2016 Highlights

  • Feb. 10: Mid-week Lenten Services begin with the theme, “Probing Questions of the Passion.” Services were preceded by soup suppers.
  • Feb. 14: Four barrels containing Bibles, hymnals, computers, and clothing were shipped to Liberia
  • Mar. 17-19: One child from Grace competes with Berea at the CLC Grade School Basketball Tourney in Eau Claire
  • Mar. 25: Good Friday Tenebrae service with Holy Communion
  • Mar. 27: Easter worship service preceded by breakfast served by men of the congregation.
  • Apr. 7: School geography fair with an Olympics theme.
  • Apr. 17: Ryan Mueller volunteers to gild the altar.
  • Apr. 25-27: Grace students took the Iowa Basic Tests.
  • Apr. 29: Kindergarten visitors’ day at Grace and Immanuel High School Visitors’ Day in Eau Claire, WI.
  • May 22: Confirmation of Patrick Baker, Sarah Eichstadt, Victoria Kitzman, Beatrice Lentz, Jessica Maki, and Kylee Yang
  • May 26: Grace school spring program presents, “Beauty and the Beast”
  • May 27: Last day of classes for Grace school students as summer begins.
  • May 29: Grace school graduation (Patrick Baker) and recognition of other graduates (Annie Rhinesmith, Isaiah Bergstrom).
  • June 9: Grace School students, parents, and supporters walk in Spring Lake Park Tower Days Parade promoting our Christian Day school.
  • June 23-26: CLC Convention in Eau Claire with Benno Sydow and Dave Rust as delegates from Grace.
  • July: Painting on the parsonage exterior is completed.
  • July 17: The Voters make various revisions to the church constitution, including removal of the position of vice chairman and revision of the terms of the executive officers to a three-year cycle.
  • July 20-31: First part of vicarage for Seminarian Sam Rodebaugh.
  • July 25-29: Vacation Bible School with average attendance at 35 students, 18 of them non-members. Because of VBS there was an increased interest in the Christian Day School.
  • Aug. 20 – Sept. 21: Vicar Sam Rodebaugh serves at Grace.
  • Aug. 21: Immanuel school year begins with installation of Professor Paul Naumann. Three Grace members (Patrick Baker, David & Julianna Hein) attend the high school and one member (Ned Sandhoefner) in the college.
  • Aug. 29: Opening of Grace 2016-17 school year with 20 children enrolled in grades Kindergarten through 8th grade (eight of them non-members).
  • Sept. 7: 40th Anniversary of beginning of Grace School
  • Sept. 18: The annual church picnic is held on the church grounds.
  • Oct. 4-5: Pastor Hein attends and chairs the Minnesota Pastoral Conference held at Okabena, MN.
  • Oct. 9: Mission Festival with Guest Preacher Pastor Paul Tiefel along with the annual blood drive.
  • Oct. 12-14: Teacher Janelle Hein attends the CLC Teachers’ Conference in Valentine, NE.
  • Oct. 30: Minnesota Area CLC Reformation Festival at Berea Lutheran Church in Inver Grove Heights with the theme “The Lutheran Confessions: A Great Reformation Blessing.”
  • Oct. 31- Nov. 12: Pastor Hein travels to Liberia with focus on training of pastors who have a heightened interest in the truth of God’s Word. The CLC Board of Missions sends retired Missionary Koenig as well.
  • Nov. 6: Visitation team (Prof. Sullivan, David Hein, and Sippert) from ILHS, ILC and Seminary presented a focus on importance of Christian Education and life at Immanuel.
  • Dec. 2: Grace School Field Trip to “Peter and the Wolf”
  • Dec. 7: Midweek Advent worship services begin with meditations on the theme: “Lord Jesus, Come to Me”
  • Dec. 16: Grace grade school presents a concert at Northtown Mall
  • Dec. 21: Congregational Christmas dinner and Candlelight Worship Service
  • Dec. 24: Christmas Eve worship service is held in which the children present the Christmas message with the theme: “This is Most Certainly True”