Our student ministries will hold their final Family Night of the season this Wednesday, May 1, from 5:15-7:00 PM.  This time, we’ll meet at the Youth House for a cookout and picnic with hamburgers and hotdogs hot-off the grill, potato salad, baked beans, watermelon, chips, and cold beverage.  Several games will be available to enjoy including cornhole, ladder ball, croquet, giant Jenga, pool, foosball, air hockey, balls, crafts, and more.  We’ll conclude the night by making s’mores around our fire pit.  All our Fish Net children and ROCK youth along with their parents, siblings, grandparents, families, and friends are welcome and invited.  Please join us for this fun evening of food, fun, building connections, strengthening families, and making memories!   

Our very own praise band, “Spirit of Grace,” will present a concert of praise, worship, and testimony on Saturday, April 27.  The concert is free and will run from 7:00-8:15 PM in the Grace Church sanctuary.  Various band members and others will also share some brief testimonies of hope and encouragement throughout the concert. All are invited to come and worship our great God in this special evening of praise.  Invitational flyers and posters are available in the foyer. Click HERE to view and/or print a flyer to pass along to someone. Please reach out and bring your friends. Let us worship our great God together. Everyone welcome!

All are invited to come together for a church-wide supper on Saturday, April 27, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM, serving until 6:30 PM.  Menu includes meatloaf, mashed potatoes and gravy, green bean casserole, dinner roll, dessert, and beverages including milk, punch, and coffee.  This supper will be a fundraiser for our General Fund and will be coordinated by George & Deb Weich.  There is no set cost, but donations of all sizes are encouraged and appreciated.  Sign-up at the Information Station today to bring a dessert to share.  Contact George and Deb if you would like to help.  Use the flyer attached HERE to reach out and tell your friends about the supper and praise band concert following.  Enjoy great food, fellowship, fundraising, and faith-raising all in one evening! 

The R.O.C.K. kids and leaders invite adults to join us for our upcoming service project at the Northeast Iowa Food Bank on Wednesday, April 24.  The youth will deliver the barrels of food we collect and serve the Food Bank by sorting, sifting, and packing food.  We will also take a guided tour of the Food Bank to learn more about their ministry and service to northeast Iowa.  Please meet at church at 5:45 PM on April 24 to arrange carpools; we will return at 8:00 PM.  It’s a great opportunity to work alongside our youth, serve the hungry of our community, and honor Jesus.  Please sign-up at the Information Station if you would like to join us. Click HERE for a flyer to view and/or print and pass along to someone.

We are delighted to welcome Joshua Harrison into our fellowship who will travel all the way from Michigan just to be with us for this special Sunday!  Joshua is one of the directors for Audio Scripture Ministries (ASM) and a representative to Grace Church.  He will share with us how our mission dollars are making a difference through the important work of ASM and how God has been working around the world.  Check out the information in the foyer to learn more.  Please join us for lunch at the Pizza Ranch at 12:15ish for casual conversation over lunch.  We praise God for our partnership with ASM, making Jesus real to people around the world!

It’s time to rally together to do some spring sprucing up in and around the church facilities. Join us on Saturday, April 13, anytime between 8:00 AM to 12:00 noon to clean gutters, do some yard work, clean windows, polish sanctuary furniture, wipe down ceiling fans, and perform other miscellaneous tasks as needed. Gene Marsau, our property deacon, will coordinate the event. Just come when you can and bring any tools you think may be useful. Lunch will be provided around noon. Many hands make light work!

All children up through 10 years of age are invited to join together for an Easter Egg Hunt on Easter morning beginning at 10:00 AM. Young children will search in the courtyard while older children will hunt around the youth house and parsonage properties. Children are encouraged to sign-up ahead of time (call Kelly @ 319.504.2649) and must accompanied by a parent/adult/teenager. Please meet Kelly Price & helpers in the back Sunday School room Easter morning; a greeter will meet and direct you in the church foyer. Special prizes will be awarded by Pastor Dave at the contemporary service today to the finders of the “Super Egg.” In case of bad weather, the egg hunt will be moved indoors. So, either way, come on out with your kids or grandkids to enjoy the fun! Click HERE to view and/or print an invitational flyer to pass along to someone.

We look forward to celebrating the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Sunday, March 31. Our traditional service will take place at 9:00 AM, featuring special music and the singing of some of our favorite Easter hymns. A contemporary celebration will take place at 10:45 AM, featuring the lively music of our praise band. A light brunch and time of refreshments will be offered in our Fellowship Hall from 9:30-10:30 AM for those who would like to join us. Donations are appreciated. And an Easter Egg Hunt for children will be held outside between services, or inside if the weather is bad. Mark your calendar, plan to join us, and reach out to invite your family and friends. Come and celebrate the greatest event and miracle in all of human history! Click HERE for an invitational flyer to print/view and/or pass along to others!

