Church News- Nov. 18

Lakes Area Ministerial Association meeting
The Lakes Area Ministerial Association will meet from 8-9 a.m. Tuesday at the Brainerd Lakes Cafe, 2115 South Sixth St., Brainerd. The Lakes Area Ministerial Association is beginning afresh. All area clergy are invited to come for an hour of breakfast, fellowship and prayer with the only people who really understand the pressures of ministry - other pastors. The fourth Tuesday of each month we will begin the day together.

Pancake breakfast
HILLMAN - A pancake breakfast will be from 8 a.m. to noon Sunday at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hillman. Cost for adults, $7; under 10, $3; under 5, free. Immanuel is located at the junction of Highway 27 and CR 47.

Children’s shop day
PEQUOT LAKES - The Grace United Methodist Church Sunday School will host its eighth annual Children’s Shop Day from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. Children up to sixth grade are invited to participate. Parents will be provided with coffee and cookies while children shop and select their gifts for mom, dad and grandparents. All gifts are priced at $1 and are gift wrapped for free. Gifts are donated by area businesses as well as members and friends of Grace United Methodist Church.
Grace United Methodist church is located 1.7 miles south of the lights in Pequot Lakes on Highway 371.

Grace UMC’s free community Thanksgiving dinner
PEQUOT LAKES - Grace United Methodist Church of Pequot Lakes will serve a traditional Thanksgiving meal from noon-2:30 p.m. or until the food is gone on Thursday. Limited takeout meals will be available for shut-ins. There will be no charge. Reservations are not required, but a phone call to 568-5755 would be appreciated.
Grace UMC is located 1.7 miles south of the stoplights in Pequot Lakes on Highway 371.

Marriage Encounter
Are you looking to deepen your relationship with your spouse? Put life back into your loving relationship by attending a Marriage Encounter weekend at the St. Francis Center in Little Falls. For more than 30 years St. Cloud National Marriage Encounter has enriched thousands of marriages in Minnesota. The next weekend will be Feb. 11-12, 2012. To get further information call (320) 252-3220 or http://stcloudme.org .

Thanksgiving service
AITKIN - A Thanksgiving eve service will be 5 p.m. Wednesday at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Aitkin.
The traditional service will include a reading from the journal of Gov. Bradford written soon after the first Thanksgiving was observed in Plymouth Colony, as well as familiar hymns associated with the holiday.

Christ Community Church upcoming events
NISSWA - Men’s Bible study and breakfast will be from 7:30-9 a.m. Saturday at the church. They will review where they’ve been and what are the plans for the coming year.
Christ Community Church will have a crock potluck fundraiser after the 10:15 a.m. Sunday service. The money raised will be applied to the AWANA program, a program for kids ages 3 to sixth grade, which is held Wednesdays during the school year. Bring a dish to share.
A Thanksgiving eve service with Holy Communion will be 7 p.m. Wednesday at the church.
Join the Christ Community Church carolers at Nisswa’s City of Lights and meet at 5 p.m. Nov. 25 at the gazebo in Nisswa to carol until Santa arrives and then carol around town.
A worship schedule change will occur from Nov. 27 to Jan. 1. One worship service will be 10 a.m. Coffee fellowship will be from 9:30-10 a.m.
The children’s Christmas program, “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” will be presented at 10 a.m. Dec. 11.

New Year’s retreat
LITTLE FALLS - The Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls invite young women of high school age, grades 10-12, to a New Year’s retreat entitled, “Seeking Peace: Inside and Out,” 10 a.m. Dec. 29 to noon Dec. 31 at St. Francis Convent, Little Falls. Retreat leaders, Sisters Carmen Barsody and Ange Mayers, will address questions such as, “What do I struggle with as a young woman that does not feel peaceful within?” “What does it mean to be at peace within myself?” and “How can I be a peacemaker in the world?” Through activities, music, conversation and prayer, attendees will begin the New Year with the gift of peace within and around. For more information or to pre-register by Thursday, contact Sister Ange Mayers at (320) 229-0307 or amayers@fslf.org .

