Save the date for Wednesday, March 12, the Christian Education classes will learn about Holy Communion for the first time or as a refresher.  

PreK-1st grade – Pastor Tania will teach a class with kids and parents/caregivers that will include first communion instruction and practice. 

2nd-6th grade – Bake communion bread. 

Pastor Tania and other members of Grace will be joining Lutheran Services of Iowa (LSI) and the three Iowa synods of the ELCA for Lutheran Day on the Hill in Des Moines on March 11! This is a wonderful opportunity to learn about LSI, advocacy, and to speak with your state legislators about issues that matter to you. Lutheran Day on the Hill is LSI’s biggest advocacy event of the year. Hundreds of Lutherans from all over Iowa will gather at Capitol Hill Lutheran Church to learn about the critical issues that children, adults, and families are facing in our state. After learning about advocacy and LSI’s mission in action, the group heads to the Iowa State Capitol to talk directly with legislators. This year's keynote speaker is State Senator Rev. Sarah Trone-Garriott. Registration is open through Wednesday, March 5. For more information, visit https://lsiowa.org/ldh/. If you have any questions about what to expect or would like to carpool, please contact Pastor Tania at pastortania515@gmail.com.

This month, we are reading “Lessons in Chemistry,” by Bonnie Garmus. We meet on the second Sunday of each month at 7:00 p.m. over Zoom. Each month is a stand-alone conversation, so you can join for one month or for many months. 

For more information and a complete book list for 2025 visit: https://www.gracelutheranadel.org/read-with-grace

Please email Margo Swanson (swansonmes@aol.com) to be added to the notifications list. 

Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83711405764?pwd=a0RvVnI0bktyeWJZSDhEb2luVG9Bdz09

Meeting ID: 837 1140 5764
Passcode: 372643

NOTE: Ash Wednesday worship has been cancelled. A video devotion with prayer and reflection is available: Ash Wednesday Devotional

We begin our forty-day journey toward Easter with a day of fasting and repentance. Marking our foreheads with dust, we acknowledge that we die and return to the earth. At the same time, the dust traces the life-giving cross indelibly marked on our foreheads at baptism. While we journey through Lent to return to God, we have already been reconciled to God through Christ. We humbly pray for God to make our hearts clean while we rejoice that “now is the day of salvation.” Returning to our baptismal call, we more intentionally bear the fruits of mercy and justice in the world.

Join us March 5, 2025, for Ash Wednesday Worship Services at 12:00 pm and 6:35 pm as we begin our forty-day journey toward Easter with a day of fasting and repentance. Marking our foreheads with dust, we acknowledge that we die and return to the earth. At the same time, the dust traces the life-giving cross indelibly marked on our foreheads at baptism. While we journey through Lent to return to God, we have already been reconciled to God through Christ. We humbly pray for God to make our hearts clean while we rejoice that “now is the day of salvation.” Returning to our baptismal call, we more intentionally bear the fruits of mercy and justice in the world.

Who is the best pancake flipper in town? How many sausages fit on a plate? Join us on Tuesday, March 4 from 5:30 to 7:00 pm for Grace’s annual “fat Tuesday” celebration with feasting, fellowship, and fun with food for all ages. Flip pancakes! Relay races in the Narthex! Games and trivia! Find the shrove! (What's a shrove? Come and see!) See you there!

On Saturday, 3/1/2025, the Team Ryan Blood Drive will be held at Grace from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm. Victoria Edwards says: “My son, Ryan, had open heart surgery when he was 6 months old and coded the following morning which required him to be placed on ECMO for a week. During this time he lost A LOT of blood, and we host a blood drive every year now in hopes that our blood drive can replace the amount that he required in 2019 through a large amount of blood transfusions. I never understood the importance of donating blood until my son desperately needed it, and luckily for us the blood bank had it for him at the time and now it’s my mission to spread the word and do everything in my power to make his blood drive a success.”

Please consider donating if you have a little free time on Saturday morning! Sign up for a time slot here: https://donor.lifeservebloodcenter.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/189690

Let’s meet-up for lunch! Join Pastor Tania on Thursday, February 27 at 12:00 pm at Fiesta Mexican Restaurant in Adel (715 Main St.) for casual conversation and chips and salsa. RSVP at pastortania515@gmail.com or 515-707-3815 so we can let them know the size of the group. 

Calling all Sewists!

For our upcoming service project on February 5th, Christian Education will be creating NICU Developmental Hearts. These hearts are worn by parents to absorb their scent and then placed with the baby in the isolette or crib to soothe the baby. This is also a way for babies to bond with parents through the comfort of having their scent nearby when physical contact isn't an option. 

We are in need of help tracing and cutting the hearts out of the fabric so that we are able to jump right into the fun of sewing on the night of February 5th. The heart pattern and flannel fabric will be provided to you - you'll just need to provide the scissors! Fabric and patterns will be available to pick up from the church office starting on Wednesday (1/15) evening during regular church office hours and worship times. Please plan on returning the cut out hearts by Sunday, February 2nd at noon. 

We are also in need of sewing machines to make these hearts! We'd greatly appreciate it if you are able to loan your machine for the night for the kids to sew on. We could also use the expertise of experienced sewists to help guide our students on the machines. Please click here to sign up to help make this service project possible!

