January 18, 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.
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.
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. We have a few extra poinsettias if you would like to take one.
OFFERING ENVELOPES 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 “Our task is to make sure that our fellow Lutherans and our neighbors know how much God loves us just as we are. Look at this fingerprint: God made each of us unique. There is no one else just like you. God knew you before you were born (Jeremiah 1:5). He knitted you together in your mother’s womb. You were fearfully and wonderfully made, and God had a plan for your life even before you took a breath in this sinful, beautiful world that He created for you (Psalm 139:13-16).” Diane Albers, President of Lutherans For Life – 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 Life can be hard, and relationships can cause pain. When someone hurts you, you may find it difficult to trust again. Through all life's challenges, God never breaks His promise: "I will never leave you; I will never forsake you." (Hebrews 13) He does not abandon you in the pain but promises to stay with you – and puts people in place to be there, including pastors and counselors who are available to help with troubled relationships and the pain they leave behind. Remember, you’re not alone and (no matter what your German genes or your American individualist pride tells you) it’s okay to ask for help. God put us here to be good for one another. Lutheran Family Service www.LutheranFamilyService.org (515.573.3138 and LFSiowa.org)
MEMORY VERSE CHALLENGE - This week the verse
1 John 2:2
He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
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 12; Year 2 is page 71; Year 3 is page 130;
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/
GRACE FOOD PANTRY
Anyone wishing to donate to the Grace Food Pantry, these are the top items needed:
Top Needs shampoo/conditioner, dish soap, razors-especially ladies, Pancake mix, syrup, stick butter, spaghetti sauce and noodles, peanut butter and 32 oz. juice.
Also we are in need of empty egg cartons that are for a dozen eggs.
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 the church office. Anyone interested in helping with the food pantry please contact the office.
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.
Ephesians 5:27 – “So that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.” Our Lord has cleansed us with His blood — in His sight we are now pure and holy. He has given Himself, laying down His life for us. Now we are His spotless and beautiful bride. By His sacrifice, we are moved to sacrifice. By His cleansing, we find a desire to ourselves be clean and live blamelessly as He is blameless.
The Schedule this Week:
The following events have been planned for this week.
TODAY:
9:00 a.m. Worship 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:
6:00 p.m. Exercise Library
NEXT SUNDAY:
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
ONLINE GIVING We now have the option of online giving available on our website: www.gracewaterloo.org You will enter a secure site and can setup weekly or one time gifts to your regular giving or to special funds like the building repair fund. Giving can be setup with either a credit card or your bank account. You can create an account that will remember your information for future use. This is a very secure site so you can setup giving with confidence that your information will be safe. You can also setup giving using an app on a cell phone. Just search for Vanco in your App Store. Using this you will need to create an account with your information to allow the app to communicate with Vanco.