During the encouraged social distancing to slow the spread of COVID-19, we will be connecting and worshiping online.
Join us for online worship on Sundays at 10am by Zoom here or by Facebook here. You may also call in to listen by dialing 312-626-6799 and entering meeting code 908-357-395.
Join us for online for Midweek Mediations on Wednesdays at 6:30pm by Zoom here or by Facebook here. You may also call in to listen by dialing 312-626-6799 and entering meeting code 114-860-901.
You do not need a Facebook or Zoom account to watch videos or listen by phone.
You can also find past videos of worship on Facebook.
If during this time you find yourself in need – your employment is reduced, your isolation increases, or you’re simply wanting a new book recommendation – please feel free to contact Pastor Emmy directly. We will be reaching out to every family in the congregation and finding ways to keep in touch, but we don’t want anyone to slip through the cracks. We are here for you.
In an effort to continue serving our clients but also align with current state and federal guidelines concerning the Coronavirus pandemic, Little Kitchen Food Shelf will temporarily switch to a pickup-only system of distribution, consisting of pre-packed bags of essential food staples, personal items, and fresh produce.
Monday and Tuesday, 3/16 and 3/17
The food shelf will be closed.
Wednesday, 3/18
The food shelf will be closed, but volunteers will be needed to help pack bags between 9am-2pm.
Thursday and Friday, 3/19 and 3/20
Food shelf will be open regular hours these two days, however clients will NOT be allowed inside the building. All pre-registered households will receive pre-packed bags of groceries, and we will follow the normal once-every-four-weeks rule. However, we will only allow pre-registration via the phone—no in-person pre-registration will be allowed during this time.
Week of March 23
Food shelf will be open for all normally scheduled hours, but we will continue following the pickup-only system for the entire week. At the end of the week we will determine our plan for the following week of March 30.
We are requesting a few volunteers on the following days/times to help pack bags, and we are also hoping all previously-scheduled volunteers will be willing/able to come in for their shift. But of course, we do not want anyone to come in if they are feeling sick or if they are uncomfortable helping out in the food shelf during this time.
Volunteers are needed to help pack bags on these days/times:
The Christian church has long been a place of gathering in times of trouble and worry. As new information and confirmed cases of COVID-19 continue to dominate the headlines, we want to be proactive in our community care and prevention.
As of the morning of Thursday, March 12, the Minnesota Department of Health is not recommending the cancellation of community events and church gatherings. If this changes, we will follow the suggestions of the MDH.
While we continue to gather for worship, we will make changes and suggestions to our community life together:
In past weeks, we have moved to communion only by small disposable (compostable!) cups.
We are continuing to provide our usual hand sanitizing station, and added an additional pump bottle near the kids’ worship supplies.
We will be strongly encouraging social distancing during worship. This includes no-contact sharing of the peace (bump elbows, give a two finger “peace” sign, or fold hands in front in a prayer gesture).
Social distancing in worship may also mean sitting further from each other than usual.
Worship will continue to be livestreamed on our Facebook page (facebook.com/gracenempls). You do *not* need a Facebook account to watch the livestream.
We are adding a call-in service so that those without access to a computer can listen by phone to worship! On Sundays at 10am, you may dial 646-558-8656 and enter meeting code 908-357-395 to join. (It may ask you for a participant ID, which you can skip by pressing pound.)
Our food shelf will base its opening and closing decisions on recommendations from the Minnesota Department of Health, the Minneapolis Public School system, and our primary food partners Second Harvest Heartland and the Food Group (who are also implementing additional cleaning procedures).
If you’re scheduled to help with a service activity but you’re sick, you can call or text Pastor Emmy at 612-548-1439 (or contact whoever is in charge of your activity, like Lynn Mena if you’re working in the food shelf!) and she’ll work to find a replacement.
If you are concerned about your financial stability during the outbreak (especially if your employment will be affected), please contact Pastor Emmy so that we might look for resources together to help.
If you’re tired of singing Happy Birthday while you wash your hands, our ELCA colleagues out in the Delaware-Maryland Synod released this alternative:
Our life in Christ is one of compassion and mutual care, and we ask that everyone remain mindful and aware as we do our best to prevent the spread of all illness in our shared spaces. Please reach out if you have any questions or feedback. We will be monitoring the situation and communicating any changes that need to be made. Peace be with you.
Lent begins 40 days (not counting Sundays) before Easter, and it is set aside as a time of self-reflection, prayer, fasting, and charitable giving. In the time of the early Christian church, as adult converts were added, Lent was designated for preparation and teaching, with baptisms and first communions after sundown on Holy Saturday or at first light on Easter Sunday. The 40 days of Lent are for Jesus’ 40 days in the wilderness.
Why purple?