Remember and reflect on the suffering and sacrifice of Jesus given for you during Holy Week on Thursday, March 28 at 7:00 PM as we hold a special and sacred Maundy-Thursday service for all.  Pastor Dave will share a reflective message and Holy Communion will be shared through individual, pre-packaged elements as we commemorate The Last Supper of Jesus with his disciples.   Mark your calendars and plan to join us as we contemplate God’s incredible and sacrificial love for us.  All are invited to be present for this sacred service, preparing us for Easter morning. Visitors welcome!

Join us at the service of your choice for our special Palm Sunday Celebration, Sunday, March 24! Palm fronds will be handed out to all as a symbol of this special day when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a peaceful donkey some 2000 years ago. How quickly things changed from an atmosphere of praise to one of turmoil and tempest! Pastor Dave will continue our “Journey to the Cross” sermon series setting the stage for Maundy-Thursday and Easter. Refreshments will be served between services. Nursery and Busy Bags available for children. Use your palm frond to form a cross as a remembrance of this special day. Instructions for how to do so will be available. Come, join the festive throng of worshippers with your family as we welcome Jesus into our midst!

Mark your calendar and join us with your friends for our early Spring Seniors’ Luncheon to be held Tuesday, March 12, beginning at 12:00 noon. We’ll meet in our Fellowship Hall for another splendid meal thoughtfully prepared by our volunteers just for you. Then, we’ll be treated to hear from one of our own members, Kelly Price! Kelly will share a little about her upbringing and how she came to faith in Jesus Christ. She’ll share about what keeps her going through the trials and trying times of life. But Kelly will share primarily about her present work as an exercise leader at various senior homes around the community focusing on the importance of nutrition and exercise. Get ready to be inspired, get healthy, and eat some great food - all in the company of good friends. Sign-ups begin in March at church. Or call Elroy Rowenhorst at 319-504-6750 to reserve a space for you and your friends!

Our next Family Night for all kids and families involved in our Wednesday night student ministries will be held Wednesday, March 6, from 5:15 to 7:00 PM.  Children and youth are urged to invite their parents, siblings, grandparents, and friends for a delicious meal served family-style followed by an evening of board games, checkers, cards, dominos, or whatever game you choose to play.  The event is intended to bring families together through positive interaction and make connections with parents of those who attend Fish Net and The ROCK.  Please pray for this special and important outreach event.  Call Pastor Dave at 319-233-4341 if you need more information. All parents and families invited and welcome!

Mark your calendar today as we will meet at 10:00 AM next Sunday, March 3, for a combined worship service to be followed by a church-wide potluck.  Music will be blended in style; and a nursery will be provided.  Please bring a dish to share for the potluck.  Table service and beverages will be provided.  Let’s celebrate our unity as a church family and enjoy friendship and food together.  Invite your friends! 

Couples, singles, families, and friends are invited to a Valentines’ Dinner & Movie Night to be held Saturday, February 17 here at Grace Church.  We’ll begin at 5:30 PM with welcome and check-in.  Then, a delicious supper will be served at 6:00 PM in our Fellowship Hall, followed by the showing of the movie, “Jesus Revolution,” in our sanctuary.  Dessert and door prizes will follow the presentation.  A $10/person donation is suggested to help offset the cost of the meal.  See the flyer in today’s bulletin and in the foyer for more information and then pass it (or several) along to invite your friends.  All couples, sweethearts, singles, and families are invited.  Childcare provided.  Reserve your place by signing-up at the Information Station or calling Kelly Price at 319-504-2649. Newcomers and visitors welcome!

Mark your calendar and join us for our special Ash Wednesday service to be held on Wednesday, February 14. This informal yet meaningful service will begin at 6:00 PM in our sanctuary.  Lent is a season of penitence, prayer, and identification with the sufferings of Jesus Christ.  Join us for this combined and musically blended service of worship and dedication along with the children and youth of our mid-week ministries.  Receive the mark of ashes if you wish and renew your commitment to following Jesus to the cross in order to find life. Pastor Dave’s message will focus on the love of God and our love for God on this Valentines Day. Come join us to enrich your Lenten season!

Our R.O.C.K. youth group will have a special outing to the Get Air Trampoline Park on Wednesday, January 31. We’ll meet at church at our regular time, carpool to Get Air, check-in, have a pizza party and then jump for one hour from 6:00-7:00 PM returning to church around 7:15 PM for pick-up by parents. Cost is $10.00/person which includes “jump socks.” Online waivers must be completed by all who wish to jump prior to the event and must be done by parents or guardians for jumpers under 18 years before entrance to jump area is allowed. Go to www.getairwaterloo.com to complete waiver online and click “Waiver” tab on top page menu. Park includes trampolines, foam pits, dunk lanes, dodgeball courts, tumbling tracks, vending machines, a photo booth, and lots of other fun features. Join us for a night of fun and invite your friends! (Parents/adults contact Pastor Dave if you can help transport kids.) Click HERE for a flyer to see more details and/or to pass along to a friend. All junior and senior high kids welcome!