Parents, please plan on joining your student(s) at Christian Education on February 5th to help make this a fun way for your students to help out in our community. We will begin the service project at 5:30 and be cleaned up and done at 6:25 for worship at 6:35.

Dine with Grace will be held on Tuesday, February 11th at 6:00 pm at 5 Points Bar and Grill in Dallas Center. Please email or text Sue Cave to confirm your attendance: (515)669-6617 or sbiowalaw@gmail.com.

Do you love to read?

Enjoy learning about new books and genres?
Join a lively group for the “Read with Grace” book club!

Each month is a stand-alone conversation, so you can join for one month or for many months. If you are interested in joining, please email Margo Swanson (swansonmes@aol.com) to be added to the notifications list. For more information and a complete book list for 2025 visit: https://www.gracelutheranadel.org/read-with-grace

Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83711405764?pwd=a0RvVnI0bktyeWJZSDhEb2luVG9Bdz09

Meeting ID: 837 1140 5764
Passcode: 372643

This year’s Christmas Lessons & Carols will include reflections from Martin Luther’s Christmas Book, and even more carols! Worship with holy communion is at 9 a.m. with coffee and fellowship following the service.

Worship is also available over Zoom:
Meeting ID: 468 805 568
Password: Grace 

Celebrate the joy of the season at our first ever “Wednesdays with Grace” Christmas Celebration for all ages!

5:00 pm - Community Meal
5:30 pm - Children’s Christmas Program
6:00 pm - Christian Education Christmas Party with cookie-decorating, crafts, and games
6:35 pm - Worship with Choir Cantata “Jesus! The Advent of the Messiah”

We invite you to worship with us this Advent and Christmas season as we celebrate Christ’s birth. You – just as you are, just as God created you to be – are welcome here! There is a place for you with Grace!

Join us for the Christmas Cantata: “Jesus! The Advent of the Messiah.”

12/15 - 9:00 a.m at Grace Lutheran Church

12/18 - 6:35 p.m. at Grace Lutheran Church

12/22 - 10:00 a.m. at Adel UMC (Worship is still at 9:00 a.m. at Grace)

Celebrate His arrival and worship the Holy Child with this exciting musical. A collaborative work by Mary McDonald and Rose Aspinall, "Jesus!" glorifies the Son of the Most High with both familiar melodies and new songs of praise. It will take your Christmas experience beyond the manger as congregations and performers learn anew the story of the birth of our Savior, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Jesus.

In December, Read with Grace will discuss “The Illustrated Man” by Ray Bradbury.

Join us online: Zoom Link

Meeting ID: 83711405764
Passcode: 372643

Join Bishop Current for a light dinner and an evening of fellowship, conversation, and gratitude for the ministry we share in our synod on Sunday evenings in November. No RSVP is needed and all are welcome! All events are 4:30 PM - 7:00 PM. 

• November 24 Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd - 3820 SW 9th St. in Des Moines

Pastor Tania will be attending the event at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd (Pastor Ronald Myers' church) and would love to see you there!

In November, Read with Grace will discuss “Weyward” by Emilia Hart.

Join us online: Zoom Link

Meeting ID: 83711405764
Passcode: 372643

Join us on Sat., Nov. 2 from 9am-1pm for our annual Vendor & Craft Fair held at Grace Lutheran Church. This tradition is near and dear to many at Grace! Our famous Bake Sale raises money for the Good Samaritan Food Pantry and features some of the BEST bakers around! Our fellowship hall AND narthex will be filled with talented artisans and popular vendors. A fun way to kick off holiday shopping while supporting local vendors and raising money for a great cause.

Watch our Facebook Event Page for more details.

Our 9th graders will be confirmed on Sunday, October 20, 2024!

Worship on Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/468805568?pwd=MWVCM0FEdjhCZDVPN0I1RmtMZ01mQT09 

Meeting ID: 468 805 568 Passcode: Grace

One way we spread God’s love is through service to our community and friends and neighbors in need. Grace is active with the Good Samaritan Food Pantry, Garden of Grace, Annual Christmas Giving Tree and multiple other service opportunities.The Social Action committee helps coordinate service, learning, and advocacy to help our neighbors in need.

The committee will meet on Tuesday, October 15th at 5:30 p.m. in the fellowship hall. We will be spending some time planning our projects for the next six months. If you would like to be part of the committee or assist with one of the projects, please plan on attending. If you are not able to make it, but are still interested, please contact Jamie Loggins-Evans at evansjsl13@gmail.com for more information.

In October, Read with Grace will discuss “The Honk and Holler Opening Soon” by Billie Letts.

Join us online: Zoom Link

Meeting ID: 83711405764
Passcode: 372643

The Youth Group is invited to help tackle a few building projects including some cleaning/maintenance, painting, and adding a coat of stain to the playground set. We will have pizza and will be planning our next youth group activity. Don’t forget your painting clothes! If you have questions, please contact Abby Patterson (abpatters22@gmail.com).

Look for the Grace Lutheran tent at ADM’s TigerFest Homecoming Celebration on Oct. 3 located by the ADM football stadium. Volunteers are needed to help with setup, games during the event, and tear down. Please reach out to Lisa Crawford (lcrawf@outlook.com) or Todd Nordquist (nordquistadm@aol.com) if you can help!