Student Ministry Team (SMT) Plans an Exciting Summer
Karen Jensen and Chris Adams
Student Ministry Team
We’ve had an exciting start to our summer activities for families. Tuesdays found us at Deephaven beach for lunch and an afternoon of swimming and games. Kids and adults from Grace interacted with others at the beach as we enjoyed warm weather, water and fun. Please pray for a couple we met who is looking for a church and signed their Guatemala-adopted youth girls up to help at our VBS Day Camp.
As an intro to Picnics at the Park on Wednesdays, Pastor Dan, Chris Adams and John Bogle implemented a short devotional focusing on loving like Jesus, based on the “5 Love Languages” by Gary Chapman. The rest of the summer will focus on living like Jesus. Following some tasty food, kids and parents have enjoyed group games like Big Base. We also look forward to Capture the Flag.
We’re drawing more families in, especially as Yiran, the Christian Chinese teacher at Excelsior Elementary has joined us and is inviting several friends to come. She will be co-leading the first summer of Mandarin Chinese Day Camps at Grace (see the “Something New” article).
We have some other new “regular” families joining us Wednesdays We pray God will integrate them into our midst as you all come and help welcome them from our picnics to our Sunday morning services.
(Please see “SMT”, p. 4)
Something New
(Exciting news)
Yiran Li, Christian Chinese teacher at Excelsior Elementary
We are so thankful to hold our first exciting Chinese Summer Day Camps at Grace Church in Deephaven on July 17 – 21 and 24 – 18. Please invite anyone you know to join us for one or both weeks.
Huamei Cultural Exchange has been working with Grace Church in Deephaven to introduce the Chinese Day Camp. The Camp is to meet many Chinese immersion students and many other kids who are seeking to learn more of the Mandarin language and understand Chinese culture. (Please see “New”, p. 4)
Praying for America
Pastor Dan
I was recently asked, “How do you pray for America, Pastor Dan?” I answered by saying I pray for the government and the branches of government. As I think more about that question, I would add that there are also other areas of influence that are especially in need of prayer: education, military, business, church—to name some. But there is one that is often neglected in our conversations with God: the media. The media has profound influence in our nation and I think it is becoming more and more troubling. So here is a prayer I wrote for the National Day of Prayer concerning the media:
Prayer for The Media:
Lord of the harvest, we know that the media has been a blessing to millions. We pray for those who can use the media for the advancement of the kingdom of God. We ask that You touch people’s hearts and minds through Christian programs and media websites. Holy Spirit, rain down upon Christian broadcasting. We thank You for the increase in the Christian music industry, for Christian literature and sound Christian websites. We ask that You continue to open doors for the proclamation of Jesus Christ, that the gospel may go forth through the media.
Lord in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Father, we also know that the media is used in many destructive ways. Just as many are blessed through the media, there are also millions who are brought into bondage through the media; whether bondage to images found on TV and the internet and printed material, or bondage to destructive thought patterns that grip people and destroy their lives. Thank You that You are in the business of setting people free. Bless the body of Christ wherever it is being used to free people from the bondage that comes through the media.
Lord in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
We also know, Father, that with freedom comes responsibility. Instill in the entertainment industry a sense of moral responsibility and uprightness. Instill in them the sense of accountability to the public, to us as people, and to You, the Lord of the universe. Cause them to conduct themselves in a responsible manner. We ask that journalism be fair and accurate in their reporting. We pray this in the name of the One who is the Word of God, the Alpha and the Omega, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.. V
God Bless America
Judy Severson, Altar Guild Director
America became a free country on July 4, 1776. What many people have forgotten or may not know is that “America is a nation under God, founded on Christian principles” (Katherine Phan - Ecumenical Press).
Our 40th President Ronald Reagan wrote, “Without God there is no virtue because there is no prompting of the conscience. Without God there is a coarsening of society. Without God democracy will not and cannot long endure. If we ever forget that we are one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under.”
As we celebrate our independence, I pray we remember that without the sacrifice of many who followed God's sacrifice of His Son, there would not be an America to bless.
God Bless America!
O
On duty for July are Kathy Raymond and Mary Sonderup. V
Freedom
Peter Marshall
“May we think of freedom not as the right to do as we please but as the opportunity to do what is right.” V
Congratulations Graduates 2017
These young people were recognized at the June 4, 2017 worship service at GELC:
Sam Beatty
Grandson of Darrell and Mary Sonderup
ì Graduated from: Hopkins High School
F Destination: North Dakota State University, majoring in Engineering.
Olivia DeBoer
Daughter of Dewayne and Laura Deboer
ì Graduated from: Minnetonka High School
F Destination: Bemidji State University
Matthew Kraines
Grandson of Darrell and Mary Sonderup
ì Graduated from: Chanhassen High School
F Destination: University of North Dakota Vermillion, majoring in Business
Peter Paulson
Son of Paul and Carol Paulson
ì Graduated from: Mankato State University with Bachelor of Science Degree in Manufacturing Engineering Technology
F Destination: New factory automation team at KEB America (Karl E. Brinkmann GmbH based in Barntrup, Germany) in Shakopee
F Trent Youngdahl
Son of Ron and Lisa Youngdahl
ì Graduated from: Gustavus Adolphus with Bachelor of Science Degree in Economics and finance
F Destination: Employment in the Twin Cities area V
Plan Ahead for the
August and September Newsletters
The August issue of the newsletter will include promotions in addition to articles. The deadline for the August “Grace Good News” is Thursday, July 20.