All are invited and urged to join together for a prayer meeting this Monday evening, January 22 at 6:30 PM as we seek revival in our lives, church, communities, and nation as we begin 2024.  Young and old, friends and visitors are all welcome.  We’ll begin with the open sharing of needs and then enter into a time of group prayer time which will conclude around 8:00 PM.  All revivals begin with prayer.  Please join us. And may God’s renewing Spirit be released powerfully through us!  “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints” (Ephesians 6:18).

All youth from 6th-12th grades are invited to join Wednesday evenings during the school year for “The R.O.C.K.” The R.O.C.K. stands for “Redeemed of Christ Kids” and is a youth group for young people trying to find something solid to stand on in the midst of this shaky and crumbling world. We’ll gather at the youth house, have supper at the church, and then enjoy fun lessons and activities to stimulate friendship and faith in Jesus Christ. A $2/person donation is asked of all participating youth to help offset the cost of supper. Newcomers and friends are welcome. View or download an invitational flyer by clicking HERE. We resume with the start of our second semester on January 17. Come, find stability and security in the solid Rock of Jesus Christ as we share in food, fun, friendship, and faith!

All children 3-year-olds through 5th graders are invited to join on Wednesday evenings during the school year for a delicious meal, a Bible lesson, a craft or activity, lively singing in the sanctuary, and caring teachers. A $2/person donation is asked of all participating youth to help offset the cost of supper. Parents are urged to bring your child(ren) and welcome to tag along and visit any time. View or download an invitational flyer by clicking HERE. We resume the new year with the start of our second semester on January 17. Newcomers and friends invited and expected. Please join us and let’s “catch kids for Christ!”

We resume our regular two-service schedule on Sunday, January 14 with a 9:00 AM traditional worship service and a 10:45 AM contemporary worship service.  A nursery space is available for infants and toddlers and Busy Bags are available for children who wish to remain in the sanctuary. Dress is casual. Refreshments for all are often served in the fellowship hall between services. A video of the second service will also be posted on Facebook and YouTube later Sunday afternoon along with a podcast of just the Scripture reading and sermon. Please mark your calendar today and plan to join us. Newcomers, visitors, and guest are always welcome. Come, be inspired and invigorated in the healing presence of the Holy Spirit in our midst!

Join us for a combined and musically blended service of worship beginning at 10:00 AM. We will also have the privilege of ordaining and installing our new consistory members. Pam Anderson and Lynda Kintzle will be ordained and installed to the position of elder. Debbie Henn will be ordained and installed to the position of deacon. Please support your new consistory members with your vows as we launch a new year in ministry. A nursery space and Busy Bags are available for children. Refreshments will be served in the Fellowship Hall following the service on this special Sunday. Start the New Year off right by worshipping God with your family and friends at Grace Church!

Join us for a 10:00 AM combined service of worship, featuring guest pastor Ron Bartlet while Pastor Dave is off visiting family in Michigan. Ron will bring a challenging message as we prepare to enter the New Year. Elder Phyllis Smith will lead the service. Music may be a blend of traditional and contemporary songs. A nursery space and Busy Bags will be available for children. All are welcome!

Please join us at 6:00 PM on Sunday, December 24, for our traditional Christmas Eve Candlelight Service, celebrating the birth of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ! We'll enjoy the singing of a few traditional hymns, the lighting of the Christ's candle on our Advent wreath, a special solo, a message of hope by Pastor Dave, the passing of the flame around the sanctuary, and the singing of "Silent Night" by candlelight. Everyone will have opportunity to light a candle if they like; and battery-powered candles are available for small children and to those who prefer. Please make this an annual tradition for you and your family and feel free to invite your friends and loved ones. “For to us a child is born and a Son is given!” All are welcome and visitors expected!

The “Women of Joy” Bible study group is sponsoring a Christmas potluck and party for all women of the church and your friends.  We’ll meet at 1:00 PM on Saturday, December 16, in the Fellowship Hall here at church for some food, games, friendship, and fun.   Please bring a dish to share and a $10 gift for the gift exchange.  Sign-up at the Information Station today to reserve your place.  See Kelly Price if you have questions.  All women and your friends are welcome! 

It’s time to start thinking about the Christmas season as it will be here before you know it!  Please join our next Seniors’ Luncheon on Tuesday, December 5, at 12:00 noon in our Fellowship Hall.  We’ll enjoy great food and then welcome the Cedar Harmony Chorus (formerly the Sweet Adelines) as our special guests.  They will sing a variety of songs for the season as we move up to the sanctuary for a mini concert following the meal.  Contact Elroy & Colleen Rowenhorst (319-504-6750) if you have questions.  Sign the sheet at the Information Station today to reserve your place, and plan to join us.  All are welcome!

On Sunday, December 3, we will meet for one combined worship service beginning at 10:00 AM with our annual congregational meeting immediately following.  All members are expected to stay for the congregational meeting at which we’ll vote to confirm two elders and one deacon. We’ll also seek to approve a 2024 budget and mission giving goals.  We’ll receive a report on changes taking place in the RCA.  We’ll hear a report from our Next Generation Ministry Leader, Nadia Boike.  And we’ll hear a brief report from Pastor Dave and share praises for God’s working among us over this past year.  Mark your calendar and plan to attend!