Lent is the season leading up to Jesus’ death on Good Friday and resurrection on Easter morning. Before his crucifixion, Jesus was dressed in a purple robe by Pontius Pilate, mocking Christ’s claim to power. Purple reminds us of the upside-down reign of Jesus, the son of God who dies for us. Purple is also the color of near-night and near-dawn, calling us to self-reflection and repentance.
What’s with the pancakes?
By the 15th century, Lent had been established as a time of solemnity and fasting. Christians were expected to get rid of all the luxurious foods in their house — specifically butter, eggs, and fat. Guess what you can make with those! Thus grew the tradition of Mardi Gras or “Fat Tuesday,” when Christians would eat and drink and do everything else they planned to not do for the next 40 days.
What’s this about fasting?
Fasting has long traditions in many world religions as a way to focus the mind and show one’s spiritual devotion and commitment. Temporary self-denial can invite us to compassion for those who are hungry not by choice, to a remembrance of the trials of Jesus, or to better appreciation of food when we do eat. A common practice today during Lent is to give up a particular kind of food or drink, like chocolate, candy, or alcohol (some even give up coffee!). But in a day and age when eating disorders are not uncommon, it’s important to remember that what we do during Lent is not for us, but for our relationship with God and compassion for our neighbor. A practice that puts us in physical danger is not the kind of fast God invites us to. That’s why we pray at the end of each Lenten service:
May we fast from worry and feast on trust. May we fast from haste and feast on patience. May we fast from judgment and feast on kindness. May we fast from gossip and feast on service. May we fast from resentment and feast on forgiveness. May we fast from fear and feast on love, finding our power for compassion in the life of Jesus our Lord.
“Holy Week” in the Christian Church is traditionally recognized as the week leading up to Easter morning. During this week, we remember the events of the last week of Jesus’ life. Many worship services and traditions have been created to do so.
What is Palm Sunday?
On the Sunday before Easter, we remember Jesus’ triumphant march into Jerusalem (as told in Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19:28-40, and John 12:12-19). The disciples and crowds cut branches from the trees and threw their cloaks and coats onto the road, to show they believed Jesus was the fulfillment of God’s promise to restore a Jewish king to the throne. Many churches today start their Palm Sunday worship by marching with palms.
Our Palm Sunday service is Sunday April 14 at 10am.
What is Maundy Thursday?
On the Thursday before Easter, we remember Jesus’ last supper with the disciples (as told in Matthew 26:17-30, Mark 14:12-16, and Luke 22:7-14) and his washing of their feet (John 13:1-20). The word “maundy” likely comes from the Latin “mandatum,” meaning “commandment,” from John 13:34: “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.” Many churches today celebrate Maundy Thursday with a meal and with foot- or hand-washing.
Our Maundy Thursday service is Thursday April 18 at 6:30pm.
What is Good Friday?
On the Friday before Easter Sunday, we remember Jesus’ betrayal, arrest, trial, crucifixion, and death. This is usually the most solemn service of the Christian year, with low light and mournful music. This worship service usually focuses heavily on Scripture readings and songs, and does not usually include communion.
Our Good Friday service is Friday April 19 at 6:30pm.
What is a Passion Walk?
The Saturday before Easter has always been an odd celebration in the Christian calendar. Some churches observe a Holy Saturday service, which is a smaller version of the Good Friday service and ends in mournful waiting for Sunday to come. At Grace Lutheran, we offer a Passion Walk, which is a retelling of Jesus’ last hours by walking through our Northeast neighborhood and reading Scripture at certain places along the way. The walk usually takes about an hour and covers a little over two miles.
Our Passion Walk takes place on Saturday April 20 at 4pm.
What is the Easter Vigil?
On the Saturday before Easter, some churches celebrate an Easter Vigil. Often starting close to or after sunset, this worship service tells the stories of salvation throughout Scripture and ends with the joyous proclamation of Jesus’ resurrection. Easter Vigils can be ornate and go on for several hours (with champagne at the end!), or they can be more simple but celebratory. The Queer Grace Community is organizing a Vigil this year, focusing on stories of dark days, expectant hope, death to life, and abundant love to come – both in our own lives and in the Bible. All those who affirm and celebrate the lives of queer and trans Christians are welcome to join us.
Our QGC Easter Vigil takes place on Saturday April 20 at 6pm.
What is Easter Sunday?
Easter Sunday is the culmination of the season of Lent and the joyous proclamation of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. Easter services are bouyant and celebratory.
Our Easter Sunday service takes place Sunday April 21st at 10am.
Why does Easter move around so much in the calendar?
Christians take the date of Easter based on Jewish calculations for Passover (since the last meal Jesus shared with his disciples was on Passover). The Western and Eastern churches use different calculations, which is why our Orthodox friends often celebrate a week or two after us. In the Western church, Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox, so Easter can fall anywhere from March 22nd to April 25.