Taize Prayer
LITTLE FALLS - The Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls invite the public to join them for Taize Prayer from 6-7 p.m. Dec. 1 in Sacred Heart Chapel at St. Francis Convent, Little Falls. Gather for an hour of prayer to experience Christ’s presence. Encounter the mystery of God through the beauty of simplicity. Allow yourself to be open and receptive and let the prayers permeate your mind. Hear scripture readings, prayer petitions and songs initiated by a song leader. Relax and join in prayer and song as you feel comfortable. In the sacred space of contemplative silence God often touches us deeply, and healing and transformation happen. The prayer of Jesus “that all may be one” is your special invitation to come. People of all faith traditions are welcome. Taize Prayer is open to the public the first Thursday of the month. For more information, call (320) 632-0668 or email franciscanlife@fslf.org .

UCC adult forum
Bill Brekken, coordinator of the newly formed Center for Lifelong Learning, will be the featured speaker at First Congregational United Church of Christ’s adult forum at 11:15 a.m. Sunday.
The center is a cooperative venture involving Central Lakes College, and relies largely on volunteer help from the community to provide quality programming to older adults. The center is aimed at meeting the growing and diverse needs of our area’s aging adult population, as well as providing an outlet to showcase their unique value as part of an extended learning community. The hope is to have a varied set of offerings in place, including discussion groups, how-to sessions, volunteer connections, and enrichment classes.

Bluegrass/Southern country gospel concert series
The Church On The Wise Road, 10345 Wise Road, is continuing the once a month bluegrass/Southern country gospel concert series.
The second concert will be 7 p.m. Sunday with the return of Goldrush, the softer side of bluegrass, a multi-talented group, consisting of three vocalists, mandolin, guitars, banjo, fiddle, and upright bass. Refreshments to be served and a free will offering will be accepted.

Thanksgiving Eve services at Trinity Lutheran
The annual Thanksgiving eve service is scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday at Trinity Lutheran Church, 1420 South Sixth St., Brainerd. Pastor Dave Holte will be speaking. Special written prayer requests of Thanksgiving will be collected from those in attendance to be used during the prayers of the church. For additional information call 829-5147.

Trinity to Host Advent festival
Trinity Lutheran Church, 1420 South Sixth St., Brainerd, will hold an Advent festival from 9-10:30 a.m. Sunday in the fellowship hall.
This intergenerational event will have a theme featuring “Deck the Halls.” Seven various stations will provide the opportunity to create holiday decorations and prepare gift bags for shut-ins. Refreshments will be served. Regular church services will be held at 8:15 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. with Pastor Hans Anderson preaching on “Who? Who?” The two youth choirs, Splash and Waves of Grace, will be singing at both worship services. For additional information call 829-5147.

Christ the King Sunday
This week Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church, ELCA, in Brainerd will be celebrating Christ the King Sunday, which is the final Sunday in the church year. Pastor Mark Skinner will deliver a sermon and Pastor Sarah Thomson will lead the congregation in the worship service. Services are at 8:30 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. The church is located at 418 Eighth Ave. NE in Brainerd. Our website is www.belcnet.net .

Thanksgiving eve services
First Lutheran Church, 424 South Eighth St., Brainerd, will hold a special Thanksgiving eve service at 7 p.m. Wednesday. As a token of Thanksgiving, we ask for donations of non-perishable food items to help stock our local food shelf. During the service, communion will be served and the FLC Sr. Choir will perform special music. A pie fellowship will follow the service in Koinonia. Note: The church office will be closed on Thursday and Friday in observance of Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving eve services
Good Shepherd Free Lutheran Church will have Thanksgiving eve services at 7 p.m. Wednesday followed by pie and coffee fellowship. The church is located at 810 Northwest Seventh St., Brainerd (behind Herbergers).

Prince of Peace Thanksgiving eve services
Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 6311 Mildred Road, Baxter, will have a Thanksgiving eve Vesper worship at 7 p.m. Wednesday. For more information, call 829-7092.