Newsletters
Please check the table under the VBS bulletin board in the Fellowship Hall to find ways you can help with this year’s Vacation Bible School!
From Our Pastor’s Desk
Pastor Ryan Henning
What I’ve been reading:
- From the Bible – Joshua, Judges, Psalms, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Matthew, Mark, Acts: I’ve finished out the book of Psalms for the first time this year, and now my reading plan has me in the book of Acts. It’s always neat to see the model of the early Church and their preachers – particularly how God transforms Paul and uses him to reach “all nations” with the gospel. I’ve also moved on from Isaiah to Jeremiah – similar themes, and yet Jeremiah includes many personal details about the challenges of his message, proclaiming the consequences of Israel and Judah’s rebellion against the LORD. Yet there is always the promise of restoration, because we serve a God of grace. That theme comes up repeatedly in Judges too – our LORD keeps delivering, even as his people keep turning away. What an incredible story that spans across books and genres in the Bible!
- For fun: American Dirt, one of Cait’s favorite books of the year, also turned out to be one that I loved. It tells the tumultuous travel of a mother and her young son on the run from a cartel that killed the rest of their family. This month I finished FOUR Mitch Albom books: Tuesdays with Morrie, a memoir of a professor teaching final lessons as he is dying; Twice, a mystery about a man who has the power to do anything in his life a second time; The First Phone Call from Heaven, a story of a town where many people get phone calls from the deceased; and Little Liar, an intertwined-saga of four lives affected by the Jewish persecution in World War II and a narrative on truth and lies. I did finally finish Atlas Shrugged, which gave me a lot to think about power and the way we choose to live. The other book I read this month was The Keeper of Hidden Books, also set in World War II, but this one in Poland, as a young woman and friends seek to preserve banned books while fighting for freedom. I’m looking to dedicate more time to the book on the roles of men and women in this coming month.
Prayers Appreciated: With grandparents on both sides of my family entering heaven and with Cait and I acquiring a house for the first time (God-willing), we sincerely appreciate all of your prayers. We know that prayer is powerful and effective, and we rejoice to have such a rich family of believers who love and support us. Please know that we pray for you often, and we’re always glad to know specific ways that we can talk to God on your behalf. I’m just a text or an email away. God bless you all in the coming month, as summer winds down and we shift into the fall season.
Some Upcoming Jesus’ Lambs of Grace Dates…
August 20th – Parent Orientation
August 21st – Playground Playdate 10:00 – 11:00 A.M.
Feel free to call the church or preschool office for more
information.
The Manitowoc Lutheran High School “Sweet Corn Fest” is almost here! Proceeds from this effort support the MLHS Academic Voucher Program, which has awarded 2,456 vouchers to students in grades 5–8 who participate in the MLHS Academic Fair. Since the program began, just over $315,000 has been awarded — much of it raised through Sweet Corn Fest. MLHS is thankful for your continued support!
Grace Church is looking for volunteers to help pick fresh corn on one of the following Saturdays: August 8, August 15, or August 22. Please call or email Church Coordinator Marlee to sign up: 920-682-7377 or coordinator@gracelutheran-church.com. Stay tuned for more details as to when Grace will have corn available at church.
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL at GRACE LUTHERAN! (See Page One)
Join us for an unforgettable week (August 10 -14) where kids will discover God’s amazing love through exciting Bible lessons, fun games, upbeat music, creative crafts, and lasting friendships at Rainforest Falls Vacation Bible School hosted by Grace Lutheran! VBS runs from 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM. Register today: https://vbspro.events/p/events/grace- rainforestfalls. If you would like to help and volunteer throughout the week, please contact VBS Coordinator Olivia at vbsgracelutheran@gmail.com or call 920.682.7377 if you have any questions.
For Our Travelers This Summer…
As summer wraps up and everyone is traveling, don’t forget to pack your faith! Whether you’re heading to the beach, the mountains, visiting family, or exploring somewhere new, you can still gather around God’s Word and worship with fellow believers. The WELS Church Locator makes it easy to find a WELS congregation wherever your travels take you.
Simply visit the WELS website: https://wels.net. Click “Find a Church/School” at the top of the homepage to search by city, state, zip code, or your current location. Praying you have a safe, joyful, and blessed summer filled with opportunities to rest, recharge and remain connected to Christ wherever you go!
