Bulletin Board
January 11, 2026
WELCOME! Thank you for joining us today in worship, we look forward to having you come again. Please sign the registration books that are in the pews, and pass them to the next person. If you are worshipping from home and watching on Facebook please leave a comment (even if it is just Hi), it would be appreciated.
AED DEFIBRILLATOR In case you are wondering what the white box on the wall in the office corridor, it is our AED Defibrillator. This is located right outside the sanctuary by the bookcase.
BRINGING HOLY COMMUNION TO YOU If you would prefer to have Holy Communion brought to you in the pew on the weeks it is served – please let the elder/ushers know prior to the service. We would not want to miss you!
FELLOWSHIP TIME Please join us in the Hillmer Center following the service today for fellowship time. Following fellowship we will have Bible Class and Sunday School. We will be starting the video series.
GRACE GREETINGS Are you ready for February? Please submit your articles, thank you and any information you want included for next month’s Greetings by January 15th. Is there some information you have to pass on to everyone. You can submit your articles by email to officeadmin@gracewaterloo.org or leave a hard copy in the office.
FLOWER CHART is now posted in the Narthex if you are wanting to bring fresh flowers to the sanctuary. Please let me know if this is to celebrate a special occasion, remember someone, or if you just want it to God’s Glory. The cost is $37.
POINSETTIAS If you ordered a poinsettia or if you have been gifted with one, you may take it home today or pick it up this week during office hours. Thank you for helping make our sanctuary beautiful during the Christmas season.
OFFERING ENVELOPS and new phone directories are in the hallway outside of the office. Please ask someone for help finding them if you need assistance.
BLACKHAWKS HOCKEY GAMES Starting in January the Black Hawks will be giving us an opportunity to see a game for $10 if you have a group of ten or more people in attendance. This is a good chance to attend a game at a discounted price. They are on Friday nights, January 23rd all home Friday night games will be Faith Nights, so get your group together for discounted ticket prices. If you are interested let me know and I will get you more details. We do have two people so far that are wanting to go some Friday night, just let me know if you are interested.
FOOTSTEPS OF PAUL Pastor Gerald and Amy Kapanka, of Immanuel Lutheran Cedar Falls, would like to invite you for an unforgettable journey Walking in the Footsteps of Paul, October 26–November 4, 2026. Together we will explore the places where the Apostle Paul lived, traveled, and proclaimed the Gospel, bringing Scripture to life in a powerful and meaningful way. For more information or get a detailed trip description, call or text Pastor Kapanka at 319-290-5642. We would love for you to be part of this remarkable experience of faith, learning, and fellowship. We do have some brochures in the hallway outside of the office.
A LIFE QUOTE “A baby is God’s opinion that the world should go on.” Carl Sandburg – A Life Quote from Lutherans For Life • lutheransforlife.org
“Hurting from abortion? Word of Hope can help. word-of-hope.org; 888.217.8679.”
BUILDING HEALTHY What do da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa,” van Gogh’s “Starry Night,” and “You,” have in common? Yep - all three are masterpieces, but an even greater Master Craftsman created you! God formed you in your mother’s womb and knew you before you were born. You may see clumsy big feet with ingrown toenails, expanding thighs, or a receding hairline. He sees and loves what He created…a one-of-a-kind, unique you. Be careful not to paint the creation He designed with your own brush of negativity, inferiority, or shame. Thank God for and take good care of the body, mind, and spirit you have! “For we are God’s handiwork...” Ephesians 2:10 Lutheran Family Service www.LutheranFamilyService.org (515.573.3138 and LFSiowa.org)
MEMORY VERSE CHALLENGE - This week the verse
Ephesians 1:7
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.
CATECHESIS – This week for those using the Catechism Study Guide you should be on the following page number according to what year you are doing.
Year 1 is page 10; Year 2 is page 69; Year 3 is page 128;
Families needed for Down Syndrome Adoption Program Lutheran Family Service is seeking married, Christian couples to adopt babies with a prenatal diagnosis of Down Syndrome—precious lives at high risk for abortion.
Adoptive couples must: Be male/female couple married for at least 3 years, Be active in a Christian congregation,
Desire to raise children in the Christian faith, Reside in Iowa, Eastern Nebraska, Eastern South Dakota, or North/Central Illinois.
