Join your voice with professional musicians at Grace Episcopal Church on Sunday, December 19 at 4:00 PM to sing Christmas portions of Messiah by G. F Handel.
Sherri Seiden, soprano
Stephanie Wilson, mezzo-soprano
Jonathan Pilkington, tenor
Ivan Segovia, bass
Lynn Swanson, music director/conductor
Your ticket for admission to the sing-along is one non-perishable item for donation to the Gainesville-Hall Community Food Pantry. Items always needed: peanut butter, jelly, canned vegetables, canned fruit, canned meat, canned soup, spaghetti sauce, pasta, and laundry detergent.
You may join in the singing or just come and listen to the music. If you are singing and have your own music score you are invited to bring it. We will have copies for you to borrow if needed.
A reception will follow in the Grace Church parish hall. All are welcome, please invite your friends and neighbors to join you for this special event!
For those unable to attend in person, the sing along will be live streamed to our website and our Facebook page.
The 4:00 PM Christmas Eve service will be a family friendly service with a children’s pageant that will serve as The Liturgy of the Word, followed by Holy Communion. A special musical prelude will begin at 3:45 PM.
The Holy Eucharist at 7:00 PM is filled with traditional carols (including Silent Night by candlelight) and is perfect for those who want a full service but don’t want to drive at night or stay up late.
Our traditional Midnight Mass remains a highlight of the year, with special prelude music beginning at 10:30 PM and Holy Eucharist at 11:00 PM. If you have never had the opportunity to come to Midnight Mass, let this year be your year!
All three of our services on Christmas Eve will also be streamed to our website and our Facebook page.
Children are always invited to worship with their families at any of the services at Grace Episcopal Church. For families who prefer it, nursery care for children age 4 and under will be available during the 4:00 PM and 7:00 PM services on Christmas Eve. No nursery is available during the 11:00 PM service.
Note: No incense will be used at any of the three services this year.
There is no service on Christmas Day, since the following day is a Sunday.
For the fourth Sunday of Advent Light the first three candles of your wreath, and a fourth one for love. Jesus, you are our greatest gift. Fill our homes with love and make us ready to receive you. Amen.
On Christmas Eve, light all four candles, plus the Christ candle. Living God, thank you for coming to live among us. Help us to live with hope, peace, joy, and love. Amen.
If you need a mid-week time of prayer and reflection, please join us for Eucharist at noon in the chapel on Wednesday, December 22. We will not have the service on December 29, but will look to resume on January 5.
Fr. Edgar Otero’s last Sunday at Grace will be December 19. Please join us for a reception at 9:30 AM in the parish hall that morning to honor his upcoming ordination and his time at Grace.
Compline will not meet on Tuesday, December 21.
There will be no Wednesday evening meal or program until the Annual Meeting on January 26. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend.
The special Advent yoga sessions will wrap up on Monday, December 20 and Thursday, December 23. Classes will not meet the week after Christmas – December 27 & 30. Hope you’ll join us for yoga in 2022!
I have sent a donation from my discretionary fund to support the recovery from last week’s deadly tornadoes. The loss of life and property is devastating. If you would like to follow up and send a donation, you may reach out to the Diocese of Kentucky or make one through Episcopal Relief and Development.
May we all keep the families in our prayers.
Stuart+
Look ahead to upcoming opportunities for prayer, worship, and community!
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