New WELS App: Are you looking for encouragement during high school or college? Meet WELS Next Gen — a new Instagram account created specifically for teens and young adults who want to stay connected to Christ through the challenges of high school, college, and beyond. Whether you’re heading to class, studying late, navigating friendships, or planning your future, remember, you are not alone — Jesus is with you every step of the way! Follow @welsnextgen for faith-filled posts, reminders of God’s promises, and support as you grow in your walk with Jesus.
Christian Family Solutions: CFS (Christian Family Solutions) Guest Pastor Jeffrey Bonack spoke and led worship services at Grace Lutheran on July 26th and 27th . CFS specializes in providing Christ-centered mental health care that points individuals to Jesus so they might find true and lasting rest for their soul in his perfect work on our behalf.
Grace supports and welcomes the CFS Clinic into our building starting August 25th .
Visit https://christianfamilysolutions.org/ for more information on the services CFS provides.
VBS Appreciation
Thank you to all our amazing volunteers who walked, drove, and participated with the 4th of July Parade to help spread the word about VBS! Your smiles, enthusiasm, and willingness to serve are a wonderful blessing!
Lutheran Women’s Missionary Society (LWMS)
Convention held in Madison, WI, June 25-28, 2026
“LWMS is women dedicated to serving Jesus by increasing awareness, interest in, and support of the mission outreach of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod.” LWMS has 772 member churches and is the largest WELS women’s organization. Grace Circle pays the membership for our congregation. We are members of the Shoreline Circuit and have had members serving on the circuit board in the past. Pastor Henning has just been elected to serve our circuit as the Pastoral advisor.
LWMS Mission and Purpose: At our foundation, LWMS is rooted in a love for Jesus Christ. Together we serve Jesus through our mission partnership with WELS. LWMS encourages women (and men) to learn about, pray for, and financially support with their offerings WELS mission efforts in North America and around the world. We now have sisters and brothers who share our faith in 64 countries across the globe who are now being served by WELS missionaries.
Grace has been a member of LWMS for over 20 years. As a member church, all adult members are included in that membership, men as well as women. I was the only member of our church attending the convention, so I was the delegate representing Grace, Manitowoc. The theme for this 63rd annual convention was “Cast Out Your Nets”. There were over 900 members attending, and it was quite an impressive group. It was so spiritually inspiring to meet with and listen to so many dedicated, articulate men and women of our synod who are truly devoted to spreading the gospel in our neighborhoods and around the world.
I will try to share more of the stories from some of those missionaries and pastors in future newsletters.
Grace Circle Chair,
Lylene S
(Thank you, Lylene, for sharing this information!)
A Question from Pastor Henning…
What have YOU been reading? Every month, I share what I’ve been reading. But I know that we have many other avid readers in our church. Here’s your opportunity to share something: What have YOU been reading? – from the Bible, books, magazines, articles, whatever you find interesting and want to share. We’d love to hear from you, too!
Roots United is meeting at Grace Lutheran Church on August 8th at 6:00pm. A pizza dinner with beverages will be provided with a devotion following dinner.
The group will be helping decorate and prepare up for Grace’s VBS. This is a great opportunity to serve together!
Our prayers for God’s blessings go out this month to all in our Grace Lutheran family heading back to school during the month of August. May God be with the students and teachers who will be learning and leading during the 2026 – 2027 school year! May everything done be done for His glory!
A Prayer for the Month of August
Dear Heavenly Father,
We praise and thank you for your unchanging love as we move into this new month of August. Your mercies are new every morning, and your faithfulness reaches to the skies. As the seasons begin to shift and the busy schedules of late summer and a new school year approach, we ask that you anchor our hearts in the peace that only you can provide.
Forgive us, Lord, for the times we have let the anxieties and frustrations of daily life get the best of us. Wash us clean through the precious blood of your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. We thank you that our standing before you does not depend on our own imperfect performance, but rests entirely on the perfect life, sacrificial death, and victorious resurrection of Jesus.
Grant us a discerning and hearing heart for the days ahead. Help us to clear away the distractions of this world so that we may prioritize your Word and your wisdom above all earthly things. Guide our families, protect our students and teachers preparing to return to the classroom, and give us strength to boldly shine your light in our communities.
Whatever trials or joys this month may bring, keep our eyes fixed firmly on our eternal home.
In Jesus' saving name we pray. Amen.
