women’s March in St. Paul; Inclusivity of those Women’s Marches across MN and around the world; Meredith getting back into the classroom.

Announcements

• NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING AND POTLUCK: The 144th ANNUAL MEETING of the Granite Falls United Church of Christ will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 6pm meal, 7pm meeting. Your presence is needed and wanted.
• SCRIPTURE READINGS FOR NEXT WEEK: Micah 6:1-8; Psalm 15; 1 Corinthians 1:18-31; Matthew 5:1-12
• FAT TUESDAY CAJUN and MEATBALL MEAL: is on February 28. The committee is at work, so start watching for donation and job opportunities to make this a great church and community event.
• CHURCH RESPONSIBILITY CALENDARS for 2017 are ready. They will be in the ENCOUNTER and a few will be available here at the church. Cleaning and Fellowship.
• SCRIPTURE READINGS FOR NEXT WEEK: Micah 6:1-8; Psalm 15; 1 Corinthians 1:18-31; Matthew 5:1-12

Our church and confirmation group raised $694.85 for the food shelf, in addition to collecting 77 food items.

Well done all!

Joys and Concerns:

• Concerns – Those who struggle with depression and its management; Those who are homeless.
• Joys – Maddy visiting Grandpa and Grandma, Steve and Vicke Z; Terry V’s friend has an article in the Rochester, MN newspaper about ending sand fracking in the area; Family gatherings and being home for Christmas; Christmas generosity; That 2017 will be a better year than 2016.

Hey All You Carolers!

Remember that tonight is caroling. This is an ecumenical or better yet a community event. Some high school choir folks will be joining us. Please call everyone you know that enjoys Christmas caroling and encourage them to join us. Anyone can join us at any time along the route, so if you aren’t there right at 5:30 p.m. you know the schedule and can arrive whenever. No excuses. J

Event begins at Henry Hill Apartments at 5:30 p.m. Jeff Iverson will be bringing the song books along.

Then at 6 p.m. we go to Granite Manor, at 7 p.m. to Granite Ridge Place. After that we gather at Hazel and Darrell Carter’s home for a potluck dinner about 7:30 p.m. Please bring something food to share if you can.

Christmas Eve worship is at 4 p.m. on Saturday. Choir is singing. If the time is an issue for you, please feel free to join the folks at First Congregational Church in Monte at 5:30 p.m.

Christmas Day worship is at 9 a.m. as usual. There will not be a choir on Sunday.

Merry Christmas Everyone!