Our plan for the September issue is to feature articles and promotions, as well as testimonies. Articles are needed for the September issue on Thursday, August 17. V
Financial Results
through May, 2017
Rob Severson, Finance Secretary
Giving / $120,896.00Spending / $170,076.45
Over (short) / $ (49,180.45)
V
Picnics in the Park
5:30 PM Wednesdays
June through September 6
Chris Adams, Family Ministry Director
Summer is in full swing in Deephaven, and we are soon wrapping up our 5th year of Picnics in the Park. Wednesday evening pizza picnics at Thorpe Park have become a much anticipated summer activity for the families that have joined us the past years. Every week we meet a new family or dog that’s strolling through the park or frolicking around the playground. So much laughter fills the air, and stories abound as people relax after work and get to know each other. Everyone is welcome and we especially enjoy it when dads and moms join in the games like Big Base or Capture the flag after dinner. We hang out until dusk and hope to get to know a few more neighbors. In the words of Mr. Rogers, “Would you be mine, could you be mine, won't you be my neighbor?” So, if you don't want to cook and would like to enjoy some sweet summer evenings, join us. We'll be there at 5:30 PM every Wednesday through September 6. After that, you can come to Grace in Deephaven at 5:30 PM Wednesdays for home cooked meals throughout the fall, winter, and spring.
(Look for this article in the August or September Deephaven Life Magazine. It was submitted with pictures from Dan Weber, who is helping update our website with some aerial views from drone footage). V
Grace Preschool Says
“CHEERS to 60 Years”
And Good-bye to Chantal Ruzin
Gwen Cosgrove, Preschool Director
We just finished our 60th year of educating young children. It was an awesome year and we have so much to be thankful for. We have a great team of teachers who come each day and dedicate their time and energy to love and teach these kids about God, and to prepare them for a lifetime of learning. We have wonderful families with beautiful, funny and amazing children that bless us each day with their trust, love and encouragement. And we have a wonderful church family that supports us wholeheartedly in more ways than you can imagine. Blessings are abundant around us.
The end of the year also brought us the news that Chantal Ruzin will not be returning in the fall as our pre-k teacher. She has decided to focus on her real estate career, and we wish her all the best. Chantal has assured me that she would love to return to sub for us or help us out when we need a hand. She will be missed by all of us but we pray for a bright future for her!
We appreciate everyone who is involved in some way, shape or form with our preschool. Thank you for your prayers, love, support and encouragement. We couldn’t do it without you. CHEERS! V
“SMT” continued from p. 1
July
As we look ahead to July we anticipate a week of Vacation Bible School (VBS) Day Camp, featuring Passport to Peru. (See “Join US For VBS Daycamp” on p. 6)
During the July 24 – 28, Grace will again host a 5-Day (Good News) Club at Thorpe Park for community kids. 5-Day Club is similar to VBS and sponsored by Child Evangelism Fellowship. Following lunch, kids will participate in club activities and end with big group game time.
August
In August we will resume 12:30 PM Tuesday Deephaven Beach days after an 11 AM Bible Discovery class to whet the appetite of our students in 4th – 12th grade. In addition, over a half dozen families will head north—back to Covenant Pines Family Camp on August 10 – 13.
Fall
As we enjoy summer activities, the SMT is also making plans for fall themes. Kids Quest (Wednesdays) and Kids Church (Sundays) will coordinate by using a curriculum called, “In Jesus, the Victory is Won!” This includes lessons, stories, memory verses and take home points. This theme is at the center of the “500th Anniversary of the Reformation” celebration on October 31 and November 1. The AALC has chosen Grace to host this great event for all 63 churches in the AALC. We look forward to how the Holy Spirit will continue to shake us up, lead and guide each one of us to reach one of our neighbors, coworkers, friends and family. V
“New” continued from p. 1
Students will sharpen their Mandarin language skills by participating in Chinese language learning in all forms of culture related fun activities. For example, we'll do traditional Chinese language games, drama, calligraphy, ink painting, paper cutting, origami, and a fun game called Gongfu. The daily theme will focus on words from the fruit of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, which will be incorporated into our Chinese vocabulary learning. There will be a lot of park and gym fun too. Welcome children! Let’s embark on an exciting Chinese Culture tour!
Register online at https://goo.gl/forms/5sfD9KZPQQW6GEgr1
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Grace Preschool
Gwen Cosgrove, Preschool Director
We are seeking to hire for the following two positions, starting in August:
Pre-K Teacher
We are hiring a pre-k teacher for our morning preschool class from 9 – 11:30 AM for children ages 3½ to 5 years of age. This person will be a DHS* qualified teacher, planning lessons and activities to prepare children to enter kindergarten. Additional hours are available in the early morning from 7:30 AM to 9 AM.
PM Lead Teacher
We are also seeking to hire an afternoon lead teacher from noon to 5 PM, three to five days per
week. This person will be a DHS qualified teacher and will be responsible for rest time and afternoon lessons and activities.
Interested candidates can email their resumes to Gwen Cosgrove, Director at or call Gwen at 612-991-6677 to discuss these opportunities.
*For our readers who aren't teachers, DHS stands for Department of Human Services. V
Join Us For VBS Daycamp
PASSPORT TO PERU
July 10 through 14
Gwen Cosgrove
Co-VBS Coordinator