2017 Highlights

  • Mar. 1: Mid-week Lenten Services begin with the theme, “Christ, Our Great High Priest.” Services were preceded by soup suppers.
  • Mar. 10-12: Three children from Grace compete with Berea at the CLC Grade School Basketball Tourney in Eau Claire.
  • Mar. 19: Grace hosted Immanuel Tour Choir Concert.
  • Apr. 7: The Grace Student Fair is held with a Music theme.
  • Apr. 14: Good Friday Tenebrae service with Holy Communion.
  • Apr. 16: Easter service preceded by breakfast served by men of the congregation.
  • Apr. 28: Immanuel High School Visitors’ Day is held in Eau Claire with 5 students attending from Grace.
  • Apr. 30: Pastor Hein receives the call from the CLC Board of Missions to be the part-time visiting missionary to Liberia
  • May 15: Sidewalk is poured on the south side of the church.
  • May 21: Confirmation of Kathleen Baker.
  • May 24: Grace school spring program presents “The Case of the Missing Part of Speech” followed by recognition of Ann Radichel’s retirement from teaching.
  • May 25: Last day of classes for Grace School students as summer begins.
  • May 28: Grace school graduation (Kathleen Baker) and recognition of other graduates (David Hein, Tessa Enns)
  • June 4: Minnesota Delegate Conference is held in New Ulm.
  • June 8: Grace School students, parents, and supporters walk in Spring Lake Park Tower Days Parade promoting our Christian Day school
  • June 13-15: The CLC General Pastoral Conference is held in Eau Claire considering “The Joint Statement Regarding Termination of Fellowship” document with a recommendation that it not be adopted.
  • June 18: Pastor Hein announces that he has accepted the call to be part-time visiting missionary to Liberia.
  • June through July: Due to hail damage (likely on June 29, 2015), the entire church roof is replaced. The new roof is double insulated and a new duro-last membrane is installed, along with a new metal facade. Due to hail damage to the skylight windows and roof ridge vents on the parsonage, these and the parsonage roof are also replaced. 50-year shingles are used. The entire project is done at the cost of $108,942, Church Mutual covering all costs other than the $1,000 deductible.
  • July 24-28: Vacation Bible School with 50 registered students, an average attendance of 35 students, 18 of them non-members.
  • Aug. 20: Immanuel 2017-18 school year begins with Grace students Kathleen Baker, Patrick Baker, and Julianna Hein attending.
  • Aug. 28: Opening of Grace 2017-18 school year with 21 children enrolled in grades 1 through 8 (eleven of them non-members).
  • Sept. 17: The annual church picnic is held on church grounds.
  • Oct. 3-4: Grace hosts the Minnesota Pastoral Conference.
  • October Sundays: The 500 th Anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation is celebrated with a special series which includes a pastor exchange focused on the important doctrinal truths it has and continues to faithfully proclaim:Justification (J. Naumann), Means of Grace (J. Hein), Theology of the Cross(R. Sauers), Vocation (N. Mayhew), and the Two Kingdoms (D. Baker).
  • Oct. 15: The Voters pass a motion to have two full-time teachers at Grace School with individual classrooms starting in the 2018-19 school year.
  • Oct. 18-20: Teacher Janelle Hein attends the CLC Teachers’ Conference in Mankato, MN. Grace School is informed that it is assigned Michaela Winters as its student teacher beginning January 1 through mid-March.
  • Oct. 21: Funeral service for Robert Schuetzler
  • Oct. 23: School Field trip at the Ordway Theater, “Diavolo.”
  • Oct. 29: The Minnesota Area CLC Reformation Festival is held at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Mankato with the theme “Celebrating God’s Grace,” with a focus on the 500 th Anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation.
  • Nov. 7-25: Pastor Hein travels to Liberia to conduct mission work. The focus is 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. 26: Mission Festival followed by annual blood drive. A number of members of the congregation donned traditional Liberian clothing in connection with Pastor Hein’s return from his visit there.
  • Dec. 6: Advent worship services begin with the theme: “Mothers of Advent”
  • Dec. 14: Grace grade school presents a concert at the Northtown Mall.
  • Dec. 20: Congregational Christmas dinner and Candlelight Worship Service
  • Dec. 24: Christmas Eve worship is held in which the children present the Christmas message with the theme: “Savior of the Nations”
  • Dec. 25: Christmas Day Worship service