Lutheran Family Service does not charge for the adoption services we provide in this special program. If you feel God may be calling you to this life-affirming mission, learn more at: https://lutheranfamilyservice.org/adoption-services/down-syndrome-adoption/
FOOD PANTRY
Anyone wishing to donate to the Grace Food Pantry, these are the top items needed:
Top Needs are in bold
canned fruit, peanut butter, hamburger helper, canned soups, Mac n Cheese, Pancake mix, syrup, dry cereal, stick butter, spaghetti sauce, spaghetti noodles, crackers, rice, 32 oz. juice, ramen noodles, body lotion, body wash, all purpose cleaner (no bleach).
We can always use money too. The committee would like to thank all those who have given generously to the Grace Food Pantry!
Anyone needing assistance with the Grace Food Pantry please contact either the church office or one of the following people: Nancy McHone or Judy DePaepe. Anyone interested in helping with the food pantry please contact the office or the people listed.
VALLEY LUTHERAN UPDATE
FAMILY OPEN HOUSE
Make plans to join us at Valley Lutheran School's Family Open House on Thursday, January 29th, from 5:30 to 7:00 pm. This event is a GREAT opportunity to learn more about the Valley difference: how we believe parents are the primary educators and that we value partnering with parents in their child's education.
New families will have the opportunity to register for 1 of 2 FREE registrations (a $100 value) AND will receive a FREE supper that evening. We will have two scheduled preview times so new families can hear directly from our administration team: Elementary at 5:45 pm and Middle/High School at 6:15 pm. These sessions will be a great introduction to how Valley is More Than A School.
We are also cheering on our middle school basketball teams on the 29th as they take on Trinity Lutheran of Cedar Rapids from 4:30 to 8:00 pm. Admission is FREE!
REGISTRATION TO OPEN SOON
Registration for the 2026-2027 school year at Valley Lutheran School opens on January 22nd! As an attendee of an association congregation, your family has the opportunity to register a whole week before the general public. Make your own appointment to visit by going to www.VLSCrusaders.org/2026-admissions or by calling the school ASAP!
J.O.Y.- Next meeting is January 13th @ 1 pm at Valley. All are welcome.
Hyvee Receipts- If you shop at Hyvee, please consider saving all your receipts and turning them into Valley as we participate in the Cash 4 Students Program! It's a way that you can support Valley in our everyday things, like grocery shopping :)
Coming Soon- Valley Lutheran School is enhancing our visitor protocol. Soon, when you come to Valley and need to be in the facility for things like Chapel, having lunch with students, or visiting, you will need to provide a photo ID, as we will soon be using a program called Raptor. This will be happening later in January. More information to come.
Matthew 3:15 – “But Jesus answered him, ‘Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.’” God sent His Son into the world to fulfill all righteousness for us, to do what we could not do. Here, Jesus plunges Himself into our sins and soaks them up in His Baptism, so that in our Baptism we might be cleansed and renewed. The whole of Jesus’ life, everything He did and said, was one great offering to the Father in our stead to fulfill all righteousness for us. All our offerings back to our Lord are in thanksgiving for this one great, true offering.
The Schedule this Week:
The following events have been planned for this week.
TODAY:
9:00 a.m. Worship w /Holy Comm.
Sanctuary
10:15 a.m. Fellowship
Hillmer Center
10:30 a.m. Bible Study/Sunday School
Hillmer Center/Upstairs
MONDAY:
6:00 p.m. Exercise
Library
WEDNESDAY:
8:30 a.m. Sewing Circle
Rm. 17
THURSDAY:
9:30 a.m. Ladies Bible Study
Hillmer Center
6:00 p.m. Exercise
Library
FRIDAY:
6:00 p.m. Youth go Cosmic Bowling
@Cadillac Lanes
SATURDAY:
3:00 p.m. Hillmer Center
Rented
NEXT SUNDAY:
9:00 a.m. Worship
Sanctuary
10:15 a.m. Fellowship
Hillmer Center
10:30 a.m. Bible Study/Sunday School
Hillmer Center/Upstairs
Youth News
Youth are going Cosmic Bowling January 16th at 6 pm. Let me know by Wednesday January 14th if you are coming so we can reserve a lane.